Feng Miaojun gave a light snort. “Our lives are connected. If I die, you cannot survive alone.”

“Besides, whether I am your An’an or not, I am still the Queen of New Xia. If you kill me or take me away, New Xia will certainly send troops to attack Wei. At that time, Wei would have to fight on both the southern and northern continents, facing attacks from both Yan and Xia. The situation would immediately reverse.”

She smiled. “You’ve gone through countless hardships to force Yan Kingdom into a dead end. Are you now planning to fail when victory is within reach?”

Her power and status were more effective than any life-saving divine ability in this world.

Yun Ya’s gaze grew cold, fiercer than tigers and wolves.

Feng Miaojun remained fearless, even smiling more cheerfully. “Don’t be impulsive. Think about the goal you’ve worked toward for three hundred years. If I die, can you truly bear the consequences?”

Her gaze circled his chest twice, revealing a hint of burning intent.

Yun Ya pressed his lips together.

Yes, if he killed her now, he would also die. Most terrifying of all, calamity would descend with them.

“You have only one choice—”

“—Release me.” She rolled her eyes. “Moreover, deep down you still have a glimmer of hope, don’t you? Hope that your An’an might still return. If you kill me now, everything will be over.”

Unable to kill her or take her away, he could only let her go.

Countless thoughts flickered through Yun Ya’s eyes as he spoke in a low voice, “You think I will let you go?”

He had pursued the Heavenly Demon for hundreds of years. Now that he had finally captured it, shouldn’t his duty be to eliminate this calamity at its source and achieve unprecedented merit?

“For public and private reasons,” she pouted. “For all rational and emotional considerations—yes!”

“After all we’ve been through as husband and wife, could you bear to kill me?” She delivered these words with a lilting cadence that pierced Yun Ya, making his expression even more gloomy.

That face was still devastatingly beautiful, that smile still soul-stirring, but the soul inside had been replaced.

Had all those years of love vanished like smoke and clouds?

“You are you, she is she. I would like nothing more than to kill you.” Yun Ya took a deep breath and returned to his question. “I only ask you, is she still there?”

This was the fourth time he had asked.

Feng Miaojun slowly cleared the smile from her face and gazed at him without speaking.

The Heavenly Demon excelled at clever words and bewitching hearts, but it rarely lied. Seeing this, Yun Ya immediately felt a glimmer of hope in his heart. “Return her to me. Name your price.”

“Very well.” Feng Miaojun blinked. “Exchange my people for your beloved.”

She wanted him to release the Heavenly Demon clan!

Yun Ya refused without a second thought. “Name another price.”

“Then forget it.” Feng Miaojun’s gaze lingered on his chest for two seconds as she said languidly, “One day, I will take action myself.”

Her gaze was almost tangible. Yun Ya’s expression grew solemn, but he wasn’t surprised.

She had gone to the Dream City to rescue her kind but came up empty-handed. By now, she probably understood where the Heavenly Demons were sealed.

Thinking of this, Yun Ya’s gaze shifted slightly.

Feng Miaojun had entered his sea of consciousness long ago and had seen the various anomalies there, yet she had helped him defeat the Heavenly Demon’s projection without hesitation. There was only one reason for this—

At that time, she was not yet a Heavenly Demon and didn’t understand what her visions in his sea of consciousness meant!

But now, the Heavenly Demon that had devoured her knew.

It sounded incredible, but this was the only reasonable explanation he could think of.

What unexpected event had occurred in that stone chamber in the Dream Water City?

As he pondered, deliberately heavy footsteps sounded from outside, followed by knocking on the door. Chen Dachang’s voice came through: “Lord Yun.”

The room had been sealed by Yun Ya’s barrier. Outsiders couldn’t enter uninvited, and sound could only travel in, not out.

Yun Ya didn’t respond.

After a few breaths, Chen Dachang called again. It was an urgent matter.

The two people in the room looked at each other.

If Yun Ya answered, the fact that Feng Miaojun had awakened would be revealed, and he would have to release her. If he didn’t answer, Chen Dachang would surely know something was happening inside. Given his loyalty to the Queen of New Xia, plus the New Xia troops stationed in Water City…

In short, Yun Ya had very little time to make a decision—only two or three breaths’ worth.

Now, should he answer or not? Feng Miaojun watched him intently, finally showing a trace of tension on her face.

Yun Ya closed his eyes, standing still.

Countless thoughts swept through his mind.

His decision would affect not only him and Feng Miaojun but also the fate of the northern and southern continents and the lives of countless people.

When he opened his eyes again, his face had regained its composure.

He casually removed the barrier and called out, “What is it?”

—Yun Ya had finally made his choice. With this response, he could no longer deal with the Heavenly Demon in secret.

She immediately smiled, her expression triumphant and self-satisfied.

Outside the door, Chen Dachang quickly said, “The King of Yan and Lady Ba have been spotted. General Hong has led troops with State Preceptor Yu to capture them.”

“I’m coming.” Yun Ya glanced at Feng Miaojun before turning to open the door.

Chen Dachang was about to speak when a woman’s voice came from inside: “Chen Dachang.”

That voice, that tone—it was the one he knew best, but with a hint of urgency.

The Queen had awakened! Chen Dachang’s body trembled. As Yun Ya passed him, he left a low whisper: “Be careful. Your mistress has become a Heavenly Demon.” She was afraid he might change his mind, so she spoke first to alert Chen Dachang.

The joy that had just appeared on Chen Dachang’s face instantly turned to shock.

Yun Ya patted his shoulder and with a wave of his hand, more than ten rays of light flew from Feng Miaojun’s body into his palm.

“I’ve left only the last needle at your Baihui acupoint. With your abilities, you can surely force it out within three hours.” He put away the soul-retrieving needles, gave her a steady look, and then strode out.

That look contained countless thoughts.

Watching his figure disappear after a few leaps, Chen Dachang stood rooted to the spot, his mind in turmoil, until Feng Miaojun spoke again. Only then did he walk in.

Before he could even stand properly, the Queen’s clear voice reached his ears: “Send orders to Zhao Hongyin to return. We’re going back to Wusei!”

Chen Dachang acknowledged with a sound, then said, “General Hong is currently pursuing the King of Yan…”

“He couldn’t catch the King of Yan in three days within Water City, but he’ll capture him outside?” Feng Miaojun’s elegant eyebrows arched as her face froze with frost. “Go quickly!”

Chen Dachang recalled what Yun Ya had just told him. He opened his mouth, but the words retreated from the tip of his tongue. In the end, he could only respond:

“Yes!”

Such a rare opportunity and the Queen wanted to let it go? It must be the day when the sky rains blood.

As he left, closing the door behind him, Feng Miaojun gazed at the canopy. Everything around was quiet, and her gaze gradually became unfocused. Suddenly, she whispered, so softly it was almost a sigh:

“Yun Ya!”