Chapter 631: Pardon and Kill
Xiao Yaohou's commanding voice echoed through Yaohuang Palace, instantly making everyone's expressions turn extremely ugly. Her voice had only mentioned Xuan Wang... which meant that the sinners kneeling in the hall were not to be dealt with collectively, but would be summoned one by one, individually!
The hearts of the crowd pounded even more violently. Facing Xiao Yaohou together, they still had some sense of solidarity, but being summoned alone... each person would do their utmost to atone for their crimes by laying out everything they knew about others' wrongdoings, and in order to survive, they would pledge loyalty at any cost...
Moreover, no one except themselves and Xiao Yaohou would know what they said, what they promised, or whom they betrayed...
If anyone said too little, or if their attitude of loyalty was insufficient, they would most likely be made an example of by Xiao Yaohou.
With Xiao Yaohou's current strength, killing someone was truly as simple as slaughtering a chicken.
In an instant, those who were already drenched in sweat now had sweat pouring down like rain, as they desperately racked their minds thinking about what they should say later. And during these seven days, the "united front" they had agreed upon, the "pact" to conceal each other's vile crimes, quietly crumbled in this cold, fearful atmosphere.
The first summoned, Xuan Wang, rose shakily and walked step by step toward the stone chamber under the varied gazes of the crowd. It was only about two hundred steps, but during that distance, he nearly collapsed at least three times. Every step felt like approaching the abyss of death.
In Yun Che's memory, Xuan Wang was short, fat, and always wearing a genial smile. But in just seven short days, he had visibly shrunk a whole circle. As soon as Xuan Wang entered the stone chamber, he fell to his knees with a thud, trembling all over like a sieve: "Your... Your Highness... the little prince pays respects to Xiao Yaohou... The little prince admits his guilt! But the crime rests solely on the little prince alone. My wife and children all advised me not to have any dealings with Huai Wang, but I was bewitched... It truly has nothing to do with anyone else in the prince's mansion."
"I beg Xiao Yaohou to kill only the little prince. The others in the mansion knew nothing at all; they are merely implicated by me... I beg Xiao Yaohou for mercy and spare my family... After the little prince is executed, I will be grateful in the underworld for eternity... I beg Xiao Yaohou for mercy..."
Xuan Wang's whole body trembled as he wept bitterly, his face filled with regret and terror. After making his pleas, he had already kowtowed seven or eight times to Xiao Yaohou, his forehead bloodstained.
"Did I say I was going to kill you? Are you so eager to die?" Xiao Yaohou said coldly.
Xuan Wang lifted his head, his expression frozen, unable to believe his ears.
"Hmph!" Xiao Yaohou snorted heavily and said in a low voice: "Over the past hundred years, your Xuan Wang mansion has committed no great merits, but also no faults. What is commendable is that during these years when my power waned and most of the prince mansions secretly sided with Huai Wang, your Xuan Wang mansion never betrayed me. Even your final submission to Huai Wang's mansion was only because you believed I was dead and had to act to protect the safety of your mansion."
"You, Xuan Wang, are guilty, but I am also guilty. My fault was that I was once too weak, so weak that those loyal to me were continuously oppressed and bullied by rebels. The fact that you never entertained thoughts of betrayal during the hundred years of my decline has more than shown your loyalty, and it is enough to cover up your mistakes over these past four months... Rise."
Xuan Wang's expression was dazed, tears in his eyes, unable to believe every word he heard. Ever since Xiao Yaohou had returned, every glance she gave made people feel as if falling into an icy abyss, every word was filled with killing intent, and every command caused rivers of blood to flow in Yaohuang City... As a sinner, he had not slept peacefully for seven whole days, trembling every day, even preparing his coffin. His greatest hope was to save his wife, children, and the mansion... He never imagined that when Xiao Yaohou passed judgment on him, there would be no killing intent at all. Instead of condemning him, she even offered words of praise.
As if suddenly rising from the edge of hell to heaven, Xuan Wang burst into tears. Instead of rising, he prostrated himself fully on the ground and wept loudly: "The little prince... thanks Xiao Yaohou for her holy grace! The little prince has received imperial favor for generations, yet I associated with rebels—this crime deserves death ten thousand times over! Xiao Yaohou's grace is as vast as the heavens. The little prince has no way to repay it except by dedicating this body and this life to eternal loyalty, unwavering until death... If I ever dare to have the slightest rebellious thought again, may heaven and earth destroy me..."
"Enough, no need to say more. Rise." Xiao Yaohou waved her hand lightly. "Your wife and children are surely worried back at the mansion. Return quickly to put their minds at ease. You may leave."
"Thank you for Xiao Yaohou's holy grace... Thank you for Xiao Yaohou's holy grace..." Xuan Wang rose shakily—this time from excitement. He retreated with his body bent forward, constantly voicing his thanks until both feet stepped out of the barrier, still not stopping.
"Thank you for Xiao Yaohou's holy grace... Thank you for Xiao Yaohou's holy grace..."
The people kneeling in the hall watched Xuan Wang emerge so quickly, completely unharmed, his face flushed with excitement, constantly giving thanks...
"Xuan Commandery Prince..."
Some tried to speak with him tentatively, but Xuan Wang ignored everyone. He turned around and hurriedly walked away. But everyone could clearly see that his expression was one of relief... and even a trace of joy.
"This..."
"Could it be that Xiao Yaohou directly pardoned him?"
Everyone exchanged glances. However, Xuan Wang's safe and delighted appearance also lightened the heavy pressure in everyone's hearts several times over. The tragic fate of Huai Wang's mansion had made them restless and terrified these past days. Every moment facing Xiao Yaohou was endless panic, their minds involuntarily painting all kinds of tragic scenes. But Xuan Wang had only been inside for a few dozen breaths, yet he clearly received a pardon.
They began to feel that perhaps their panic was completely unnecessary... Yes, after all, they belonged to the Guardian Clans, to the princely mansions—they were the pillars of the Huan Yao Realm's power! After such a great upheaval in the Huan Yao Realm, the foundations and pillars could not be touched!
Xuan Wang's influence among the princely mansions was very weak, and he couldn't compare with the Guardian Clans, yet he came out unscathed... As long as they repented earnestly and pledged loyalty, Xiao Yaohou would surely go along with it and grant a pardon as well.
That was their unanimous thought.
"Next!"
A voice came from the stone chamber again. Everyone's hearts tightened once more.
"Helian Kuang, enter."
The name "Helian Kuang" made all the members of the Helian Clan tremble violently. Their clan head slowly stood up; his face was pale, but compared to the others, he was much calmer. As the head of a Guardian Clan, he at least possessed the composure that came with his status.
Helian Kuang stepped into the stone chamber, but before he could even stand still and pay his respects, Xiao Yaohou's voice sounded: "No need for formalities. Sit."
"..." Helian Kuang was slightly startled. He looked up and saw that beside Xiao Yaohou, a tea table had already been set, and on it was a cup of steaming hot tea.
"This tea is a gift from Yun Che, picked from the Celestial Lake. It is quite precious. Savor it slowly." Xiao Yaohou's tone was as calm as a still lake, without a trace of anger.
Helian Kuang was momentarily stunned. Then, with his heart pounding, he sat down opposite Xiao Yaohou. He didn't dare to refuse or hesitate. He lifted the teacup, brought it to his lips, and carefully raised his head, making a show of sipping slowly. After a long while, he gently set the cup down.
"Finished?" Xiao Yaohou narrowed her eyes slightly and spoke lightly.
"Yes..." Helian Kuang quickly cupped his hands and said, "This tea is mellow and refreshing, a beverage that should only exist in heaven... Thank you for Xiao Yaohou's gracious gift of tea."
"Since you have drunk the tea," Xiao Yaohou's gaze tightened, "then you can rest assured and be on your way!"
As the last word fell, Xiao Yaohou's body had already crossed space, appearing like a ghost before Helian Kuang. A jade-like, exquisite hand, carrying flames as if from hell, slammed heavily into Helian Kuang's chest. The raging Golden Crow Flame Force surged wildly into his body, instantly incinerating his five viscera and six bowels completely.
"Ugh..." Helian Kuang's eyes bulged wide, the world before him spinning in chaos.
Boom!!
With a deafening rumble, Helian Kuang's body flew out of the stone chamber and crashed heavily into the crowd of kneeling people. When he landed, his eyes were wide open, utterly lifeless, and on his chest was a gruesome, charred black mark.
"Clan Head... Clan Head!" The core elders of the Helian Clan rushed forward with shouts of alarm, but there was not a trace of life left on Helian Kuang's body. A pungent, burning smell emanated from him. He was dead beyond any doubt.
"Clan Head..." Staring at the corpse before them, the core elders of the Helian Clan were terrified out of their wits, their bodies trembling. Just then, Xiao Yaohou's low, cold voice came from the stone chamber: "Helian Kuang, as the head of a Guardian Clan, colluded with Huai Wang in a plot to rebel. His death is well deserved. By rights, the entire Helian Clan should be punished! But considering that your clan has indeed guarded this realm for ten thousand years, I will show leniency and grant your entire Helian Clan a chance to reform... Helian Tu!"
The Helian Clan's second elder, whose name was called, shuddered all over and hurriedly turned around to kneel.
"From today onward, you are the new clan head of the Helian Clan! I order you to immediately drag Helian Kuang's corpse away and hang it above the North City Gate within one hour. It will be displayed for seven days! During these seven days, if anyone dares to take it down, plead for him, or mourn him, they will be executed on the spot!"
"If anyone in your Helian Clan utters a single word of dissent, I will kill that person the moment I learn of it. If the entire clan dares to defy my order or shows the slightest rebellious intention again, I will ensure that the Helian Clan ceases to exist in this world!"
With every word Xiao Yaohou spoke, the fear in the hearts of the Helian elders grew. Helian Kuang was dead, but if his death could ensure the safety of the entire Helian Clan, who would be foolish enough to resent a dead man? Helian Tu said in a trembling voice: "I humbly obey Xiao Yaohou's command... Thank you for Xiao Yaohou's grace. From now on, my Helian Clan will be utterly loyal to Xiao Yaohou, ready to serve to the death..."
"Also, do not forget the Purple Vein Divine Crystals you owe the Yun Clan."
"Yes... yes..." Helian Tu dragged Helian Kuang's corpse, nodding fearfully as he retreated backwards, his trembling steps as if treading on the edge of a blade.
Fear spread like a plague through Yaohuang Palace. The slight relief they had felt at Xuan Wang's safe return was now magnified tens of times. Each person's face was ashen, drained of all color... In ten thousand years, the Helian Clan's status among the Guardian Clans had been second only to the Yun Clan, yet their clan head, Helian Kuang, had been directly killed by Xiao Yaohou... What chance did the other Guardian Clans and princely mansions have?
"Jiu Fang Kui, come in."
Her gaze shifted to the Jiu Fang Clan. Jiu Fang Kui shuddered as he rose. But no sooner had he stood up than his legs gave way, and he knelt back down. His wildly dilated pupils revealed the boundless terror in his heart. Helian Kuang's brutal death was like a demon planted in his heart... because he knew clearly that among the twelve clans, the Helian Clan had been the first to pledge allegiance to Huai Wang, and his Jiu Fang Clan had been the second! Their races were closely related, and they had intermarried for generations...
Having just killed Helian Kuang, she now called for Jiu Fang Kui... How could he not be afraid?