Chapter Twenty-Nine: Flattery

The formation vanished, its core rendered useless. Shen Ruru turned to leave, but just as she leapt onto the high wall, a surge of spiritual power shot toward her with the force of thunder. There was nowhere to dodge; she could only watch helplessly as the strike blasted her away.

Xie Yingying, noticing the commotion in mid-air, hurried to look outside, just in time to see Shen Ruru plummeting from the sky like a falling star. With a startled cry, she sprang out the window, afraid that Shen Ruru might die from the fall and rushed to catch her. Yet the descent was too swift—her toes had barely touched the ground when she saw Shen Ruru already sprawled there, blood trickling from the corner of her lips.

A moment later, a figure in violet robes landed lightly not far away and approached at an unhurried pace, followed by several shadow guards whose formidable presence was palpable even without them deliberately releasing their spiritual pressure, making Xie Yingying’s heart race with dread.

That violet figure was, of course, Bai Shengyun. He lifted a hand to dismiss the dust before him, frowning with a look of distaste. As he drew closer, his gilt eyes fixed on Shen Ruru, his gaze as cold and venomous as a serpent, his tone calm yet laced with authority: "You do seem to have a penchant for meddling in others’ affairs."

Shen Ruru struggled to her feet, trembling at his wintry expression. "Y-Your Majesty..."

Bai Shengyun withdrew his gaze, ignoring her, and looked toward Xie Yingying, who had run out. In a flash, his hand gripped her throat, cutting off her breath. Her face turned a ghastly pale as she coughed and clawed desperately at his hand.

His grip did not loosen in the slightest; if anything, it tightened, as if intent on crushing the life from her then and there. Xie Yingying’s larynx creaked ominously under the pressure. With a flicker of violet shadow, all the doors and windows in the room slammed shut with a heavy bang. Bai Shengyun pressed her in place, his hand tightening, his eyes devoid of emotion, watching like a cold, indifferent observer.

Seeing his utter lack of feeling, Xie Yingying’s anger flared.

"Why can’t you simply behave?" Bai Shengyun snapped. "Trying to escape? Perhaps I should break your legs!"

Xie Yingying shook her head in terror and desperation, struggling to speak but unable to utter a word as his grip cut off her voice entirely.

At last, Bai Shengyun narrowed his eyes and tossed her aside before straightening his collar, unconcerned.

Finally able to draw breath, Xie Yingying felt somewhat better, though her neck still bore deep bruises from his grasp, and the urge to flee only grew in her heart.

Yet Bai Shengyun read her thoughts at a glance. "Want to leave? Banish that hope."

At his words, Xie Yingying instinctively wanted to curse him, but not a single word could escape her lips. Only after quite some time did she manage to speak, her eyes blazing with resentment as she forced out, "You’re... insane!"

Bai Shengyun did not know the meaning of the word, but instinct told him it was an insult. He shot her a glare, and a gust of wind sent the barely-upright Xie Yingying tumbling far across the room.

The primordial energy within Xie Yingying’s body flared up again, worsening her wounds, and agony seared her flesh as if she were being burned alive. She could not suppress a groan of pain. Bai Shengyun sat in a chair, appearing supremely at ease as he looked down on her writhing in torment, his eyes filled only with coldness and contempt.

"Still thinking of running?" he asked icily.

Fuming and wracked by the backlash of her own power, Xie Yingying shouted without thinking, "Run! Of course I’ll run!"

She regretted the words the moment they left her lips, but the pain already had her curled up on the floor. Bai Shengyun struck her with another blast, then in a flash seized her throat once more. "Why are you so desperate to escape, hmm?"

Now, Xie Yingying truly wished for death, but Bai Shengyun did not increase the pressure further, seeming content to torment her in this way.

After a long while, the pain from her primordial energy finally ebbed, but Bai Shengyun’s earlier blow had injured her organs, leaving her still aching all over. He released her at last. Xie Yingying looked up at him, gritting her teeth. "You’re surrounded by so many beautiful women—why not marry one of them?"

Bai Shengyun regarded her coldly, saying nothing.

"I don’t want to die at your hands, nor do I wish to spend my days scheming against other women," Xie Yingying said earnestly, revealing her heart. "I don’t want to live like this forever. I’d rather travel the world alone than become a resentful wife."

Bai Shengyun was silent for a long time before settling into his chair again. "Is that truly how you feel?"

"It is!"

Though little emotion showed on his face, his heart was a tangled knot.

After a long pause, he spoke coolly: "Why not try to please me? Perhaps then I’d let you live."

A sudden memory of her predecessor’s fate flashed through Xie Yingying’s mind. She lowered her eyes and fell silent, unwilling to say more.

Bai Shengyun grew irritated at her silence. "Well?"

Still, Xie Yingying did not reply.

His anger rose, and he was about to punish her when she suddenly raised her head, her expression frail and her voice soft: "Your Majesty..."

Bai Shengyun arched an eyebrow and withdrew his demonic power.

Xie Yingying clutched her head and curled into a ball, as if terrified of further punishment, her voice small and plaintive: "Your Majesty, I was wrong. I won’t try to run again."

Bai Shengyun tapped his finger lightly on the table. "Truly?"

She lowered her hands, looking up at him with a fawning smile and nodding repeatedly. "Truly, truly. I won’t run anymore."

He gave a cold laugh. Of course, he did not believe her so easily, knowing she only said this to avoid more suffering. He rose slowly, a short dagger appearing in his hand as he approached.

Seeing this, Xie Yingying backed away in terror. "Your Majesty, are you going to kill me? Please—don’t!"

Bai Shengyun said nothing, only crouched beside her and plunged the blade into her arm. Blood welled up instantly.

She gasped, face turning white as cold sweat broke out across her skin.

Bai Shengyun’s voice was soft: "This dagger is a magic weapon. Its wound will not heal for a month and will eventually fester. But if you refrain from any tricks until after the wedding, I’ll heal you myself."

Xie Yingying pressed her hand to the wound, blood seeping between her fingers, the pain unbearable. She nursed a grudge in her heart, but dared not show it, only putting on a pitiful face. "Yes... I understand."

Bai Shengyun seemed to smile, apparently satisfied.

He left the room, and outside, Shen Ruru was already surrounded by shadow guards. In truth, the moment Shen Ruru had set her formation, the guards had alerted him.

Now, Shen Ruru stood pale and furious, clutching her chest and glaring at the guards around her.

"What is it?" Bai Shengyun approached. "You meddle in my affairs and now glare at my people?"

Shen Ruru bowed her head, hiding the hatred in her eyes.

"I advise you to stay out of matters between me and Xie Yingying," Bai Shengyun said with a cold snort. "Otherwise, you know well the consequences."