The cold rain stung my face like countless icy needles, and the stench of the mass grave seeped into my nostrils. Barefoot, I sprinted through the mud, my ankles slashed by sharp stones until blood ran freely.
Suddenly, I tripped. I lost my balance and crashed to my knees. The instant my palms plunged into the wet earth, they touched skin burning hot, hotter than the rain, hotter than blood!
I froze all over. Before I could pull my hand back, a bone-chilling cold crept up the back of my neck.
I jerked my head up and met a pair of eyes that had just snapped open. Scarlet killing intent churned in their ink-dark pupils, like poisoned ice blades, making my breath catch.
It was her! The bloodthirsty empress from the original story, who would bathe the imperial city in blood and slaughter every last member of an entire household!
