From cute to empress

Chapter 237: "Death-seeking Yama" is rampant

"Your Majesty, Empress Dowager, urgent news from the martial arts world!"

Zhen Youcai and I exchanged glances, each seeing a hint of solemnity in the other's eyes. Suppressing my uneasiness, I asked in a deep voice, "Why are you so panicked?"

The guard who delivered the message knelt on one knee and said hurriedly, "Your Majesty, a group of mysterious masters have recently appeared in the martial arts world. They are extremely skilled in martial arts and are challenging various major sects. Several sect leaders have already been defeated by them, and even..."

He paused, as if choosing his words, and I pressed, "Even what?"

"Even the leader of the Jianxin Sect was defeated by them and was seriously injured!"

"Master Jianxin?" I was shocked. The Jianxin school's martial arts style is good at defense, and the master, Taoist Jianxin, is one of the best masters in the martial arts world. How could he be defeated?

"Where do these experts come from?" Zhen Youcai asked in a deep voice.

"Your Majesty, we haven't found out yet. We only know that their whereabouts are secretive, coming and going without a trace, and..." The guard looked embarrassed, as if he had something to hide.

"You can tell me what you want," I said.

"Furthermore, they were ruthless and merciless. The leaders of various factions who were defeated by them were all seriously injured and dying. The people in the martial arts world were in panic and called them 'the death-seeking Yama'."

"Death-seeking Yama..." I muttered to myself, a chill rising from the depths of my heart. What were the origins of these masters? Why were they so aggressively challenging the various sects? Were they trying to unleash a catastrophe on the martial arts world?

"Have you found out their purpose?" I asked.

"Not yet, but..." The guard hesitated and continued, "According to rumors, they seem to be looking for something, but no one knows what it is."

"Looking for something?" A flash of inspiration suddenly occurred to my mind. Could it be that they were looking for...

I suppressed my suspicions and said to the guard, "This matter is of no small importance. Quickly notify the Six Gates and have them investigate with all their might. Report back as soon as they have any news!"

"Yes!" The guard took the order and left.

"It seems that the world is going to be in turmoil again." Zhen Youcai looked at me worriedly.

I pondered for a moment and said, "These masters have unknown origins and are very powerful. I'm afraid there's a bigger conspiracy behind them. I've decided to go there myself."

"What? You want to go in person?" Zhen Youcai grabbed my hand and said, "No! It's too dangerous!"

I held his hand in return and said firmly, "I've made up my mind. Don't worry, I'll be careful."

"But..." Zhen Youcai wanted to persuade me again, but I shook my head and interrupted him. "I know you are worried about me, but I must investigate this matter myself. Otherwise, I will not be able to sleep or eat."

I took a deep breath and gazed out the window with a determined look, my mind already made up. This seemingly peaceful world was actually surging undercurrents. I wanted to see who was stirring up trouble behind the scenes!

The next day, I left the palace incognito, accompanied only by my personal guards, and headed for the Jianghu. Under the alias "Meng Niang," I dressed in azure, wandering through towns and villages, quietly gathering information on the "Murderous Yama." Over the next few days, I visited numerous towns and secretly observed several fights between the "Murderous Yama" and members of the Jianghu. Their martial arts were indeed fierce and brutal, but what concerned me even more was the hollowness in their eyes as they struck, as if they had lost their souls, driven only by the instinct of killing.

"Could it be that they are controlled by some evil magic?" I became even more confused and more determined to find out the truth.

One day, I arrived at a small town called Luoxia Town. Nestled between mountains and water, the town boasts beautiful scenery. It should be a peaceful and tranquil place, but at this moment, an atmosphere of unease loomed.

I walked into a teahouse, ordered a pot of tea, listened to the conversations of people around me, and paid attention to the movements around me.

"Hey, have you heard? The Soul-Calling Yama has appeared again, this time in Qingfeng Village, thirty miles outside the city!"

"That's right! I heard that the leader of Qingfeng Village is very skilled in martial arts, but he was also seriously injured and his life is in danger!"

"Alas, the world is becoming increasingly chaotic. I wonder who could have such a vicious heart and want to disrupt the martial arts world!"

I felt something in my heart and continued to listen calmly. Sure enough, I caught some strange information from their conversation.

"Those 'Death-Taking Yamas' strikes are ruthless, and every move is deadly. But strangely, they don't seem to linger in the fight. After achieving their goal, they immediately retreat, as if..." The person who spoke lowered his voice, "like puppets being controlled by someone..."

Controlled puppets... I was shocked. It seems that my guess was right. These masters were indeed controlled by some force!

Just as I was thinking, I heard a burst of hurried horse hooves. I looked up and saw a horse galloping towards me. The man on the horse was dressed in military uniform and looked heroic. Who else could it be but Zhen Youcai?

"Talented!" I stood up in surprise and walked quickly to greet him.

"Mengmeng!" Zhen Youcai's eyes were filled with joy when he saw me. He dismounted and hugged me in his arms. "Why are you here? It's too dangerous!"

I told him the news I'd gathered over the past few days and shared my suspicions: "I suspect these experts are being controlled by some kind of evil magic, and there might be a bigger conspiracy behind this!"

After hearing this, Zhen Youcai's expression turned serious. "I've discovered something amiss since returning this time. It seems this world of martial arts won't be peaceful for much longer."

We decided to join forces and continue to track down the "Murder-Taking Yama" and the people behind them. Along the way, we met many people from the underworld, some of whom were injured by the "Murder-Taking Yama", and some of whom witnessed their brutal acts with their own eyes. They were all filled with righteous indignation, but they were also terrified when talking about them.

"Those people are not human beings at all, but killing machines!" An old man who was seriously injured by the "Life-Calling Yama" said gritting his teeth.

"There is no emotion in their eyes, only endless desire to kill. It's so scary!" Another knight who witnessed the "Soul-Taking Yama" committing a crime said with lingering fear.

Listening to their descriptions, Zhen Youcai and I felt even more heavy-hearted. We realized that this crisis was far more serious than we had imagined, and it might even be related to the survival of the entire martial arts world!

Just when we were at our wit's end, we received a secret letter from the Jianxin Sect. The letter contained only a few words: "Come to the Jianxin Sect as soon as possible to discuss important matters!"

The Jianxin Sect is located on Jianxin Peak, a mountain perpetually shrouded in mist. When Zhen Youcai and I arrived, we saw a gathering of heroes and distinguished figures, all with solemn expressions. The Jianxin Sect leader, dressed in a white robe as white as snow, stood in the center of the hall. He nodded slightly upon seeing us, motioning for us to take a seat.

"Mrs. Meng, Young Master Zhen, how are you?" Sect Leader Jianxin's voice was as clear as a mountain spring. "I'm sure you two have noticed the unrest in the martial arts world. This matter is of great importance, so I have invited heroes from all over the world to discuss countermeasures."

I looked around, and sure enough, besides the familiar Young Master Xiaoyao and Iron Blood Escort, even the rarely seen Blood Blade Sect Master and the Vulture Palace Master were there. It seemed that this crisis had indeed made the entire martial arts world feel threatened.

"Master Jianxin, I wonder if you can find out the origin of the 'Soul-Calling Yama'? Who is the person behind them? What is their purpose?" The leader of the Blood Knife Sect was the most impatient and asked first.

Sect Leader Jianxin shook his head, his expression solemn. "This old man and several other sect leaders have been secretly investigating for a long time, and all we've found is that those 'Death-Calling Yamas' are controlled by a sinister technique called 'Soul-Snatching Technique.' As for the mastermind behind this, we have no clue."

"Soul-stealing? Isn't that a long-lost evil sect?" the Lord of the Lingjiu Palace exclaimed, his tone filled with disbelief. "Who on earth is this evil creature that dares to practice such evil techniques and harm fellow martial artists?"

For a moment, the hall was filled with discussion, and the atmosphere was extremely solemn. I noticed that Zhen Youcai, who had been silent until then, now frowned, as if he was thinking about something.

"Everyone!" Zhen Youcai suddenly stood up and looked around at everyone. "I have something to say, but I'm not sure if I should say it or not."

"Young Master Zhen, please feel free to speak!" said Sect Leader Jianxin.

Zhen Youcai took a deep breath and said in a deep voice, "I suspect that this 'Soul-Catching Yama' and 'Soul-Snatching Technique' are just the tip of the iceberg. There may be a bigger conspiracy hidden behind it. Its purpose may not be as simple as just disrupting the martial arts world..."

Zhen Youcai's words were like a thunderclap, exploding in the hall. Everyone was startled and looked at each other in confusion.

"What do you mean, Young Master Zhen?" asked the Iron-Blooded Escort, with a hint of confusion in his tone.

"I..." Zhen Youcai was about to explain, but his expression suddenly changed and he turned his head abruptly to look at the entrance of the hall.

Almost at the same time, a powerful aura came from outside the hall, accompanied by a cold laugh: "Hahaha, I didn't expect that you would find out..."

"Who is it?!" Sect Leader Jianxin shouted, and with a flash of his body, he stood in front of everyone.

I saw an old man in a black robe with a haggard face slowly walking into the hall. There was a faint green light flashing in his eyes, which was chilling.

"Who are you? How dare you trespass into the Jianxin Sect!" Sect Leader Jianxin shouted angrily.

The black-robed old man sneered, his hoarse voice echoing in the hall: "You will soon know who I am, but before that..."

He suddenly raised his right hand and pointed it at me, a sinister glint in his eyes: "Let me get rid of you first, you little girl who's in the way!"

I was startled, and before I could react, I felt a strong suction pulling me towards him...

The black-robed old man's withered fingers struck me like eagle claws, and I could even feel the cold air blowing towards me. In the nick of time, Zhen Youcai stepped in front of me, his Qi surging, and with a single palm he pushed the black-robed old man back.

"If you want to hurt His Majesty, you have to get past me first!" Zhen Youcai's eyes were sharp and his tone was firm.

Taking advantage of this opening, Sect Leader Jianxin and several other masters attacked, surrounding the black-robed elder. Suddenly, the hall was ablaze with flashes of swords and surging Qi, and a chaotic battle ensued.

Although I'd lost all my martial arts skills, my years of battlefield experience kept me calm. I noticed that the black-robed old man, despite his profound martial arts skills, didn't seem to be interested in fighting, and his moves were primarily aimed at escaping.

"Oh no, he's trying to escape!" I warned loudly.

As expected, the black-robed old man seized an opportunity and fled out of the hall like a ghost. Zhen Youcai was about to give chase when he was stopped by Sect Leader Jianxin.

"Young Master Zhen, don't pursue a desperate enemy!" Sect Leader Jianxin said solemnly, "This man has strange powers. Don't pursue him rashly, or you'll fall into his trap."

Although Zhen Youcai was unwilling, he knew that what Sect Leader Jianxin said was reasonable, so he had to give up.

"This person's origins are unknown, and his purpose is unclear. How should we deal with him?" asked the Lord of Lingjiu Palace worriedly.

"The most urgent task is to investigate the origins of this 'soul-stealing technique' and the identity of the black-robed old man." Sect Leader Jianxin pondered for a moment and said, "Young Master Zhen, I hope you can do it for me. Go to various places in the martial arts world and conduct secret investigations. Make sure to get to the bottom of this matter!"

"Master Jianxin, don't worry, I will live up to your trust!" Zhen Youcai bowed and accepted the order.

That night, Zhen Youcai took me away from Jianxin Sect and set out on a journey to uncover the truth. We traveled all over Jianghu, gathering information about the "Soul-stealing Technique" and the black-robed old man.

Hard work pays off. After several days of travel, we finally learned an astonishing secret from an old man in a remote teahouse.

"Are you looking for someone who practices the art of soul-stealing?" The old man narrowed his cloudy eyes and looked us up and down. "I advise you not to waste your energy. Those people are not people you can afford to offend..."

"Old man, we just want to know the truth. Please tell us. We will be very grateful!" I said earnestly.

The old man sighed and lowered his voice to ask, "Have you ever heard of the 'Netherworld Cult'?"

"The Netherworld Cult?" Zhen Youcai and I looked at each other and saw shock in each other's eyes.

"It's said that this 'Netherworld Cult' operates in secret, specializing in practicing various unorthodox methods, and that 'Soul-stealing Technique' is precisely their unique skill..." The old man paused, looking around warily. Then, leaning close to our ears, he whispered, "I heard that the 'Netherworld Cult' has been active recently, and it seems they're plotting something big..."

My heart sank suddenly and an ominous premonition came over me.