The mysterious flower

The moment he raised his head, Fanny cried out in surprise, "Dai Weiwei! What are you doing here?"

Her surprise was understandable. Although she and Kukulu were in a forest, this was not somewhere just anyone could enter.

This forest was reserved for royal descendants. Members of every branch of the royal family, direct or collateral, could train here as long as they carried royal blood. Aside from royal descendants and those who had rendered outstanding service, no one else was allowed inside.

Of course, this was also for the royal descendants' safety, to prevent another assassination attempt like the previous one. Although that attempt had failed, it had left a deep impression on the royal family. Ordinary people were therefore forbidden from entering.

What was more, guards were stationed all around. She had slipped inside without having them announce her arrival, and that alone showed that her motives were suspect.

After all, she could easily have asked the guards to announce her, yet she had insisted on sneaking in herself.

Who would believe she had no ulterior motives?

Yes, the disheveled, dirt-covered flower fairy pinned to the ground was Dai Weiwei.

Hearing Fanny's words, Jun Yi smiled gently, his voice wonderfully pleasant. "That's something we'll have to ask her."

Jun Yi's beautiful eyes were like a pool of spring water, but beneath their gentleness lay a chilling intent to kill.

Meeting those eyes, Dai Weiwei shuddered, her entire body turning cold. Her sixth sense screamed warnings, constantly reminding her that this man was dangerous.

Although Kukulu did not understand why Dai Weiwei was here, he would not plead for her. (Note: At this point, Kukulu had not yet been affected by dark magic, nor was he close to Dai Weiwei.)

He knew his older brother always exercised good judgment and would never treat someone this way without a reason.

When Fanny saw her raise her head, she hid behind Kukulu in fright, peeking out with only her little head to stare at her. Her large eyes blinked, making her look utterly adorable.

Jun Yi's voice was calm. "This is the royal territory of the Ancient Spirit Clan. You entered without permission. Do you acknowledge your offense?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Dai Weiwei began struggling to escape. Seeing this, Jun Yi turned toward Kukulu, amusement in his voice. "Kukulu, I'm going to teach you a lesson myself today. Watch carefully~"

At his words, Kukulu straightened his back, his little face filled with solemn resolve.

With that, the "lotus" in Jun Yi's hand danced rapidly. The "lotus blades" pinning Dai Weiwei's wings slowly rose, slicing across them again and again.

The wounds were not severe, but they were agonizing. Every cut struck a meridian, making the pain unbearable. As she felt it spread, Dai Weiwei screamed in terror, "Goddess, Goddess, save me! It hurts so much!"

Barely injured, Dai Weiwei had already shouted out the identity of the mastermind. Who knew why the person behind this had felt so comfortable entrusting her with the task? Had they not worried she would botch it?

By now, Dai Weiwei's wings had been slashed into tatters, and even her arms bore several cuts from her struggling. She looked utterly wretched, with none of her former poise, elegance, or easy grace. Her hair hung in a tangled mess, and only undried tear tracks remained on her beautiful face. Overall, she looked like, um... a madwoman?

Jun Yi turned, his smile deepening, his eyes full of interest. Kukulu did not notice at all. He watched with intense concentration, persisting despite his pale face, because his brother had told him to. He had to see it through!

Faced with his smile, Dai Weiwei felt as though she had fallen into an ice pit. Seeing her like this, Jun Yi's smile deepened further. He raised an exceptionally pale, slender hand and spread his fingers slightly. A flash of light passed, and Dai Weiwei was restored to perfect condition, without a single wound. Yet she vaguely sensed something wrong with her body, a feeling that was soon confirmed—

Her wings were slashed to shreds again, stroke by stroke, but the pain was millions of times worse than before!

The cycle repeated until Dai Weiwei was drenched in cold sweat and could no longer speak.

At that, Jun Yi waved his hand, teleporting her to the Goddess Temple and placing a seal on her—until she saw the Goddess, her pain would never disappear, tormenting her over and over.

Kukulu had never witnessed anything like this. The king and queen had protected him well, and Jun Yi would not normally let him see such things either, so this was his first time.

His little face was deathly pale, and his body trembled faintly, but he still forced himself to watch until the end.

Seeing how seriously Kukulu had taken this, Jun Yi nodded in satisfaction. Then he beckoned behind him and vanished. Kukulu had yet to recover when he felt someone beside him pat him.

He turned stiffly and saw the king and queen, who had rushed over after receiving Edwin's message.

The king and queen were deeply relieved. If not for Jun Yi... they simply did not dare imagine what might have happened had the sheltered Kukulu encountered Dai Weiwei alone.

At that thought, the couple exchanged a look, understanding each other perfectly. The queen comforted Kukulu while the king ordered the soldiers, "Increase patrols. Do not let any unauthorized people enter royal territory again. We are counting on all of you to keep the royal descendants safe."

The king paused, then softened his tone. "While patrolling, pay attention to your own safety as well. Avoid getting hurt whenever possible."

Watching Kukulu, little Fanny stood nearby with a pale face, filled with envy. She wanted her father and mother's embrace and comfort too.

She had been sent here alone for training; her father and mother had not accompanied her.

So little Fanny, still so young, had not seen her parents for a very, very long time.

At the thought, Fanny's eyes burned, filling with tears.

Suddenly, she heard someone call out. The moment she turned and was swept into an embrace, a tear slipped from her eye. But this was not a tear of sadness.

It represented Fanny's wish coming true, and her parents' love—their selfless love.

As it turned out, the king and queen had also informed Fanny's parents the moment they received the news.

Upon learning what had happened, Fanny's parents had hurried over from their fief without stopping for even a moment along the way. Their clothes were disheveled and their faces haggard; it was clear they had likely rushed here with every ounce of strength they possessed.

But Fanny's tear did not fall to the ground.

A purple flower caught it. The flower was beautiful, but after catching the tear, the tear slowly disappeared. Sensing the emotion within it, the flower paused. Then it slowly vanished, turning into specks of starlight that scattered on the wind.

No one noticed any of this.

Not far away, the two families held one another, one immersed in the joy of reunion, the other in lingering fear.

It seemed like the course of destiny, or perhaps a bond ordained by heaven, as though an unseen hand was guiding it all. Everything unfolded so orderly and silently...

Unbeknownst to anyone else.

[This chapter has two thousand characters! Hurry and praise me, please ૮ ºﻌºა]