Chapter 1111: Chapter 618: Storm Within the Ancestral Temple (Part 2)

That deadly cold light was not anything else but a soft sword sliding out from the wide sleeves of his ceremonial robe! The sword was as thin as a cicada’s wing, and the entire length of the blade was laced with a deep blue glow, clearly indicating it was venomous! At this moment, infused with his Inner Strength, it stretched taut, transforming into a deathly streak slicing through the air, aimed directly at the unguarded back of Qin Qingluo!

"Prin---ce---!" Guards shouted as they broke through the crowd, yet they were still far away.

The reaction of Qin Qingluo was extraordinary; she did not turn her head, as if there were eyes on her back. At the very moment the angry shout rang out, her descending step forcibly glued to the spot, her body pivoting in a minute angle against logic.

Screech--!

The venomous soft sword grazed past her Python Robe!

With an unchanged expression, Qin Qingluo struck horizontally with her fist.

Bam!

The sound of a muffled impact suddenly echoed, the expensive ceremonial robe was ripped apart by the force of her fist, sending scraps flying as Qin Weini spat blood, several crimson Blood Pearls splattered out, landing directly on the nearest Divine Master Tablet at "Ancestral Annan Wu King’s Position" with a crimson lacquer base!

Those few scarlet dots were striking amidst the solemn golden inscriptions!

Having missed, the madness in Qin Weini’s eyes grew fiercer! His wrist trembled, the soft sword like an affliction, its tip raised like a venomous snake, cutting a bizarre arc in the air, circling Qin Qingluo’s pivoted body, once again lunging for her throat!

This move was insidious and tricky, completely abandoning defense, it was a mutually destructive technique!

"Protect the prince!!!" Guards gritted their teeth, stepping over officials on the ground, fiercely roaring as they drew their swords and charged forward. But they were too far, the sudden assassination had thrown the royal crowd into chaos, cries of panic, shoving, and falling, as the tide of people boiled like water, ironically blocking the guards’ path.

Qin Qingluo’s gaze turned sharp, the expressionless tranquility was finally shattered, replaced by a profound, icy murderous intent.

She did not retreat, instead she met the sword light, her left hand lightning fast, targeting not the blade, but Qin Weini’s sword-holding wrist! 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

Her fingers formed into claws, their tips faintly gleaming with a metallic cold sheen, aiming straight for his pulse!

Simultaneously, her wide right sleeve whipped suddenly! Within her sleeve, the sound of wind and thunder rolled, a vast and powerful force surged out, not towards Qin Weini, but towards the massive bronze incense burner beside her.

"Boom—!"

The thousands-pound incense burner was shaken by this force, the thick accumulation of incense ashes within erupted like an enraged volcano, enveloping hot sparks and unburned pine and cypress leaves, bursting forth! The scorching ashes and burning remnants instantly formed a blistering barrier, rolling headlong towards Qin Weini’s face and upper body.

"Ah—!" Qin Weini was caught off guard, his vision obscured by blinding ashes, the searing pain burning his skin, the acrid smoke choking his lungs, causing his sword momentum to stall.

It was precisely this pause, that Qin Qingluo’s left hand, akin to an iron clamp, had seized Qin Weini’s sword-holding right wrist, her grip sinking deep, the bones moaning with a teeth-grinding creak.

This assassination failed, the subsequent clash lasted just moments.

"Qin Weini!" Qin Qingluo’s low voice pierced through the ash and confusion, clearly striking Qin Weini’s ears, "Before the ancestors, you dare to commit regicide?!"

Qin Weini’s face twisted in agony, ignoring Qin Qingluo’s question, he cried out: "Act! Act!"

Before the Divine Master Tablet, candle flames flickered, crimson blood spots intertwined with scorching ashes, within the solemn ancestral temple, the assassination was only just beginning, while in the storm’s center, Qin Qingluo’s icy eyes locked on silhouettes deep in the chaotic throng, faces equally changing, hands going to their waists or sleeves.

Assaulting the ancestral temple, defying the ancestors, desecrating the gods, such treachery was a grave sin, yet things had reached a point where retreat was impossible, only by killing Qin Qingluo here, exposing her as a woman, denouncing her as a false ruler, their act would be seen as respecting the sovereign and restoring order.

The assassins disguised as Taoists and monks no longer concealed themselves, rushing through the crowd, employing martial arts, leaping towards Qin Qingluo at the temple entrance.

Indeed...

Qin Qingluo’s expression did not change, in recent days meticulously had laid bare flaws, forcing their hand, all to root out these rebellious clan members, to wipe them out entirely; thus, even now she had not killed Qin Weini immediately but forcibly snapped a copper spear off a guardian deity sculpture, pinning Qin Weini, who attempted to rise, to the ground, without any regard for his status as clan elder.

Though considered a clan elder, he was not Qin Qingluo’s elder.

When the ancestor Qin Xuzhi was enfeoffed as king, the Qin Family’s offspring were designated twenty generational characters. The first ten generational characters had all passed, while the latter ten were: Yuan, Ding, Feng, Yue, Jing, Qing, Wei, Jing, Chang, Li.

As Qin Qingluo’s lineage, her father, grandfather, and great-grandfather all had their children late in life, resulting in Qin Qingluo being the only surviving member of the Qing generational lineage.

Beside the complete sacrifice, white hay wrapped around clear pure wine, five-colored silk folded neatly, grains plump, resting in simple green porcelain plates, silently offered before the ancestral spirit, offerings affluent and spotless.

While blood stained the temple grounds red.

The assassins rushing along the path, some entangled with guards, forced into battle, but most focused on their target, straight towards the Prince in Python Robe, the throat so near, prosperity seemed within reach.

A Taoist raised his long sword high, slicing down with a gust and cunning, eyes flashing with the light of impending victory.

Suddenly.

The ground beneath abruptly cracked open, from within emerged a massive iron lump, like a towering giant rising from the earth, crashing towards the attacking Taoist.

With a giant blade upward, the Taoist had no time to react, sliced in half mid-air, his face frozen cold, without a sign of fear of impending death.

A colossal iron mass emerged from underground, its entire being cast from iron, with face armor carved with intricate designs, rain fell on it and evaporated instantly, blood aura exhaled from its body, with blood threads exposed between the armor’s joints, suggesting blood still flowing inside.

Qin Weini’s face suddenly turned ashen, unbelievingly muttering raspily: "Such evil presence... you dared to hide it under the ancestral temple, hide it under the temple?!"

The Lady Prince gave no response.

"The most venomous is a woman’s heart, what we did was less ruthless than yours, less ruthless than yours, we deserved to lose!" Qin Weini trembled, his voice an incoherent howl.

Qin Qingluo seemed unaffected by the words of someone destined to die, her focus now more on temple’s situation, this deeply hidden official puppet now moved again, slaughtering towards the assassins.

The garrison soldiers were even immobile at this point, majestic silence filled the surroundings, Chen Yi similarly remained still, only his eyes angled at the corner, intensely staring at the depths of the crowd.

The ceremonial procession seemed endless, with them filed in the Qin Family, Nanwei’s civil and military officials, as well as Taoists and monks, ritual and music bands, nearly all of Nanwei’s core gathered there.

The procession was long, unexplainedly, he felt a slight impatience, palm sweating nervously, Chen Yi contained his emotions, masking them, yet even he was surprised by his own agitation.

Did he truly desire her this much?

Perhaps so.

Chen Yi smiled bitterly, like self-mockery, indeed it had been too long since they last met, over three years, without any brief reunions resembling newlywed joys... and it shouldn’t be there.

Thinking of this, his emotions rarely unsettled.

In a haze, it seemed to return to the day of their parting, amidst the bleak wind, an arrow broke through space, she galloped swiftly, armor-clad horses tread over snow, disappearing in the distance of the field...

Back then, Chen Yi looked at the arrow in his palm, studying it for a long time.

The palace of couples had the sun transformation of animosity, a marriage with real foundation yet without name...

Suddenly, the toll of bells and drums rang fiercely, as if welcoming someone into the city.

Intense heat suddenly cast down an overwhelming shadow.

It was a tall steed walking slowly through the city gate, Chen Yi turned his head up, the Prince in Python Robe had lowered his gaze.

"—Enter the temple!"

The Ceremonial Officer stood at the bottom of the steps, his voice like gold and stone, solemn and long-lasting.

The prince entered the temple.