CHAPTER 525: 207 WITNESS MIRACLE_3

She was determined to break the shackles imposed on women by this world; she wanted to be the first to do so.

For over a decade, she had built up her strength, biding her time. As a Commandery Princess, her mission had been completed. Now, she would use her own death as a gambit in a game of chess—who would emerge victorious would depend on their own skill.

Stripped of the glamorous ceremonial robes of a Princess, she became the cunning and ruthless leader of a martial arts organization. The wandering jianghu, despised and overlooked by those in high places, was her sharpest weapon, ready to cut through the final façade of this decaying dynasty.

A humble carriage traveled steadily along a country road. A bamboo leaf floated lazily to the ground under the sunlight.

Within the small bamboo grove, danger lurked everywhere.

Arrows shot toward the carriage from all directions. In an instant, the mechanisms of the seemingly simple carriage activated. Steel plates rose, perfectly deflecting all incoming projectiles.

Assassins descended; the coachman pulled out a curved blade and began killing without uttering a word.

The blade rose and fell; the strikes were clean and efficient.

Blood stained the bamboo leaves crimson.

"Azhong, leave one alive."

From inside the carriage came a serene, gentle female voice, completely incongruent with the hellish slaughter unfolding in the scene. It was precisely this stark contrast that sent chills down one’s spine.

What kind of cold-hearted soul could speak so gracefully and calmly in such circumstances?

The wind lifted the curtain; the black veil shifted slightly, revealing a glimpse of the face beneath the brimmed hat.

Her beauty was like jade trees adorned with snowy blossoms, cold and radiant as the moonlight.

The setting sun hung low on the horizon, pale and blood-like in its desolation.

The scene mirrored the corpses scattered across the ground—terrifying in its starkness.

The woman sighed regretfully, "Time to clean house."

These six words, spoken softly and tenderly, carried an undercurrent of infinite menace, making all who heard them shiver and their scalps prickle.

The truly ruthless don’t smear their eyes with smoky makeup or shout cruel words with exaggerated expressions.

They’re like this woman before them—the gentler she appeared, the more terrifying she became.

This was the pinnacle of acting.

"Cut." Huang Chu beamed and said, "That’s a wrap. Everyone take ten minutes to rest."

A collective gasp swept through the crew—one take, flawless.

A hand extended from inside the carriage, lifting the curtain.

Before the staff could bring over the step stool, they saw the young woman leap gracefully from the carriage. Her movements were fluid and precise, and the arc her dress carved through the air was so beautiful it left onlookers awed.

Gao Yuyue hurried over with a water cup, unscrewing the lid and handing it to Shen You’an. A straw was inserted into the cup—not only practical but necessary given Shen You’an’s current costume and makeup.

"An’an, you were amazing! I couldn’t believe it was your first time acting—it was even better than seasoned professionals. I got completely immersed just now."

Shen You’an didn’t react one way or the other.

A decade of honing the blade—who knew how sharp her sword had become?

"Hand me the script."

That morning, Shen You’an had received a new script. The scenes were few but impactful, demanding strong acting skills. It was a bold move for Shi Wen and Huang Chu to entrust these pivotal moments to her.

With the script in hand, Shen You’an walked to a corner and began to study the next scene.

Even though she already knew her lines by heart, there were many subtleties that required careful reflection.

The character she was portraying wasn’t a surface-level malicious side character. Ambitious, yes; not a pure-hearted person, but neither was she a caricatured villain.

In this wuxia drama, the role involved no martial arts scenes—only dramatic dialogue. She relied on her wit and cunning to stir chaos in the jianghu while earning unwavering loyalty through sheer charisma, inspiring killers to sacrifice everything for her.

This complexity made the character more layered. The performance couldn’t be purely superficial; the role demanded a refined portrayal—dependant on subtle expressions, delivery, and genuine presence to convey intensity.

Ten minutes passed. Shen You’an put down the script, smoothed her skirt, and stood up.

Scene transition: This time, they moved indoors, to a drafty, derelict temple.

The temple served as the organization’s secret meeting spot.

At this moment, tensions were boiling over inside the temple.

Believing their leader to be dead, a traitor eagerly tried to seize power but faced fierce opposition from others.

An abandoned temple located in the wilderness—the misty gray sky and steady drizzle conspired to intensify the gloomy atmosphere.

A woman cloaked in black quietly approached the temple, holding an oil-paper umbrella.

Without making a sound, she observed the verbal skirmish unfolding within.

Some were devout followers of their leader, loyal unto death. Others betrayed their trust, turning traitor. Some were opportunistic, hoping to cling to whoever seemed stronger.

In this humble, ruined temple, the multifaceted nature of humanity revealed itself.

The woman closed her umbrella and placed it by the wall—a small gesture that nonetheless reflected her innate elegance and refinement.

"Hah, do you really believe the leader will return? She had so many enemies—she was surely killed under someone else’s blade long ago. Be smart and—"

"Be smart and what?"

A boom of thunder exploded across the sky, startling everyone into spinning around in fear.