Chapter 42: With a Single Sword, I Can Hold Back a Million Soldiers

Inside the grand hall, the agonizing screams of Eunuch Li gradually faded into the distance, yet Feng Ruqing felt no sense of relief.

She sat before her desk, unfolding a confidential intelligence report. Her fingers gently traced the handwriting upon the parchment as she fell into deep thought.

A mounting sense of unease churned within her heart, as if a pair of ferocious eyes were fixed intently upon her.

Suddenly, struck by a realization, she whipped her head up. A sharp glint flashed in her eyes. She clenched the report tightly, her knuckles turning slightly pale from the sheer force of her grip. Whispering to herself, she murmured, "So that is how it is..."

She stood up and walked to the window, gazing out at the nocturnal landscape of the imperial palace.

The moonlight, clear as water, cascaded over the palatial walls, lending them an air of profound detachment and chill.

Yet within Feng Ruqing’s heart, a blazing fire of determination ignited.

She had finally tracked down a lead on that mysterious individual—a reclusive figure with deep, ancestral ties to Lord Zhou's lineage.

"Since that is the case, I shall take the initiative and see what capabilities you truly possess."

Beyond the deep recesses of the palace, the night was as dark as ink.

Clad in raven attire and veiled in black silk, Feng Ruqing flitted gracefully through the nocturnal shadows.

Following the clues outlined in the intelligence report, she arrived at a secluded estate. The perimeter of the manor was heavily patrolled by guards, but to Feng Ruqing, these men were nothing more than paper tigers.

With a light leap, she landed steadily atop the estate wall, her gaze sharp as lightning sweeping across the surroundings.

Suddenly, several figures dressed in black emerged from all directions, surrounding her in a tight formation.

Feng Ruqing sneered. "A mere rabble of fools, and you dare block my path?"

She drew the longsword from her waist. The blade flashed like a dragon in flight, instantly severing the weapons of several assailants.

Yet these subordinates were clearly well-trained; they swiftly reformed their ranks and pressed in once more.

Feng Ruqing's figure moved through the darkness like a phantom, her sword slashing through enemy weapons and piercing chests.

As the battle intensified, waves of pain rippled across her body, but her gaze grew only more resolute.

Gradually discerning her opponents' weaknesses, every strike of her sword became increasingly precise. The surrounding air seemed to freeze, punctuated only by the chilling flash of steel and the harsh spraying of blood.

Just as Feng Ruqing began to gain the upper hand, an icy voice rang out from behind her: "A true God of War, Asura. I never expected you could fight your way here."

Feng Ruqing spun around abruptly to see a mysterious figure clad in a black robe standing not far away, a look of cruelty and contempt flickering in his eyes.

Gripping her longsword tightly, her gaze blazing like a torch, she demanded in a low voice, "Who are you? Why are you entangled with the Zhou family?"

The mysterious figure smiled faintly, slowly raising a hand. The surrounding men in black instantly halted their assault and stood at attention.

Coldly, he proclaimed, "There is no need for you to know who I am, but today, you shall not leave this place alive."

A fierce fighting spirit surged within Feng Ruqing. Clutching the hilt of her sword, a cold smirk crossed her lips. "Is that so? Then let us see whether you fall first or I!" With a sudden burst of speed, she charged toward the mysterious figure, her sword radiance cutting a rainbow arc directly toward his heart. His eyes narrowing, the mysterious figure raised his arms to meet the attack. Their figures intertwined in the gloom of night, the outcome still undecided...

The sword glowed like lightning, casting a chilling, flickering light.

***

Though Feng Ruqing and the mysterious figure had exchanged only a few blows, the spectators were already chilled to the marrow.

The mysterious figure, who had initially believed victory was within his grasp, was now being driven back step by step, terror steadily deepening in his eyes. He stared wide-eyed, filled with sheer disbelief; he had never encountered such a formidable opponent. Every strike of Feng Ruqing's blade felt like facing a towering, turbulent wave against which resistance was utterly futile.

Just when everyone thought Feng Ruqing was reaching her limit, a formidable surge of power erupted from within her, instantly multiplying her speed and strength severalfold! With a flash, she shattered the heavy defenses laid down by the mysterious figure's subordinates and materialized before him like a ghost.

Caught completely off guard, the mysterious figure hastily raised his weapon in defense, only for a crisp, sharp "crack" to echo through the air as his prized weapon was severed in a single stroke by Feng Ruqing's sword!

The broken blade clattered to the ground, its sharp chime shattering the mysterious figure's final will to resist.

Feng Ruqing's sword point hovered right at the mysterious figure's throat. The biting chill of the blade pierced his skin, sending a shudder through his entire body as cold sweat poured down in sheets. Trembling, he begged for mercy, "Spare my life! Spare my life! I will never dare do this again..."

Gazing down at him coldly, Feng Ruqing showed not a shred of pity. "Did you truly think a plea for mercy could wash away the sins you have committed?" Turning deathly pale, the mysterious figure realized he could not escape death today.

Enduring his terror, he stammered, "I... I have someone powerful behind me..."

Feng Ruqing smiled contemptuously. "No matter who stands behind you, do not even dream of meddling in my affairs again. Today, I will let you know the consequences of making an enemy of me. With a single sword, I can hold off an army of a million!"

Before her voice had even faded, Feng Ruqing flicked her wrist, and the sword flashed.

The mysterious figure felt a sudden chill at his neck, his vision went black, and he knew nothing more.

Seized by panic, the surrounding men in black scattered in all directions, fleeing in sheer terror.

Without pursuing them, Feng Ruqing cast a cold glance at their retreating backs and turned to leave. In the distance, a pair of malevolent eyes watched everything unfold...

Feng Ruqing's figure vanished into the night, leaving behind a scene of utter devastation and the heavy stench of blood lingering in the air.

In the distance, those malevolent eyes slowly closed. Lord Zhou leaned heavily against a tree trunk, his complexion as pale as paper.

The defeat of the mysterious figure completely shattered the last shred of hope in his heart.

He had originally believed that, with the mysterious figure's strength, he could overthrow Feng Ruqing and avenge his fallen kin.

Now, it seemed, everything had turned to dust. He let out a powerless sigh, his heart heavy with despair and bitterness. Revenge against Feng Ruqing was, after all, a path that led to a dead end.

Early the next morning, sunlight streamed through the lattice windows into Feng Ruqing's bedchamber, adding a touch of warmth to the room.

Several palace maids stepped inside cautiously to pay their respects.

Their expressions carried a trace of awe and ingratiating deference, a stark contrast to their previous coldness and hostility. "Empress, these are newly made pastries. Please partake," one maid said, holding a tray and approaching respectfully.

Feng Ruqing cast a calm glance at the pastries without reaching out to take them. She knew that these people, having previously subjected her to endless hardships, were now altering their attitudes solely because they had heard yesterday's news and realized she had firmly seized control of the situation. A complex emotion rippled through her heart. Looking at these formerly hostile yet now flattering faces, she inwardly lamented the fickleness of human nature and opportunistic sycophancy, while simultaneously feeling grateful for possessing the strength required to stand in her current position.

"There is no need," Feng Ruqing said calmly, her tone carrying an unquestionable majesty.

The maids exchanged glances, daring not say another word, and quietly withdrew.

Shortly after, several eunuchs and maids came to pay court, without exception being former adversaries from the imperial palace who had previously opposed her.

They vied to show goodwill, their words dripping with flattery and obsequiousness. Watching with cold detachment, Feng Ruqing felt a complex swirl of emotions stir within her.

At that moment, the figure of Eunuch Li appeared at the doorway. A hypocritical smile plastered across his face, he approached Feng Ruqing and sneered sardonically, "Her Majesty the Empress is truly formidable, managing to defeat even Lord Zhou. However, Lord Zhou has powerful backers behind him; Your Majesty would do well to be careful."

Seeing right through Eunuch Li's attempt to sow discord, Feng Ruqing chuckled coldly. "Eunuch Li, do you take me for a fool who cannot see through your games? Do you truly believe your little schemes can turn Lord Zhou and me against each other? How naive of you!"

Standing up abruptly, Feng Ruqing walked right up to Eunuch Li, her gaze blazing like a torch, her tone freezing. "I tell you now, every single one of your petty plots is crystal clear to me! Do you think the things you have done are unknown to anyone? Today, I will show you what it means to reap what you sow!"

Publicly unmasking Eunuch Li's ugly facade, Feng Ruqing enumerated the numerous crimes he had committed within the palace over the years. The junior eunuchs and maids whom Eunuch Li had once bullied were moved to tears, watching him exposed with a profound sense of catharsis, as if their long-standing grievances were finally being vindicated.

Eunuch Li's face turned ashen instantly. He tried to offer a defense, only to realize he had no words left to say.

The surrounding crowd cast looks of utter contempt and revulsion upon him. His former prestige and power vanished into thin air at that very moment.

Gazing coldly at the eunuch, Feng Ruqing pronounced each word with chilling clarity, "Do you have anything left to say?"

Eunuch Li collapsed to the floor, his eyes hollow, like a walking corpse. He knew his time was up.

Turning around, Feng Ruqing swept her gaze across the crowd, her tone majestic and icy. "Guards..."

At her command, the imperial guards dragged Eunuch Li away, his desperate cries gradually fading into the depths of the grand hall.

Turning back to face everyone present, Feng Ruqing spoke with regal sternness, "I have summoned you all here today to settle accounts once and for all."

The crowd held their breath, not daring to make the slightest sound, terrified of provoking this decisive new empress.

Surveying the room with a gaze as sharp as a blade, capable of piercing through anyone's inner thoughts, she slowly continued, "All past grievances and enmities are wiped clean as of today. From this moment onward, I expect each of you to faithfully perform your duties and harbor no disloyal intentions."

Her voice was not loud, yet it carried an undeniable majesty that cowed everyone present. Dropping to their knees in unison, the assembly chorused, "We shall strictly obey Her Majesty's decree!"

Nodding in satisfaction, Feng Ruqing knew she had successfully resolved all lingering animosities, achieving the major climax of this chapter.

Inside the grand hall, sunlight poured through the lattice windows, casting a golden radiance over Feng Ruqing.

Standing tall and unwavering, with a resolute gaze, she resembled an unshakeable goddess.

The kneeling crowd was filled with awe and submission. They understood that from this day forward, the imperial palace would usher in a new era—an era ruled by this iron-fisted empress.

Yet, resolving the internal grievances of the palace brought no real sense of ease to Feng Ruqing's mind.

She knew that even greater challenges awaited her. The upcoming Martial Arts Tournament was approaching—the most prestigious event in the pugilistic world and the ultimate opportunity to display her prowess.

Standing by the window, Feng Ruqing gazed into the distance, a complex light flickering in her eyes. She was well aware that once her sphere of influence stepped into that arena, it would be akin to a lonely boat navigating turbulent waves.

Yet the flame within her—unwilling to remain mediocre and burning with a desire to prove herself—only grew fiercer. This was the prime opportunity to demonstrate her strength and a necessary stepping stone toward a broader world, even if it meant facing the peril of utter annihilation.

As night fell, the stars twinkled across the firmament.

Feng Ruqing stood atop the palace rooftop, letting the nocturnal wind ripple through her long hair. Lifting her gaze to the starry sky, her heart was filled with yearning and anticipation for the future.

Martial Arts Tournament, here I come!