NOVEL NEXT Chapter 304: Gratitude in Return for Favor
Chapter 304: Gratitude in Return for Favor
As Jun Fengya approached, her aura radiated a suffocating intensity, like a primeval beast looming over its prey. The thick scent of blood hung in the air, adding to her chilling presence.
Trembling as she glanced at Jun Fengya who was drenched in blood, Jun Yunshang weakly whispered, “Sister Fengya?”
Jun Fengya’s cold, indifferent gaze flickered toward her, causing Jun Yunshang to instinctively shrink back, inching closer to Lin Fengmian.
So terrifying!
Sister Fengya wouldn’t want to kill me too, would she?
Lin Fengmian looked at the quail-like Jun Yunshang and then at the icy, ruthless Jun Fengya. He couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. The royal family really lives up to the saying, “The dragon gives birth to nine sons, each of them different.”
Finally, Lin Fengmian fully understood Jun Fengya’s strategy. No wonder she had insisted that he only needed to escort her to Junlin City by the end of the month.
With the elimination of Jun Zizhen and Jun Yutang, there were only three contenders left for the throne. Even if he brought Jun Yunshang along, Jun Fengya no longer had to worry about who entered Junlin City first.
So this is the determination and foresight of the future Empress Fengya?
What a madwoman.
Watching Jun Fengya, Lin Fengmian felt as though he was witnessing a blood dragon shedding its skin and transforming into a divine dragon.
Jun Yutang’s subordinates hurriedly pleaded, “Princess Fengya, please calm down!”
“Your Highness, you’ve already made a big mistake. Don’t compound it further!”
They hesitated, wanting to rescue Jun Yutang, but Lin Fengmian’s cold, warning gaze froze them in place. No one dared to act rashly.
Dragging her bloodstained sword, Jun Fengya stopped before Jun Yutang and suddenly smiled radiantly.
“Seventh Brother, Big Brother might feel lonely down there. Why don’t I send you to keep him company?”
Jun Yutang trembled uncontrollably, unable to stand without Lin Fengmian holding him up.
“Ninth Sister, please! Don’t kill me!” he stammered incoherently. “I give up! I give up!”
The acrid stench of urine wafted through the air as Lin Fengmian threw him aside in disdain. His pants were soaked.
A Unity Realm cultivator, reduced to wetting himself in fear.
Jun Fengya looked at the sniveling, utterly disgraceful Jun Yutang with a flicker of disgust.
“Pathetic. A disgrace to the Jun family name.”
Jun Yutang nodded frantically, tears streaming down his face. “Yes, yes, I’m unworthy! Ninth sister, spare me!”
Jun Fengya pressed her sword to his forehead, her voice icy. “Swear it. Swear that you will never return to Junlin or oppose me. Otherwise, I’ll kill you here and now.”
As though granted a reprieve from death, Jun Yutang shakily raised his hand and swore a hurried, stammering oath.
Satisfied, Jun Fengya withdrew her sword and surveyed the crowd. Her tone was cold and commanding.
“Jun Zizhen is dead. Jun Yutang is crippled!”
“With Young Master Ye’s support, fate is on my side. Those who are wise will leave the darkness and follow the light. If you do that, I will forgive your past transgressions!”
The gathered cultivators exchanged uncertain glances, their eyes finally falling on Lin Fengmian. Many wavered before finally kneeling in submission.
“We pledge our allegiance to Princess Fengya. Please accept us as your loyal subjects!”
The fence-sitters quickly followed suit, kneeling en masse. Half of the cultivators in the Unity Realm had now submitted.
Jun Fengya smiled haughtily. “Those who choose wisely now will be rewarded in the future when I ascend the throne. Your loyalty today will be remembered as a meritorious service to the Dragon’s Cause.”
The newly loyal Unity Realm Cultivators rejoiced, bowing deeply. “Thank you, Your Highness!”
Jun Fengya’s gaze turned to the loyalists of Jun Zizhen – those who refused to yield, their wary eyes fixed on her.
“Although you refuse to surrender, your loyalty is commendable. I will not make it difficult for you.”
“Swear to withdraw from this battle for the throne and escort my brother’s remains back to Junlin City. Do this and I will spare your lives.”
The dissenters exchanged complicated glances, but finally agreed, hastily gathering Jun Zizhen’s corpse before retreating.
Jun Yutang’s remaining subordinates hesitated, their eyes darting between him and Jun Fengya.
Jun Yutang swallowed nervously and stammered, “Ninth Sister?”
Without hesitation, Jun Fengya swung the flat of her sword across his face, sending him sprawling to the ground. Her voice was icy cold. “Get out!”
Jun Yutang lay on the ground in disgrace, too terrified to utter a single complaint. His subordinates quickly helped him up and led him away.
Having sworn an oath never to return to Junlin City, Jun Yutang had no choice but to seek refuge elsewhere. To violate his oath would invite certain death.
With that, Jun Fengya’s power grew immensely. In one decisive move, she had removed two major obstacles on the path to the throne, leaving only three contenders.
Now, regardless of the circumstances, as long as they reached Junlin City by the end of the month, her spot in the palace competition was assured.
After all, Jun Yutang could no longer return to Junlin City. This left only Jun Fengya, Jun Yunshang, and the Fourth Prince, Jun Chengye, as eligible participants.
The slots for the competition were effectively set. Lin Fengmian merely needed to deliver them back to the city by the deadline.
Jun Yunshang, practically a mascot, posed no real threat-her role in the competition would likely be perfunctory.
Jun Fengya’s true opponent was none other than the Fourth Prince, Jun Chengye, the only rival worthy of being called her equal.
Taking a deep breath, Jun Fengya turned to her subordinates. “Clean up the battlefield and be on the lookout for ambushes.”
“Yes, Your Highness!” they replied in unison.
Then she turned to Jun Yunshang and said, “Little sister, let’s go. We need to visit the city’s Bloodline Altar for the bloodline branding.”
Jun Yunshang nodded shyly, still shaken by the recent events.
Lin Fengmian smiled faintly. “To think that the Ninth Princess actually killed Jun Zizhen, I must admit that I’m a bit surprised.”
Jun Fengya’s expression remained calm. “Big Brother has always looked down on us women. With Young Master Ye here, if I had believed his lies, I wouldn’t have lived long enough to regret it.”
Jun Yunshang gathered her courage and asked, “Why?”
Jun Fengya explained, “Young Master Ye’s strength is terrifying. Not only would Big Brother be afraid of him, but so would my Fourth Brother.”
“If they were to join forces, their first move would probably be to eliminate Young Master Ye. And once he’s gone, I’d have no chance of escape.”
Jun Yunshang finally understood, her eyes wide with realization.
Lin Fengmian chuckled. “If my guess is correct, you never actually planned to kill Jun Yutang, did you?”
“Jun Zizhen’s Void Realm subordinates are bound to him by interests alone. With him dead, they’ll scatter like monkeys from a falling tree.”
“Jun Yutang, on the other hand, is a different matter. His father-in-law is a Void Realm Master. Killing him would only lead to endless trouble.”
Jun Fengya gave Lin Fengmian a surprised look, then nodded in agreement. “Young Master Ye is truly perceptive.”
“As you said, Big Brother was battle-hardened and desperate for the throne. He could not be intimidated, so I had no choice but to kill him.”
“Seventh Brother may be talented, but he lacks determination. With a Void Realm Master as his father-in-law, killing him would create unnecessary complications unless absolutely necessary.”
“Of course, if he insists on defying me, I won’t hesitate to send him on his way. But I doubt that he has the spine for it.”
Lin Fengmian hadn’t expected her to openly admit that she had considered killing Jun Yutang as well. Applauding softly, he said, “Ninth Princess, your decisiveness is impressive. I underestimated you.”
Jun Fengya smiled modestly. “I only borrowed the power of the tiger. I owe it all to Young Master Ye.”
Lin Fengmian couldn’t help but regard her with a newfound respect. She clearly understood the importance of relying on him and hadn’t let her success inflate her ego.
“What are Your Highness’s plans next?”
Jun Fengya looked at him, a glint of determination in her eyes. “Of course, I plan to go directly to Linyuan City and see if I can secure the support of the two remaining Void Realm experts.”
“If my Fourth Brother tries to stop me, I’ll have to rely on you, Young Master Ye, to help me enter the city.”
Lin Fengmian’s tone was calm. “We’ll see when the time comes.”
Jun Fengya nodded, her demeanor softening slightly as she said with a hint of shyness, “Young Master’s kindness is something I will never forget.”
“As the saying goes, ‘A drop of water should be repaid with a surging spring.’ I, Fengya, am someone who knows how to repay kindness. In the future, I shall be at your disposal.”