Minister Zhuo took a deep breath and slowly closed his eyes. Every movement was agony.
This was exactly the effect Grace Wan wanted.
She laughed, "Minister Zhuo, kneel down and kowtow a hundred times to beg my forgiveness. Then personally dig up Lena's corpse and flog it! If you do that, I'll spare your parents. How about it?"
Minister Zhuo kept his eyes shut and said nothing.
"Ha! You're really unfilial!" Grace Wan spat, her voice thick with hate. "All for that woman, you don't even care about your own parents?"
Minister Zhuo stayed silent, eyes still closed.
"Do it, Kenneth!" Grace Wan's voice was icy cold.
Kenneth Lawrence raised his sword and swung it down toward the old lady's neck.
A sharp, slicing sound split the air.
Suddenly, a short arrow pierced Kenneth Lawrence's neck.
He stared in disbelief, eyes wide, looking down at the arrow lodged in his neck, then turned to his mother, pleading for help as blood gushed from his mouth.
"Kenneth!" Grace Wan screamed, rushing to support him.
Kenneth Lawrence collapsed, dying with his eyes open.
Grace climbed to her feet, her wrist arrow aimed straight at Grace Wan.
"You... You didn't pass out?" Grace Wan's eyes widened in shock.
"You really don't know much, do you?" Grace said. "Don't you realize I'm a Spiritual Alchemist? This Crimson Bloom trick of yours can't fool me."
"Crimson Bloom only grows on the road to the Underworld!" Grace Wan retorted. "Even if you're a Spiritual Alchemist, how could you possibly know about it?"
Grace just smiled.
If it were before, she really wouldn't have known.
But just a few days ago, she read about it in a book at the Celestial Library.
And the antidote for the Crimson Bloom.
It's actually very simple.
All you need is the host's blood and two herbs for clarity and focus.
Grace took Olivia Gu's blood while she was napping, which let her avoid today's disaster.
Tenner and the others arrived and gave the antidote to the Zhu family.
Grace kept her wrist arrow trained on Grace Wan the whole time.
Grace Wan sneered, "Chloe Zhu, if you dare kill me today, your entire Zhu clan will be wiped out!"
Grace didn't hesitate—she pulled the trigger, sending the blade straight for Grace Wan's throat.
Even if she didn't kill her, Grace Wan would never let the Zhu family go.
Might as well finish it.
Bang! The wrist blade was knocked aside.
The two Spirit Mercenaries, sensing trouble, shielded Grace Wan and the others as they retreated toward the door.
They were stronger than Grace, so she didn't give chase.
Never chase a cornered enemy—especially when half your family is still unconscious.
Only Olivia Gu, after being revived, ran to the door and called, "Mother!"
Dowager Lady Blue Moon turned back and called, "Olivia, come with me!"
"Mother, I'm not going back." Olivia's eyes were resolute. "Take care of yourself!"
"You unfilial girl! You don't even want your own mother?"
Olivia knelt and kowtowed three times to Dowager Lady Blue Moon.
Dowager Lady Blue Moon turned away, her face full of disappointment.
...
News of Grace Wan's return reached the palace.
Emperor Henry Tuoba personally summoned Grace to the palace for questioning.
"...That's how it happened," Grace told Emperor Henry. "Even though they held back because of Master Sage Dao, Grace Wan's repeated acts of vengeance are a huge headache!"
Emperor Henry fell silent for a moment, then said, "I have a solution."
"What solution?"
"Expulsion Order," Emperor Henry declared.
Grace frowned, thinking it over. "An Expulsion Order would keep her out of the Vermilion Kingdom, but... Zane Wan's power is terrifying. I'm afraid he'll come for you too!"