Immediately a feeling of emotion filled the chests of Xue Ning and the others.

Except for two people, Gu Yi who was still with his cold gaze, and Fu Xie Lan who was already drooping weakly unconscious.

​​

"Erm, you guys wake up," Xue Ning said.

Only a few seconds passed, and several people were running towards them with hasty steps.

They are palace officials.

All with the same expression and confusion.

But it didn't last long because several people came forward and explained everything that happened.

"So now the throne is empty," said one palace official.

"That means we have to appoint a new king," said another.

"No need," Gu Yi's cold voice suddenly sounded. Even though they had survived the disaster but hearing his voice still made them feel a little horrified.

Hearing the gray-haired man's voice, everyone was silent trying to guess what he meant.

"Emperor Fu Qing is still alive," he added again making everyone look at each other.

"If I may know, how did this Master know it?" asked one of the officials.

"Do I need to answer all your questions?" replied the Gu Yi coldly.

"N-No. We're just a little worried," said the middle-aged man again.

"Em, immediately arrange a room for us," Gu Yi replied coldly.

"Alright, soon we will prepare," said the middle-aged man quickly and walked away from there. His steps occasionally stumble allowed anyone to know that the man was also injured.

After that, no more sounds emerged from people's mouths. Everyone was silent even though there were still many things they wanted to ask.

Everyone realized, that the figure standing before them right now was not a human. But a very powerful wizard.

It was now late in the afternoon, a reddish-orange color had begun to spread across the horizon, giving an orange sensation to the eyes of those who looked at it.

Even so, not a single person moved from their position before the wizard left the scene.

The reason is only one, solely because of feelings of fear and reluctance.

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.

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No one noticed, on a hilltop not far from the Zu royal palace, several people in black robes seemed to be standing watching everything that was happening in the palace without exception.

One of them, to be precise the one standing in the front with a smirk, turned around and then disappeared followed by the others.

***

Gu Yi, Fu Xie Lan, and others headed to the inn that had been provided. While Hao, the man had returned to his previous form, a small creature with white fur that was so fluffy and perched on Wan Lie's shoulder.

The place they were going to was outside the royal palace because all the buildings inside the palace collapsed and almost nothing was left from the explosion.

Fu Xie Lan's protective magic was still weak, as it was only able to protect people. While buildings and other things still escape her protection. Maybe it was because this was the second time the girl had used it. Yes, sometimes some strange spell appears in the girl's head. Out of nowhere and sometimes she also felt as if something was leading her to do the unexpected, like something the girl had never thought of or done before.

Did it come from the soul that was sealed in her body? Fu Xie Lan didn't know.

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The explosion that occurred within the palace was almost heard throughout the Zu kingdom. Those who were around the palace earlier also felt the pain without knowing the cause.

Those who were curious about what was happening inside the palace immediately approached and gathered outside the gate.

They knew that the martial arts competition was postponed because the royal family was in mourning. That's why all kinds of questions and confusion filled everyone.

Gu Yi and the others walked out of the palace first, yet no one dared to come forward and ask about what happened.

They were followed by many peoples and have one purpose, whether it's returning to their respective villages or looking for lodging for a while.

Everyone's eyes fell on Fu Xie Lan's body in Gu Yi's arms, because there were blood spots all over her clothes.

Only small murmurs escaped the lips of almost everyone. While some others chose to stay away because they were horrified when they saw Gu Yi.

It only lasted for about a few minutes and several warriors immediately spread out to calm everyone down while announcing what had happened.

And the news of this day soon spread like a swift wind. Making those who previously did not believe in the existence of wizards had to swallow that belief whole.

The news succeeded in bringing a new terror to the residents of the Zu kingdom, that the witch existed and the same scene maybe happens again in the future.

Although today they are all saved, there is no guarantee that they will be saved again another time.

Qiao and Lim also heard it, in contrast to the feelings felt by others, the two men had different worries. Worried about Xie Lan and her friends who took part in the martial arts competition.

Neither of them felt calm, wanting to follow Xie Lan and the others to the palace to check things out, but they were entrusted with guarding a man who seemed to be aging.

In the end both Qiao and Lim, two men could only pray and hope that Xie Lan and the others would be fine.

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News of the events that took place in the Zu royal palace continued to spread throughout the kingdoms in the human race. Although some of them still thought that the news was just a hoax, not a few believed and felt the same terror and fear that the residents of the Zu kingdom experienced.

"What should I do next, Master?" asked the commander-in-chief to Gu Yi.

They were currently in an inn, right in front of the room where Fu Xie Lan was. After Gu Yi laid the girl's body, he went out to meet the commander-in-chief who had been following him since earlier.

"Bring some people and pick up Emperor Fu Qing," Gu Yi ordered then gave the address where the original emperor of the Zu kingdom was.

A few hours before the chaos in the palace occurred, the commander-in-chief had been free from mind magic, it was happening since he was in the prison of the dungeon.

The figure who released the magic effect was Gu Yi. Previously he had doubts about the figure with the wound of lashes in his body when he was in the prison, but after removing the mind magic of the commander-in-chief who also happened to be there, his doubts disappeared.

And from then on, the commander-in-chief pretended to act as usual, as if nothing had happened.