After saying this, his face turned pale. He spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed to the ground, his whole body convulsing. His hands clutched the earth, veins bulging on the backs of his hands, and even his temples throbbed visibly. His complexion shifted from blue to white, as if he were enduring unbearable pain.
Blood Wraith's gaze grew colder, his voice chilling as he said, "You want to betray me?"
Jin Locke shook his head but could not utter a single word. Although this body was Blood Wraith's own son, Blood Wraith still did not trust him. Like Quentin Hua, Jin Locke had been cursed with the Blood Gu—if he harbored even a hint of betrayal, the agony would be unbearable. The effect of the Blood Gu also depended on one's constitution. Just now, simply thinking of saving Morgan Shangguan triggered the curse within him.
It was known that Quentin Hua loathed Blood Wraith to the extreme, but as long as his rebellious thoughts were not obvious, the Blood Gu within him would remain dormant. However, once triggered, the pain was the same for all. This showed Quentin Hua's endurance was much stronger, and perhaps for this reason, the Blood Gu in him was less sensitive.
Jin Locke took several deep breaths and gritted his teeth, finally forcing out, "Father, I am telling the truth!" He truly was speaking honestly. Though he hated to admit it, Damien Gray's feelings for Morgan Shangguan ran deeper than his own.
Blood Wraith suddenly smiled, but the smile was disturbingly eerie. "Then I will believe you."
A wave of unease swept over Jin Locke. He had not been in this world for long, but he knew well how mad Blood Wraith could be. A man who would curse his own son was surely insane. Because Quentin Hua was disobedient, Blood Wraith had even threatened him with Jin Locke's life. Such a person had long since lost all feeling—he was capable of anything!
Before he could think further, a swirl of black mist swept in. In an instant, Blood Wraith and Jin Locke vanished, and Morgan Shangguan within the formation disappeared as well.
Gu Yihan and Jing Mohen wore grave expressions. The Princess Consort had been abducted just like that? They looked toward Damien Gray, only to find his face utterly calm. But it was this very calm that worried them, for no one knew what kind of storm raged beneath that surface.
Morgan Shangguan had been imprisoned!
Gazing at the blood-red room, Morgan Shangguan sighed, hoping Damien Gray wouldn’t lose control.
For more than a month, Damien Gray received no word about Morgan Shangguan. Unable to find her in Azure Kingdom, he returned to Silvermoon.
After a month of uneasy calm, the storm finally broke.
In just a day or two, rumors of Morgan Shangguan as the Enchantress Consort swept across the land, causing an unprecedented sensation, painted with vivid detail.
It was said the Ghost King’s Consort was unnaturally beautiful, enchanting not only Damien Gray, but even the emperor himself—and that the Emperor of Azure Kingdom wished to make her his empress.
But this Consort was a true demoness: she’d caused the Azure Emperor’s death, wounded the Ghost King, and now even the emperor lay bedridden, absent from morning court. If she wasn’t eliminated, chaos would surely reign!
So a group of ministers knelt in the court, begging for the Enchantress Consort’s execution to restore order.
Prince Ethan was absent from court; only Sophie Qiu sat upon the Phoenix Throne, her face troubled. With Damien Gray’s devotion to Morgan Shangguan, if she dared harm even a hair on her head, she’d surely meet a terrible end!
Prince Ethan was indeed ill, and the imperial physicians found no cause. He’d suddenly fallen unconscious, and Sophie Qiu even suspected he was feigning illness for some ulterior motive—but now it was clear someone was targeting Morgan Shangguan.
With Prince Ethan under her control, it was impossible for him to spread the rumors of the Enchantress Consort so widely in just a few days. He couldn’t be the culprit!
Glancing at the kneeling ministers below, Sophie Qiu knew most were loyal to Damien Gray, but none realized their true master was the Ghost King. She dared not reveal his identity to resolve the crisis, and could only summon Damien Gray to decide.
Damien Gray’s wounds had healed, but the Ghost Guild’s search for Morgan Shangguan yielded nothing. His anger could no longer be restrained, and his worry grew. Faced with these reckless officials, he had no patience left for pretense.
The kneeling ministers suddenly felt a chill down their spines. Instinctively, they turned to see Damien Gray enter, his face dark, bringing a cold wind that made everyone shudder. Had the Ghost King always been this terrifying?
Ethan Gu and Maxwell Jing silently followed behind him. In truth, these ministers had delivered themselves—if the prince didn’t vent his anger soon, who knew what horrors might occur?
Damien Gray strode straight to the Dragon Throne and sat. The ministers, shocked and furious, wanted to rebuke him, but under his icy gaze, they could not speak. Damien’s lips curled in a cold, violent smile. "So, what do you intend for my consort?"
Sophie Qiu glanced at Damien Gray, then sat quietly aside. She knew that any spark could ignite his fury. She wanted no part of a deadly confrontation—her child would be born soon. Though not the child of the man she loved, he was hers, and she would raise him to inherit Silvermoon’s throne.
The ministers exchanged uneasy glances, no longer daring to righteously demand the Enchantress Consort’s death.
After a long silence, someone finally spoke through clenched teeth: "If the Enchantress Consort lives, chaos will follow! Ghost King, will you let personal feelings endanger the realm?" If the kingdom fell, none would escape unscathed.
Seeing Damien Gray did not erupt in anger, others grew bolder, pressing for the Enchantress Consort’s execution.
A murderous chill glinted in Damien Gray’s eyes. Though fate had dealt him this hand, all blame was cast upon Morgan Shangguan, making her a target for the world’s scorn. Was this Blood Wraith’s goal—to drive him past the brink?