Firmament Sword

”Jiang Tianhai, I think you’ve gone mad!” Huangfu Shishi’s gaze was filled with contempt. ”I used to think that even though you weren’t my type, you at least had your own pride. But now, it seems you’re nothing but a pathetic wretch! A sad little man who can only live in his own world, throwing his weight around with despicable tricks… a wretch!”

Jiang Tianhai’s handsome face twisted, his eyes flashing with fury. But he quickly calmed himself and gave a faint smile. ”Very good, my dear junior sister. I have to say, you’ve succeeded in provoking me. I’ll be sure to ’teach you a lesson’ later! I’ve been craving this moment for a very, very long time!”

As he spoke, a triumphant glint flashed in Jiang Tianhai’s eyes, and a smug look appeared on his face. ”Don’t you want to know… just what kind of poison you’ve taken?”

”Poison? Tianhai… your brother said it wasn’t a poison, just a medicine to temporarily suppress one’s power. How could…” Beside them, Huang Yan suddenly felt she might have made a terrible mistake after seeing the look on Jiang Tianhai’s face. Her tone couldn’t help but turn stern. ”Tianhai, you can’t do this!”

”Hehe, you little slut, who do you think you are? Calling you ’sister-in-law’… that was just a joke. You? Become my sister-in-law? Hahaha, you’re not even close! What do you think you are? Also… did you really think the tea you just drank was harmless?” Jiang Tianhai burst into wild, unrestrained laughter.

”You…” Huang Yan tried to circulate her energy and immediately sensed something was wrong. She couldn’t muster even a shred of strength in her entire body. Her face paled in shock, and she asked in a mix of fear and anger, ”You… What are you people trying to do?”

She was naive, but not stupid. If Huang Yan still didn’t understand that she too had been tricked, she would be a true idiot. But she refused to believe it. The sweet nothings Jiang Hanhai had whispered to her just last night were still ringing in her ears. How could everything have changed in the blink of an eye?

”Let me explain it to you. This… is no ordinary medicine. While it’s a bit of a waste to use on you, it doesn’t matter anymore.” Jiang Tianhai smiled. ’Once I take that unique treasure from Xu Luo,’ he thought, ’your usefulness will be at an end. With that treasure in hand, this medicine won’t have been wasted!’

”This medicine… is called Soul Control. As the name implies, once you’re affected, its effects will seep deep into your very soul! And there is no cure! Right now, you might not feel much, just a bit weak all over. Mmm, that’s my will at work. It’s me… who is making you feel weak right now. If you don’t believe me, watch…” Jiang Tianhai said with a faint smile.

Just then, Huang Yan suddenly felt a wave of heat course through her body. The sensation of pleasure, which seemed to originate from her very soul, left her flustered. Her face turned frighteningly red, and at the same time, a look of horror and even despair appeared in her eyes.

”This… how is this possible? How? Jiang Tianhai, you’re despicable!” Huang Yan finally understood. The so-called prospect of becoming Jiang Hanhai’s woman had been nothing but her own wishful thinking. From beginning to end, Jiang Hanhai had never felt the slightest affection for her. He had cast her aside like a worn-out shoe!

”Hahaha, so what if I’m despicable!” Jiang Tianhai laughed smugly. ”Now, you should understand just how miraculous this medicine’s effects are, right? Little junior sister… would you like to try it too?”

Huangfu Shishi’s face was ashen, her eyes filled with extreme rage. She never thought she would fall for his scheme. From Huang Yan’s reaction, she could tell this medicine was incredibly potent. To lose control of one’s own soul, to be unable to be oneself… it was a fate worse than death!

”Little junior sister, don’t even think about suicide. That would be very unpleasant…” Jiang Tianhai watched Huangfu Shishi leisurely, smiling. ”It’s such a pity. Sigh, an outstanding woman like you, wasted on that dog Xu Luo! But no matter. I’ll force myself. Next… hehe! Now… listen closely. I command you…”

PFFT!

Huangfu Shishi suddenly spat out a mouthful of fresh blood.

Jiang Tianhai froze for a moment, surprised. ”Oh, dear, little junior sister, look at you. Didn’t your senior brother already remind you? Don’t even think about suicide… why did you still… aiyah, really. I forgot to tell you. Once you’re under the effects of Soul Control, any suicidal thought will cause immense damage to your internal organs. But, you just won’t die… Mmm, and your senior brother wouldn’t just stand by and watch you die, either! After all, you are my dearest little junior sister!”

”Jiang Tianhai… if you don’t kill me, you will regret it!” A cold, murderous intent appeared on Huangfu Shishi’s beautiful face, and she practically ground her teeth.

”Junior sister… I… I’m so sorry…” Over on the side, Huang Yan finally broke down, bursting into sobs.

Huangfu Shishi shot Huang Yan a cold glance, opened her mouth, but in the end, couldn’t bring herself to curse her. She turned her face away, refusing to look at her anymore.

Jiang Tianhai stared at Huangfu Shishi, his twisted face filled with savagery. He laughed maniacally. ”You thought that just because this is your territory, no one would dare touch you. You never imagined that your senior brother was clever enough to have a trick like this, did you? Hahaha! Now, I command you: go back immediately, find Xu Luo, and then… lure him outside the city, kill him, take all the treasures from his body, and… give them to me!”

”No!” Huangfu Shishi shrieked, then spat out another mouthful of blood. Her consciousness seemed to have been severely affected.

”I’ll say it again… You will now…” Jiang Tianhai was very patient. He sat there, smiling, and repeated his command to Huangfu Shishi.

Huangfu Shishi spat out blood once more, but this time, her cry of resistance was not as strong.

By the time Jiang Tianhai had repeated his command for the fifth time, Huangfu Shishi’s body was swaying, on the verge of collapse. Finally… she nodded and said, ”Yes.”

”Hahahahaha!” Jiang Tianhai roared with laughter. ”Oh, Xu Luo, Xu Luo, this time, I’d love to see the look on your face when you die at the hands of the woman you love!”

With that, he walked over and took out a pristine white handkerchief, intending to wipe the blood from the corner of Huangfu Shishi’s mouth. Unexpectedly, even in her weakened mental state, Huangfu Shishi still managed to flinch away.

Jiang Tianhai’s brow furrowed slightly. He muttered to himself, ”Didn’t my brother say that even a master at the Fifth Layer of the Transformation Realm would find it difficult to resist Soul Control? How is she so strong-willed?” Then, he beckoned to Huang Yan at the side. ”You, come clean her face!”

At this point, Huang Yan had completely lost herself, yet her expression and demeanor showed no sign of anything unusual!

This was the true power of Soul Control. The victim’s will would be completely dominated, yet they themselves wouldn’t sense anything was amiss, as if everything… was just as it should be.

Huang Yan walked over with a light smile, took out a handkerchief, and wiped the blood from the corner of Huangfu Shishi’s mouth. A hint of surprise even showed on her face. ”Oh, what happened to you, junior sister? Are you hurt?”

Huangfu Shishi shook her head slightly, looking a little dazed. ”I’m fine. What’s wrong with me?” As she spoke, she saw the blood on Huang Yan’s handkerchief. A flicker of struggle appeared in the depths of her eyes, and she asked blankly, ”Why did I spit up blood?”

”Sigh, it’s all my fault. I unintentionally mentioned your parents just now, and you were so overcome with grief that you coughed up blood…” Jiang Tianhai sighed, his face heavy with mock solemnity.

”Yes, my father the Emperor and my mother the Empress are gone. The Crown Prince is dead, and my Sixth Brother is dead too…” Tears streamed down Huangfu Shishi’s face as she choked out, ”Now, the only one I have left is Brother Xu Luo, but he… he betrayed me too, with so many women around him. I… what meaning is there for me to keep living in this world?”

A strange glint flashed in Jiang Tianhai’s eyes. He hadn’t expected Huangfu Shishi to still not be completely under his control, even now. But it was fine. Although some of the details had changed, the general direction was still correct.

The current Huangfu Shishi hated Xu Luo to the core; she would definitely find a way to kill him!

At this thought, Jiang Tianhai desperately wanted to laugh out loud, but he suppressed the urge. He said gently to Huangfu Shishi, ”Since you’re not in a good mood, junior sister, you should head back now.”

”Alright, senior brother. Then I’ll take my leave,” Huangfu Shishi said, then turned and left.

Afterward, a happy smile spread across Jiang Tianhai’s handsome face. With a wave of his hand, he dispelled the barrier around them. The outside world had been completely unaware of everything that had just happened. This wasn’t due to Jiang Tianhai’s own power, but because he possessed a Spirit-Connected Magical Artifact that could create a domain!

His brother, Jiang Hanhai, had obtained this Spirit-Connected Magical Artifact during a previous training expedition and had given it to him.

Jiang Tianhai was incredibly excited. He glanced at the completely controlled Huang Yan beside him and, with a thought, casually waved his hand, setting up another barrier. Then he sat down in his chair and smiled at Huang Yan. ”Come here…”

...

When Huangfu Shishi saw Xu Luo again, she found him with Master Mao. Xu Luo’s expression was incredibly grim, but when he saw her, a look of extreme heartache flashed in his eyes.

’Has he finally… realized he wronged me?’ Huangfu Shishi thought. For some reason, she felt an overwhelming sadness, and tears began to stream down her face uncontrollably. ”Brother Xu Luo… I… my head hurts!”

Xu Luo had already learned what happened from Master Mao. He couldn’t help but hate himself for being too careless. He never imagined the Jiang Tianhai brothers were not only despicable and shameless but also possessed a drug so terrifying it sent a chill down one’s spine just thinking about it. To have one’s mind controlled, to live completely by another’s will without even realizing it—that was more painful than death!

’Jiang Tianhai… Jiang Hanhai… This time, even if the heavens themselves try to stop me, I will tear you to pieces!’