Chapter 853: To The Golden Lion Empire
Since Yuan and his wives had learned everything they came to the Lawless City for, there was no longer any reason to stay. Their next destination was clear — the Golden Lion Empire, where they would confront the Imperial Family for their outrageous actions.
"Yuan, how about we let Emma stay here with her mother for a few days?" Anna Grace suggested warmly, smiling as she looked at Emma. "We can pick her up once we’re done dealing with the Imperial Family of the Golden Lion Empire."
"That’s a wonderful idea," Yuan agreed with a gentle smile. "In the meantime, Emma can spend time with her mother and catch up on everything she’s missed." He turned to Emma and asked kindly, "What do you think, Emma? You’ve finally reunited with your mother — you should take this chance to be with her."
Then Yuan glanced at Nyx with a light chuckle. "And I’m sure Mother-in-law has a lot she wants to talk about with you. Isn’t that right?"
"Of course," Nyx said warmly, hugging Emma closer. "I’ve finally reunited with my daughter. I want to pamper her as much as I can. You’re such a thoughtful husband, Yuan — my daughter is lucky to have you."
"It’s actually the other way around, Mother-in-law," Yuan replied with a tender smile, his gaze softening as he looked at Emma. "I’m the lucky one to have found such a wonderful wife."
Emma’s cheeks flushed crimson under his loving gaze.
"Is that so?" Nyx chuckled softly. "Well, you’re definitely lucky, because my beautiful daughter chose you as her husband."
After some light-hearted warmth, the conversation turned serious. Nyx’s expression shifted as she asked, "Mireya, why would the Princess of the Golden Lion Empire want you dead? The Elves are known to be peaceful and rarely meddle beyond their borders."
Mireya’s face hardened as she recounted what happened in the royal palace — how Princess Lindsey had come to her with a supposed business proposal that ended in arrogance and chaos.
Nyx listened intently, and her eyes widened in disbelief. She had expected intrigue, but not this level of insolence.
"That’s unbelievable... to think Emperor Raghar failed to raise his daughter properly. What a shameful disappointment," Nyx sighed deeply, shaking her head. The fact that a princess could be so entitled and vicious clearly angered her.
"That’s exactly why we’re going to teach her a lesson — one she’ll never forget," Mireya said, her emerald eyes gleaming dangerously as a wide, wicked grin spread across her face. "Killing her would be far too merciful... I want something long-lasting."
"Absolutely! It’s the perfect idea — teach her a lesson she will never forget for the rest of her life. I completely agree with you, Your Majesty," Nyx said with a sharp smile, clearly impressed by Mireya’s cold and decisive nature toward her enemies.
Some time later, Yuan and his wives decided it was time to return to the Elven Palace and prepare for their next move — a visit to the Golden Lion Empire’s Imperial Family.
A visit that would shake the entire empire to its core. Mireya was determined to make Princess Lindsey pay dearly for her audacity.
"Emma, we’ll come back to pick you up in a few days," Yuan said warmly as he stepped closer to her. "Spend time with your mother — you two deserve some private time together."
Before anyone could react, Yuan pulled Emma into his arms with a wide smile and kissed her deeply on the lips.
Nyx’s eyes flew wide open, startled by the bold display. She had never expected Yuan to kiss her daughter so openly in front of her. And it wasn’t just a chaste kiss — Yuan was holding Emma with clear intimacy and confidence.
’Unbelievable! My son-in-law is bold... and shameless, too!’ Nyx thought, cheeks flushing slightly as she watched the scene unfold.
Her surprise softened, though, as she saw Emma’s reaction. Her daughter’s face lit up with happiness as she kissed Yuan back just as passionately, her arms wrapping around his neck.
Then, to Nyx’s shock, Emma even hooked her legs around Yuan’s waist, clinging to him as the kiss deepened, raw and affectionate.
’She’s smiling... she loves him so much. They’re perfect for each other,’ Nyx thought, warmth and relief flooding her heart despite her astonishment.
A few seconds later, the kiss broke — but not before Emma left a playful bite mark on Yuan’s neck.
Seeing the mark, Anna Grace and the other wives chuckled softly among themselves, finding the gesture cute and teasing.
"We’ll take our leave now, Mother-in-law... and Emma," Yuan said politely but warmly, giving Nyx a nod before leading his wives out of the room.
Once outside, they rose into the sky and shot off toward the Elven Kingdom at a terrifying speed, leaving streaks of light behind.
Nyx stepped to the window just in time to see them vanish into the horizon within mere seconds. Her eyes went wide, disbelief shaking her to the core.
"What in the world am I witnessing?! Are my eyes playing tricks on me?!" Nyx gasped, stunned.
Emma quickly hurried to the window as well, catching a glimpse of Yuan and his wives disappearing like flashes of light into the distant sky.
"Your eyes are perfectly fine, Mom. You’re not imagining things," Emma said softly, hugging Nyx from behind to comfort her.
Nyx turned her head, still looking bewildered, and met her daughter’s warm smile. Confusion deepened in her eyes.
"Perfectly fine? Then... what I just saw was real?" she asked, her voice filled with disbelief.
"That’s right," Emma replied proudly, her lips curving into a wide, confident smile. "I can also fly just like them."
Nyx froze, utterly stunned by her daughter’s casual revelation. Her eyes widened as if she had just seen a ghost in broad daylight.
"You what?!" she blurted, her voice cracking in shock. The words sounded almost absurd to her own ears.
Regaining a little composure, Nyx stared hard at Emma’s face for several seconds, searching for any sign of a joke.
"You’re not trying to pull my leg, are you?" she asked suspiciously.
"Of course not, Mom. Why would I ever joke about something like this?" Emma replied with a small smile, shaking her head gently.
—
The next day, after finishing the mountain of paperwork that had piled up on her desk, Mireya took a quick bath and stepped into the living room dressed in an elegant, battle-ready outfit.
"Are you all ready to head to the Golden Lion Empire?" she asked, her voice calm but carrying a dangerous edge as she entered the room where Yuan and his other wives were already waiting.
"We’re ready. Let’s make that arrogant bitch pay for her audacity and ignorance!" Sylvia declared with a fierce grin as she rose from the sofa.
"Absolutely..." Mireya muttered with a devilish smile before turning toward the door, her emerald eyes gleaming with cold intent.
Yuan and his wives followed closely, quiet but wearing the same knowing, sharp grins.
Everyone felt a thrill of anticipation. They were eager to see what Mireya would do to the foolish Princess who dared to target her.
Soon, they soared into the sky, cutting through the clouds toward the Golden Lion Empire. Their speed was terrifying; shockwaves rippled across the air in their wake, announcing their swift and unstoppable approach.
They didn’t bring Miss Zara, Little Zoe, or Selvariel with them — Miss Zara and Little Zoe were busy absorbing the powerful monster cores Yuan had given them to speed up their cultivation.
As for Selvariel, she simply couldn’t keep up; her flight speed wasn’t nearly fast enough for this mission.
Some time later, the sprawling expanse of the Golden Lion Empire came into view — so vast and majestic that everyone momentarily fell silent, awed by its sheer size.
"I didn’t expect the Golden Lion Empire to be this huge...!" Yuan muttered, his eyes widening as he gazed at the endless cities and fortifications below. "It’s at least twice as big as the Lionheart Empire back in the Human Continent!"
Mireya’s lips curled into a cold, almost mocking smile. "Emperor Raghar didn’t build this empire by spreading kindness. He expanded it through slaughter — his hands are drenched in blood."
She continued, her tone calm yet cutting. "At first, the Golden Lion Empire was just a small kingdom. But slowly, they expanded, wiping out countless tribes that stood in their way."
"He slaughtered anyone who refused to bow. Entire tribes were erased simply because they wouldn’t kneel to his so-called mercy. This empire was built on corpses — tens of thousands of them."
Mireya’s emerald eyes darkened as memories surfaced. "Many tribes vanished under his greed for power. He even once set his sights on turning our Elven Kingdom into his vassal when my mother still ruled."
She paused, her gaze distant, then added with quiet pride, "But he underestimated her. My mother destroyed every soldier he sent — crushed his ambitions before they could root."
"If my mother hadn’t been alive then, we’d probably be serving that greedy tyrant now," Mireya finished softly, a sigh escaping her lips. "Thanks to her strength, our people and our kingdom survived."
"I see... Emperor Raghar truly has quite the reputation. No wonder his daughter turned out so arrogant and entitled — it’s in her blood!" Yuan chuckled softly, though his tone carried clear disdain.
"I share the same opinion," Valeria said with a faint smile, nodding in agreement.
Moments later, Yuan and his wives hovered silently above the Imperial Palace of the Golden Lion Empire. From the sky, the city below looked breathtaking — grand avenues, glittering rooftops, and towering spires painted a picture of peace and prosperity.
But Yuan knew better. A book cannot be judged by its cover... and this city’s beauty is nothing but a veil.
Using their Divine Sense, Yuan and his wives pierced through the facade — and what they saw chilled them.
Hidden in the shadows of the empire were horrors most citizens would never witness: children locked inside filthy cages, their small wrists bound by rusted iron. Women of countless races — beaten, half-naked, shackled in chains so heavy they could barely move.
They even spotted elves among the captives. The proud race, stripped of dignity, their delicate wrists cuffed in mana-sealing shackles, their bodies barely covered. Their eyes were hollow, lifeless — as if the very will to survive had been stolen from them.
The same despair clung to women and children of other races. No spark of hope remained; only silent submission to whatever fate awaited them.
Mireya’s hands trembled, her jaw clenched so tightly it could have shattered bone. Rage burned in her emerald eyes, cold and lethal. Beside her, Sylvia’s expression mirrored the same fury; she ground her teeth hard enough to draw blood.
"Emperor Raghar..." Mireya hissed, her voice low but trembling with rage. "I will never forgive you for capturing my people — for caging elves like animals to be sold!"
"Calm yourselves for now," Yuan whispered, his voice firm but quiet, reaching out to steady both women. "We have time — and we’ll make them pay for every crime."
He glanced toward the sprawling palace, his gaze cold and calculating. Though their group was cloaked from the eyes of those below, the sheer killing intent leaking from Mireya and Sylvia was strong enough to shake the capital if left unchecked.
"Control it," Yuan murmured, eyes sharp. "We strike soon, but not before we’re ready."