With a thunderous roar, over a thousand people became excited again. The Dragon Tiger Alliance people shouted loudly, “It’s our people! Our people!”

Today all forces were gathered, making killing the king a prize. Whoever captured the Queen would naturally gain great face and a higher position in Daimo’s jianghu.

Figures flashed on the mountaintop. A large group descended spiritedly, escorting someone bound like a zongzi. The Dragon Tiger Alliance leader laughed heartily as he went to meet them, his voice booming like a bell, “The lads are too inconsiderate! How can they treat the noble Queen like this!”

He looked around proudly. The big shots on all sides either turned their heads away, remained expressionless, or snorted coldly.

The bound person twisted and shouted, “Aiya, don’t you know how to be gentle with women? Don’t tie people up like this—it hurts so much…”

Jing Hengbo was turning to drink water and nearly sprayed it on Mister Mu’s face.

She whirled around, then clenched her fists hard, very worried she might throw a long-distance punch at that hateful pretty face.

That person bound with five flowers, grinning ear to ear while struggling and writhing in a group of men’s hands—who else could it be but Yi Qi?

Even worse, it was Yi Qi in women’s clothing!

This guy wore a fairy-like flowing dress with a golden cloak that was blindingly conspicuous, face painted powder white, rouge red as a monkey’s bottom, and a small bloody mouth like spilled blood. He winked convulsively at the thousand people below, “Hello everyone, I’m Black Water Queen Jing Hengbo, mwah mwah!”

A thousand men stared blankly at Yi Qi, feeling this woman’s appearance was still acceptable, and her aura upon closer inspection was there too, but made up like a prostitute—no matter how you looked at it, it didn’t match a queen.

“He lives just to disgust the world…” Jing Hengbo’s fists cracked.

“Is this the Queen?” Mister Mu exclaimed behind her in amazement. “Truly extraordinary grace, different from all others.”

Jing Hengbo turned around fiercely, glaring at him—Acting! You’re acting too! I don’t believe you really don’t know who the real Queen is.

Mister Mu’s lip corners smiled seemingly innocently as he said leisurely, “Don’t get angry too early. Things aren’t finished yet.”

Jing Hengbo turned away resentfully. She wanted to know where Ying Bai, Tian Qi, and Pei Shu were. Where had these guys run off to? Were they letting Seven Kills ruin her image like this?

Sure enough, she soon understood what Mister Mu meant by “things aren’t finished yet.”

The mountain erupted in noise again, accompanied by “Caught one! Caught one!” The Divine Decision Gang leader recognized his own subordinates, stood up impatiently and scolded, “What’s all the shouting! The Queen’s already been caught!”

“We caught the Queen!”

The thousand people roared again. Divine Decision Gang members came down the mountain triumphantly, indeed pushing another bound woman.

That woman wore a pink dress, dressed all cute and adorable, her face painted with three jin of powder, lips pig-blood red, with a huge rouge dot between her brows. She lowered her eyes demurely and said shyly, “Amitabha, benefactors please be gentle. All beings suffer—why be so rough…”

Jing Hengbo wanted to vomit blood again.

Fake monk Wu Shan!

The thousand people fell into eerie silence—Queens kept appearing one after another, none looking like the real thing…

But the searchers on the mountain didn’t stop. Because they were searching separately and fighting independently, not knowing what others were doing, people kept bursting out with surprised cheers, “Caught the Queen! Caught the Queen!”

No one below was happy anymore. They all looked at each other.

“Queens” were pushed down one by one, their styling so varied and outfits so outrageous they could rival the abstract fashion shows from Jing Hengbo’s modern world.

Jing Hengbo saw Si Si’s Persian dancer outfit, exposing a section of snow-white belly that even had a gold ring pierced through it, swaying gracefully in the early winter weather, capturing countless men’s amazed gazes.

She saw Shan Wu’s blue jacket and skirt, which combined with his scholarly aura made him look like an elegant young lady when not speaking. Once he opened his mouth, everyone’s eyes went black: “I’m the Queen! Come lick my feet!”

Er Lu and Lu Er were both types with strong masculine auras, so their female disguises weren’t as convincing as the others. Er Lu was dressed as a nun, wearing a gray monk’s cap, smiling at the thousand Daimo jianghu men and calling out, “Master! Why are you forcing this poor nun!”

Lu Er was styled as a female Taoist, bound with five flowers while angrily shouting, “You bald thief have no shame! The Taoist master and I are true love!”

The entire venue’s expressions were unbearable to look at.

The last one brought down bound was Qi Yi. Even though Jing Hengbo had been shocked into numbness, she still gasped, prostrating herself before Seven Kills’ ability to constantly innovate with no most shocking, only more shocking spoofing styles.

This guy dressed as a woman wore a dress so bright it couldn’t be brighter, wore gold and silver jewelry so cumbersome it couldn’t be more cumbersome, even his embroidered shoes were covered with all kinds of flowers. His dress-up could be called the most feminine among the seven idiots—yet he hadn’t even shaved his beard stubble!

Jing Hengbo decided to bestow him the name “Qi Ruhua” in the future!

The seven idiots hopped and jumped, shouting loudly, “I’m the Queen!”

“I’m the real Queen!”

“I demand the treatment a Queen deserves!”

“I will severely condemn and protest your actions!”

All of Daimo jianghu’s experts had been shocked into iron-gray faces.

Even idiots knew these seven crying and shouting that they were the Queen were not the Queen. They had been played.

More obviously, seven people had been separately captured by seven forces, as if they had intentionally distributed themselves.

Now only Meng Po Tian could still laugh. She pointed at Si Si and laughed heartily, “I recognized you! Si Si! You finally came out! Did you have fun playing at our Mad Blade Alliance last time? Aiya, your little waist is so white and thin—next time dance a hip-swaying dance for me to see, okay?”

“I belong to the Queen now,” Si Si called back to her. “If you defeat the Queen, I’ll be your live-in son-in-law!”

“It’s settled then!” Meng Po Tian’s eyes lit up as she grabbed the basket beside her. “When the time comes, I’ll use this bird and this cat as betrothal gifts!”

Jing Hengbo wasn’t angry anymore. She chuckled—oh, using her pets to marry her idiot? What nerve, hehehe.

But where were the three more reliable ones?

“What kind of trick do you think they’re playing?” she asked Mister Mu quietly.

Mister Mu sat on a stone, his fingers leisurely picking up a strand of her fallen long hair, saying, “What the Queen’s people do is naturally all beneficial to the Queen.”

Jing Hengbo thought carefully and said “Mm,” then, “I think they want to control the overall situation. Each person being captured by one force clearly means they want to control the entire venue. They should have a way to escape later.”

“Truly kindred spirits,” he praised.

Jing Hengbo belatedly felt this tone seemed a bit off.

She wanted to ask but didn’t know how. Mister Mu focused on playing with her hair and ignored her. Jing Hengbo shrugged, feeling that men and birds were equally difficult to raise.

She stared at Seven Kills bound in the crowd. The seven idiots were grinning, their bound fingers wiggling around.

Fingers wiggling around…

Her heart stirred. Pretending to walk casually, she circled around them, staring at their fingers. Her gaze swept over the positions their fingers pointed to one by one, gradually lighting up with brilliance.

The big shots gathered together, studying these seven people’s identities. Actually, these people all knew the great name of Seven Kills from Seven Peaks Mountain, but for years they’d minded their own business. Seven Kills had no interest in meddling in Daimo’s affairs, and Daimo didn’t dare easily provoke Seven Kills. Everyone had never seen Seven Kills and had the impression they were divine mountain masters. Even if they’d vaguely heard rumors about Seven Kills being unreliable and playful, they absolutely couldn’t imagine this group could play to this level—jianghu big shots valued status most, and high-status men dressing as lowly women was unimaginable to them.

The big shots were still discussing how to handle them when suddenly someone rushed out, shouting loudly, “None of them are the Queen!”

Everyone’s gazes swished over, just seeing a white-clothed young man running out with an excited face.

Everyone was startled, then noticed what he said. Someone immediately laughed loudly, “No need for you to say that! Even idiots know they’re not the Queen! The Queen is still hiding on the mountain. Hehe, women are just useless, only knowing to throw out subordinates to confuse sight, thinking they can escape like this?”

The one who came out was naturally Li Hanyu. In front of everyone, he wasn’t like his arrogant frivolity toward Jing Hengbo, Wang Jin and others. He slightly raised his chin, showing some proud temperament, saying coldly and calmly, “I not only know they’re not the Queen, I also know the Queen! I can help you persuade the Queen to recognize the situation and surrender!”

His words aroused everyone’s interest. The Soaring Heaven Gate master, a Taoist with several wives, said, “How do you come to say this?”

“If I can do it, how do you plan to thank me?” Li Hanyu asked instead of answering.

“We can capture the Queen ourselves. Why do we need your persuasion?” The Spiritual Rhinoceros Gate master, a pale middle-aged man, answered coldly.

“Is it really that easy?” Li Hanyu pointed at Seven Kills and sneered, “Over a thousand people searching the entire mountain, and up to now you’ve only caught these lackeys. You still think the Queen is easy to deal with?”

His words hit a sore spot. Everyone’s faces looked ugly. The Trial Sword Alliance leader, a youth with a blue-gray complexion, stroked his sword and said indifferently, “How do you think you can persuade the Queen to surrender without fighting?”

All the big shots said nothing. Catching the Queen had produced so many jokes—they knew in their hearts the Queen wasn’t so easy to catch. Whoever went first might lose strength, and losing strength meant possibly encountering opponent ambushes when returning. This place was full of deadly traps at every step. Preserving strength was naturally best.

The Sky Competition Gang leader whispered to the Dragon Tiger Alliance leader, “If the Queen really is that Jade Tower assassin from that night, she would indeed be somewhat troublesome…”

“You’re overthinking this.” The Dragon Tiger Alliance leader shook his head dismissively. “News from Emperor Song says Queen Jing has divine abilities, but from the description, it’s nothing too divine. How powerful was that Jade Tower assassin? Queen Jing left Emperor Song less than a year ago and is said to still have poison injuries. There’s no way she could have grown to that level. I suspect I vaguely heard that Nine Heavenly Gates people have descended to the mortal realm. Perhaps that night’s female assassin was from Nine Heavenly Gates. Look at those near-godly methods—how could ordinary people achieve them…”

While they whispered here, Li Hanyu looked pleased there, saying loudly, “Naturally it’s because I have deep friendship with the Queen. She fell for me at first…”

“I want to kill you at first sight!”

Suddenly a shout rang above everyone’s heads, exploding like thunder and making everyone’s eardrums boom and ring. Everyone’s expressions were terrified as they turned around, seeing a human figure sweeping over like rainbow light.

That shadow was extremely fast—just appearing on the mountainside, the next instant it was at the mountain hollow. Rainbow-like robes swept past with a flash of cold light, and below erupted screams and blood rainbows. That blood rainbow was pulled by the robe’s corner, splattering along the way in mid-air. Under the setting sun, the sky was tragic and beautiful, like adding another layer of blood clouds above evening clouds.

The momentum was shocking.

The crowd scattered, tables and chairs overturned. The big shots quickly rose and retreated, wrapped into their own groups by bodyguards.

“Whoosh!” A spray of fresh blood, along with that person’s bright red robe corner, simultaneously landed on the central platform.

Just one person had caused chaos among the thousand below. Wherever that figure passed, gang members either had their skulls burst or scalps split, leaving red and white matter all over the ground, then trampled into mud by the chaotic retreating boots.

Savage beyond measure, seizing the initiative with sound.

Countless people fearfully raised their heads to look at the platform, at the red-clothed person still brazenly standing with back to the crowd.

That person’s long hair hung loose, black hair bright as satin, bright red cloak blazing like fire. The cloak’s corner had been dyed red in that moment just now, quietly dripping on the platform. The fresh blood still spread downward, staining the pale wood chips into mottled patches.

Wind passed, lifting the shining black hair, revealing a section of snow-white neck, jade-like and lustrous, without flaw.

Just a back view carried infinite murderous elegance.

In that instant, one thought flashed through everyone’s mind: the Queen!

This should be the Queen!

Those not shocked were very few, such as Jing Hengbo. She was furiously muttering, “Show-off! Never forgetting to show off! I’ll shoot you in the back later—you’ll deserve to die!”

However, seemingly awed by the “Queen’s” murderous aura, for a moment no one thought of attacking this show-off from behind. The big shots wanted to, but were desperately protected by their loyal subordinates as they retreated.

Some people’s oppressive presence was so strong that just standing there made people feel dangerous.

That person struck poses enough, then slowly turned around. With one look back, everyone’s eyes brightened and they couldn’t help silently cheering.

What a jade doll!

That face seemed able to push back the gradually fading golden sunset light and repel the soft moonlight about to replace it—flawless, naturally radiant.

Everyone sighed again—this should be the Queen’s face.

That person wore a red brocade cloud-pattern cloak in an androgynous style, brocade brilliant as fire with continuous cloud patterns, making their features even more lively as flying clouds.

That person wore light powder and faint eyebrows, eyebrow color light and lip color bright red. Everyone felt this should be the Queen’s makeup—heavy and vulgar makeup would pollute those eyes.

Meng Po Tian still fearlessly stood at the highest place, staring blankly, then suddenly raised her sleeve to wipe drool.

“Queen!” Someone shouted in rapture, then was glared back into the crowd by their big shot.

Jing Hengbo saw Pei Shu showing off on the platform and heard that shout, making him shiver.

She thought this guy would definitely correct it—although his clothing and appearance did seem to make people mistake him for the Queen, it must be coincidence. How could he be willing to dress as a woman?

But after Pei Shu shivered, he actually didn’t speak to refute. He looked at the mountain forest above, his mouth corners drooping, seeming angry and wronged.

Jing Hengbo’s eyes flashed as she watched, her heart blooming with joy. She thought, oh ho, this boy really dressed up as her? Hahaha, he must have been forced by Ying Bai and Tian Qi working together. Hahaha, seeing the Baolong suffer and feel wronged is always so satisfying.

She was in such a good mood she completely ignored Mister Mu behind her.

Mister Mu quietly watched her—that face full of dancing eyebrows and sparkling eyes, how to describe it? Boundless spring colors?

He looked at the platform again. Mm, Pei Shu.

The gray mouse color was gone. That person was radiant and young, so vivid he seemed able to illuminate the entire Great Wilderness.

Just from feeling, Pei Shu and Jing Hengbo had the most similar temperament and elegance.

Standing together, they would probably be the most matched pair.

He looked down at his own blue silk robe—plain, without much presence.

Even his fingers were nearly transparent, seeming about to disappear in sunlight.

Jing Hengbo stared delightedly at Pei Shu, calculating how to tease him after this was over, when she suddenly heard Mister Mu behind her say softly, “You’re very happy?”

“Yes, yes,” she said with a smile, “I want to laugh when I see him.”

Mister Mu lowered his eyelashes.

Such radiant spirits, absent for so long, yet not because of him.

And for so long, so long, this was actually the first time he’d heard such heartfelt words from her.

For so long, what he’d given her was pressure, pain, torment, rupture—all the heavy darkness in life, heartbreak and anguish.

Brightness, joy, carefree ease, comfort… he’d never possessed them, so how could he give them?

Those indulgent and free affections couldn’t pass through cold fingertips.

Who said love-hate entanglement was true love? Joy at first sight was what made people unforgettable.

He slowly interlaced his fingers, palms cold while fingertips burned, like this moment’s emotions—cool to the heart’s core yet burning with pain.

…

On the platform, Pei Shu swept around with contempt.

His aura was almost crushing. Everyone felt like being stared at by a lion suppressing anger, inwardly wild. Their skin rose with goosebumps.

But one person shouted loudly, “No, you’re not the Queen! You’re not!”

The shouter was still Li Hanyu. He pointed at Pei Shu, his face full of anger, “You’re not the Queen!”

Pei Shu originally paid him no attention, but now seeing him, seemed reminded. He squinted and looked him over, disgust surging in his eyes.

“Who are you?”

Li Hanyu retreated into the crowd while slightly raising his chin, “I am Her Majesty the Queen’s beloved…”

Jing Hengbo chuckled.

“Eyesore!” Pei Shu raised his hand. With a crack, a man-high wooden board on the platform exploded, breaking nails and shooting out, viciously slapping toward Li Hanyu’s face. “Scram!”

The wooden board whistled as it swept horizontally like a giant palm, viciously slapping down.

Li Hanyu was prepared and quickly retreated. With so many people before and behind him, he wasn’t worried about lacking people to block the board.

He retreated while coldly staring at the furious Pei Shu, feeling his face was indeed very important—look how many people it had stimulated.

However, after just two steps back, he suddenly felt his back stiffen, then his whole person suddenly flew toward Pei Shu!

Clang! His sword was also drawn, falling into his hand.

Li Hanyu looked at the sword in his hand in amazement, not understanding what had happened. He had clearly been retreating!

How did it feel like someone had grabbed him… above his head was the transparent sky!

He felt strange, but others watching just saw him suddenly stop retreating, draw his sword to meet the attack. They even silently praised: this boy might be arrogant and rash, but he has some courage and spirit.

Only Rakshasa angrily shouted, “Come back! He’ll hurt your face…”

But it was too late. Li Hanyu crashed into Pei Shu’s palm force range. With a crack, that wooden board swung wildly, the board surface contacting his face with a hair-raising thud. A string of bright teeth flew out, spinning in mid-air like scattered dice. Li Hanyu’s face suddenly caved in, even his nasal bone twisted to one side, his whole face like being repeatedly trampled by a bear…

Li Hanyu screamed miserably, flying backward like a kite with broken string. Pei Shu’s wild laughter echoed through the mountains: “Hahaha destroying this face is so damn satisfying!”

“Ah Q!” Jing Hengbo felt uncomfortable listening and muttered.

“Thwack!” Li Hanyu rolled down right at her feet. Jing Hengbo looked down at his face, gasped in shock, and felt some pity. She reached out to help him. Li Hanyu, his mind unclear from pain, still disgustedly pushed away her hand, “Ugly woman, get away!”

Jing Hengbo released her hand. With a thud, this guy fell to the ground, his head hitting a rock…

“If you don’t court death, you won’t die,” Jing Hengbo said.

But Pei Shu’s wild laughter and public ruthlessness angered the other jianghu big shots. Everyone stood up, angrily shouting, “Arrogant!”

“Today you can come but can’t leave! If you want to laugh, go laugh in the underworld!” The Soaring Heaven Gate master shouted coldly, “Men, attack!”

“Whether it’s the Queen or not, capture first and talk later!” The Jade Belt Gang leader sneered, “What Black Water Queen—she just relies on subordinates sacrificing their lives to save her, hiding like a turtle. If you have guts, hide in mountain caves for life and never come out!”

“If the Queen has your kind of good looks,” the Blood Sacrifice Gang leader pointed at Pei Shu and laughed loudly, “I wouldn’t mind spending some effort today to have a good time with her!”

“None can escape! Take him down!”

The jianghu big shots shouted angrily. A thousand people surged forward. By now moonlight had risen, sword light reflecting the cold moon, bright as a pale white barrier. With so many people, one person one blade was enough to drown Pei Shu.

The big shots showed cold smiles—this was clearly seeking death. Over a thousand people here, all with decent martial arts, surrounding completely. Even if immortals descended, they couldn’t escape this net!

But Pei Shu didn’t flee. He sneered on the platform and crossed his hands behind his back.

“Hey,” he said, “they said if I do this you’ll come out. If you don’t come out, I’ll announce you’re my wife!”

He spoke to the crowd. The big shots looked back in bewilderment—everyone here was their own people. Who was he talking to?

“You’re the wife! Your whole family are wives!”

Suddenly a lazy female voice with laughter rang from behind the crowd.

Jing Hengbo stepped on Li Hanyu, her figure flashing to appear beside Rakshasa.

A blade swept horizontally like cold lightning.

With a snick, Rakshasa’s head flew into mid-air.

Only then did everyone turn around to see the head of one of the three major gate leaders suddenly flying up.

Then they saw a figure flash, seemingly appearing from thin air, catching the head as someone appeared beside it.

As she rose, her whole body emanated a hazy radiance, like a bright moon rising suddenly from the eastern mountains.

Everyone opened their eyes wide and saw that woman in ordinary dress, seemingly a village girl that Rakshasa Gate had just brought along. They saw behind her a huge bright moon, and within that moon, her face was rapidly changing—the mottled yellow patches on her face fell away piece by piece, revealing jade-like skin underneath. Her skin was like moonlight pearls, gradually transforming, revealing a face truly worthy of being called absolutely stunning.

Like a goddess born from the edge of heaven, responding to all the wind and clouds of this world, all the starlight in the sky was shining, and all breathing in the field suddenly stopped.

The gang leaders’ eyes widened as they recognized this fairy-like, god-like woman before them—she was shockingly the mysterious and terrifying female assassin who had appeared at the Jade Tower banquet that night!

Before the gasps caused by that face could be uttered, the woman in mid-air within the bright moon waved her hand. Faintly, countless crack sounds came from the crowd. Before everyone could react, that woman’s figure flashed and suddenly appeared beside the Jade Belt Gang leader.

The Jade Belt Gang’s position was right next to Rakshasa Gate. That water-snake-waisted Jade Belt Gang leader was surrounded by layers of bodyguards.

Jing Hengbo’s appearance was just a blink of an eye. He hadn’t reacted yet, but his sharp instincts honed over years made him draw his sword.

But the sword wouldn’t come out. He felt his body stiffen and his heart turn cold. From the corner of his eye, he saw far away behind the crowd, on a large stone, there seemed to be a person in blue robes quietly withdrawing his sleeve.

A glimpse like a startled swan.

The next instant, Jing Hengbo was already in front of him.

She laughed coldly, snow-bright light flashed.

Everyone saw a human head fly up into the sky!

The woman in mid-air, bright as the moon and ghostly as a specter, reached out and caught the Jade Belt Gang leader’s head in her hand.

“Attack!”

From within the crowd, from every gang, from behind the masses, over a dozen strange sounds erupted simultaneously!

“Ah!”

“Ambush! Ambush!”

“Protect the leader!”

“Retreat!”

A thousand people suddenly became boiling porridge. Porridge boiling with the color of blood.

Jing Hengbo had already quietly taken flight. On the platform, Pei Shu laughed heartily, “Catch!” and threw off his red brocade cloak.

The bright red cloak flew and rolled, landing on Jing Hengbo. The red cloak spread out like wings. Everyone looked up to see her outstretched arms above their heads like a huge shadow, covering the mountain hollow below. The shadow flashed like lightning through the newly fallen night, sweeping forward. The two heads she held in her hands still dripped blood along the way, making people’s scalps crawl and their whole bodies numb.

At this moment, like lightning striking through their hearts, shouts erupted, “The Queen!”

No need to doubt anymore, no need to ask—this was the true Queen!

At people’s feet, Li Hanyu cried “Ah!” rolled his eyes back, and fainted.

How many leaders’ faces turned blue-purple, feeling they had suffered great humiliation—they had proudly convened the King-Killing Assembly and caught one “Queen” after another on the mountain, never knowing the real Queen had disguised herself and followed behind them all along!

Her mocking eyes had long been full of killing intent, enveloping them, while they remained completely unaware, having their heads carried by the enemy who looked down at them with cold laughter as she passed overhead.

The bright red figure flashed overhead like lightning.

“Thwack!” “Thwack!” The two heads were thrown down one after another, smashing into the crowd, splashing blood everywhere and causing people to tumble.

At the southeast and northwest corners of the crowd, closest to the mountain forest, commotion also broke out. Two figures shot in like lightning, throwing corpses and blood along their path.

For a moment everyone was alarmed, feeling enemies were coming from all directions.

Someone shouted, “Retreat! Retreat! Exit the valley and surround them, block them!”

Those who reacted quickly hurried backward, but after just a few steps, they slowly began retreating backward.

Someone, holding his throat, shouted, “There’s poison at the valley entrance…” then fell over.

Now everyone hurriedly retreated inward, suddenly remembering the ghostly Queen behind them. Their backs felt cold as they realized they had wanted to catch a turtle in a jar, but ended up with enemies front and back.

In the crowd, people kept stirring, constantly shouting, “Gate Master! Gate Master!”

“Gang Leader! Gang Leader!”

Mixed with Seven Kills’ excited strange laughter: “Kekeke, scatter! Scatter!”

A purple cat lightly flipped over people’s heads, suddenly turning white in the moonlight.

Where it passed, panicked cries erupted again, “Sixth Young Master! Sixth Young Master!”

“Alliance Leader! Alliance Leader!”

…

The scene was in complete chaos. On the large stone, only Mister Mu had never moved.

He gazed across the crowd at those changes, watching her power crush these people over and over again, his lips slightly curved.

After all the hardships and heart-wrenching ordeals, she had finally begun to mature.

Today would be the first day of her great brilliance, destined to illuminate the gray sky of Black Water Marsh. That radiance would continuously extend until one day it covered the Great Wilderness.

Everyone would know how much she had paid for that moment. The Great Wilderness would truly accept their destined Queen.

The most solid way to walk a path is with one’s own feet.

Moonlight touched his smile with comfort.

Smiles born from the heart are most moving.

…

Jing Hengbo landed on the platform. Facing the chaotic crowd, she raised her hand and snapped her fingers with a “crack.”

Strangely, though the scene was so noisy, everyone seemed to hear that sound and looked up in unison.

They saw on the platform a handsome man and beautiful woman, red brocade flying in the moonlight, beautiful to the point of being fierce.

Jing Hengbo smiled as she looked around, about to speak, when Pei Shu beside her put his arm on her shoulder and, with the attitude of a master and husband, called out loudly, “Let me introduce—this is my…”

“Thwack!” Jing Hengbo kicked him down.

“Why are you kicking me!” Pei Shu shouted.

Jing Hengbo laughed coldly without explaining, planning to teach him proper rules after this was over. In public, he needed to know to maintain respect for her. This wasn’t Seven Peaks Mountain where they could casually fool around without regard for hierarchy. Soon she would subdue Daimo, advance into Black Water, and become the Black Water Queen. Without proper hierarchy and systematic dignity, who would respect her in the future?

This was something Mister Mu had reminded her of during their journey together, and she deeply agreed. Previously, while fleeing, she had been grateful for the protection and assistance of those around her and treated them as friends, so she hadn’t established proper rules. But if she wanted to stand firm and develop her power afterward, establishing rules was inevitable. At minimum, in public, she needed respect.

Fortunately, Pei Shu wasn’t completely unreasonable. He didn’t jump back up but stood at the side of the platform with blazing eyes, his pupils flashing like searchlights, clearly meaning to drag out and beat up anyone who displeased him, causing the crowd to retreat further.

Jing Hengbo nodded with satisfaction, pointed into the crowd, and said, “Rakshasa.”

Everyone shuddered and involuntarily focused their attention—what did she mean by calling Rakshasa? Wasn’t she already dead?

“Rakshasa Gate Master. Twenty-six years old, became Rakshasa Gate Master three years ago. Lustful and violent.” Jing Hengbo said slowly and clearly, “At the Jade Tower banquet, she severed an innocent woman’s hand and cooked it into a dish. Her nature is cruel—she receives the punishment of severing hands.”

A buzz arose below.

“She secretly plotted to use a honey trap to seduce and control the Queen—a crime of insubordination.” She paused. “Death.”

Another buzz arose below.

Jing Hengbo showed a contemptuous smile at the corner of her mouth and pointed again toward where she had thrown the Jade Belt Gang leader’s head.

“Jade Belt Gang Leader Yang Jia, thirty-eight years old. Became Jade Belt Gang Leader five years ago. Deceitful and vicious by nature, he practiced Nine Nether Yin Arts using living human hearts. Over ten years, he harmed one hundred thirty-two innocent civilians. He also killed his master, brother, and sister-in-law. Five days ago at the Jade Tower banquet, he masterminded bribing Shadow Pavilion traitor Lei Shengyu to assassinate Shadow Pavilion’s Mister Mu during the feast, breaking Daimo jianghu laws. Death.”

A great commotion arose below, the disturbance greater than when judging Rakshasa—Daimo jianghu had rules that absolutely no assassinations were allowed at public banquet occasions. This was an iron law of jianghu, maintained to preserve the basic possibility of sitting down to talk with each other. Who would have thought someone now dared to break it?

Killing one’s master was also a great crime that martial arts people couldn’t accept. Respecting teachers and honoring the Way was the cornerstone of feudal ethics and could not be shaken. Things like killing brothers and sisters-in-law, these jianghu people covered in blood didn’t care about.

Jing Hengbo pointed consecutively into the crowd: “Soaring Heaven Gate’s Ling Xiaozi, Spiritual Rhinoceros Gate’s Shui Xiangtian, Mad Blade Alliance’s Meng Kuang, Trial Sword Alliance’s Zhang Yuan, Dragon Tiger Alliance’s Wang Hu…”

Except for the Thirteen Guardians who hadn’t come today, she named the rest one by one. Each time she named someone, a person was dragged out from that faction’s crowd.

Soaring Heaven Gate’s Ling Xiaozi was dragged out by Yi Qi, who had a terrifying smile on his bloody mouth, pressed close to the Soaring Heaven Gate Master.

Spiritual Rhinoceros Gate’s Shui Xiangtian was dragged out by Si Si, who twisted his snow-white waist and giggled “coquettishly” in the Water Gate Master’s ear.

…

Trial Sword Alliance, Dragon Tiger Alliance, Divine Decision, Sky Competition, Shadow Hunt—the remaining idiots each found one target. Ying Bai and Tian Qi emerged from the southeast and northwest corners of the crowd, escorting the Dragon Soar and Blood Sacrifice Gang leaders.

Even Zi Rui and Yong Xue followed behind Ying Bai and Tian Qi, using puppet arts and poison to bring down the Flame Gang leader.

Feifei dealt with the Mad Blade Alliance leader and, as a bonus, his sixth daughter as well.

Jing Hengbo pointed to one, and one was brought up, like a public trial assembly.

The big shots’ faces looked very ugly—they weren’t that weak, but they were completely caught off guard by the surprise. Especially the gate masters and alliance leaders in front were completely tricked by Seven Kills, who suddenly broke free and launched surprise attacks.

They still couldn’t figure out how Seven Kills had broken free in an instant and simultaneously captured them.

The ropes they used to bind Seven Kills were all their own most resilient ropes. Even first-rate masters would need time to break free. To ensure these people had no chance to escape, the gate masters and alliance leaders brought them to their front to personally guard them, thinking that with themselves watching and surrounded by their own people, there was no way they could escape. Who knew this gave the opponents an opportunity—the opponents broke free in an instant and captured them in return.

The key was that the escape was unbelievable, as if seven transparent people had simultaneously swung blades in an instant, cutting the ropes of these seven people.

They all remembered that in that instant, they vaguely saw behind those seven bound people what seemed to be a dark light that suddenly flashed and immediately disappeared.

Could someone have used internal energy to control flying blades to cut the ropes? But they were in different places—seven people total with various obstacles. Who could divide their attention seven ways? Such martial arts would be too shocking to the world.

These ghostly methods made their backs turn cold.

When the big shots were brought up, the crowd’s agitation became more intense. Many people counted numbers and then turned around in amazement.

Blazing Fire Alliance Leader Meng Liehuo stood in the crowd, feeling everyone’s gazes, feeling like he was the one tied up and roasted over fire.

Fourteen leaders—two killed for intimidation, one knocked down, ten brought to the platform. Why was he the only one left out?

Why? Everyone had this question, and their looks toward him were already malicious.

On the platform, Jing Hengbo smiled as she finished calling out names, counted around, and said, “…Feng Han, Ruan Qingyi and others colluded with Jade Belt Gang Leader Yang Jia to bribe Shadow Pavilion traitor Lei Shengyu, assassinating Shadow Pavilion’s Mister Mu at the Jade Tower banquet, breaking Daimo jianghu laws. They are ordered to come to the platform for self-reflection.”

The gate masters and gang leaders “ordered to come to the platform for self-reflection” glared at her angrily, their eyes seeming to shoot arrows.

Jing Hengbo acted as if she didn’t see, waved her hand, and looked once into the crowd.

Blazing Fire Alliance’s Meng Liehuo’s heart jumped.

Sure enough, the Queen came to deliver the final blow.

“All the guilty ones are here. As for other friendly people, we naturally wouldn’t harm a hair on their heads, hehe.”

The crowd’s gazes all crashed onto Meng Liehuo like a wave. Meng Liehuo was stunned and hadn’t had time to refute when the gate masters, alliance leaders, and gang leaders on the platform angrily said, “Meng Liehuo, so you were colluding inside and out, framing us!”

“I did not!” Meng Liehuo was furious. “The Queen is framing me!”

“If it wasn’t you, how did she infiltrate Rakshasa Gate’s team? You and Rakshasa are allies. Rakshasa is dead, we are captured—why are you alone unharmed?”

Meng Liehuo couldn’t defend himself with a hundred mouths. Veins bulged on his forehead. He didn’t even understand why the Queen had chosen to frame him.

He only knew that from today on, he had been excluded from Daimo jianghu.

Breaking old alliances wasn’t much—ultimately they were enemies, and assassinating at banquets was understandable. But betrayal was taboo for all jianghu people, as everyone feared being stabbed in the back.

He, Meng Liehuo, couldn’t bear this accusation.

Looking at the Queen’s smiling eyes on the platform, Meng Liehuo felt a chill in his heart and vaguely seemed to understand something.

Some people also refuted Jing Hengbo: “What are you? Do you really think you’re the Queen? Even if you are the Queen, you have no right to judge and decide the rights and wrongs of our Daimo jianghu!”

“Right! The rules were made by us. If there’s handling to be done, only we can publicly discuss and handle it!”

“What’s there to handle? Shadow Pavilion secretly developing power already violated our Daimo martial world’s rules. What’s wrong with us acting against them? The original agreement not to act against anyone at public banquets referred to us—the three gates, four alliances, seven gangs, and thirteen guardians. It didn’t include those plotting villains in the shadows!”

“I say that agreement shouldn’t have been made at all! Jianghu people lick blood from blade edges—life and death are ordinary. If you fear assassination, why mix in anything! If you can’t avoid assassination, what kind of hero are you? If you have the ability, go kill! If you have the ability, kill all those who want to kill you! This agreement—I propose we overturn it today!”

“Right! Overturn it today!”

“The rules were made by us, so naturally we have the right to overturn them!”

Jing Hengbo smiled as she listened, tapping her dagger in her palm.

“Makes sense, makes sense,” she said. “In the end, you’re saying that political power grows out of the barrel of a gun—whoever has the bigger fist gets to talk, right?”