CHAPTER 88: CHAPTER 88: YOU SHALL BE QUEEN

Xiu Yingmei’s feelings were incredibly complex at this moment; she hadn’t anticipated Chen Guan’s return.

"Why did you come back? You should have escaped," Xiu Yingmei shouted loudly at Chen Guan, who was returning riding the Golden Lion.

"If I leave, what about you?" Chen Guan asked as he dismounted from the Golden Lion and stood close to Xiu Yingmei, looking into her eyes.

His words startled Xiu Yingmei for a moment and reminded her of the things she had overheard using the Echoing Jade. Her expression became peculiar: "Could it be that Chen Guan really has those kinds of feelings for me? Although he doesn’t deserve it, yet under these circumstances, he has come back. How many people in the world would return at this time?"

Shang Ziyi, upon seeing Chen Guan’s return, wasn’t in a hurry to pursue Xiu Yingmei anymore. His original intention wasn’t to kill Xiu Yingmei, and if possible, he preferred not to make enemies with the Celestial Court Army’s Xiu Family.

"You’re like a man, but unfortunately, you’re too weak," Shang Ziyi said, looking at Chen Guan. "Hand over the items, and I might consider sparing your lives, but the person must come back with me."

"Since when do you have the authority to decide our fates?" Chen Guan replied calmly while looking at Shang Ziyi.

"Do you also want to battle me? While you may have a bit of manly courage, you’re too weak; you’re not even worthy of being my opponent," Shang Ziyi said, his face devoid of any emotion as if detached from worldly affairs.

"I’m certainly not your match, but someone can bring you down," Chen Guan said.

"Don’t try to bluff me. There’s no one else here, or they couldn’t escape my detection," Shang Ziyi said, his gaze shifting mockingly to Xiu Yingmei. "Or are you saying that person is her?"

"Why can’t it be her?" Chen Guan countered.

"If you want to rely on her, you’ll be disappointed. She’s just a woman, very strong indeed, but she doesn’t qualify to stand on equal footing with me. If it were her elder brother, it would be a different story," Shang Ziyi spoke without any mockery, simply stating what he perceived as the truth.

Xiu Yingmei’s face turned unpleasant, but she knew in her heart she was not Shang Ziyi’s opponent.

"What’s wrong with being a woman? Women can also become the strongest in this world. I’ve met many outstanding men in my life, but none surpass her," Chen Guan said earnestly, looking at Xiu Yingmei.

"Many things in this world I’m unsure of, but there’s one thing I’m utterly certain of—I’ve never met, nor will I ever meet in the future, a woman as exceptional as her," Chen Guan continued sincerely, his eyes filled with conviction.

Xiu Yingmei felt extremely conflicted, her eyes looking at Chen Guan with a peculiar expression.

In a moment like this, even if Chen Guan wanted to confess his feelings, choosing such a time and place seemed inappropriate, yet inexplicably, Xiu Yingmei felt an unexplainable tumult in her chest, as if something was surging within.

Chen Guan’s gaze moved away from Xiu Yingmei’s face and fell on Shang Ziyi as he spoke with unwavering certainty: "I’m even more certain that she is not any less than any man, not even you. Do you think you beat her? No, you didn’t. She lost because she didn’t know how great she is, how strong she is. She was merely misled by presumptuous men like you, defeated by arrogance and prejudice. As for talent, what does Shang Ziyi count for? Even ten Shang Ziys are not qualified to be compared with her."

"I thought I was crazy enough, but I never imagined someone could be even crazier," Shang Ziyi said, growing impatient with Chen Guan’s words, believing him to be out of his mind.

Xiu Yingmei felt immensely ashamed, Chen Guan’s words making even her wish she could find a hole to hide in, yet she was inexplicably excited, as if the blood in her entire body was starting to stir.

"Xiu Yingmei, I believe in you as I believe in myself. I stand here and will not take a step back because I know that you are stronger than him. There is no woman or man in this world who can surpass you. Within the same level, you reign as queen; no one on earth or in heaven can challenge you. As long as you’re here, not even ten Shang Ziyis can harm a hair on my head." As Shang Ziyi charged at him, Chen Guan didn’t show any intention to dodge. Instead, he closed his eyes and stood resolutely, unmoving.

Xiu Yingmei’s gaze towards Chen Guan had become indescribable with words. Even she didn’t know if she was as excellent as Chen Guan said.

Yet Chen Guan was so steadfast, believing in her excellence to the point of staking his life on it.

"What a nuisance, just die already," Shang Ziyi said, his hand sweeping towards Chen Guan’s neck like a blade, intending to sever Chen Guan’s head and silence him.

Bang!

Shang Ziyi’s blade was only three centimeters from Chen Guan’s neck when a knife emitting golden light halted it.

Xiu Yingmei emerged from behind Chen Guan, her short blade blocking Shang Ziyi’s hand, while her other hand’s sword burned with a silver glow.

Her gaze was as resolute as a blade, yet seemed to hold a certain flame.

"Shang Ziyi, he already said it; with me here, you can’t harm him a hair," Xiu Yingmei said, her voice calm yet firm as she stared at Shang Ziyi.

"He thinks so? It’s laughable. Don’t test my patience further; even if you’re from the Xiu Family, if you push me, I’ll still kill you." Shang Ziyi said, grabbing the blade with his hand, attempting to wrest back Xiu Yingmei’s short blade.

"Yes...he...says...so," Xiu Yingmei responded, unfazed, the Primordial Energy swirling around her like a vortex, drawing in the surrounding Heaven and Earth Elemental Energy.

The Primordial Energy in her body compressed and concentrated on her blade, intensifying the knife’s glow.

Shing!

Xiu Yingmei forcefully pulled, her short blade radiating golden light, freeing it from Shang Ziyi’s hand.

Shang Ziyi retreated two steps, looking incredulously at his hand, which now bore a deep, bone-revealing wound, blood flowing out profusely.

"Impossible...how could you injure my Martial Arts Body..." Shang Ziyi’s pupils contracted in shock.

"Not only can I injure you... I can kill you..." Xiu Yingmei swung her long sword, the silver light it emitted stretching three meters like a Demon Saber scarring the heavens and tearing the earth, attacking Shang Ziyi with incredible speed and ferocity, a flash of blazing light reaching him instantly.

Shang Ziyi unsheathed a Secret Treasure Dagger to face Xiu Yingmei’s long sword.

But with a crack, the Secret Treasure Dagger was cleaved in two by Xiu Yingmei’s blade light, which continued unabated, slicing into Shang Ziyi’s arm, fracturing his sapphire-hard flesh, the blade cutting into bone.

Shang Ziyi was shockingly overwhelmed, and before his eyes flickered golden light as Xiu Yingmei’s short blade came slashing down, bringing a dazzling yet heart-stopping golden glow.