Upon hearing the thunderous cheers, the common people in the capital breathed a sigh of relief. Soon, the shops on the streets opened their doors again, and the martial law ended. However, all kinds of rumors also began to spread in the streets and alleys, and the people were all chatting about what had happened.
Yuan Hao wanted to discuss something about alchemy with Yunxiao, but when he saw the dark look on the latter’s face, he gave up the idea. After congratulating Zhang Qingfan and Xu Han, he brought his men and left, reporting back to the Firecrow Empire’s alchemist association.
Soon after, the whole capital was bustling with activity. Every house was hanging lanterns and putting up decorations, preparing for the ceremony that would be held in three days.
Some of the courtiers joined the preparation, while others who had chosen the wrong side all looked sad and sorrowful. They had been busy as well, hoping to board Qin Yue’s ship by asking help from others, but they were all rejected. Since then, they fidgeted day and night as if a great disaster was imminent.
And the Li Family had undoubtedly become the contributor of the highest prestige. A lot of people wanted to curry favor with them, but they were all stopped by guards at least a hundred meters away from the Li Residence, and no one was allowed to enter.
In the imperial palace, Qin Yue had changed into a five-claw dragon robe, and was pacing back and forth within the throne room, sitting down on the throne and standing up repeatedly while laughing.
Bai Mou had removed the sheet of thin satin that veiled her face. There were only two of them in the throne room, so she could be more relaxed. With a happy smile, she said, “After working for so many years, you have finally fulfilled your dream.”
“You get the most credit, Bai Mou,” Qin Yue said in a gentle voice. “It’s been hard for you all these years.”
Her face blushed a little, and she said shyly, “No, it should be Young Master Yun.”
Qin Yue’s face flickered suddenly, and his eyes flashed with a glimmer of light. “How do you think I should reward Li Yunxiao? Make him a king? Then what land should I give him?”
The smile on Bai Mou’s face froze. “Are you worried about him?”
Qin Yue stood up with a worried look on his face and paced down the throne room. “Li Yunxiao’s strength is mysterious, he has the support of two fourth-tier alchemists and two Martial Kings, and almost all the generals in the army are his men. If I make him a king, who will own the sovereignty of Tianshui in the future, the Qin Family or Li Family?”
Bai Mou was taken aback by his cold voice. “Your Highness, are you planning to get rid of Li Yunxiao?” she said in terror.
He gave her a look as a wan smile crossed his lips, “I do have this idea, but I lack the strength and courage!”
Shocked, Bai Mou said in a hurry, “Your Highness, you must not speak so freely. If others know…”
Qin Yue smiled and cut her off, “We are the only two people here, and I have only told you about this. Last time, you had performed divination for me and predicted that I would meet the benefactor of my life who would help me ascend to the throne. That prediction has proven to be true. Can you perform another divination on Li Yunxiao and see if he will pose a threat to me in the future?”
Bai Mou felt a warmth in her heart, knowing that he only told her about such an important thing. She gave him a sweet smile and said, “Sure, I will do it again!”
Divination was a kind of mystic art that hurt Primordial Qi, and some advanced predictions could directly hurt the diviner’s lifespan. Bai Mou knew she could not do it too many times, but she did it anyway for the sake of the one she loved.
She took out an ancient turtle shell from her ring and placed it on the floor. Then, she bit her fingertip and used her blood to draw several strange formations around it. Finally, she took out a few gold coins and placed them down. When she was done, she slapped the turtle shell with a palm. In the blink of an eye, shafts of golden light broke out if the formations, and the four golden coins jumped into the air, spinning rapidly around the shell.
Qin Yue narrowed his eyes slightly and watched from the side quietly, his face seemingly flickering with the shifting golden light cast on it.
Bai Mou’s pupils began to turn golden, as if she had established some kind of connection with the turtle shell. Soon after, the patterns on the shell seemed to be activated, as they began to reveal ancient, difficult to understand characters that jumped out and hovered in the void.
Just after the third character jumped out, however, the void over the shell seemed to be disturbed by some force and began to quiver. Bai Mou’s face turned as pale as a sheet instantly, with beads of sweat rolling down her cheeks.
“Bai Mou, what’s the matter?” Qin Yue was startled. He had seen her performing divination before, but he had never seen such a sign.
Puke!
Unable to hold on any longer, Bai Mou coughed out a mouthful of golden blood and fell on her back. The shell’s golden light faded away instantly, and the four coins fell back on the floor, losing all their color.
“Bai Mou!” Qin Yue hurried over and helped her up. “What happened?”
Some color had returned to her face, but her eyes were still filled with fear. In a trembling voice, she said, “I can’t see it…I can’t see anything. And there is a voice that keeps telling me in my heart that…if I continue, I will die!”
Astounded, Qin Yue quickly held Bai Mou in his arms and said, “Don’t be afraid! We won’t perform any more divination!”
With the look of terror still lingered in her eyes, Bai Mou said, “I’ve heard my Master say before that some people’s souls are the manifestation of the stars in the sky, and unless we have mastered the arts of celestials, we can never predict their future even at the cost of our entire lifespan. Could this Li Yunxiao be a heaven’s will?”
That gave Qin Yue a shock. Normally, the so-called heaven’s will referred to the sovereignty given by heaven, and only an emperor could address himself as heaven’s will. But, it was only a title used to fool and rule over the common people, and even the emperor did not believe it.
Suddenly, a faint voice came from the back of the throne room, “In that case, there is nothing to worry about.”
“Who goes there?”
Qin Yue and Bai Mou’s faces fell at the same time. The contents of their conversation were top secret, and they did not expect someone to be eavesdropping! If what they said were learned by Yunxiao, they would have to face serious consequences!
Zhang Qingfan pushed Qin Zheng out in a wheelchair. Qin Zheng’s face was beaming with health, and he seemed to have suddenly become several decades younger.
“Father? You…” Qin Yue froze for a moment, then said in surprise, “You look very healthy!”
Qin Zheng gave him a bitter smile, “Don’t be surprised, I can’t live much longer. I asked Qingfan to give me some stimulating drugs to keep me fresh at the end of my life.”
Shocked, Qin Yue asked, “Why?”
Qin Zheng sighed, “I’ve been in a daze over the years and have gradually forgotten a lot of things. I want to teach you something before I die.” He gave Bai Mou a look as he sighed again and said, “You were too careless in your conversation.”
Qin Yue and Bai Mou’s faces flickered. Looking at Zhang Qingfan’s cold face, they felt their hearts race. Everyone knew the other’s reverence for Yunxiao.
Zhang Qingfan knew at a glance what they were thinking, and he sneered, “Don’t worry, I won’t tell Young Master Yun! Even if I did, he will most likely just laugh it off.” His face grew cold as he went on, “But, I advise you never to plan about plotting against Young Master Yun in the future. Don’t even think about this dangerous idea. Otherwise, you will have to face an endless disaster!”
“Understood!” Qin Yue bowed his head and answered in a low voice.
Qin Zheng gave him a look as he smiled and said, “I know you must be a little dissatisfied, but Qingfan is right. You can plot against or kill anyone in Tianshui, but never offend those from the Li Family! Li Yunxiao is only fifteen years old, but he is already a three-stars Martial Master and a third-tier alchemist. No one has ever achieved something so incredible! A man like this will not stay in a small place like Tianshui. The wide world out there is where he is supposed to go.”
Qin Yue paused for a moment, then he said, “Thank you for the advice, Father. I will confer him the title of a king in tomorrow’s enthronement ceremony. Which piece of land should I reward him?”
“Just a random piece of land, but try pick the most fertile one.”
“A random one?” Qin Yue did not understand.
Zhang Qingfan could not help but shake his head. “Your Highness, don’t you think the stronger Young Master Yun is, the better it is for you? When he becomes a fourth-tier alchemist or even higher, do you think both he and his family will still be interested in the throne or land? In fact, I believe after Your Highness ascends the throne, the Li Family will gradually withdraw from the political scene of Tianshui.”
Qin Zheng said, “Qingfan is right. Be relaxed, no matter how flowers bloom and wilt, take it naturally no matter how clouds flow high and low. This is the way of life pursued by experts like them, and it has been proven over time. Alas, it’s a pity that I didn’t understand this in the past, which caused Yang Di to leave with resentment and cost Tianshui its greatest opportunity.”
“Your Highness, try to think about Jutian Sect’s position and you will understand,” Zhang Qingfan added. “In the beginning, Jutian Sect was also just an aristocratic family of the Firecrow Empire, but it has now completely withdrawn from politics and become a great power on the Heavenly Martial Continent, a super existence that we normal people need to look up to.”
“I understand now!” Qin Yue saw that in an instant, and the knot in his heart resolved. He quickly bowed and said, “Thank you, Father and Master Zhang!”
“You are still young and have a lot to learn. It’s a pity that I’d been bewitched by the throne over the years, which had led to the conflict between you and your elder brother. And now, I don’t have much time left to teach you… Qingfan, Commander Bai, you may leave us for now. I’d like to talk to Yue’er alone.”
Zhang Qingfan sighed. He took one look at his old friend, who had been with him for many years, and then left the throne room with Bai Mou, leaving the father and the son behind.
Several hours later, Qin Yue walked out of the hall, his face sad and tears in his eyes. There was a lonely look on Zhang Qingfan’s face as he sighed under his breath.
Shocked, Bai Mou asked, “His Majesty…”
Qin Yue breathed a long sigh as he looked up at the sky and said, “Father passed away!”
Upon hearing the thunderous cheers, the common people in the capital breathed a sigh of relief. Soon, the shops on the streets opened their doors again, and the martial law ended. However, all kinds of rumors also began to spread in the streets and alleys, and the people were all chatting about what had happened.
Yuan Hao wanted to discuss something about alchemy with Yunxiao, but when he saw the dark look on the latter’s face, he gave up the idea. After congratulating Zhang Qingfan and Xu Han, he brought his men and left, reporting back to the Firecrow Empire’s alchemist association.
Soon after, the whole capital was bustling with activity. Every house was hanging lanterns and putting up decorations, preparing for the ceremony that would be held in three days.
Some of the courtiers joined the preparation, while others who had chosen the wrong side all looked sad and sorrowful. They had been busy as well, hoping to board Qin Yue’s ship by asking help from others, but they were all rejected. Since then, they fidgeted day and night as if a great disaster was imminent.
And the Li Family had undoubtedly become the contributor of the highest prestige. A lot of people wanted to curry favor with them, but they were all stopped by guards at least a hundred meters away from the Li Residence, and no one was allowed to enter.
In the imperial palace, Qin Yue had changed into a five-claw dragon robe, and was pacing back and forth within the throne room, sitting down on the throne and standing up repeatedly while laughing.
Bai Mou had removed the sheet of thin satin that veiled her face. There were only two of them in the throne room, so she could be more relaxed. With a happy smile, she said, “After working for so many years, you have finally fulfilled your dream.”
“You get the most credit, Bai Mou,” Qin Yue said in a gentle voice. “It’s been hard for you all these years.”
Her face blushed a little, and she said shyly, “No, it should be Young Master Yun.”
Qin Yue’s face flickered suddenly, and his eyes flashed with a glimmer of light. “How do you think I should reward Li Yunxiao? Make him a king? Then what land should I give him?”
The smile on Bai Mou’s face froze. “Are you worried about him?”
Qin Yue stood up with a worried look on his face and paced down the throne room. “Li Yunxiao’s strength is mysterious, he has the support of two fourth-tier alchemists and two Martial Kings, and almost all the generals in the army are his men. If I make him a king, who will own the sovereignty of Tianshui in the future, the Qin Family or Li Family?”
Bai Mou was taken aback by his cold voice. “Your Highness, are you planning to get rid of Li Yunxiao?” she said in terror.
He gave her a look as a wan smile crossed his lips, “I do have this idea, but I lack the strength and courage!”
Shocked, Bai Mou said in a hurry, “Your Highness, you must not speak so freely. If others know…”
Qin Yue smiled and cut her off, “We are the only two people here, and I have only told you about this. Last time, you had performed divination for me and predicted that I would meet the benefactor of my life who would help me ascend to the throne. That prediction has proven to be true. Can you perform another divination on Li Yunxiao and see if he will pose a threat to me in the future?”
Bai Mou felt a warmth in her heart, knowing that he only told her about such an important thing. She gave him a sweet smile and said, “Sure, I will do it again!”
Divination was a kind of mystic art that hurt Primordial Qi, and some advanced predictions could directly hurt the diviner’s lifespan. Bai Mou knew she could not do it too many times, but she did it anyway for the sake of the one she loved.
She took out an ancient turtle shell from her ring and placed it on the floor. Then, she bit her fingertip and used her blood to draw several strange formations around it. Finally, she took out a few gold coins and placed them down. When she was done, she slapped the turtle shell with a palm. In the blink of an eye, shafts of golden light broke out if the formations, and the four golden coins jumped into the air, spinning rapidly around the shell.
Qin Yue narrowed his eyes slightly and watched from the side quietly, his face seemingly flickering with the shifting golden light cast on it.
Bai Mou’s pupils began to turn golden, as if she had established some kind of connection with the turtle shell. Soon after, the patterns on the shell seemed to be activated, as they began to reveal ancient, difficult to understand characters that jumped out and hovered in the void.
Just after the third character jumped out, however, the void over the shell seemed to be disturbed by some force and began to quiver. Bai Mou’s face turned as pale as a sheet instantly, with beads of sweat rolling down her cheeks.
“Bai Mou, what’s the matter?” Qin Yue was startled. He had seen her performing divination before, but he had never seen such a sign.
Puke!
Unable to hold on any longer, Bai Mou coughed out a mouthful of golden blood and fell on her back. The shell’s golden light faded away instantly, and the four coins fell back on the floor, losing all their color.
“Bai Mou!” Qin Yue hurried over and helped her up. “What happened?”
Some color had returned to her face, but her eyes were still filled with fear. In a trembling voice, she said, “I can’t see it…I can’t see anything. And there is a voice that keeps telling me in my heart that…if I continue, I will die!”
Astounded, Qin Yue quickly held Bai Mou in his arms and said, “Don’t be afraid! We won’t perform any more divination!”
With the look of terror still lingered in her eyes, Bai Mou said, “I’ve heard my Master say before that some people’s souls are the manifestation of the stars in the sky, and unless we have mastered the arts of celestials, we can never predict their future even at the cost of our entire lifespan. Could this Li Yunxiao be a heaven’s will?”
That gave Qin Yue a shock. Normally, the so-called heaven’s will referred to the sovereignty given by heaven, and only an emperor could address himself as heaven’s will. But, it was only a title used to fool and rule over the common people, and even the emperor did not believe it.
Suddenly, a faint voice came from the back of the throne room, “In that case, there is nothing to worry about.”
“Who goes there?”
Qin Yue and Bai Mou’s faces fell at the same time. The contents of their conversation were top secret, and they did not expect someone to be eavesdropping! If what they said were learned by Yunxiao, they would have to face serious consequences!
Zhang Qingfan pushed Qin Zheng out in a wheelchair. Qin Zheng’s face was beaming with health, and he seemed to have suddenly become several decades younger.
“Father? You…” Qin Yue froze for a moment, then said in surprise, “You look very healthy!”
Qin Zheng gave him a bitter smile, “Don’t be surprised, I can’t live much longer. I asked Qingfan to give me some stimulating drugs to keep me fresh at the end of my life.”
Shocked, Qin Yue asked, “Why?”
Qin Zheng sighed, “I’ve been in a daze over the years and have gradually forgotten a lot of things. I want to teach you something before I die.” He gave Bai Mou a look as he sighed again and said, “You were too careless in your conversation.”
Qin Yue and Bai Mou’s faces flickered. Looking at Zhang Qingfan’s cold face, they felt their hearts race. Everyone knew the other’s reverence for Yunxiao.
Zhang Qingfan knew at a glance what they were thinking, and he sneered, “Don’t worry, I won’t tell Young Master Yun! Even if I did, he will most likely just laugh it off.” His face grew cold as he went on, “But, I advise you never to plan about plotting against Young Master Yun in the future. Don’t even think about this dangerous idea. Otherwise, you will have to face an endless disaster!”
“Understood!” Qin Yue bowed his head and answered in a low voice.
Qin Zheng gave him a look as he smiled and said, “I know you must be a little dissatisfied, but Qingfan is right. You can plot against or kill anyone in Tianshui, but never offend those from the Li Family! Li Yunxiao is only fifteen years old, but he is already a three-stars Martial Master and a third-tier alchemist. No one has ever achieved something so incredible! A man like this will not stay in a small place like Tianshui. The wide world out there is where he is supposed to go.”
Qin Yue paused for a moment, then he said, “Thank you for the advice, Father. I will confer him the title of a king in tomorrow’s enthronement ceremony. Which piece of land should I reward him?”
“Just a random piece of land, but try pick the most fertile one.”
“A random one?” Qin Yue did not understand.
Zhang Qingfan could not help but shake his head. “Your Highness, don’t you think the stronger Young Master Yun is, the better it is for you? When he becomes a fourth-tier alchemist or even higher, do you think both he and his family will still be interested in the throne or land? In fact, I believe after Your Highness ascends the throne, the Li Family will gradually withdraw from the political scene of Tianshui.”
Qin Zheng said, “Qingfan is right. Be relaxed, no matter how flowers bloom and wilt, take it naturally no matter how clouds flow high and low. This is the way of life pursued by experts like them, and it has been proven over time. Alas, it’s a pity that I didn’t understand this in the past, which caused Yang Di to leave with resentment and cost Tianshui its greatest opportunity.”
“Your Highness, try to think about Jutian Sect’s position and you will understand,” Zhang Qingfan added. “In the beginning, Jutian Sect was also just an aristocratic family of the Firecrow Empire, but it has now completely withdrawn from politics and become a great power on the Heavenly Martial Continent, a super existence that we normal people need to look up to.”
“I understand now!” Qin Yue saw that in an instant, and the knot in his heart resolved. He quickly bowed and said, “Thank you, Father and Master Zhang!”
“You are still young and have a lot to learn. It’s a pity that I’d been bewitched by the throne over the years, which had led to the conflict between you and your elder brother. And now, I don’t have much time left to teach you… Qingfan, Commander Bai, you may leave us for now. I’d like to talk to Yue’er alone.”
Zhang Qingfan sighed. He took one look at his old friend, who had been with him for many years, and then left the throne room with Bai Mou, leaving the father and the son behind.
Several hours later, Qin Yue walked out of the hall, his face sad and tears in his eyes. There was a lonely look on Zhang Qingfan’s face as he sighed under his breath.
Shocked, Bai Mou asked, “His Majesty…”
Qin Yue breathed a long sigh as he looked up at the sky and said, “Father passed away!”
