Orion watched Zhou Linglong with a cold, calculating gaze. He knew every thought that crossed her mind, every flicker of desperation in her eyes.
"Do you think you can escape death that easily?" Orion sneered, tightening the aura bracelet around her wrists. The invisible force constricted her movements entirely. "You'll die only when I allow it, Empress."
Zhou Linglong's silver eyes flashed with fury and despair. She had no power left, her cultivation sealed away by the bracelet, and now, even her life seemed to slip beyond her control. She had always imagined dying with honor, on her own terms—but Orion had stripped even that choice from her.
Orion's lips curled into a smile. "You look pitiful, Empress. I could have killed you the moment you betrayed me, but where's the satisfaction in that?" His voice dripped with venom, every word deliberate, designed to twist the knife deeper into her already wounded spirit. "No, you still have value. Your luck, your power—I'll drain every last drop from you before I end this."
Zhou Linglong's heart raced, panic swirling inside her. She pulled at her restraints, but they only grew tighter, cutting into her skin. Every breath became a struggle, each movement futile. Orion wasn't just breaking her body—he was breaking her will.
"Take her to Fengyou Palace," Orion commanded, waving his hand lazily at the shadow guards. "We have more to settle."
...
Fengyou Palace, a place that once brought Zhou Linglong solace, now seemed like a prison. The luxurious chambers, once her sanctuary, felt suffocating. As the guards led her inside, the faint scent of lotus flowers filled the air, a stark contrast to the turmoil that raged in her mind.
Orion followed behind leisurely, scanning the richly decorated walls with mild interest. "Fitting," he muttered to himself, "for the final scene of her downfall."
As the guards positioned Zhou Linglong in the center of the room, a young woman entered, her steps hesitant and her eyes filled with nervous apprehension.
"Master Zhu," Orion addressed her, his voice smooth yet filled with hidden malice. "You will paint everything you witness today."
The painter, Zhu Keqing, swallowed hard. She hadn't been told what she was here for, only that she would be documenting an event for the emperor's court. But now, standing in the room with the infamous Orion and a restrained empress, she could feel the danger radiating from every corner.
"M-My lord," she stammered, "what exactly am I to paint?"
"Everything," Orion replied darkly. "Every expression, every moment of suffering. You are here to immortalize the fall of a queen."
Zhu Keqing's eyes widened, but she nodded, her hands trembling as she prepared her tools. She had heard stories of Orion's cruelty, but nothing could have prepared her for the reality she now faced.
With a flick of his hand, Orion ordered the curtains drawn, casting a shadow over the room. Only the faint outlines of the scene remained visible through the thin veil of fabric. "I want every detail captured," he said, the coldness in his voice making Zhu Keqing's blood run cold.
Zhou Linglong's heart sank further, if that was even possible. She realized that this wasn't just about revenge—it was about humiliation. He wanted to break her in every conceivable way, to make sure her fall from grace was seen by all, recorded in ink for eternity.
"No," Zhou Linglong whispered, her voice trembling as her mind screamed for escape. "Orion, you can't do this. You can't..."
Orion laughed, low and cruel, as he stepped closer. "Can't I? You seem to forget who holds the power now."
Zhou Linglong's once proud posture wilted as despair fully consumed her. Betrayed by her allies, abandoned by her people, and now, left at the mercy of a man she had once despised—this was her nightmare made real. She had no fight left, no hope, and as she looked at Zhu Keqing, she wondered how history would remember her. As a proud empress? Or as the woman who was utterly and completely destroyed?
Through the curtain, Zhu Keqing's brush moved shakily, capturing the scene. Her heart ached for the empress, but fear kept her silent. She couldn't help but wonder what kind of monster would do this—what kind of man would take such pleasure in the complete degradation of another human being.
Orion's laughter filled the room again, a haunting echo of the power he wielded, as the once-mighty empress wept silently.