Chapter 5

Chapter 5

When I woke up, I was by the river, my hands and feet bound by heavy iron chains.

Before me, the river surged with a violent, torrential force. Floods had been raging for months, leaving countless people along the banks displaced and destitute.

Yet at this moment, a crowd had gathered by the river, shouting slogans at the top of their lungs.

“Kill the demoness! Sacrifice her to the River God!”

“We beg the Princess to rid the world of this evil!”

Standing in the center of a high platform was Liu Ningshen. Her long hair flowed loosely as she held a sharp, precious sword.

Am I the demoness? I thought subconsciously.

In the next instant, I realized I was being too optimistic.

Liu Ningshen raised her sword and pointed it toward a massive wooden plank. Nailed to that plank was a tiny figure.

Once I saw that figure clearly, it felt as if my heart was being torn to shreds-Ningning! My Ningning!

Ningning saw me at the same moment. The little girl began to wail, “Mother! Mother!”

My eyes nearly burst from their sockets. “Liu Ningshen! I’ll kill you! Shen Zhao! Shen Zhao! That is your child!”

Shen Zhao stood behind Liu Ningshen, as silent and motionless as a stone.

The massive wooden plank was pushed into the churning river.

I fell to my knees, kowtowing repeatedly until blood stained the riverbank. “I beg you, I beg you, please… I’m begging you…”

Liu Ningshen handed the sword to Shen Zhao.

“Young Master Shen, you come from a great clan. This demoness is your daughter; it is only right that you eliminate this scourge with your own hands.”

Shen Zhao’s hand trembled slightly.

“Brother Ah Zhao.” Amidst the roar of countless voices, I alone heard Liu Ningshen’s delicate, whispered murmur. “I told you, the prerequisite for us being together is that you must prove I am the one you love most.”

My blood ran cold as I watched Shen Zhao step forward and cleave the wooden plank with a single strike of his sword.

“No-!”

I thought I would lose consciousness.

But I didn’t.

I watched with wide eyes as the sword struck Ningning. The plank shattered, and Ningning fell into the raging waters.

A bloom of blood surged in the river, only to be instantly swept away by the rushing current.

Simultaneously, a thunderous cheer erupted from the crowd.

“The rain has stopped!”

“As expected, the demoness is dead and the River God’s wrath is appeased!”

“Miss Liu was right! She really is the reincarnation of Princess Xunyang!”

“We thank the Princess for protecting the people! Long live the Princess! Long live!”

As the masses knelt in worship, Liu Ningshen stood atop the high platform, looking noble and inviolable.

The guards responsible for chaining me were busy cheering as well. The chains slackened, and seizing that split second, I threw myself into the dark, surging river.