, /.

Su Fan felt that the Gan Royal Estate was beyond saving.

Su Zhi, the Gan King, was both cowardly and weak; whenever something happened, he panicked.

The other clan elders were not only weak, but every one of them was a coward too.

He did not want to stay in the Gan Royal Estate for even another moment.

In any case, he had nothing to be attached to in the Gan Royal Estate.

He felt no sense of belonging whatsoever.

He left the reception hall.

With a flicker, he vanished from where he stood.

At the Su Family Ancestral Mountain, before a grave.

Su Fan stood quietly before the grave, and the image of that gentle, loving woman surfaced in his mind.

Looking at his mother's grave, Su Fan hesitated, unable to make up his mind for a long time.

"Perhaps I'm overthinking this."

Su Fan sighed.

After his mother died, his father had become increasingly taciturn.

He showed him far less care and concern.

"As her son, digging up my mother's grave to inspect it over a suspicion alone would be terribly unfilial."

Su Fan shook his head and abandoned the idea of digging up the grave.

"I'd better go find Wu Aoxue."

He vanished from the spot and headed straight for the Thousand Martial Sect.

Within a small courtyard.

The young man stood with his hands behind his back, calm and composed, his eyes carrying an innate air of arrogance.

"Young Master, Thirteen is dead."

The old servant behind him bowed as he spoke.

"Oh? Is Su Fan dead?"

The young man raised a brow, sounding slightly surprised.

"No!"

The old servant answered.

"Who killed Thirteen?"

The young man's tone turned cold.

"Possibly a sword cultivator from Sword God Mountain."

The old servant said gravely, "Thirteen likely died on Sword God Mountain."

"Sword God Mountain!"

The young man snorted coldly.

That mysterious Sword Saint had slain Leng Tu, who had wielded the Demon Blade of Death, with a single strike, shocking the world.

His strength had likely surpassed the limits of the Emperor Realm!

He was a sword cultivator no weaker than Sword God Mountain in its heyday, possessing terrifying combat power capable of crossing realms!

"Young Master, should we continue?"

the old servant asked.

"As long as Su Fan lives, I'll lose face. Send someone stronger to kill him."

The young man said coldly.

"Yes!"

the old servant replied.

Just then.

A servant hurried over and bowed. "Young Master, Miss Wu has arrived."

"Oh, Aoxue came to see me?"

A smile appeared on the young man's face.

Just as he was about to greet her, he saw Wu Aoxue approaching with a frosty expression.

"Aoxue, sit down!"

The young man beamed, looking exceedingly attentive.

"He Jingyun, was it you who sent someone to kill Su Fan?"

Wu Aoxue demanded coldly.

He Jingyun's smile froze. "Aoxue, what do you mean by that? You already broke off the engagement. Why do you still care whether he lives or dies?"

Wu Aoxue snapped, "I had barely broken off the engagement when he was ambushed. How do you think the people of the world will see it?"

"A useless wretch loses his protection and gets killed. How could anyone blame you for that?"

He Jingyun comforted her, "Don't worry. Everyone will only mock him as a useless wretch who got killed the moment he lost his protection. No one will suspect you."

"So it really was you?"

Wu Aoxue's face was filled with fury!

"No! Why would I kill a useless wretch? Wouldn't that dirty my hands?"

He Jingyun shook his head in denial.

"Who is Su Fan? Just a useless wretch. And who am I, He Jingyun? Is he even worth me killing?"

The more he spoke, the more worked up he became. "If you hadn't broken off the engagement, I would at least have had a motive to kill him. But you already broke it off—what reason would I have to kill a useless wretch like him?"

"Aoxue, do you really care so much about whether that useless wretch lives or dies?"

Wu Aoxue furrowed her brows. "It truly wasn't you?"

"It wasn't!"

He Jingyun flatly denied it!

"I hope you're telling the truth. Otherwise..."

Wu Aoxue snorted coldly.

"You care so much about whether that useless wretch lives or dies?"

The veins on He Jingyun's forehead throbbed as he struggled to restrain himself.

"His mother and my mother were close friends. Even if I broke off the engagement and look down on him, I still don't want him to die because of it!"

Wu Aoxue said sternly in warning, "He Jingyun, if you act recklessly, don't blame me for showing no mercy!"

She turned and left.

"When all is said and done, you still care about him!"

He Jingyun clenched his fists, madness flickering in his eyes.

As he watched Wu Aoxue's departing figure, the mad thought in his heart grew ever stronger.

"I want to keep Wu Aoxue here!"

He Jingyun looked at the old servant.

"Yes, Young Master!"

The old servant hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

He moved, but had barely left before quickly returning.

His expression was grave.

"Hm?"

He Jingyun looked at the old servant.

"Young Master, a powerful expert is protecting her!"

The old servant shook his head.

"Hmph!"

He Jingyun looked deeply unwilling.

"Whether in status or talent, how am I, He Jingyun, inferior to a useless wretch like Su Fan? Why is she so obsessed with him?"

"That useless wretch deserves to die. I want to see what you'll do once he's dead!"

He Jingyun was consumed by resentment.

"Kill that useless wretch for me! Send Lao San!"

The old servant was stunned.

To kill a useless wretch like Su Fan, he was actually sending Lao San?

"Yes!"

Chu Kingdom, imperial palace.

Bang!

Empress Tianfei, peerlessly seductive and possessing a proud figure, wore a dazzling crimson gown. Looking capable of bewitching all living beings, she suddenly smashed her teacup viciously onto the floor!

"The Gan Royal Estate has some nerve! Su Zhi has some nerve! He actually dared to kill Hu Yan!"

"He is openly defying me!"

Hu Yan's soul plaque had shattered.

That meant Hu Yan was dead!

She had gone to subdue the Gan Royal Estate, only to die there!

"Summon the Grand Steward!"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Before long.

A gaunt old man entered.

"Greetings, Your Majesty!"

The old man bowed in salute.

"No need for such courtesy, Grand Steward."

Empress Tianfei's anger did not diminish. "The Gan Royal Estate has some nerve, killing my maid Hu Yan. Grand Steward, what do you think should be done?"

A cold gleam flashed through the Grand Steward's eyes. "We must kill the chicken to scare the monkeys! The Gan Royal Estate dared defy its superiors, so we should wipe it out. It will also be a perfect chance to test whether they are truly honoring the agreement!"

"Good!"

Empress Tianfei nodded. "Mobilize the Thousand Demon Guard, set up the Thousand Demon Great Formation, and destroy the Gan Royal Estate. Kill the chicken to scare the monkeys, and display our strength as well!"

"Yes!"

The Grand Steward accepted the order.

"Have you still not caught that wretched girl Zhou Yun?"

Empress Tianfei said hatefully.

"Not yet. We are pursuing her with all our strength."

"No matter what methods you use, bring her back to me! I'll make her wish she were dead!"

Empress Tianfei's gaze was incomparably venomous.

"She dared call me a stinking fox. I'll give her to those stinking pig demons and let them ravage her for ten days or half a month. Then we'll see who stinks!"

"I'm furious!"

The more she thought about it, the angrier she became.

Only after a long while did she calm her rage.

"How are things at court?"

The Grand Steward smiled. "Rest assured, Your Majesty. The court officials now obey every command, and they even offer plans and strategies. They are all nothing but spineless dogs!"

"Mhm, you've done well!"

Empress Tianfei nodded.

"What about the Zhou Family? How many remnants are left?"

"There are not many stubborn ones left. They have all accepted reality and become puppets who can enjoy themselves."

The Grand Steward chuckled darkly.

"And my husband? He's being obedient, I trust?"

"The Chu Emperor is doing quite well. He is immersed in the land of tenderness."

"Good!"

Empress Tianfei nodded in satisfaction.

The Chu Emperor was still useful for the time being. Once he no longer had any value, she could send him to his death.