CANGLAN REALM
WARRIOR HALL
Lights scattered through the clouds, the result of the energy unleashed by warriors fighting the yearly battle for their Realms.
The audience sat below, while the heads and royals were seated on the upper side, watching the fight. Among them, a helplessly beautiful lady with long hair flowing down to her waist, glowing like moonlight as she watched the match, was the only heiress of the Yi Empire — Princess Yi Lingxi.
Their energies were filling the place when suddenly an unknown dark light interrupted the warriors. It wrapped itself around one of them.
The black cloud… it became dark and covered his body fully!
"Master Chan!" Princess Lingxi shouted.
She ran toward the black clouds surrounding Master Chan, but before she reached him, the cloud disappeared with him, leaving the place vacant.
"Master Chan!" she screamed at the empty space.
The opponent stepped aside, and the crowd erupted in confusion.
Few Moments Later_
Royal Palace
"It was a Beast Vessel," an old man said, breaking the silence of the dimly lit room.
"Are you sure, Master?" the Empress asked, standing nearby.
"Yes. That cloud was a Beast Vessel."
"We have to release Master Chan as soon as possible before the vessel weakens his strength. He is not only a warrior but also Lingxi's would-be husband," the Empress replied, worried.
"There is only one way," the master said. "Only the people of the Demon Realm know how to get rid of a Beast Vessel. That vessel has already taken Master Chan away. Even if we reach there, we can't free him. Someone has to go into the Demon Realm."
"But whom will we send to the Demon Realm?" the Empress hesitated. "We are not on good terms with them…"
"I will go." Lingxi interrupted. "Mother, when I am here, there should be no confusion. From every angle, it is my responsibility."
"No, my child." The Empress trembled. "I cannot send you into that death well."
"But Mother… if you had a son, would you stop him too?"
"Yes. If he had cultivation as low as yours, I would stop him as well."
"But Mother, you cannot be selfish. Our enemies know Father is sick. The Emperor of the Canglan Realm is bedridden. Warrior Chan was the shield of our kingdom, and news of his disappearance will spread like fire in a forest. In such a situation, it is my duty to save him."
"Very well…" the master nodded. "If you have truly decided to go, then go with proper preparations."
Lingxi sailed across the cool sea of the Canglan Realm, accompanied by the night breeze, until she reached the forest of the Demon Realm.
The night was dark… and so was the forest.
"I've been walking for so long, yet this forest never ends. How long will it take?" Lingxi muttered as she moved deeper into the isolated woods.
The complete silence of the forest broke with the shrieks of a man somewhere inside.
"Leave me… Leave me…!"
These were the only words Lingxi could understand between the painful screams echoing around her.
"Where is this sound coming from?" she whispered, following the voice.
The cries grew louder until she stopped at the sight before her—
A man was hanging mid-air, his body wrapped in white, shining chains controlled by another man standing below.
Lingxi hid behind a tree, her eyes fixed on the scene.
The man below had long black hair and wore royal blue clothing. His hand was raised, controlling the chains that emerged from his palm.
When he tightened his grip, the shrieks of the man hanging in the air grew unbearable. The blood from the captive's body rose like red mist, drifting toward the man below only to be absorbed by him.
Lingxi watched in horror as, moments later, the captive's body dissolved into smoke, leaving nothing behind. The chains disappeared.
"I think I should leave…" she whispered, taking a careful step back—
But the dried leaves betrayed her.
Before she could escape, the man appeared right in front of her.
He stood before her under the light of the full moon, which rested on his glorious face, highlighting his striking beauty. His black eyes were sharp, his lips soft and rosy, and his jawline sharp as a blade.
Lingxi's eyes widened when she saw him.
Her breath hitched.
Before anything else could happen, Lingxi fainted.
Before her body could fall to the ground, she was caught by the man standing in front of her. He wrapped his right hand around her waist.
He gazed at her face, but there were no emotions in his eyes.
"What is he up to? I can't even read his expressions!" Lingxi screamed in her inner voice, still pretending to be unconscious because she had no other option. "Is this man going to kill me? What does he want?"
He waved his left hand, and then with a soft blue light they vanished.
The next moment, they were in a room near a bed. He lifted her in his arms and placed her gently on it.
Lingxi, with her eyes closed, couldn't see anything, but she felt the softness beneath her and grew even more anxious.
"What is this man up to?" she wondered, continuing her act of pretending to be faint.
After a few moments, he left the room.
Only when silence settled did she slowly open her eyes.
She took a deep breath and looked around.
"Where am I…?" Lingxi whispered to herself.
She stepped down from the bed and moved toward the door.
As she tried to step outside, an invisible wall pushed her back with force.
And the next moment, she found the same man standing at the door, straight and unreadable. This time, Lingxi saw his face more clearly.
They stood facing each other.
He waved his hand, removing the invisible shield.
He stepped closer and said, in an ironic tone, "Finally, you are awake."
"It seems like it," she snapped lightly.
"Where were you going?" he asked in a cold voice.
"I… I was coming to see you…"
"Really?" he smirked. "And may I know why you wanted to see me?"
"Does a wife need a reason to search for her husband?" she replied easily.
"What?" he exclaimed loudly. "Who husband and wife?"
"You are my husband, and I am your wife. So I was coming to see you. Why did you leave me here alone?"
"How dare you—!" he shouted.
"What happened, my lord?" a man standing nearby interrupted, though he hadn't been noticed before.
"Minister Lan," the man called out, "this girl is claiming to be my wife."
"What?" Minister Lan exclaimed. "My lord, you are married?!" he shouted even louder.
"Shut up, you fool!"
"Sorry, my lord—" he bowed immediately.
"Apologies should be from our side," Lingxi interrupted. "We didn't invite anyone."
"Shut up!" he shouted again. "Say this one more time, and I'll kill you!"
If I keep quiet, he'll kill me. If I speak, he'll kill me. Then why not give it a try? Lingxi muttered in her mind. How can someone be so cruel with such a handsome face? A perfect cruel beauty…
"Lady," Minister Lan said, "do you even know who he is?"
"Yes. He is my husband," she answered effortlessly.
"Enough!" he roared, snatching Minister Lan's sword and pointing it at Lingxi's neck.
Her breath froze.
"Lady, your foolishness truly has no limits," Minister Lan said. "You really dared to provoke our Emperor."
"Emperor?" she repeated, stunned.
"Yes," Minister Lan replied. "The man you are claiming to be your husband is Lin Zeyan, the Emperor of the Demon Realm."
So I'm truly doomed… her internal soul cried loudly, while her lips remained glued shut.