"I will kill you, Mo Tian!" Feng Ling screamed, summoning a storm of glowing spirit butterflies from her hands. The delicate creatures shimmered in the air, but as she commanded, they sharpened into deadly blades, slicing through the air towards him.
Mo Tian's figure blurred, dodging effortlessly as the room descended into chaos.
Feng Ling's rage boiled over. She was a witch… yet she was so weak! Why was she always so powerless? Why couldn't she fight back against him?
She cast a spell on the ceremonial wine goblet. The cup shot toward Mo Tian like a bullet, spinning with lethal force. He tilted his head lazily, avoiding it with infuriating ease.
The furniture in the room—chairs, lanterns, even the bedframe—lifted into the air under Feng Ling's incantations, launching themselves toward Mo Tian. But no matter how much magic she poured out, he remained untouchable, flickering in and out of sight like a phantom.
Her strength was running dry. Her spells lost their edge. Yet she can't even touch him...
Mo Tian appeared in front of her without warning, His fingers clamped around her chin, forcing her head up until her eyes locked with the icy crimson of his own.
"Little witch," he murmured, his voice a silken threat, "I'll overlook your defiance tonight. Only because I'm in a generous mood… and because I still have use for you."
His fingers tightened, sharp nails grazing her skin. "But if you ever dare to raise your hand against me again, I'll break your bones—limb by limb—until you learn how to obey. I don't like disobedient pets."
Feng Ling's golden eyes burned with fury. How dare he call her a pet… after everything he had done?
Her voice was steady, but every word dripped with venom. "Mo Tian… you slaughtered my family and broke your word. You think I will ever forgive you? Even if we're shackled by this sham of a marriage, you will never have my body, my heart, or my soul."
Mo Tian's lips curved into a cold, predatory smile.
"My little witch…" His voice was silk edged with steel, the faint brush of his breath ghosting against her ear. "Your body, your heart, your soul… even your blood—they became mine the moment you swore that blood oath."
He leaned back, crimson eyes gleaming with cruel amusement. "And you think that pitiful little prince can save you?"
Feng Ling's heart lurched.
A spirit butterfly. Her spirit butterfly.
Her breath caught in her throat. How does he have it?
Mo Tian's smirk deepened at her horror. "Oh, little witch… I know more about your precious Witch Realm than you could ever dream."
Before she could move, he crushed it between his fingers. The fragile butterfly crumbled into dust, the glow snuffed out like a dying star.
"No!" Feng Ling lunged forward, but the ashes slipped through his hand, scattering into the air.
Mo Tian's voice dropped into a venomous murmur. "If that prince dares step into my realm, I'll break every bone in his body while you watch… and feed him to my blood hounds."
Feng Ling's breath hitched. Monster. Demon. Devil. I'll never let you win…
Mo Tian straightened, adjusting his sleeves with a casual grace that only fueled her fury. "Forget him. You belong to me now, little witch. I, Mo Tian, do not share what is mine. If I can't have you, no one will. Remember that."
He turned towards the door and snapped his fingers. "Yin Zhi."
The door opened immediately. Yin Zhi stepped inside, bowing. Lian Huo and Lan Xue rushed past him, their faces pale with worry.
"Your Majesty," Yin Zhi spoke, glancing at the wrecked room, "shall I call for attendants?"
Mo Tian's lips curled into a smirk. "Bring them in."
Moments later, five maidservants entered, heads bowed. Their footsteps echoed softly against the ruined floor.
"Raise your heads," Mo Tian ordered, his gaze drifting lazily to Feng Ling, who now sat slumped on the ground, her body trembling but her golden eyes still burning with defiance.
"The Empress looks unsightly on her wedding night," he said with a cold laugh. "Clean her up. Dress her properly. Then send her to my chambers."
"From this moment, you five will be her personal attendants. Fail once, and I'll feed you to the blood hounds."
A chorus of shaky voices answered at once. "Yes, Your Majesty."
Mo Tian's crimson eyes returned to Feng Ling, lingering on her disheveled figure. A slow, predatory smile touched his lips. "I look forward to our next conversation, little witch."
Lian Huo and Lan Xue's eyes widened in disbelief. Their voices trembled, but their stance remained firm.
"The Princess already has us as her maidservants," Lian Huo said coldly, her gaze burning with defiance. "We won't be replaced."
A suffocating pressure slammed down on the room, making even the demon guards avert their eyes. Yin Zhi and the five newly assigned maids froze in place, faces pale and tense, as if a single wrong breath might end their lives.
Mo Tian's lips curved into a slow, mocking smirk. "It seems the little witch didn't train her servants well. They're as unruly as their master."
The venom in his tone was so quiet, it made the air turn cold.
Yin Zhi, take them away," Mo Tian commanded lazily, as if issuing an order beneath his notice. "Since they don't understand the rules of this realm and dare to speak so insolently, beat them forty times with the demon whip. Let them rot in the dungeon for a month."
Feng Ling's dazed mind snapped awake. Her heart pounded as she stood abruptly, golden eyes blazing with fury.
"You dare?! You slaughtered my family, and now you want to punish the only people I have left?" Her voice shook with fury, yet each word struck like steel. "If you touch them, I'll end my life right here. You need me alive, don't you? Then try me, Mo Tian!"
She didn't know exactly why he needed her, but she would use that to her advantage—no matter how thin the edge. However, her gamble backfired.
Mo Tian's smile deepened, but the coldness in his eyes turned bone-chilling. "Is that so, little witch?" His voice was low, a sharp blade wrapped in velvet. "Fine then. Make sure the Empress watches as her maids are disciplined. If they disobey again, kill them and feed their corpses to my blood hounds."
Feng Ling's nails dug into her palms. This monster… he's pushing her to the edge on purpose.
"Clean her up," Mo Tian said to the maids without sparing Feng Ling another glance. "Bring her to my chambers once she's presentable. And make sure no word of this spreads. If any servant dares to speak of tonight, kill them where they stand."
He left without another glance, his crimson robes flowing behind him like a river of blood.
Yin Zhi bowed deeply. "As you command, Your Majesty."
When Mo Tian's presence vanished from the room, the air still felt poisoned. Yin Zhi turned to Feng Ling with a polite smile that didn't reach his eyes. "Forgive me, Empress. Orders are orders."
He raised his voice. "Guards!"
Five demon guards stepped into the room. Their golden eyes gleamed like lanterns in the dim light, and dark markings coiled down their arms, pulsing with a sinister glow. Black robes and crimson-lined armor wrapped them like shadows given form.
"Yes, Commander," the guards intoned in unison, bowing.
"Take those two away," Yin Zhi ordered coldly, pointing at Lian Huo and Lan Xue. "Lock them in the dungeon. When His Majesty gives the command, they'll be flogged with the demon whip. Make sure they stay alive until then."
"No! They aren't going anywhere!" Feng Ling growled, pushing her two maids behind her. "They are my people. Touch them, and I will—"
But the guards did not care.
In a flicker of movement, they vanished—and reappeared behind Feng Ling in the same breath. Their clawed hands seized Lian Huo and Lan Xue by the arms before anyone could react.
"Let them go!" Feng Ling roared, summoning her magic.
Golden glyphs ignited around her, spiraling with force as she raised her hand. A barrier of light exploded outward, slamming into the guards—but their bodies only staggered, unaffected by her weakened spell.
Her spellwork cracked. Her power was waning.
Why… why couldn't she protect anyone? The bitter thought clawed at Feng Ling's heart, each beat a reminder of her helplessness. First her family, now her maidservants… She was a witch, yet so powerless. What use was her magic if she couldn't save the people she loved?