Chapter 189: Aftermath

Zhang Han’s hand trembled, his imposing aura inexplicably diminished. He abruptly turned his head towards the source of the sound.

Two impossibly handsome men were walking towards them: Zu An and Mi Li.

Mi Li couldn't help but glance at Zu An. His loud roar had made her heart tremble; for a moment, the imposing aura he displayed truly had a hint of Qin Shi Huang's former glory. She quickly shook her head, dismissing the thought from her mind.

After his initial shock, Zhang Han finally recovered his composure and sneered, "I thought you'd run away! I didn't expect you to come back. I haven't settled the score with you for impersonating His Majesty!"

At that moment, Zu An let out a heavy snort. "Insolence! How dare you be so rude to Us? Do you wish for your entire clan to be exterminated?"

Hearing his words, Chu Chuyan and Qiao Xueying were both startled. They knew Zu An's true background best and thought, *This guy is far too audacious, still daring to say such things to Zhang Han given the current situation.*

Not just them, even Mi Li couldn't help but eye him sideways. *This fellow's cheek is truly thicker than a city wall.*

"How long do you intend to keep impersonating His Majesty? I didn't have time to deal with you just now, and now you dare to speak nonsense right to my face? Are you truly seeking death!" Zhang Han's aura suddenly surged, and an inexplicable pressure spread outwards, rendering Qiao Xueying and Chu Chuyan speechless.

Zu An also found it hard to breathe, but he had already prepared a countermeasure. He immediately ducked behind Mi Li, instantly feeling the pressure lighten. Seizing the opportunity, he crowed, "Preposterous! Even if you don't recognize Us, surely you recognize her!"

"And who is this?" Zhang Han looked at Mi Li. Dressed in men's clothing, she was not recognized. "No matter who you bring out today, you will not escape death!"

Mi Li let out a cold snort. "Zhang Han, I can't believe that after all these years, you no longer recognize me, the Empress Dowager!"

Zhang Han froze. He hadn't paid her any attention before. Hearing her words, he couldn't help but tilt his head and scrutinize her. After a long moment, his expression changed. "Empress Dowager!"

Mi Li slowly stepped forward. "It seems you still recognize me!"

Qiao Xueying and Chu Chuyan both observed her curiously. Her voice was identical to the mysterious voice they had heard before, leading them to believe she was the woman from the seal.

The two women were astonished to discover how beautiful she was, completely different from what they had imagined. Chu Chuyan, however, thought more deeply. Her gaze fell on Mi Li's clothes. *These must be Zu An's,* she thought. *Did this woman not have clothes on when he rescued her?*

While the two women were lost in their thoughts, Zhang Han's face grew grim – though most of it was obscured by black mist. His voice began to tremble. "You... how did you get out?"

"Since I was sealed there, it was destined that I would one day break through the seal. Why would I not be able to get out?" Mi Li said coldly.

Zhang Han looked angrily at Zu An. "You are the one who released her!"

Zu An shrugged. "Do I need your permission to save my own woman?"

Qiao Xueying: "..."Chu Chuyan: "..."Mi Li: "..."

*This guy really thinks he's Qin Shi Huang? Who is his woman?*

"You released her! Do you have any idea how grave a mistake you've made!" Zhang Han trembled all over, clearly in extreme agitation.

Before Zu An could reply, Mi Li let out a cold snort. "Zhang Han, you've been Qin Shi Huang's lapdog for so many years. I intend to settle this score with you properly."

Zhang Han swung his long spear and, hunching slightly, said, "I was ordered to guard the seal that suppressed you. Since you've escaped, it falls to me to seal you back inside."

"Seal me back inside?" Mi Li laughed, her body trembling with mirth, her head tilted back. "By you?"

Zhang Han did not reply. The long spear in his hand transformed into a flood dragon and shot directly towards Mi Li. The overwhelming force it carried in that instant made Zu An and the others' faces turn pale. They knew that if that attack had been aimed at them, they would have been instantly annihilated.

Mi Li simply snorted, raised a delicate hand, and moved to meet him. The two instantly engaged, and she swiftly neutralized his attack.

Zu An took the opportunity to go to the altar. He helped Qiao Xueying up while looking at Chu Chuyan and asking, "Are you two alright?"

With no one overseeing the altar, the previously swirling black mist gradually thinned, and the "evil spirits" struggling to emerge dissipated.

"I'm fine," both women replied simultaneously, then both paused, surprised to hear each other's voices.

Zu An also froze, suddenly feeling a ridiculous sensation, as if he had been caught doing something wrong by his wives.

It was Chu Chuyan who recovered first. "You should check on Xue'er first. Her injuries are more severe; I'm fine."

A restriction had been placed on her throat, making her speech somewhat muffled.

Zu An then looked down at Qiao Xueying. "How are you doing?"

Qiao Xueying pushed him away. "I won't die."

Noticing the blood at the corner of her mouth, Zu An quickly held her restless body. "Don't move. You're seriously injured. Quickly gather your internal energy and properly recuperate."

Qiao Xueying instinctively wanted to retort, but feeling the concern in his tone, she ultimately said nothing.

Chu Chuyan, standing by, wore a look of surprise. These two were truly behaving unusually. In the past, they never met without a huge argument, and recently they had even been fighting to the death. But now, not only were they not quarreling, there was even an unusual sense of tacit understanding between them.

A dull thud echoed, and the three turned to look. They saw the previously arrogant Zhang Han had fallen clumsily to the ground.

On the other side, Mi Li slowly walked towards him. "I've been sealed for so many years. I swore that the first thing I'd do after gaining freedom was to make you, this watchdog, wish you were dead!"

Zhang Han climbed to his feet and beckoned behind him. The previously lifeless terracotta warriors all turned around, drawing their weapons and pointing them at Mi Li.

Mi Li's phoenix eyes gleamed with authority. She said coldly, "I am the Empress of Great Qin. Who dares to be disrespectful to me!"

After hearing her words, the previously aggressive terracotta warriors lowered their weapons and turned back around, as if nothing had happened.

Observing this scene, Zu An inwardly scoffed. *These terracotta warriors are the most unprincipled army I've ever seen.*

Zhang Han was clearly caught off guard by this. He furiously roared at the terracotta warriors, "She's already been deposed by His Majesty! What are you afraid of!"

Despite his repeated roars, the terracotta warriors remained like inanimate objects, showing no reaction whatsoever.

Mi Li stopped, and with a casual swipe of her hand in front of her, a red glow flashed. Zhang Han's hands, still gripping his spear, abruptly severed and fell straight to the ground.

Zu An and the two women beside him all widened their eyes in shock. Zhang Han was an utterly unbeatable existence to them; previously, he had effortlessly tormented them into begging for mercy. Yet now, Mi Li had severed his hands with just a wave of her sleeve?

The contrast was simply too immense, creating a powerful visual shock for all three.

Mi Li leisurely stroked her slender, delicate fingers, as if her previous action had made them dirty. Her red lips parted slightly as she slowly said, "Now, where shall I sever next?"

Zhang Han retreated several steps. However, he didn't show the expected terror, but rather a sense of grim determination. "Indeed, I am no match for you. But do you think His Majesty had no contingencies back then?"