Was there a hidden reason? Or was her heart as hard as stone, meticulously disguised?
Her expression was cold, her eyes holding turbulent emotions. "Tell me, in detail, everything that happened after my mother stormed into the Nine Heavens alone."
...
"Your Majesty! Bad news! That demoness has attacked the Divine Realm! She is now storming towards us!" A guard rushed into the Hall of Nine Heavens.
Within the opulent hall, embroidered silk curtains concealed a couch made of fine mutton-fat jade and red jade.
The figures of a few people were vaguely visible on the couch, the air thick with the scent of perfume. It was a scene of lavish indulgence.
"Hmph," a disdainful male voice sounded, and someone sat up from behind the curtains.
"An overestimating woman," a man with a bare chest lifted the curtain. He slowly put on his robes and stood up.
"Issue my decree: dispatch the Wu tribe to capture this lawless woman, dead or alive!"
"Yes!"
...
Clang—Huan Yan gripped her sword tightly, fending off the fierce guards from the Divine Realm.
Her dress was soaked with blood, her arm trembling from holding the sword for so long, yet her eyes blazed with boundless hatred.
"Divine Realm! You caused my daughter's tragic death! And you forcibly took my husband and son away!"
"Today! I will rebel against this disgusting place, even if it costs me my life!"
Hatred fueled her, driving her to fight like a madwoman.
At this moment, a dense swarm of people from the Wu tribe, dark against the sky, roared towards the battlefield.
"The Divine Emperor commands: capture this woman alive!"
Upon hearing this, Huan Yan abruptly turned her head, looking at the Wu tribesman who had spoken: "What did you say?"
He sneered, "You heard correctly. Capturing you alive was the Divine Emperor's direct order."
"I believe him," Huan Yan slowly raised her sword, pointing it directly at him. "So you don't need to provoke me!"
Countless guards and Wu tribesmen surrounded her. She stood with her sword, like an invincible war god, holding back thousands of troops with her own strength.
"What a jinx... what a calamity..." Huan Yan sneered. "My daughter was clearly so kind! Yet you schemed against her, leading to her tragic death!"
"You call me a demoness, I admit it. You say I caused chaos in the Divine Realm, I admit that too," she gritted her teeth, her voice choked but firm.
"But you absolutely should not have touched my family!"
Huan Yan swung her fiery red sword, charging towards the man before her.
She was not afraid! For her child, for him, she feared nothing!
...
Time passed, and the ground stained red with blood was littered with countless corpses.
The acrid, unpleasant smell lingered in the air. She was still alive...
"Cough, cough, cough—!" Huan Yan knelt on one knee amidst the corpses. Her tattered dress, her blood-smeared face, her wounded body—she was in a sorry state.
Ran Ran... Mother is here...
Mother will avenge you...
Clang—! Huan Yan used her sword to prop herself up, swaying as she stood.
At that moment, a childish voice rang out, "Follow me."
Huan Yan looked up in disbelief. A small boy stood there, clad in an expensive golden silk robe, a token symbolizing his status at his waist.
"Ze'er..." she exclaimed in delight, leaning on her sword, walking towards him step by step.
The boy looked at her appearance and frowned in disgust, "Demoness, don't call out nonsense!"
Instantly, Huan Yan's heart turned cold. "Ze'er... I am your mother..."
Was her face too dirty? He didn't recognize her?
Huan Yan frantically wiped her face, only to make the boy recoil further in disgust. "Demoness! I warn you, I only have a father, no mother! Father wants to see you, hurry up and follow!"
With that, he turned and walked towards the Hall of Nine Heavens.
Huan Yan stared at him blankly. How could this be... Ze'er didn't recognize her?
She dragged her sword, moving slowly due to her injuries, so slowly that the boy had to stop and wait for her.
"Demoness! Hurry up!" he said impatiently, looking at Huan Yan.
Huan Yan bit her lip tightly, enduring the pain and quickening her pace.
...
"Father! Ze'er has brought the demoness!" the boy said with a smile, pouncing into a man's arms.
"Well done," he gently ruffled the boy's hair.
Huan Yan stood there dumbly, tears involuntarily welling up in her eyes. "Mo Huai'an..."
The man slowly turned around. His chiseled face, his sculpted features were stunningly handsome. The years had also given him a mature and reliable air.
"Huan Yan," he said, slowly walking forward and pulling her into his embrace. "I'm late."
His gentle tone, the familiar warmth of his embrace—everything made Huan Yan unable to stop crying.
"Why... why are you only coming now..." She forcefully hit Mo Huai'an. "Ran Ran, she..."
"She..." Huan Yan's body trembled uncontrollably.
"I know, I know everything," Mo Huai'an's large hand stroked her back, as if to comfort her.
"I want to avenge Ran Ran!" Huan Yan gritted her teeth tightly, her eyes filled with boundless hatred.
"Good," Mo Huai'an flashed a sinister smile. "I'll send you to join her now."
*Slash—* A sharp pain struck her. Huan Yan froze for a moment, seeing the sharp blade pierce through her abdomen.
"Mo Huai'an...?" Her eyes, still wet with unshed tears, stared motionlessly at the man before her.
"Cough!" Huan Yan stumbled back a few steps, blood slowly flowing from her abdomen.
The boy stood silently to the side, his expression cold and numb.
Mo Huai'an looked down at her, his gaze cold and unfamiliar. "I've had enough long ago. Ever since I met you, the Divine Realm has never had a peaceful day. Do you know how the rumors describe it?"
Huan Yan's complexion grew paler with his words.
"They say I neglect my duties, bewitched by a demoness from the Demonic Realm, a truly foolish emperor."
"A foolish emperor and a demoness, who also gave birth to a disaster that wreaks havoc upon the world."
"Hahahaha," Mo Huai'an laughed maniacally. "Today, I will kill you and completely sever these absurd rumors!"
Huan Yan collapsed to the ground, trembling and sobbing. "Then... Baili the Divine Monarch..."
Mo Huai'an looked at her contemptuously. "That Baili the Divine Monarch was naturally arranged by me. I had that disaster take him as a disciple, and then... kill her."
Betrayal... harm... being called a demoness by the one she loved, being coldly disregarded by her own child...
"Hahahaha..." Huan Yan began to laugh, her laughter filled with endless desolation and loneliness.
She had attacked the Nine Heavens, risking her life to fight... only to find out that it was all his meticulously planned scheme...
"I'll tell you, Mo Huai'an..." Huan Yan's pale face remained wreathed in a smile. "No matter how much you calculated, cough!"
"You could never have calculated..."
"One day... someone will break through these Nine Heavens, and overthrow the filth of the Divine Realm... You will face retribution..."