Hours passed by, and the news spread like wildfire throughout the whole Central Domain, whispers of chaos echoing through every street and corridor.
Zhou Xuanyuan, who had been resting peacefully with his chin propped on his palm atop his throne, jolted awake as sudden noise engulfed the hall.
He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze sharp as a blade as it swept coldly over the intruders.
"Young Lord Zhou!" one guard gasped, his voice cracking with fear as he dropped to his knees and pressed his forehead against the cold concrete floor. The other followed instantly, eyes fixed downward, not daring to meet Zhou Xuanyuan's gaze.
The two guards remained prostrate on the floor, trembling. Zhou Xuanyuan's eyes narrowed, his forehead creasing as he noticed the dark blood stains smeared across one guard's hands.
"Why do you come before me trembling?" His voice cut through the silence like ice.
The guards rose shakily to their feet in unison, their bodies still trembling as one of them struggled to find his voice.
"P-Pardon us, my Lord," the guard stammered, sweat beading on his forehead.
Zhou Xuanyuan leaned forward on his throne, his eyes flashing with suspicion. Something was clearly wrong.
"I commanded you to gather all the treasures I desire!" His fist slammed against the armrest, the sound echoing through the hall. "How dare you return to me empty-handed, trembling like cowards? And where are the pure women I demanded? Bring them to me now!" His voice rose to a thunderous roar, veins bulging at his temples.
"Please, calm yourself, My Lord," the guard pleaded, his hands raised defensively. "We followed your orders to the letter. But... we failed." His voice dropped to barely a whisper on those last words.
"Failed?!" Zhou Xuanyuan shot to his feet, his robes billowing as raw energy crackled around him. "You left here fully armed, brimming with power! Where did all that strength vanish to?" He descended the throne steps, each footfall heavy with rage. "Fifty of you marched out, and only two crawl back to tell me you've FAILED?" His voice shook the very walls. "Where are the others? Dead? Scattered like cowards?" He spat the words with venom. "Such a pathetic, useless bunch!"
"Yes." The guard's voice was hollow, resigned.
Zhou Xuanyuan froze mid-step, his entire body going rigid. The crackling energy around him stilled to an eerie silence. His eyes widened in disbelief before narrowing to dangerous slits.
"What did you say?" His voice dropped to a deadly whisper, more terrifying than his previous roar.
"We... we aren't sure if there's any of them left alive, My Lord." The guard's throat worked as he swallowed hard. "The duty should have been accomplished within moments. Simple. But we didn't expect—" His voice cracked. "We didn't expect we would fall into such a brutal fight."
Zhou Xuanyuan said nothing. His jaw clenched, a muscle twitching beneath his skin.
His gaze swept over the two guards with cold calculation, taking in every detail. Their armor was dented and torn, hanging loosely from their frames. Deep purple bruises mottled their faces and arms. Gashes still oozed blood through hastily wrapped bandages. One guard favored his left leg, barely able to stand upright. The other's hand trembled uncontrollably, likely broken.
Zhou Xuanyuan's expression darkened. These weren't minor injuries from a skirmish. This was the aftermath of a massacre. Whoever—or whatever—they had faced wasn't just strong. It was overwhelming.
A deep breath escaped from Zhou Xuanyuan's lips as he exhaled slowly through his nose, steam practically rising from his nostrils. His fists unclenched deliberately, finger by finger, as if forcing himself into composure.
"Whose sect did you encounter?" he asked, each word measured and controlled, though his eyes blazed with barely restrained fury.
He waited, expecting an immediate answer. But instead, both guards slowly shook their heads, their eyes filled with something worse than fear—confusion.
Zhou Xuanyuan's eye twitched. "Then why did you say you broke into a fight?" His voice grew dangerously soft.
The guard gulped hard, his Adam's apple bobbing visibly. Looking at Zhou Xuanyuan's face now was like staring into the eyes of a tiger poised to strike, muscles coiled, ready to devour them whole. His knees nearly buckled.
"My Lord, actually... There is no sect." The words tumbled out in a rush. "We don't know who they were, but the one we encountered was something extraordinary. Something we've never—" He cut himself off abruptly and glanced at his companion beside him, as if seeking courage.
"Then what?" Zhou Xuanyuan leaned forward, his presence suffocating. "Speak!"
The guard's lips trembled. He opened his mouth, closed it, then forced the words out.
"It's—a girl."
The moment those words left his lips, Zhou Xuanyuan's face twisted into pure fury. His eyes blazed with murderous intent as he surged forward with inhuman speed, closing the distance in a single stride. His hand shot out like a viper, iron fingers wrapping around the guard's throat and lifting him clean off the ground.
"You waste my time with this nonsense?!" he roared, slamming the guard against a nearby pillar. The impact cracked the stone. He pressed his face close to the choking man, their noses nearly touching, his breath hot with rage. "How DARE you play a joke on me? A girl? You expect me to believe a girl slaughtered forty-eight of my warriors?!"
His grip tightened mercilessly. The guard's face turned purple, his eyes bulging as his mouth opened and closed uselessly like a dying fish. A strangled, desperate wheeze escaped his lips as his hands clawed weakly at Zhou Xuanyuan's wrist. His legs kicked frantically in the air, finding no purchase.
"My Lord, please!" The other guard threw himself to the floor, pressing his forehead so hard against the cold stone that blood began to seep from his skin. "Please, spare him! I beg you!" His voice cracked with desperation, trembling violently. "We speak the truth! The woman we encountered—she's unfathomable! Her power—it's beyond anything we've ever witnessed!" He raised his head just enough to meet Zhou Xuanyuan's eyes, tears streaming down his face. "She bears a mark, My Lord! A glowing mark on her forehead! Please, you must believe us!"
Zhou Xuanyuan's hand froze. His eyes flickered with sudden recognition, the fury in them shifting to something else—shock, perhaps even fear.
He released his grip abruptly. The guard dropped like a stone, crumpling onto the cold floor in a heap, gasping and coughing violently as air rushed back into his lungs. His hands clutched at his bruised throat, each breath a painful rasp.
Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out through the entire hall, echoing off the stone walls with calm authority. The very air seemed to shift, the oppressive tension easing ever so slightly.
"Don't be so harsh to your people." The voice was measured, almost gentle, yet it carried undeniable weight. "Look at them—they're injured."
Zhou Xuanyuan's shoulders stiffened. He turned his head slowly, his expression still dark, but the murderous rage beginning to recede. His gaze dropped to the two guards crumpled at his feet—one still gasping for air, the other bleeding from his forehead, both trembling like leaves.
"Useless," he muttered in exasperation, his lip curling in disgust. Then, as if a switch had been flipped, he straightened his posture and turned fully toward the approaching figure. His entire demeanor transformed—rigid fury melting into respectful composure. He clasped his hands and bowed his head gracefully. "Father. You came."
Zhou Yan stepped into the light, his robes flowing elegantly with each measured step. His expression was serene, almost amused, as he observed the scene before him. His eyes—sharp and calculating despite their calm exterior—swept over the injured guards before settling on his son.
"I heard you were in a foul mood again," Zhou Yan said smoothly, one eyebrow arching slightly. "Did they offend you somehow?" His tone was casual, but there was an underlying current of scrutiny, as if testing his son's reaction.
Zhou Xuanyuan said nothing. His jaw tightened, but he remained silent, his gaze fixed on the guards with pure irritation burning in his eyes.
Zhou Yan followed his son's gaze, his eyes landing on the crumpled guard still struggling to breathe. Without a word, he took deliberate steps forward, each footfall soft yet purposeful. He bent down gracefully, extending a hand to the gasping man.
"Come," Zhou Yan said quietly, his tone gentle yet commanding.
The guard looked up with wide, disbelieving eyes, hesitating for a moment before grasping Zhou Yan's hand. With surprising strength, Zhou Yan helped lift him to his feet, steadying him as the man swayed unsteadily.
Once the guard finally found his balance, he immediately dropped to his knees again, pressing his fist to his chest in gratitude. His voice was hoarse and broken. "Thank you, Lord Zhou Yan. Thank you."
Zhou Yan responded with only a single, almost imperceptible nod, his expression unreadable.
He took a step back, his sharp eyes studying both guards carefully. Their torn armor, the deep gashes still weeping blood, the way they trembled not just from fear but from exhaustion—it all painted a grim picture. His brow furrowed slightly as curiosity flickered across his face.
"My suspicion couldn't be wrong," Zhou Yan said slowly, his arms folding across his chest. "You broke into a deadly fight." It wasn't really a question—more of a statement waiting for confirmation.
The two guards didn't respond verbally, but their faces told the story. Their haunted eyes, the way they glanced at each other nervously, the slight nod one of them gave—it all screamed yes.
Zhou Yan's eyes narrowed. He exhaled softly through his nose, his patience thinning.
"Tell me," he said, his voice dropping an octave, carrying an edge of steel beneath the calm. "Who is it?"
The guard opened his mouth to answer, but his eyes darted nervously toward Zhou Xuanyuan, who stood off to the side with his arms crossed, radiating cold menace. The guard's throat tightened. If he answered the same way as before, he'd end up tortured—or worse. His lips trembled as he struggled to find the words.
"Speak." Zhou Yan's voice echoed through the hall like a command from the heavens themselves, leaving no room for hesitation.
The guard flinched. He had no choice now.
"It's... it's a girl," he stammered, his voice barely above a whisper.
Zhou Yan's head tilted slightly to the side, his eyes narrowing with intrigue. "A girl?" he repeated slowly, as if testing the weight of the word.
The guard nodded frantically, sweat dripping down his temple.
"Who is it?" Zhou Yan pressed, leaning forward slightly, his interest clearly piqued.
Zhou Xuanyuan, who had been listening in silence, finally scoffed. He stepped forward, waving a dismissive hand. "Father, don't waste your time asking about their trivial matters. It's nonsense—"
Zhou Yan raised his hand sharply, cutting his son off mid-sentence. The gesture was small but absolute. Zhou Xuanyuan's mouth snapped shut, his jaw clenching in frustration, but he said nothing more.