The whole family was brutally murdered? The ruthless heiress's eldest daughter went berserk aft

“Holy Maiden,” Minister Du hesitated, “I’ve heard that Emperor Gu Ye of the Great Qi has recently fallen ill…”

A strange light flashed in Ning Feng's eyes: "Oh? Go on."

"It is said that he was poisoned and is now bedridden."

"Heh..." Ning Feng sneered, "It seems even the heavens are on my side." She turned to Minister Du, "Send the order down: command the vanguard to set off immediately and reach the border of the Great Qi as quickly as possible."

"The Holy Maiden is going to lead the troops herself?"

“No.” Ning Feng’s eyes flashed with cold light. “This Holy Maiden will stay here and witness firsthand how the Great Qi falls step by step.” She walked to the map, her finger tracing the territory of the Great Qi. “Let the vanguard launch a surprise attack from the west, and the main force advance from the south. This Holy Maiden will make Gu Ye watch helplessly as his empire falls into my hands, bit by bit.”

"And what about the Emperor...?"

"His Majesty is unwell and unable to see anyone for the time being," Ning Feng sneered. "Lord Du, just go and carry out your duties."

"Yes." Minister Du bowed and withdrew.

Ning Feng stood by the window, gazing at the distant, rolling mountains: "Gu Ye, aren't you very capable? This time, this Holy Maiden will see what you have to offer to stop the mighty army of Nanzhao."

In the far north, wind and snow howl.

This was Murong Xuewei's ninetieth day of attempting to obtain the snow lotus. She hid behind a boulder, watching the enormous snow bear dozing around the lotus. Over the past three months, she had tried countless methods.

"Miss," Lan'er tiptoed closer, "Doctor Zhang said the Emperor's condition is getting worse..."

Murong Xuewei gripped the soft sword tightly in her hand, her knuckles turning white. She glanced back at the direction of the cave, where her increasingly frail husband lay.

"We must get the snow lotus today," she whispered.

For the past three months, she had tried poison, traps, feints, and even direct confrontation. But each attempt ended in failure. The snow bear was not only incredibly strong but also exceptionally alert. Worse still, its protection of the snow lotus bordered on obsession.

"Miss, how about we..."

"Shh!" Murong Xuewei suddenly made a shushing gesture. She noticed that the snow bear's breathing had become unusually even; this might be an opportunity.

She pulled a packet of powder from her pocket; it was something she and Zhang Jing had prepared overnight. This was their last chance; if they failed again, Gu Ye might really...

Thinking of this, Murong Xuewei gritted her teeth and began to gently sprinkle medicinal powder along the wind direction.

"Lan'er, are you ready?"

Lan'er nodded, holding a specially made crossbow bolt in her hand.

Murong Xuewei took a deep breath and began to approach the snow lotus little by little. Three months of observation had given her an intimate understanding of the snow bear's habits. She knew that even in its sleep, the snow bear would instinctively react to any movement that approached the snow lotus.

Ten steps... five steps... three steps...

Just as she was about to touch the snow lotus, the snow bear suddenly opened its eyes!

"Lan'er, now!"

Lan'er immediately fired a crossbow bolt, the sleeping potion coated on the arrowhead turning into a purple smoke in the air. But the snow bear seemed to be prepared, and dodged it with a flip.

"Roar!" The snow bear stood up in a rage and pounced on Murong Xuewei.

Murong Xuewei neither dodged nor evaded, her soft sword flashing with a cold light. She knew she had no way out; today she either obtained the snow lotus or perished together with this snow bear.

"My husband, Xuewei can't keep you waiting too long..."

A resolute glint flashed in her eyes as she charged towards the snow bear's sharp claws.

"Roar!" The snow bear's sharp claws swept across, carrying a chilling aura.

Murong Xuewei narrowly avoided a fatal blow, but a deep, bone-revealing wound was still slashed across her right arm. Blood dripped down her arm onto the snow, blooming like vibrant red plum blossoms on the pure white ground.

"Miss, come back quickly!" Lan'er called out anxiously from afar.

Murong Xuewei ignored her, gripping her sword even tighter. This was her twenty-seventh attempt this month to seize the Snow Lotus, each time ending in failure under the snow bear's claws. But this time, she had spotted an opening in the snow bear's defenses.

Taking advantage of the moment the snow bear retracted its claws, Murong Xuewei leaped into the air, her soft sword drawing a graceful arc. However, the snow bear, experienced as ever, suddenly changed its attack mid-air, striking Murong Xuewei in the chest with its paw.

"boom!"

Murong Xuewei was sent flying, crashing heavily into the rock wall. She felt her internal organs churning, and a mouthful of blood welled up in her throat.

"Miss!" Lan'er rushed over.

"Don't come any closer!" Murong Xuewei struggled to her feet, wiping the blood from the corner of her mouth. "I can still fight..."

Before she could finish speaking, the snow bear pounced again. This time, it had learned its lesson and gave Murong Xuewei no chance to breathe. Its claws whistled, each strike potentially fatal. Murong Xuewei endured the excruciating pain, managing to fend off the snow bear's attacks.

Finally, in one moment of untimely evasion, the snow bear's claws tore through her back. The excruciating pain made Murong Xuewei's vision blur, and she collapsed onto the snow.

"Roar!" the snow bear roared, seemingly warning her not to bother her anymore.

Lan'er and Zhang Jing braved the wind and snow to help the seriously injured Murong Xuewei to her feet. Murong Xuewei, however, kept her eyes fixed on the snow lotus swaying in the wind and snow, her eyes filled with resentment.

"Still no luck getting the snow lotus today."

She let Lan'er and Zhang Jing help her back to the cave, watching the snow bear once again crouch beside the snow lotus. Her injuries were severe this time, but she would come again tomorrow, and the day after. As long as she had a breath left, she would not give up.

"Miss, the wound has reopened." Lan'er said with concern as she changed Murong Xuewei's dressing.

Ignoring the excruciating pain in her arm, Murong Xuewei limped over to Gu Ye's side. Gu Ye's face was paler than paper, and his breathing grew increasingly weak.

"Husband..." She trembled as she stroked Gu Ye's face, tears streaming silently down her cheeks.

Zhang Jing entered the cave and said in a deep voice, "Your Majesty, the Emperor's condition is not good. If we cannot obtain the snow lotus soon..."

"I know!" Murong Xuewei suddenly stood up, but staggered due to her severe injuries. "I know..."

She leaned against the cave wall, looking out at the swirling snow. For the past three months, she had been battling the snow bear every day, her body bearing more and more wounds, yet the snow lotus remained both so close and so far away.

"Dr. Zhang, is there any other way?" Lan'er asked anxiously.

Zhang Jing shook his head: "Snow Lotus is the only antidote. And..." He glanced at the unconscious Gu Ye, "I'm afraid he won't make it through the night."

"No!" Murong Xuewei collapsed to the ground. "There must be another way..."

Suddenly, an aged voice came from the cave entrance: "Perhaps, this old man can help you."

Everyone turned to look, and saw the tribe's shaman walking in, leaning on a cane.

"Witch Doctor! You can speak the Central Plains language?" Lan'er looked at the witch doctor in surprise.

The witch doctor nodded, looking at Murong Xuewei: "I've been observing you these past few days. You risked your life to save your husband. I'm deeply moved."

Murong Xuewei knelt down: "Please, Your Excellency the Witch Doctor, save my husband!"

"The snow bear's protection of the snow lotus is ordained by fate," the witch doctor sighed. "But even fate can be moved by true sincerity."

"What does the witch doctor mean by this?"

"The snow bear has guarded the snow lotus for a thousand years because it's waiting for someone," the witch doctor said slowly, "someone willing to give their life for the snow lotus."

A glint of light flashed in Murong Xuewei's eyes: "Does the witch doctor mean..."

“That’s right.” The witch doctor nodded. “If you’re willing to trade your life for the snow lotus, perhaps the snow bear will agree. But…”