It was now dark outside.
Lanterns lit up the white marble paths leading to the golden Banquet Hall, casting soft yellow glows, illuminating the skies.
He trampled upon the wind as he entered the Banquet Hall, silver moonlight outlining his form. His face, softly outlined by golden lanterns, was of such beauty Ling Yue has never seen before.
Chiseled features, as if etched out of marble; narrow phoenix eyes, irises of deep red.
Eyes like bloody gems shining in the dark of night.
He stared into her soul, cold and unwavering, his features betraying no readable emotions.
His hanfu was made of invaluable black silk, darker than night. Patterns sewn with the finest silver threads glimmered as he stepped. This man was not of humble origins; he dressed better than even the Emperor himself.
A breath of mystery followed him; his aura radiated chilling aloofness, and then there was something more – this feeling when he entered the Banquet Hall, it was like the Emperor ceased to exist.
He felt like the true ruler of this place, so much so that even if he sat on the throne right at that moment, no one would dare to protest.
Something tugged at Ling Yue's soul as she looked at him, at those crimson eyes.
He felt oddly dangerous. She couldn't tell what it was.
She never got intimidated easily, yet her blood was boiling, her senses heightened, as if she was looking at some great beast.
Maybe it was because she couldn't read him, that he was one of the few people she couldn't see through. Yes, that must be it. His movement was soundless and swift, that of a martial arts master.
Ling Yue was alarmed. Caution rose in her eyes. Around her, the noblemen and officers suddenly kneeled and shouted: "Long live the Great War God!"
Even the Emperor and Empress stood up and slightly bowed to greet him. The corners of Ling Yue's brows twitched as she quickly did the same, her brain rummaging through the memories of the previous Ling Yue for any information she could find of this man before her.
War God? The Lunar Empire didn't have a War God. Who was this person that even the Emperor had to bow to?
The four Great War Gods, the only Chi users of the continent to reach Violet Class of this moment.
War God of the Great Hei Empire, so famous that even a shut-in like the previous Ling Yue knew about, Han Hei.
Merciless, unpredictable, cold as frozen hell.
One of the continent's Four War Gods, the Chi prodigy who reached Violet class at the tender age of twenty-five, the conqueror of nations, the dragon slayer, Han Hei.
Shit. He was talking to her?!? Σ(°△°|||)︴
Ling Yue wasn't sure if she wanted to laugh or cry. Almost a hundred pair of eyes in the Banquet Hall stared at her.
The Empress slammed her hand on the golden table in front of her: "Ling Yue, insolent girl! The War God has graced you with his attention; bow down and accept his generosity!"
Everyone in the Hall all inhaled as they lowered their eyes, not daring to look at Han Hei. Even the usually calm and collected Empress has spoken; this showed how much the War God's reputation affected this court.
Han Hei was famous for doing unpredictable things. If the Imbecile maddened him, he might even conquer the Lunar Empire!
This was not someone they could afford to anger with their own internal conflicts.
The Lunar Empire, although rich, was a small empire with limited military power.
If not for the protection they received from the Great Hei Empire through offering hefty tribute, they would've been wiped off the face of the continent years ago, because their wealth was a piece of juicy meat on the map, waiting to be conquered...
The officials all discreetly wiped their damp foreheads. Why did this dangerous man show up unannounced at this time, when the Imbecile was about to embarrass herself in front of the whole Court?!
If they had heard correctly, the War God had offered to lend Ling Yue his Guqin!
Hong Yue's face hardened, his body tensing, his Chi ready to burst.
He knew firsthand how dangerous Han Hei was.
The sheer pressure of the War God's aura had him breathing inefficiently. He glanced at Ling Yue, furious at himself for bringing her here. He could have left her home.
Even if it was against Concubine Fu's will, at least she would've been safe.
This Imperial Court was full of danger; now she was in the presence of this Continent's most powerful being!
Han Hei was even more dangerous than the Emperor. To handle him was like walking on the edge of a blade.
One wrong step, blood flows.
If it came to the worst possible situation, Hong Yue was ready to use all his power to save his daughter.
Ling Yue calmly glanced at the Empress, her read-to-explode father, and then slowly turned around to face Han Hei.
He stood in the Banquet Hall's entrance, hands across his chest, glorious like a deity, mysterious like the night sky. His appearance shocked the whole Lunar Court; everyone dared not look in his direction, yet there he stood, casual, not even bothered by the effects his presence brought upon others.
His crimson eyes found hers.
She slightly tilted her head.
His intentions for lending Ling Yue his Guqin was unknown; why he was in the Lunar Empire in the first place was a mystery. She was certain the previous Ling Yue had never even seen this man's face, not to mention know him enough for the man to lend her his Guqin.
How long has this man even watched this whole show unfold? Was he here to witness the tension between the Emperor and the Yue Clan?
Ling Yue could not read anything from this dangerous being, and it alarmed her greatly that she was kept in the dark.
A flash of intrigue crossed Han Hei's eyes.
He stared at the woman standing in front him, fiery like the flames of hell. It seemed like the Lunar Empire's infamous Imbecile wasn't as worthless as they all said.
He wanted to use her.
His Guqin was the Guqin of Blood, said to have been made from the bones of a thousand sinned men. This was the most feared, and also the most famous Guqin ever made, the Guqin said to trap dead men's soul inside its white body.
Because of the Guqin's sinister aura, if the Guqin holder was not strong enough to control it, the blood red strings would cut the player's fingers like soft tofu under a sharp blade.
Han Hei had wanted to show the Guqin to the Lunar Empire's Emperor, so the bastard would know of the Great Hei Emperor—his father's threat.
The perfect chance showed itself when Ling Yue entered the stage. He didn't care if the woman's fingers got severed; all that mattered was the Lunar Emperor seeing the Guqin of Blood. If she made a bloody show out of it—the greater the effects of the Hei Empire's massage.
The infamous Guqin was, in fact, made by Han Hei's father twenty years ago, using the bones of the Lunar Empire's assassins.
Stupid Lunar Emperor, to think he would dare repeat his Empire's sin. He thought the Great Hei Empire didn't know of his intentions? He was but a clown in their eyes.
The Lunar Empire had sent assassins to the Hei Emperor twenty years ago; they failed, so now existed the Guqin of Blood. Last month, assassins once again were captured by the Hei Emperor himself.
Where these assassins originated from—all evidence pointed towards the current Lunar Emperor.
The Guqin's appearance was to remind the Emperor of his Empires' mistake twenty years ago—and its bloody outcome.
This Ling Yue was an unexpected factor.
Han Hei didn't care if her fingers got cut off; she was just a convenient sacrifice. An existence comparable to an ant in his eyes, no less.
Yet contrary to what he has heard—the woman now standing in front of him was not one bit cowering under his presence.
Her eyes gleamed like stars, betraying vast intelligence and authority.
Han Hei had the unexpected feeling of a lion staring at a tigress.
Ling Yue stared at Han Hei as the corners of his mouth suddenly curled up into a predatory smile.
The hairs on her back raised.
She slightly gripped her hands, hidden under her long sleeves, caution bubbling beneath the surface.
This man, he was observing her every move, his red eyes gleaming—as if he saw through everything.
As if he was excited to watch this show unfold.