CHAPTER 65: CHAPTER 65: RETURN TO THE CAPITAL_1

"Your Highness, it has been confirmed that after King Gaoyang took control of the Imperial Capital, he issued an order to seal off the inner palace. There have been no signs of misconduct!"

In the Imperial Palace, Qin Wudao heaved a sigh of relief after hearing Jia Xu’s report.

The imperial harem was the Emperor’s exclusive domain. If anything went wrong, it could lead to bloody turmoil; after all, an emperor’s wrath could result in millions of corpses.

"Has King Gaoyang been found?"

Once he was assured of the safety of the inner palace, Qin Wudao asked.

"Your Highness, the Hidden Guard found King Gaoyang’s body at a cliff three hundred miles east of the Imperial Capital. They also discovered millions of corpses beneath the cliff!"

Jia Xu answered solemnly.

Qin Wudao’s gaze hardened, a potent killing intent flaring in his eyes. Millions murdered in just a few days! This King Gaoyang deserves death by a thousand cuts!

To put it in perspective, even when the Qin Dynasty resisted the Holy Fire Sect’s invasion and pursued them to Demonfire City, the number of soldiers sacrificed did not exceed one million.

But then, an even greater question arose. How did King Gaoyang die? Suicide? Or was he murdered?

Hm? This imperial desk... Qin Wudao idly glanced at the imperial throne and noticed something unusual. He stepped onto the dais to take a closer look.

Having attended several court assemblies, he knew the usual arrangement of items on the imperial desk: the Jade Seal, inkstone, writing brushes, and a few ancient books.

But now, the imperial desk was piled high with edicts. There was still ink in the inkstone, several brushes showed signs of use, and the Jade Seal even retained a faint aura of Fortune.

All signs indicated that King Gaoyang had written a large number of edicts.

"Jia Xu, go to the national treasury, check the number of blank edicts, and see how many are missing!"

Qin Wudao hurriedly instructed. If the number of edicts King Gaoyang had dispatched to various regions did not match the number missing from the national treasury’s stock, it would mean unauthorized blank edicts were circulating.

If so, the trouble would be immense! Although the Qin Empire was not a nation built on Fortune, the Fortune it condensed was genuine and potent. All imperial edicts carried the power of this Fortune, allowing one to distinguish real from fake.

If miscreants were to use forged edicts to wreak havoc in the regions, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"Yes, Your Highness!" Knowing the gravity of the situation, Jia Xu saluted respectfully and departed in haste.

The results of the count came quickly. Aside from the edicts King Gaoyang had used, eight scrolls of blank edicts were unaccounted for. This meant eight scrolls were in the hands of unknown persons.

"Find them! We must locate those missing edicts!" Qin Wudao’s expression turned grim. He sensed this was far more than just missing edicts; a greater conspiracy was undoubtedly hidden. Frowning, he declared, "Have Father Emperor recalled to court!"

Plotting against an entire empire! Severing contact between the Imperial Capital and the regions! Massacring millions and drugging an entire city, all without detection! The power of this unknown faction is beyond what I can currently handle. A rash investigation would only be counterproductive.

「A few days later.」

Stationed in Godfire City, the Qin Emperor, having received intelligence from the Hidden Guard, walked alone to the city wall and gazed towards Demonfire City.

He stood there for half a day.

As the sun began to set, its crimson afterglow bathing the city wall, the Qin Emperor gave a quiet order, "Relay my command: withdraw the army and return to court!"

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

The Qin army began to assemble. Led by their generals, they departed Godfire City and began the journey back to the Qin Empire.

This retreat meant relinquishing thousands of miles of territory.

The common soldiers were unaware of the perilous situation, but they trusted their Emperor and did not resist the order in the slightest.

"Now that the Qin army has withdrawn, we can also head to the Holy City to meet the new Pope of the Holy Fire Sect. I hear he possesses a ’Dark Demon Body’ of the ninety-sixth rank and is qualified to become a follower of the Young Master!"

A hundred miles away, Eagle Protector watched the Qin retreat, a cold smile touching his lips. However, when he spoke the words ’Young Master,’ his attitude became utterly respectful, his eyes filled with devotion. It was hard to imagine what kind of youth could command such reverence from an expert at the Peak of the Reaching the Holy Realm.

A hoarse cackle. "I, on the other hand, am more interested in the Crown Prince of the Qin Dynasty. He actually managed to defeat a Dark Demon Body!"

So spoke the figure standing beside Eagle Protector, his voice hoarse and cold. A black snake was coiled around his neck, its forked tongue flickering, a chilling sight.

He too was one of the Protectors of the Changeable Mansion, known respectfully as Snake Protector. Not only was he himself at the Peak of the Reaching the Holy Realm, but he also possessed a spirit snake at the late stage of Reaching the Holy Realm.

The two conversed, their figures gradually fading until they vanished completely.

As the sun dipped below the western horizon, darkness descended, swallowing the last vestiges of light. Beneath the vast, dark sky, the Qin soldiers marched hurriedly. And apart from them, another army sped through the Skyfire Domain.

This was the Changeable Mansion’s army of one hundred thousand. They marched directly towards the Holy City of the Holy Fire Sect.

***

"’Han Yuquan, is this your handiwork? Why did you agree to let the Changeable Mansion establish a branch in the Skyfire Domain?’"

Within the brightly lit Papal Palace, Pope Duan Yonghui demanded furiously, his eyes wide as he glared at Han Yuquan, looking as if he wanted to tear the man apart.

A terrifying aura permeated the surroundings. The bright candlelight began to flicker, threatening to go out at any moment.

"’Pope, we had no choice but to accept the Changeable Mansion’s terms!’"

Han Yuquan raised his head and looked Duan Yonghui directly in the eye. He spoke in a calm tone, devoid of any respect, even tinged with a hint of disdain.

"’What do you mean?!’ Duan Yonghui, stunned, roared in anger."

But in the next instant, an even more powerful aura erupted. The flickering candles were instantly extinguished, leaving only wisps of blue smoke curling upwards.

"’From this day forward, you will accept any and all conditions from the Changeable Mansion!’"

In the darkness, Han Yuquan’s voice resonated, filled with unquestionable resolve and a hidden killing intent that caused the temperature in the grand hall to plummet to freezing.

"’Guards! Guards, protect me!’ Duan Yonghui screamed in terror. His voice echoed, but no one responded. Outside the hall, it was deathly silent."

This made his heart plummet.

"’The entire Holy City is already under the control of the Blackclad Army!’"

Han Yuquan explained, as if stating a trivial matter.

Hearing this, Duan Yonghui collapsed to the floor, his face ashen. Overwhelming regret flooded his heart. If only I hadn’t listened to Han Yuquan’s advice to seek aid from the Changeable Mansion!

Now, the Holy Fire Sect, having narrowly escaped destruction by the Qin Empire, had instead fallen into the clutches of the Changeable Mansion.

"’Why so distressed, Pope? As long as you obey the Changeable Mansion and diligently carry out their tasks, once the Mansion Master achieves his grand ambition, you’ll be able to avenge your father. Isn’t that what you’ve always yearned for?’"

Han Yuquan squatted down, a smirk playing on his lips.

Initially, the Changeable Mansion had planned to refine Duan Yonghui into a puppet. However, they later altered this plan, considering he possessed the ’Dark Demon Body’.

"’Then... what is it you want?’ Duan Yonghui hesitated, his voice faltering."

The prospect of avenging Duan Wanjiang tempted him.

"’As soon as the Pope swallows this medicinal pill, this subordinate will explain everything!’"

Han Yuquan produced a medicinal pill from his robes. It glowed with a crimson light and was wreathed in an eerie, ghostly mist—clearly nothing good.

"’This...’ Duan Yonghui recoiled slightly."

"’Does the Pope no longer wish to avenge his father?’"

"’Listen to this subordinate’s counsel. You are still alive only because the Mansion Master appreciates your talent. Do not betray his good intentions!’"

Han Yuquan’s tone turned chillingly sinister.

The grand hall was plunged into darkness and silence. After a while, Duan Yonghui’s voice finally sounded:

"’I... I agree. Give me the pill...’"