Chapter 1: The Ruined Capital of the Victorious Nation

That night, it was nearly 5:45 PM. Within a radius of several hundred miles, there were almost no survivors, except for the group from the Qiansha Sect; the Sheng Kingdom Imperial Palace was covered in blood-soaked corpses. Ji Kece knew that this was the weapon of the Desolate City Spirit Maiden, and the consequence of its use.

There were traces of blood everywhere. Corpses lay scattered, mangled and bloody. Amidst a pool of blood, a man dressed in a crescent-white robe over green garments held a deceased woman in his arms. Ji Kece’s legs felt weak, and her small heart throbbed violently. Behind her, her personal maid, Mansui, steadied herself to avoid falling onto the ground, which had already become a river of blood.

But she never imagined that the Sect Leader of the Qiansha Sect, Sa, and the Leader of Tiandi Xing, Chu Heng, would actually use that Red Stone Dagger to kill her best friend—Fei Qingyan!

From the bottom of her heart, she felt that this man was quite terrifying, though she also knew that the man actually harbored feelings for the woman in his arms.

After hesitating for a moment, Ji Kece hurried over, only to discover to her surprise that both the Red Stone Dagger and the Red Stone Ring had vanished without a trace.

Blood continued to flow from the wound in Fei Qingyan's heart. Yin Xi, who was holding Fei Qingyan, did not say a single word; he merely kept his head lowered in silence.

Ji Kece desperately wanted to say something, but her throat was so choked with emotion that she lacked even the strength to speak. She looked up at the sky; day and night had shifted, the bright moonlight hung high, and the countless stars twinkled as if vying for favor.

She did not dare to cry out loud. She vaguely remembered her past days with Fei Qingyan; in fact, because of that incident, she had even attempted to take her own life.

She did not know how Fei Qingyan had traveled through time, nor did she realize the unexpected discovery that, in the Sheng Kingdom, Fei Qingyan's appearance had once belonged to the famous Princess Xintong.

At that time, Ji Kece had already fled the Yidu Dynasty and arrived in this territory of the Sheng Kingdom. Perhaps Yin Xi had come to find her, but it was a shock to discover that the Princess Xintong, who had once been killed, had actually been resurrected.

A long, long time passed. Yin Xi had never abandoned his ambitions; as the heir to the Yidu Dynasty, he constantly expanded his influence.

But tears still fell, dropping heavily onto Yin Xi's robes, as she spoke slowly, "Mansui, let's go."

Mansui looked at Yin Xi with some dissatisfaction, but she still obeyed her mistress. Just as she was about to turn and leave, Yin Xi grabbed the departing Ji Kece and said slowly, "Let's go together!"

Ji Kece hesitated for a long while before nodding, "Alright. I hope Your Highness can grant this woman an identity to reside in the Royal Mausoleum."

Yin Xi looked at Ji Kece with some bewilderment. Seeing her reddened eyes, Yin Xi knew she had cried. He nodded with furrowed brows, "As you wish."

Fei Qingyan, whose face had long since turned pale and flawless, was already gone. In her hand lay the harmonica that had fallen to the ground when Yin Xi picked her up.

Yin Xi was unfamiliar with it, but Ji Kece was. Fei Qingyan had once won an award using this instrument. Such a good person, gone just like that.

At this thought, Ji Kece's tears fell heavily onto the harmonica. She bowed her head, clutching the instrument, and wept bitterly.

Yin Xi did not know why Ji Kece was crying.

He had originally thought his heart would not ache, but he never expected that at the very moment he killed Fei Qingyan, his heart would hurt; the feeling in his chest was indescribable.

By now, they had already boarded the carriage, heading toward the Yidu Dynasty.

Ji Kece could not control her longing for Fei Qingyan and sobbed uncontrollably. Along the way, it was frighteningly quiet, with nothing to be heard but the sound of quiet breathing and total silence.