Crown of Fury

Qin Xue and the other three turned at the same time, only to see a cold, stern young man striding over menacingly with Qin Feng and Qin Yong in tow.

At the sight of Qin Yong, Qin Xue's body trembled involuntarily. She instinctively feared him, while Long Yu fixed Qin Feng with an icy glare and said, "Qin Feng, what are you doing here?"

Qin Feng saw Long Yu as well and froze. He had not expected her to still be here. At that moment, Qin Yong said coldly, "Thirteenth Princess, this is a matter of my Qin Family. Please do not interfere."

"A family matter? This is the Wu Kingdom. I have the right to involve myself in any matter concerning the Wu Kingdom." Though Long Yu was young, she had a sharp tongue.

"The Wu Kingdom? Hmph. Do you know where the kingdom's state-protecting masters come from? Our Heavenly Fire Sect alone has two of them. Thirteenth Princess, this is a family matter. Leave." Cui Shuo stared coldly at Long Yu, showing not the slightest reverence. If not for the Cui Family's roots in the Wu Kingdom, he would likely have thrown her out directly.

The Heavenly Fire Sect?

Long Yu's eyes narrowed slightly. She had always yearned to cultivate in an Immortal Sect, but her talent was far too mediocre. Still, that had not extinguished her aspirations. She knew the sects of the eastern Azure Lotus Heavenly Domain like the back of her hand.

The Heavenly Fire Sect was a renowned major sect in the eastern Azure Lotus Heavenly Domain. Just as Cui Shuo had said, two of the Wu Kingdom's state-protecting masters came from the Heavenly Fire Sect.

Long Yu had not expected Qin Feng to summon an expert from the Heavenly Fire Sect. After studying him carefully, she asked, "You are... Cui Shuo, son of General Cui?"

Cui Shuo looked proud and aloof. "That is me. Thirteenth Princess, do not meddle in this matter." Cui Shuo was also nursing a bellyful of anger. Five days ago, he had boasted before the Cui Family elders, only to be frightened out of his wits by Zi Xun'er. It had cost him dearly in face, leaving him burning with resentment. Then he heard that it had all been caused by Qin Yu. All he wanted was to chop Qin Yu into a thousand pieces and vent the fury in his heart.

"That's right, Thirteenth Princess. You should not interfere. This is a matter of my Qin Family." Qin Feng hurriedly chimed in. His admiration for Long Yu came from the depths of his heart, and naturally, he did not wish to truly become enemies with her.

"I think Brother Chen was right about you—overbearing and lawless, acting as though no one else exists. I truly misjudged you before. You would even bully your own younger brother. I am involving myself in this matter today." Long Yu said coldly.

Over the past few days, Long Yu and Qin Xue had gotten along well and developed a certain bond. Naturally, she would not stand by and watch. Of course, the most important reason was still Brother Chen.

Though Long Yu's talent was ordinary, she was clever as ice and snow. She vaguely felt that Brother Chen and Qin Xue must share some sort of connection. Otherwise, he would not have acted for Qin Xue's sake and severed Qin Yong's arms. Long Yu did not believe Brother Chen had merely acted out of kindness. After all, no one would invite trouble for the sake of an unrelated stranger. Besides, Long Yu had noticed then that the way Brother Chen looked at Qin Xue was different. This convinced her that Brother Chen would certainly come looking for Qin Xue.

Over the past few days, Long Yu had also wanted to learn about Brother Chen from Qin Xue, but Qin Xue knew nothing when asked, leaving Long Yu deeply puzzled.

Cui Shuo snorted coldly. "Do you truly think your status as the Thirteenth Princess makes you incomparably noble? In my eyes, you are no different from anyone else!" As he spoke, Cui Shuo strode into the small courtyard, seized Long Yu, who stood in his way, with one hand, and flung her aside.

Long Yu was merely at the Martial Realm Second Level. How could she possibly resist Cui Shuo, who was at the Early Astral Qi Stage?

She crashed heavily several yards away, both humiliated and furious. "Cui Shuo, is the Cui Family trying to rebel?"

"Rebel? It is fine if you use that to frighten others, but I am an inner disciple of the Heavenly Fire Sect. The Wu Kingdom is not qualified to govern me. If you dare obstruct me again, then whatever happens will not be my fault." Cui Shuo warned. Then he glanced at Qin Xue, who stood before him, and said coldly, "Get lost!"

Qin Xue's face was pale, and her delicate body could not stop trembling. Her talent was exceptional, but she had never experienced real combat. Moreover, she could sense the terrifying aura emanating from Cui Shuo. She shook her head with all her strength and said, "C-Cousin Cui Shuo, if you are angry, just hit me. Please, do not hurt my brother, alright?"

Cui Shuo directly slapped her. How could Qin Xue withstand such a blow? She was sent flying, spitting out a mouthful of blood in midair before crashing heavily to the ground.

Cui Shuo snorted and strode toward Qin Yu's room. Though Xiao Tao and Xiao Hua were terrified beyond measure, both of them lunged without hesitation at Cui Shuo's legs.

"Courting death!" Savage light burst from Cui Shuo's eyes as he kicked Xiao Tao and Xiao Hua away, one with each foot.

"No!" Qin Xue abruptly struggled to her feet, determination in her eyes.

Cui Shuo's face remained cold and proud as he kicked Qin Xue away.

Yet to his surprise, Qin Xue stubbornly climbed back to her feet the moment she landed.

"You do not know what is good for you. If not for the fact that you are a woman, I would have killed you long ago." Cui Shuo had lost all patience. He viciously kicked at Qin Xue's abdomen.

At the instant that kick came at her, Qin Xue somehow found the strength to throw herself onto Cui Shuo's right leg and cling to it tightly. Opening her mouth, she bit down fiercely on his thigh. Driven to desperation, Qin Xue bit with extraordinary force, tearing a chunk of flesh clean from Cui Shuo's thigh.

Caught off guard, Cui Shuo screamed miserably, his face turning livid. A faint earthen-yellow glow burst from within him as he raised his right leg and violently flung Qin Xue away. "Since you insist on seeking death, I will grant your wish!"

Cui Shuo took a fierce step forward, like a Ferocious Beast unleashed from its cage, and mercilessly kicked at Qin Xue as she flew backward.

Bang! A dull explosion rang out as Qin Xue shot like a meteor toward Qin Yu's room.

Boom! Boom!

The door shattered from the impact. Qin Xue flew into the room and slammed against the light screen of the Defense Array, coughing up another mouthful of blood.

Cui Shuo walked forward coldly. When he saw the formation's light screen, he froze. As an inner disciple of the Heavenly Fire Sect, he had naturally seen formations before. But he had never expected to find one in that trash's room.

Wait.

This was... a pill cauldron?

Cui Shuo was secretly startled. Looking at the pill cauldron, which stood nearly half a person tall and emitted blood-red flames, an astonished look appeared on his face.

Cui Shuo did not know that inside the pill cauldron wreathed in blood-red flames, a pair of blood-red eyes was staring at him without blinking.

Just as Cui Shuo entered the room, Qin Xue climbed back up and tightly hugged his legs. Cui Shuo's face darkened, killing intent flashing in his eyes. A pale red glow bloomed from his right hand as he chopped directly at Qin Xue on the ground.

This was Cui Shuo's Gangqi. After being entangled by Qin Xue time and again, Cui Shuo had finally been driven into a true rage.

Buzz! A sudden hum erupted. The pill cauldron exploded apart with a crash, and the formation's light screen shattered. A hand wreathed in red aura abruptly seized Cui Shuo's wrist.

Cui Shuo's expression changed drastically. He jerked his head up, only to see a blood-red fist light smashing straight toward him.

Gangqi Body Protection!

Boom! The blood-red fist light slammed into Cui Shuo's Gangqi barrier. Feeling the barrier nearly shatter, Cui Shuo was terrified. He had thought coming here to kill Qin Yu would be as easy as turning over his hand, but he had never expected to encounter such an expert.

In his heart, Cui Shuo cursed Qin Feng, Qin Yong, and Cui Liu from head to toe. He hurriedly brought out a fiery-red longsword.

He cultivated the Heavenly Fire Sect's Blazing Fire Art, and his Gangqi contained a trace of blazing flame. With a swing of his sword, he slashed at the lean figure before him, trailing searing fire.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Wave after wave of blood-red fist light surged forward like a tide, giving Cui Shuo the feeling of facing an ocean. Yet he was, after all, an expert of the Gangqi Realm. Gangqi flooded from his body, forming a beam of energy that blasted ahead, while he rapidly retreated out of the room.

Qin Yu did not press his advantage. He felt the blood and qi within him surge and boil, and an indescribable sensation rose in his heart. He felt his blood and qi burning, transforming into endless power that filled every limb and bone.

"Is this the Mad Demon First Transformation?" Qin Yu muttered. He took out a robe and draped it over himself. When he saw Qin Xue staring blankly at him from the ground, a fiery-red handprint on her face, his pupils contracted sharply and his heart faintly ached.

He slowly crouched down and took out a pill from his Void Storage Ring. Qin Yu had received it from Zi Xun'er. He placed it at Qin Xue's lips and said softly, "Xue'er, with your brother here, no one will ever bully you again. Your brother promised... Mother that I would take good care of you." As he spoke, he placed the pill into Qin Xue's mouth. Qin Yu lovingly stroked her head before slowly rising to his feet.

Qin Xue stared blankly at Qin Yu as he walked out of the room. Tears shimmered in her eyes, and she suddenly burst into loud sobs.

She had not cried when Cui Shuo brutally attacked her. She could endure the dull monotony of daily cultivation. Even when Qin Yong had frightened her before, Qin Xue had stubbornly refused to shed a tear.

But upon hearing Qin Yu's words, Qin Xue could no longer hold back and began weeping freely. The grievances and suffering of all these years finally poured out.

She was only a child.