The golden light withdrew, and the dust gradually settled.
Yet the hall remained a chaos like wailing ghosts and howling wolves.
Several civil officials clutched their heads and cowered behind pillars. One general had even drawn his sword, only to point it the wrong way—its tip aimed at a colleague, startling the man even further.
Worse still, an elderly senior minister had crawled directly beneath the dais before the throne, leaving only half a trembling robe hem exposed.
King Xiong Qi of Chu was pressed flat against the screen behind his throne, both hands gripping the wooden frame for dear life. He only dared peek out with one eye, his pupil full of terror.
Blood Butcher!
Those two words rang through everyone's minds like a death warrant.
Who else could tear through the air like this and crash brazenly into the royal court, if not that Sha Star who had suppressed immortal masters with a wave of his hand and wiped out four states in succession?
Qingxuanzi stood amid the halo of light. Seeing the whole hall in an uproar, he could not help but stare in slight bewilderment.
His brows drew together faintly. With a sweep of his whisk, his calm voice clearly overrode all the noise. "Do not panic, everyone. This humble Daoist is Qingxuan of Yunxiao Temple on Azure Cloud Mountain. I am not a man of Qin, much less the Blood Butcher you speak of."
The chaos in the hall paused somewhat.
King Xiong Qi's ears twitched. After waiting a full three breaths and confirming that the Daoist bore neither killing intent nor baleful aura, he finally mustered his courage and slowly poked his head out from behind the throne again.
He looked Qingxuanzi over from head to toe, his voice still trembling. "Truly?"
Qingxuanzi smiled.