Chapter 260: The Provoked Empress.

"He doesn't know about you yet, Princess!" Mei Mei quickly stepped forward, trying to calm the situation, her voice slightly trembling. She knew that once Shin Yue awakened, patience was rarely on the menu.

But it was already too late.

Before the young Imperial Protector could ask a single question—before he could even take a breath—an invisible force slammed into him like a stormwind. With a startled yelp, he was flung clear out of the room, landing in the hallway with a loud crash. The door snapped shut behind him, sealing with an audible thud.

Inside, the air remained tense—quiet, but heavy with authority.

Shin Yue rose from the bed, brushing back her dark hair with an exasperated huff. "Since when," she said icily, "did I ever permit a man to enter my sacred room?"

She crossed her arms, glaring at the sealed doors. "Tch. Damn that Little Yue, shoving me out to play errand girl for the day. What am I? Some substitute stand-in? I just wanted to stay in and nap."

Mei Mei immediately bowed her head low, the fan trembling in her grip. "Princess… please forgive me. I tried to stop him."

Shin Yue sighed, waving one hand lazily as she stepped down from the bed. "Forget it. I'm already awake now, thanks to that noise. Might as well make the most of it."

Her golden eyes narrowed as she glanced at Mei Mei with a look of mild annoyance. "Mind helping me with my bath?"

The request, though casual in tone, felt more like an imperial decree. Her demeanor was a far cry from the kind, gentle Cang Yue—Shin Yue was imperious, demanding… and unapologetically blunt.

"Y-Yes," Mei Mei replied quickly, stepping forward with a nervous nod.

As they walked toward the bath chamber, Mei Mei ventured hesitantly, "Is the Princess… well?"

"She's fine," Shin Yue muttered, her voice sharp with sarcasm. "She's off training, apparently. Said it was time I 'get to know the world again.' Can you believe that?" She huffed again, clearly irritated. "This Empress is not some errand girl."

She pushed open the door to the bathing chamber with a flick of her hand, muttering, "If anyone else barges in today, I'll freeze them into a statue and hang them above the city gate…"

Mei Mei could only nod silently, already bracing herself for a very long day.

Without hesitation, Shin Yue slipped off her sleeping robes, discarding them carelessly to the floor. With calm, unapologetic grace, she strolled toward the bathing chamber completely bare, not even a thread of modesty to shield her.

"P-Princess!" Mei Mei yelped, her face flushing red as she quickly spun around. "H-Have some modesty!"

"Huh?" Shin Yue paused mid-step, glancing over her shoulder with a half-lidded, bored expression. "This is my room. Isn't it nice being free like this?" she said, as if strolling nude through royal chambers was the most natural thing in the world.

"It is not!" Mei Mei snapped, flustered as she snatched a large towel from the nearby dresser and hurried toward her. "Cover yourself up! What if someone else barges in again?!"

"You're noisy…" Shin Yue muttered, clearly unbothered. Still, she took the towel and lazily draped it around herself, half-heartedly concealing her figure. "There. Better?"

Mei Mei sighed heavily, rubbing her temples. The Princess was absolutely right... this side of her really is like a rebellious child.

Still flustered, she followed Shin Yue into the bathroom, silently praying no one else came knocking today.

Shin Yue stepped into the steaming bath with a relaxed sigh, the water instantly adapting to her preferred temperature—yet another one of Yun Che's brilliant inventions. The elegant marble tub shimmered with light mist, infused with herbs and energy-restoring minerals.

Behind her, Mei Mei knelt at the bath's edge, holding a soft cloth in her trembling hands. Her cheeks were tinted pink, but her voice was gentle as she began to scrub the Empress's back.

"Umm…" she hesitated, then softly spoke, "I… just wanted to say… thank you. For saving my life back then."

Shin Yue's golden eyes half-lidded with a sigh, but her tone held a faint warmth. "It was an honor," she said simply. "You take care of Little Yue. I'll take care of you."

Mei Mei smiled quietly, touched by the sincerity beneath the Empress's usual gruffness.

Then, as if flipping a switch, Shin Yue grumbled, "What kind of damn errands am I going to be dragged into today?"

"Princess, those words are vulgar!" Mei Mei exclaimed, nearly dropping the cloth.

"To Little Yue, maybe. Not me," Shin Yue said, stretching her arms behind her head without a care. "I can curse like a damn sailor if I feel like it."

"Princess! Please!" Mei Mei gasped, flustered again as she tried to scrub around Shin Yue's shoulders.

"Fine, fine…" Shin Yue rolled her eyes, lips curling into a mischievous smile. "You're no fun."

Mei Mei only sighed, resigning herself to the whirlwind that was the Dark Empress. Somewhere deep down, she could already tell—today was going to be eventful.

After the bath, Shin Yue wrapped herself lazily in a towel and stepped out, her long, obsidian-black hair dripping as water trailed along her golden-hued skin. Mei Mei, ever the diligent attendant, rushed to her side, drying her hair with care and guiding her through brushing her teeth like a mother her unruly child.

Just when things seemed calm, Shin Yue gave a smug smirk—and with a mischievous flick, dropped the towel without a second thought, strolling naked back to her chambers.

"For the last time, have some modesty!" Mei Mei shrieked, scrambling after her with a fresh towel, red-faced and flustered.

Some time later, order was restored. With a tired sigh, Shin Yue stood before a mirror as layer after layer of the traditional twelve-layered ceremonial kimono was draped onto her by palace attendants. The intricate garment shimmered with royal blues, silvers, and embroidered phoenix patterns—an outfit Cang Yue had requested from Yun Che, no doubt to match her official status.

Shin Yue groaned as each layer tightened. "Do I have to wear this damn thing?"

"Princess…" Mei Mei muttered, massaging her temples. She'd lost count of how many times she'd heard this exact complaint.

"Too much cloth!" Shin Yue stretched her arms like she was trying to escape a straitjacket. "Why can't I just wear a normal dress? Even a cultivator's robe would be better than this… Ugh! Can I wear something simple for once? It's tight across the chest. Why did Little Yue have such big bosom?"

After a long, dramatic back-and-forth, the attendants settled on a traditional Hanfu—still elegant, still proper, but far less restrictive. It was modest yet light, with flowing sleeves and a soft pastel palette that complemented her striking appearance.

Shin Yue gave a satisfied sigh as she adjusted the sleeves. "Finally, something I can breathe in."

Mei Mei bowed slightly, a small smile on her lips despite the morning chaos. She wished hard for Cang Yue to come back. "Please come back soon, Princess… and I don't know if I can handle more of this."

Shin Yue smirked as she turned toward the door, her golden eyes gleaming with mischief.

==============

Cang Wanhe, Emperor of the Blue Wind Empire, could only sigh as he sipped his morning tea. The daughter who usually accompanied him at breakfast—Cang Yue, his sweet, gentle, and impeccably mannered child—was absent.

Instead, she came.

The one who now sat at the royal table was not the princess the court adored, but her infamous alter ego—the Dark Empress, Shin Yue.

Every maid, every attendant, every palace guard at the table was visibly tense. Only Mei Mei managed to retain some semblance of calm, though even she clenched her fan tightly in her hand.

Shin Yue slouched in her chair, both elbows on the finely polished imperial table—a crime in any noble household, let alone the imperial palace. A chicken bone jutted from her mouth as she casually flipped through a rolled-up news scroll like a bored noble reading gossip.

"Ain't there any interesting articles to read today?" she muttered, her voice flat and unimpressed.

Without glancing up, she slapped her empty plate toward one of the nearby maids. "More."

The poor maid, pale as snow, jumped at the sudden motion and took the plate with trembling hands, bowing awkwardly before stiffly walking away like a wind-up doll.

Then Shin Yue leaned forward.

That slight shift alone sent a shockwave of dread through the room. The air grew heavy. The pressure, subtle yet undeniable, seemed to press into everyone's shoulders, warning them: Don't. Make. Her. Angry.

Even Cang Wanhe, for all his years and imperial stature, quietly cleared his throat and kept his gaze on his cup. He had weathered wars and court politics, but his daughter's dark half? That was a battle he had no intention of fighting this morning.

Shin Yue pulled the scroll closer to her face, muttering, "Tch. All boring. No gossip, no scandals, not even a stupid poem contest."

Cang Wanhe sighed again—longer this time.

He missed Little Yue.

"Why… why did she had to come today? Today was the perfect opportunity to teach his daughter to meet people before she could assume the throne one day. Instead, the rebellious one came in her stead. The one that can vaporize anyone without flinching.

The maid returned with a second serving, which Shin Yue eagerly dug into without hesitation. Cang Yue had been right about one thing—Shin Yue had absolutely no sense of table manners.

"Ahem… Yue'er," Cang Wanhe's voice rumbled gently from the head of the table.

"Huh?" she responded mid-bite, blinking at him.

"I was planning to begin teaching you about court etiquette today. With the recent victories you and your friends have achieved—and the appearance of the Butterfly Monarch—we've attracted more and more visitors to the palace. It's time you learned how to properly receive them."

"Do I have to?" she groaned. "Can't I just pulverize them if they misbehave?"

Cang Wanhe sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Yue'er… there are many things you must understand before you can ascend as empress. Diplomacy cannot be solved with fists."

Shin Yue slouched in her seat, poking her food with a chopstick. "As long as I find something good to read instead of that damn scroll again…"

"Princess…" Mei Mei exhaled deeply beside her, the weight of a thousand sighs in her voice. She had long since given up trying to curb Shin Yue's habit of cursing—but she never stopped trying anyway.

"Why are you here anyway?" Cang Wanhe asked, eyeing his rebellious side of a daughter with a mix of curiosity and weariness.

Shin Yue leaned back in her seat, chewing idly before answering with a lazy drawl. "Little Yue is training, so someone's gotta fill in. I figured I'd warm the seat and nap my arse off while I'm at it."

"Princess!" Mei Mei gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. "Such language is unbecoming!"

Shin Yue shrugged unapologetically, stuffing another bite into her mouth. "You knew what you signed up for, Mei Mei."

Cang Wanhe sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I just hope you don't destroy the palace in the process."

"No promises, Father," she replied with a half-smirk. "Let's see who's brave—or stupid—enough to piss me off today."

Mei Mei could only sigh again. At this rate, she might need more than etiquette lessons to keep the princess from turning royal diplomacy into royal chaos.

===========================

Not far from East Square, the fairies had quietly claimed a spot atop a gentle hill, the perfect vantage point to overlook the bustling cooking competition below. They sat on a weathered park bench shaded by the branches of an old tree, its blossoms swaying lazily in the breeze. The youngest of them, unmistakable in both aura and elegance, sat in the center, flanked by her loyal escorts.

No civilians dared approach. The mere presence of disciples from the Four Great Sects was enough to make people keep their distance—better safe than risking offense.

"So, he did enter the competition after all," Little Fairy murmured, her clear eyes following the distant figure with quiet intensity.

"Why are we even here again?" Chu Yueli sighed, clearly exasperated.

"I wanted some fresh air," Qingyue replied calmly, not taking her eyes off the arena.

"We could've gone somewhere else for that," Yueli muttered.

"I wanted to see the competition," Qingyue said flatly, shutting down any further debate.

"...Of course you did." Chu Yueli sighed again. These two had become as immovable as mountains ever since Yun Che reappeared in their lives. She leaned back against the bench, her thoughts drifting to another name—Mihawk.

If he were here… would he have joined the competition too?

He was a cook, after all. A damn good one, if memory served. The image of his sharp gaze and effortless grace flashed through her mind. If Mihawk had stood on that stage, she wouldn't have hesitated to cheer him on. Maybe… just maybe, she'd act just like these two if he were competing now.

Xia Qingyue sat in thoughtful silence. Normally, she wouldn't concern herself with something like a city cooking competition. But here she was—watching, waiting. Following him.

She didn't even know why.

Something told her he would be here. And sure enough, he was. Whether he joined out of pride, a challenge, or for fun, she couldn't tell. But there was one thing that lingered in her mind like a pebble in her shoe.

Was he a chef now?

Was he aiming to become Blue Wind Empire's top chef? It sounded absurd. She had never once seen him cook when they were children. Could it be… he learned in the Divine Realm during his years of training?

Her gaze narrowed slightly, as though trying to peer through the layers of mystery surrounding him.

Who are you now, Yun Che or…..?

========================

"My… a market! We should've come here this morning," Retsu exclaimed, clasping her hands together, clearly delighted by the sight of glistening fish displayed across the stalls.

"So many different kinds of fish," Mio said with wide-eyed curiosity. "Ret-chan, let's take a look." With no cultivation aura to speak of and her veiled hat hiding her features, she moved unnoticed through the crowd. If anyone realized that the Monarch herself was casually strolling through the market, the chaos would've been immediate.

"There's a lot of people here, Nee-sama," Nemu said, tugging lightly at Retsu's sleeve. "What's all the commotion?"

"Let's find out," Retsu replied, guiding them through the busy marketplace. Soon, they reached the edge of a wide-open plaza where the crowd had thickened, and the air buzzed with anticipation.

A booming voice rang out across the square.

"It's time for the annual Blue Wind Cooking Contest! The greatest culinary masters from across the Blue Wind Empire have gathered here today!"

The crowd erupted in cheers, energy rising like a tide.

"This year's competition is fiercer than ever—and we have a truly special grand prize!"

The announcer paused dramatically, letting suspense build.

"This year, the grand prize is none other than…"

"The Blue Fin Elephant Fish!"

Gasps and murmurs rippled through the crowd.

"A Sky Profound Rank beast and the jewel of the sea itself! Its flavor and essence are unmatched—an ingredient worthy of legends. The chef who wins it will not only take it home but also earn the title of the Greatest Chef in the Blue Wind Empire!"

The crowd roared, swept up in the excitement.

"So, who will rise to the challenge? Who will claim the title?!" the announcer bellowed.

Retsu, Mio, and Nemu stood near the edge, watching the stage with curiosity and quiet awe. The market had turned into a celebration—and perhaps, the battlefield for the empire's finest cooks.

In the contestants' section, Yun Che leaned against the bench, arms crossed, wearing the same unimpressed look he reserved for long lectures and arrogant sect elders. He was already getting bored of waiting.

All around him, famous clans and sects had sent their best chefs, each flanked by attendants and disciples dressed in pristine uniforms. The atmosphere buzzed with tension and pride. He didn't belong to any of them, yet he stood out more than most.

Whispers began to spread like wildfire.

"Is that really Yun Che?"

"The one who won the Blue Wind Ranking Tournament?"

"What's he doing here? Since when does the younger generation care about cooking?"

Some muttered with curiosity. Others with skepticism. A few with open hostility. But Yun Che didn't flinch. Let them talk.

Then came that voice.

"Ohohohohoho… Looks like that title belongs to me!"

Yun Che blinked and turned his head. He knew that voice.

Seated a few rows across from him was none other than Lady Qian Qian, in all her eccentric glory. She lounged regally on an ornate, custom-designed chair that practically screamed attention seeker. Velvet cushions. Embroidered canopy. It looked like a throne meant for a queen—or a very dramatic chef.

"Lady Qian Qian…"

"She's here again…"

"Do we even have a chance against her?"

"Ufufufu… I'm glad you didn't run away, Yun Che," she said with a sultry smile, locking eyes with him. "Today, I'll show you my true skills as a chef. Prepare to be humbled."

Yun Che smirked. "Ah, Lady Qian Qian… to be graced by your presence is an honor beyond words."

Suddenly—

"No! Stay away from Big Sister, you pervert Big Brother!"

Two tiny figures practically flew into the scene, stepping between them with arms outstretched in fierce protest.

Yun Che raised a brow. "Fine, fine… as passionate as always."

He waved her off with a grin, already anticipating the chaos this contest was about to become.

"Eh? Girls… look over there!" Mio suddenly called out, pointing excitedly toward the contestant section below.

Retsu followed her gaze—and her eyes widened.

"Yuu-kun? Mei-chan?"

Down in the arena, Yun Che was indeed among the participants. Mei stood beside him, seemingly trying to stay out of the spotlight.

"He's actually joining the contest?" Nemu asked, tilting her head in mild surprise.

But Mio's attention had already shifted. She leaned forward, biting the edge of her handkerchief with barely concealed frustration. "Who is that woman next to him?"

The crowd murmured around them. A voice near the front piped up, "Isn't that Lady Qian Qian?!"

Retsu blinked. "Ara… is she really that famous?" she asked a nearby bystander.

The woman nodded fervently. "She once cooked for the Imperial Family! Word is, she's so talented even they couldn't convince her to become the palace's head chef. Said she preferred freedom over title."

"I see… quite the culinary celebrity," Retsu mused thoughtfully beneath her veiled hat.

Back in the arena, Kon peeked out from Nemu's shoulder and waved. "Oi! Yun Che!"

Yun Che, who had just returned to his seat, immediately perked up. He spotted them at the edge of the competition zone and—without hesitation—began making his way toward them. His sudden movement didn't go unnoticed; Lady Qian Qian narrowed her eyes as she watched him walk away, lips curling into a curious smirk.

Moments later, Yun Che and Mei reached where the girls stood.

"Retsu… girls," Yun Che greeted, surprised but clearly pleased. "What are you all doing here? Don't tell me—you came to cheer me on?"

"We were just passing through," Retsu replied smoothly, a hint of playfulness in her voice. "It is a market, after all. But seeing you here… we might as well cheer you all the way."

Her smile was gentle beneath the veil, and her tone carried a quiet affection. Mei took her place beside Retsu, deciding it was better to stay back now that Yun Che was heading into the spotlight. The competition was about to begin—and their eyes would be on him.

"Why are you here of all places?" Kon asked sharply, arms crossed over his tiny plushy chest as he looked at Yun Che.

Yun Che blinked, surprised. "Kon… you're here too?"

"Korra! I was the one calling out to you first!" Kon huffed, pointing a fuzzy paw at him indignantly.

Before Yun Che could respond, the voice of the announcer boomed across the plaza:

"The Blue Wind Cooking Contest will begin shortly! Who will rise to the top and be crowned the greatest cook in the Blue Wind Empire?!"

The crowd roared in anticipation.

Kon turned back to Yun Che with a suspicious squint. "Don't tell me you're aiming to be the greatest chef now too? Wasn't winning the Blue Wind Ranking Tournament enough for you?"

Yun Che gave a relaxed grin. "You've got it all wrong, furball. I'm not here for the title…"

He pointed at the massive centerpiece in the middle of the competition zone—a colossal, majestic fish resting atop a block of enchanted ice.

"I'm here for that."

Kon followed his finger. "Whoa… that's the Blue Fin Elephant Fish? Everyone's talking about it."

"It's massive…" Mio said, awed as she peeked from behind Retsu. "I've never seen one that size before."

"Exactly," Yun Che said, eyes gleaming. "I don't care about the trophy. That fish… it's calling to me. I can feel it. The texture, the richness, the secrets it's hiding—imagine the dishes we could create! My cooking senses are tingling."

A beat passed, then—

"Yuu-kun… Gambatte!" Retsu cheered brightly, pumping a tiny fist in the air.

"Danna-sama, you got this!" Mio called out, beaming beside Retsu.

"Yuu-sama, do your best." Nemu added softly, her tone calm but sincere.

Yun Che laughed, heart lightened by their support. With his girls behind him, even a battlefield of elite chefs felt like home.

The fire of competition—and culinary curiosity—blazed in his eyes.

"Let's get cooking," he murmured.

=========================

"Yue'er… could you please take this seriously?" Cang Wanhe sighed, his voice heavy with the weariness only a father could know.

Shin Yue didn't even glance up. She was sprawled sideways on the throne, using one armrest as a makeshift pillow while her legs swung lazily over the other. In her hands was a colorful manga book titled Feng Qi Cang Lan, something Yun Che had casually passed her "for fun."

"Like I said," she replied without lifting her gaze, "I don't care about your protocol… or whatever that is."

Cang Wanhe pressed two fingers to his temple. Of course. He had expected this—no, braced for it. Where Cang Yue, his beloved daughter, embodied dignity and grace, Shin Yue—the darker, more volatile side—was a walking contradiction to royalty.

Cang Yue would welcome guests with soft-spoken warmth and eyes that radiated a gentle nobility. Shin Yue, on the other hand, gave off the aura of a rogue monarch. If Cang Yue walked among blooming cherry blossoms, then Shin Yue strode through swirling black feathers and thunderclouds. She was dangerously cool, unpredictable, and entirely uninterested in royal decorum.

"I just hope you at least pretend to care when the dignitaries arrive," Cang Wanhe muttered.

Shin Yue flipped a page in her manga, a faint smirk playing on her lips. "I'll pretend if they're not annoying. If someone does tick me off though… I'm not above launching them off the balcony."

Mei Mei, who had been silently standing to the side, let out a quiet, despairing sigh. It was going to be one of those days again.

"What is going on here?" Xue Ling asked as she entered the throne room, flanked by Jin Mulan and Lin Yueru. The trio had just returned from their morning training session, only to find a familiar chaos unfolding.

"Mei Mei," Xue Ling said, eyes narrowing, "we left you alone for a few hours."

"Don't blame me… it's the Princess," Mei Mei replied with a long-suffering sigh.

On the royal throne, Shin Yue lounged sideways like she owned the empire—and couldn't care less about it. Her head rested lazily on the armrest while her legs draped over the side, swaying idly. She didn't even glance at them.

"Oh, hey sis," Shin Yue greeted, flipping a page of her Feng Qi Cang Lan manga.

Xue Ling's brow twitched. "Shin Yue?"

"Sup?" came the nonchalant reply.

Jin Mulan and Lin Yueru exchanged looks, confused. "Shin Yue?" they echoed in unison. This was not the composed and refined Cang Yue they knew.

Xue Ling crossed her arms. "Ah… right, I forgot. You two haven't met her like this before. This is Shin Yue—Cang Yue's alternate self. Her darker half."

"She's… possessed?" Jin Mulan asked, curiosity piqued.

"No, not possessed," Xue Ling clarified. "It's her dark side—part of her inner cultivation. When Shin Yue's in control, it means Cang Yue is training deep within her consciousness. Shin Yue only comes out when necessary… or when Little Yue dumps responsibilities on her."

"Yup." Shin Yue groaned, finally lowering the manga. "That Little Yue tossed this damned mess on me again. Said it was 'good experience.' I just wanted a nap."

"Princess…" Mei Mei said with another sigh, already knowing it would be ignored.

"You get used to her," Xue Ling said with a small smile. "Just… don't bring any diplomats near her unless you enjoy explosions. Let's just leave her alone and not provoke her. She's extremely brutal if you made her angry."

Lin Yueru leaned closer to Jin Mulan and whispered, "She's like a delinquent empress."

Jin Mulan smirked. "A spoilt one."

"Oi, I heard that." Shin Yue waved her manga.

The girls chuckled—though Mei Mei looked like she might cry.

One by one, the guests began filing into the grand throne room, their robes immaculate, their eyes sharp, and their words already poised with courtesy—or manipulation. Cang Wanhe stood at the head of the chamber, flanked by well-dressed attendants, offering formal greetings to each new visitor with the practiced grace of an emperor.

But the second figure seated on the throne—the young woman draped sideways like a bored cat, legs crossed and eyes buried in a colorful book—was drawing far more attention.

"That's the Blue Moon Princess?" one delegate whispered under his breath, squinting at the throne. "She doesn't look like the one described."

"I heard she's at the Peak of the Earth Profound Realm," another murmured, doubt lingering in his tone.

"She's protected by a Monarch," someone added.

"No… not just her. The entire Blue Wind Imperial Family is under the Monarch's protection now. Didn't you hear about the Butterfly Monarch?"

From her throne, Shin Yue lazily turned a page in her manga, not even pretending to care about the dignitaries whispering across the polished floor.

"Oh, there's a lot today," she muttered under her breath. "Well, not like I care for any of it."

Her voice carried just enough for some of the guests to hear, causing a few nobles to glance her way, appalled. One older minister even coughed into his sleeve, muttering something about "royal disgrace."

Shin Yue smirked, unfazed. Let them gossip. She had already judged half of them to be sycophants seeking favors or minor lords proposing shallow alliances under the guise of diplomacy. She saw through every smile, every bow.

Little Yue, you owe me for this headache, she thought to herself. You get training in spiritual harmony—I get this circus.

She propped up her elbow, resting her chin in one hand while the other continued flipping pages.

Across the hall, Cang Wanhe kept smiling, though a twitch of his brow betrayed how badly he wanted to scold his daughter—again.

"Princess…" Mei Mei whispered helplessly beside her, bowing apologetically to the incoming guests.

Shin Yue didn't answer.

She didn't have to.

Her aura—cool, dark, and sovereign in its own unruly way—was answer enough.

Shin Yue sniffed the air, her nose crinkling slightly. "Something smells strange," she murmured, glancing toward the open window.

"Oh, that?" Xue Ling said casually, not even looking up from her tea. "It's coming from the Heavenly Sword Villa's section."

"Section?" Shin Yue raised a brow, puzzled.

"Yes," Xue Ling replied. "They have a small territory here—within the palace grounds."

Shin Yue blinked, then slowly closed the manga in her hands. The lazy air around her vanished in an instant. She stood up without a word, the subtle shift in her aura enough to make everyone in the room glance her way—including her father. He watched her closely, sensing something had caught her full attention. Something serious.

Without hesitation, she tucked her book into her small world and walked to the entrance.

In a smooth motion, she deployed her wings—the ones gifted to her by Nemu. Aqua light flared behind her as the ethereal wings bloomed to life. Without warning, she grabbed a startled Mei Mei by the waist and floated up through the open air. Xue Ling, Lin Yueru, and Jin Mulan quickly followed with their own wings, their expressions turning more focused.

The Imperial Palace was structured across four levels. The first level belonged to the Blue Wind Profound Palace, encircling the base like a fortress. The second held the living quarters for officials and palace staff. The third had recently been designated to Cang Yue's faction, marking her growing influence.

And the fourth—the highest level—was home to the main palace, the seat of power. But despite its status, not all of it was under Shin Yue's direct control.

Apparently.

They landed at a compound nestled into one corner of the fourth level. It was clean, refined, and clearly built in the distinct architectural style of the Heavenly Sword Villa. Small, yes—but well-fortified, with their emblem proudly displayed. A compound.

Shin Yue's eyes narrowed.

This was her territory. The heart of the Imperial Palace.

And yet someone had built a base here—without her knowing?

A cold silence settled over her as the wind rippled against her wings.

Her voice, when it came, was quiet.

"Who approved this?" she asked.

No one answered.

But there would be answers. Soon.

Shin Yue landed with a quiet thud just outside the ornate gates of the Heavenly Sword Villa compound, her wings folding behind her in a glow of fading crimson light. In an instant, several guards in silver-blue robes surged forward, surrounding her and her escorts.

"Halt!" one barked. "This is the restricted territory of the Heavenly Sword Villa! Non-sect members are strictly prohibited!"

A flicker of cold amusement crossed Shin Yue's face, but her voice cut sharp and regal.

"Oh? This empress rules this city—and this empire. There is no ground beneath heaven that I cannot walk," she said, her eyes flashing with growing fury.

The guard didn't back down. "With respect, Empress, we must ask you to leave. By the direct order of the Grand Villa Master, no outsider—royalty or not—may enter."

Shin Yue turned slightly to Xue Ling, her voice calm but laced with steel. "Sis, any history behind this... arrangement?"

Xue Ling nodded, her voice hesitant. "Yes… As part of their agreement to lend us their Imperial Protectors, they requested a private section within the upper level of the palace. It was granted… years ago."

Shin Yue's expression turned glacial. "They dare... to bar me from my own palace?"

Her aura exploded outward in a chilling wave, raw pressure crashing over the guards like a tidal force. Several stumbled back, faces pale with terror. Even those who held their ground did so with clenched jaws and shaking limbs.

"This ticks me off," Shin Yue said coldly.

She raised one foot—and tapped it gently against the marble floor.

A deep crack echoed through the courtyard.

Pillars of crystalline ice erupted from the stone beneath, twisting skyward like spears. In a matter of seconds, they crashed forward with devastating force—shattering the compound's front gate in an explosion of splinters and frost. Alarm bells rang out within, and panicked shouts echoed from inside as Heavenly Sword Villa disciples scrambled to respond.

From the icy mist, three colossal water dragons surged upward, coiling in a wide arc around Shin Yue, their glowing eyes locked on the heart of the compound. The air itself turned frigid as they loomed, ready to strike.

"This is my palace. My territory," Shin Yue declared, her voice rising like thunder. "And some low-tier sect dares build a compound here—and bar the royal family from entering?"

Her icy glare swept across the stunned guards.

"Tell me—who rules this empire? Us... or them?"

Without waiting for an answer, Shin Yue strode forward, flanked by her guardians and her dragons, each step radiating dominance. Behind her, Xue Ling, Lin Yueru, and Jin Mulan moved with calm precision, like shadows of vengeance. Mei Mei hides behind Xue Ling.

Within minutes, the violent tremor of power had reached the palace proper. Cang Wanhe himself, followed by an entourage of stunned Imperial Protectors, rushed toward the compound, drawn by the growing chaos.

And at the center of it all, the empress moved forward, her wrath cold, absolute, and righteous.

"Yue'er! What is the meaning of this?!"

Cang Wanhe's voice thundered across the compound as he arrived, flanked by Dongfang Xiu and Qin Wushang, their expressions a mix of shock and unease. The destruction of the Heavenly Sword Villa's gate and the presence of water dragons towering over the area had turned the air to ice—both literally and politically.

Shin Yue, seated gracefully atop the back of her largest ice dragon, didn't even glance his way at first. The cold winds curled around her like a storm given form, her aura flaring with regal fury.

"Ranks may define structure in the empire," she said, voice sharp and unwavering, "but the pride of the Imperial Family is sacred."

She turned her gaze on the broken compound, contempt clear in her expression.

"They dared build a compound on my palace grounds without notice. Worse—they threw trash, dirtied the very heart of the Empire's rule. Do they think this empress is blind? That I will stand by and accept this insult?"

Her aura flared once more, bursting out like a tidal wave of frost. All the disciples of the Heavenly Sword Villa instinctively backed away, pale-faced and trembling beneath her presence.

"I have decided."

Her voice dropped, but it cut sharper than any blade.

"All Imperial Protectors, assemble before this Empress—now!"

A beat passed before her words registered, and the protectors—scattered and unsure—began to gather at the compound's courtyard.

"Except you three," she added, her eyes softening slightly as she glanced at Xue Ling, Lin Yueru, and Jin Mulan. They remained with her, standing atop the coiled ice dragon like specters of judgment. Even little Mei Mei stood there, small but unwavering.

Shin Yue slowly rose from her throne-like seat atop the dragon's back. Her long sleeves danced in the icy breeze, her gaze descending on the protectors below.

"You damned lots."

Her voice rang with imperial finality.

"If your loyalties still lie with the Heavenly Sword Villa rather than the throne, then hear me now—this Empress hereby strips you of your titles and dismisses you from service."

Gasps rippled through the crowd, but Shin Yue was not finished.

"If I ever see you again standing before me—as enemies—then know this."

Her hand lifted slowly, frost blooming at her fingertips like a herald of death.

"I will personally destroy you."

The words were not spoken in rage. They were law. Cold, absolute, and unyielding.

The assembled Imperial Protectors flinched as her words echoed through the shattered courtyard. They could feel it—the gap in power. Most of them were only at the Sky Profound Realm, and barely at peak. Compared to the pressure radiating from Shin Yue, sitting atop a massive, coiled ice dragon, they felt like ants beneath a divine storm.

In that moment, there was no doubt. She didn't just hold the imperial title—she held the power to back it.

"However…" her voice softened slightly, but it carried even more weight, "…this Empress is not without mercy."

She stood tall, her silhouette glowing against the frosted air.

"Leave the Heavenly Sword Villa behind. Swear your loyalty to me, and to the Imperial Family. If your heart still lies with the Villa—leave now."

Silence.

Then came her final decree.

"Now… bow down."

Without hesitation, one after another, the Imperial Protectors fell to their knees and lowered their heads in unison. A ripple of energy and emotion passed through the courtyard as the proud warriors bent before the will of their Empress. Not one dared to side with the Heavenly Sword Villa now—not after witnessing her strength, not after hearing her words.

From the sidelines, Cang Wanhe, Dongfang Xiu, and Qin Wushang stood frozen.

Eyes wide.

Mouths slightly open.

They had just witnessed a quiet revolution—no battles, no blood, only a single show of power and a will that bent the elite to her command.

Shin Yue—or was it Cang Yue?—had just changed the allegiance of every Imperial Protector in the palace.

In a single moment, the balance of power shifted.

Xue Ling, Jin Mulan, and Lin Yueru stood in stunned silence atop the ice dragon, eyes wide as they watched the Imperial Protectors kneel. It was a moment none of them expected—not this fast, not this completely.

Shin Yue remained composed, her eyes cold and merciless as they swept over the silent courtyard.

"Now," she said calmly, "take your belongings and leave."

Her voice sharpened like a blade of ice.

"Unless, of course, you want this Empress to pulverize you where you stand."

There was a tense silence—until one of the villa elders dared to speak.

"Our Villa Master… won't accept this disgrace. He will never—"

Shin Yue's gaze snapped to him like lightning.

"Are you threatening this Empress?"

The elder paled, stepping back, but the damage was done.

"Very well," Shin Yue declared, standing atop her frozen throne with imperial finality. "Then I shall pay a visit to the Heavenly Sword Villa myself. He can voice his defiance to me directly. Besides, he has a debt to pay to this empress for the other night."

That was the final straw.

Without another word, the disciples, elders, and officers of the Heavenly Sword Villa scrambled into their floating ark, their formation stuttering under panic and fear. The vessel quickly lifted from the ruined courtyard, descending toward the city outskirts, desperate to escape the Empress's wrath.

Shin Yue watched them leave with narrowed eyes. She raised one elegant hand toward the empty compound.

"Dark Fire."

A sudden silence fell.

Then—fwoom.

A surge of violet-purple flames erupted from her palm, racing across the entire structure. The flames consumed the compound without resistance—no soot, no smoke, no ash left behind. Just silence, and the lingering shimmer of unnatural fire as the building was erased from existence.

From balconies, corridors, and towers across the palace grounds, lingering guests, officials, maids, and servants watched in stunned silence.

They had all seen it with their own eyes.

The Heavenly Sword Villa's compound within the palace—vaporized.

One moment, it stood as a symbol of power and influence within the palace. The next, it was consumed in a torrent of violet fire, obliterated until not even ash remained. The very ground it had stood on now looked untouched, save for the lingering chill of her presence.

She had taken no lives, but that made it all the more terrifying.

To erase a sect's stronghold without shedding blood… to wipe them away as if they were nothing more than stains upon her palace…

That was power beyond comprehension.

And now, everyone understood.

Why even high officials hesitated to meet her eyes.Why the protectors stood straighter in her presence.Why the only ones who spoke to her without a flicker of fear were Yun Che, his companions, her personal attendant - Mei Mei, and her three trusted guards—Xue Ling, Lin Yueru, and Jin Mulan.

The ground where the Heavenly Sword Villa once stood was now clean, sterile, and utterly empty.

Shin Yue lowered her hand. The message had been delivered. The insult erased.

And her authority had been absolute.

As the last ember of Dark Fire faded into nothingness, Shin Yue dispelled her massive ice dragons, the frost mist curling into the air like fading spirits. The courtyard, once claimed by the Heavenly Sword Villa, now stood silent and bare. She landed softly before her father.

Cang Wanhe looked at her, eyes troubled. "Yue'er… we may have just declared war on the Heavenly Sword Villa."

Her expression didn't falter. In fact, she smirked.

"War?" she echoed coldly. "Let them come."

Her voice dripped with quiet fury.

"I'll be paying them a visit personally. They will not escape the consequences of their transgressions. Especially Ling Tianni and Ling Yuefeng—they dared to provoke this Empress, and they will learn what that means."

Her gaze hardened, glinting like steel beneath moonlight.

"It's about time I settled the score."

Without another word, she turned and gently scooped up Mei Mei by the waist, holding her close.

In a flare of light, her crimson wings erupted behind her—ethereal, blazing with raw energy. With a single flap, she shot into the sky, leaving behind a brilliant azure streak across the heavens.

Behind her, Xue Ling, Lin Yueru, and Jin Mulan unleashed their own radiant wings, following her trail like loyal blades drawn in her wake.

The remaining Imperial Protectors stood in uneasy silence, their gazes shifting from the now-empty courtyard to the solemn figure of Cang Wanhe.

Moments ago, they had all bowed to Shin Yue—not just as a princess, but as the undisputed Empress of the empire. In one swift, merciless act, she had erased the Heavenly Sword Villa's compound, stripped their influence from the capital, and commanded absolute loyalty from those sworn to protect the Imperial Family.

Now, she was flying straight toward their Villa Master and Grand Villa Master, prepared to confront them directly.

The very thought sent a shiver through them.

Before them, the once-proud section of the palace—where the Villa's presence had loomed like a shadow over the court—was reduced to nothing but scorched stone and frosted ruin. No banners, no buildings, no presence.

Only silence.

And in that silence, something became undeniably clear to everyone present.

Shin Yue had no intention of sharing authority with anyone.

Not with the sects.

Not with the clans.

Not with the Heavenly Sword Villa.

She had drawn a line. The throne belonged to her—and she would not tolerate even the illusion of divided rule.

Cang Wanhe, still watching the streak of azure across the sky, exhaled slowly. Though he wore the title of Emperor, even he understood the truth now.

His daughter had become something far more than royalty.

She was the empire's blade.

Its shield.

And if provoked—its fury.

"Your Majesty…" Qin Wushang whispered, glancing nervously at the sky. "What should we do?"

Cang Wanhe stared after his daughter for a long moment, then sighed heavily.

"We follow her."

He turned toward Dongfang Xiu alongside the other Imperial Protectors. "But do not attempt to stop her. Not even I can dissuade her once she has made up her mind."

The skies above the capital trembled as the Dark Empress of the Blue Wind Empire and her blades took flight—heading straight for the heart of the Heavenly Sword Villa.

And this time, it would not end in negotiation.