Chapter 196: All Living Beings Suffer
Jin Yulu did not kneel. He stood at a relatively distant place, watching the scene, his eyes filled with complex emotions.
The White Emperor sat on the enormous stone throne, his feet still several zhang above the ground.
Logically speaking, there was no way for him to touch the ground, and naturally, he could not stand.
But he stood up just like that.
Like an incredibly majestic snowy peak, he appeared between heaven and earth.
Heaven and earth responded on their own.
Thunderous rumbling sounds echoed from over a dozen snowy peaks.
Avalanches occurred everywhere, wind and snow swept toward the half-mountain before them.
Those powerful demonic beings were shaken away from the stone throne by the force within the wind and snow.
The violent wind and rain fell upon the White Emperor's imperial robe and vanished instantly, as if entering his body.
In the wind and snow, the White Emperor took three steps forward.
As the wind and snow entered his body, his figure grew taller and taller, his imperial robe as fresh as new, the gray in his eyes completely turning into pure snow-white, exuding a chilling majesty.
He looked toward a certain place in the distance and asked indifferently, "What has happened in these past few years?"
The prime minister knelt in the wind and snow, using the most concise language and the fastest speech to recount all the major events.
After hearing this, the White Emperor's expression remained unchanged, very calm.
Suddenly, Jin Yulu's voice came from amidst the wind and snow.
"Bie Yanghong is dead, and Wuqiong Bi is dead too."
Hearing this, the White Emperor only raised an eyebrow.
The wind and snow gradually subsided.
Jin Yulu said mockingly, "I told you back then, you should marry a virtuous wife. Now it seems your judgment is even worse than Bie Yanghong's?"
The White Emperor still remained silent, only gazing in a certain direction.
All the powerful demonic beings and the army by the lake looked toward where his gaze fell.
That place was the White Emperor City.
Now the truth had been revealed before everyone.
The White Emperor had been trapped for years—this was indeed Lady Shepherd's conspiracy.
According to everyone's thoughts, they should now lead the army and charge toward the White Emperor City.
But the White Emperor did not move.
He no longer looked at that city, withdrew his gaze, and looked over a dozen li away, asking, "Are you Chen Changsheng?"
Many people then looked over and realized that Chen Changsheng had not come over.
In fact, including several leaders of the state religion, many people had already left, leaving only him and Tang Thirty-Six still in place.
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......
Across a distance of over a dozen li, Chen Changsheng and the White Emperor locked eyes.
He did not answer the White Emperor's question.
Because of his silence, the atmosphere among the snowy peaks became somewhat strange.
The demonic prime minister stepped forward, about to say something.
A voice rang out first.
It was Tang Thirty-Six's voice: "How rude is the White Emperor's remark."
Many years ago, Zhu Luo outside Hanqiu City and the Southern Holy Maiden outside Xunyang City had both asked the same question, not a single word different.
At that time, Zhu Luo and the Holy Maiden's questions represented curiosity about Chen Changsheng, and could also be seen as a form of recognition.
Because back then, his name had only just appeared on this continent.
But now was not those days.
He was no longer that young Daoist from Xining Town, a new student of the National Academy; he was now the Pope of the human race.
Even the White Emperor asking him such a question was an extremely rude act.
So hearing Tang Thirty-Six's rebuke, the demonic big shots were furious but could not refute it.
The White Emperor quietly looked over and suddenly said, "Could it be that His Holiness the Pope only came to watch the excitement?"
He did not acknowledge Tang Thirty-Six, but his title for Chen Changsheng had changed.
Chen Changsheng still did not respond.
When with Tang Thirty-Six, he would talk a bit more.
But when he needed to communicate with the outside world, he would speak very little.
Because Tang Thirty-Six would speak for him, and the entire National Academy knew that Tang Thirty-Six was better at talking than he was.
"If not for His Holiness the Pope's intervention, there would be no excitement to watch today."
Tang Thirty-Six said calmly, "So Your Majesty's words are completely wrong."
The White Emperor's words carried an implication, referring to Chen Changsheng standing far away and having Linghai Zhiwang and the others leave early.
Tang Thirty-Six's reply was also very clear: the demonic race, as the recipients of help, had no reason to question any of their arrangements.
But these words were hardly respectful, especially considering he was speaking to the White Emperor.
Countless angry gazes fell upon him.
Tang Thirty-Six's expression remained unchanged.
At this moment, Chen Changsheng confirmed that Linghai Zhiwang and the others had entered the secret passage and finally broke his silence.
He looked toward the half-snowy peak over a dozen li away and said, "This junior takes his leave."
With these words, he turned and left with Tang Thirty-Six.
The white crane was waiting for them not far ahead.
That meant leaving immediately.
Truly clean and decisive.
After all their efforts, they had finally rescued the White Emperor and seen the answer.
It was indeed all Lady Shepherd's conspiracy.
For the human race, this seemed like the best answer.
Logically, he should stay and discuss the next major matters with the demonic race.
But he did not do so, and he had Linghai Zhiwang and the others leave first.
Because this answer was too good, too much like what he wanted.
So he decided to leave.
He had one thing to do.
He wanted to write an answer with his own hands.
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......
In the highest stone hall of the imperial city.
Outside the window, there were no pear blossoms, but several locust trees planted.
Lady Shepherd believed this had nothing to do with the Huai Academy.
Just like what happened in the Falling Star Mountains, it had nothing to do with Chen Changsheng either.
In the end, it was a problem between her and him.
"I don't know if your father is alive or dead, but I think he should still be alive."
She walked to the window, looking into the distance with a blank expression, and said, "Even if he is alive, he could choose not to appear. If he doesn't appear, that means he still has some affection for me. If he does appear, that is true ruthlessness. And even now, I don't know what answer I want."
As she spoke, her hand gently stroked Luoluo's black hair.
Luoluo lowered her head, her face pale, her eyelashes fluttering slightly, clearly nervous.
The locust tree outside the window suddenly began to tremble violently, shedding countless green leaves, as if a painting had come to life.
Lady Shepherd's gaze pierced through the green leaves, still fixed on the distance. After a long silence, she suddenly said, "What a heartless man."
Luoluo could no longer control herself and looked up at her mother.
"You took advantage of Father's severe injury to imprison him, used star stones to damage his demonic essence, and tried to kill him, yet... you call him heartless?"
Her voice trembled slightly, from anger and even more from sorrow: "Mother, did you do all this for the Great Western Continent? Was it worth it?"
Lady Shepherd looked at her calmly and said, "I have never liked you, because you are a daughter."
Luoluo pressed her lips tightly, her small face full of stubbornness, not responding.
Lady Shepherd knew what she meant and said, "Xiao Shi doesn't need to carry my hopes for this world, so naturally, he doesn't need to bear my demands."
Luoluo didn't understand and asked sadly, "But why is that?"
"Because most daughters are outward-bound," Lady Shepherd said calmly. "I don't want to be that kind of person, and I don't want you to be that kind of person either. No matter who you eventually marry, remember that only your natal family can truly help you, because all men in this world are heartless and ruthless."
This was her mentioning men's ruthlessness and cruelty again.
Even though the facts seemed right before her eyes, Luoluo couldn't help but feel confused, her voice trembling as she asked, "Mother, what exactly is going on?"
Lady Shepherd looked into the distance outside the window and said, "I hope you will never know, and never understand what this is all about."
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(I haven't written these four words in a long time—"all living beings suffer," "all sentient beings suffer." It was all a decade ago. Simply sighing a little.)