Legend of Dragon Son-in-law

Chapter 2669: Chapter 2669: Scheming

Julius Reed was utterly unprepared for the way Emperor Azure River and the Swordsman would meet.

In the wilderness, amidst a forest.

On one side stood Emperor Azure River, clad in white, exuding righteousness, while on the other side was the Swordsman, simply dressed, even somewhat ragged, holding a chicken leg in one hand and a bottle of wine in the other.

There was a hint of worry in Emperor Azure River’s expression.

As if he was concerned over the world’s woes.

Yet the Swordsman seemed indifferent, moving with carefree ease.

Their personalities and actions created a stark contrast.

It was hard to imagine such two people actually encountering each other.

"Want some?" The Swordsman raised the meat and wine in his hand.

"Not in the mood." Emperor Azure River shook his head and bent down, squatting in front of the Swordsman.

He watched the Swordsman bite after bite, eating meat, yet showed no emotional fluctuation.

But neither did he speak.

Simply continuing to wait.

"How did you find me?" finally, when the Swordsman had eaten enough, he raised his head, wiped his greasy mouth with his sleeve, and asked, "You know me?"

"Not knowing is rather difficult." Emperor Azure River spoke with great poise, without any trace of flippant behavior.

Even now, he was already known as Emperor Azure River.

"In today’s martial arts world, they call them the Three Emperors. It’s unprecedented!" The Swordsman pointed at Emperor Azure River: "In the past, there was only the King of the Nine Provinces among mortal emperors. But now, there’s you, and another of you."

"Three Emperors standing equal, unbelievable."

The Swordsman stood up and threw the bone away.

"Those are empty titles, meaningless." Emperor Azure River shook his head, his face revealing no joy or sorrow: "I don’t care about empty titles. I know you because my relationship with the King of the Nine Provinces isn’t shallow. I’ve reviewed the secret documents over the years and discovered a person like you."

"He never appeared, but behind every major event, there was his shadow."

"And that person, is you." Emperor Azure River pointed at the Swordsman: "I couldn’t be mistaken."

"So do you know..."

The Swordsman’s words were cut off.

"I know, those who you’ve treated as pawns have never met a good end." Emperor Azure River spoke with utmost calm: "Without exception."

"Am I heartless?" The Swordsman chuckled, hugging his sword, curious to hear Emperor Azure River’s next words.

"The heartless are often the most loving. Others may have feelings, but you hold the world in your heart." Emperor Azure River bowed deeply to the Swordsman with great respect: "Please, guide me! I am willing to sacrifice my life, to break this world! To break these shackles!"

"You’ve found the wrong person." The Swordsman smiled indifferently, seemingly unimpressed by Emperor Azure River’s flattery.

Even if this was Emperor Azure River, a ruler revered as a saint among mortals.

Yet the Swordsman still didn’t care.

He even issued an order to leave.

"Please, show me a clear path."

Emperor Azure River sighed and slowly knelt before the Swordsman.

"A great man bows to heaven and earth, to parents. But now, for the people of the world, I seek your guidance!"

He clasped his hands earnestly.

"Do you know the consequences of being my pawn?" The Swordsman smiled indifferently: "What you think you know, you actually don’t. If given the chance, no one would willingly encounter me. Because in my eyes, there is only strategy. Man is not human, but a tool for me to achieve my goals."

"You’d better leave, live well, and do what you wish to the best of your ability. As for whether you succeed, that depends on your own fate."

"Many of you are like this, aren’t you? As long as before you die, you believe you’ve fought all your life, even if all you fought for was failure, you’d feel you’ve died for the right cause."

The Swordsman spoke with no restraint: "Chasing fame! And you dare speak of righteousness?"

"Then what qualifies one to speak of righteousness?"

Emperor Azure River placed a hand on his temples: "If I am willing to give up my life, does that prove I’m not afraid to be your pawn?"

The forest fell into silence.

Julius Reed, as an observer, was actually somewhat curious about the encounter between the two.

"Talk about how you found me." The Swordsman sat back down, appearing willing to converse.

Seeing the Swordsman’s attitude, Emperor Azure River’s anxious heart finally relaxed.

As he was about to stand up, he felt a bit dizzy.

"Apologies." Emperor Azure River spoke politely.

"It’s nothing. Anemia can only be dealt with slowly." The Swordsman’s offhand remark caused Emperor Azure River’s face to change dramatically.

"Don’t rush, answer my question first." The Swordsman gestured for him to sit down.

"I previously reviewed historical records, the King of the Nine Provinces even showed me top-secret files. This was originally against protocol. Because if it got out, he would have to step down and be executed!"

"The King of the Nine Provinces holds authority, only the reigning King of the Nine Provinces can view the archives of previous kings. But he made an exception and showed me. So I know there is a person, and that person is you."

"As for tracking, that’s much simpler. I summarized and discovered you have a pattern—no pattern. And to meet you, I had to be where there are no people."

"Fortunately, I checked, and each time you appeared, it was about every ten thousand years. Ten thousand years is a cycle, enough for many things to happen in the world."

"So, I speculated you would appear within these ten years."

"Thus, I began searching for where you might appear. Every time you acted, the dead were true monarchs, were the King of the Nine Provinces, and in the borderlands of these Nine Provinces, finding someone without identity is simple."

"It can’t be anyone else but you."

"That is my view."

After Emperor Azure River finished speaking, he awaited a response.

"Well said, very accurate!"

The Swordsman gave a thumbs-up.

"Did I guess right?" Emperor Azure River felt a touch of joy.

He felt being recognized by the person before him was an honor.

After all, this was the person in legend who could alter the world’s course.

"It’s nothing, I want to tell you something." The Swordsman reached out, drawing a circle on the ground with his sword.

"What you thought was every ten thousand years, I did it deliberately. And the King of the Nine Provinces showing you this secret was because I spread the word, unless a suitable person was found, the one to die would be him."

"And you knowing this, is because the book on Blood Soul cultivation years ago was given by me."

"In other words, your ability to come here, seeking to be my pawn, was all part of my plan. Now, do you still think it was your willing decision?"

The Swordsman finished, and laughed heartily: "Weak blood isn’t a problem. Eat this, and then see."

With that, he handed over a chicken leg.

Seeing the chicken leg, Emperor Azure River’s eyes were filled with shock.

He couldn’t believe all his efforts had been calculated!

"Eat it." The Swordsman commanded: "This is the first test."

"Alright!" Without hesitation, Emperor Azure River took the chicken leg and took a fierce bite.