The setting sun resembled blood, and a bloody stench permeated the air. The grassy plains were covered in rivers of blood, reflecting the fading sunlight. The whole scene was bathed in a red glow, occasionally interrupted by the mournful cries of wild geese. What was once a rarely visited place now lay strewn with corpses, a sight so shocking it sent shivers down the spine.
Li Ying felt a profound weakness throughout her body, and a bone-deep pain spread all over. The strong scent of blood filled her nostrils.
She had always been cautious, especially in times of danger.
Suddenly, she opened her eyes wide. Her pitch-black eyes emitted a sharp, icy light, and the vast expanse of red filled her vision. The wreckage was scattered everywhere, and rivers of blood flowed across the landscape.
Where was she? Was this hell? A faint smile appeared on her lips. If this was indeed hell, it was still better than the limbo of the mortal realm.
“Ugh.” She grunted, a slight tug at the corners of her mouth. However, the movement brought on a splitting headache, and she quickly shut her eyes. In her mind, countless images flashed, growing clearer with each passing moment. Opening her eyes again, she propped herself up with a slightly weakened body, standing. Perhaps she rose too quickly, as dizziness washed over her.
She lowered her head, observing the arrow feather embedded in her chest with a cold, mocking laugh. One hand pressed against her chest, while the other exerted a forceful pull, extracting the arrow from her chest.
“Splurt…” Fresh blood splattered onto the ground, and her expression remained cold, showing no signs of discomfort. This pain, compared to past wounds, was nothing. Quickly, she raised her hand, using the last of her internal energy to seal the acupoints, preventing excessive blood loss.
She then sat cross-legged, following the memories that surfaced in her mind to heal her injuries.
Faint sounds of hooves approached from the left, growing nearer. However, she remained unmoved, a slight smile playing on her lips. There was no fear or panic in her demeanor. She calmly sat in place, allowing the sound of horse hooves to trample over the corpses on the ground as they gradually approached her.
“Feng Autian, aren’t you dead yet?” A man’s deep voice resonated, like a well-honed, iron-cutting sword, robust and forceful.
Li Ying paid no attention, her keen intuition telling her that this person was an enemy, not a friend.
As expected, the man seated atop the spirited horse, observing her lack of response, knew well of his arrogance and cruelty. Even facing death, he dared to be so brazen.
“Feng Autian, do you think you can escape death by remaining silent?” The man snorted disdainfully, his sword eyebrows flashing a sharp edge. Drawing his sword from its sheath, he lightly pushed it forward, aiming a direct thrust at her.
The sharp blade cut through the air, ruthless in its force and swift in its speed.
Her tightly closed phoenix eyes suddenly opened, a cold light shooting out. Her figure moved with incredible speed, soaring into the air. When the sword was about to pierce her chest, she flicked her finger, shattering the incoming blade into two.
The force was too strong, reopening her wound. She gritted her teeth, a glint of cold light flashing in her eyes. With a light tap of her toe, she flew into the forest. The corpses outside were all part of this body, Feng Autian’s trusted hidden guards. Now, they were all dead, revealing the brutal situation during the earlier battle. Feng Autian was also struck by an arrow, and poisoned to death on the spot.
The man was surprised that, despite being poisoned, Feng Autian possessed such profound internal energy. He refused to believe that he couldn’t kill him today. Urging his horse, he entered the forest, followed closely by his soldiers. Shortly after, the thunderous sound of a hundred horse hooves approached.
Li Ying’s face remained as cold as ice, calm and undisturbed. As all the horses entered the forest, she gracefully descended onto a tall tree. Her silver armor sparkled, and her eyes glowed ominously. Soon, a ferocious expression appeared on her face as she let out a roaring scream into the sky.
The once tranquil forest was now filled with eerie wails. A chilling wind swept through, causing a hundred horses, battle-hardened though they were, to tremble and desperately try to escape the forest.
The soldiers on horseback exchanged puzzled glances. They had seemingly heard the howls of wolves just now, and not just one.
Anxiously looking around, a soldier screamed when he realized they were surrounded by a pack of wolves, falling off his horse in shock and losing consciousness. Witnessing this, fear gripped the other soldiers.
“Feng Autian, do you think summoning a wolf pack will let you escape?” The man feigned composure, but the subtle trembling of the hand gripping the reins betrayed his anxiety and fear.
The black armor reflected a cold gleam in the sunlight. He had not anticipated Feng Autian’s ability to command a wolf pack. Wolves were inherently vicious and could withstand the onslaught of a thousand troops. Now, it seemed he couldn’t escape death. Even in death, he was determined to take Feng Autian down with him.
Li Ying’s eyes curved slightly, and a wolf-like bloodthirsty glint shone in her eyes. “I merely wanted to treat my friend to a delightful meal.”
Hearing this, the man’s gaze dimmed. The disdain and scorn in her words infuriated him, a man who had always held himself in high regard as a formidable general of the Qiguo nation.
He, Feng Autian, was nothing more than a pampered fool, daring to spout arrogant words at him. With a loud shout, he leaped from his horse, his sword emitting a chilling light, thrusting straight toward her face.
The soldiers on horseback, witnessing their leader’s imposing leap, felt a slight reduction in their fear. However, in an instant, a black figure fell straight down, crashing onto the ground. He violently spat out a mouthful of blood, his disbelieving eyes gazing up at the imposing figure standing with hands behind their back. The sword in his hand had already pierced into his chest.
Before he could utter a word, she raised her voice with a wolf’s howl. Dozens of wolves, their eyes emitting an eerie and terrifying green glow, opened their jaws and pounced suddenly. They tore into his immobilized body.
“Ah!” A piercing scream echoed through the forest, quickly drowned out by the excited gnawing and tearing of the wolves. The once formidable and arrogant general now turned into the feast of the wolf pack.
“General!” The soldiers, witnessing the gruesome scene, were in a state of panic. Before they could react, they felt a sudden pain in their necks. The falling leaves and blossoms transformed into sharp projectiles, piercing their throats.
“Splat!” At this moment, the soldiers before her had all turned into corpses, falling from their horses to the ground.
The remaining pack of wolves, now excitedly howling, lunged at the lifeless bodies. The strong scent of blood enveloped the forest, and compared to the hidden guards lying outside the woods, they were quickly reduced to bones.
The silver armor now radiated an intense and bone-chilling cold. Standing atop the tall tree, she faced the wind, indifferent to everything before her. Her exquisitely beautiful face, as serene as the moon, was stained with splatters of blood, an icy demeanor lingering. When the wolves had devoured almost everything, she lightly whistled, and a snow-white steed came galloping.
Li Ying gracefully landed on the steed, a pink petal falling into her palm. She smiled, and like spring snow, it transformed her entire menacing aura, leaving only a splendid and delicate beauty.
“Come out.” She restrained her smile, and the petal in her hand drifted away with the wind.
Two shadows immediately descended, equally indifferent as always. Such scenes were already commonplace, and the brutality and bloodiness were mere entertainment for their master.
“Back to camp.” No need for further inquiry; everything was already understood. Li Ying spurred her horse and galloped out of the forest, heading towards the right.
Following the memories in her mind, she smoothly returned to the military camp stationed five miles away. The commanding officers rushed forward to welcome her, but a casual glance from Li Ying revealed their thoughts. Expressionless, she dismounted and made her way back to her tent.
“My lord, you’ve finally returned. I was so worried.” As Li Ying entered the tent, a pungent fragrance assailed her. She frowned displeasedly and saw a figure in green flying toward her embrace.
She never liked physical contact with others, especially not with this overpowering and fragrant creature. Before the figure could approach, she waved her hand, and the person fell to the ground in response.
“Get lost!” Her expression darkened, and she continued walking, issuing a low command.
Despite the pain, the green figure, blossoming in pain, rolled on the ground. Originally intending to approach again, the cold and stern “get lost” frightened him, causing a shiver to run through his entire body. He obediently retreated.
Inside the tent, there was no one but her. She took off the heavy attire, standing tall in her long gown. After cleansing her face, she lay on the soft bed, closed her eyes, and rested.
As time passed, it carried her back to her former world.
She was a wolf girl, nurtured on wolf milk, running with the wolf pack. In her consciousness, aside from plundering, there was only killing. This upbringing shaped her cold and indifferent nature.
If it weren’t for him rescuing her from the wolf pack, she would never have known that she was different from the wolves. However, what he taught her was the ruthless art of killing, trapping her in a dark hell until death.
She came into existence as someone else’s reflection. Li Ying, Li Ying—once she distanced herself from him, the silhouette ceased to exist.
Living was something she never thought would happen, let alone being reborn into this world with such a role.
Feng Autian, crowned as the regent prince of Feng Nation at the tender age of fourteen, was inherently cruel, engaging in gruesome acts like mutilating corpses. Perhaps the sole commonality they shared was hands tainted with blood.
However, the divergence lay in her perpetual ignorance of matters of the heart, maintaining a consistently cold and unfeeling demeanor.
As for him, Feng Autian, the world knew him for his cruelty, but they were unaware of the burdens she carried. Although born into a noble family, she was presented as the son, molded by a twisted worldview that destined her to be inclined toward brutality and ruthlessness. She viewed men as playthings, her heart burdened by the passing of someone dear. Unable to alleviate the longing and sorrow within her, she could only find fleeting pleasure through extreme methods.
After a brief respite, Li Ying opened her eyes. The sky had darkened, prompting her to rise from the plush bed. Having undergone a rebirth, she no longer desired to be a mere shadow of someone else; now, her destiny was firmly within her grasp.
“My lord, this servant stands ready to assist with your grooming.” The cautious inquiry of the eunuch outside penetrated the tent with its sharp tone.
Since her return to life, the entire military camp had fallen into a state of hushed panic. Though it was only five miles from the camp that had once surrounded her, no reinforcements had arrived. It was clear that many within the camp wished for her demise. Unfortunately for them, she hadn’t met her end. Those who plotted against her in the shadows were likely to live a fate worse than death. She was not one to forgive animosity; she always repaid it with vengeance.
A delicate wave of her hand dimmed the candlelight in the tent, casting a shimmering glow on her icy countenance. Li Ying walked toward the bronze mirror, contemplating her current appearance—her bound chest, robust and statuesque figure, and exquisite, handsome features. The cold and profound phoenix eyes revealed the result of her upbringing. Feng Autian had long treated herself as a man, and her every move exuded an irresistible aura of masculinity.
She recited silently in front of the mirror, from today onward, Li Ying was dead, and she was Feng Autian, the regent prince of the Feng Nation.
“Come in,” Feng Autian turned coldly, sitting upright on the couch, her expression solemn, devoid of any warmth.
The eunuch lowered his head as he entered, bowing and saying, “My lord, this servant is ready to assist with your grooming.”
“Mm,” Feng Autian had the intention to dismiss someone, but considering her current identity, she let it be, allowing the eunuch before her to serve. This person was specially appointed by Minister Feng before he left the capital, considered trustworthy.
One mile away from the camp in the dense forest, moonlight penetrated through the trees, casting elongated shadows of the two figures hidden beneath.
In the dense forest, one mile away from the camp, moonlight filtered through the trees, casting long shadows of the two figures concealed beneath.
“She was poisoned, wasn’t she? How could she come back alive?” a deep voice expressed confusion and disbelief.
“I’m puzzled too. Every day when I’m close to the regent prince, she gets contaminated by the poison on me. Otherwise, with her martial arts skills, how could they easily succeed?” The intense fragrance of perfume permeated the surroundings.
“Qingyi, things have come this far; we can’t give up now.” The man patted his shoulder, reminding him. 
