Turns Out I'm the Real Monster?!

A long silence fell.

Only now did he finally understand why that person had defended that kid so adamantly, regardless of his own status.

It wasn’t because of some powerful background.

It was because the kid’s abilities were simply too monstrous.

"Even if he has heaven-sent talent..."

Tian Wenjing sighed, his tone complex. "But with such an arrogant personality, if he doesn’t learn some restraint, he’ll destroy himself sooner or later. In the end, he’s just too young and too hot-headed."

"If you’re not hot-headed, can you even be called young?"

Ran Qingshan smiled and took the booklet back. "Elder Tian, you just returned from the Capital City. Did the higher-ups issue any new orders?"

Tian Wenjing knew he was trying to change the subject, so he didn’t dwell on Jiang Mu’s matter any longer and sighed.

"Just the same old story. We’re to strengthen our defenses, prevent a second invasion by the fog demons, and strictly investigate the disturbances caused by the Red Umbrella Sect."

"After the last battle, the fog demons were heavily wounded by General Shangguan. They shouldn’t be able to attack again in the short term. As for the Red Umbrella Sect,"

Ran Qingshan paused. "A while ago, it was Jiang Mu who exposed the connection to Madam Han. We’re following that lead to dig out their hidden forces."

Tian Wenjing stood up, walked to the window, and trimmed the wick of the candle on the stand, which had dimmed from burning for so long.

The flame flickered, illuminating his stern profile.

"It’s hard to say the last fog demon invasion wasn’t a joint operation between them and the Red Umbrella Sect. And in fact, their plan succeeded—General Shangguan was gravely injured and even faces the risk of losing his Star Position."

"I dare say, once they confirm General Shangguan’s Star Position is lost, they will definitely launch a second attack.

And this time... it probably won’t be a minor skirmish like the last one.

They will turn Hu State into a true hell on earth."

"Doesn’t the Court have any countermeasures?"

Ran Qingshan asked in a low voice.

Tian Wenjing shook his head, a trace of helplessness and sorrow in his eyes.

"I don’t know the Court’s full plan, but the Lord General’s message was... if it really happens, we are to hold the line for a while. As long as not too many people die, it will be fine."

"Hold the line..."

Ran Qingshan subconsciously clenched his fists.

Tian Wenjing looked at him and said reassuringly:

"Don’t be too pessimistic. The rebellion in Yan City was suppressed so quickly, which means the Red Umbrella Sect also suffered a major blow. A bunch of heretical fiends, no matter how much trouble they cause, can’t overturn the heavens.

In two days, I will personally lead a team to Yan City to eliminate the demons. Once we’ve cleared out the hidden dangers there, the pressure on Hu State will be much less."

Ran Qingshan nodded. "I hope so."

"Also..."

Tian Wenjing lowered his voice. "I also heard a rumor in the Capital City. They say His Majesty has secretly dispatched a team of the Inner Guard, and they’re searching everywhere for someone."

"Who are they looking for?"

"Take a guess?" Tian Wenjing pointed toward the sky.

Ran Qingshan’s eyelid twitched. A name almost escaped his lips, but he forced it back down, cold sweat beading on his palms.

Tian Wenjing sighed.

"Everyone says the Demon Queen is a plague upon the nation, the Demon Queen is a plague upon the nation... But how can the fate of the country, the stability of the realm, hinge on a single person? And how can we rashly resort to arms and throw the world into chaos for the sake of one person?"

Ran Qingshan’s expression turned strange.

’This old man really dares to say anything. Does he have a death wish?’

Fortunately, Tian Wenjing seemed to just be sighing with emotion and didn’t elaborate, instead changing the subject to something else:

"There’s one more thing. There have been many rumors in the martial world lately, saying the Celestial Blade Sect is secretly holding an artifact left behind by Jiang Chaoxi. Many people speculate that it’s the legendary Double Fish Jade Pendant."

"The Double Fish Jade Pendant? That’s impossible."

Ran Qingshan frowned, skeptical. "How could a third-rate sect like the Celestial Blade Sect possibly hide such a divine object?"

Back then, the old ancestor of the Celestial Blade Sect was a die-hard fan of Jiang Chaoxi. He even forged the Blood Mad Saber to go kiss up to him, but the man didn’t even give him the time of day.

The two of them never had any deep connection.

Later, after Jiang Chaoxi’s death, the Celestial Blade Sect’s ancestor spoke out against the injustice done to his idol, angering the Court and the orthodox sects. If not for Elder General Chang’s strong protection, the sect would have been annihilated long ago.

For this news to suddenly surface now...

A chill ran down Ran Qingshan’s spine. "Elder Tian, this news couldn’t be...?"

Tian Wenjing didn’t say it outright, only letting out a long sigh.

"Elder General Chang is getting old. I heard they suffered another defeat on the border. Although the losses weren’t significant... His Majesty is furious.

After all, the strategy for this battle was personally devised by His Majesty, who forced the border army to execute it."

Ran Qingshan fell silent.

That young and hot-headed Emperor seemed particularly fond of "micromanaging."

Having lost face now, he would surely look for someone to take his anger out on.

He can’t touch Elder General Chang, so he’ll make an example out of the Celestial Blade Sect that the general once protected.

It seemed the Celestial Blade Sect...

was about to be erased from the martial world.

Tian Wenjing turned around, the candlelight casting deep shadows across his face.

"The tempests of the martial world, the schemes of the court—it has always been this way. We who serve in public office can only do our best to guard our own little patch of land and protect the common people in our jurisdiction.

As for the Celestial Blade Sect... they have their own fate."

...

...

「Deep within the Underground Palace.」

Shangguan Luoxue sat cross-legged on the Cold Jade Platform.

Countless specks of purple snow swirled around her, leaving splendid and mysterious trails of light that made her look like the Nine Heavens Profound Lady.

After many days of meditative recovery, she had finally emerged from the shadow of having her defenses broken during her "discourse on the Dao" with Jiang Mu, and had reclaimed her heart of ice.

Tonight was the critical moment for her to break through to the Seventh Layer of the "Purple Extremity Art."

Time slowly trickled by.

After a long while.

As the swirling snow around her suddenly trembled and scattered outward, Shangguan Luoxue slowly opened her eyes.

Her pale purple pupils were suffused with a brilliant, divine light.

"I finally succeeded."

Shangguan Luoxue raised a jade-like hand, feeling the surging Purple Mansion Spiritual Power within her, her beautiful eyes shining brightly.

"That cowardly fellow who’s always hiding..."

"This time, I’ll see for myself just what kind of grand person you are!"

She closed her eyes, weaving her hands together in front of her chest to form a Dharma Seal.

"Purple Mansion Divine Realm, open!"

As the Dharma Seal was formed, an invisible ripple spread out in an instant.

Anyone with Purple Mansion Spiritual Qi in their body, no matter where they were, would be forcibly pulled into this Divine Realm!

SWOOSH!

Space distorted.

The next moment, Shangguan Luoxue found herself on a small island in the middle of a lake, a place like a paradise.

A lone, blooming peach tree stood on the island.

The peach blossoms were radiant, their petals falling in a colorful shower.

The surrounding lake was as smooth as a mirror, reflecting the entire starry river of the heavens.

It was beautiful and dreamlike.

"He’s coming!"

Shangguan Luoxue sensed something and stared intently at the slowly forming vortex ahead.

For some reason, her heart began to race.

The vortex dissipated.

A figure gradually came into focus.

The moment she saw that face clearly, the look of anticipation on Shangguan Luoxue’s face instantly froze.

Then, it shattered, piece by piece.

Her blood pressure skyrocketed in an instant.

"..."

’Why is it this bastard again?!’

Xiaoxue’s composure had shattered.