From cute to empress

Chapter 225: The Sword Heart Sect and the Blood Blade Sect are on the verge of a war

"Your Majesty, urgent news from the border! Underworld forces...underworld forces..." The soldier spoke in a hurried tone and fainted before he could finish his words.

Zhen Youcai supported the soldier, checked his breath, and frowned: "He's still alive, but he lost too much blood."

My heart tightened, and I ignored my sadness and exhaustion and hurriedly asked, "What happened to the underworld forces? Tell me!"

"Jianghu... Jianxin Sect... Xuedao Sect... war has begun..." The soldier spoke intermittently, his consciousness gradually becoming blurred.

"The Sword Heart Sect and the Blood Knife Sect have started a war?" I gasped. These two sects, one good and one evil, are both among the most powerful sects in the martial arts world. If they start a war, won't the world be in chaos?

"How could this happen..." I muttered to myself, feeling a surge of unease. These past few days, I've been so busy handling state affairs that I've neglected the happenings in the martial arts world. Zhen Youcai handed the soldiers over to the guards and said to me solemnly, "Looks like we need to go to the martial arts world."

I nodded and made a quick decision: "Pass the order down, prepare the carriage, and set off for Xiayi Villa immediately!"

Xiayi Villa is located in the Central Plains, a neutral place in the martial arts world. In this dispute between the Jianxin Sect and the Xuedao Sect, the leaders of each sect gathered here, hoping to mediate.

A few days later, Zhen Youcai and I arrived at Xiayi Villa, exhausted. As soon as we entered the hall, we sensed a tense atmosphere. The leaders of the various factions sat on either side, their faces sullen.

Sitting at the head of the table was an elderly man with a sage-like demeanor, dressed in a cyan robe and a sword dangling from his waist. He exuded a commanding presence without even anger. He was the leader of the righteous underworld, the head of the Jianxin Sect—Jianxin Zhenren.

He was confronted by a burly, middle-aged man wearing a blood-red robe, a hideous scar across his face, and a sinister aura. He was the leader of the Blood Blade Sect—the Blood Blade Ancestor, a demonic figure feared by all in the martial arts world.

"Hmph, old Jianxin, what else do you have to say? More than three hundred disciples of my Blood Knife Sect died at the hands of your so-called famous and upright sect. How are you going to repay this blood debt!" The Blood Knife ancestor slammed the table so hard that the teacup shook and tea splashed everywhere.

"Blood Knife, stop slandering me! My Jianxin Sect has always been upright and honest. When have we ever massacred your disciples?" Master Jianxin's eyes widened with anger, and he slammed the table and stood up.

"I saw it with my own eyes, how could it be false? If you don't admit it, you can search your Jianxin Sect from top to bottom to see if you can find the stolen treasures from my Blood Knife Sect!" The Blood Knife Patriarch pressed on step by step, very aggressive.

"You..." Master Kenshin was speechless, his face ashen.

"Enough!" I shouted, interrupting the quarrel between the two. "Do you still have the law in your eyes?"

Everyone then noticed Zhen Youcai and I, and they all stood up and saluted: "Your Majesty!"

I motioned for everyone to disregard the formalities, and as I swept my gaze over them, I said in a deep voice, "Conflicts in the martial arts world are always resolved according to the rules of the martial arts world. It's so disgraceful to let things get so out of hand now!"

I paused, my tone becoming more dignified. "Today, I am here to bear witness for you. If you have any grudges, please tell me everything. I will uphold justice for you!"

I stared at the Blood Blade Ancestor with blazing eyes. Everyone held their breath, waiting for his answer. He knew that my words were no joke...

The Blood Blade Ancestor stared at me for a long moment before he suddenly burst into laughter, his voice filled with disdain and mockery. "Hahaha, what a boast! You're just a little girl, and you're not worthy enough to talk about justice in front of me?"

Although I felt unhappy, I still said patiently, "Master Blood Blade, your words are wrong. Although I am a woman, I also care about the people of the world. When conflicts arise in the martial arts world, the people are the ultimate victims. I came here today in the hope that you can all value harmony and work together to maintain peace and stability in the martial arts world."

"Peace? Stability?" The Blood Blade Patriarch snorted coldly, "Who will pay for the three hundred lives of my Blood Blade Sect? As long as old Jianxin lives, I will make his entire Jianxin Sect pay for this blood feud!"

"Blood Knife, don't be so presumptuous!" Sect Leader Jianxin shouted angrily and was about to speak when I raised my hand to stop him.

I took a deep breath and said firmly, "I sympathize with the Blood Blade Sect's leader's grief over the loss of his disciples. But when will the cycle of revenge ever end? I propose that the imperial court investigate this matter, uncover the truth, provide an explanation for the deceased, and clear the name of the Sword Heart Sect. As for the compensation for the Blood Blade Sect's disciples, the court will also bear the sole responsibility. What do you think?"

My proposal is to give both sides a way out and to avoid greater conflict.

Sect Leader Jianxin was the first to stand up and express his support: "Your Majesty is wise and wise. I have no objection."

The other sect leaders looked at each other in bewilderment, but remained silent. Most of them were on good terms with the Sword Heart Sect, and naturally did not want to see the Blood Blade Sect gain power, but they also worried about offending the Blood Blade Patriarch and bringing disaster upon themselves.

Seeing my resolute attitude, the Blood Blade Patriarch's eyes flashed with a sinister gleam, and he sneered, "Your Majesty is a royal family, so naturally you don't understand the rules of the martial arts world. It's not the court's turn to interfere in the affairs of my Blood Blade Sect!"

After saying that, he suddenly swung his sleeves and turned to leave.

"Stop!" I shouted, "If we don't get to the bottom of what happened today, no one can leave Xiayi Villa!"

I knew in my heart that there must be something fishy going on with the Blood Blade Ancestor's toughness. I looked around, my gaze sweeping across everyone's face, finally landing on a silent figure in the corner, dressed in gray and wearing a bamboo hat...

I stared at the gray-clad figure in the corner. My intuition told me his presence was no accident. He seemed to sense my gaze and raised his head slightly, revealing a face as cold and statuesque beneath his bamboo hat. At that moment, I was determined to get to the bottom of this.

"Old Ancestor Blood Knife, I advise you not to leave so easily." I said loudly, "Today's matter is of great importance. Everyone has the responsibility to find out the truth. Please stay for now, all the leaders."

The Blood Knife Patriarch glared at me with a sinister look and said coldly, "Alright, I'll see what you can find out." He stopped and looked at me along with the others. I walked towards the gray-robed man, who remained motionless, his face expressionless.

"Who are you? Why are you hiding in the corner?" I asked directly.

"I am just a wandering wanderer, passing by here for no reason." The gray-clothed man answered calmly, his voice low and calm.

"What a coincidence?" I sneered. "You're here, yet you've remained silent, hiding yourself so well. Where do you come from?"

The man in gray didn't respond, but his eyes flickered. I clasped my fists and said, "Everyone, today's matter is of grave importance. Please work together to ascertain the facts."

Just as I was about to press further, I suddenly felt a murderous aura coming from behind me. I spun around as several masked men in black emerged from the shadows and charged towards me. The cold flash of swords approached. I knew something was amiss and immediately parried.

A white shadow flashed by, and Sect Leader Jianxin was already standing in front of me. He shouted sternly: "Protect the king!" The other sect leaders also drew their swords to fight.

In the chaos, the man in gray retreated to a corner. I was terrified, knowing I couldn't let him go. Just as I was about to give chase, I heard a shrill laugh from behind: "Hahaha, someone's really behind this!"

I turned around and saw Zhen Youcai. He held a long sword in his hand, the tip of his sword pointed directly at the man in gray. "You think you can escape in this chaos? Wishful thinking!"

The gray-clothed man snorted coldly, suddenly raised the hidden weapon in his sleeve, and hit Zhen Youcai. I was shocked and was about to tell him to be careful, but suddenly I felt a numbness in my lower back, and my whole body went limp and my vision went black.

When I regained consciousness, I found myself in a dense forest, all in complete silence. I sat up and saw a woman in white standing not far away, her back to me.

"You..." Before I could finish my words, I was interrupted by the woman.

"Don't rush. Be careful around you." She glanced around warily, then slowly turned, revealing a face of unparalleled beauty. Her expression was resolute, and a strange power emanated from her that filled me with admiration.

"Who are you?" I asked cautiously.

The woman smiled slightly but didn't answer directly. She only said softly, "When you were checking at Xiayi Villa, someone had already set a trap. You should be thankful that you were rescued early."

I was shaken and filled with doubts, but I had a vague feeling that she meant no harm, so I gathered myself and asked, "Who are you? Why did you save me?"

She withdrew her gaze and said calmly, "I will tell you, but not now. All this is just the beginning."

Suddenly, there was a sound of hurried footsteps, and the woman immediately took out a jade pendant from her sleeve and handed it to me.

"This is your keepsake. Remember, you'll have to show it when the time comes. Also, be careful of those men in gray. They're not just pawns of the underworld..."

Before she finished her words, she disappeared into the dense shadows of the trees, leaving behind only silence and the cold jade pendant in her hand.