"From this day forth, I will let no one hurt you again."
Chen Xiaoming's whisper brushed against her ear, soft yet resolute. Bathed in endless essence energy, the Ruthless Emperor's wounds began healing rapidly within his embrace. She gazed into his face—then, in a flicker, slipped free from his arms.
Her eyes, cold and guarded beneath the mask, locked onto him. But deep within those frosty depths, a ripple of confusion surfaced. She stared at him in silence for a long while… and in the end, chose not to strike.
"Pfft."
A muffled sound. Chen Xiaoming's face paled, blood bursting from his lips as his body went limp, collapsing backward. Just before he hit the ground, a graceful figure appeared and caught him.
Startled, Chen Xiaoming blinked in surprise. Then he smiled faintly, his gaze softening as he looked at the one supporting him—Ruthless Emperor, her slender hand firm on his shoulder.
With a casual wave, he wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. On his system interface, he tapped "Recover." In the next instant, pure energy surged through him, fully mending his injuries.
Ruthless Emperor stood silently to the side, her eyes flickering with light as she watched him return to form—but said nothing.
Just as Chen Xiaoming was gathering his thoughts, several terrifying auras surged toward them from the distance. His brows furrowed. Murderous intent rolled out of his gaze like a tidal wave.
"Hahaha, hiding here of all places, you really—"
A white-haired elder had just arrived and began laughing, but before he could finish his sentence, a silver flash pierced through him. His life extinguished instantly.
"Annoying."
Chen Xiaoming couldn't help but growl. Couldn't they see he was trying to have a moment with Ruthless Emperor?
His eyes swept across the distant auras. Then, in a flash, he was beside her once more. Before she could react, he reached out and grasped her delicate jade hand.
It was soft and smooth—like warm jade. His heart stirred at the sensation, but before he could savor it fully, an icy pressure pressed against his lower half.
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught the glint of a sword—Ruthless Emperor's Immortal Sword, its blade humming coldly.
He swallowed hard and reluctantly released her hand.
Nope, he wasn't going to gamble. One wrong move, and his future might not include happiness—or intact limbs. After all, this was her.
Still, even as he let go, a shimmering silver aura wrapped gently around Ruthless Emperor. Clearly, he had no intention of letting her walk away.
"Let's go."
Her voice was calm and quiet. The silver light pulsed once—and both figures vanished from the spot.
"Damn it! Run! His power's been restored!"
The remaining group that had come with the white-haired elder panicked as soon as they saw him felled in a single strike. Without hesitation, they turned to flee.
But Chen Xiaoming's figure moved like a phantom, warping space itself and cutting off their escape. Transmission was impossible.
Silver rays burst forth, destructive and absolute, reaping lives with every flash.
Bodies fell one after another—until only one elder remained, desperately fleeing for his life.
"Die."
A voice cold as the netherworld sealed the old man's fate. His unwilling eyes locked onto the pair behind him before his soul scattered into nothingness.
"Phew..."
With a wave of his hand, Chen Xiaoming collected the elder's remains. His eyes turned toward the distance—and with Ruthless Emperor in tow, he vanished once more.
...
"Pfft. Pfft. Pfft…"
One soft sound after another rang out under the moonlight. Silver light shimmered across the skies, snuffing out the lives of those hunting them within the Zhao Kingdom.
Chen Xiaoming emerged, gazing wordlessly at the corpses before him. He collected them quietly. Though he appeared composed, his face had grown faintly pale—though the silver aura cloaking him made it hard to notice.
"Your power… is fading?"
The voice came suddenly from Ruthless Emperor, who had remained silent until now. The question stopped Chen Xiaoming in his tracks. He turned with a bitter smile.
"You saw through it?"
He shook his head and glanced toward the vast, moonlit night. Tiny silver motes of light drifted out from his body, dispersing into the heavens.
They weren't just any light—they were fragments of his unawakened intermediate bloodline origin.
Every time Chen Xiaoming tapped into his bloodline's power, he could only use what he had already comprehended. The remainder still lay dormant in his mind's source-light cluster.
But now, that cluster had cracked. As he drew upon his power, the dormant parts began to leak—drifting into the world, lost forever.
"We need to leave. If the killing continues, true powerhouses will come."
Ruthless Emperor's voice was calm, but a glimmer passed through her eyes. Was she truly worried about incoming enemies… or something else?
"Are you worried about me?"
Chen Xiaoming tilted his head, edging a little closer, his eyes flashing playfully.
Shing—
Her Immortal Sword hovered inches from his face. He gulped.
"Hey hey, it's all a misunderstanding! No need to go waving swords around, right?"
He reached out and tapped the tip of her blade, slowly pushing it aside. To his surprise, it moved easily—almost like she let it happen.
Wait... did I just succeed?
His eyes lit up. Encouraged, he took half a step forward… and immediately broke into a cold sweat.
Looking down, his expression twisted.
"Yep. Success, my ass."
He had barely avoided disaster.
Hands raised, Chen Xiaoming slowly backed away.
Too terrifying. Just too ruthless. Is she playing with my life now?
He chuckled sheepishly. This time, he dared not tease her again. As he turned, her voice rang out softly behind him.
"I just don't want to die here… like some fool."
Chen Xiaoming froze. Her words made him pause, then slowly smile.
Was that an explanation? Or… a response?
Either way, to Chen Xiaoming—it was enough.
For someone like Ruthless Emperor, who rarely spared words for anyone, this… was already significant.
Smiling faintly, he lifted his gaze to the boundless starlit sky. His silver origin light burst out, transforming into a glittering constellation that wrapped around them both.
With a light tap, the void rippled. Silver specks danced around Ruthless Emperor, raining down starlight and moonlight alike. Divine radiance shimmered; celestial energy bloomed. She stood bathed in it all—like a banished immortal, unrivaled in grace.
Chen Xiaoming was utterly entranced.
"There! They're over there!"
The dazzling starlight, impossible to hide, quickly drew the attention of others still hunting them in the Zhao Kingdom. Shouts of anger echoed through the night.
Still lost in awe, Chen Xiaoming stepped into the moonlight, reached out, and gently took Ruthless Emperor's hand once more. Then—with a tug—he pulled her close as they soared away.
"Come on. Let's go kill some people."
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