Imperial prison, Major Metropolitan City:
Qin Zibai was shackled and covered in blood and countless lash marks, and he appeared extremely weak.
Several days ago, he had been injured by the jiangchen zombie. Despite still being injured, he later fought the secret guard commander, resulting in severe injuries to both sides. Now, he was so weak that he could not move.
Back then, Chang Ming wanted to bring Mo Yike away. He had also said that he wanted to bring Qin Zibai along. However, Qin Zibai was a Yuan Nation official. How could Qin Zibai follow this group of traitors?
So, Qin Zibai left. However, not long after he returned to his residence, the Qian Nation’s army charged into his residence, plunging him into another chaotic battle. He was already severely injured; how could he be a match for the jiangchen zombie? Thus, he immediately got captured.
“You want me to submit to you? Hahahaha! What a joke!” Qin Zibai weakly spat out some bloody phlegm, appearing unresigned.
However, the Qian Nation had gained nearly complete control of Major Metropolitan City already. The Qian Nation soldiers were everywhere. Now that his cultivation was sealed, who could save him?
“Haha! Qin Zibai, the supreme commander’s patience is limited. Marquis Aotian left instructions that we do not need to care about your life or death. I advise you to just submit to the supreme commander. Otherwise, you might die the next time Marquis Aotian sends people over,” one of the prison guards sneered.
“Ptooey!” Qin Zibai spat out bloody phlegm.
“Hah! Do you think that you are still the Yuan Nation’s Supreme Commander? Hahaha! Now, you are just a dog. I can do whatever I want to you. How dare you spit at me? You are seeking death!” That guard glared.
As that prison guard spoke, he raised his whip, preparing to strike Qin Zibai.
Thud! Thud! Thud
Footsteps rang out outside the prison.
“Hahaha! Do you hear that? Your death is at hand!” That guard was about to lash down the whip.
“You bastard!” A furious shout came from the entrance.
Boom!
Someone kicked a stone, which immediately smashed into that guard.
Blargh!
That guard spewed a mouthful of blood, knocked into the wall by the stone.
A large group of people rushed into the prison.
“Who…who…” That guard showed a ferocious expression as he vomited blood.
Then, he saw his captain walking over.
That guard said in shock, “Milord, what’s—”
“Shut up. Move aside!” That captain glared.
At this moment, that guard captain was extremely respectful of the person who arrived. It was Sima Changkong in person.
Meng Tai, the envoy commander of the Han Nation’s Embroidered Uniform Guard, accompanied Sima Changkong.
The group walked over to Qin Zibai.
“Who was it who beat Qin Zibai up?” Sima Changkong glared.
As he spoke, he glared at that prison guard’s captain.
“This humble officer does not know. I really do not know. He is the one. That guard. You bastard, who told you to beat Qin Zibai up?” That captain glared at the guard who was vomiting blood.
“Milord, didn’t you…,” that guard said in fear.
Sima Changkong immediately looked at that captain.
That captain’s expression changed. “You bastard, how dare you slander me?”
That captain was about to go and kick the guard when Sima Changkong said coldly, “That’s enough. The supreme commander told you to lock Qin Zibai up and advise him to submit, not beat him into humiliation. How bold of you! To think that you dare to disobey the supreme commander?”
Plop!
That guard captain and the guard immediately knelt.
“Mister Sima, please forgive us. It was…it was Marquis Aotian who told us to,” that captain said in fear.
Sima Changkong was Long Shenwu’s favored man. He could do whatever he wanted to them with just a few words.
However, Meng Tai ignored all this. Instead, he walked over to Qin Zibai and carefully released the shackles.
“Mister Qin, this humble one is the envoy commander of the Han Nation’s Embroidered Uniform Guard, Meng Tai. In the name of my emperor, I am here to save your Qin Clan,” Meng Tai said seriously.
“Haha! Gu Hai? I don’t need his kindness!” Qin Zibai said through clenched teeth.
“Will Mister Qin die and let all of Senior Qin Yun’s efforts go to waste? You are the last one left of the Qin Clan. Do you want your Qin Clan to end here?” Meng Tai asked with a smile, not getting frustrated at all.
“Humph! Save me? Gu Hai wants to save me? It will already be great grace if Gu Hai does not harm my Yuan Nation citizens. Would he save me?” Qin Zibai countered coldly.
“Mister Qin, to save you, His Majesty promised the Qian Nation not to send a single soldier to attack any of the Yuan Nation’s cities—all so that he could save your clan,” Meng Tai said while shaking his head.
Qin Zibai’s expression changed. “What did you say? Gu Hai will not send a single soldier to any of the Yuan Nation’s cities? The Yuan Nation is already eliminated; these cities will be easy pickings. He does not want them?”
Meng Tai nodded. “His Majesty came to the Yuan Nation to get justice for the Han Nation citizens who died wrongful deaths, not to hurt the Yuan Nation’s people.”
Qin Zibai showed a skeptical expression as he looked at Sima Changkong.
Sima Changkong nodded with a bitter smile.
Qin Zibai’s expression appeared unsightly. Now, he let Meng Tai remove the shackles, no longer resisting.
“Young Master!” Someone followed behind Meng Tai.
“Steward? Are you fine? Did they make things difficult for you?” Qin Zibai exclaimed.
It was the Qin Residence’s steward.
“Young Master, initially, we were all sent to prison to await death. It was Lord Meng who brought us all out. This old servant is at fault. I did not give the old clan head’s letter to you in time, so…,” the Qin Residence’s steward said bitterly.
“My father’s letter? Why did you not give it to me earlier?” Qin Zibai glared.
“The old clan head instructed me to hand it to you if the Yuan Nation is destroyed,” the old steward said with a bitter smile as he handed over a letter.
Ignoring his injuries, Qin Zibai immediately tore the letter open and read it.
“My son:
“When you read this letter, Father should no longer be around. The Yuan Nation is already gone, right? Hah! Have you done what Father told you to do?
“If you did it, then promise Father one more thing.
“Follow Mo Yike. Remember, you have to follow Mo Yike. Otherwise, a great calamity will befall you.
“Do not casually show others the keepsake I gave you. Study it properly.
“Promise Father this: before you fully comprehend it, follow Mo Yike. He will protect you.”
This is Father’s letter. There is the special mark that Father showed me; there’s no mistaking it. This is really from Father.
“Why? Why?” Qin Zibai said with a bitter smile, feeling confused.
“Mister Qin, we have already saved everyone in the Qin Clan. They are waiting outside. Please leave with us immediately and meet with His Majesty and Mister Mo if you are fine. We will head to your father’s grave together,” Meng Tai said gravely.
Qin Zibai looked at the letter with a faint bitterness.
“Father, what grave calamity can I have?” Qin Zibai said with a bitter smile.
As Qin Zibai spoke, he glanced around the prison. When his gaze landed on that guard, that guard shivered. However, he ignored that guard. Instead, he continued looking around until he found the bamboo cane in a corner.
That was a keepsake from his father. Could the calamity that his father spoke about result from this bamboo cane?
Qin Zibai dragged himself over and carefully grabbed the bamboo cane.
“Mister Qin, please!” Meng Tai gestured in invitation.
With a wooden expression, Qin Zibai walked out with everyone.
A flying ship waited outside.
The flying ship quickly brought Qin Zibai’s clan out of Major Metropolitan City and flew north.
At the Great Sigh Palace Hall:
Long Aotian and Long Shenwu watched the flying ship leave with slightly narrowed eyes.
“Third Uncle, do you think Gu Hai will go back on his word?” Long Aotian asked with a frown.
“He won’t!” Long Shenwu replied seriously.
In a bamboo forest south of Major Metropolitan City:
A group of white-robed men and women stood on top of the bamboo. They showed complicated expressions as they looked at the distant Major Metropolitan City.
The leader was a beautiful woman who appeared to be in her thirties. Her skin was as white as snow. Her white robes clearly outlined her body, revealing an irresistible, mature charm with a gentleness that one could never forget after just one glance. However, her eyes radiated coldness.
A cinnabar mark on this woman’s forehead made her look especially charming.
“Grand Mohist, it seems like we have missed something. Major Metropolitan City? The blessings cloud sea has scattered. Imperial Emperor Xi Yu died,” a man with a Taiji symbol embroidered on the chest of his robes said.
[TL Note: Grand Mohist is a title that I made up, as there is no English translation for the title, which literally translates to Giant Child or Chisel. Some articles might refer to the leader as Juzi, the pinyin of the Chinese words. The Grand Mohist is the leader of the Mohists, the believers of Mohism. Mohism is an ancient Chinese philosophy of ethics, logic, rational thought, and science that was developed by the ancient Chinese philosopher Mozi. This philosophy teaches universal love/impartial care for everyone. It was one of the major philosophical schools of ancient China and a major rival to Confucianism. Here is a Wikipedia entry on it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohism.]
“Major Metropolitan City? That lass Waner fell in love with a man called Gu Hai here? Xuan En!” that woman called out.
Xuan En, the man who spoke earlier, nodded. “That’s right. My Supreme Ascendant Dao disciples are scattered all over the place. I have already asked quite a few people, and they all pointed to this place. Waner died for Gu Hai here in the end. However, Gu Hai has avenged Waner, Grand Mohist.”
The woman narrowed her eyes slightly. “Fell in love with Gu Hai? That lass Waner is a prideful person. He must be extraordinary for Waner to have fallen in love with him. However, he deserves death for interfering with Waner’s cultivation of purity!”
“Grand Mohist, how is Martial Niece Waner now? Is she fine?” Xuan En asked out of curiosity.
That woman turned her head and looked at Xuan En. “Just mind your own business.”
“Yes!” Xuan En answered with a lowered head as he showed an unsightly expression.
“The Yuan Nation is destroyed? Destroyed is good. The Ten Thousand Sages Convention will begin soon. We will represent the Myriad Age Daoist Sect to participate. My Supreme Ascendant’s line of inheritance has to stand out and enter the Sage Palace,” the woman said coldly.
“Yes. Grand Mohist, rest assured. My Supreme Ascendant Dao’s Supreme Ascendant Scripture will definitely suppress all the other holy Dao scriptures!” another white-robed man said with a smile.
That woman nodded. “The Qian Heavenly Emperor is very ambitious; do not underestimate him!”
“Yes!” everyone answered.
Qin Zibai’s flying ship quickly met up with Gu Hai’s flying ship.
Qin Zibai still needed some time to recover from his injuries, but Gu Hai did not use his Mending Heaven Energy to treat him.
Due to Qin Yun’s letter, Qin Zibai became Mo Yike’s subordinate. However, he refused to submit to Gu Hai and become Gu Hai’s official.
“Your Majesty, Mister Qin still cannot let go. Let me deal with it,” Mo Yike said with a bitter smile.
Gu Hai shook his head. “There’s no need. Since Qin Zibai is willing to follow you, let him follow you. You have no problem dealing with hidden plots, but frontal assaults would be a problem. He is a Middle Heavenly Palace Realm cultivator, after all; he can help you to deal with some dangers.”
“Yes! Many thanks for Your Majesty’s understanding,” Mo Yike said.
The flying ship continued towards the Han Nation.
The flying ship reached the Han Royal Dynasty’s territory one month later. It continued coursing towards the ruined Chaoge City.
On this day, Gu Hai and Mo Yike played Go, like before.
“Your Majesty, we have arrived! We’ve returned!” an official exclaimed excitedly.
Gu Hai and Mo Yike immediately tossed the Go stones in their hands aside and looked into the distance. Indeed, they had already arrived outside Chaoge City. The ruins of Chaoge City appeared unchanged. However, there was now something new there: Nine-Five Island.
The extremely massive Nine-Five Island hovered stably in the air.
There seemed to be people on Nine-Five Island who spotted Gu Hai’s flying ship from a distance.
“His Majesty has returned! His Majesty is back!” Excited cheers soon came from Nine-Five Island.
