The Guqin of Blood.

The black smoke swirling on Han Hei's hand started to concentrate into something solid. A milky white instrument started to emerge, condensing into the shape of a Guqin.

Ling Yue's eyes widened. This Guqin...

As the Guqin of Blood floated in front of Han Hei, screams and wails echoed from inside the Guqin, making the hairs on everyone's back stand straight.

The Guqin's strings vibrated excitedly, colored such a deep red it looked like they were ready to drip blood. Faint silhouettes surrounded the Guqin, like ghouls and demons from Hell all trapped inside a bony case.

The moment the Guqin appeared, the temperature dropped dramatically, and the air surrounding it became even thicker than before with belligerent killing intent.

The Guqin was thirsty for blood.

The Lunar Emperor instantly recognized this Guqin.

He was a young Prince when it was created.

Memories of twenty years ago resurfaced like a tsunami. His father had sent assassins to the Hei Empire, just as he had done weeks ago, and the elite assassins had returned to the Lunar Empire as skulls, all lined inside the Guqin's box. The rest of their skeletons got carved up into the elegant instrument while their tendons were stripped to make its crimson strings…

The overwhelming urge to throw up gripped the Emperor as he felt icy hands slowly slither their way up his spine, onto his neck. They grasped his windpipe and started to squeeze....

He let out a pig-like shrill cry as he jumped from his glorious golden seat and rolled down the steps, landing in a shaking heap near Ling Yue's feet.

His face turned from white to red, and then to purple as fear, shame and anger seized control of his actions: "Demonic, vile beings!! Get that thing away from me! Han Hei, don't you dare come near me!!!"

Servants and officials of the Banquet Hall looked on, appalled. They had witnessed their reverent Emperor on the ground, at the verge of pissing himself, shaking uncontrollably like a coward. Witnessing such blasphemous sights were enough for the beheading of everyone afterwards.

Han Hei's cold smile never faltered from his lips.

Eunuchs rushed to help the Lunar Emperor up as he lifted his heavy gaze, almost disgusted by the sight.

With a flicker of his hand, the white Guqin floated towards Ling Yue.

His deadly attractive voice broke through the Banquet Hall's frozen terror: "This is the Guqin of Blood. The Lady Yue shall receive the honor of being the first person to ever play this instrument."

As the Guqin glided past Hong Yue, he felt a wave of such ominous presence he almost vomited. His eyes widened as fear ceased his heart.

What was this Guqin!

It carried such ill intentions it stirred up the pure Chi in his body. The mere aura surrounding the Guqin had him in pain. How could Ling Yue play such an instrument?! She'd get cut to pieces the moment she touched it!

Han Hei!

Hong Yue's eyes flickered to the man sitting lazily in his golden seat. Anger overtook him. The Yue Clan has never mingled with the War God, why was he doing this to Ling Yue!

Hong Yue didn't have time to linger on the matter.

He bolted from his seat, hurrying towards Ling Yue, yelling out: "Ling-er! Don't—"

Before he could even finish his sentence, his words got cut off. He couldn't make a sound, even when his mouth was moving. His body was rooted in place as immense pressure fell upon his shoulders, preventing him from taking even one more step towards his daughter.

Hong Yue's eyes widened in shock as he glanced at Han Hei.

The War God was still sitting calmly atop his golden throne, watching the Guqin fly towards Ling Yue with a fascinated gleam in his eyes.

The War God, just how strong was he?!

To take complete control over Hong Yue's body without even lifting a finger....

Hong Yue was rooted with fear. The Guqin was already in front of Ling-er!

He desperately wanted to stop her from touching it, but he couldn't even speak.

Anger and desperation filled his eyes as he watched on, veins popping out of his temples.

If only he was stronger!!!

If only he possessed so much power, that even a Violet Class Chi user could not suppress him; so that even the Imperial Family could not make demands of his daughter, so that he could protect her unconditionally…

Ling Yue sensed her father's worries, yet her eyes were glued onto the Guqin as it floated in front of her.

Waves of thick black smoke caressed Ling Yue's cheeks.

The wails and cries got louder and turned violent, the Guqin's body shaking as if it couldn't wait to taste Ling Yue's blood.

Ling Yue couldn't help but smile.

This!

This instrument, the evil within it, it intoxicated her.

It was something so familiar, it was the evil that she had felt regularly when performing the "Song of Souls".

"The Song of Souls" was a song to calm down the dead.

Created to sooth the vicious ghouls of Hell, the song required of its performer unimaginable control of the mind. If not, ghouls and demons would take control of the performer, tearing and feasting upon their spirit, driving them beyond lunacy.

Ling Yue had resisted such vile existence every time she practiced the song, until the day she won over it and made it her servant.

" The Song of Souls "was much worse than this.

The thousand vengeful ghouls trapped inside this Guqin was but cute pets in comparison.

But no doubt, this was the best Guqin Ling Yue had ever seen, or at least, the most suitable instrument to perform the "Song of Souls "with.

Just the thought of using this Guqin excited her. Han Hei has actually given her a great weapon!

This Guqin obviously hasn't accepted an owner yet, so she had a chance of making it her own.

In this world, the higher a weapon's level, the "smarter" it gets.

Higher level weapons grow their own 'souls' and chose their own masters.

If a mastered weapon got used by anyone other than its contracted owner, the weapon's 'soul' would burn the trespasser person to death.

If a person's blood is dripped onto a weapon that hasn't accepted an owner, then there was a chance that they would get contracted with the weapon's 'soul.'

Ling Yue, without hesitation, placed her hand on the blood red strings.

Twang!!

A sound wave vibrated through the air, lifting Ling Yue's hair and the red sleeves of her hanfu.

Ting! Ting! Ting!

Three consecutive notes, carrWung such power it made everyone's ears ring and bleed. Ling Yue was grinning widely now, her eyes shining like the brightest of stars, filled with excitement as if united with a long-lost comrade.

The Guqin's body vibrated softly, as if shivering under Ling Yue's fingertips. The bone-chilling screeches from its body stopped, turning into gentle sighs, comforted by her touch.

Han Hei's expression never faltered, cold and distant, yet his blood-red eyes shone with immense interest, betraying his true emotions.

The Guqin of Blood didn't cut her? Fascinating.

He himself knew firsthand how strong the Guqin was; he had to use his Chi to suppress its aura when he had it with him.

This Ling Yue, he couldn't sense any Chi from her aura, but how could a Chi-less person touch the Guqin?

Hong Yue let out a heavy breath of relief, his shoulders sagging. In just a minute, his heart had sailed and dropped continuously, too much for his old body to take. _:(´ཀ`」 ∠):_

Ling Yue caressed the Guqin's crimson strings.

The Guqin suddenly released a small aura, sharply pricking her finger. A drop of blood rolled down, onto the Guqin's surface.

Black silhouettes and delighted screeches immediately flowed out from the Guqin.

A child's excited voice rang out in Ling Yue's head:

"Master!! My Master, mine—Master, strong Master!!"