The entire gathering fell silent, and only now did anyone truly notice how fierce the northwest wind had grown. Because of Mingsha Mountain’s presence, the wind on the Sand Sacrifice terrace itself wasn’t strong, but from the sound alone, one could tell just how terrifying the wind outside must be!
Yet at this moment, no one had any attention to spare for the strange behavior of the wind—everyone stared at Jun Beiyue with hearts pounding in fear, and even though they’d been utterly ignored, none dared look away, terrified of accidentally becoming this man’s next target!
At this moment, the man looked like a demon consumed by inner fire, emerging step by step from the depths of hell!
No one knew what was happening. Everyone’s hearts pounded faster and faster, and even the rulers of the various nations didn’t dare make a sound!
A sovereign ruler of an entire nation, standing before this mere prince Jun Beiyue, seemed utterly insignificant, not even worth mentioning!
This man seemed not to have come for the peace conference at all—he seemed to have come seeking vengeance!
Who exactly had offended him, to provoke such towering rage?
Finally, the Xijing emperor realized something was wrong—realized that Jun Beiyue’s gaze, and his advancing steps, were both directed straight at him!
Had the matter of Han Ziqing been exposed?
He hadn’t done anything himself—Jun Beiyue couldn’t do this to him!
Before everyone’s eyes, and at the peace conference no less—Jun Beiyue had already been the one to arrive late, and now what more did he want!
Before laying eyes on Jun Beiyue, the Xijing emperor had felt entirely confident. But now, without Jun Beiyue having said a single word, merely walking toward him was enough to make him lose his composure!
Before Jun Beiyue could draw any closer, he stood up in a panic and stepped back several paces, forcing down his fear, and said with utmost respect, “This humble one respectfully invites Prince Yao to be seated!”
Only then did Jun Beiyue stop. He said nothing, merely fixing his gaze on the Xijing emperor, his dark eyes as cold as they could possibly be, his handsome face, cold as frost, as dark and ominous as gathering storm clouds before a tempest!
The Xijing emperor couldn’t help but retreat further, nearly stumbling—had Eunuch Xu not caught him, he would certainly have fallen flat in front of everyone!
Not a single person present dared speak, nor did anyone wish to. Even a fool could see that Jun Beiyue’s fury was aimed squarely at the Xijing emperor.
Now there was a show to watch!
Those watching the show hardly cared how precarious the stage was—if anything, they secretly hoped Xijing’s ruler would tumble down right then and there, disgracing Xijing’s name completely.
“Where is she?”
Finally, Jun Beiyue spoke coldly, his voice low, yet carrying a force that could erupt at any moment. The Xijing emperor trembled, barely able to stand, his heart pounding as if it would leap from his chest. “Wh…what…what do you mean, Prince Yao, I, I… I don’t understand… under… understand what you’re…”
Even the Xijing emperor’s lips were trembling. What stood before him no longer resembled Jun Beiyue at all—it looked like a savage beast that could erupt and bring about total devastation at any moment!
“Where is Han Ziqing!”
Suddenly, Jun Beiyue roared, like a wild beast howling, his furious voice drowning out the wind entirely, echoing across the whole Sand Sacrifice terrace, so fierce that even composed figures like the Xiongnu emperor and the Xiliang emperor couldn’t help but tremble!
So it was about the consort of Prince Yao—something had happened to her.
The Xijing emperor was so terrified he nearly wet himself, unable to think of anything else, hastily shaking his head. “I don’t know, I truly know nothing, Prince Yao, please calm down, calm down!”
“Refusing to say, are you.”
Jun Beiyue’s hair stood on end with fury, his furious eyes blazing bloodshot red, his gaze fit to tear apart the very corners of his eyes, savage and overwhelming, as if both demon and god at once. He suddenly turned, sweeping his cold gaze across the crowd, and roared furiously, “Those who don’t wish to die, get out, all of you! There will be no peace conference today—this prince intends to raze Akbachu to the ground!”
What?
Everyone gasped sharply, hardly able to believe their own ears.
This man—how utterly, madly arrogant!
So many people, all the most distinguished figures across Longyuan, having waited for him so long, and he was telling them all to get out!
The war had only just ended, the peace conference had only just been about to begin, and yet he intended to raze Xijing’s very capital!
Amid the shock, the Dongqin empress was the first to rise to leave—no one understood better than she did just how dangerous and difficult this man was to provoke.
Seeing the Dongqin empress about to leave, the Xiliang and Xiongnu emperors also rose to their feet in succession—this was a grudge between Da Zhou and Xijing, and they were only too happy to watch the spectacle unfold.
Seeing this, the Xijing emperor was struck utterly dumbfounded!
Finally, at this critical, life-or-death moment, General Dugu stepped forward.
“Prince Yao, this matter has nothing to do with Xijing—this was all Situ Haonan’s own doing! I was ordered to escort Princess Qianqian back, and I know nothing about it at all. Situ Haonan hasn’t even returned yet!”
Jun Beiyue’s cold gaze swept over, and he drew his sword, pointing it straight at him. “Why didn’t you say so sooner!”
General Dugu had no answer, retreating timidly. It was said that once Prince Yao drew his sword, someone would die.
“Why didn’t you say so sooner!” Jun Beiyue demanded again. General Dugu, terrified, turned to flee, having seen the intent to kill in Jun Beiyue’s eyes!
Jun Beiyue immediately gave chase, his longsword pressed against General Dugu’s shoulder, uttering only two cold words: “You deserve death.”
With that, sword energy flared. He hadn’t even moved to strike—it barely counted as a single technique—yet General Dugu’s throat was slit, blood sealing off his voice instantly!
Everyone stood frozen in shock. General Dugu had been Xijing’s most formidable, most accomplished young general, and its most respected commander—and yet he had died just like that… just like that, beneath Jun Beiyue’s blade!
This man wasn’t joking. Every word he spoke, he meant with deadly seriousness!
The Xijing emperor no longer dared conceal anything, hastily crying out, “Qianqian knows, Prince Yao, please show mercy! I will take you to see Princess Qianqian at once—she must know where Situ Haonan is! And if she knows where Situ Haonan is, she’ll surely know where the Consort of Prince Yao is!”
Jun Beiyue’s chest heaved violently with fury. With this precedent before him, he couldn’t even bear to imagine what might happen if Ziqing came to further harm!
That incident with Yanzi had already been terrifying enough!
He wouldn’t allow it—how could he have been so careless, how could he have trusted Yingzi’s letter so completely!
How had he never once considered that Situ Haonan might turn against Yingzi!
Perhaps his self-reproach ran even deeper than his fury at this moment, but he forced it down—he couldn’t afford to break down. He had to find her as quickly as possible!
“Lead the way!”
He spoke coldly. The Xijing emperor dared not delay, paying no mind to the others fleeing one after another, and hastily led the way for Jun Beiyue personally.
Meanwhile, midday drew closer and closer!
The ceremony at Mingsha Mountain should have been about to begin, but because of this sudden upheaval, none of the priests or worshippers dared move, remaining rooted in place, murmuring prayers and scripture endlessly.
Yet on the other side of Mingsha Mountain, blood flowed like rivers, the ground littered with the dead and wounded.
To meet Jun Beiyue, she had specially changed into a set of purple robes—yet now she was covered head to toe in blood, even her ink-black hair stained red, like a figure made entirely of blood, glaring furiously at Patriarch Situ and Madam Situ, who likewise remained standing.
If she could, Han Ziqing would have collapsed right then and there, exhausted enough to never wish to wake again.
But she kept gritting her teeth, holding on!
From the start of the battle until now, two full days and nights, she hadn’t spoken a single word the entire time, clenching her jaw the whole way through, forcing herself to endure!
She couldn’t fall. She couldn’t die!
She still had to see Jun Beiyue!
Han Ziqing—hold on!
She had to make them submit completely, had to resolve every last trouble, had to go meet Jun Beiyue carrying a glory untainted by any hatred, any grievance!
Han Ziqing—hold on!