Chapter 126: Chapter 122: The Emperor with a Flying Sword Through His Heart
In the Capital City of the Yan Kingdom, a legend has been circulating for over a decade: that Immortals appear on Soul-shaking Mountain in the Wu Kingdom.
In truth, most people in the Yan Kingdom knew little about the Wu Kingdom.
After all, the Yan and Wu Kingdoms did not share a border, and the Qi Kingdom lay between them.
Many people in the Yan Kingdom only knew that a country called the "Wu Kingdom" existed in Momenan.
As for where "Soul-shaking Mountain" was located, they were completely in the dark.
So, some people found it strange that a legend about Immortals appearing in the Wu Kingdom would be circulating in the Capital City of the Yan Kingdom.
Some people were clearly hearing it for the first time.
Yet when they asked around, they were told the rumor had been circulating in the Capital City for at least a decade.
All in all, there was something bizarre about the whole affair.
However, given the incredibly tense political situation in the Yan Kingdom, this strangeness was quickly overlooked.
At this time, everyone in the Capital City was fraught with anxiety.
Two years ago, the Emperor of the Yan Kingdom had gone mad.
One day in the throne room, the Emperor had suddenly drawn his ceremonial dress sword and begun to indiscriminately slaughter the court officials.
Although the Guards tried their utmost to stop him, they dared not raise their weapons against the Emperor, so their efforts were largely ineffective.
Furthermore, the Emperor’s Martial Arts were surprisingly superb; below the Innate realm, he was nearly unrivaled.
Only after the great hall was flowing with rivers of blood and strewn with severed limbs did the Emperor toss aside his sword, sit upon a corpse, and begin to wail, muttering something as he cried.
He wept so sorrowfully, his breath so ragged, that it was difficult for anyone to make out what he was saying.
They could only faintly make out two words: "Meng Ran."
Those with good memories then recalled that the Imperial Family once had a Princess whose personal name seemed to be "Meng Ran."
As for how a Princess’s personal name had been leaked, that was another muddled affair entirely.
That Princess was the reigning Emperor’s own younger sister.
It was said that the two had been very close in their youth.
But more than twenty years ago, the Princess had contracted a sudden illness. Despite consulting many Imperial Physicians, she could not be cured and passed away that very night.
Yet for some unknown reason, though more than twenty years had passed, only now was the Emperor overwhelmed with grief for the Princess.
After the Emperor’s massacre of the court officials, the governance of the Yan Kingdom fell into chaos.
For the past two years, the Emperor had remained hidden deep within the palace, no longer holding court.
A few capable members of the Royal Family and some ministers wanted to restore order, but they were constrained from all sides, willing but powerless.
They could only watch as the government, as if sinking into a mire, rotted away day by day.
However, several days ago, while the Emperor was deep within the palace, dead drunk and engaged in some unknown debauchery with a group of eunuchs and concubines, he suddenly passed away.
All sorts of rumors and gossip began to run rampant.
Some said the Emperor suffered a fatal stroke while carousing with a concubine and could not be revived.
Others said that after drinking, the Emperor had been staggering by a pond, accidentally fell in, and by the time he was pulled out, he was already breathing his last and died shortly thereafter.
Still others claimed, with convincing detail, that the Emperor had been poisoned by a malicious eunuch.
Then there was the most absurd rumor of all, which claimed that the Emperor was tearfully crying out "Meng Ran’s" name when, in a fit of agitation, he pointed to the sky and cursed, "If We find out which bastard deserving of a thousand cuts harmed you, We will exterminate their ten generations! All the men shall be put to death by a thousand cuts, and all the women shall be sent to the Music Bureau..."
Before the words had even left his mouth, myriad streams of Sword Qi suddenly descended from the heavens, piercing the Emperor and the few eunuchs closest to him with thousands of holes.
But this tale was simply too absurd—not even the boldest novelist would dare write such a thing—so those who heard it merely laughed it off.
In short, the Yan Kingdom was now without a leader. The various Princes were busy vying for the throne, and the Capital City was in chaos. Hooligans were already taking advantage of the turmoil to burn, kill, and plunder, and the troops garrisoned near the capital seemed to be stirring restlessly...
The Yan Kingdom was perhaps on the verge of descending into a great chaos unseen in a century.
~~~~~~~~~~~
「Meanwhile, in the southernmost part of the Qi Kingdom.」
In a place beyond the sight of mortal eyes, a magnificent and exquisitely decorated Flying Boat was speeding through the clouds.
Protected by several Arrays, the people inside the Flying Boat could sit and converse peacefully, unaffected by the fierce winds outside.
Gu Xiaofang and Luo Jinyu had both ridden on flying-type Magical Artifacts before.
Although they were amazed by the Flying Boat’s opulent design and lavish decorations, which had clearly cost a fortune, they remained composed.
In the middle of the Flying Boat, however, an old couple dressed as a farmer and his wife had terror in their eyes and could not sit still.
Only when their gazes fell upon their son, who stood at the prow of the boat, did they feel a little more at ease.
Two years ago, their son had appeared for a few days before leaving in a hurry.
Although their son had told them he had obtained an immortal’s fortune and would soon return to take them away to live a blessed life, the old couple had simply thought he was spouting nonsense.
But it didn’t matter if it was nonsense. As long as their son was alright, living safe and sound somewhere in the world, that was their greatest comfort.
Unexpectedly, a few days ago, just as turmoil broke out in the Capital City, their son had descended from the sky on this Flying Boat, causing all the surrounding villagers to faint.
Only then did they realize that everything their son had said was true.
Now, they were going with their son to enjoy that blessed immortal life.
The old couple were not quick-witted people, but they possessed the simple wisdom passed down through generations of common folk.
They had a vague feeling that even though their son had truly found an immortal’s fortune, it might not necessarily be a good thing for them.
The old couple’s dream was actually very simple.
They only wished for a house full of children and grandchildren, to tend their crops each day, and to dote on their grandchildren in their spare time.
To live an ordinary life.
This "blessed immortal life" was not something they actually valued much.
But now, it seemed this very ordinary dream of theirs would likely never be realized.
~~~~~~~~~
「Chongzhen Sect.」
Master Wan Shi, who was on duty, opened her beautiful eyes, her brow furrowing in confusion.
"Say that again. What did the visitor call himself?"
The Elder reporting from below dared not raise his head as he said respectfully, "The visitor claims to be from the Demon Blood... ah, the Holy Blood Sect. He is Yu Fei, a Senior Steward of their External Affairs Hall and the Garrison of the Wu Kingdom."
Master Wan Shi contemplated for a moment before asking, "Did he state the purpose of his visit?"
The Elder below replied, "He only said that as the Garrison of the Wu Kingdom, he wished to visit the largest Sect in the Wu Kingdom to pay his respects before officially taking up his post. How ridiculous! A Demon Child coming to our Profound Sects Orthodox Sect... who knows what schemes he’s plotting! Master, I believe there’s no need to waste words on him. Should I go and send him away?"
Master Wan Shi frowned and remained silent.
After a long moment, she said, "For the past thousand years, no Garrison of the Wu Kingdom has ever set foot in our Sect. We’ve always minded our own business. However, since he is the Garrison of the Wu Kingdom and has come to pay a visit, it would be improper for us to be discourteous."
The Elder below looked baffled. "Master, you mean to say we should receive him? But what standard of ceremony should we use?"
"Use the standard for... welcoming a special envoy from the Taihe Sect."
"What?"
Soon, the welcoming party, personally led by the Guardian Supreme Elder, Master Wan Shi, arrived at the entrance to the Blessed Land.
In the procession, flags and banners fluttered amid a sea of ornate canopies. Luan bird-shaped Spiritual Artifacts flew ahead to lead the way, while in the center, sixteen pegasus-shaped Flying Spiritual Artifacts pulled two Jade Chariots of openwork gold and trailing clouds. A hundred more disciples on Miscellaneous Tasks beat gongs and drums, playing flutes and making music.
Not even the processions of emperors in the Mortal World could match such pomp and pageantry.
