“Since it was just a misunderstanding and has been clarified, that’s fine. If the Empress has no other matters, please return now.” Bei Tang Wenfeng didn’t say anything more to Yang Qingning, directly dismissing her.

No matter how displeased Yang Qingning felt inside, she could only nod and swallow her anger.

Before leaving, Yang Qingning paused in her steps, turned back to look at Bei Tang Wenfeng, and said, “Jingyang’s injuries are no longer serious, but she’s just a child who feels fragile when sick. If the sovereign has time, perhaps you could visit Jingyang.”

“Mm, I understand.”

After Yang Qingning left, the previously awkward and tense atmosphere in the imperial study finally eased somewhat.

“Yunjin, is there something you need?” Bei Tang Wenfeng, seeing that Mu Yunjin had left and returned, asked.

“There is something, but I just came to inform you first. The final decision might change…” Mu Yunjin looked at Bei Tang Wenfeng and told him in detail about what they had discussed in Jinxiu Palace.

After finishing, Mu Yunjin emphasized once more, “We might impulsively confront them head-on, or we might come up with other strategies. Anyway, these are our current thoughts, so you should be mentally prepared.”

“Mm, I understand.” Bei Tang Wenfeng nodded slightly, his eyes showing a somewhat complex expression.

…

…

As Mu Yunjin finished her report and prepared to leave, Bei Tang Wenfeng called out to her again, “Yunjin.”

“What is it?” Mu Yunjin paused.

“Go back to Western Yuan. You’re just a child and shouldn’t get involved in these schemes and plots. Father Emperor will protect Northern Ming’s throne himself; there’s no need for you to risk your life to help Father Emperor. For the past dozen or so years, I’ve not fulfilled a single day of my responsibility as a father. Now that I’ve finally recognized you as my daughter, how can I bear to see you risk yourself for Northern Ming…”

“So, leave. Don’t stay in Northern Ming anymore.”

Bei Tang Wenfeng’s lips carried a smile. Originally, he thought it would be good to see his daughter more while Mu Yunjin stayed, especially since the three of them as a family had so few days together.

But when Mu Yunjin just mentioned confronting those villains head-on, his heart suddenly sank.

He knew how formidable those people were, and it wasn’t certain that Yunjin could withstand them. If something went wrong, it could even cost her life.

He dared not take this risk. If anything happened to Yunjin, he would never forgive himself, and Qingxue would never forgive him either.

So, having Yunjin leave was the best option.

Mu Yunjin had only come to inform Bei Tang Wenfeng, to give him some mental preparation. She didn’t expect him to directly ask her to leave.

Mu Yunjin felt helpless, reaching up to scratch her hair, feeling like a ball being kicked back and forth.

Inexplicably, she felt somewhat irritated.

“We’ll see!” After dropping these three words, Mu Yunjin turned and walked out.

After leaving Bei Tang Wenfeng’s hall, Qiqi, upon seeing Mu Yunjin, rushed over and grabbed her arm.

“Mistress, something terrible has happened! Brother Lei Yan sent news that Qiuye had suddenly dispatched many skilled fighters to attack Madam Qing’s residence. Fighting has already broken out there, and many commoners, hearing that Madam Qing is there, have also gone to watch the commotion!”

“What?!” Mu Yunjin’s face changed, and she immediately pushed off with her toes, using her lightness skill to fly outward.

Qiqi followed beside Mu Yunjin, “Huang Yan and the others have already rushed over. I was afraid of alarming the Northern Ming sovereign, so I waited here for you.”

……

Jiang Qingxue’s residence was indeed in chaos. Dense swarms of blood bats were surrounding the airspace above the residence, continuously attacking the people below.

Besides this, many masked people in black clothes wielding weapons were fighting with the disciples of Qing Yin Pavilion, which Jiang Qingxue had established.

Inside the residence, a thick smell of blood permeated the air.

Lei Yan and Xiumei, upon seeing those blood bats, were already somewhat overwhelmed. The eagle flock from that day had already been difficult for them to fend off, and now these blood bats, of the same lineage, attacked again.

Plus, with the numerous masked figures in black, having to divide their attention, they were fighting with great difficulty.

Jiang Qingxue was also caught in a bitter battle. Before her, a man wearing a black robe was exchanging blows with her. After several dozen moves, she and her opponent remained evenly matched, unable to gain any advantage.

“Holy Maiden of the Southern Court, your skills are not bad after all.” Feng Lan was fighting with Jiang Qingxue, originally thinking he could dispose of this woman in a few moves, but unexpectedly, her skills were not to be underestimated.

Jiang Qingxue frowned intently, holding a jade green flute in her hand. The flute was surrounded by green light, continuously releasing true qi toward Feng Lan.

On another side of the rooftop, Qin Muyue, dressed in all black, was smilingly watching the scene below, playing with several blood bats in her palm.

How wonderful, today she could finally deal with that bitch Mu Yunjin’s mother.

Just as she was lost in thought, a black mist drifted around. Qin Muyue frowned and looked to the side, seeing Daoist Feng Xuan, Huang Yan, and another woman also dressed in black rapidly flying toward them.

“Damn it!” Qin Muyue dodged to the side.

Upon seeing the sky full of blood bats, Daoist Feng Xuan’s brows grew cold. His hand, hidden in his sleeve, tightly clenched into a fist. He struck out forcefully with his palm, dispersing the densely gathered blood bat swarm.

Below, Feng Lan, who was fighting with Jiang Qingxue, saw this and smiled playfully, his voice icy, “Feng Xuan, it’s useless. You’ve killed a few, but I still have plenty more.”

“You rascal!” Feng Xuan raised his palm again toward Feng Lan.

Knowing he was not Feng Xuan’s match, Feng Lan immediately dodged sideways when Feng Xuan’s palm came.

At the same time, another figure rose from the shadows, “Feng Xuan, Feng Xuan, for so many years, we have both been known as one of the three great masters in the world. Now that Kong Shi is dead, shall we contend for the title of the world’s number one?”

The newcomer was Qiuye.

“Number one in the world? Heh, you can forget about that in this lifetime. But this old Daoist’s hands are indeed itching to test your skills!” Feng Xuan was not afraid of Qiuye at all. After their gazes met in mid-air, they both struck out at each other simultaneously.

The conflict in the residence escalated.

Outside the residence, many bold commoners stood watching the scene inside. Besides seeing a dark mass of blood bats, they could also see several figures flying in mid-air, each emitting beams of light, followed by thunderous sounds.

“Look, that Madam Qing is indeed a demon. These blood bats must have been summoned by her, right?”

“It’s too dangerous here. Let’s leave quickly. What if we get hurt accidentally?”

“Let’s go! It looks like more people are flying over. Let’s run!”

The commoners scattered in a rush.

……

By the time Mu Yunjin and Qiqi arrived, the residence had been reduced to ruins.

When Mu Yunjin saw Daoist Feng Xuan and Qiuye fighting, she felt somewhat surprised. These two old men were evenly matched in skill. If they continued fighting like this, what if both ended up seriously injured?

It wouldn’t matter if Qiuye died, but that old man Feng Xuan couldn’t come to harm!

Mu Yunjin suddenly panicked. Just as she was about to rush over to help Feng Xuan, those swarms of blood bats suddenly gathered together and surged toward her.

Seeing these creatures again, Mu Yunjin stepped back, but suddenly felt a fierce palm strike from behind, carrying a strong intent to kill.

Having been focused on avoiding the blood bats, she momentarily overlooked the palm strike from behind. Unable to dodge in time, Mu Yunjin’s back was hit hard by the palm, and her entire body lurched forward, falling into the blood bat swarm…

Behind her, Qin Muyue silently withdrew her palm. Seeing Mu Yunjin surrounded by blood bats, the corner of her mouth couldn’t help but widen into a grin, which then transformed into a loud laugh.

“Hahaha, Mu Yunjin, do you know how long I’ve been waiting for this moment?”

A bloodthirsty red light flashed in Qin Muyue’s eyes as she imagined Mu Yunjin being eaten by the blood bats until only bone fragments remained.

Thinking of this, Qin Muyue’s eyes fixed intently on the blood bat swarm. But when she saw what happened next, her pupils widened, and her smile froze on her lips…

Mu Yunjin, having been struck by a palm and fallen into the blood bat swarm, thought she was certainly doomed this time. But just as those blood bats were about to approach her skin and start gnawing, they suddenly flapped their wings and dispersed, keeping far away from her.

What was going on?

When the blood bats surrounding her scattered, Mu Yunjin could finally see the person standing in front of her, and she narrowed her eyes.

Damn, talk about running into your nemesis!

So the one who had struck her with that palm just now was that bitch Qin Muyue.

Mu Yunjin remained sitting on the ground. That palm strike had hit her hard. Although it couldn’t threaten her life, she was still somewhat dazed, and she felt like the bones in her back might have been injured.

Qin Muyue was stunned for a while. When she came to her senses, she found Mu Yunjin staring at her, with her characteristically arrogant and domineering gaze.

For a moment, neither spoke to the other, but the murderous aura bursting from their eyes was equally intense.

Feng Lan had been watching Mu Yunjin since she arrived. Later, when he saw the blood bats surround her, he thought this girl’s life was truly short. But when he saw the blood bats seemingly encounter some deadly point and flee in fear, a deep surprise flashed in his heart. He quickly summoned two junior disciples to fight with Jiang Qingxue while he flew to where Mu Yunjin was.

“Master.” Qin Muyue, upon seeing Feng Lan, bowed slightly and called him Master.

Mu Yunjin raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised by this address.

“Heh, so that’s how it is.” Feng Lan ignored Qin Muyue. His gaze lingered on Mu Yunjin for a while before finally settling on the black jade hairpin in her bun.

No wonder she could avoid the blood bats; it turned out she had obtained this poison-repelling treasure.

“Master, she’s injured now. We must not be lenient. This woman, if left alive, would be a tremendous threat.” Qin Muyue, seeing Feng Lan seemingly lost in thought, couldn’t help but step forward to remind him.

Upon hearing Qin Muyue’s impatient words, although Mu Yunjin was physically unwell, she couldn’t help but mock her with a few words, “What ‘we’? If you have the ability, come kill me yourself!”

“Qin Muyue, I’ve seen many formidable individuals lately. A small fry like you, I now don’t take seriously at all…”