The Art of Chaotic Divinity-Chapter 936: The Venomous Beauty

On the western outskirts of the Imperial Capital stood Yanliu Pavilion.

Surrounded by lingering hills and waters, shrouded in mist and rain, it was a place of serene and graceful beauty.

Within the pavilion, an old man cloaked in black paced anxiously, his mind burdened with heavy thoughts.

"Why would she suddenly seek me out? And why arrange to meet here of all places?"

Yan Cangtian finally halted his steps and lightly struck one of the pavilion's pillars with his fist.

The previous night, when he had received the letter bearing the handwriting of the Empress Dowager (Yan Ning), his heart had been tossed by turbulent waves. Decades of suppressed emotions had erupted in an instant, leaving no room for rationality.

At the crack of dawn, before the sky had fully brightened, Yan Cangtian had arrived at the pavilion to await Yan Ning's arrival.

Finally, through the misty rain, he spotted a graceful figure approaching. Clad in plain white robes and holding an oil-paper umbrella, she moved with ethereal lightness, like a lily swaying in the breeze.

Yan Cangtian clenched his fists. "She remembers... The scene of our first meeting was just like this, a small pavilion, this kind of weather, her wearing white..."

Several times, he nearly rushed forward but restrained his emotions, simply standing still as he watched the woman who had haunted his dreams.

At last, Yan Ning entered the pavilion, neatly folding her umbrella and wiping the rain from her cheeks before offering Yan Cangtian a faint smile.

"Ning—" Yan Cangtian took a deep breath, then dropped to one knee. "This commoner pays respects to the Empress Dowager."

"Big Brother Yan... Do you still resent me?"

Yan Ning reached out to steady him, her delicate appearance stirring pity.

That single address of "Big Brother Yan" shattered all of Yan Cangtian's defenses instantly.

"Ning'er, how could I ever be angry with you?"

Yan Cangtian turned away, not daring to look at her directly. "I'm only angry at myself. How could missing one step have cost me a lifetime?"

"Fate plays cruel tricks."

Yan Ning shook her head and moved to sit by the railing. "I never imagined I'd see you again, Big Brother Yan."

"Yes. You remain unchanged, while I..."

Yan Cangtian smiled wryly. "I've aged beyond recognition."

"No, in Ning'er's heart, Big Brother Yan will always be just as he was back then, full of spirit and unmatched with both alchemy and swordsmanship!"

Yan Cangtian whirled around to face her, then shook his head wryly. "The man before you now is just a withered old man. Empress Dowager, if you have no pressing matter, we... shouldn't be meeting like this."

"Yes. We shouldn't!"

Yan Ning's expression darkened. With a flick of her sleeve, she produced a flask of fine wine and drank deeply, her laughter tinged with sorrow. "But Brother Yan, do you have any idea how much I've suffered these years?"

"What are you doing?" Yan Cangtian snatched the flask from her hands and hurled it to the ground. "You never drank before."

"Without wine to numb the pain, how else could I have endured?" Yan Ning smiled bitterly. "But I shouldn't speak of such things to you."

"Have you... not been well?" Yan Cangtian's heart ached as he studied her face, his fists clenching unconsciously.

"Well? How could I not be well? Before others, I am the revered Empress Dowager. My son rules the empire. How could I not be well? But who understands the coldness in my heart?"

Her smile was heartbreaking.

Unable to restrain himself any longer, Yan Cangtian grasped her shoulders. "Ning'er—"

Yan Ning leaned into his embrace, hot tears spilling from her eyes. Yet only she knew how much of this display was genuine.

A small eternity seemed to pass.

Yan Cangtian could scarcely believe that after decades, he once again held her in his arms.

Finally, Yan Ning gently pushed him away, her cheeks faintly flushed. "Brother Yan, will you do one thing for me? You know my lifelong wish has been to strengthen the Yan family. Once that's accomplished, Ning'er can abandon everything... and wander the world with you."

Her voice grew shy toward the end, like a bashful maiden.

Yan Cangtian's hands tightened. "What do you need?"

"Ning'er has heard you recently took a disciple named Ling Feng..."

"Enough!"

The name hit Yan Cangtian like a bucket of icy water.

"Big Brother Yan?" Yan Ning looked up at him with innocent confusion. "What's wrong?"

"Hahaha! I've been a fool..." Yan Cangtian laughed bitterly as he stood, his eyes bleak. "You've changed, Ning'er. Grown cunning. It... frightens me!"

"Brother Yan, you misunderstand. I mean Ling Feng no harm."

"No more explanations, Empress Dowager. From now on, you walk your path, and I'll walk mine. And heed this warning, if you so much as harm a hair on Ling Feng's head..."

"Or what?" Yan Ning's expression frosted over. "Does that boy truly outweigh me in your heart?"

"Then I..." Yan Cangtian's fists shook as he glared at her. "I will kill you!"

Before he could finish, a wave of dizziness struck. He clutched his head, pointing accusingly. "You... you actually—"

"Poison? Yes." Yan Ning's smile turned icy. "Drugging you wasn't easy, But even you couldn't have guessed that the aroma of fine wine combined with my perfume would create a lethal toxin. Hahaha..."

Her laughter rang hollow through the pavilion.

"How... how could you become... like this..." Yan Cangtian's legs gave way as he collapsed.

"Blame yourself for making the wrong choice, Brother Yan. You could have kept your beautiful delusion. You shattered it yourself."

Yan Ning's expression turned icy and indifferent. "Don't worry. I won't harm you. Since you value your disciple so highly, let's see how much you're worth to him in return."

"You... you..."

Darkness swallowed Yan Cangtian's vision as he lost consciousness. The last thing he saw was the woman before him twisting into a monstrous visage.

A true venomous beauty.

"Men. So predictable."

Yan Ning exhaled sharply, her regal composure returning. With a wave of her hand, over a dozen skilled maidservants emerged and swiftly bound the unconscious Yan Cangtian.

"Grandmother Empress Dowager, you're amazing! To capture a Human Emperor expert without lifting a finger!"

Yan Shuying approached eagerly, admiration gleaming in her eyes.

"Love is a man's fatal weakness. Especially men like him." The Empress Dowager sighed. "Pity. I'd hoped he would do anything for me. But in the end, like that other man, he betrayed me too!"

"Betrayed you? Who do you mean, Grandmother?"

Yan Shuying regretted the question instantly as the Empress Dowager's frigid gaze locked onto her, chilling her to the bone.

"Never ask again!"

With a flick of her sleeve, the Empress Dowager turned and left. Yan Shuying stood frozen, cold sweat beading on her forehead as she wiped it away with a trembling hand.

The source of this c𝓸ntent is fr𝒆e(w)𝒆bnovel