Zhi Ming arrived back home, the frown on his face making Wang Yong feel something he never felt before....guilt.

"Zhi Ming...come here for a moment"

Zhi Ming sighed and followed his father to his room.

"Father, shouldn't you be resting?" He asked.

The day Wang Yong fainted after hearing Zhi Ming confirm the rumours about him and Murong li gave the king a mild heart attack, Zhi Ming was so worried he had spent the night awake. The day of Wei young's coronation Wang Yong had woken up and begged Zhi Ming to marry Li Min.

Wang Yong sighed, looking at his son now makes him realize that he is not happy, maybe that Yaoguang boy made him happy afterall and he does have the ability to carry a child....so its a win win.

"Zhi Ming....I'm stepping down as king"

"What? But why?"

Wang Yong chuckled.

"Look at me, I'm old and weak, i want you to step up and lead Yang Wu."

Zhi Ming almost smiled, with him as king, he could send Li Min away and be with Murong li.

"If you think it's best then who am I to stop you" he said. Wang Yong smiled.

"Very well then, your coronation will be in two days"

─── ❖ ── ✦ ── ❖ ───

Wei young and the guard rushed back to the throne room and as the guard had said, all the councilmen were dead. But how? And when?

"I don't understand..."

"My queen look"

The gaurd pointed to a sign on the floor, it was glowing bright white with a cold breeze.

"Jingnan?" She asked in shock, could it be that Liu Wei still carries a grudge against her?

"My queen, what are we going to do, Jingnan is so powerful, we wont sur-"

"Shut up! We won't survive? We are Wu Yue sect, the most powerful kingdom in swordsmanship, if Liu Wei is petty enough to pull a stunt like this then we shall settle it where we all settle our disputes....the battlefield"

─── ❖ ── ✦ ── ❖ ───

Liu Wei was in his room meditating, a cold aura surrounded his body, his white hair flowing as if he was in water.

He thought of the cause of the soldiers' sickness, could it be Yaoguang? But nothing points to them, maybe it was Wu Yue....they didn't like it when Liu Wei said he'll support Yaoguang during the war....

A fire talisman emerged between his fingers and threw it on the fireplace warming up the room, he sighed and stood up.

"Who even dared to curse my soldiers"

Suddenly the large sect bell rang, with swift movement, Liu Wei grabbed his sword and went outside.

Zhao Zhing was waiting for him outside the palace, his face full of panic.

"Your majesty, they are coming"

"Who?"

"Wu Yue sect, it is a small army but we do not have enough man power to fight them"

"Shut up! We are the masters of cultivation, it is time to prove it, men align your swords"

The present men pulled out their swords and pointed them towards the incoming soldiers. A Soft white hue emerged from each sword.

Liu Wei pulled out a light talisman and threw it to the sky, using the white hues from the swords, the Jingnan sect symbol emerged from the sky and small fire sparks rained down on the Wu Yue sect soldiers.

Zhang Jing who was leading the troops could feel her skin being burnt by the small sparks, the pain alone almost made her call the soldiers back, a general walked up to her.

"Madam Jing, what do we do now?"

"We strike, full force!"

The soldiers charged towards making the men of Jingnan gasp except Liu Wei.

He stabbed the ground with his sword and something exploded with a large 'boom'
After the dust had settled, Wu Yue soldiers gasped, between them and Jingnan was a large bottomless pit surrounding the whole sect.

Liu Wei stepped forward smirking.

"Cursing my soldiers and have the nerve to ambush us, Wei young is starting her reign on the wrong foot"

"Tsk, you killed our councilmen and expect us not to do anything?" Zhang Jing retorted back.

Liu Wei was confused, killed councilmen?
"We didn't kill your councilmen"

Zhang Jing could see the confusion on the king's face, could it be that Wei young misunderstood?

"But we saw your sect symbol on the floor, who else could do it?"

"Our sect symbol is sold in many forms, the symbol alone acts as a demon and evil spirit repellant"

"That Wei young almost sent us to our deaths" a soldier said to the other.

Zhang Jing sighed.

"We apologize for the misunderstanding but we also didn't curse your soldiers....we do not know how to cultivate remember"

Liu Wei nodded, he forgot that the people of Wu Yue sect were not allowed to cultivate but rather focus on their swordsmanship.

"Pass my apologies to the queen"

─── ❖ ── ✦ ── ❖ ───

In the evening at Yaoguang, Murong li was in the garden reading the people of Yaoguang requests, they were not that many but it still had to be done.

General Qing joined him and sighed as he sat down.

"What causes that sigh general?"

"Apparently Wu Yue and Jingnan just engaged in a small fight"

"Who won?"

"Jingnan"

"I see....Wei young is coming to us next, are our soldiers ready?"

"They are, should we start to send out a small army to test the waters?"

"No need....I have a feeling that we won't be heading to war"

"Oh? Why is that?"

Murong li smirked, the expression making Qing very uncomfortable. Murong li placed the paper he was reading on the table and picked up his flute and twirled it between his fingers.

"Rumor has it that the soldiers of Jingnan fell ill after returning to Jingnan,it turns out they were cursed. I have a feeling that king Liu Wei would be here tomorrow, when he comes let him in, i want to talk to him alone"

"Murong li...what are you saying? Is the Jingnan king going to blame Yaoguang for their sick soldiers?"

"Yes....because you know why?"

"No"

"During that fight with Wu Yue, Liu Wei must've asked why they cursed the soldiers and Wu Yue will say it is not them and that leaves  Yaoguang....trust me, Liu Wei will blame us for his sick soldiers and when he does and you and your army  must be ready to strike"

General Qing was speechless, how did Murong li come to this conclusion?

"As you wish"

─── ❖ ── ✦ ── ❖ ───

Back at Yang Wu palace, Zhi Ming was writing a letter to Murong li, he was smiling the whole time as he wrote it.

The doors opened and Li min came inside the room.

"Ming ming, aren't you sleeping?" she asks. Zhi Ming smirked at her.

"Guards!"

Li Min jumped a little hearing Zhi Ming shout for the guards. The doors opened and two guards came inside the room.

"Your highness" they bowed.

"Please escort Li Min back to her home, if she refuses kill her and dump her body in crocodile lake"

Li Min gasped.

"Zhi Ming! What are you saying, you can't...let go of me! Zhi Ming! Zhi Ming!"

The door closed and Zhi Ming sighed in relief.

"That must seem harsh but it must be done....i have to rekindle my relationship with Ah li"