Unresolved grief

​​"Well done!"​​

The Grand Marshal couldn't help but cheer, drawing everyone's gaze. The Emperor's eyes sharpened like hooks.

But the Grand Marshal paid it no mind, his heart swelling with satisfaction. He only wished Zhao Xunan had used his sword instead of his elbow—if he'd sliced this troublemaking fox-woman, how perfect it would've been.

"Your progress surprises me," Phoenix said, rising to brush stone shards off her robes. Her tone held no hint of anger, only calm.

"Not bad. Compared to that day, I've gained a little resistance," Zhao Xunan replied, grinning.

"I remember you were only at the Second Realm back then. So little time, yet you've reached the Fourth Realm. Zhao Xunan, you're truly extraordinary!"

Her lips curved into a smile, but her gaze cut like blades. Zhao Xunan's scalp prickled—Phoenix, the "First Prodigy" of his past life, could see through cultivation realms. No wonder she was so formidable.

She twirled Green Phoenix Sword in the air, silver flowers blooming with each movement. "That elbow of yours packed quite a punch. Care to guess how hurt I am?"

"Not at all. You probably let me land that hit on purpose—to test my limits," Zhao Xunan said, shaking his head. The spot where her sword tip had grazed him felt as solid as bedrock; her true qi hadn't even broken the skin.

"Quite self-aware. Do you know how much force I used?" Phoenix pressed, stepping closer.

Zhao Xunan exhaled, crouching slightly as he hid his blade. "Whatever it was, you're outmatched. This cat-and-mouse game? Let's drop it."

Before she could react, he lunged. Tiangui arced downward like a silver meteor, but Phoenix parried with Green Phoenix Sword, sending the blade flying.

"Take this!" Zhao Xunan roared. His earlier wild slash had been a feint—now, he closed the distance, slamming his shoulder into Phoenix's chest and pinning her to the ground. With his left hand, he locked her right wrist in a brutal crosshold.

The sudden move left Phoenix reeling. Her face flushed crimson—she'd never been so "intimate" with a man before.

"…This… this is improper!" Minister Wu Peiyang of Rites gasped, along with the entire hall.

Though Great Qin's women enjoyed relative freedom, such close physical contact—especially in this posture—was unheard of.

The Grand Marshal, however, wasn't shocked. He'd visited the Martial Arts Academy often, watching Li Da and Li Xiao spar. He knew this was a close-combat technique Zhao Xunan had invented, deadly in battle. He'd even wanted Zhao Xunan to teach it to the army… but never imagined it used between a man and a woman.

Zhao Xunan poured all his qi into locking Phoenix's arms, hoping to force her to yield. The gap between their cultivation realms was vast—Phoenix was at the peak of the Fourth Realm, while he'd just entered it. Months ago, without the Azure Dragon Seal activating his talent, he'd have been torn apart by her.

Joint locks were his only hope.

"…I'll kill you. Thunder, come!"

Humiliated and furious, Phoenix snapped. Dozens of thunder dragons materialized, merging into a pillar that crashed toward Zhao Xunan.

"Boom!"

The golden formation blazed, making everyone shield their eyes. When the light faded, Zhao Xunan lay on the ground, his body charred black, still clamping down on Phoenix's arm.

But the once-proud Phoenix now looked disheveled—her hair a messy bird's nest, her face smudged with soot.

"Didn't your grandmaster teach you that lightning conducts?" Zhao Xunan grinned, his own face streaked with ash, making his teeth gleam white.

Phoenix, still seething, hadn't expected this. The lightning strike had calmed her, though—her fury replaced by icy resolve.

"Clearly, you lack a mentor. He'd have warned you: never provoke a cultivator far above you."

Zhao Xunan's smile froze. A chill ran through him as Phoenix's qi surged, her true qi stabbing at his skin like needles.

"Wind!"

At her single word, gales erupted. The air filled with the whine of blades. Zhao Xunan's scalp prickled—he dodged too late, sliced by a dozen wind blades. Crimson blood spurted from his wounds.

The Grand Marshal paled. He couldn't see the damage, but Zhao Xunan's back was now bare, his spine visible through the gashes. This wasn't a test—it was an assassination attempt.

Zhao Xunan staggered, shocked. Phoenix… she actually wants me dead?

Before he could process it, a sharp pain pierced his chest. Green Phoenix Sword had plunged in up to the hilt. Phoenix stood over him, grinning.

"As I said, I won't cripple you completely. But this late autumn, you won't leave your bed."

She withdrew the sword, and the qi in Zhao Xunan's body and dantian exploded, flooding his system like a tidal wave.

"Ugh—!"

Already injured, Zhao Xunan vomited blood. Old wounds gushed afresh as he collapsed backward.

"Cough… cough… Hahaha, Your Holiness, well done!" Zhao Xunan coughed blood, grinning up at her with a fierce expression. "In my life, I've never hated anyone but the Heavenly Healer. Today… I add you to that list."

"…The phoenix above the heavens fears a worm in the mud?" Phoenix sneered, her mood clearing as she sheathed her sword.

The Grand Marshal, fuming, slammed his fist on the ground. "You forget—you were once a worm in the mud too!"

Phoenix's face darkened. The Grand Marshal's rank far outstripped Zhao Xunan's, but such insults were unbearable.

The Grand Marshal clapped Zhao Xunan's shoulder, then faced Phoenix. "I'm no cultivator, but I've debated with the Celestial Master and other Daoist masters.

"Cultivation values karma most. The Zhao family saved your life—you repay them by crippling Zhao Xunan? That's the behavior of a treacherous ingrate.

"You're just seventeen, yet you've reached the peak of the mortal realm. But I can promise: with that petty, vengeful temper, your path to immortality won't last long."

These words were no mere insult—they were a curse. Phoenix's face turned livid, her hand hovering over Green Phoenix Sword. No one—not even the Grand Marshal—had ever dared speak to her like this.

"Is that all? Are you angry enough to attack?" The Grand Marshal scoffed, striding toward her. "Who do you think you are?

"For eight hundred years, Great Qin has appointed dozens of Imperial Preceptors—all virtuous, respected. You? Arrogant and overbearing. That's all you are."

Phoenix's eyes narrowed, Green Phoenix Sword halfway drawn. The Emperor, unable to watch, interjected: "Grand Marshal, your words…"

But the Grand Marshal cut him off. "Your Majesty, we old ministers supported you to ascend—not to find a 'Supreme Emperor' for Great Qin."

He tossed his jade pendant to the ground and turned to leave. "I resign today. The positions of Grand Protector and Grand Marshal—appoint better men. Great Qin's court… this old fool no longer understands it."

On the first day of September in the Kaiyuan era, a storm shook Yujing.

Top Scholar Zhao Xunan was severely injured by the Imperial Preceptor, graded "Lower Ding" in the exam, and placed third in the final rankings—bestowed the title of "Jinshi by Grace."

Grand Protector Feng Pingbo of the TianCe Pavilion and the three ministers (Grand Secretary, Minister of Rites, and Minister of Personnel) collectively resigned.

From that day onward, Great Qin's Three Departments and Three Ministers were left empty. The old ministers, who'd dedicated their lives to the country, left in obscurity—shocking the court and nation.

"Waaahhh, that Li girl's a heartless wretch, a shameless ingrate. Grandpa shouldn't have saved her!"

Back at the Martial Arts Academy, Zhao Ping'er sobbed as she cleaned Zhao Xunan's wounds. Li Da and Li Xiao wiped their tears; Xiao Nuo'er wailed uncontrollably.

They'd sent him off that morning, expecting him to claim the top scholar title. Instead, he'd returned half-dead.

"It's nothing compared to the court's upheaval," Zhao Xunan said, forcing a smile. The Grand Marshal's lonely departure lingered in his mind.

The subsequent resignations of the other ministers… they'd all acted for him. He felt gratitude and guilt—if not for him, they'd have retired honorably from their posts. Now, they were commoners. The thought ached.

"If I'd cultivated immortality earlier, Phoenix wouldn't even be fit to lick my shoes!"

"She's so young, yet so malicious. Laugh all you want now—someday, she'll turn into a scrawny chicken!" Xiao Nuo'er sniffled, hating Phoenix.

Zhao Xunan laughed softly, patting her head. At ten, she was already so spirited—no wonder his disciples were amazed he'd cultivated to this level in just two years.

An hour later, the Ambassador of the Demon Kingdom of Huangze arrived, bearing healing medicines—including a life-saving elixir from the Imperial Alchemist of Huangze.

Zhao Ping'er fed him wine mixed with the medicine. Within moments, his pain eased; the gaping wounds began to close, itching as they healed.

"What is this medicine? It's incredible!" Zhao Xunan marveled, pressing his chest. The stifling pain was gone—the pill's effects were miraculous.

Even in the Shanhai Secret Realm, he'd only heard of such treasures, never seen them.

"His Majesty spent a fortune to obtain this from the Dan Ding Sect in the Shanhai Secret Realm. It can resurrect the dead," the ambassador said. "Huangze has only nine such pills. Her Majesty left one specifically for you—no one else may use it, even if they die."

Zhao Xunan sighed, bowing to the ambassador. He didn't need to thank his disciples—they were family.

Hardly had the ambassador left when Song Chuizi and Lü Qingcai rushed in, shocked by Zhao Xunan's injuries.

Song Chuizi handed over venison tonic to Zhao Ping'er. "Only you'd survive this. That bitch Phoenix acts without a care—she'll get hers someday, struck by thunder!"

Zhao Xunan gave him a thumbs-up. Song Chuizi had never held back—calling her a "bitch" on first meeting, now a "stinky dame." His disdain ran deep.

"Not just someday—starting today, our 'Imperial Preceptor' will have a hard time," Lü Qingcai said, grinning as he saw the crowd's reactions. "My father just returned, sweating buckets. Word is, the Twelve Emperors are furious. They've surrounded the palace, demanding answers from His Majesty.

"His Majesty admitted his mistake, repenting for trusting Phoenix. The Twelve Emperors issued an ultimatum: Phoenix is banned from politics, state affairs, and harming officials. If she violates this… expel all Zhengyi Sect members from Great Qin, and cut ties with the sect!"

"Goodness gracious, is that true?!" Zhao Xunan gasped. The Zhengyi Sect had dominated Great Qin for years—after the Kunlun Secret Realm opened, the entire nation had become their pawn.

The royal family and ministers had suffered horribly; the people had been treated like cattle. The state was a prison, the nation a hell on earth.

"Absolutely. The Grand Protector of the Zhengyi Sect sent word through the Twelve Emperors: if Phoenix offends again, not only will the Zhengyi Sect be expelled… they'll convene a clan assembly to discuss replacing His Majesty!"

"Damn it all—this is a revolution!" Song Chuizi swore. Zhao Xunan trembled, pressing: "Can the Grand Marshal and ministers return?"

Lü Qingcai shook his head. "They resigned. His Majesty approved it legally—no taking back."

Zhao Xunan and Song Chuizi sighed deeply, their hearts heavy with unresolved grief.