Mina Frost stood frozen, clutching the sachet tightly in her hand. Suddenly, the black-dressed girl burst into tears.
Her first meeting with Quinn Shepherd had been a chance encounter; to talk of deep feelings would be nonsense. Back then, she simply found Quinn agreeable—handsome, well-mannered, and fitting her tastes.
As a Poison Mistress, it was nearly impossible to find a man who truly matched her heart—most either died of fright or by her hand.
But Quinn was someone who might actually accept her.
In the Western Lands, people both respect and fear Poison Mistresses, but no one dares to love one.
Many Poison Mistresses have lived out their days in loneliness; their tempers unpredictable, their methods ruthless—naturally, few dare love them.
She had given Quinn the lovesick bean sachet—a handful of scarlet red beans. He kept it, wore it close, and came all the way to Thunder Mountain City to find her. Mina had just said she knew Quinn wasn’t here for her, but seeing that sachet of red beans, her fragile heart was suddenly touched.
A fleeting encounter, yet longing remains to this day.
Quinn didn’t come to the Western Lands purely for the emperor and Imperial Preceptor’s schemes—he still carried feelings for her.
“Silly boy, was it worth traveling thousands of miles for a girl you met by chance?”
But Quinn really was that kind of person. He met Raina Bear and Kira Bear by chance too, yet still risked everything to save the mother and daughter—even if it meant putting himself in danger.
The Bear clan’s troubles had nothing to do with him, but he still acted. He even brought Kira Bear into the Western Lands, determined to seek justice for them.
Though the emperor and Imperial Preceptor surely had their own motives, Mina was certain this silly boy’s goal was simply to win justice for those two.
What others saw as a foolish choice was, for him, a code of conduct—an unbreakable principle.
Investigating things to attain knowledge, unity of knowledge and action.
To study a thing or a deed to its utmost is to investigate things and attain knowledge.
Yet investigating things and attaining knowledge is also a way of reaching the innate moral conscience within my heart.
When conscience and action unite, that too is a kind of unity of knowledge and action.
This is what makes a true grandmaster.
Mina Frost stood dazed—this was her second meeting with Quinn. The first time, they were enemies, rivals who admired each other. She lost, her poison arts defeated by him. She liked this big-hearted boy, though gifting red beans and stealing a kiss was far from real love.
This time, what she saw wasn’t his poison arts—it was his character.
Quinn Shepherd’s character won her over.
It was Mina who poisoned the Bear clan—her toxins crippled nearly all True Heaven Palace’s experts, letting the Yu clan seize power in one stroke.
With the Bear clan left leaderless, their downfall followed—and so many tragic deaths were tied directly to her.
“The Bear clan’s disaster was my doing—I can’t let my little man bear it for me!”
Mina lifted her head, confidence surging back into the black-clad girl as she smiled: “In the Western Lands, women rule the house. How could I let my little man take the blame for my own mess? Sisters of Thunder Mountain City!”
Her voice rang out, bold and radiant: “Pack your bags—get ready for battle!”
In Thunder Mountain City, countless poison-cultivators packed their bags. In no time, they were ready, gathering together. They looked at their clan leader, seeing her more dazzling than ever—her beauty shining like jewels, utterly captivating.
“Sister, where are we headed?” asked a young girl.
Mina leapt up as a green vine snaked down from the air, landing at her feet and lifting her high.
Her voice brimmed with charm, laughter ringing out: “Of course, to catch up to your brother-in-law and give him this pouch of lovesick red beans! He must keep it safe, and never forget this longing—or Mina Frost!”
“Yes!”
The other girls burst out laughing. “Let’s hurry! Such a good brother-in-law can’t be snatched away by some little hussy! Take him back!”
“Take back our brother-in-law!”
Quinn retraced his steps to House Willow’s God-Burial Valley. One by one, black coffins followed him out—each sprouting legs and marching in a mighty procession.
Above, more black coffins floated through the sky, merging into a dark cloud.
Within the cloud, chains bound a massive golden god-coffin—towering and unmistakable. Countless black coffins escorted it, and though Quinn wondered why Lily Willow insisted on bringing this dangerous golden coffin, he let it be when she said it was her daughter’s idea.
That little girl, Lynn Willow, was cunning and sly—if she wanted the golden coffin, she surely had her reasons. Quinn saw no need to interfere.
He led House Willow’s forces toward Sword River Valley, aiming to join Ivy He and the others. Suddenly, a clear voice rang out behind him: “Little man, wait for me!”
Quinn turned, stunned. The poison-cultivators of Thunder Mountain City were coming, riding all manner of poisonous beasts and insects—spiders, centipedes, toads, snakes, venomous birds, beasts, and bees, swarming across the land and sky.
All manner of poisonous plants were awakened by the cultivators—treefolk strode forward with huge steps, vines slithered gracefully, flower-girls with toxic petals took flight, and even poison fish sprouted legs, dashing about.
Leading the charge was Mina Frost, radiant with energy as she dashed through the path cleared by the coffin army, leapt onto Bruno the Dragon-Qilin’s head, stuffed the embroidered mandarin-duck sachet into his hand, and planted a big kiss on his cheek.
Quinn was left flustered, but Mina only grinned and shouted, "I want you to keep this lovesick pouch forever and never forget me—can you do that?"
Quinn’s chest swelled with emotion and he shouted, "I can!"
Mina turned, waving to the sisters of Thunder Mountain City and shouting, "He said he can! Sisters, aunties—let’s go crush True Heaven Palace and change the world!"
A wave of cheers rang out from behind.
Beside Bruno, a small black coffin flipped open with a thud. Lynn Willow, the little girl in black, sat cross-legged on the coffin lid, arms folded, pouting unhappily.
“Little hussy,” muttered Lynn Willow, shooting Mina Frost a glare.
Lily Willow’s coffin floated over, and the clan leader whispered, "Don’t mind that little hussy’s triumph. When she dies, we’ll make her a Willow too!"
“Mm!”
In Sword River Valley, banners fluttered everywhere. Quinn was amazed to see so many Western noble houses gathered, setting up camp.
It was the liveliest the Western Lands had ever been. The flags of House Hale, House Fang, House Gong, House Hinton, and House Fu flew high, along with those of many other families, all invited by Ivy He.
Each house had its own specialty: House Hale mastered formations, House Fang controlled mountains, House Gong manipulated rivers, House Hinton commanded vegetation, and House Fu governed celestial phenomena.
Other families had their own unique skills as well.
Most who gathered here were women—the sheer number was astonishing.
Tens of thousands of female soldiers—Quinn could hardly believe his eyes.
Everpeace is progressive—women can serve as officials and soldiers, but they make up only about twenty percent of the army, with men still the majority. In the West, though, women are eighty percent, men only twenty, and men mostly do support roles.
For the other Western families, this is a rare opportunity. If the Yu clan is toppled and the Bear clan fades, they can gain more power through True Heaven Palace—so they’ve come to join the cause.
Quinn took a deep breath, clenched his fists, and gazed toward True Heaven Palace.
On this Western campaign, he came with only Bruno and Kira Bear—alone, without a single soldier. Yet he’s gathered an army of tens of thousands of women, ready to storm the strongest holy land in the West: True Heaven Palace!
The thought made his very bones tremble with excitement, his spirit soaring!
He took Kira Bear by the hand, and with Lily Willow, Lynn Willow, and Mina Frost, entered Junwood City—where the heads of all the great houses had gathered, eagerly awaiting his arrival.
Quinn bowed deeply and called out, "Quinn Shepherd, Demon Cult Master from the Central Lands, greets all you sisters!"
Many women hurried to return the greeting. "No need for such formality, Cult Master Quinn."
Quinn nudged Kira Bear, who quickly bowed and said, "Kira greets all the aunties!"
Everyone hurried to return the greeting. "No need, little princess—please rise!"
Quinn straightened up, laughing. "Only women have the boldness to change the world! Sisters, I’ve come from the Central Lands to see your skills at True Heaven Palace. Ivy, can we set out?"
Ivy He activated Junwood City, and the whole city rose from the earth. At the same time, the other house leaders gave orders—mountains shook, clouds swirled, and tens of thousands of women marched toward True Heaven Palace!
Bruno the Dragon-Qilin looked back, sighing to himself: "Even our founder wasn’t so impressive. Only a cult master could come to the West and win over tens of thousands of girls…"
Far away, drifting on clouds, the Imperial Preceptor of the Everpeace Empire and Raina Bear watched from afar.
Raina Bear was dumbstruck, unable to speak for a long moment.
The Imperial Preceptor was also silent for a long while.
“Preceptor, did you foresee this?”
Raina Bear finally came to her senses and looked curiously at the middle-aged man beside her. “Even as the former Princess Mother, I never had such prestige and power—Quinn Shepherd’s call is answered by all! He’s truly terrifying!”
The Imperial Preceptor exhaled deeply and murmured, “I knew he’d stir things up and draw True Heaven Palace’s attention, but I didn’t expect this much trouble. Now, True Heaven Palace will feel the pressure. That’s even better—Princess Father Yu will have to show himself. When he’s frustrated, the hidden god in True Heaven Palace will also have to appear, giving me the chance for a killing blow…”
He looked at the mighty women’s army and shivered, shaking his head. “Too terrifying—such cohesion! But Quinn Shepherd was born for this; even I was persuaded to join the Heavenly Saint Cult. If this rascal ever wants to rebel…”
—Second update! End of the month—if you have monthly votes, cast them now!