Chapter 7: Lord of Heaven and Earth

Yin Xi kissed the aching woman tenderly, her own heart feeling as if it were being pierced by thousands of needles. The woman's lips were soft and delicate, her skin as tender as an infant's. Unconsciously, Yin Xi pulled Ji Kece closer by her waist.

Yin Xi spoke with a hint of displeasure, "Kece, are you going to close your eyes like this?"

The bone-deep, soul-stirring strength at her waist caused Ji Kece to suddenly pull away, breaking free from Yin Xi's embrace. Images of her best friend's intimacy with Yin Xi immediately flashed through her mind.

Caressing her own cherry-red lips, a half-smile played at the corners of her mouth. "Has Your Highness overstepped your bounds?!"

Yin Xi seemed quite unhappy; her lips still lingered on the memory of that warmth as she said with a light laugh, "Overstepped? Kece is my future consort. I do not feel that I have overstepped."

Walking up to her, Yin Xi leaned down, her figure expanding within the view of Ji Kece's pupils. Pinching Ji Kece's chin, she said, "I remember owing Kece something. Surely Kece hasn't forgotten?"

Placing a wooden token into Ji Kece's hand, Ji Kece lowered her gaze. Feeling the smooth, hard object in her palm, she finally understood why Yin Xi had insisted she come to the Thunderbolt Hall in person, and had even broken precedent by letting her in.

"Your Highness keeps your promises. Kece offers her respects." She bowed her head slightly in respect. By now, Yin Xi had released her. Ji Kece looked down at the Thousand Fiends Sect token that originally belonged to her.

Ji Kece let out a soft laugh and slowly stood up. Ignoring the pain in her back, she knit her brows and walked toward the three-legged incense burner with its hollowed design.

The lid of the incense burner opened through the air. Using her internal energy, Ji Kece slowly moved within the burner. The flames inside roared fiercely, appearing as if they wanted to swallow anyone outside. Ji Kece slowly placed the wooden token over the brazier.

Yin Xi felt a sudden impulse to grab the token from Ji Kece's hand to throw it away, but instead, she gripped Ji Kece's hand, concealing her anger.

The temperature within the incense burner was scorching, enough to burn anyone's skin. Ji Kece watched as Yin Xi ignored the danger of the flames to hold her hand. "Your Highness, are you mad?!"

"You're the one who's mad! I gave you the token back, why are you doing this?" Yin Xi attempted to snatch the token from Ji Kece's hand, but Ji Kece gave him no chance, swiftly throwing it into the incense burner.

With her hand held tightly by Yin Xi, there was no opportunity to reach down and grab the token. Ji Kece was mad; the Thousand Fiends Sect could only have one master, and that person could be none other than her!

Enduring the pain, Ji Kece used her internal energy from a distance to close the lid of the incense burner. Fine beads of sweat poured down her forehead. Yin Xi embraced Ji Kece from behind. Her weak body was still suffering from the punishments of the Ji family's discipline.

Yin Xi's heart felt as if it were twitching. The pain in Ji Kece's back made her stop struggling, for the more she struggled, the more it hurt. After a moment, Ji Kece tilted her head slightly to look at Yin Xi, her tone extremely sharp, "There can only be one leader's token for the Thousand Fiends Sect!"

As soon as Ji Kece spoke, Yin Xi's heart skipped a beat. He knew Kece was angry—angry that he had silently snatched away the Thousand Fiends Sect that should have belonged to her, the sect she had worked so hard to build.

"Kece knows what Your Highness did while Kece was away from the Thousand Fiends Sect. Kece has always known, including you and that woman, and even..."

"Kece knew everything. Kece did not oppose it, nor would she stop it. But I ask Your Highness not to use the Thousand Fiends Sect, which I poured my life's blood into, to soak it in the blood of so many innocents, including Princess Xin Tong. You are fellow disciples; why must you do this!" Ji Kece's eyes were rimmed with red and her breathing was rapid. The pain in her back struck again, causing her to let out a muffled groan.