"Bang..."
Bai Youyou was slapped away like a falling leaf.
She braced herself against the ground and tried to sit up, but the movement split the wound beneath her left ribs open a little.
Blood seeped down the front of her clothes, spreading into a small, dark stain on the flagstones.
"Purple Sky Dragon King..."
"You should never have come back."
There was neither anger nor disgust in the Purple Sky Dragon King's voice, only an indifference pressed utterly flat.
"I gave you a chance. During your days in the Dragon Palace, I never let anyone truly lay a hand on you."
"I knew about this secret passage long ago, and I knew every route you used to enter and leave the Dragon Palace, but I never moved against you."
"Not because I didn't want to kill you, but because I thought leaving you a way to live might also preserve some dignity for Yun'er. Yet you insisted on choosing the least dignified path, turning back and delivering yourself to my door to court death."
Bai Youyou raised her head to look into those deep-purple eyes. Her voice was very soft, yet as clear as marks carved into stone.
"Your Majesty, I didn't come back to steal your son-in-law. I only wanted to know whether he was doing well."
The Purple Sky Dragon King's brow twitched, and his gaze darkened a shade.
He took a step forward, unleashing the full weight of his oppressive aura.
Throughout the rear garden, even the wind ceased to move.
"Whether he is doing well is no longer any concern of yours."
The Purple Sky Dragon King slowly raised his right palm.
A mass of somber purple light was gathering in his palm, taking shape slowly but inexorably.
True killing intent.
Bai Youyou sat on