Chapter 379: The Inheritor
Before long, that divine corpse was carried up by several great experts. Divine might radiated from it, but it was incomplete—shattered and broken, impossible to piece together.
The deity's head, however, was still intact, its features clearly visible.
"This is the deity I encountered, who claimed to come from the Upper Heavens."
The Yan-Kang Imperial Preceptor glanced at it and said, "His skill was extremely high. Our clash was a life-for-death struggle, and I only forced him back by risking everything. In turn, he crippled me."
The result of that battle was the Imperial Preceptor being completely ruined. Disheartened, he had planned to become a hermit and live in seclusion with his wife beside the Blood Lake. If Qin Mu hadn't found him, the Imperial Preceptor would likely have vanished from the world entirely.
Qin Mu examined the head and was slightly startled. This deity's head gave him a familiar feeling.
The head seemed to be carved from fine jade. Though dead, it still bore no flaws whatsoever.
It looked very young, with no discernible age. But gods share the lifespan of heaven and earth, making it hard to judge their true age from appearance alone.
"This deity's head somewhat resembles..."
Qin Mu's expression turned strange. This god bore a resemblance to Xu Shenghua!
Not in facial features, but in that Xu Shenghua was also a perfect figure, as if carved from flawless jade, exquisitely refined.
This head was also so exquisite it didn't seem human—it seemed like a jade sculpture!
"Could this blasted god be Xu Shenghua's master, Jade Lord, whom he once mentioned?"
Qin Mu's eyes widened. Xu Shenghua's master, Jade Lord, had very likely been blasted to death by Emperor Yanfeng's cannon!
"Jade Lord was the one who brought calamity to Yan-Kang, so he deserved to die. But I wonder how Xu Shenghua will react when he finds out?"
Qin Mu thought it over and said nothing. He didn't plan to reveal this. If Emperor Yanfeng learned that Jade Lord was Xu Shenghua's master, he would surely kill Xu Shenghua to eliminate future trouble.
Emperors never cared about the rules of the martial world.
Qin Mu admired Xu Shenghua and didn't want him to die.
Emperor Yanfeng laughed. "Minister Qin, forging the Sun-Shooting Divine Cannon was a great achievement. I haven't rewarded you yet. I'll grant you this deity's head as a gift."
"No, thank you!"
Emperor Yanfeng's expression darkened. He snorted, feeling his dignity was compromised. Qin Mu quickly smiled and said, "In this god-slaying battle, I contributed nothing. How could I take the lion's share? Your Majesty's cannon fire must have consumed a great deal of medicinal stone. This trophy should go into the national treasury."
These words were much more pleasing, giving the emperor face before his ministers.
Emperor Yanfeng was delighted and laughed. "My minister understands the greater good. I won't force you. I'll count your merit for forging the Sun-Shooting Divine Cannon as a donation to the treasury."
Qin Mu's face immediately darkened.
Emperor Yanfeng laughed heartily, then remembered the medicinal stone the Sun-Shooting Divine Cannon had consumed and felt a pang of pain. Firing it was exhilarating, but the cost was terrifying.
In this battle between gods and demons, Emperor Yanfeng had led the court's experts, piloting the cannon platform from the capital to this location. Maintaining the Sun-Shooting Divine Cannon's flight alone consumed far more medicinal stone than firing a single shot!
Although the Yan-Kang Imperial Preceptor and Ling Yushu had brought many treasures from the Man-Di and Lang-Ju-Xu nations, the Sun-Shooting Divine Cannon was an insatiable abyss, a gold-devouring beast that could bankrupt a nation if used too long.
"This is the first god my Yan-Kang has slain!"
Emperor Yanfeng looked up at the sky and sneered. "There may be a second, a third in the future! My subjects are not fish to be sliced, and I am no coward for these gods to manipulate as they please! Return to the capital!"
The Sun-Shooting Divine Cannon slowly turned. Qin Mu hesitated, then said, "Your Majesty, I have some minor matters to attend to and need to stay here for a while..."
Emperor Yanfeng looked at him. "Minister, do you know the experts who fought those gods? Do you want to stay and meet them?"
Qin Mu nodded. "They are some elders from my home."
Emperor Yanfeng smiled ambiguously. "You have quite a few elders at home. Can you introduce them to me? The nation is in need of talent. I would very much like to meet these extraordinary experts."
Qin Mu quickly pointed at Wang Muran. "Some of them are probably elders from their family. My elders don't like meeting outsiders. Your Majesty should ask about their elders."
Wang Muran shook his head. "Your Majesty, our elders don't like meeting outsiders either."
Emperor Yanfeng's face turned ashen.
The Yan-Kang Imperial Preceptor coughed, standing beside him, and leaned in slightly as if casually, whispering in Emperor Yanfeng's ear, "The elders from both families are extraordinary. On one side are the mysterious experts of the old Human Sovereign and Heavenly Blade, living in seclusion in the Great Ruin. On the other is Little Jade Capital. Your Majesty cannot recruit them."
Emperor Yanfeng was startled and grew cautious. He knew of Little Jade Capital—though reclusive, its status surpassed even the Three Sacred Lands, housing some unfathomable old immortals. And the Imperial Preceptor had ranked Qin Mu's family above Little Jade Capital. Could it be a sacred land hidden in the Great Ruin?
"Imperial Preceptor, since there is an old Human Sovereign, what about the current Human Sovereign..."
The Yan-Kang Imperial Preceptor shook his head. "Those close to the water get the moon first. The current Human Sovereign cannot be Your Majesty."
Emperor Yanfeng's heart trembled. He looked at Qin Mu, his mind somewhat dazed.
Qin Mu took his leave again. Emperor Yanfeng hesitated, and the Imperial Preceptor knew his sovereign's thoughts—he had clearly developed a wariness toward Qin Mu, the new Human Sovereign.
"Your Majesty?" The Yan-Kang Imperial Preceptor coughed.
Emperor Yanfeng snapped back to reality and waved his hand. "Minister Qin, attend to your own affairs. You may withdraw."
Qin Mu leaped down from the cannon platform, and Wang Muran and the others quickly followed.
Emperor Yanfeng watched their retreating figures. The Imperial Preceptor stood silently behind him, then suddenly said, "Your Majesty had murderous intent?"
"For a moment."
Emperor Yanfeng made no attempt to hide it and admitted frankly, "He is the Heavenly Demon Sect Leader, which already made me wary. Though the Heavenly Demon Sect bears the word 'demon,' it is the foremost sect, nominally a school but effectively a nation—a state within my Yan-Kang. I've always been uneasy about employing him. Now that he has become the current Human Sovereign, I am even more unsettled."
He sighed. "The Heavenly Demon Sect Leader is so outstanding, so exceptional. Such a man is hard to control. My children cannot compete with him. When my lifespan runs out, heh, Yan-Kang will likely be his for the taking. So yes, I did have a thought of killing him."
He stood there, watching Qin Mu and the others disappear into the distance, his expression calm. "But now, that thought is gone."
Emperor Yanfeng looked up at the sky, his tone growing even calmer. "Imperial Preceptor, you and I are lord and subject, but in truth, we are brothers, heart to heart, both so extraordinary, so rare in this age. Our cooperation in reform and change has been like a small boat on stormy seas, nearly capsizing at any moment. I wonder—if we fail? If we die? Who will inherit our will?"
He turned, his expression fervent, raising his hands to grip the Imperial Preceptor's shoulders tightly, his eyes blazing bright. "I should not think only of my Ling family. I should think of Yan-Kang, of your and my cause, of the reform! So I cannot harbor murderous intent toward him! Your and my cause needs an inheritor—an inheritor for after we fail! My children lack the means, but he has them! Am I right, my Dao companion?"
At the word "Dao companion," the Imperial Preceptor seemed touched in his soul. He nodded slightly. "He has that ability."
Everyone knew he was the driving force behind the reform, single-mindedly pushing for change, wanting to become a sage who established teachings, merits, and words. But no one knew that he too had moments of weakness, of confusion, of wanting to retreat.
The one who gave him the greatest support, who kept him going, was this close friend of his.
Emperor Yanfeng was his best friend, his most reliable comrade-in-arms!
This bond was something others could not understand.
Dao companion.
In a lifetime, meeting such a Dao companion was enough.
"I will stand by your side."
The Yan-Kang Imperial Preceptor looked into the distance, his heart at peace. "Always by your side."
Qin Mu and the others returned to the palace that was almost bathed in spiritual energy and spiritual power. As soon as they landed, they saw several people waiting for them inside.
"Mu'er, come back to the Great Ruin with us."
Blind stood up, leaning on his staff, and walked over to Qin Mu, grabbing his hand firmly. "Butcher, Village Chief, no more discussion. Return to the Great Ruin. Immediately!"
Butcher rose abruptly, his two knives strapped to his back, and said coldly, "Blind, are you afraid?"
Blind sneered. "Afraid? I'm half in the grave. What am I afraid of? But you—are you afraid?"
Butcher was furious, like an enraged lion. "When have I ever been afraid of anyone?"
"Back when you barely survived, weren't you afraid?"
Blind mocked. "You crawled through the mud on your arms! I'm blind, but I'm not sightless. I know the fear in your heart!"
"Damn blind man, you weren't any better off back then!"
Butcher drew his knife, and Blind dropped Qin Mu's hand, gripping his bamboo staff. Both radiated murderous intent.
Qin Mu quickly stepped between them to stop a fight. Village Chief lay in a rocking chair, rubbing his forehead in frustration. "Enough! No more arguing! You two have always been the closest. Is it worth falling out over this? Old Butcher, Blind sees the clearest. He wants Mu'er to return to the village for his own good. Mute, you're usually quiet, but your words carry weight. What do you think?"
Qingyou Shanren waved, signaling Wang Muran and the others to come over. The three quickly approached him, and he whispered, "What's going on, Uncle-Master?"
"Emperor Yanfeng killed Jade Lord of the Upper Heavens," Qingyou Shanren said quietly.
Mu Qingdai was puzzled. "We know that. But why are these old masters arguing?"
Qingyou Shanren sighed. "If Jade Lord of the Upper Heavens had died at the hands of Little Jade Capital or the old Human Sovereign, it would just be a grudge between us and the Upper Heavens. But dying at Emperor Yanfeng's hands brings disaster upon Yan-Kang. Blind wants the Human Sovereign to return to the Great Ruin—a wise man doesn't stand beneath a crumbling wall. Heavenly Blade wants to stay in Yan-Kang and calls him a coward. They've been arguing about it for a while."
Inside the hall, Mute sat on a wooden box, took out a water pipe, lit it, took a puff, and blew out a cloud of white smoke. He squinted and said, "Ah, ah-ah."
"Mute makes sense."
Village Chief nodded. "Children have their own fortunes. We're all old and dying. There's no need to worry too much. How many more years can we live? Can we protect Mu'er forever?"
Blind stiffened his neck. "I just want him to come home, find a woman, have kids, and live a plain life! You couldn't accomplish what you set out to do—why should he? You had your limbs severed, and Big Guy had his lower body cut off! Mu'er did what you did, and everything below his neck was chopped off! Mu'er, let's go home!"