Han Zhan's brows rose sharply. He drew a deep breath and said to Green Sepal, who knelt weeping nearby, "Chan'er is asleep. Carry her to bed and let her rest properly... be gentle!"
His voice was terrifyingly low, holding back boundless grief and murderous fury that surged to the heavens.
Choking on her sobs, Green Sepal crawled over and took her young mistress from He An's arms. The moment she touched that still-warm body, she could no longer restrain herself and burst into wrenching sobs. "Young mistress! Young mistress! Wake up!"
Her piercing cries echoed through the night sky for a long time.
He An slowly rose to his feet, tear tracks still marking his face and his eyes bloodshot. Yet those eyes now resembled two pools of stagnant water, without a single ripple.
He stared motionlessly at the figure in Green Sepal's arms, who would never wake again.
Han Zhan advanced step by step. With each step, the tiles beneath his feet cracked-the result of Mystic Ice True Qi leaking out beyond his control. Almost tangible killing intent poured from his burly body, making the surrounding air seem to freeze solid.
"I promised Chan'er I'd let you go."
Han Zhan spoke in a voice like rolling thunder, his face frighteningly ashen. He stared fixedly at He An, blazing fury burning in his ox-like eyes. "But you'll leave a hand behind!"
His great hand shot out, its five fingers hooked like claws, and seized toward He An's shoulder with a shriek that tore through the air.
The grab was as swift as lightning. Chilling white vapor curled between his fingers, and wherever his hand passed, moisture in the air condensed into fine ice crystals that fell in a rustling shower.
The Azure Tide Great Dao Scripture circulated silently within He