The dust over Heaven Dou City drifted for a full three days.
The smell of blood in the air had finally faded, replaced by the scent of lime and timber.
Reconstruction was underway.
Countless craftsmen bustled like worker ants amid the ruins of the collapsed houses.
The clanging of hammers had become the city's new background noise.
Though the buildings had been destroyed, the people's hearts had instead settled.
That man-eating monster of a Prince was dead.
The blood-red barrier hanging over their heads had also shattered.
For ordinary citizens, as long as they could still see tomorrow's sun, life had to go on.
The imperial palace, council hall.
Its former splendor now seemed somewhat dim, and several pillars still bore scorch marks from smoke and fire.
A figure clad in a plain white robe sat in the Regent's seat.
He had handsome features and an elegant temperament.
He was the Crown Prince of the Heaven Dou Empire, "Xue Qinghe."
Or rather, Qian Renxue, who had been disguised for many years.
"Your Highness, a total of three hundred and twenty remnants of Xue Beng's faction have been apprehended."
A silver-armored general knelt on one knee, his voice forceful and resonant.
"What of the seventy-eight among them who participated in setting up the Blood Sacrifice Array?"
Xue Qinghe held a list in his hand and leisurely flipped through it.
His movements were slow and graceful.
As though he were admiring a painting.
"The royal family's honor was utterly disgraced by that beast."
Xue Qinghe sighed and closed the list.
There was just the right touch of sorrow in his voice, along with... resolve.
"Those who participated in the blood sacrifice shall be executed immediately."
"The rest shall be exiled to the frontier and never employed again for all eternity."
The general's