Volume One, Chapter 13: Only by Blood Transfusion

Before Zhao Yan could say anything, the crowd below began to accuse her one after another.

“It seems the national master’s words were too accurate. Miss Yun Er truly is a harbinger of disaster. Nothing happened before she returned, but now that she’s back, trouble has struck.”

“Exactly. The saintess was harmed because of her. Changing blood is only natural.”

Zhao Yan looked meaningfully at Madam Yun. At that moment, Yun Chu stepped forward and helped Madam Yun up, his voice thundering with rage: “Yun Zhao Yan, you harbinger of doom, isn’t it enough that you harmed my sister? Now you even have the audacity to make mother kneel and beg you in public. Has your conscience been eaten by dogs?”

Yun Wuhen frowned and glanced at Yun Chu, sharply ordering, “Yun Chu, be quiet.”

But Yun Chu, blinded by anger, paid no heed.

“Father, she has harmed sister now. In the future, whether it’s the Yun family, Baiyue City, Fengyu Kingdom, or even the entire Four Star Continent, will you still protect her?”

Those around nodded in agreement. After all, the national master had just said that Miss Yun Er’s fate carried ill omens severe enough to bring ruin to the world—meaning the Four Star Continent itself.

This was their chance.

At this moment, the elders of the Yun family and the heads of its branches stepped forward. “Please, family head, consider the bigger picture.”

“Brother, I think the chief elder has a point.”

From the Yun family to various factions, more and more voices echoed the sentiment. Even the exalted Emperor had spoken.

“Family head Yun, the national master’s words are not false. Even if you don’t consider the Yun family, you should think of the Four Star Continent.”

Yun Wuhen fell silent, his gaze toward Zhao Yan heavy with complex emotions. He recalled the words of that man from before, his heart torn.

If what that man said was true, he had already failed Yan in the past. If he made another mistake now, she would hate him forever.

Yet, he was powerless. He couldn’t just stand by and watch Jun die.

Now, with all factions gathered under the Yun family, it seemed everything had slipped from his grasp—on one side his biological daughter, on the other the condemnation of the entire world.

“Yun Wuhen, you have wronged Yan for eighteen years, and now you want her life too? Are you still human?”

Madam Feng, pulling Zhao Yan behind her, glared at Yun Wuhen with fury.

Zhao Yan surveyed the scene. Everyone here regarded her as a thorn in their flesh, an enemy to be cast out. She found it somewhat amusing; no one is born evil. Had they thought that if not for today’s incident, perhaps the prophecy would never have come true?

“Grandmother, why do you still protect her? She’s the harbinger of disaster who harmed sister. If she doesn’t change blood, what will happen to sister? Will you just watch her die?”

“She is the saintess personally appointed by the Fengyu Kingdom. This harbinger isn’t worthy of even a finger of sister. I, Yun Chu, will never acknowledge this second sister…”

Smack!

A crisp sound rang out, startling everyone. Yun Chu clutched his left cheek in disbelief.

Zhao Yan rubbed her hand and smiled, “What a coincidence, I won’t acknowledge you either—a reckless, disrespectful, selfish younger brother.”

“You—you dare hit me!”

“Do I need to pick a special day to hit you?” Zhao Yan asked mockingly, feigning seriousness.

Yun Chu’s face flushed scarlet. Being struck in front of so many people, he clenched his fist tightly, gathering spiritual energy to strike Zhao Yan. With a loud bang, the energy dissipated instantly.

“Nonsense!” Yun Wuhen scolded sharply, then looked toward the young master of Baiyue City and asked, “Young master, what do you think we should do?”

All eyes turned toward the corner, including Zhao Yan’s, who was puzzled. Yun Wuhen’s tone was more respectful to this young master than even to the Fengyu Emperor.

Du Gu Jingyun lifted his gaze and met Zhao Yan’s inquisitive eyes. A flicker of emotion surfaced deep in his cold, profound eyes but vanished quickly.

“I don’t know. Do as you wish.”

It seemed Baiyue City did not intend to intervene, which made things simpler.

“If she is a harbinger and a calamity, then let Miss Yun Er change blood for the saintess. Making such a sacrifice for the saintess would be a fitting death.”

Someone shouted from the crowd, and more voices raised in support of Zhao Yan changing blood.

“Change blood!”

“Change blood!”

“Family head Yun, even if you are willing to let the saintess die, we are not!”

“Exactly, how can a harbinger replace the saintess?”

“It would be her honor to change blood for the saintess.”

Feng Zhiyue furrowed her brows. “Brother, this is too unfair to our second cousin.”

“What can unfairness do? Everything is already decided. She is now fish meat to be cut up, how can she resist?” Feng Jingmo sighed lightly.

Beside them, Du Gu Jingyun remained silent, his deep eyes occasionally glancing at the figure in red. He realized that if he spoke, he could save her, but the look she gave him was only of curiosity and inquiry.

That she remained unafraid in such a situation suggested she might have a way out. He was quite intrigued.

Madam Yun lowered her eyelids, clenching her hands tightly. A ruthless glint flashed beneath her eyes.

“Yan’er, I brought you back from the countryside out of love, but you have harmed your sister. You have deeply disappointed me. Today, whether you consent or not, for the Yun family and for the Four Star Continent, you must change blood with your sister.”

Zhao Yan raised an eyebrow, inwardly sneering as the true nature of the matter revealed itself.

Before anyone could react, Zhao Yan swiftly moved behind Madam Yun, pressing a dagger to her neck.

Such speed!

This sudden move startled everyone present; no one expected this powerless ‘waste’ to act.

Even the national master narrowed his eyes, probing Zhao Yan’s spiritual power with his divine sense. Confirming she had none, he relaxed slightly.

“Madam.”

“Mother.”

Yun Chu secretly gathered spiritual energy in his hand. Zhao Yan smiled faintly as Madam Yun cried out in pain, warm blood flowing down her neck.

“You can see whether your speed or my blade is faster.”

Seeing Zhao Yan take matters seriously, Yun Wuhen was somewhat overwhelmed. A powerful pressure surged toward Zhao Yan, but her strong willpower and the Linglong Tower protecting her made this pressure insignificant.

A flicker of doubt passed through Yun Wuhen’s eyes. How was she unaffected by his pressure? Could it be because of the ominous energy she carried?

Blood from Feng Shuangling’s neck increased, her heart instantly in panic.

“You unfilial wretch! How dare you kill your mother in front of so many people?”

“Do you even deserve to be my mother? You abandoned me in the countryside for eighteen years without a word. Because of the curse of being a harbinger, I suffered torment for eighteen years. Did you ever visit me? Did you ever give me a shred of warmth?

And now you want to kill me to save sister? Tell me, in this world, who treats their own daughter like this?”

“What curse? What calamity? Fate is predetermined. How could a mere infant like me control it?”

“Why must I be the one to sacrifice? I am the most important.”

Zhao Yan glanced at the crowd, her peach blossom eyes full of naked sarcasm.

But inside, she was panicking terribly, praying for that man to appear quickly. If he didn’t come soon, she truly would have no way to hold on any longer.