As soon as Snehwal stepped out, he saw the Prince of Kankal City walking toward him.
At that moment, two soldiers standing in the corridor quickly bowed their heads in respect, but the prince glared at them with disdain and snapped,
"Get out of my way!"
His voice and his stride clearly showed that he was filled with anger — as if burning in an invisible fire.
Snehwal stood silently in a dark corner, watching everything.
There was alertness in his eyes and the sign of a coming storm in his mind.
The soldiers, trembling with fear, hurried away.
"Yes, my prince."
As the prince moved forward, Snehwal suddenly stepped into his path, blocking the way.
He looked straight into the prince's eyes — and the prince too realized that this was the man responsible for defying his command.
The prince lunged forward and grabbed Snehwal's neck with the back of his hand, trying to choke him. A faint, furious smile appeared on Snehwal's face.
The prince roared, "Wretched servant! How dare you stand in my way!"
Snehwal caught the prince's arm with his right hand and pressed it with such strength that the arrogant prince of Kankal groaned in pain, his grip breaking instantly. Red with rage, the prince shouted, "I'll kill you!" and threw a punch — but Snehwal swiftly dodged it, and the blow sliced through empty air.
Touching the amulet at his chest, Snehwal drew his sword in one smooth motion and slashed — cutting off the prince's right arm.
"Wicked man, you've filled this city with corruption," he said coldly.
The prince screamed, "Who are you?"
Snehwal replied in an icy tone, "You're not worthy to know that… and if you must know, there's only one answer — death."
The prince staggered toward his severed arm, where a small red mark glowed on his palm — but before he could do anything, Snehwal's blade flashed again, severing his head cleanly from his body.
The prince's head hit the ground with a dull thud; his body took two staggering steps before collapsing.
From his severed head came his final words — "My father… won't spare you…"
Snehwal gave the fallen head a hard kick and said coldly,
"Your father will meet the same fate."
The corpse went limp and then dissolved into the air. Snehwal walked into the room toward Luna. She was sitting, crying — her legs together, arms wrapped around her knees, her face buried in her hands. From a distance, Snehwal said, full of uncertainty, "I have thrown him into the mouth of death."
Luna's eyes were red from crying. She gave a small, weak smile and said, "His father is a great monster — a fourth-stage cultivator. He will come after us now. We must leave at once."
Snehwal let out a soft, almost bitter laugh. He picked up the water jug from the nearby table, filled a glass, handed it to Luna and said, "Don't be afraid… I am also a fourth-stage cultivator."
Hearing this, life returned to Luna; her heart steadied. Still, fear lingered in her mind. The torches in the room crackled faintly.
Luna took the glass with both hands and drank the water quickly.
Luna returned the empty glass to Snehwal and, sobbing softly, said, "All my guards obey him. When I first came here, I was betrayed — now you saved me. But we are not safe yet. We must get out of here. Only then will I give you what you ask for — even if that includes me."
Snehwal placed the glass on the table and said, surprised, "I do not want to possess you, nor anything tied to you. And about leaving — do not be afraid. I will kill his father before morning."
Luna, startled, asked, "Why are you doing this?"
Snehwal replied simply, "Because I hate evil people."
Hearing this, a new feeling for Snehwal stirred in Luna's eyes — as if she had truly fallen for him.
Snehwal asked Luna, "Do you know where the lord of this city might be right now?"
Luna thought for a moment and then said, "He's meditating, and at least fifty soldiers guard him. You'll find him in the south of the city — his residence is easy to recognize from afar because it's lavish, brightly lit at night, and heavily guarded by soldiers."
Snehwal nodded slightly and said, "Alright. I'll return in two hours. Then the two of us will leave this place together."
Snehwal covered his face again with the light green mask and said, "City lord, this will be your last night."
Luna looked at Snehwal as if she had already given her heart to him.
Seeing Snehwal leave, she reached out toward his back and murmured, with a hint of doubt, "Stay safe."