NOVEL NEXT Chapter 366- One night stand (1)
366 Chapter 366- One night stand (1)
Inside the grand palace at the heart of the Jade Dominion's capital, the structure shimmered with an opulent glow, its golden façade radiating under the sunlight.
The towering pavilions surrounding it were adorned with intricate silver plating and gold linings, their surfaces catching the light in dazzling flashes.
The palace stood as a symbol of power, its dense, multi-layered architecture reflecting the complex identities of the empire it represented.
"Kugh!—Thud, haah...haah…" A woman crumpled to the ground, her body writhing in agony as she clutched her stomach. Blood trickled from her lips, staining her chin crimson, while her clouded eyes struggled to focus through the haze of pain.
Her sword, shattered into two jagged pieces, lay discarded beside her, its once-gleaming blade now dull and lifeless.
"Lan'er!" Another woman cried out, her voice trembling with desperation. She sprinted toward her fallen companion, her dark cloak billowing behind her as she stumbled forward. Her face remained hidden beneath the hood, but her movements betrayed her panic.
She had barely taken four or five steps when a sudden flash of steel cut through the air, aimed directly at her. The attack was halted mid-swing as another figure intercepted it, their blade clashing with a resounding sound.
Clang!
"Kugh!" The hooded woman gritted her teeth, her jaw clenched as she glared at her assailant. The man before her wore the uniform of the monarchy's soldiers, his long sword gleaming with deadly intent. Confusion and fury burned in her eyes as she shouted, "Why is the monarchy attacking the Phoenix Order? We've served you faithfully for generations!"
The betrayal was incomprehensible. The Phoenix Order had always stood as a pillar of balance alongside the Dragon Domain, their relationship akin to the yin and yang of a perfect circle.
Yet now, the Empress had turned her own cultivators against them, threatening to extinguish the very order that had maintained harmony for centuries.
"Haha, the Phoenix Order is weak and deserves to be eradicated," the man in the golden and white robe sneered, his voice dripping with disdain. He channeled his internal energy, the air around him crackling with power as he prepared to strike.
His cultivation level was just one step below the Golden Core realm, making him a formidable opponent. "Your time is over."
"The Matriarch will never forgive you," Lan'er spat weakly from where she lay, her voice barely audible. Her gaze shifted to the soldiers, their true allegiance now clear.
These were not mere monarchy troops—they were from the Heavenly Dragon Domain, long-standing adversaries of the Phoenix Order.
The balance had been shattered, and the enemy had infiltrated even the highest ranks of the capital. There was no reasoning with them now.
The chaos unfolding before her felt orchestrated, as if this betrayal had been meticulously planned for years.
"The Matriarch? She's likely in seclusion, hahaha!" one of the attackers jeered, his laughter echoing through the palace grounds. Their timing had been perfect, their spies informing them of the Matriarch's retreat into seclusion.
With her out of the way, the Phoenix Order was vulnerable, and the Heavenly Dragon Domain had seized the opportunity to strike.
Unbeknownst to the Phoenix Order, the enemy had been quietly replacing loyal soldiers and officials within the capital, capturing them and imprisoning them in hidden dungeons.
They had calculated every move, ensuring that no bloodline resonance would alert the Matriarch to their treachery. By keeping their captives alive but weakened, they had avoided detection, leaving the Phoenix Order defenseless.
Now, there was no hope of salvation. The Phoenix Order, once a symbol of resilience and rebirth, was on the brink of annihilation.
"You traitors—" the dark elf woman began, her voice sharp with fury, but her words were cut short as the sky above suddenly erupted in a blaze of light.
Streaks of brilliance, like shooting stars, tore across the daytime sky, their radiant glow casting long, sharp shadows over the capital.
The attackers froze, their eyes widening in shock as the meteors descended with terrifying speed, crashing into the city one after another.
"What is this—SKCHLT!" One of the men barely had time to process the spectacle before a blade sliced through his neck, silencing him forever. His lifeless eyes caught a fleeting glimpse of his killer—a cloaked figure clad in a trench coat, their body enveloped in a translucent white light.
The figure's orange eyes glimmered with an otherworldly intensity as they moved with inhuman speed, their sword flashing like a streak of light.
In an instant, the five attackers in the alleyway were cut down, their bodies collapsing to the ground as the cloaked figures moved with precision and grace. The leader of the group, his sword now vanished, turned to his companion and said calmly, "Inform the Liege. This area is clear."
His gaze then fell upon the four women—two unconscious, one barely clinging to consciousness, and the dark elf, who was still struggling to rise. Recognition flickered in his eyes as he addressed her, "You… are you from the Necroelvian Kingdom?"
'!?'
Salviana's eyes widened momentarily, her trembling hands clutching her side as she tried to steady her breathing. The dark elf nodded weakly, her mind racing as she processed the cloaked man's words. The mention of her homeland—a name she hadn't heard since childhood—sent a flood of memories crashing over her. The faces of her parents, the warmth of their home, and the painful separation that had haunted her for years all resurfaced in an instant. Her voice quivered as she stammered, "D-do you know about my kingdom?"
For Salviana, the name of her homeland was a thread connecting her to a past she had long buried. To hear it now, after so many years, was both a shock and a revelation.
The cloaked man's expression remained impassive as he replied, "Yes, it was part of our mission to eliminate the dark elven race. The commander chose to spare the children. Given that you're here, you were most likely sold into slavery or brought here by someone." His tone was matter-of-fact, as though recounting a routine assignment. He remembered every mission clearly, and the genocide of a particular tribe of dark elves was one of them.
Salviana's mind went blank. The words struck her like a physical blow, leaving her momentarily paralyzed. This man, who had just saved her life, was also the one who had destroyed her family, her people.
The realization was too much to process. Her lips parted, but no words came out. Her chest tightened, and she felt as though the ground beneath her had vanished.
The cloaked man, seemingly oblivious to her internal turmoil, shifted his attention to the others. "Are you four from the Phoenix Order?" he asked, his sharp eyes scanning their disciple robes. The distinctive attire was enough for him to identify their affiliation.
He had been instructed not to harm members of the Phoenix Order, and their battered state confirmed they had already been engaged in battle with the enemy.
"Yes, we—" Lan'er began, struggling to stand with Salviana's support. She dusted off her clothes, wincing as her injuries protested the movement. But before she could finish, another figure materialized beside the cloaked man in a flash of orange light.
"Leave them and head forward," the newcomer commanded, his voice calm but authoritative. He was dressed in an unfamiliar outfit—a sleek suit and black pants—that contrasted sharply with the traditional attire of the others.
His face was obscured by a mask, but his piercing eyes were unmistakable.
The four women froze, their attention snapping to the newcomer. Salviana's breath hitched as she recognized those eyes.
Before she could speak, Lan'er blurted out, "Aren't you that handsome man who wanted to do a one-night stand with me?!"
[O_o]