“Have they withdrawn?” Xue Chang'an sat in her chair, listening to the report from below.
“Yes, they have all withdrawn.”
Upon hearing this, Xue Chang'an sighed twice. “Xue Zi Ning, tell me, how can you fight me now?”
Suddenly, she felt an unbearable pain attack her entire body from the depths of her soul, so intense that she couldn’t breathe.
“Lift your head,” Xue Chang’an said, pointing at the kneeling person.
The man raised his head. While not as refined as Li Chen Xuan, he wasn't unattractive either.
“You will serve me,” Xue Chang’an gritted out, speaking each word deliberately.
The man trembled all over. “Your Majesty, your subordinate…”
“Are you unwilling?” Xue Chang’an became angry.
“Your Majesty, forgive me, your subordinate…”
Xue Chang’an rose from her chair and staggered towards the man. She lifted his chin with her finger and said coldly, “Serve me or die. Choose one.”
“Your Majesty, spare me!” The man, terrified, kowtowed and begged for mercy.
“Come here…” Xue Chang’an said.
The man got up and walked towards Xue Chang’an. Xue Chang’an closed her eyes; the pain in her soul was unbearable.
Interestingly, the pleasure between a man and a woman could significantly reduce her pain, so whenever she felt it, she would seek relief this way.
After the mess, Xue Chang’an called for someone to help her get dressed, completely disregarding the man behind her.
She stood and walked out, seeing Fan Min waiting for her.
Fan Min knew exactly what had just transpired inside.
He felt a slight disdain for this body; his Xin'er deserved a better vessel.
However, he still needed Xue Chang’an.
“Why have you come to see me?” Xue Chang’an asked.
“Your Majesty, I have brought someone for you.”
“Who?” Xue Chang’an inquired.
Fan Min let out a low, cold laugh and clapped his hands. A figure emerged from the darkness.
A slender silhouette walked towards them step by step. As the dim candlelight illuminated his face, Xue Chang’an suddenly stood up from her chair. “Hua Yun Jin.”
She turned, took a sword from the wall, and lunged at him. He didn’t dodge even though she was already upon him.
As she closed in, Fan Min suddenly extended his hand,夹住ing Xue Chang’an's attacking sword between two fingers.
“Fan Min, what is the meaning of this?” Xue Chang’an asked coldly, looking at him.
Fan Min exerted force with his fingers, and the sword snapped in two.
Xue Chang’an was surprised. When had Fan Min acquired such high martial arts skills?
“Your Majesty, sit down!” Fan Min said.
Yet, his tone carried a command that she found impossible to refuse.
Xue Chang’an flicked the broken sword from her hand and asked, “You had better give me an explanation for this reconciliation, or I will not let you off lightly.”
Regarding Xue Chang’an's threat, Fan Min merely smiled faintly. “Your Majesty, listen to me first.”
“Speak…” Xue Chang’an said.
“He is now completely under my control,” Fan Min stated.
“And what of it?” Xue Chang’an asked.
“Your Majesty, you can do anything you wish.”
Xue Chang’an paused, glancing at Hua Yun Jin. Although his appearance surpassed Li Chen Xuan’s, the betrayal from her past life was still etched into her soul. She felt only hatred towards him.
“Fan Min, do you think I will accept just anyone?”
“Your Majesty, you need manpower now. With Hua Yun Jin, Hua Country will be under your control. Isn't that better than you trying to kill him?”
Xue Chang’an listened and sat down. “You are right.”
“Having him deal with Xue Zi Ning is more effective than anyone else,” Fan Min said.
Xue Chang’an trembled, then let out a low laugh, which turned into hearty laughter. “You are right. Let’s see how Xue Zi Ning will choose then.”
Fan Min waved his hand, and Hua Yun Jin departed, disappearing into the darkness.
“When will the soul transference begin? This body can no longer bear my soul,” Xue Chang’an asked.
“Your Majesty, do not worry. I am already making arrangements.” Fan Min replied.
Xue Chang’an dared not pressure him too much, as she could only rely on Fan Min at the moment.
As long as her soul was successfully transferred to Xue Zi Ning’s corpse, she would no longer be controlled by Fan Min. At that time, she sneered; she would show no mercy to someone who smiled like him.
After Fan Min took his leave, he placed Hua Yun Jin in a room. The man who had been standing rigidly suddenly moved, stretching his head, his expression extremely grim.
When Xue Chang’an had approached him earlier, he had almost struck her down.
Fortunately, he had restrained himself. Impatience leads to failure; he still had to endure.
“This won’t do. Next time, someone might discover the flaw?”
A voice echoed. Hua Yun Jin’s eyes sharpened, and he moved with lightning speed, launching a surprise attack into the darkness. When he saw who was standing there, he was stunned.
“It’s you, A Ning…” he exclaimed in disbelief.
Xue Zi Ning emerged, sat down, and poured herself a cup of tea, not forgetting to pour one for Hua Yun Jin. She took a sip and said, “I knew there was no way you could be captured so easily. So, you were faking it.”
Hua Yun Jin heard her and said, “I was merely planning to use their scheme to my advantage.”
“Did you discover anything?” Xue Zi Ning asked.
Hua Yun Jin looked at the bright, clear eyes of the girl before him and nodded. “Yes.”
“What did you discover?” Xue Zi Ning pressed eagerly.
Hua Yun Jin’s face turned slightly red, but he still said, “Your plan disrupted Xue Chang’an, and her soul was damaged during the failed transference. She needs to absorb men’s vital essence to alleviate the pain.”
Xue Zi Ning was stunned for a long time before she understood what Hua Yun Jin meant by absorption. She chuckled awkwardly, “So that’s how it is.”
“Fan Min’s intentions seem to extend beyond just your corpse; he has a greater scheme,” Hua Yun Jin said.
“Scheme?” Xue Zi Ning asked.
Hua Yun Jin nodded. “Yes, but I am not yet sure what it is.”
“The entire realm?”
“If he desires the realm, it’s not impossible, but it doesn’t seem to be that…”
Xue Zi Ning frowned. She couldn’t figure it out for the moment, so she decided to stop thinking about it. Her only priority now was to stop Xue Chang’an.
“Tomorrow night, I want to stop Xue Chang’an.”
Hua Yun Jin nodded. “Don’t worry, I will help you. My men should be arriving soon.”
“Yun Jin, thank you this time.”
When Xue Zi Xuan returned to the northern border, she had prepared to fight alone. She planned to sneak into the palace at midnight, looking for the best opportunity, and had not expected Hua Yun Jin to be here.
Hua Yun Jin looked up at the girl before him and said, “I want to help you; I do it willingly.”
In the past, he had done so many things that hurt her. This time, he wanted to make amends.
“I’ll sleep here tonight,” Xue Zi Ning said, unwilling to travel back and forth, fearing discovery.
Hua Yun Jin blinked in surprise. “The bed is yours.”
“Okay,” Xue Zi Ning said, not being polite, and lay down on the bed to sleep.
Hua Yun Jin watched the retreating figure with amusement, his expression gradually deepening.
Soon, he turned his head, sat in a chair, and gazed at the night sky. It was another moonless night.
“Yun Jin, from now on, all our past grievances are settled. You owe me nothing.”
Hua Yun Jin heard her and looked towards the person on the bed.