The Northern Territory, Xuelong Pass.
"By order of the prince—"
"Open the main gates today, fire the ceremonial cannons, and welcome the Vermilion Bird Army and General Ning Hongye!"
The massive city gates slowly swung open.
A crimson army, several thousand strong, charged toward them.
At its head rode a woman wearing an Asura Mask.
She sat astride a warhorse, a saber at her waist, her body clad in armor. Yet she radiated a tangible killing intent.
Even the elite troops following behind her kept their distance, treating her with utter reverence.
Soon, Ning Hongye led the Vermilion Bird Army into the city.
The streets, however, were deserted. When the locals heard that this Fiend Star Woman had arrived, they all hid, afraid of getting into trouble.
"Thud! Thud! Thud..."
Suddenly, several pebbles flew toward Ning Hongye, striking her armor.
They were soft and utterly harmless, not even worth calling hidden weapons.
The ones throwing them were a few unruly children, only seven or eight years old.
"Bad person! You're a big bad person!"
"My mom says you're a Female Demon who massacred a city, killed over a million people, and even murdered your own father!"
"A heartless fiend like you doesn't deserve to come to our Northern Territory!"
Those children had been spoiled rotten since they were little. Knowing no fear, they kept shouting.
"Impudent!"
"How dare you slander General Ning? This crime is unforgivable!"
A slender figure suddenly shot out from the Vermilion Bird Army.
The gust of force alone knocked the children to the ground, where they burst into tears.
"Azure Luan, stand down!"
Ning Hongye spoke up. "There's no need to get angry at a few children. Besides, how many thousands upon thousands of people in this world haven't cursed me?"
At the order, the female guard named Azure Luan immediately stopped, though her eyes still brimmed with resentment and indignation.
Her beloved mistress had risked her life for Great Xia, fighting bloody battles against its enemies.
Why, then, did she have to bear such a vile reputation?
"Let's go. We'll head to King Zhenbei's Mansion, cancel this absurd Marriage Contract, and then return home."
Ning Hongye spoke coldly, seemingly without a flicker of emotion, her voice as icy as frost.
Half an hour later, at King Zhenbei's Mansion.
"General Ning has arrived!"
Dressed in fine robes, Xiao Yang strode out with his head held high to welcome her alongside Father King.
His eight older brothers followed close behind, all wearing expressions of schadenfreude.
So what if Xiao Yang had used a clever trick to get nine spiritual treasures?
If he wanted to marry the infamous Female God of Slaughter, he'd better consider whether his life was tough enough to survive it!
They had even started a betting pool in private.
They were wagering whether Xiao Yang would last three days, ten days, or a month...
"The Vermilion Bird Army's Ning Hongye pays her respects to King Zhenbei!"
Ning Hongye dismounted, walked step by step to the mansion gates, and clasped her hands in salute.
"You're the descendant of an old friend of mine, and you're about to marry my son. There's no need for such formality!"
King Zhenbei immediately invited her inside.
Xiao Yang secretly sized up his fiancée.
Good grief, she was a walking lump of iron!
She was covered in armor from head to toe, making it impossible to see her face or figure.
They said she'd been disfigured on the battlefield, which was why Eldest Brother Xiao Junlin had tried every way he could to put off the marriage.
But the system had judged her a peerless beauty. There was no way it could be wrong!
"Jiu Lang, come greet your fiancée!" King Zhenbei called.
"Yes, Father King!"
Xiao Yang smiled and walked toward the walking lump of iron.
[ Ding! A peerless beauty has been detected. Would the host like to bind her as a target? ]
"Yes!"
Xiao Yang immediately agreed.
[Binding successful. This cannot be changed!]
[Bound Target: Ning Hongye. Current Affection: 0.]
[Congratulations, host! You have received the First-Release Reward. The first gift you give your Bound Target will automatically trigger the highest-level "Ten-Thousand-Fold Return"!]
Happiness had come too suddenly!
Xiao Yang was overjoyed when he saw the message.
He had originally planned to give Ning Hongye the Kirin Golden Light Armor as a welcome gift.
But now, he'd better think carefully about what to give her to make the most of this first Ten-Thousand-Fold Return!
"If you can't find a book by searching its title, try searching for the author. Perhaps it was simply renamed!"
"Hongye, you've traveled all this way to the Northern Territory. Come inside and rest first. Then I'll arrange your Engagement Ceremony with Jiu Lang," King Zhenbei said.
"Wait!"
Ning Hongye's icy voice came from beneath her armor. "King Zhenbei, I actually came here to cancel the Marriage Contract!"
At those words, Xiao Yang couldn't help but curse inwardly.
If you didn't agree, you should've said so sooner!
I've already bound you to my system, and I can't change the target. And now you're refusing?
Doesn't that leave me completely screwed?
Ning Hongye, you're not getting away!
"Absolutely not!"
King Zhenbei's face hardened as he sternly rebuked her. "His Majesty bestowed this Marriage Contract. How can it be broken? What will happen if word gets out and His Majesty flies into a rage?"
Every word rang out with a force that brooked no argument.
Well said, Father!
Xiao Yang cheered for his adoptive father in his heart.
Unexpectedly, Ning Hongye stood firm. "I'll explain everything to His Majesty myself! If he punishes anyone, I'll bear it alone. The Xiao Family has nothing to do with it!"
"Besides, I, Ning Hongye, have been in the military since childhood. My hands are stained with blood. I've even ordered a city massacre. How many hundreds of thousands have I killed?"
"Even if I were willing to marry, would your son dare take me as his wife?!"
As she spoke, a sharp gaze flashed from beneath her armor, sweeping over Xiao Yang and the other princes like a blade.
"Hiss..."
The princes drew in sharp breaths and stumbled back several steps, chills running down their spines.
Terrifying... She was too terrifying!
She truly was a Fiend Star Woman who killed without blinking!
A single look from her was enough to scare the wits out of anyone.
They asked themselves honestly: they wouldn't just be afraid to marry a woman like her. Even staying in her presence for a while would leave them trembling.
Besides, Ning Hongye was the one asking to end the engagement. The Xiao Family wouldn't have to take any responsibility.
"In that case, then—"
King Zhenbei was about to announce the marriage's cancellation.
Suddenly, a voice like a thunderclap rang through the hall.
"Father King, I dare to marry her!"
What?!
The declaration sent the crowd into an uproar.
Everyone turned toward the source of the voice.
Xiao Yang stepped out, meeting countless gazes as all eyes fixed on him!
"Has this guy lost his mind?"
"He's throwing away such a godsend and still wants to get himself killed?"
Eldest Prince Xiao Junlin shook his head, his face full of disdain.
"Jiu Lang, what do you mean by this?"
King Zhenbei furrowed his brow, puzzled too.
He had no idea what kind of nonsense his youngest son was up to.
"Father King, the Xiao Family earned its merits through martial prowess!"
"Eight hundred years ago, our ancestor was a commoner. Yet he joined the Founding Emperor in conquering the land, establishing Great Xia and earning a title as a prince!"
"Generation after generation, our descendants have guarded the Northern Territory and produced countless renowned generals. Eighteen of them are listed in the Heroic Martial Pavilion alone!"
"Although I, Xiao Yang, hold no official post and have never served in the army, so I can't ride into battle like my brothers, I'm no coward!"
"No son of the Xiao Family is a weakling. Why should I fear a female general?!"
Xiao Yang spoke every word with conviction, his voice ringing through the hall.
"Hahaha!"
King Zhenbei was delighted. "Well said! You truly are my son, Xiao Qiankun!"
But Xiao Yang's words had bolstered the Xiao Family's prestige while implicitly putting Ning Hongye beneath him.
The Vermilion Bird Army's elite soldiers present were deeply offended.
An utterly ordinary young prince of the Xiao Family dared to look down on General Ning? He was asking for death!
"Thud. Thud. Thud!"
Suddenly, Ning Hongye walked toward Xiao Yang.
The might of one person surpassed that of a thousand armies!
"Xiao Yang, are you truly not afraid of me?!"
Her voice was like ice that had remained frozen for ten thousand years, chilling everyone to the bone.
"I'm not!"
Xiao Yang shook his head, his gaze resolute. Then he added, "Miss Ning, not only am I not afraid of you, I'm grateful to you!"
Then, in full view of everyone present, he did something no one could have expected—
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