Jiang Ruochén had barely stepped out of his chambers—planning to trade a few of his spirit stones for some Marrow-Washing Pills—when he ran into Consort Wan returning from outside.
"Chen'er… you've reached Vein-Opening Second Heaven?"
Though her own cultivation wasn't high, she could clearly sense the surge of power radiating from him.
"Yes, Mother. I just broke through." Jiang Ruochén nodded calmly.
Her eyes widened with joy, her heart trembling with emotion. Two days to reach Second Heaven? That wasn't something a "trash soul" could do.
"Chen'er, you've truly surprised me." She took his hand warmly, then placed a small pouch into his palm. "You must have used up your pills by now. Here—take these spirit stones and buy more. The tournament is near. Don't waste time."
The pouch was heavy. Jiang Ruochén frowned slightly. "Mother, where did you get so many stones?"
"I've been saving my stipends for years," she said with a gentle smile. "A mother's duty is to help her son grow strong. Use them. If you need more, come to me."
Her words were light, but Jiang Ruochén caught what she tried to hide—the dull glint of her hair ornaments, stripped of gems, and the faint sadness in her eyes.
In that instant, the weight of the pouch became unbearable.
"Mother," he said softly, his eyes hardening, "I won't let you down."
He accepted the stones—not for the wealth, but for the hope they represented. Words were unnecessary. The best repayment was victory.
After a brief farewell, Jiang Ruochén left the Zi Ji Pavilion and headed toward the grand martial market of Wang City, intending to buy pills and scout for any chance to earn resources.
At the palace gate, two guards noticed him. One of them hesitated briefly, then turned and hurried away as though to report something.
Hmm? Jiang Ruochén caught it immediately but didn't bother dwelling on it. The city was heavily guarded; even if trouble came, he now possessed one elephant's strength—enough to crush nearly anyone of his rank.
He kept walking.
—
In a secluded corner of the Queen's palace, the same guard knelt before a woman in a maid's dress—Xiao Cui, the Queen's personal attendant.
"Miss Xiao Cui, the Fourteenth Prince has left the palace. Shall I report to Her Majesty?"
Xiao Cui waved dismissively. "No need. The Queen is busy. I'll handle this myself."
Then her smile twisted into a venomous sneer. "That useless waste. I can't touch him inside the palace—but outside? He'll learn what happens when you offend me."
—
Jiang Ruochén strolled down the bustling street, but a strange unease prickled at the back of his neck. Someone was following him.
He suddenly turned and slipped into a narrow alleyway.
A moment later, Xiao Cui appeared at the mouth of the alley, scanning around. "Where is he? I saw him enter…"
"Looking for me?"
Her heart jumped. Jiang Ruochén's cold voice echoed from behind.
She spun around to see him standing there, expression calm, eyes glinting like a blade.
"You dare toy with me, you waste?" she hissed.
Jiang Ruochén smirked faintly. "A filthy maid dares call it 'toying'? You're not even worth my attention."
Her face twisted with fury. "Inside the palace, you have your whore of a mother to protect you. But outside? You think your title means anything? You're dead, Jiang Ruochén!"
At the word mother, his expression froze—then turned to ice.
"You dare insult my mother?" His voice dropped, deep and dangerous.
To insult him was one thing. To insult Consort Wan—that was his reverse scale, the one thing none could touch.
Xiao Cui didn't notice the shift in danger. She thought she'd struck a nerve and pressed on, crueler than before.
"Did I say something wrong? Your slut mother seduced the King and gave birth to a disgrace like you! If I were her, I'd have killed you myself before hanging from a beam to atone!"
Her words dripped poison. "You? A prince? You're filth! Out here, you're not even as good as a dog. I'll teach you your place!"
She struck suddenly, palm glowing with force—three oxen of strength, aimed straight for his heart. Had it landed, it would've shattered his ribs.
But Jiang Ruochén was no longer the boy she thought she knew. Rage surged, and with it came power—one full elephant.
The clash was instant—BOOM!
The impact sent Xiao Cui flying like a rag doll, blood spraying as she slammed into the wall. Her arm—what was left of it—hung twisted and broken, bones crushed to dust.
"AHHH!"
Her scream tore through the alley. The fight had lasted less than a heartbeat.
"H-how… how do you have that strength…?" she gasped, terror flooding her face. Only now did she feel the suffocating killing intent rolling from him.
"You insulted my mother," Jiang Ruochén said, voice like thunder in a storm. "For that—you deserve death."
He took one slow, deliberate step after another, each word heavy as a hammer. His killing intent filled the alley like ice water.
"N-no—wait! You can't kill me! I'm the Queen's favorite! If you touch me, you'll—"
But her words died before they finished.
Because Jiang Ruochén's palm had already descended.
CRACK.
Her skull shattered under his strike, her body collapsing limply to the ground—eyes still wide in disbelief.
Silence fell.
Without hesitation, Jiang Ruochén turned and vanished down the alley.
Killing in the royal city was madness—but some insults could never be forgiven. Xiao Cui had trampled the last line he could bear. Even if it meant risk and blood, he would never allow anyone to defile his mother's name.
And so, that day, the Queen lost her favorite servant—and Wang City gained its first whisper of fear around the name Jiang Ruochén.