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Chapter 3: The War God's Resolve and the System's Dawn
The heavens above Qingyun Province seemed to hold their breath, dark clouds swirling like ink spilled across the sky. The air thrummed with an ominous energy, as if the Celestial Dominion itself sensed the arrival of a force that could shake its foundations.
At the gates of Qingyun City, the earth trembled under the synchronized march of ten thousand soldiers, their armor gleaming like a river of steel. Banners embroidered with the Yun Family's crimson phoenix fluttered in the wind, a symbol of conquest and unyielding might.
At the forefront rode Yun Wushuang, the Female War God, her presence a blade that sliced through the hearts of all who beheld her. Her black star iron armor shimmered with a faint blood-red aura, the residue of countless battles clinging to her like a second skin. A veil of dark silk concealed her face, hiding the rumored disfigurement that had become the stuff of legends. Only her eyes, sharp as a hawk's and cold as the northern glaciers, were visible, piercing the crowd with a gaze that silenced even the boldest souls.
The citizens of Qingyun City lined the streets, their whispers a tangled web of awe, fear, and curiosity.
> "The War God comes!" they murmured.
"But why? To marry that useless Ninth Prince? A scarred demoness for a trash prince—what a farce!"
Children clung to their mothers, merchants paused their haggling, and even the city guards stood straighter, their hands tightening on their spears.
Yun Wushuang's warhorse, a majestic beast with eyes like burning coals, snorted as it led the procession. Her soldiers, disciplined to the point of inhuman precision, marched in perfect formation, their spears glinting under the midday sun. The sheer spectacle was a sight worth a lifetime, a testament to the Yun Family's military prestige and Yun Wushuang's unmatched valor. She had conquered the kingdoms of Xiliang and Beihuang, her spear said to have reaped ten thousand lives. At the peak of the Core Formation Realm at only twenty-five, she was a prodigy who defied the heavens.
Yet, shadows clung to her name. Rumors whispered of her disfigurement in the Battle of Ironfang Pass, where a cursed blade had marred her once-peerless beauty. Darker still were the tales of her cruelty—how she had razed entire cities, leaving rivers of blood in her wake. The most chilling rumor of all was that she had slain her own father, General Yun Taishan, in a fit of rage, though none dared confirm it. Her overwhelming military merit made her a thorn in the Celestial Emperor's side, a blade too sharp to wield yet too precious to cast aside.
As her procession wound through the city, a group of urchins, emboldened by youthful ignorance, darted from an alley.
> "Murderer!" they shouted, hurling stones at her retinue.
"Heretic who killed her father! Begone, ugly demoness!"
The stones clattered harmlessly against the soldiers' armor, but the insult hung heavy in the air.
The soldiers' eyes blazed with fury. A burly captain, his face twisted in rage, drew his sword.
> "Insolent brats!" he roared. "You dare slander General Yun? Your heads will adorn the city gates!"
Yun Wushuang raised a gauntleted hand, her voice cutting through the chaos like a blade.
> "Stand down. We do not draw steel against children, nor fight without cause. Let them be."
Her soldiers froze, their loyalty warring with their indignation. The captain's face flushed, but he sheathed his sword, bowing deeply.
> "As you command, General."
The crowd watched in stunned silence, their whispers growing feverish. The War God, cruel and bloodthirsty, spares mere urchins? What manner of woman is she?
Shi Feng, standing at the edge of the city square, observed the scene from beneath a tattered cloak. His heart stirred, not with fear, but with a spark of intrigue.
> This woman… is she truly the monster they claim? Her restraint speaks of principle, not cruelty.
He recalled his mother's teachings—to see the soul beyond the shell, to love one woman with unwavering devotion. Yun Wushuang, veiled and enigmatic, was a puzzle he felt compelled to unravel.
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Inside the Royal Palace
The Royal Palace's Throne Hall was a cauldron of tension, its golden pillars and jade floors gleaming under the light of a hundred spirit lamps. Shi Tianhao sat on his obsidian throne, his presence dominating the room like a slumbering dragon. His eight sons flanked him, their silken robes and smug expressions a stark contrast to Shi Feng's plain attire.
The imperial envoy, clad in golden robes, stood to the side, his jade scroll clutched tightly. The air crackled with anticipation as Yun Wushuang entered alone, her army stationed outside the palace gates.
She knelt before Shi Tianhao, her movements precise yet devoid of subservience. Her veiled face revealed nothing, but her aura pressed against the hall like a tidal wave.
> "Patriarch Shi," she began, "I, Yun Wushuang, come to annul the marriage decreed by His Majesty. The Ninth Prince is unfit for me, and I am unfit for him. I seek to dissolve this bond and spare your family the burden of my presence."
The hall erupted in murmurs, the princes' lips curling into smirks.
Shi Hao leaned toward Shi Lei, whispering,
> "See? Even the War God scorns our useless brother. A scarred demoness wants a warrior, not a pretty-faced weakling!"
Shi Lei chuckled.
> "Let her leave. The Ninth Prince can marry a pig for all I care."
Shi Feng, standing at the back, felt his heart lurch. Annul the marriage?
His carefully laid plan—to escape the palace and use the marriage to gain freedom—crumbled like ash. He had no desire for love, not yet, but this union was his lifeline. Desperation clawed at his chest, but before it could consume him, a miracle ignited within his soul.
A golden light flared in his mind, followed by a mechanical voice:
> "System Activated: Ten Thousandfold Return. Host, gift an item to Yun Wushuang. If she accepts, you will receive a reward ten thousand times greater!"
Shi Feng's eyes widened. A system? My golden finger! His blood surged. This is my chance!
But Yun Wushuang's next words struck like ice.
> "Ninth Prince, I am a woman stained with blood. I have razed cities, slaughtered armies, and borne the weight of countless sins. My face, scarred by war, is a horror no man can accept. You deserve better than a demoness like me."
The princes snickered. The envoy shifted. Shi Feng stood still, his mind racing.
She thinks me weak…
He closed his eyes, remembering his mother's dying words, the cruelty of this world, and Yun Wushuang's restraint earlier. A clarity settled.
> She is my destined one. If she is evil, I will guide her to the light. If she is a demon, I will become one too.
He stepped forward.
> "General Yun, I am not afraid of your past, nor your scars. Blood on your hands? It is but the mark of survival. A disfigured face? It is dust before the radiance of your soul.
I see a woman of valor, a heart that dares to defy fate. I, Shi Feng, swear to stand by you, share your burdens, and carve a path to the heavens with you. Marry me!"
Silence.
Even the haughty princes were stunned. Shi Tianhao blinked. The envoy gaped.
Yun Wushuang's gaze softened, if only for a heartbeat. She murmured:
> "You… are not like the others."
A glimpse of a scar peeked beneath her veil—resilience, not horror.
After a pause, she nodded.
> "Very well, Ninth Prince. I accept your proposal. Let us be wed, and let the heavens bear witness."
Shi Feng's heart soared. Impulsively, he stepped forward and hugged her.
> "Thank you, Wushuang! Together, we will—"
A frigid glare cut him off. Yun Wushuang stepped back, her voice like ice.
> "Do not presume familiarity. This marriage is a pact, nothing more. Prove your worth, or you will regret standing before me."
Shi Feng flushed, releasing her.
> Fool! But I will win her heart.
The system's voice chimed:
> "Gift pending. Host, present an item to Yun Wushuang to activate the Ten Thousandfold Return!"
As whispers filled the hall, Shi Feng's resolve blazed.
This is only the beginning.
Outside, the storm clouds parted, and a single beam of sunlight fell upon the palace gates.
The Celestial Dominion had begun to stir.
To Be Continued
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