Chapter 799: Away with the Traitors, Peace to the Lands (Part Two)
Ye Xiao was swift. He moved like a phantom in the night. He had always been proud of his agility and speed, but faced with the old man, he felt fragile.
Before an eagle caught a chicken, the chicken would still have a chance to run away. to break free. However, Ye Zhen did even have that chance. It felt as though he had presented his head on a silver platter to the old man in front of him.
Lu Zhou’s face was expressionless as he gripped Ye Xiao’s neck.
Soon enough, Ye Xiao’s breathing grew ragged, and his face slowly turned purple. Although he was a cultivator, he would not be able to survive for long if he could breathe. Apart from that, the old man’s Primal Qi and energy suppressed him and made him suffer in ways he had never experienced before. He felt as though there was a 1,000-cattie weight pressing on his chest.
“Old mister, he’s my personal bodyguard. Please have mercy,” Li Yunzheng hastily said.
Lu Zhou turned to look at Li Yunzheng and asked, “You’re the current Emperor of Great Tang?”
“Uh... I-I think so...”
“What do you mean by you think so? It’s either you are or you are not...” Lu Zhou said, confused.
Li Yunzheng was too ashamed to answer Lu Zhou. Indeed, he was the emperor. However, he was just like a puppet emperor who held no authority to govern the empire. He even had to accommodate the officials who never asked for his opinions during meetings. He was only an emperor in name. How could he not feel ashamed to say this? How could he not feel frustrated at having to live in this manner?
In the end, Li Yun Zheng replied with a sigh, “I... I’m the current emperor.”
Lu Zhou said, “Strange...”
“Ye Xiao is loyal and won’t think twice about throwing his life away for me. He’s one of my most trusted subordinates. I hope you’ll show mercy, old mister,” Li Yuncheng said.
“Trusted subordinate?” Lu Zhou looked at Ye Xiao who was trembling at this moment. “Li Yunzheng, previously, did someone retrieve the golden hairpin for you before you gave it to me?”
“Why would you ask that, old mister? Apart from Ye Xiao, nobody else has touched it,” Li Yunzheng said.
Ye Xiao trembled upon hearing these words. At the same time, fear crept into his eyes.
Lu Zhou shook his head. “Young man, you’re still too green. You don’t understand how difficult it is to fathom the hearts of men.”
Lu Zhou tightened his grip around Ye Xiao’s neck.
Ye Xiao struggled to make some noise to alert whoever was in the surroundings.
“Old mister! You mustn’t harm him...” Li Yunzheng was shocked.
Lu Zhou ignored Li Yunzheng’s words as he continued to tighten his grip.
“Old mister! You...” Li Yunzheng cried out in exasperation.
Lu Zhou loosened his grip.
The corpse fell before the Ganlu Hall.
He stroked his beard and said, “I killed a traitor for you. You should thank me.”
“Huh? Traitor?” Li Yunzheng was flustered and confused.
“You’re the monarch of an empire, and yet, your personal bodyguard is only a Three-leaf cultivator? Are you sure your officials truly have your best interest in mind?” Lu Zhou stroked his beard and turned around.
Li Yunzheng staggered backward before he sat limply on the ground. The moon cast a spotlight on his face that wore a dejected expression.
Lu Zhou continued to say, “Ye Zhen is truly capable.”
“He’s with Ye Zhen?” Li Yunzheng’s eyes widened in disbelief.
“This is the pure gold hairpin. I’m returning it to you.” Lu Zhou tossed the used hairpin to Li Yunzheng.
When Li Yunzheng caught the hairpin, realization dawned on him. Indeed, Ye Xiao was the only one who had touched the hairpin back then. Rage bubbled in his heart when he made this discovery. His eyes burned with fury as he raised his fist and struck the ground.
Bam!
“Isn’t there anyone who’s sincere to me?!”
Lu Zhou ignored Li Yunzheng’s outburst. He used the Heavenly Writing power to confirm there were no other cultivators in the vicinity. Then, he brought the Golden Taixu Mirror out and shone it on the corpse on the ground.
Li Yunzheng asked in confusion, “Old mister, what are you doing?”
As Lu Zhou had expected, the Golden Taixu Mirror revealed a beast avatar that resembled a hybrid between an owl and a sheep above Ye Xiao.
Li Yunzheng was shocked. “Xiao Yang?!”
Lu Zhou put the Golden Taixu Mirror away and pushed his palm forward. Unnamed materialized in his hand. Black runes swirled around it as it shot forward and pierced Ye Xiao’s chest.
“Ding! Killed a target. Reward: 500 merit points. Domain extra: 500 merit points.”
After he heard the notification, Lu Zhou raised his hand and pulled Unnamed back to his hand.
Ever since he fought Ye Zhen, he grew even more cautious than before.
When he heard the notification, Lu Zhou raised his palm and retracted Unnamed. He did not think the Three-leaf personal bodyguard was as simple as he appeared.
“You recognize the beast?” Lu Zhou asked as he stroked his beard.
After a moment, Li Yunzheng finally calmed down. He said with a resigned sigh, “I have nothing to do in the palace except to read.”
Lu Zhou nodded. “Do you know why I came here?”
Li Yunzheng shook his head.
Lu Zhou said, “If you’re a prince, I’d kidnap you... Alas...”
“Alas, I’m the emperor?”
The Sky Martial Court had invaded the golden lotus domain. Initially, Lu Zhou planned to kidnap the Crown Prince to use as leverage. Who knew Li Yunzheng was not the Crown Prince, but a puppet emperor?
Li Yunzheng rose to his feet slowly, feeling helpless. The wind blew against him as he looked at Lu Zhou and asked, “I remember what you said before you left previously, old mister. You said that I should remove anyone who stands in my way. If I tell you that everyone in the palace is in my way, what do you think I should do?”
“A true man will clear all of the obstacles in his path even if the whole world stands against him,” Lu Zhou said indifferently.
“How am I supposed to remove them when I don’t even have the strength to strangle a chicken?”
Lu Zhou turned to look at Li Yunzheng. After a brief moment of silence, he said, “Do what you can.”
It was easy for Li Yunzheng to do his best, but his best was not enough. His strength was too insignificant. Perhaps, his death would not even cause a stir in the palace. He said with a sigh, “How is a mantis supposed to move a tree?”
“The journey of a 1,000 mile begins with a single step. The 1,000-mile dike will be failed by an ant hole. If you don’t take small steps, you won’t be able to cover 1,000 miles. If you don’t gather small streams, you won’t be able to have rivers or an ocean,” Lu Zhou said.
Li Yunzheng felt something stirred in him when he heard these words. In the past, he had many opportunities laid out in front of him, but he never cherished them. He could have become an emperor who was feared and respected, just like his father. Whether it was the authority to govern the empire or cultivating, when he understood everything, it was already too late.
Li Yunzheng stared at the corpse on the ground for a moment before he cupped his fists together at Lu Zhou and asked, “What’s your name, old mister?”
“You can call me Lu.”
“Senior Lu, please accept me as your disciple and teach me how to cultivate!” Li Yunzheng said before he fell on one knee.
Lu Zhou was slightly surprised and confused. “Do you trust me?”
“I have nobody else whom I could trust,” Li Yunzheng replied.
“Aren’t you worried that I’m one of Ye Zhen’s men as well?” Lu Zhou asked.
Li Yunzheng looked up and said, “If that’s the case, then I submit to fate. You can’t possibly be one of them, old mister. Please accept me as your disciple.”
Ganlu Hall was exceptionally quiet at this moment. The still night sky and the silence gave birth to a melancholic atmosphere.
Li Yunzheng had no friends or family. He had lived alone in the palace all his life. If he did not have a strong will, he would have broken down a long time ago.
Lu Zhou finally said, “I already have ten disciples; I have no plans of accepting another disciple. If you wish to cultivate, I can introduce a teacher to you.”
Despite being disappointed, Li Yunzheng said, “Kindly guide me, old mister.”
“There are hundreds of cultivation styles under the heavens. Which one do you like the most?” Lu Zhou asked.
Li Yunzheng considered this for a moment. After a long pause, he said, “I don’t know which style I’m suited for.”
Lu Zhou stroked his beard and looked at the moon as he thought to himself. Then, he said, “You’re a monarch, and you need to temper your body before you can govern and bring peace to the lands. You need to learn more than just cultivation... How about this? Learn everything that he teaches you. What do you think?”
Li Yunzheng was delighted to hear this. He immediately bowed. “Thank you, Old Mister Lu! Uh... When can I meet this teacher? How will I meet him?”