A small figure on a black horse appeared on the bridge.

  She was tiny. No younger than seven, dressed in black like a pocket-sized widow.

  Smoky eyeshadow darkened her lids, her lips glossed in onyx that caught the light with a sinister sheen. She smirked, and in that moment looked every bit a witch.

  Two young lady flanked her sides, dressed the same way.

  Chen Haoran's lips twitched as he stared at her.

  "Is there a problem, Young mis-"

  She cut him off, her small finger jabbing the air in his direction.

  "Young mistress your head!, You know I an your young mistress, yet you dared decide I was unworthy of joining the squad?!" Her small smoky eyes blazed with anger.

  Silence.......

  A silence so heavy it was heard.

  Chen Haoran's mouth hung, speechless.

  When he finally found his voice, he asked. "What do you mean, Young mis-"

  Again, she silenced him.

  "Young mistress your mother! I, Jin Ni..." She pointed at her chest, chin lifted in defiance. " ...will take over the squad."

  The silence returned, heavier than before.

  People stared at Jin Ni as if she had grown a second head.

  Unfazed, her gaze swept over them, proud, unwavering.

  "Any problem?" She asked, daring anyone to speak.

  Silence......

  No one answered.

  A slow smile curved across her jet black lips.

  “Good,” she said, satisfaction lacing her tone. Her eyes snapped back to Chen Haoran.

  “You...” She pointed at him, her tone commanding. “...disciple of Lin, will follow my lead.”

  The silence turned sharp at this point, tension crackled in the air as Jin Ni and Chen Haoran locked gaze, as if having a silent battle.

  The former's intention was clear while the latter had such unreadable expression that it was hard to guess his thoughts.

  People watched with bated breath, one is an heiress whose order isn't far-fetched, she has every right to take over the squad, but the other is also a respectable disciple of the clan who has the army at his command. They didn't want to offend either of them.

  The question now is, Will Chen Haoran back down since it is more practical than the heiress giving in?

  But it doesn't seem so, Chen Haoran doesn't look ready to do so.

  His formality dropped very quickly.

  "Jin Ni..." he called, his voice neither cold nor warm. "...when you are done playing, move back."

  Almost instantly, Jin Ni arrogant demeanor vanished, her young face switched so fast it's almost scary. She stared at Chen Haoran with a chilling calmness.

  "Play?" Her head tilted. "It seems you've been too doted on, that you forgot who I am." Two short blades appeared on her hands, glinting maliciously.

  Chen Haoran wasn't moved at all by the threat, he watched her with cold indifference.

  "Of course I didn't forget, but... don't you think you need the strength to match your words or are you all talk?"

  "I see you need to learn." Jin Ni vanished the moment her words dropped, she appeared right on Chen Haoran's horse, her two blades aimed at his neck.

  Gasps escaped people's mouth, their eyes widened in disbelief.

  'Isn't she too fierce?.' was everyone's thought.

  Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.

  The Dark Army became restless, their hands twitched beside them– they so much want to interfere, but they knew Chen Haoran didn't need any help.

  No matter how fierce Jin Ni is, she didn't pose a threat to him. But such actions were still disrespectful, and it's like a slap to their own faces.

  Surprisingly, despite the blades being just a breath from his neck, Chen Haoran didn't move at all, his gaze remain fixed on Jin Ni, as if the flash of death before his eyes could never faze him.

  Two strong hands clasped Jin Ni hands firmly before dragging her off the horse.

  Again, gasps echoed out from the surrounding.

  Jin Ni's eyes widened as she looked sideways for the culprit.

  "Wh-o?!"

  Whe flailed her legs mid-air, and started shouting.

  "Who is the Bastard that dared touch this young mistress?!, are you tired of living?!"

  No one answered, the person turned her to face her horse and walked towards it.

  Jin Ni got even more angry by the silence.

  "You Lowly Bug, you dare touch me and ignore me?, bring your neck let me cut it!" She struggled more fiercely, trying to stab the hands holding her, but it was all to no avail.

  Murmurs filled the crowd as some people pointed at Jin Ni, anger lacing their words.

  ???: How arrogant, she wants to cut off brother Shen's neck!

  ???: Can you imagine!

  ???: She's the one too doted on, how dare her!.

  ???: I'm telling you!

  ???: I heard her brother is just as arrogant, no regard for anyone.

  Jin Ni that was still flailing suddenly froze as the murmurs entered her ears.

  "Huh?, Brother Shen?" She asked in surprise.

  She turned her head back, trying to catch a glimpse of the one holding her but she still couldn't.

  She finally did after Shen put her on her horse.

  "Be a good girl." he chided quietly.

  Jin Mouth formed a perfect O shape.

  "It's you!" She exclaimed, eyes wide.

  An happy smile bloomed on her face. "Why didn't you talk sooner, I would have turned a good girl" she winked playfully, smiling. The two blades on her hands vanished.

  When her eyes flickered to Chen Haoran, her smile dropped.

  She pointed at Chen Haoran and faced Shen, her defiant attitude completely gone.

  "Uncle Shen, tell that bug to hand over the squad, how dare he disrespect me?"

  Shen looked at her as calmly as ever, then spoke, his flat tone never changing.

  "He was right, you need the strength to take it."

  "What!" She froze in surprise. "You too?, But it's rightfully mine!" Her brow furrowed in confusion.

  Shen’s gaze didn’t even flicker. "The army are not puppets, they won't follow a weak leader...show them something worthy of following, then you can command the whole army, not just a squad."

  "Really?." She asked quietly, realization dawning on her.

  She pouted unhappily, sulking. "Bu-t I want to lead the squad now." Her voice trembled as if she wants to cry, and in that moment, she didn't look like a witch anymore, but like a child who wasn't given her favorite candy.

  "For now, you will be the second in command. Understand?"

  Jin Ni scrunched up her nose but agreed anyway. "Okay." She said sullenly.

  Her eyes settled on Chen Haoran, glaring at him as if she wants to chew his flesh and suck his blood.

  Shen turned to Chen Haoran and said simply. "Get moving"

  "Yes brother." He nodded and took out another black orb, but just before he activate it, he stopped. His eyes darted to Jin Ni who was still glaring at him.

  He kept the black orb and crossed his arms.

  "You, take out a black orb." He commanded her.

  Jin Ni eyes flared with fire. She pointed at him angrily. "How dare you address this heiress like that?!, I..." she pointed at her face, arrogance dripping from each words ".. am Ni, daughter of Jin, un.der.stand?"

  Chen Haoran watched her indifferently. "Now... You are the second in command, you obey my orders, take it or leave it." he said coldly.

  Jin Ni trembled angrily, the fury in her eyes unfitting for a child like herself.

  ----

  Deep within the Jin manor, a building stood so tall it's Golden spire almost pierced the sky.

  On the topmost of this building was a man, on a balcony shrouded in purple mist.

  Tall and commanding, he bore himself with a natural majesty, as though the world itself had been shaped to accommodate his presence.

  His features were sculpted with flawless precision, neither youthful nor aged, but marked by a timeless refinement that defied measure.

  His hair, gathered neatly and bound by three golden clasps, shimmered faintly in the air, as if even the strands refused to lie entirely still.

  His eyes, dark as an abyss without end, regarded the world with serene detachment, yet in their depths lurked something immeasurable, like the calm surface of a storm that could erase mountains without a sound.

  To stand before him was to feel both reverence and dread, as though gazing upon a sovereign who had long since transcended the limits of men.

  Surprisingly, despite having such a strong presence, this man wasn't overflowing with power, rather, his aura was calm and ordinary, like the stillness of a pond.

  With eyes that could see beyond the Mortal reach, he overlooked the display happening on the white bridge.

  His mouth didn't move, yet a voice, neither casual, nor overbearing, floated across the balcony, rolling through the purple mist like a decree.

  "This Mortal, dared command my Child."

  A voice drifted from the mist.

  "So?"

  A giant of a man, Uncle Lin, came out from within the mist and stood beside him, looking down below.

  "Should he kneel and crawl at her feet because she's your child?" Uncle Lin asked, giving him a sideway glance.

  Jin Wei didn't respond, but the lift of his chin and that casual indifference in his eyes spoke volumes.

  Chuckle.

  Uncle Lin chuckled and shook his head, smiling.

  "Your arrogance almost got you killed back in the days, not once, but thousands of times." He looked at Jin Wei. "Shouldn't you warn your children of the same path?"

  Jin Wei gave him an unimpressed glance before looking down back.

  "Whom is it, born in land, Water, and Sky, dared kill my children?" An incomparable arrogance dripped from his words, so much that even Jin Yu paled in comparison to him.

  "Hahahahaha" Uncle Lin bursted out laughing, giving him the 'really?' look.

  "Tell me friend, is Poison Valley not born in land, water and sky?" A teasing smile tugged at his lips. "As much as I remember, they actually dared."

  Jin Wei's lips lifted in disdain.

  "Those are mere bugs, not worth mentioning. Yu'er is my son, he won't die." He stated so confidently that Uncle Lin laughed again.

  "Hahaha, so silly."

  Jin Wei gave him a glare. "Watch your mouth. "

  "Or what?, I won't leave with my teeth intact?, Hahahahaha" he laughed so heartily. "So, he won't die when the ten Lords interfere?"

  Jin Wei combed through his neatly packed hair with his fingers, a casual smile on his lips.

  "The blood of their first progeny to the ten thousandth will never quench my wrath, let them dare." He muttered so indifferently.

  Uncle Lin shook his head. "There is no saving you friend, by the time your wrath is quenched, Yu'er will be ten feets in the crust."

  Jin Wei's chin raised even further, though subtly, his deep, black eyes looked down on every being below him.

  "How will he when you secretly sent the Golden brothers to protect him?, Call them back, Yu'er doesn't need a guardian." He said.

  Uncle Lin nodded in agreement. "You are right, that brat is growing at such terrifying rate that he doesn't need help, his companion is also interesting."

  Jin Wei nodded in pride.

  Uncle Lin gave him a disdainful glare before continuing.

  "There's no need to call them back, they will face the Poison Valley Lords if those bastards really interfere."

  "Okay." Jin Wei muttered.

  Silence stretched for a while until Uncle Lin spoke again.

  "What do you think about the prophecy though?, Yu'er won't have an easy life as long as the words of that Seer lives."

  Uncle Lin brow furrowed in concern.

  Jin Wei flipped his hair behind his back as he walked off into the dreamy purple mist, his words dropping behind him.

  "Even if he has an easy life... I will make it hard, he needs to learn."

  Uncle Lin stared at Jin Wei's retreating figure. "What a crazy father." He muttered in disbelief. "Poor Yu'er" he said in pity.

  The purple mist stilled for a moment before moving again.

  Jin Wei's voice drifted lazily from within.

  "Rich coming from you who almost mauled him to death."

  Uncle Lin almost rolled his eyes. "At least I didn't make his life hard."

  Jin Wei scoffed and muttered under his breath. "Hypocrite."