Zhao Li Xin froze on the spot. He couldn't believe it was that easy. He had been trying to break free from this cage for years and he was released, just like that?
Zhao Li Xin's bewildered expression made others think that Zhao Li Xin regretted his actions and was too distraught by his situation. People laughed and mocked Zhao Li Xin's stupidity and many of them pointed their fingers and sneered openly to humiliate Zhao Li Xin.
"What a stupid Prince...?" A young man uttered loudly. He didn't bother being discreet.
"What prince? He is a commoner now…" Another young man joined in.
"Who does he think he is? Does he think the Emperor won't kick him out of imperial lineage?" One of the older officials shook his head.
"You know the Sixth Prince has never been a bright person, he was like that ever since he was a kid, even after all these years, he still not make any progress." The old official's friend scoffed.
"Stop calling him Sixth Prince. The Emperor has already issued a decree to expel him so there will be no Sixth Prince anymore in this Kingdom," The old official reminded his friend with a smirk.
Zhao Li Xin's lips curled upwards and a low chuckle sounded while everyone was busy mocking her.
"Finally…" Zhao took a deep breath and then turned a defiant gaze towards the Emperor "What took so long...?" His beautiful face brimmed with satisfaction without a hint of worried or desperation at all, instead, he looked relieved and a dazzling smile spread across his face that moved every man and woman in the room.
"So from now on I'm not your son anymore, is that include you, mother...?" his dark eyes glance at Royal Consort Ying.
Royal Consort Ying looked at Zhao Li Xin hatefully as if the man in front of her was not her Son, Royal consort Ying didn't want to be dragged down by Zhao Li Xin caused therefore she purposely showed her hostility towards Zhao Li Xin to convince people she was not on Zhao Li Xin side.
Royal Consort Ying then speak with a cold voice, "Yes, and It's your own doing Zhao Li Xin, you can't blame anyone for this..." she cut their parent's relationship cleanly and cruelly right in front of everyone, especially in front of the Emperor.
Zhao Li Xin sneered, he knew what "Indeed..."
From now on, we won't be a family anymore and everything I do will have nothing to do with any of you, from today on we will be strangers," Zhao Li Xin show a mysterious smile that no one could understand.
The emperor felt a chill seep into his bones as if something bad was about to happen. However, the emperor realized that what was before him was only a weak prince who was dying, so what was he afraid of?
He was a heaven-gifted 'son of heaven' the leader of a thousand-strong army and generals with just a flick of his finger he could kill this arrogant child without having to get up from his seat so what was he afraid of?
The Emperor puffed out his chest with a triumphant expression he said in a tone filled with authority "Yes, we are strangers! and because of that I cannot tolerate your behavior therefore You must be punished!"
The Emperor's anger made everyone tremble and they all knelt on the floor not daring to raise their faces or breathe loudly. No one understood what Zhao Li Xin was thinking to dare to anger the emperor, the only reason that come up to everyone's mind was that Zhao Li Xin had gone mad.
Zhao Li Xin raised his eyebrows in amusement when he heard the Emperor's arrogant words, "foolish old man, I want to see how you will do it?"
"IMPUDENT!!" The Emperor banged his gold armchair until it made a cracking sound.
Everyone's face turned pale when they heard the Emperor's scream, they were afraid that they would also feel the Emperor's anger due to Zhao Li Xin's stupid behavior, so inwardly, they simultaneously cursed Zhao Li Xin, if that stupid ex-prince is not afraid of death why he dragged them too!
The emperor raised his hand and immediately hundreds of soldiers with listening armor and long spears in their hands entered and surrounded the entire main hall.
The emperor smiled proudly seeing his soldier's strength. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the Jiang Wei army is one of the best on the continent only a few empires out there could match the power of the Jiang Wei empire's army. The Emperor proudly sat back in his seat as he waited for Zhao Li Xin to kneel before him and beg for his mercy.
"Is that it?" a shade of disappointment painted Zhao Li Xin's face. The number of soldiers wasn't enough for him to show off his power in front of his little savior and It is tiresome to play with small fries.
Zhao Li Xin would rather let his subordinates do the job instead. annoyed and disappointed he drew a long breath then he beckoned at Lory, "Ri Yi, come here…"
Even though Zhao Li Xin looked relaxed and Girsha told her not to worry, Lory couldn't help but feel a little anxious for him. But Lory knew she couldn't show her feelings in front of Zhao Li Xin's enemy thus Lory gracefully got up from her seat and calmly sauntered over to Zhao Li Xin in a relaxed manner.
"It's gonna be ugly from here on so brace yourself…" Zhao Li Xin reminded her gently. "Stay close to me..." he opens up his palm.
"I told you I'm not that weak!" Lory rolled her eyes before placing her hand in his. Zhao Li Xin smiles dotingly without caring about their surroundings.
Xiang Feng Ran was shocked by what he saw, anger and jealousy rushed to his brain. She couldn't control herself and shouted at Zhao Li Xin accusingly, "Who is she? She can't be yours...?"
"This has nothing to do with you!" Zhao Li Xin glared at Xiang Feng Ran maliciously, the last thing Zhao Li Xin wanted to hear was people mocking her little savior, Xiang Feng Ran gasped, never in her life seen Zhao Li Xin speak for other people let alone for a woman, Xiang Feng Ran fell to her knees as her dream shattered right in front of her face.
"CEASE HIM!" The Emperor commanded as he couldn't take it anymore.
However, one by one the soldiers fell on the floor just like flies, and soon after blood slowly flowed and created a red puddle on the white marble. The remaining soldiers were scared out of their wits and then reflexively point their spears left and right while anxiously watching their surroundings while subconsciously gripping their spears tightly, afraid of being the next victim.
Suddenly four women descended from above the hall ceiling. Their fiery red robes followed gracefully like a sunset cloud gracing everyone with their beauty but no one could see the women's faces because of the white masks they wore but the unique red flowers painted on each of their masks added a mysterious aura around them.
The four women landed on the floor smoothly and surrounded Zhao Li Xin and Lory like a protective fence.
Soon after, a man in the same bright red robe only looks more luxurious and a bit impractical according to Lory's opinion descended from the ceiling with a red mask covering half of his face.
The man's long and wide red sleeves were embroidered with a red vermilion bird that looked so lifelike it seemed as if it would fly from the man's arm.
Everyone with keen eyes would know this type of robe can only be made by master craftsmen and no one dare to guess the price of this one single robe even the Empress cannot be this extravagant.
Everyone was amazed by the man's appearance coupled with the beautiful face that was half hidden behind the mask but from his chin and mouth everyone could guess how beautiful the man was.
The man walked towards Zhao Li Xin he flicked his sleeves then knelt in front of Zhao Li Xin gracefully while cupping his fists courteously, "This subordinate greets our sect leader!"
The words from the red-robed man astonished everyone including the Emperor. When did his weak son become a sect master? Was this a joke? The Emperor looked at Royal Consort Ying who looked dismayed. It seemed she didn't know either.
The one who maintained her calm was Lao Min Na. But there was a trace of envy in her eyes as she watched Zhao Li Xin.
"Rise," Zhao Li Xin replied lazily. The red-robed man was stunned for a moment when he saw Zhao Li Xin's hand intertwined with the woman beside him, he suddenly got excited unfortunately the red-robed man have to avert his gaze from Lory cause Zhao Li Xin send a death glare at him.
Zhao Li Xin ignores the red robe man curious eyes then he turns his head at Lory "Let's go home..." He spoke softly to Lory.
"Okay..." Lory nodded.
The four ladies were also stunned. They never knew their lord could speak like a normal human. One of them secretly glanced at Lory wondering who she was but the red-robed man glared at her so the woman didn't dare continue to stare at Lory, she immediately shifted her gaze pretending to be blind. Zhao Li Xin didn't want to waste more time in this place so he held Lory's hand tightly while proceeding to leave the place.
"Zhao Li Xin, who do you think you are?" The Emperor roared. "You think you can intimidate me with a cheap play like this? You think you can fight the whole kingdom by yourself?"
"We'll see…" Zhao Li Xin shrugs nonchalantly then he took a mask from his collar then placed a golden mask on his face then calmly turned around and walks away in a leisurely manner with Lory.
Xiang Wu Yang felt like he was struck by lightning. He recognized the mask as he had seen it a few times. He murmured to himself, "That can't be…Long Ming?"
"Master Xiang, what did you say?" Zhao Yi Chen couldn't believe what he heard.
"That mask and the man in the red robe... How could I forget? He is... he is the King of the Red Vermilion Palace!" Xiang Wu Yang's voice trembled with shock and fear.
"Are you sure? Anyone can wear a mask. Who knows if it's real or not?" The emperor stubbornly argued then he command his generals impatiently, "Catch them immediately and kill them all!"
The truth was that the soldiers had doubts after hearing Xiang Wu Yang's words, but they could not go against the emperor's direct order. Unwilling to take a risk the General blew his whistle calling for reinforcements and more soldiers came to stop Zhao Li Xin and his men.
"Milord your order?" The red robe men politely asked.
Zhao Li Xin lower his gaze as if he was contemplating then he raised his eyes, and with a voice as cold as a glacier he speak "I want to see red"
The soldiers let out a powerful roars as they attacked at the same time but they were easily defeated by the four mysterious women who swung their swords as if they were dancing soon blood was scattered to the air like red petals and the soldiers fell like a leaf in the autumn.
Meanwhile, Zhao Li Xin continued to walk he doesn't even flinch when the soldier struck him the only thing he worries about is the little woman beside him, he doesn't want to taint Lory's eyes with the brutal scene, therefore, he slightly hastens his pace.
Behind him, Mong Yi and the red-robed man followed in the same relaxed manner.
"Who is she…?" The red-robed nudged Mong Yi.
"Future madam," Mong Yi easily replied.
'HOLLY CRAP!'
Two hundred soldiers easily lost to the four women. Who would have guessed the women were Grandmaster Level cultivators who wielded spiritual-level weapons? Even the Emperor had to go through a painstaking effort to own such a weapon yet the red-robed women had them. The Emperor became anxious as he feared what Xiang Wu Ci said could be true.
The four women ferociously slashed the soldiers' limbs without hesitation. The sound of people screaming and bones breaking echoed in the air. Blood stained the stone floor and a nauseating smell permeated the air. Many women fainted from the horrid scene while the men covered their noses with their sleeves.
The four women stopped after ten minutes had passed and Zhao Li Xin was long gone. Their robes were tainted with blood and there were blood traces on their weapons. One of the women looked at Mong Ki who watched them from the side.
"Master Mong, our Lord wanted to see 'red'. Is this enough?" The girl asked nervously. Her innocent manner was so different from the brutal image she showed before.
Mong Ki looked at the pile of corpses and the wounded general who could barely stand only then did Mong Ki give a half nod, "This would do...for now."
The four women sighed in relief. Although no one could see their faces, they could tell the women were happy.
Mong Ki took a step forward, "If you want a war, the Hei Shen Sect would gladly give you one..."
His words made everyone shiver. A few officials who couldn't withstand their fear fell on their knees and trembled. The Emperor and Xiang Wu Yang's faces turned pale, 'What had they done?'
Mong Yi and the four women left without a trace leaving numerous corpses and blood stains behind. the emperor know it was a brutal reminder of the vast disparity between The emperor and Zhao Li Xin's power. Anger, embarrassment, scared, and regret were mixed into one The Emperor couldn't describe what he feels right now.
But one thing is for sure if only he was given a chance to turn back time then he will! The strongest man on the continent turned out to be his son. The same son he had ignored, despised, and cast out. The same question kept swirling in his head, "What had he done...?"