In a secluded alley in Wuliang County,
inside a grand, tranquil residence stood a man in fitted white martial attire, radiant as a jade tree and brimming with heroic vigor.
His long, ink-black hair was tied high with a warm white jade crown, and his brows were filled with valor and a razor-sharp edge.
The sword in his hand moved like an afterimage, swift as lightning. Its fierce sword qi was like ice, sending threads of chill through the air.
The man's internal energy was deep and powerful, making others afraid to approach.
This man was none other than the Southern Mo Kingdom's current Northern Pacification Prince, Mo Beiyuan.
A burst of hurried footsteps rang out. A cold-faced youth strode over from afar and dropped to one knee, his expression full of self-reproach.
"Your Highness, the Wang residence was stripped bare by Dad last night. Master Wang was also poisoned into madness. I have already detained him, but the thing we wanted is gone."
At his guard's report, Mo Beiyuan's sword grew even fiercer. His blue eyes, deep as a lake, remained unruffled, yet a cold gleam surfaced in their depths.
A quarter of an hour later,
a man in red walked through the courtyard entrance, his slightly upturned peach-blossom eyes turning toward the training ground. Why was Qing Yi kneeling here so early in the morning?
By then, Mo Beiyuan had finished his entire sword routine. As he turned, he flung the sword from his hand, sending it straight into a sword case in the distance. The blade quivered, giving off a series of humming sounds.
Mo Beiyuan's blue eyes rested impassively on Qing Yi below. His cool, clear voice nevertheless made both men feel the weight of his authority.
"Who is this Dad?"
Yun Manman raised her hand. "What did you call me for?"
Thinking of this name he had never heard before, Qing Yi frowned. "Our people are investigating, but there is no news yet. Please punish me, Your Highness."
"Send all the hidden guards to Extreme Punishment Cliff for retraining. Have the shadow guards handle this matter immediately. Qing Yi, you should know what I want."
"And interrogate everyone we captured thoroughly. Don't let them die so easily."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Inwardly, however, Qing Yi groaned over and over. That dog of a man grew more excited the harder they beat him. He had no idea how to interrogate him.
But he dared not say it aloud, afraid His Highness would send him to Punishment Grade Cliff too.
Watching Qing Yi rise and leave, Han Yu hastily turned and followed him.
He had originally intended to tell Mo Beiyuan about the purple-eyed female assassin today.
Now that something like this had happened, he had better not mention a woman to him.
No matter how many experts Mo Beiyuan sent out, even after they turned all of Wuliang County upside down,
he had no choice but to accept that everything in that residence had disappeared.
Half an hour later,
Yun Manman looked at the woods ahead, which were not as dense as the surrounding woods.
There was a clearing in the middle, with crude little shelters built from piled-up wood.
"Datou, Erniu, Wangba, Sigou, come out! The fairy sister brought us buns! Hurry out, we have buns to eat!"
Then Yun Manman and Yuanwei watched as little figures kept emerging from those small shelters, filling the clearing in the woods in an instant.
Yun Manman swept her gaze around. They were all children of about ten, their clear eyes innocent and untainted as they looked at the two women with curiosity and nervousness.
Following the aroma, their gazes turned in unison toward the buns, and they kept swallowing. Every child's eyes held longing, but no greed, and not one stepped forward to snatch anything.
Yun Manman was very satisfied with their behavior. These children's temperaments had yet to settle, and for them to keep themselves in check like this, someone must have been teaching them for a long time.
"Line up here to get your buns from me. There's enough for everyone, so there's no need to rush."
Yuanwei stepped forward with the buns to hand them out. Only then did Yun Manman turn to the boy who had led the way. "Where is your Brother Tongtong? Take me to see him."
Yun Manman looked at the little shelter they pointed out. Not only could she not crawl inside, it was clearly on the verge of collapse.
"Hurry and help him out. You can't live here anymore. It could collapse at any moment."
The two nodded and crawled inside, then dragged out a straw mat. A boy as thin as a bundle of firewood lay on it.
He looked a little older than the other children, about fourteen. His eyes were dull and listless, as though he had no strength, his complexion was sallow, and his small hands and lips were covered in cracks.
Yun Manman showed neither disgust nor pity. She simply stepped forward and crouched down, offering him the red Returning Lotus Fruit in her hand. Her voice was calm and clear, yet held a reassuring strength.
"Eat it. Your body will recover soon. Even if you die, your death should be worth something. What kind of man starves to death?"
Shame and mortification flashed through the boy's eyes. Looking at the bright red fruit in his hand, he was full of questions, but he still said nothing and simply stuffed it into his mouth and began eating.
Yun Manman looked around. These children must have lived here for a long time. The surrounding woods were stripped bare. They were even more diligent than Wang Baochuan, true professionals at digging up wild greens.
Yun Manman's gaze swept over the people in the clearing. Twenty-eight?
Her purple eyes flickered, and the corners of her lips slowly curved upward. Joy filled her words. "Isn't this the best force Heaven could have bestowed on me!"
The little brats wolfing down their food had no idea that their futures had changed completely at this moment. Years later, each would shine in their own field, becoming someone the imperial family and great clans competed to win over.
After looking down upon the world and seeing its countless wonders, they still chose to hold fast to their original hearts, always grateful for this day's encounter, remembering the delicious aroma of today's buns, and wishing to remain by Yun Manman's side, willingly serving as mere foot soldiers.
No matter how high their status or how great their power outside, whenever they saw Yun Manman, they were all like obedient little lambs, calling out respectfully, sincerely, and with wholehearted devotion-Sister Man.
Yun Manman watched the children wolf down their food. Her voice was clear and steady, yet carried no pressure at all. It sounded like a question, and even more like a request for their consent.
"Are you willing to come with me? You won't have to go hungry or cold again. I'll teach you to become strong, but you must be loyal to me for life and become a force that answers only to me. Are you willing?"
Everyone froze without speaking, a little bewilderment in their eyes. Then they all turned their gazes toward Tongtong.
Tongtong felt that his body had already recovered somewhat and was secretly startled by the fruit's effects. Just as he was wondering how to thank this young woman,
he heard Yun Manman lay her purpose out directly.
He struggled to his feet and looked at those bewildered, uncomprehending eyes, then turned toward Yun Manman with some doubt and wariness.
"You want us to sell ourselves as slaves? To become death warriors?"
"No. I don't need slaves or death warriors. I only want loyal subordinates who obey my orders, to make you my right and left hands."
Surprise filled Tongtong's eyes. He still had not understood exactly what people like them would do if they followed her.
Yet he could feel his body recovering continuously, as though a strange power were feeding him energy.
He hurriedly lowered his eyes, suppressing the shock within them. What fruit was this, to have such miraculous effects?
His gaze toward Yun Manman held a measure of curiosity and scrutiny. Just who was this woman?