“Jiangcheng, I'm back again.”
In the backseat of the speeding jeep, Evelyn Moon stared at the city ahead, her thoughts a tangled mess.
It had been six years, but now she was back.
The familiar streets brought a flood of memories.
She’d once had the perfect childhood—loving parents, a happy home. Until she turned five. That year, her aunt’s family turned against her parents over the family fortune.
They didn't survive.
And just like that, control of the Moon family fell into the hands of her aunt. Evelyn, just a child, was dumped in the mountains, left to fend for herself.
By some miracle, she’d been rescued and taken to Luoyun Orphanage, where life was tough, but at least stable.
Then when she was twelve, her uncle found out she was still alive and tried sneaking into the orphanage to kill her. He didn’t make it out alive.
All the evidence pointed to Evelyn. She got slapped with a 20-year sentence.
At thirteen, she vanished from prison under mysterious circumstances, only to reappear six months later at the borderlands. Alone, she wiped out elite warriors from ten countries in one battle, earning her a name that echoed across borders.
By fourteen, she’d founded Moon Palace, a global powerhouse, and took the title “Mandrake”—a name others only dared to whisper.
Fifteen saw her once again on the battlefield, effortlessly turning the tide and forcing an army of millions to retreat. Three million miles of land, reclaimed.
Now eighteen, decorated with honor after honor… she was officially crowned Summer Nation’s first female War Goddess—a title only she was worthy of.
“Your Highness, we’ve arrived,” Ethan Black said from up front, yanking her back to the present.
Ethan—one of Moon Palace’s four Guardians—was also a high-ranking general in Summer Nation’s military. A man whose presence alone could shake entire regions.
Still, even he stood respectfully before Evelyn.
“Got it.”
She stepped out as the car door swung open. Dressed in black from head to toe, the cut of her outfit outlined her striking figure—a blend of elegance and danger.
Her eyes lifted to the orphanage's worn gate with its crooked sign: "Luoyun Orphanage."
She couldn’t help the wave of emotion that hit her.
Those ugly, lopsided letters? She and her brothers had painted them one stroke at a time when they were kids. She never expected they’d survive all these years.
“Please, mister, don’t hit me… Don’t tear down the orphanage,” a tiny voice begged from inside.
Evelyn’s steps quickened.
Up ahead, a bunch of sketchy-looking thugs were harassing and shoving a group of terrified kids.
Smack!
The leader slapped a young boy across the face. “Shut it! This dump’s getting bulldozed today! And you little runts better get used to begging on the street!”
“Touch him again and you’re all dead,” Evelyn said coldly.
Her soft tone barely finished when the front gate groaned—and then slammed down with a thunderous crash.
Boom!
The man didn’t even get to finish his sentence. The giant gate flattened him on the spot, knocking him out cold.
Half-buried in the metal over the gate? A purple sigil, glowing faintly.
“Who the hell?!”
The sudden attack sent the rest of the gang into a panic. They all turned toward the gate.
That’s when Evelyn stepped into view.
One of them, a red-haired punk, gave her a once-over. Nice body, he had to admit. Too bad her black and purple style screamed backwoods fashion disaster.
He sneered, “Where’d this hillbilly chick come from?”