Chapter 227: Magic / 6.14 : The new minister of rites
As they ate Yujin asked:
"How is grandmother?"
Atlas answered:
"She’s strong so I don’t doubt that she’ll be fine in a couple of days when all the darkness will be out."
Yitian asked:
"Atlas what truly happened that day?"
He and Yujin can tell that the day he disappeared something other than what Yan said happened. Atlas waved his hand and the twins looked in front of them at two apparitions stunned.
They could see through them, when they became clearer they saw that it was Atlas and Yan but they were younger. They were talking and Yan was telling Atlas that he was going to Beast Valley.
After failing to convince him not to go Atlas said that he’ll go with him. The apparition disappeared and the twins thought it was over until it reappeared again. They could recognize behind them Beast Valley.
They watched as Yan fought the ox humanoid after Atlas said to look for another beast until he ended up thrown against a tree and he passed out with a claw in his leg.
Atlas bent down to take the nucleus and at that time Yan woke up and they could see the worry in his eyes that Atlas might absorb it. Their eyes darkened when he used fire to throw the claw at Atlas’ nucleus.
After making sure Atlas was dead Yan absorbed the nucleus and left. Atlas waved his hand and the apparition disappeared. Yitian and Yujin looked at Atlas feeling guilty.
He had every reason to be mad at them. Atlas said:
"I have to tell you something."
The twins looked at Atlas nervously.
"The reason I didn’t come back sooner is that I had to become stronger. If I had Yan and Huang would’ve killed me and then dealt with my family. I knew that the only way they would be safe is if they thought that my father wasn’t a threat anymore since he didn’t have a mage son anymore. Yan and Huang are after the throne that’s why they did everything to get rid of me first so he would be the strongest mage in the empire. They planned on dealing with my family next because they know that he is loyal to the crown and he has half of the ministers on his side. The dark mage works for them and he is the one who created the darkness used to poison your family. He gave it to Yan and he used your relationship to poison your uncles, mother, and your father when you went to Beast Valley. When I found out about it your father was already poisoned and I wasn’t strong enough to save him yet. I knew that if I cultivated for a year I would be able to save your grandmother and I will."
The twins looked at Atlas stunned. Turns out all this time this person they cared for like a brother was the one who killed all the people they loved. The entire hall was filled with murderous auras.
Atlas said:
"I wish I would’ve been able to stop him sooner and save your father too."
The twins calmed down hearing that. Now they understand why Atlas told them to drink to potion in the cave and not to give it to anyone else.
He knew that it would have no effect on their father and he planned on coming back and saving their grandmother. He’s had their back since they first met and it means the world to them.
The twins caressed his cheeks. Yujin said:
"Thank you for always having our back even when we didn’t deserve it. You’re already doing more than anyone’s ever done for us."
Yitian said:
"We’re extremely grateful for everything you’ve done."
Atlas said:
"I would do anything for you."
It’s just a fact at this point. The twins’ hearts softened and they smiled. Yitian said:
"We would do anything for you too."
Atlas smiled. He said:
"I can’t imagine how hard finding out about all of this must be but I hope you’ll let me deal with the Beis and the dark mage".
The twins looked at each other than at Atlas. Yujin said:
"We’ll let you handle it and if you need our help we’ll be there."
Atlas kissed them.
"Thank you."
Er-Ge is vindictive so the fact that they’re letting him deal with them means a lot.
The twins smiled, Atlas has done everything in his power to protect them and their family so, of course, they’ll let him if that’s what he wants. They owe him.
Yan entered the court and walked to Yitian. He bowed to him and Yitian just looked at him expressionlessly. When he bowed to Yujin he had the same reaction. He took a seat worried.
Instead of sitting next to Yujin as usual he sat next to his father. It looks like the twins are angry at him. He only saw coldness in their eyes like he means nothing to them.
He looked down and bit his lip to stop himself from crying. Even if getting close to them helps him he genuinely loves them. They’ve always protected him and treated him as family.
He looked up stunned when Atlas entered with his father. They both bowed to the emperor. When Atlas stood up Yitian smiled at them and so did Yujin.
Yan looked at that furiously. It seems like the twins are treating Atlas well since he is Zihang’s son. They know that Zihang has half of the ministers under his control so they need to play nice with him.
Atlas took a seat next to Yujin and all the ministers looked at him confused. When everyone was there and the doors were closed the emperor said:
"Let’s start."
Huang lifted his hand and when Yitian nodded at him he stood up.
"Your majesty I don’t think it’s prudent to speak about the empire’s business in front of a civil let alone one who may be loyal to one of the neighboring kingdoms."
All the ministers on Huang’s side echoed his sentiment. Atlas smiled and said:
"You speak as though you know with certainty where I was all those years Huang."
Everyone was stunned to hear Atlas call Huang by his name like he isn’t his elder. Huang felt like teaching him a lesson but he calmed down and said:
"We’re in court call me by my title. The entire empire knows that you spent the past three years in the arms of a king, one of our neighbors."
Atlas said:
"You’re the minister of justice I would think that you would look for evidence instead of making assumptions based on rumors. Is that how you conduct your investigations? It probably is since you failed to find the dark mage for months now."
Atlas looked at him with a mocking smiled and Huang looked at him furiously. He was about to tell Zihang to get his son under control when he saw that he looked amused.
He can’t wait to destroy them both. Huang looked at the emperor.
"Your majesty court is private he shouldn’t attend it."
"He’s the new minister of rites yet you don’t believe he should attend court?"
Huang and Yan looked at the emperor shocked. The previous minister of rites retired because of his old age and they haven’t had one in a month already. But what does Atlas knows about overseeing ritual affairs?
They felt like the emperor only name him after Zihang asked. Huang’s hands tightened into fists. He doesn’t like that Zihang already runs the ministers and now he even has his son added to the ministry.
Huang looked into Atlas’ haughty eyes. Even if his reputation is destroyed he’ll still be a minister.
Atlas must die sooner than later, he’s nothing more than a magian now so it should be easy. Huang took back his seat and his eyes flashed in determination.
