Trigger Warning: Violence Ahead.

A merciless tyrant but a protective King. That was the first layer.

The second layer: An unreachable demon god

The third layer: A humble lover

The fourth layer: The real evil of the world

Si Wen had shown symptoms of insanity in a span of several minutes. He counted and muttered about layers.

In reality, he only received a big shock. Under the heavens, people would condemn him for moving his hands and desecrating corpses.

Being part of a cult, he was treated like a beast.

And yet, here was Xiuwang who walked proudly among people and was even revered.

Wasn't she the same species as him? The difference was she hid deeper than him and probably did more atrocious things.

Ordering to cut his limbs seemed to be just a normal occurrence.

His arm was being twisted off from their socket and he howled exactly like a beast. The hot white pain seared his whole body.

When he accidentally learned that jianghu's Xiuwang had an important identity in the realm, he kept the matter hushed. He hated women to his bones.

So what would happen if he crushed a powerful woman like the Wan Li King? Wouldn't that be his greatest achievement? That was why he couldn't let anyone know and risk the chance of his target getting taken away.

It was a wrong decision. Looking back, his 'accidental' discovery might have been premeditated all along.

Her strategy was far more effective than his.

From the day Si Wen learned of her identity. To him getting obsessed with turning her into his puppet. She set up a man that she 'liked' so Si Wen would closely follow and plant to take advantage of it.

That time she fetched the man after getting drunk. The time she saved him from her own adopted daughter and how she kicked out the little princess.

When his men attacked Feng Yanyan on the summer solstice boat, the King didn't leave the man's side and even let him lean to her in public.

The rumors about them were rampant but the King didn't suppress it like she would normally do.

The consideration she put on Feng Yanyan temporarily moving into the Mo mansion. All of these...

They were all part of a bigger and intricate net. A sincere heart behind a hard facade? That was just for show!

Women like Xiuwang were the most venomous thing in the world. But...

Si Wen spat near the woman's feet. "Ha...haha...ha."

He could barely laugh but he still wanted to. She still didn't win. Why?

"Everyone around you is a snake."

Si Wen kept laughing in a slow, excruciating manner. His limbs were separated from his body now and Long Xu Le was just staring down at him.

Her master had long gone as she didn't want to dirty her clothes. The people surrounding her now were the most trusted soldiers of the Danwan troop. Her personal guards.

"Your brother... adopted– daughter... Feng... Feng Ting... Feng Yanyan." Si Wen laughed like his throat was pierced and it was just air passing through it.

Long Xu Le's eyes imperceptibly shook but she merely twisted the black jade ring on her forefinger. "Is that so?"

In a blink of an eye, a sword cleaved through the heart of the swine on the ground.

Wangye's guards didn't say a word. They only confirmed that Si Wen was dead. It didn't matter if the King said that he should be killed after a month or two. He was dead now.

"Let someone else clean this up. Follow me."

She needed answers. Feng Ting and Feng Yanyan? True origin.

For the first time in a while, Long Xu Le's heart was throbbing so hard in a bad premonition. Si Wen might have just been talking nonsense. But she couldn't get that guy to talk even if she tortured him. So it was better to kill him directly.

There were other people who could speak.

"Master..." One of her most loyal people couldn't help but worry.

They were still using qinggong at full speed. Long Xu Le didn't answer.

The guard gritted his teeth. "Gentleman Feng is still..." under attack.

That was what Si Wen insinuated earlier. If they don't go back to the second district now, it might be too late.

But their master ignored them. Could it be that the villain from earlier was correct? However, they erased these thoughts. No matter what the master did, their only job was to be her sword.

The night was bound to be long.

Over at the Mo Mansion...

Countless men with evil intentions suddenly barged in the middle of the night. San He Hui was strong but they couldn't help to notice that they were facing people with supernatural advantage.

"It's from the jianghu!!!" Someone first shouted and the information circulated fast.

However, the attack was concentrated in one courtyard. Wasn't that the one where the mei ren from Wan Li Wangfu was staying?

Mo Quan paled upon hearing this. He couldn't risk his men's life for an outsider. Needless to say, he was even more reluctant to let Zhilan join the fight. At the same time, if something happened to Feng Yanyan, he wouldn't know what the King would do.

He had to make a decision. His daughter seemed fond of that guy. Looking at Mo Zhilan right now, she was ready to jump to the fray but still waiting for her father's approval. Head Mo rubbed his face.

"Go! Protect the courtyard but go back here alive!" He yelled desperately.

What was the jianghu? These were people with mystical means in their martial arts. Their San He Hui were ordinary people. He didn't know how much the casualties would be.

How in the world did they provoke these people? But in the end, he thought it must not be them.

It was the King.

He knew it. Having Feng Yanyan here was a bad decision.

Mo Zhilan arrived with the members of the Triad. However, the scene before their eyes was the least she expected.

"M-madam Feng?"

At the forefront of the melee, there was the middle-aged woman skillfully holding a spear. Every few seconds, an assailant would drop by her feet. Then she would move on to the next location. Her face was calm and her moves were methodical. Whether it was her spear, her hand, elbow, knees, or feet... all looked to be lethal weapons.

The jianghu people didn't have a chance to use their mystical techniques. Not only that, the guards from Wan Li wangfu all followed her orders as though they were soldiers on the battlefield.

With this organized troop, the dozens of assassins decreased. Seeing that they were at a disadvantage, the leader had to make a tough decision.

"Retreat! Retreat!"

Madam Feng's expression turned ferocious. "You dare!"

She knew what they were after. Her baby son. How could she let any of them escape? What would she tell her husband? That she failed to protect their son?

No one thought it was possible but Madam Feng seemed to become even fiercer with every thought that passed her mind.

After half an hour, the yard was silent again.

But what shook the Mo family guards and Mo Zhilan was the scene that followed.

Madam Feng who still looked pristine after fighting who knew how many people, suddenly disheveled her hair and struck her body with the nearest dull sword.

Soon enough, blood seeped through her clothes in places that were not crucial. Her Chin and the side of her eyebrow were even chipped. And then, she staggered.

Mo Zhilan unconsciously gasped and then she earned a sharp glare from the otherwise gentle madam. Su Jian silently raised her index finger near her lips. Madam Feng seemed to have forgotten this was the future Junwangfei. They would have to talk later. 

Despite being San He Hui, a powerful force in the underground society, Miss Mo still felt fear in her heart. She gulped and nodded her head solemnly.

Soon, the door of the house opened with a clang.

Feng Yanyan's steps faltered, his nose and eyes were red, scanning the crowd for a figure.

When he saw his mother, he didn't know what to do. "Mom!"

Su Jian was mad. "Who told you to go outside now?!"

She harshly rebuked him but couldn't keep it up because he looked pitiful. "Mom is alright. You also know that I can fight, yes?"

"Mom!" Feng Yanyan couldn't say anything other than call her. His knees were weak but still managed to approach his mother.

"D-doc...!" His hands were trembling as he examined Madam Feng. But he was sobbing so hard, his words didn't make sense.

"Young master." Unexpectedly, it was Ju Zi who was the calmest at this moment. He supported Beauty Feng. "Madam is wounded so she must rest. Young master should calm down first."

Feng Yanyan knew these words made sense. He stepped down but he couldn't take his eyes off of his mother.

Even when he was a child, he was someone who cried when he felt like crying. The principles of being a man and whatnot were of no use to him.

In his past life, he remembered his mother resented him for being too feminine. And his father barely cared.

Here, his mother treasured him and his father didn't reprimand him for his softness.

Now, there was a sudden attack and when he wanted to protect his mother, it was she who pushed him into the innermost chambers and ordered every servant to close the windows and doors.

There were even several guards stationed to surround him. He couldn't break this tight circle. The sounds of battle were so surreal and every metallic noise seemed to echo in his heart.

His mother was out there, risking her life for him. Suddenly, he regretted ever being willful. If only... he just stayed at home and did nothing. Even if he was arranged to marry a little lady. Even though his life would be mediocre... at least his mother was safe.

But then, he remembered that person he cherished. Feng Yanyan felt wretched inside. 

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