Is this an order? Or an imperial decree?
Prince Mu narrowed his eyes, but dared not hesitate, and said, "Legendary beings, capable of saving or destroying a nation. Divination priests, the darlings of the gods, are always the closest to the heavens, possessing the ability to foresee the future, their wisdom and power are unfathomable. They are mysterious. Such people are something every nation can only dream of. If they are willing to help any nation, then... then that nation will be blessed for ten thousand years, a great fortune indeed."
The more Prince Mu spoke, the more breathless he became, and the less confident he seemed. He spoke clearly and thought things through, but comparing his past actions with his words now was a blatant slap in the face. He felt utterly humiliated and had lost all face.
The Emperor let out a heavy, cold snort, slammed his hand on the table, and roared with a livid face, "You know perfectly well! You know perfectly well! But look at what you've done all this time! Who have you been arrogating to? Who have you been stubbornly refusing to listen to? What have you been fighting for, anyway?"
As the emperor spoke, he began to cough violently. His health was already extremely poor, and he had been overjoyed for a long time because of a sudden stroke of good fortune. However, before he could firmly grasp this good fortune, it was shattered and thrown into chaos by his only younger brother. Now, this good fortune could turn into a great disaster at any moment, or even a disaster that could destroy the country!
Caught between extreme joy and sorrow, the emperor struggled for a long time, his already weak body deteriorating further, becoming even weaker and more sickly. He was the emperor of a nation; he worried about his country, he was anxious for his people. He was about to die; he didn't need to worry about becoming a ruler who would bring about the downfall of his kingdom. But what about the next ruler? His son would be the next king, and his people would have to continue living. Was he to stand by and watch his people and his descendants live in darkness? 17744835
Disaster! If the relationship with Mu Yunhe is not handled properly, it will be a catastrophe!!
The Emperor was utterly exhausted. He couldn't understand how his usually wise and rational younger brother had become so reckless, willful, and heartless. Even if Mu Yunhe didn't fawn over him, wasn't he still his son? Wanting one's child to be filial and respectful to their father through constant suppression and coercion was absolutely unacceptable. That was abusing one's age, that was disrespectful to elders! Over time, even the best child would grow distant and cold, their heart estranged. Wasn't that self-destructive?
Prince Mu treated Mu Yunhe using exactly the same tactics! It was no wonder Mu Yunhe now hated Prince Mu to the core; even he couldn't tolerate Prince Mu's past actions. But he couldn't say much. Who knew if the father and son might reconcile overnight? Unfortunately, it was too late for him to speak.
"Brother! What's wrong? Don't get agitated, tell me slowly!" Prince Mu became nervous. The person he respected and loved most was his own brother. When they were young, his brother always protected him. Now that they were grown up, he naturally wanted to protect his brother as well.
"Speak slowly!" The Emperor's eyes were almost bloodshot, his head was throbbing, and his voice was trembling as he said, "Brother, do you know that you have truly put your elder brother in a difficult position? Do you know that your personal actions have really affected the entire Mu Dynasty? Do you know that from the day Mu Yunhe's identity was revealed, he could never simply be your son? The code of the martial world, the distinction between the noble and the powerful, cannot be explained by kinship alone. How can you not understand this? You have offended him so deeply, and the most inappropriate thing you did was to touch the woman he cares about most. Do you know that Mu Yunhe is truly capable of doing anything for that woman!"
The emperor nearly roared in the end; he was truly overwhelmed with pent-up emotions. Mu Yunhe couldn't do anything to the emperor, but a diviner could make him live or die. He couldn't help but feel a trace of resentment towards his beloved younger brother.
How foolish, how foolish!
“Brother, what’s wrong with you? Wasn’t I just telling you about this? I’ve already regretted it and know I was wrong. Why hold such a grudge against your own children? I can forgive what Yun He did before. Even what Luo Zhiheng did, as long as she apologizes to me, I can forgive her. We’ll still be family. As long as they’re doing well, I’ll naturally still acknowledge them as my children,” Prince Mu said, frowning.
In his view, everything he said was perfectly reasonable. Now, being pushed further and further, he realized his regret and was willing to let go and forgive. But in his mind, he was, after all, an elder, and as long as the two younger people took the initiative to apologize, he would naturally be willing to forgive them.
Little did he know, upon hearing this, the emperor sneered repeatedly, abruptly throwing the note on the table at Prince Mu's astonished face. His own face flushed red, and he pointed a trembling finger at Prince Mu's nose, roaring angrily, "Arrogant and conceited!! Look, look for yourself at what's written on that! You forgive? What makes you so arrogant as to say you forgive? You're still so presumptuous, do you really want me and the entire Mu Dynasty to be buried with you before you're satisfied! Cough cough..."
Amidst the emperor's heart-wrenching coughs, Prince Mu, already utterly astonished, held his breath and picked up the fallen note. It clearly read: "Luo Zhiheng's life hangs in the balance; I fear the worst."
Life hangs in the balance, the odds are against us, life hangs in the balance...
In that instant, those two sentences, those eight large characters, swirled and roared in Prince Mu's mind, screaming and howling as if trying to tear him apart. Prince Mu felt dizzy and his vision blurred, and he lost his footing. He stumbled and bumped into the corner of a table, a sharp pain shooting through his lumbar spine, and he broke out in a cold sweat.
"How could this be? How could this be? It was just a few lashes! Even if she was seriously injured or miscarried, she would never be in mortal danger! How could this be!" Prince Mu gripped the note tightly, his voice trembling.
How much does Mu Yunhe care about Luo Zhiheng? She's the woman he'd be willing to risk his life for without hesitation! She's the one for whom he'd kill everyone who hurt her in a fit of rage. They've already lost their first child because of her; now, must Mu Yunhe really lose the woman he loves most because of her too?
There's no doubt that Mu Yunhe truly loved Luo Zhiheng. They were luckier than him and the princess, realizing their deep love for each other much earlier. He, however, had already lost his beloved just as he was beginning to understand. The pain was excruciating, heart-wrenching.
Prince Mu wondered if the young Mu Yunhe could bear such pain. Moreover, Mu Yunhe and Luo Zhiheng were a couple who had shared joys and sorrows, were mentors and friends fighting side-by-side, and were sweet lovers who had made vows of eternal love. (The last sentence appears to be unrelated and possibly a fragment from another text.)
If Mu Yunhe truly lost Luo Zhiheng, then without a doubt, he wouldn't survive. The Mu Dynasty wouldn't just face the impending loss of a protector, but rather annihilation. If Mu Yunhe truly went mad and refused to live, he would naturally eliminate those who killed his beloved wife before he died, and the Mu Dynasty would likely be the target of their wrath.
Prince Mu unconsciously figured out all the stakes involved and finally understood why the Emperor was so angry. It turned out that all the mistakes stemmed from him.
Below the note were three lines of smaller print, clearly explaining why Luo Zhiheng was on the verge of death. Prince Mu also read them later. The words "blood curse" and the cause struck Prince Mu like a thunderbolt. A seemingly unintentional decision had led to Luo Zhiheng's death.
But now he no longer felt the urge to take revenge on Luo Zhiheng, nor did he have the same determination he had before to kill her. Now he only felt a chill running through his body, a chill that went straight to his heart.
Even the greatest calamity could not have been greater than this.
"What do you think we should do?" The Emperor's voice was stiff and hoarse. Now, all they could do was hope that Luo Zhiheng would live well. As long as Luo Zhiheng lived, Mu Yunhe would do everything he could to save her, thus temporarily forgetting about Prince Mu. But sooner or later, she would remember what Mu Yunhe had done. As her older brother, he couldn't help Prince Mu then, but if he did, he would inevitably be dragged into it and hated by Mu Yunhe. And he, the Emperor, was concerned with the entire country.
Prince Mu's throat tightened; all his regret was useless now. At this moment, he finally relinquished his pride and dignity, his once-erect back hunching over, making him appear ten years older in an instant. He rasped, "I will take responsibility for my actions. Whether Mu Yunhe kills or punishes me, I will not say a word, and I will certainly not implicate this country or my brother. I will not make things difficult for him."
The Emperor's pupils constricted, his face turned purple, and he coughed for a while before saying, "Do you think I'm afraid of being implicated? You know how much I love and care for you, even more than my own flesh and blood! No matter what you've done, I will bear the consequences for you. But this matter has far too many implications. Mu Yunhe is no longer the weak, bedridden man he once was. Today, he is a man whose every move can make us tremble. My brother, I advise you to let go of your pride and stop being stubborn. Pray that Luo Zhiheng will be safe and sound."
Prince Mu suddenly felt a bitter taste in his mouth.
They can't do anything now. The fact that Elder Tong and the others could go is because the General's Mansion sent a message. The Emperor and the others know about it, but they can't do anything about it. Even if they try to be nice to them, they can't, because that would tell people that they sent people to secretly monitor Mu Yunhe and the others, which would only make their relationship more strained and tense.
However, they also knew that it was unlikely that Luo Zhiheng could survive this ordeal safely. It was clearly written on the document that the little princess's illness seemed to be incurable.
The palace was also deathly silent like never before, with an invisible, oppressive tension permeating the air.
General's Mansion Backyard
Yu'er jumped up again, her little face pale, and said, "What's wrong? Can't we go in and see my sister yet?"
"Stop pacing back and forth, you're making my eyes blurry." General Murong snapped irritably, shoving aside Murong Qianxue, who was pacing back and forth anxiously.
"I'm in a hurry!" Murong Qianxue glared, her anxiety genuine.
This place is filled with distinguished guests and a constellation of stars. In this small courtyard of the General's Mansion, a third-class noble residence, all those present are renowned figures of the Mu Dynasty. Even military talks, strategic deployments, and dynastic meetings have never been this comprehensive.
"Where did that young prince go? He's been gone for a while now." Old Master Tong murmured, giving General Tong, who was standing to the side, a wink. General Tong immediately left.
In a corner unnoticed by these important figures sat a girl who was almost frozen in place—none other than Sun Yunyun. Her knowledge that Luo Zhiheng was on the verge of death was purely coincidental. Today, after waiting for Luo Zhiheng to finally come to visit her, she couldn't resist any longer and took the initiative to do so herself.
But unexpectedly, she heard the devastating news that Luo Zhiheng was on the verge of death. She was almost paralyzed with fear, feeling completely lost and panicked. She had never been so afraid of losing someone before. At that moment, she was so terrified that she couldn't even cry, even though she desperately wanted to.
She couldn't leave. If she left, she might never see the young master Luo again, the one who could so effortlessly dance with her. So, even though she wanted to be invisible, she didn't care about anything else. Even if she couldn't see Luo Zhiheng for the time being, being close to her, even if it was just guarding her outside the door, would be enough. She desperately prayed to heaven, begging for mercy so that Luo Zhiheng could live.
How could such a flamboyant and unique man die so young?
A heavy sadness flowed silently through the courtyard, along with a faint, lingering smell of blood that drifted from the rooms, further agitating the already restless nerves of the people.
Mu Yunhe was in another secluded courtyard at the moment, with Xiao Xizi and Xiao Yongzi guarding the entrance like gatekeepers, not allowing anyone to approach or enter.
Inside the room, on the floor, Mu Yunhe sat on a strange circle with extremely intricate patterns drawn on it. The circle could be faintly seen to be glowing, with pale blue light accompanied by pale white specks of light, making it look like fireflies, both eerie and beautiful.
Mu Yunhe, however, was dressed in pure white, spotless. A breeze billowed from his wide robe, causing it to flare and rustle. His robe was torn in several places at the chest, revealing glimpses of spring, adding a touch of languor and allure to the eerie and mysterious atmosphere.
His skin was almost transparent in the pale blue light, yet incredibly lustrous and beautiful. His long, ink-black hair swayed like seaweed behind his head in the wind. He murmured a few unknown words from his red lips, difficult to understand, and not in the language of the Mu Dynasty.
The simple attire reveals a rustic grandeur and profound mystery, showcasing its full potential.
Mu Yunhe was like an ancient prophet who had traveled through time from antiquity. His white robe radiated wisdom and benevolence, and his closed eyes concealed a profound understanding of life's vicissitudes. He seemed on the verge of ascending to immortality, ready to vanish with the wind in the blink of an eye—beautifully unreal.
Suddenly, he made an extremely graceful movement with his hands. Then, his little finger touched his brow, followed by his ring finger, middle finger, index finger, and finally his thumb. All five fingers of his left hand touched his brow in turn, and finally, his thumb was fixed deep within his brow. He closed his eyes tightly and uttered a low murmur: "In the name of God, I humbly pray that the merciful God may grant me the existence of the one I seek, the one I am searching for, in the distance, in the void, in all things of heaven and earth!"
In the blink of an eye, he opened his eyes, but his dark pupils were now a blinding white, like those of a god or demon!
Update is here! Please vote, leave comments, and give me monthly tickets! I'm so tired today. My physical strength is definitely not as strong as my mental strength. Just being out for a short day and I'm already so exhausted I'm lying in bed, unwilling to move. That's all for today. I'll try again tomorrow. Sorry, my darlings! (Huasha crawls away with a pot on her head.)
409 Soul Abandoned! A Shocking Conspiracy! (Part 1)
Updated: 2013-10-28 12:18:30 Word Count: 7728
As soon as Mu Yunhe finished speaking, a burst of light erupted throughout the room, instantly enveloping it. Mu Yunhe, who was in the light, seemed to have been swallowed up by it and disappeared without a trace.
Outside the room, the entire General's Mansion, and even the capital city, was in an uproar!
Suddenly, beams of light shot straight into the sky from a single point. The beams were thick, magnificent, and dazzling, spreading out in vast swathes, like a procession before the descent of a deity, radiating boundless light. Instantly, they spread in all directions, gradually covering the entire general's mansion and continuing to extend outwards.
The magnificent scene stunned everyone. One after another, people knelt down, shouting for the gods and the heavens. Soon, in every street and alley, in every household, everyone, regardless of who they were, prostrated themselves and knelt down, earnestly shouting in the direction of the light. Fear and excitement coexisted. People were unprecedentedly united in their heartfelt worship of someone!
The miraculous scene caused a sensation throughout the entire capital city, and naturally, the magnificent imperial palace was not overlooked.
Supported by palace attendants, the old emperor walked shakily to the observation platform, staring in horror at the light rushing toward the palace.
"What...is that?!" Prince Mu, who had accompanied him, was so shocked that he stammered, staring incredulously at the light screen.
"It's Mu Yunhe, it must be Mu Yunhe!" The emperor's voice was more shocked than surprised. He couldn't think of anyone else who could pull off such a magical and bizarre scene except for the person who was closest to a god! But why did such an earth-shattering scene occur?
Retaliation? Suppression? Warning? Or perhaps... the priest's wrath?!
Luo Zhiheng has already lost her chance? Mu Yunhe is completely enraged? What does that terrifying, scorching light represent? Destruction?!
"Quickly! Quickly! On alert! On alert for the entire city!" the Emperor roared in panic, but after shouting, his face turned deathly pale. How could the wrath of a high official be resolved by the mere vigilance of mortals like them? If Mu Yunhe's actions today were truly intended to annihilate them, then they were doomed!
"Pfft!" The old emperor coughed up a mouthful of blood, a result of extreme anger and anxiety. He was truly terrified; he feared that the dynasty he had painstakingly built over so many years would be destroyed in his hands!
"Your Majesty?!" Everyone was shocked. They quickly helped the emperor away, but Prince Mu stood frozen in place, staring blankly and in shock at the light that was almost upon him.
Is it really Mu Yunhe? Is he really this angry? And this powerful light, sweeping all the way from the direction of the General's Mansion, covering such a wide area, is simply terrifying! Mu Yunhe is indeed different now. Has his anger plunged the entire capital into unprecedented chaos and disaster?
Was he really wrong? Had he, as a father, truly done something wrong? How could he allow his elder brother to suffer along with him? How could he allow the entire Mu Dynasty to be buried with him?
Gazing at the light, Prince Mu's previously blurred eyes suddenly saw with incredible clarity. He had struggled so much to read that letter; if it weren't for his elder brother's secret medicine, his eyesight would likely have been ruined. But now, looking at that light, he felt he would have been better off blind! Seeing all this today, all because of his own sins, how could he not feel excruciating pain? Was he filled with remorse?
"Guards, prepare the carriage! I am leaving the palace!" His thoughts in turmoil, after a long, long silence, Prince Mu finally relented. This time, he wasn't just compromising his dignity, but also his identity as a father. For the sake of the Mu Dynasty, he would even kneel and kowtow to Mu Yunhe!
Although Prince Mu was not a good father, he was a good prince. He cared about the world. Perhaps in his eyes, this was a great man not being bothered by trivial matters, but he did not know that it was these trivial matters that caused him to lose the most precious love and family affection in his life.
While the entire population of the capital city was worshipping this miraculous light, Mu Yunhe, standing within it, had already traversed a void. His eyes raced through his mind, as if traversing a time tunnel, rapidly and swiftly flashing through countless people and scenes. Yet, he continued his relentless journey forward.
After traversing mountains and valleys, they finally arrived at the gate of an extremely luxurious palace. At that moment, Mu Yunhe's figure appeared outside the palace!
Strangely enough, in the room of the General's Mansion, Mu Yunhe's body, which was enveloped in light, was still clearly present.
The figure that appeared outside the palace was actually Mu Yunhe's soul!
Abandoning one's soul is a grave taboo for priests! The slightest mistake will result in the soul being scattered and the body left without a trace!
This soul-abandoning technique was the fastest way to find the person he was looking for. He hadn't originally considered using it because it was far too dangerous. Throughout history, all the priests who used soul-abandoning were highly skilled and elderly seniors, and it was always for extremely important matters. Even for those senior priests, using soul-abandoning was fraught with danger.
Mu Yunhe, however, was clearly incomparable to those senior figures. His skill was not as profound as theirs, and using the Soul Astral Projection technique was tantamount to suicide. Even if he were to survive by chance, the aftereffects would likely be beyond Mu Yunhe's capacity to bear.
Mu Yunhe cherished his life because he wanted to stay with his Aheng forever, so he would never put himself in danger.
But now he had no choice but to do it. This was the only way for him to find the Emperor Xian quickly, and the only way for him to save Aheng before he bled to death! He had no other choice, he was resolute! Even if his soul was scattered and his body was gone, as long as there was a glimmer of hope that Aheng could live, he would not give up.
When Mu Yunhe obtained the information from the Ghost Emperor's mind using the Soul-Capturing Technique, he already knew the location of the Emperor Xian. At that time, he intended to settle accounts with the Emperor Xian, but he had to wait until nightfall. Firstly, he knew there would be a significant commotion, unlike the dazzling lights. He didn't want to alarm too many people and cause panic. Secondly, he wasn't going to use the Soul Astral Projection technique, but rather another method.
Enter the Dream Realm!
He originally intended to enter the Emperor's dream under the cover of darkness while the Emperor slept, which would be far safer and more reliable than astral projection. In the dream, he was confident he could easily kill the Emperor, leaving him completely unaware.
But now he couldn't wait any longer; Ah Heng's life couldn't wait. 17744157
Abandoning the Dream Realm and choosing to have his soul leave his body was a terrible decision! It was the biggest mistake and the most absurd choice Mu Yunhe ever made in his life. But he still had no regrets.
Standing outside the luxurious palace, not a soul could be seen, yet Mu Yunhe knew it was heavily guarded, and every soldier possessed extraordinary martial arts skills. But Mu Yunhe felt no fear. Standing amidst the icy moonlight, his robes billowed, the surrounding snow making his skin appear even paler and more translucent.
He was now a ghost, unseen by anyone. He could enter the palace without hindrance. But Mu Yunhe did not do so, because he knew that the Silver Moon Kingdom was not a secular nation; it was a country only slightly inferior to the Divination Heavenly Palace, and they could not possibly lack the techniques and awareness to perceive souls.
As expected, Mu Yunhe had barely taken a step forward when the surrounding ice and snow suddenly began to melt. A melodious, aged voice echoed from the void above: "Your Excellency has come to visit the Polar Underworld Palace. May I ask what brings you here?"
Mu Yunhe pursed his thin lips, coldly glanced up at the sky, and let out a heavy snort. The ice and snow around his body immediately turned into sharp blades, which flew towards the sky with sharp, ghostly cries.
The blade abruptly stopped in mid-air, then suddenly reversed its sharp point and flew back towards Mu Yunhe. The aged voice in the air remained flat, saying, "Why did you have to hurt him? Here you go!"