"Everyone, stop!"
Yu Xiyan shouted sharply, and the surrounding snowstorm instantly surged with violent energy.
In the next moment, the Ice Phoenix behind her spread its wings. Countless ice spikes materialized in the air and rained down from the sky.
"Not good! Little Sister, move!"
Liang Hao grabbed Su Yunying and retreated at high speed together with Linghu Ming.
The moment the ice spikes struck the ground, they shattered into countless icy blades that rebounded upward, creating a barrier between Liang Hao's group and Ling Yuxuan.
"Senior Brother, are you alright?"
After helping Ling Yuxuan escape, Yu Xiyan landed beside him, her face filled with concern.
"I'm fine, ugh—"
Ling Yuxuan tried to reassure her, but a piercing pain shot through his shoulder. Blood surged up his throat, and he spat out a mouthful of it.
"Senior Brother, take this pill quickly."
Seeing how badly he was injured, Yu Xiyan immediately took out a fourth-grade Recovery Pill from her storage ring and fed it to him.
"Junior Sister, I've made you worry."
After swallowing the pill, Ling Yuxuan's condition eased somewhat. He gave her a look that said I'm fine and closed his eyes to focus on healing.
"Don't talk. Concentrate on absorbing the medicine. Leave this to me."
"Be careful, Junior Sister. Those three are crafty and possess Emperor-grade treasures. You're not their opponent. Act according to the situation."
"Don't worry. I know what I'm doing."
With that, Yu Xiyan's expression turned cold as she slowly rose and looked toward the opposing group.
Then she froze.
Among the two men and one woman before her, she recognized two of them.
One was Liang Hao, whom she had met several times at Heavenly Desolation Sacred Land and Azure Cloud Palace. She had heard he was one of Shen Zhao's close companions.
The other was Linghu Ming, Shen Zhao's friend from her previous life.
Why were they here?
"It's you?"
At her question, Linghu Ming unconsciously clenched his fists.
This woman had ruined his brother's life, yet she still had the nerve to involve herself with other men.
He had thought she might settle down after Lin Feng's death. Instead, he only felt more sympathy for Shen Zhao.
As for Liang Hao, after learning about some of the things between her and Shen Zhao, he no longer viewed her as favorably as he once had.
Only Su Yunying reacted differently.
The moment she saw Yu Xiyan's face, an inexplicable sadness rose within her.
At the same time, a strange resentment and faint unwillingness began stirring inside her heart.
Yu Xiyan suddenly didn't know what to do.
These people were all Shen Zhao's friends.
Should she fight them?
On one side was her senior brother, who had once risked his life for her.
On the other were Shen Zhao's closest companions.
How was she supposed to choose?
"How is... he?"
After a long silence, she finally asked.
Liang Hao immediately answered:
"You mean my big brother, right?
Let me tell you, he's doing very well. I advise you not to disturb him again."
Linghu Ming added:
"That's right, Empress of Dayin. Since fate between you and my brother has already ended, and you've found someone else, then go your separate ways peacefully.
Stop entangling yourself with him.
My brother has suffered enough in this lifetime.
Please just let him go."
Their words made Yu Xiyan feel suffocated.
Suppressing the turmoil in her heart, she calmly asked:
"Why did you attack my senior brother?"
Liang Hao snorted.
"You should ask him what he did first.
He tried to rob us. Are we not allowed to fight back?
That's how our Arbitration Society operates—we can tolerate anything except taking losses.
If the Empress wants to stand up for him today, then we'll fight to the death."
While speaking, Liang Hao had already determined Yu Xiyan's cultivation level—Peak Nirvana Realm.
Since he could already contend with cultivators of the Selfless Realm, dealing with someone at Peak Nirvana Realm should be easy.
Even if he couldn't win, Linghu Ming was a third-stage Selfless Realm expert, and Su Yunying was also present.
Together, they could easily overwhelm her.
"I see."
Yu Xiyan took a deep breath.
"In that case, this matter began because of me. I apologize on my senior brother's behalf."
"And that's supposed to be enough?"
Liang Hao clearly had no intention of letting it go.
"At the very least, show some sincerity.
For example, the Emperor-grade armor he's wearing.
Hand it over as compensation, and this matter ends here."
"That's right," Linghu Ming agreed.
"We don't want an apology. We want compensation.
Today, he must surrender that Emperor Armor.
Otherwise, this won't be settled."
Hearing this, Ling Yuxuan immediately exploded in anger.
"You bandits! You're actually eyeing my Phoenix Wing Armor? Dream on!"
Liang Hao pointed his Dragon Fang Mace at him.
"You can refuse.
We won't force you.
We'll just take it ourselves.
Then we'll see who suffers more when this turns into a fight to the death."
Yu Xiyan spoke again:
"Everyone, please show mercy where possible.
Give me some face.
After the matter of the Divine Phoenix Ruins is settled, I will personally compensate you."
Linghu Ming sneered.
"And how much is your apology worth?
Just because you're the ruler of a nation, do you think everyone should give you face?
If you want us to accept your apology, fine.
Unify the Eastern Domain first."
Those words instantly struck Yu Xiyan silent.
Unify the Eastern Domain?
In her previous life, it had seemed effortless for Shen Zhao.
But in this life, without him, the expansion of the Dayin Empire had progressed painfully slowly.
The only major achievement they possessed was the advantage Shen Zhao had created by defeating the Northern Barbarians.
Beyond that, they had barely moved forward.
Forget unifying the Eastern Domain.
With Dayin's current foundation, she could only barely maintain a balance against the surrounding nations.
If Shen Zhao were still by her side, she could have confidently refuted Linghu Ming.
But...
"Even if you won't give me face... can you at least give Shen Zhao face?
After all, I am his... fiancée..."
Even as she said it, she lacked confidence.
Her hand unconsciously tightened around the hidden pouch attached to her sash.
"Fiancée? You?"
Linghu Ming laughed coldly and shook his head.
"Empress of Dayin, ask yourself honestly.
Do you think you deserve my brother?
You keep calling yourself Shen Zhao's fiancée, yet here you are pleading on behalf of another man.
And you still have the nerve to use the word fiancée?"
The words pierced her heart like a blade.
Do I deserve it?
Yes.
Did she?
She closed her eyes and sank into silence.
Shen Zhao had risked his life for her countless times.
Even if she wanted the stars in the sky, he would have tried to bring them down for her.
And how had she treated him?
She had trampled on his dignity again and again.
She had rarely given him even a single sincere word of praise.
Do I deserve him?
She kept asking herself.
Perhaps letting go is the best choice...
But that thought was quickly crushed.
In its place rose a determination she had not felt for a long time.
No.
Shen Zhao belongs to me.
I truly love him.
I can't give up like this.
I have only ever loved him.
Just as Linghu Ming was about to continue mocking her, Su Yunying finally spoke:
"Enough, Linghu Daoist. Stop making things difficult for her.
We have more important matters."
Linghu Ming frowned.
"Miss Su, are you sympathizing with her?
Do you even know what kind of person she is?"
"I don't care what kind of person she is."
Su Yunying shrugged.
"I only know that if we don't enter the Divine Ruins Palace soon, we'll miss the thing we came here for."
She pointed toward the ancient palace ahead, where crowds of cultivators were already gathering.
Liang Hao immediately snapped out of it.
"Right. Almost forgot the important business.
The palace is opening—we need to get inside."
Linghu Ming smacked his forehead.
"I'm such an idiot.
Why waste so much time talking to a woman like her?
The Divine Phoenix inheritance is what matters."
Su Yunying grinned.
"Then let's go."
Liang Hao pointed at Yu Xiyan.
"Consider yourself lucky today.
Otherwise, Dayin would be preparing a state funeral."
The three of them turned and rushed toward the Divine Ruins Palace, leaving behind a dazed Yu Xiyan.
After a long while, Ling Yuxuan shouted:
"Junior Sister! Don't delay the important matter!"
Yu Xiyan finally snapped back to reality.
She looked toward the palace, then at Ling Yuxuan.
"What about your injuries?"
"My injuries aren't serious.
The palace is about to open. Hurry and go.
Once I recover, I'll come find you."
"Then take care of yourself, Senior Brother."
"Go, Junior Sister. I'll be fine."
Yu Xiyan said no more.
With a leap, she flew toward the Divine Ruins Palace at full speed.
-----------------------
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(End of Chapter)