Chapter 5042: Seeking a way out Editor: Misty Cloud Translations For a mighty sovereign-level powerhouse to die without even knowing who struck the fatal blow—that would be a truly pathetic end. Hearing this, Feng Jiu arched an eyebrow, glancing at the two men. A faint smile touched her lips as she spoke calmly, "My name is Feng Jiu." Feng Jiu! The eyes of the two men from the Cheng family narrowed sharply. In that instant, they recognized the name. They stared in horror at the indifferent-faced woman in azure robes before them, their hearts churning with dread. Feng Jiu! The Phoenix Empress! It was her! Heavens! How had the Cheng family provoked such a figure? The elder staggered backward, his body swaying precariously. He seemed to age a decade in an instant, his face ashen as he muttered, "The Phoenix Empress... Heaven seeks to destroy the Cheng family. Heaven seeks to destroy us..." The middle-aged man’s face had also drained of color. He stared at Feng Jiu in her blue robes, at her ordinary, unremarkable features, and in that moment finally understood why they’d found no information about her. She had been disguised! The Phoenix Empress! Such a being was far beyond what the Cheng family could possibly oppose. She alone had slain the Emperor of Northern Flame, causing his entire realm to change hands overnight. This terrifying figure, known only through legend, now stood before them alive and well—and they had dared attempt to kill her! After all they’d done, could the Cheng family possibly survive? "I dare not trouble Your Majesty to strike. This old man... this old man will take his own life!" The elder trembled as he spoke, looking at Feng Jiu. "I know the Cheng family faces inevitable doom. I only beg Your Majesty to show mercy and spare our descendants. I would be eternally grateful." With that, he collapsed to his knees with a thud, performing the full kneeling bow before Feng Jiu. After three loud kowtows, he raised his hand to strike the crown of his own skull. "Pfft!" A mouthful of blood spurted forth as his entire body slumped backward. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶 Watching the old man strike his own crown, the middle-aged man’s heart trembled. Pressing his lips together, he knelt beside the old man’s body and performed a deep bow toward Feng Jiu: "Please, Phoenix Empress, show mercy and spare the lives of the Cheng family’s descendants." Before Feng Jiu could respond, he struck his own crown. Blood splattered as the middle-aged man collapsed. With that, the courtyard fell silent. No one spoke. Not even the sound of breathing could be heard. Only the gentle night breeze stirred, dispersing the lingering scent of blood in the air... Feng Jiu gazed at the two corpses, her eyes flickering slightly. These men, knowing their fate was sealed, still sought a path to survival for the future generations of the Cheng family. Their devotion was, in its own way, admirable. She exhaled softly, tossing the sword beside the woman’s body before turning to Song Lingbo. "We’ll depart tomorrow," she said calmly. "We’ll stop by the Cheng residence to handle your final troubles. You may dispose of these bodies yourselves." With that, she made no further stay, striding back toward the rear courtyard. After watching her leave, Song Lingbo stepped forward, gathered the belongings from the corpses, and handed them to his eldest son. "Take these to Lady Xuanyuan," he instructed. "And tell your mother that everything is settled. She needn’t worry." "Understood," Song Yihong replied. Taking the items, the three brothers departed together.