“Is it you?” Li Zicheng gritted his teeth and said coldly.

The young commander smiled coldly, striding forward. As she walked, she extended her pale, slender little finger to pick at her ear, saying with considerable disdain, “I was wondering why I could hear dogs barking from so far away. So it was you making all that noise.”

“Witch!” Li Zicheng roared angrily, his face twisted with rage, looking ready to devour someone.

“Old lecher, you’re still not dead?” Qing Xia walked forward with a faint smile, looking at Lady Zhu Lan with a cold laugh as she spoke slowly.

Upon hearing this, Lady Zhu Lan flew into a rage. The fear from nearly dying at her hands just moments ago instantly vanished. Her face turned ice-cold as she said hatefully, “What uncultured witch dares to show such disrespect? Seize her!”

Qing Xia sneered coldly. A large group of guards behind her rushed forward like thunder, instantly bringing down several men who were attacking Qing Xia. Qing Xia acted as if she hadn’t noticed, walking straight ahead. Two Li Academy warriors swung their blades at her. Qing Xia suddenly leaped into the air, kicking one warrior in the jaw. Her body turned horizontally in mid-air, her war blade swinging in a circle, instantly pressing against the other warrior’s neck.

With a crisp crack, the man kicked in the jaw had his jawbone shattered, not even having a chance to scream.

Everyone was shocked and horrified, staring fixedly at the blood-covered woman with icy eyes and brows slowly approaching. Qing Xia gripped her war blade with one hand, pressing it on a warrior’s shoulder as she walked step by step to the center of the field. The Li Academy warriors trembled with fear, slowly retreating. Wherever she went, people hurried to get out of her way.

“Old lecher, your skill at crying thief while being a thief yourself, turning the tables and falsely accusing others, has truly reached perfection!”

Lady Zhu Lan was furious, but being intimidated by Qing Xia’s bloodthirsty coldness, she momentarily dared not make any move, only shouting sternly, “What did you say?”

Qing Xia slightly curled her lip and said indifferently, “Li Academy secretly colluded with the southern barbarians, setting traps in the Sahan Desert, murdering the elite guards of the seven great families, attempting to kill His Majesty and seize the throne. Fortunately, His Majesty is wise and mighty, turning danger into safety. Now that the treacherous plot has failed, you want to incite war in Southern Chu to achieve your unspeakable goals. Even at this point, you still refuse to admit it?”

These words instantly exploded like a thunderbolt in the crowd. The heads of the great families all turned to look at Lady Zhu Lan with puzzled expressions, frowning.

“Witch! You’re making false accusations!”

The tables had turned. Lady Zhu Lan, who had just appeared righteous and dignified, had suddenly become a murderer. She looked with bloodshot eyes at this woman who had repeatedly made her suffer losses, saying hatefully, “If you dare spout more nonsense, I’ll make sure you die without a complete corpse!”

“You’d better have the ability to do that first.”

Qing Xia glanced at her dismissively, then said to Le Song beside her, “Since Lady Zhu Lan refuses to shed tears until she sees the coffin, let her die with understanding.”

Le Song responded and turned around, dragging out a blood-covered man from behind and throwing him on the ground with a thud.

“This is the southern barbarian who made contact with Li Academy people. I found evidence on him of recent grain and supply dealings with Li Academy. At first, I thought someone was maliciously framing Li Academy to sow discord within our Great Chu. Who would have thought that when I secretly sent people to search Regiment Leader Li’s tent, they found the same things, and even discovered correspondence between Li Academy and the southern territories, with Lady Zhu Lan’s personal seal and signature. Now I have no choice but to believe it.”

She threw out a stack of papers. The heads of the great families picked them up with varying expressions to examine carefully. After a long time, they slowly raised their heads, their faces greatly changed. Lady Zhu Lan frowned tightly. Though her expression wasn’t quite panicked, in such cold weather, cold sweat still continuously dripped from the corners of her forehead.

Qing Xia raised an eyebrow and suddenly said sternly, “Originally, I only thought Madam’s subordinates were incompetent in their duties and were communicating with foreign enemies. That’s why I publicly warned you at the martial training ground that day in front of everyone. I never expected that not only did Madam fail to investigate and remedy the situation, but she went all out to collude with the southern barbarians, bringing in Bailang Tribe warriors and commanding millions of southern fierce beasts to kill the elite children of all the great families in one stroke, severely damaging our Southern Chu’s vitality. Afterward, you distorted the facts and twisted reality, inciting military mutiny. Such crimes are unforgivable by heaven and earth! What else do you have to say!”

The massive ghost-head broadsword suddenly chopped down toward Lady Zhu Lan. Lady Zhu Lan’s vision went black as she screamed, no longer able to maintain the forced composure on her face.

With a loud thud, the broadsword embedded itself deeply in a cart shaft less than a fist’s distance from Lady Zhu Lan’s neck. Lady Zhu Lan’s body went limp as she collapsed.

“Madam!” Li Academy guards rushed forward but were blocked by the Black Guard soldiers behind Qing Xia. Qi Lang held his war blade, standing proudly beside Qing Xia, along with Le Song and others, protecting this fierce and proud woman.

A strong wind suddenly picked up, yellow sand flying everywhere. Qing Xia wore light armor and a red robe, her face dark as water, her eyes cold. She pulled out the ghost-head broadsword and held it diagonally in front of Lady Zhu Lan, saying coldly, “At your age, yet so lewd and shameless. Killing you would dirty my hands. Since you love men so much, I’ll throw you to that pile of men under Wusi Mei’er who’ve consumed her aphrodisiac. Go enjoy yourself thoroughly!”

“Witch! Slut! I won’t let you go!” Seeing the Imperial Guards easily subdue Li Academy’s personal guards, Lady Zhu Lan finally despaired and began cursing loudly. Qing Xia frowned, her face like cold ice. She suddenly turned sharply and backhanded a slap across Lady Zhu Lan’s cheek. Two teeth immediately shattered, Lady Zhu Lan’s cheek swelled high, and she could no longer say another word.

Qing Xia stepped forward and stomped hard on this evil woman’s face with her foot, anger burning fiercely in her heart. “Go to hell!”

Black Guard soldiers rushed forward like wolves and tigers, lifting Lady Zhu Lan and dragging her away like a piece of dead meat.

Qing Xia’s eyes swept sharply across the faces of the many family heads and generals, saying indifferently, “Esteemed elders, do you still wish to leave the camp?”

Everyone looked at Qing Xia’s bloodthirsty eyes and suddenly felt their breathing become labored. Facing this woman seemed more terrifying than facing a million-strong army. They hurriedly waved their hands and shook their heads, slinking aside like defeated roosters.

Qing Xia let out a long breath of pent-up anger. Looking at the two white teeth on the ground, she extended her foot and stomped them hard into the mud with her boot.

She had never been a kind person. Hearing Lady Zhu Lan’s distant screams, she only felt that the stone that had long pressed on her heart had finally been kicked away. She slowly raised her head to look at the vast expanse of dark sky and gently closed her eyes.

“Miss!” Xi Linyu’s voice suddenly rang out from the distance. The man ran up breathlessly and said urgently to Qing Xia, “His Highness has awakened and wants to see you.”

Qing Xia’s heart leaped with joy. She flung her dark red cloak behind her and hurried toward the central command tent.

Behind her followed Southern Chu’s large contingent of Imperial Guards and a group of family heads who had once wielded tremendous power.

On the horizon, clouds were gathering, and thunder rolled forth.

The central command tent was brightly lit. Qing Xia walked quickly through the vast camp. Just as she was about to lift the tent curtain, a silver spear suddenly thrust toward her diagonally. Qing Xia, who had long hovered on the edge of life and death, was extremely alert. At the critical moment, she kicked against the mast pole in front of the tent, her body suddenly flipping backward. Her right hand formed a claw, striking like lightning, tightly grasping the spear shaft and pulling hard. With a thud, someone fell clumsily to the ground.

A girl in white martial arts attire coldly raised her head, nimbly getting up from the ground and glaring angrily at Qing Xia’s face.

Xi Linyu, who had been following behind Qing Xia, was shocked and shouted sternly, “Yuqiao, don’t cause trouble!”

“What status do you think you have!” Xi Lin Yuqiao ignored her brother’s angry rebuke and shrieked at Qing Xia, “What right do you have to keep me out!”

It seemed she had wanted to enter the central command tent but was stopped by the Black Guards at the entrance. Knowing it was Qing Xia’s order not to allow entry into the tent, she had been waiting here to confront Qing Xia. Qing Xia had never had any good feelings toward this spoiled young lady. If not for the sake of her father and brother, she might have already gone up to slap her a few times. She glanced at her coldly and said icily, “Courting death.”

“Stop right there!” Seeing Qing Xia about to enter the tent, the girl suddenly stepped forward, grabbing Qing Xia’s shoulder and shouting fiercely.

Qing Xia frowned, shifted her shoulder to one side, suddenly releasing force, then turned around like lightning, wrapping around Xi Lin Yuqiao’s arm and twisting it backward, instantly restraining Xi Lin Yuqiao’s wrist.

“If you want to cause trouble, you should first weigh whether you have the ability.” With a sudden push of both hands, Xi Lin Yuqiao immediately staggered forward. She was no simple character either, quickly steadying herself without falling to the ground. Xi Linyu hurriedly rushed forward from the side, grabbing Xi Lin Yuqiao and saying to Qing Xia in a deep voice, “Miss, my little sister is ignorant. Where she has offended, please be magnanimous.” Although Qing Xia was currently only an ordinary guard of the Black Guard in terms of status, anyone could now see that Qing Xia’s relationship with Chu Li was extraordinary. Moreover, the strength this petite woman displayed was not that of an ordinary person. Her thunderous intimidation of the great family generals just now, with methods so impressive, was truly admirable. Especially the evidence she produced of Li Academy’s secret communications with the southern territories—regardless of whether it was real or fake, it proved she possessed extraordinary foresight and strategic thinking.

Given the current situation where the great families’ strength was severely weakened, Xi Linyu really couldn’t risk offending this woman. Despite the large gap in their official status, he still respectfully apologized.

Qing Xia looked at Xi Lin Yuqiao, who was still struggling continuously in Xi Linyu’s arms, slightly furrowing her brow. She couldn’t help but say in a deep voice, “Think about your position before doing anything in the future. Don’t always make your brother and father clean up your messes.”

“You don’t need to lecture me! You lowborn commoner, what right do you have to stand…”