Dread King's Bride

Despite her embarrassment and rage, QingWu didn't leave. Though she was furious at Xiao Chenyuan for his apparent inability to communicate properly, a secret delight lingered in her heart.

Because of this, she magnanimously forgave the stunned and scrutinizing gazes cast upon her, tolerating their impolite stares from this group of "blockheads."

Situ Jing's thoughts, however, were anything but calm. His gaze repeatedly darted toward the Judge's Brush in QingWu's right hand. Unlike others who suspected QingWu was merely a resurrected corpse, Situ Jing had never considered her human to begin with. He had long believed her body housed an ancient ghost of immense cultivation.

But witnessing her actions just now, Situ Jing realized he was wrong. This eerie "Lady Ghost" wasn't human—that much was certain—but if she was a ghost, her identity was far from ordinary!

She had just used a Mandate Command! With one stroke, she decided life and death—a power belonging solely to a Judge! Not one of those minor judges in the Underworld who only judged and sentenced souls. This was no ordinary ghost!

"Many thanks to my Queen for saving us. Without your intervention, we'd all have met untimely deaths tonight." Situ Jing put on an exaggeratedly pitiful expression. "My Queen, you are our second mother!"

QingWu shivered, clearly repulsed. The nearby Black Armored Guards also subtly distanced themselves from Situ Jing. They were well aware of their comrade's thick skin, but proclaiming familial ties outright? That was a bit too much!

"Not likely. You seem tough enough to survive," said QingWu with a faint smile.

"Really?!" Situ Jing exclaimed in delight. "If the Queen says so, then living to ninety-nine should be no problem!"

QingWu's smile widened. "Keep running your mouth, and I guarantee you won't see twenty-nine."

Situ Jing clammed up instantly, his face stiff. He was turning twenty-nine next month.

"Burn those mountain demon corpses," QingWu ordered. "Don't let them leave behind any foul energy. And make sure to remove the skulls from their heads."

The Black Armored Guards promptly followed her instructions. After witnessing her power, they obeyed without question. Many now harbored a deep respect mixed with awe for her.

"Your Grace, I've roughly divined the location of Wang Yulang. He should be somewhere nearby," Situ Jing reported.

QingWu hummed in acknowledgment but walked straight into the dilapidated temple behind him. Situ Jing hurried after her. "He's inside this temple?"

Situ Jing was stunned. "In the temple? That's impossible! We already searched it earlier. There's no one inside."

QingWu's gaze landed on the damaged altar. The clay statue atop it had been destroyed, its original deity unrecognizable.

"He's been hidden," she said calmly.

Following her gaze, Situ Jing quickly summoned a few men. They moved toward the altar, preparing to investigate further.

After some digging, someone exclaimed in shock, "There's a child in here!"

Beneath the hollow altar lay a boy, no more than seven or eight years old, curled up tightly. His body was marked with bruises, his face pale with a bluish tint, and his skin icy to the touch. If not for the faintest signs of life, he could have easily been mistaken for dead.

The Black Armored Guards carefully lifted the boy out. QingWu strode over swiftly, placing her hand on the child's forehead, her brows furrowing deeply.

Situ Jing, after examining the boy, spoke gravely, "His spirit has left his body, and his vitality is fading fast. This child has been missing for seven days. If we can't retrieve his soul before midnight, it'll be too late."

Situ Jing instinctively glanced at QingWu. Though he knew methods to summon a lost soul, he was acutely aware that his skills paled in comparison. With QingWu present, any attempt he made would only display his inadequacy.

QingWu's finger pressed against the boy's brow as her voice resonated, low and commanding, imbued with an enigmatic and chilling authority. It was as if the sound emerged from the depths of the netherworld or echoed directly within the soul.

"Wang Yulang, return to your vessel." The decree of a ghost official, reaching the underworld.

The wandering spirits in the ghostly realm shuddered at the sound, but as moments passed, the boy remained unresponsive.

QingWu's eyes sharpened, a glint of icy determination flashing through. "This child's soul isn't merely lost—it's being held captive."

QingWu frowned, realizing why the boy's life force was so faint.

Situ Jing's voice broke through her thoughts, filled with urgency. "What can we do? Can you find where his soul is trapped?"

QingWu considered it briefly. She could locate it, but time was running out. Just then, a voice rang out from outside.

"Your Majesty ."

QingWu turned in surprise to see a tall, imposing figure standing at the temple entrance. Behind him, the firelight flickered, casting long shadows, but his eyes, dark and unreadable, seemed to burn with an inner fire as they fixed on her.

A rush of warmth filled QingWu's chest. "Xiao Chenyuan."

At the sound of her voice and the smile on her face, Xiao Chenyuan felt something shift within him, a feeling as though something in his heart had been struck, causing the Iris she had painted for him to grow wildly in his mind, stirring his once-dormant, irrational thoughts.

"You've arrived just in time. Quickly, help me!" QingWu gripped his hand without hesitation. The Black Armored Guards held their breath as they averted their gazes, respecting the intimacy between the two.

Feeling her firm grip, Xiao Chenyuan instinctively tightened his hold and gazed at her. This time, he didn't push her away. "Alright."

QingWu led him quickly toward the child, but as they neared, she hesitated. Xiao Chenyuan noticed her reluctance and asked, "Didn't you need my help?"

QingWu bit her lip slightly. "The boy doesn't have much time left. His soul is trapped. It can't be freed right now. There's only one way—lend him some of your life force."

"No!" Baisui Elderly Attendant was the first to speak, his expression filled with anger as he glared at QingWu. "What are you trying to do? Are you trying to harm the King?!"

"Step aside!" Xiao Chenyuan's cold command silenced the temple, the air thick with tension.

"How do we do it?" he asked, his expression calm despite the situation.

QingWu felt a twinge in her heart but explained seriously, "It's called lending life force. You will share your Yang energy with him to protect his soul from the death energy, not actually give up your life."

Xiao Chenyuan didn't object and simply nodded. "Alright."

Suddenly, Baisui Elderly Attendant knelt dramatically, "If you need Yang energy, take mine! I'm young, my Yang energy is strong!" The rest of the Black Armored Guards followed suit, kneeling in unison. "We all have abundant Yang energy, willing to lend it!"

The warriors' eagerness was admirable, but their actions carried an odd tone, especially as they eagerly boasted about their vitality.

Situ Jing cleared his throat. "I can't. My vitality isn't up to the King's level." The temple fell into an awkward silence. Even Baisui Elderly Attendant cast a glance toward his king.

QingWu chuckled softly, "To fool the Underworld, the one lending their energy must have great fortune. Only the King has such fortune."

At the mention of "fooling the Underworld," Situ Jing's eyes widened in shock as he stared at QingWu, speechless.

Xiao Chenyuan felt a headache coming on from the commotion and quickly said, "Just do it."

QingWu didn't waste any more time. She moved forward, rising onto her toes as if to kiss Xiao Chenyuan on the lips. The people in the temple froze in shock, quickly averting their eyes. Xiao Chenyuan's body stiffened for a moment but soon relaxed. Her lips didn't actually touch his but hovered just a fraction away. He could clearly smell her crisp fragrance, like a hook that burrowed into his senses, taking something from him.

QingWu borrowed three days of his life force, whispered a thank you, and was about to turn away when Xiao Chenyuan suddenly grabbed her wrist. She looked back in surprise, seeing him frown as if he had something to say but couldn't find the words.

"It's nothing," Xiao Chenyuan said, releasing her hand.

QingWu nodded and crouched beside the child, forming a seal with her right hand. She pressed her thumb to her chest and pushed upwards. The life force gathered at her fingertips and flowed into the boy's body, instantly improving his complexion. The death energy around him began to dissipate.

Xiao Chenyuan observed, his gaze shifting slightly. His clenched fist relaxed. He had thought that transferring life force to another would require more from her...

"It's done," QingWu turned back to him, flashing a charming smile. "Xiao Chenyuan, thank you."

Xiao Chenyuan looked at her, his eyes seemingly trying to see through her skin, to reveal the true nature of her soul. "Yun, Qing, Wu." He pronounced her name slowly, though it felt as if he was speaking another name entirely. "No need for thanks."