Chapter Seventy-Two: The Titan of Tidis

Qian Zhiyao spoke with utmost precision. Yet, despite her meticulousness, she made one careless slip, inadvertently confirming Feng Yewu’s suspicions.

“Truly impressive, Mistress Qian. Your reasoning is flawless, your words impenetrable. Yet, I wonder—does your shadowy master hold any official post at court?” Feng Yewu first praised her, then struck straight at the weakness in her argument.

Qian Zhiyao was startled, instantly vexed. She hadn’t expected Feng Yewu to be so astute.

“Hmph, there’s no need for a dying person to struggle.” Knowing she could not reveal more, Qian Zhiyao immediately ordered her attendants to prepare ropes to strangle the three of them.

“You dare!”
“Stop!”
Lu Jue and Zheng Tianlan, seeing Qian Zhiyao about to act, cried out in alarm.

Feng Yewu’s face was likewise filled with shock and fury.

“Afraid now? Such a clever girl—pity you were born in the wrong place. If you’d followed me, you might’ve been a sister. Do it!” With those words, Qian Zhiyao turned to leave.

The three attendants approached Feng Yewu and her companions with ropes, but suddenly, blood flashed across the scene.

Feng Yewu and her companions remained unharmed; the three attendants, faces frozen in surprise, fell dead to the ground.

“Lord of the Grand Court, Wei Nanxi, here to rescue Your Majesty.” As the attendants fell, Wei Nanxi appeared, sword in hand, then knelt and paid respects to Feng Yewu.

Qian Zhiyao, poised to leave, was now surrounded at the rear door by guards of the Grand Court, swords drawn.

“You… you… you are—!” Wei Nanxi’s words struck Qian Zhiyao’s heart like a sledgehammer, leaving a gaping hole. She collapsed instantly, paled with terror.

After all, she was but a woman of the world, never dreaming she would one day meet Feng Yewu.

Feng Yewu, freed by Wei Nanxi, walked calmly to Qian Zhiyao. Leaning slightly, she gazed resolutely into her frightened eyes and spoke with contempt.

“Those born in the wrong place are not the lonely one.”

After finishing, Feng Yewu strode toward the music house. Zheng Tianlan, at her side, asked quietly, “Your Majesty, should we…?”

Feng Yewu glanced at the collapsed Qian Zhiyao and smiled meaningfully. “No need. Others will come for her.”

Inside the music house, the Ministry of Justice and the Grand Court had already seized control. The riffraff had been cleared out, leaving only Zhou Yangfeng, terrified on the floor, and the Prince of Huainan, Zhou Yi’an, furious.

Seeing Feng Yewu enter, Zhou Yi’an rose first, glaring with indignation.
“Your Majesty, what is the meaning of this?”

He had been reveling in the incense chamber, only to be dragged out by a host of soldiers. A prince, publicly humiliated—how could he not be enraged?

“My, Prince of Huainan, what a coincidence.” Feng Yewu feigned surprise, eyes full of mockery as she looked at Zhou Yi’an, disheveled and half-dressed. Her gaze drifted to the anxious Zhou Yangfeng nearby.

Zhou Yi’an snorted coldly. Though furious, he dared not affront Feng Yewu, and so swallowed his anger, flinging his sleeve and retorting, “Though seeking pleasure may be shameful, Your Majesty needn’t have so many detain me.”

Feng Yewu looked innocent, eyes fixed on Zhou Yangfeng as she explained to Zhou Yi’an’s back, “I heard someone here was selling out the country, so I sent people to investigate. I did not know the Prince of Huainan was present.”

Selling out the country?

Zhou Yi’an spun around, suspiciously eyeing Feng Yewu. Such a charge was no trivial matter; as Prince of Huainan, he had to contest it.

When he saw Feng Yewu’s gaze, he looked incredulously at his son, Zhou Yangfeng.

“You…?” Clearly, Feng Yewu referred not to himself, but to Zhou Yangfeng. The bloodless look on his son’s face chilled Zhou Yi’an to the core.

Furious, yet unable to vent his anger, Zhou Yi’an was left with nowhere to turn. Though he indulged in pleasure and scattered affections, Zhou Yangfeng was his only heir.

“Ye Dynasty scum think they can trap me? Watch me slaughter your emperor’s women!”

As Feng Yewu and Zhou Yi’an spoke, a Tidi tribesman, surrounded by Ministry soldiers, suddenly erupted. With a shout, he flung the officers aside.

He had heard the conversation between Huainan Prince and Feng Yewu, and now lunged for her.

“Danger! Protect Her Majesty!”

Sun Changxi cried out, drawing his sword and blocking Feng Yewu.

The Tidi giant, tall and strong, his skin dark and streaked with blood-red marks, batted aside the blades. The clang of steel echoed; the Tidi giant was impervious, and with a sweep of his hand, Sun Changxi was tossed aside, his sword snapped in two.

Feng Yewu, seeing this, knew she stood no chance against him and quickly dodged away.

Other soldiers rushed in, hacking at the giant, but his hands, broad as fans, swept them aside with ease, laying down a host of men. The situation was deadlocked; no one could deal with the Tidi giant.

“Stand aside!”

Lu Jue, hearing the commotion in the front courtyard, hurried in, just in time to witness the rampaging Tidi tribesman.

“Hmph! Take my sword!”

Lu Jue had grown up in the Northern General’s Mansion and, as a child, had encountered many Tidi tribesmen. He understood their peculiarities well.

Tidi people were born in the far north, where sunlight was either endless or nearly absent, giving their skin a grayish hue. The crimson marks beneath their skin were secret arts of their tribe, enhancing their physical strength.

Lu Jue’s sword flew, aiming straight for the Tidi tribesman’s throat.

Clang!

It was as if he’d stabbed stone; only sparks flashed, leaving the Tidi tribesman unharmed.

With his attack ineffective, Lu Jue leapt back, stunned.

A Tidi master?

The Ye Dynasty and the Tidi tribe had battled endlessly, yet both sides forbade master-level warriors from entering the fray or stepping into enemy lands.

Facing such a formidable opponent, Lu Jue dared not underestimate him. Watching the roaring Tidi master, he prepared to strike, waiting for a lethal opening.

The Tidi master bellowed, pounding his chest, then hurled his iron fists at Lu Jue.

“Roar!”

The deafening wind left Feng Yewu’s ears near deaf.

At that moment, Lu Jue risked everything, pouring his strength into one desperate move. As the giant bore down on him, Lu Jue’s eyes narrowed, his shout thundered, gathering all his murderous force.

“Kill!”

Blood sprayed, silence fell; Lu Jue’s sword pierced through the Tidi giant’s mouth and out the back of his skull.

As the giant collapsed, all present were awed by Lu Jue’s strike.

Lu Jue drew his sword and knelt before Feng Yewu.

“Forgive me for arriving late to Your Majesty’s rescue.”

Feng Yewu smiled gently, signaling it was all right.

Just then, a commotion sounded from outside, followed by an aged voice crying, “Forgive me for arriving late to Your Majesty’s rescue!”

Wei Nanxi and Sun Changxi exchanged bewildered glances; neither had informed anyone else as they rushed to the scene.