The woman aspired to become an emperor, facing countless obstacles, especially since she was an orphan of the previous dynasty. Lu Yuandi tried every possible way but realized that this task couldn't be accomplished without bloodshed.

Since that was the case, she didn't mind breaking her vow once more.

She was going to commit regicide.

The current young emperor was ostensibly a member of the Lu family, but in reality, he was just a puppet propped up by Li Li. With Li Li's downfall, many coveted the throne he sat on, and Lu Yuandi was just one of them.

Lu Yuandi was deeply strategic, and to ensure success, she simulated every possible outcome.

But often, human plans cannot match the will of heaven.

***

That day, Peach Blossom Mountain was still under a sparse starry sky, clear and windless. Tao Mian opened the window to cool down, lightly napping on the couch.

He slept uneasily and had a dream. In the dream, he saw Lu Yuandi, her white dress stained with blood on one side, standing in a void, smiling and saying something to Tao Mian.

Tao Mian couldn't hear her voice, anxiously moving forward but unable to touch her.

He woke up in a cold sweat, without hesitation, swiftly got out of bed, and packed his belongings.

Having lived for over a thousand years as an immortal, he wouldn't dream for no reason; this dream must have been a warning of something ominous.

Tao Mian left Peach Blossom Mountain overnight.

As predicted in the dream, Lu Yuandi was in danger. When Tao Mian arrived at the palace, it was already engulfed in flames.

Amidst the chaos of several factions fighting, he couldn't find his disciple and could only weave through the clashing swords and shadows, calling out Lu Yuandi's name.

Firelight, screams, blood...

The immortal, accustomed to days of peace and tranquility, was entangled and hindered by them, almost blocking his path. Tao Mian fell into endless panic; he had already lost Gu Yuan, would he lose Lu Yuandi too?

"Little Tao..."

A weak voice was captured by Tao Mian.

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"Yuan Di!"

Tao Mian found the injured Lu Yuandi behind a pillar; she was severely wounded, clutching her abdominal wound, blood continuously seeping out.

"Little Tao," Lu Yuandi forced a smile, her breath rapid, "Oh, am I dreaming? How come I see you? Or have I already died..."

"Don't talk nonsense," Tao Mian took out a hemostatic medicine bottle, feeding it to his disciple by hand, "Shi Fu is here, I won't let anything happen to you."

Lu Yuandi's eyes glistened with tears, but she did not cry.

She turned her head to look at the towering flames and the sounds of battle outside.

"Is this what I wanted... Is this what I really wanted..."

She had a moment of confusion, perhaps the pain took away her rationality, causing her to briefly fall into chaos.

"What do I want... What do I really want..."

Tao Mian treated her wound simply, his clean hands inevitably stained with blood, but he held his disciple's hands, calming her down.

"Disciple," Tao Mian said to her clearly, word by word, "No matter what you want, whether it is beautiful or ugly, Shi Fu will get it for you. But you must clearly tell me what you want."

Lu Yuandi's gaze shifted from confusion to clarity.

"Shi Fu, I want the throne, I want the world."

To no longer be bullied by anyone, to have everyone submit.

"Alright."

Tao Mian replied with one word, a promise as heavy as mountains and seas.

The Peach Blossom Immortal emerged once more, for his disciple. That fleeting figure, like a dream, ensnared those present, dying within the dream.

Those who survived that night recalled it with fear and dread.

Such an ethereal figure, yet it brought continuous death.

Some remembered his name.

Decades ago, the master of the Cyan Vast Sect, Gu Yuan's Shi Fu, that once obscure young Taoist, was the same, with a peach branch in hand, delivering nightmares to Gu Yuan's enemies.

Unexpectedly, he appeared again, and unexpectedly, Lu Yuandi was his disciple.

Tao Mian didn't need to act several times; this once was enough to instill fear. Lu Yuandi, under the banner of purging the court, resolved all her opponents and leisurely stepped into the palace.

***

"Your Majesty, I am late."

An hour later, the eunuch serving the young emperor came out with an imperial edict.

He trembled incessantly because the blood-stained peach branch was pressed against the back of his neck.

"Read it."

Tao Mian said.

Lu Yuandi stood at the foot of the steps, her dagger stained with fresh emperor's blood, standing indifferently.

The eunuch announced two things.

First, the emperor had passed away.

Second, the former dynasty's Eldest Princess, Lu Yuandi, was established as the new emperor.

No one opposed.

Cold rain fell from the sky, at the moment of the imperial power transition, not a single person rejoiced, instead, it was as cold and silent as a tomb.

The eunuch's soft and long voice hung over everyone's heads, Lu Yuandi's faction knelt on the ground, the bodies of enemies lay around, blood and rain mingling into a trickling stream.

Through the rain, Lu Yuandi looked distantly at Tao Mian on the steps.

She saw a fleeting pain on Tao Mian's face, but he quickly masked his expression, smiling back at her.

Lu Yuandi's hands clenched into fists at her sides.

She had still caused Tao Mian to reach this point.

***

With the new emperor's ascension, many affairs pressed on Lu Yuandi, leaving her overwhelmed.

But for now, there was no force that could threaten her position.

Tao Mian observed for three days, left a letter, and quietly departed.

Lu Yuandi did not stop him, only sending many gifts with him.

She always felt it wasn't enough compensation.

Tao Mian didn't rush back to Peach Blossom Mountain, traveling leisurely. He appeared carefree, but in reality, he had trouble sleeping every night.

Those blood and screams always invaded his dreams.

He often woke up drenched in cold sweat.

Thus, he had no choice but to travel around to ease his mind.

This journey wasn't entirely fruitless; he picked up two children along the way.

These two children were originally little beggars, caught stealing money from Tao Mian. Instead of blaming them, he treated them to a meal.

And then they stuck to him.

Tao Mian awoke from a nightmare, feeling an unusual weight on him.

Opening his eyes, two young faces leaned in close.

"Banknote, you're awake?"

"You're awake? Banknote."

"...Can you two not treat getting free things as such a given?"

Tao Mian grabbed the back of their collars, one in each hand, and tossed them off the bed.

The two children, one sister and one brother, had no blood relation but relied on each other for survival.

Tao Mian looked at them, feeling a headache.

He initially thought they could be two new disciples, but the system had yet to notify him.

Now, he was just a fool on his own.

Troublesome.