Chapter 36: Old Grudges in the Palace

The chilling wind whipped up the fallen leaves in front of the temple, creating a rustling sound like the whispers of ghosts.

The dilapidated temple door gave a harsh, creaking groan as it slowly swung open, releasing a wave of putrid, nauseating decay.

Feng Ruqing stepped inside without hesitation. The interior was dim, thick with cobwebs, and the air was heavy with suffocating dust. The idol on the altar was long since ruined, its hideous features appearing even more terrifying in the gloom, as if it might spring to life at any moment to devour those who entered.

"Qing'er, be careful!" Brother Ma’s voice trembled slightly. He gripped his hunting knife tightly, scanning the shadows with vigilance.

Suddenly, a cold, mocking laughter echoed from the depths of the temple, reverberating through the empty hall and making one’s skin crawl.

"Feng Ruqing, you’ve finally arrived! I have waited for you a long time!"

A figure emerged slowly from the shadows, followed by a dozen masked men in black, all brandishing sharp blades, radiating murderous intent. Feng Ruqing recognized the leader instantly—it was the same man who had attempted to assassinate her in the palace.

"So, it was you!" Feng Ruqing’s eyes narrowed, a flame of fury igniting in her chest.

"That's right, it’s me! Today will be the day you die!" The leader sneered and waved his hand. The men in black swarmed forward, encircling Feng Ruqing and Brother Ma.

Blades flashed like cold lightning. Feng Ruqing moved with the speed of a thunderbolt, weaving through her attackers. Her long sword danced like a swimming dragon, agile and lethal with every strike. Screams rang out one after another as several men in black fell to the ground.

Although Brother Ma’s martial arts were not as refined as hers, he fought with immense courage, swinging his hunting knife to beat back the onslaught. However, the sheer number of enemies began to overwhelm him, and he soon sustained several wounds.

"Brother Ma, step back!" Feng Ruqing commanded sharply. With a flash of her blade, she forced an attacker back and flew to his side, shielding him from a fatal blow.

"Qing'er..." Brother Ma felt a surge of gratitude, yet his worry only deepened.

Feng Ruqing said nothing, focusing entirely on the siege. She knew that if she could not eliminate them all today, neither she nor Brother Ma would survive.

"Hahaha... Feng Ruqing, do you really think you can escape?" The leader laughed wildly, his eyes glinting with malice. "Today, I will make you pay for your sister!"

Feng Ruqing’s gaze remained cold. Ignoring his taunts, she swung her sword with even greater ferocity.

"Die!" The leader suddenly roared, thrusting his sword directly at her chest.

Feng Ruqing sidestepped, her own blade striking out like lightning, piercing the leader’s shoulder. He shrieked, clutching his shoulder as he stumbled backward.

"You..." The leader pointed at her, his eyes full of disbelief. "How could you..."

Before he could finish, Feng Ruqing’s sword struck again, this time piercing his throat. His eyes widened, staring at her in shock. A gurgling sound escaped his lips as blood gushed forth, staining the ground.

"Overestimating your abilities," Feng Ruqing said coldly. She swept her gaze over the remaining men, her intent to kill absolute. Deprived of their leader, the men fell into disarray, their offensive weakening. Feng Ruqing seized the moment, her sword dancing like the scythe of death, cutting them down one by one.

"You petty clowns dare to attempt my assassination?" Her voice was as cold as frost, carrying an aura of absolute dominance.

Suddenly, a cold laugh drifted from the depths of the temple: "Hahaha... Feng Ruqing, do you think you have won?"

A figure in a black cloak stepped slowly from the shadows, wearing a hideous mask that obscured their face.

"Who exactly are you?" Feng Ruqing watched the figure with caution, a sense of foreboding rising within her.

"Who am I? You don't need to know!" The figure sneered. "You only need to know that everything you do is under my control!"

"Is that so?" Feng Ruqing retorted. "Then show me what you are truly capable of!"

"Hmph! How arrogant!" The figure darted forward, appearing instantly before her and thrusting a dagger toward her heart.

Feng Ruqing was prepared. She dodged, parrying the dagger with a backhanded flick of her sword. The two engaged in a fierce exchange. Feng Ruqing soon realized that this opponent possessed extraordinary martial arts, with every move designed to kill, and their footwork was eerie and elusive.

"Brother Ma, watch out!" Feng Ruqing shouted, alerting him to a sneak attack. Brother Ma gave her a grateful look, swinging his knife to block a strike aimed at his back.

"Qing'er, no matter what happens, I will fight by your side until the end!" he declared firmly.

Feng Ruqing felt a warmth in her heart and a surge of renewed strength. She was not fighting alone.

The attacks grew more savage. Feng Ruqing sustained multiple wounds, yet she gritted her teeth and held on.

"How much longer do you think you can last?" the figure sneered.

"As long as I have a breath left, I will not give up!" she replied resolutely.

"Hmph, let’s see how tough your bones really are!" As the figure lunged again, Brother Ma cried out in alarm.

The dagger struck like a viper. Feng Ruqing’s wounds multiplied, her clothes soaked in blood, and waves of agony threatened to consume her. Yet, she bit her lip, her eyes burning with rage, her sword still moving with impenetrable speed. She felt her strength draining away, each swing becoming a monumental effort, but the fire of vengeance in her heart burned brighter, illuminating the dark temple and her own determined soul.

Suddenly, Feng Ruqing shifted her stance, abandoning her aggressive style for a strange, fluid movement. She drifted like the tides and shifted like the wind. This was the "Ocean Wave Footwork" she had learned from a mysterious elder during her travels abroad, a technique that relied on softness to overcome hardness and turning an opponent's power against them.

The sudden shift caught the masked figure off guard. Their fierce onslaught hit nothing but air, as if striking into cotton.

"What is this footwork?" The figure stumbled back in shock, having never seen such an uncanny technique. It felt as if they were facing not a person, but the unpredictable sea.

Feng Ruqing did not answer. With a cold smirk, she shifted again, appearing like a ghost behind the figure and thrusting her sword toward their heart. The figure cried out and tried to turn, but it was too late. The blade pierced their back, and blood sprayed out. They staggered back, trembling.

"Who... who are you?" the figure asked, their voice filled with terror.

Feng Ruqing remained silent, her gaze icy.

"You... you cannot kill me..." the figure pleaded. "I... I know many secrets..."

"Unfortunately, I have no interest in hearing them anymore." Feng Ruqing thrust her sword again.

Suddenly, the sound of urgent hoofbeats echoed from outside, followed by a command: "Stop!"

The sound of horses shattered the silence. A troop of soldiers in official uniform rushed in, led by Head Constable Li of the capital. Seeing the carnage, he gasped. His gaze flickered with complexity as he looked at Feng Ruqing, then he cupped his hands and said, "Lady Feng, we were ordered here. What has happened?"

Feng Ruqing swept a cold glance over Constable Li and the dead body, a mocking smile touching her lips. She didn't answer, instead pulling her sword free and pointing it at the corpse.

"These people came to take my life," she said, her voice as biting as a winter frost.

Constable Li’s expression changed. He gestured for his men to secure the remaining attackers. When he looked at Feng Ruqing again, there was a hint of awe in his eyes. "Lady Feng, we will certainly investigate this thoroughly and provide you with an explanation."

Feng Ruqing snorted and ignored him. She turned to Brother Ma and asked with concern, "Are you alright?"

Brother Ma scratched his head and grinned. "I'm fine, Qing'er. You were truly incredible—those villains were no match for you!"

Feng Ruqing smiled faintly, a warmth filling her chest. She looked around to see the villagers, who had been trembling in the distance, now emboldened enough to gather around. They looked at her with awe and gratitude, as if she were a savior. She knew she had not only avenged herself but had also struck a blow for these oppressed people.

"Thank you all for your help today," Feng Ruqing said, bowing to the crowd with a clear, resonant voice. The villagers bowed in return, praising her bravery and strength, treating her like a goddess descended to earth.

Just then, a soldier hurried over and handed a sealed, urgent dispatch to Constable Li. Upon reading it, the constable’s face turned deathly pale. He looked at Feng Ruqing, then back at the letter.

Sensing his unease, Feng Ruqing frowned. "What has happened?"

Constable Li hesitated before handing her the letter. "Lady Feng, news has come from the palace. It says... it says you offended a high-ranking personage during your time there, and now that person has made a new move. You are requested to return to the palace to face the Emperor immediately..."

Feng Ruqing took the letter, her eyes scanning the familiar yet ominous handwriting. The grievances of the palace had not ended with the death of these assassins; instead, they had taken a new, dangerous turn. Her expression remained calm, betraying no emotion, though her fingers, gripping the letter, turned white.

She returned the letter to Constable Li, took a deep breath, and turned to Brother Ma. "Brother Ma, this matter is settled, but I have other things to attend to. We shall meet again."

Without looking back, she walked away, resolute and firm, like an eagle taking flight.

That night, under the bright, silver moon, Feng Ruqing’s silhouette moved through the layers of palace walls and stopped before a side hall. She slowly pushed open the vermilion doors, and the long-buried past flooded back like a rising tide.