Fan Min, caught off guard, felt the dagger sink into his shoulder. It was only then that he realized the maiden before him was a living person. He grabbed her, roaring, "Who are you? You're not Xue Zi Ning's corpse."
The maiden laughed wildly, "Want to obtain the Empress's corpse? Too late..."
Enraged, Fan Min tightened his grip on her neck. "You dare to toy with me?"
The maiden giggled. As suffocation filled her head, she laughed with immense joy, "Your... Your Highness, Xue Lan has finally... finally done one... one thing for you..."
With a surge of strength from Fan Min, the maiden's body went limp, all life drained from her as she collapsed onto the ground.
"Ah..." Fan Min roared in anger and flung the maiden away.
She slammed against the wall, spitting a mouthful of blood. Looking up, she smiled. Prince, I can finally stop thinking about you day and night. I no longer have to resent any woman close to you.
From now on, you will have no Xue Lan in your life, and Xue Lan will have no you.
May we both be well!
She slowly closed her eyes, filled with regret. She still wanted to see the Prince one last time.
Unwilling, so unwilling!
Fan Min strode out of the divine temple, a sinister smile on his face. "You thought you could escape my grasp this way? Delusional."
He quickly set up a formation on the ground, which soon began to stir.
Half an hour later, a figure slowly materialized within the formation.
Fan Min sneered and leaped forward, charging towards the silhouette.
"Lord Xue Feng, the fog ahead is getting thicker."
Xue Feng frowned. There was no fog moments ago, so why was it so dense now?
Visibility dropped until he couldn't see the person opposite him. Xue Feng tightened his grip on the ice coffin behind him, which contained the Empress's corpse.
Suddenly, a mournful cry erupted from someone not far away. Xue Feng's eyes hardened, and he roared, "Who's there!"
"Kid, I didn't expect you to be so cunning." A mocking voice echoed, and Xue Feng felt a gust of wind behind him.
He whirled around, catching a fleeting glimpse of a figure. "Playing tricks and hiding in the shadows, what kind of hero are you?"
Abruptly, the fog dispersed, revealing Fan Min standing before him.
Xue Feng frowned. It seemed Qing Yi hadn't managed to stop him. Fan Min sneered, "Kid, I admire your cunning in smuggling the corpse out from under my nose, but this is where it ends."
Xue Feng clutched the ropes of the ice coffin, gritting his teeth. "The person is in the coffin, the coffin is here."
Upon hearing this, Fan Min raised an eyebrow slightly and said regretfully, "I intended to spare your life. It seems you wish to die. I shall oblige."
With that, Fan Min struck. His speed was so blinding that Xue Feng couldn't react, taking a heavy palm strike to the chest and spitting a mouthful of blood.
He knelt on one knee. Only then did he see that the ground was littered with his men.
Fan Min walked slowly towards him. Xue Feng tried to stand but found himself unable to.
He could only watch helplessly as Fan Min approached. Fan Min sneered, "Kid, it's not that I won't give you a way out, you're just digging your own grave."
Fan Min raised his palm to strike Xue Feng's skull. Blood trickled from Xue Feng's lips. Just as the palm strike was about to land, the ice coffin was suddenly opened, and a maiden rolled out.
Fan Min froze. In that instant, Xue Feng swiftly unleashed a palm strike, hitting Fan Min's injured shoulder.
Fan Min cried out in pain and stumbled back several steps. Xue Feng seized the opportunity, rolling backward and landing beside the maiden.
Xue Feng removed his outer robe, draped it over the maiden, and then slung her over his shoulder, preparing to leave.
Fan Min would not allow it. He extended his hand, and a white thread shot out, wrapping around Xue Feng's leg and yanking him back.
Fan Min stepped forward and stomped on Xue Feng's face, his expression contorted with rage. "Kid, you're very good, very good indeed."
He applied pressure, deforming Xue Feng's face, and continued to press down.
Xue Feng coughed up blood. Fan Min's gaze turned cold, and he focused all his strength on his foot. Suddenly, a pale hand grasped his ankle.
Fan Min started, then followed the hand up, seeing it emerge from behind Xue Feng.
He reached out to touch the hand gripping his ankle, and unexpectedly, that hand seized his.
The chill was bone-deep, as if a frigid current was seeping into his body.
Fan Min was alarmed and tried to withdraw his hand, but found it impossible.
He channeled some internal energy and finally managed to pull free.
Xue Feng's eyes widened in shock. He got to his feet, the bindings of the Empress's corpse loosened, and the Empress's body rolled out.
He quickly moved to re-bind her.
Fan Min's eyes lit up. With a wave of his hand, he flung Xue Feng aside and stepped forward. Having learned his lesson, he did not extend his hand this time, but stared at the corpse before him in utter amazement.
It was too perfect, not a single sign of decay. If he hadn't known it was a corpse, how would it differ from a living person?
"Don't... Don't touch her..." Xue Feng tried to rise, but he couldn't.
Fan Min frowned, about to kill Xue Feng, when that hand again grasped his.
Fan Min paused, then shifted his gaze. "You don't want me to kill him?"
The corpse's hand held his tightly. Fan Min rejoiced. He had never imagined that a soulless corpse could understand human speech!
"If you don't want me to kill him, then come with me."
The hand suddenly released him.
Fan Min wrapped the corpse, and looking at the prostrate Xue Feng, he sneered, "Kid, consider yourself lucky!"
Xue Feng spat another mouthful of blood and fainted.
"What's happening?" An Ning, holding Wu Zheng Dao tightly, clung to a corner of the carriage. Peeking through a gap in the curtain, she saw the spooked horses about to bolt.
She was terrified but still tried to comfort Wu Zheng Dao. "Zheng Dao, don't be afraid."
Wu Zheng Dao said, "Sister, I'm not afraid, it's you... you who are scared."
"Who... who says I'm scared?" An Ning bit her lip.
Suddenly, the horses stopped. An Ning, holding Wu Zheng Dao, quickly alighted from the carriage. She saw Han Xi Wen on the horse stab a knife into the horse's neck.
As she stepped onto the ground with Wu Zheng Dao, the horse collapsed and died.
Han Xi Wen brushed dust off his clothes. "Princess An Ning must have been startled."
An Ning shook her head. "I'm fine. Thank you, Your Highness."
Han Xi Wen was taken aback, then suddenly laughed. "I thought you would blame me."
"Why would I blame Your Highness? It wasn't you who did it."
Han Xi Wen's gaze flickered. "You believe me?"
An Ning nodded. "What is there to believe or not believe? It's obvious, some people don't want me to arrive safely in Han Country. Then, if any war breaks out between An Country and Han Country, it can be pinned on Your Highness. I believe Your Highness is not that foolish."
Han Xi Wen smiled wryly. "Things you see clearly, others fail to understand."