CHAPTER 249: CHAPTER249-COERCION

"What? How dare you, Norton! I am the Emperor’s man, you wouldn’t dare to touch me? You..."

The messenger was dragged out by soldiers outside the tent, and soon after, a pitiful wail was heard.

The messenger’s head rolled far away, leaving a trail of blood on the pristine snow.

...

"Uncle, father has already announced the heir today. What shall we do next?"

"I know, but, alas, my blood sacrifice is still lacking many precious minerals and herbs. Without awakening the Corpse Emperor within the millennium-old female corpse, our plans cannot proceed."

Upon uttering these words, National Preceptor Blois fell into deep contemplation.

Seeing his uncle’s silence, the second prince could only fret internally.

"Actually, there’s another way to awaken the immortal Corpse Emperor within the millennium-old female corpse."

Hearing there was still a chance, the second prince excitedly asked, "What is it, uncle? I’ll do everything in my power to assist."

"I need three thousand children, boys and girls under the age of ten, their virgin blood to awaken the Corpse Emperor."

"What?" The second prince widened his eyes in disbelief, "Three thousand children, all under ten, uncle, this..."

"How is that different from gathering those rare minerals and herbs again? It’s impossible to complete in a short time!"

Blois, thoughtful, countered, "No, this can be accomplished swiftly because Lewell, the commander of the imperial guard, has been bought by me."

"How is that possible?" Owen asked in surprise.

"Lewell is the king’s confidant. How could you have bought him?"

"Ha-ha-ha, perhaps some cannot be bought with money, but once a man has a family, even the most loyal have a fatal weakness, understand?"

Realization dawned on the second prince; his uncle had threatened Lewell with his family.

Indeed, experience comes with age.

"Uncle, when do we begin our operation?"

Blois whistled sharply, summoning a gigantic vulture adorned with sleek black feathers, spanning eight feet in length, gliding towards him and landing on Blois’s withered arm.

He placed a peculiar black crystal on the vulture’s robust talons.

After completing these actions, he patted the vulture’s head and launched it into the sky with a thrust of his arm, watching it take flight.

The second prince, observing his uncle release the vulture, inquired, "Uncle, what are you doing?"

Blois turned around, a cold smirk hanging on his pallid face, "The show is about to begin, ha-ha-ha!"

The second prince, baffled by his uncle’s inexplicable laughter, felt lost but dared not press further, opting instead to wait for his uncle to dispel the fog of confusion.

Seeing his nephew’s puzzled expression, Blois, visibly impatient, commanded, "Now, go to White Tiger Mountain. Find me a secluded spot there; I need to conduct the blood sacrifice ceremony. Understand?"

The second prince bowed respectfully, "Yes, Uncle."

The vulture circled above the Commander of the Imperial Guard’s residence, as if awaiting someone’s arrival.

...

"Brother, brother, come quickly! There seems to be a big bird in the sky."

"Really? Let’s go inside and ask Father to catch that big bird from the sky for us."

"Okay! Let’s go find Father together."

In the courtyard outside the commandant’s mansion, two little boys, around five or six years old, ran towards the residence, one following the other.

The older boy, sitting on the lap of a man dressed in dark blue, who was short in stature, pleaded endearingly, "Father, can you help me and my brother catch that bird from the sky, please?"

Lewell looked at his eldest son in his arms, feeling a pang of pain in his heart.

Sighing at the thought of National Preceptor Blois threatening him with his family, he felt anger and helplessness.

Sigh.

"Father, why have you been sighing so much lately?"

"Ha-ha, it’s my younger son who cares about his father, not like your brother who only knows how to act spoiled with me."

Hearing their father’s praise, Lewell’s younger son on the ground said happily, "Father, I also want that big bird from the sky, can you please catch it for us?"

Lewell, amused and touched by his two sons, replied, "Alright, alright, Father will catch that big bird from the sky for you, how about that?"

Hearing their father’s words, the eldest son excitedly jumped down from Lewell’s lap, grabbing his hand and making to head outside.

Lewell, smiling bitterly at his two precious sons, was then led by their little hands to the courtyard outside the commandant’s mansion.

"Father, look, that’s the big bird. Please catch it for us."

Lewell, following the direction pointed by his son’s finger, fixed his gaze and his face darkened.

He looked down and commanded, "Take your brother and go back inside now."

Hearing their father’s refusal to catch the bird, the children started rolling on the ground in protest.

"I want the big bird, I want the big bird."

"Someone, quickly, take them inside," Lewell ordered.

The maids working nearby, upon hearing the master’s stern command to take the young masters inside, dared not delay.

They forcefully carried the two children, who were making a scene, back into the house.

Watching his sons being taken inside and the maids leaving the area, Lewell whistled towards the vulture in the sky.

The circling vulture, upon hearing Lewell’s whistle from the ground, released the black crystal from its talons.

As the crystal fell from the sky, Lewell caught it and casually placed it next to his right ear.

National Preceptor Blois’s voice emanated from the black crystal: "By noon tomorrow, on White Tiger Mountain, you are to deliver three thousand children to me, without fail, or you know what will happen."

After hearing the message from the crystal, Lewell’s grip on it tightened, crushing the crystal into powder that dissipated in the wind.

Gritting his teeth, Lewell muttered, "Three thousand children, you’re asking for me, Lewell, to be damned!"

After a moment of contemplation, Lewell conceded to National Preceptor Blois’s demands, calling out weakly, "Someone."

The guard outside heard the commandant’s voice and quickly approached Lewell, kneeling on one knee, awaiting orders.

"Take my trusted men and capture three thousand children from outside the capital. Claim it’s for a child formation at the prince’s coronation ceremony in three days, to gather blessings from the heavens for the prince. Assure them the children will not be harmed, and for every child provided, reward the family with ten gold coins. Go now!"

"Yes, Commandant."

Watching the two leave the commandant’s mansion, Lewell couldn’t help but shed tears of sorrow.

Meanwhile, Armando arrived at the palace.

"Are you here?"

Armando had barely arrived when he heard his father’s voice.

"Yes, Father. I am unsure why you’ve summoned me?"

The king looked at Armando, standing tall before him, "You’ve grown up, and with growth comes the responsibility of bearing burdens alone. Do you understand? If there comes a day when I am no longer by your side, can you still protect this empire?"

Armando was puzzled by his father’s question, sensing a hint of sadness in his tone.

"I will not fail your trust, Father. I will protect this empire and ensure its prosperity and glory. Please, rest assured."

The king gazed intently at his son and continued, "Armando, you must remember, in this world, there’s no clear division between good and evil, especially for a sovereign. When judging a matter or a person, it’s not about their morality or right and wrong but about the outcome their actions or presence will bring to you and your empire. Do you understand?"

Armando, pondering his father’s question, still couldn’t grasp the full meaning behind his words and shook his head.

Seeing his son shake his head, the king wasn’t too disappointed.

He understood that Armando was still a child, one who had not yet faced the trials and tribulations of life under his protection.

He knew that maturity comes through enduring hardships and hoped that one day Armando would grow into a towering tree.

To become the true ruler of the empire, providing shelter and sustenance for his people.

"Alright, my son, your father believes in you. You will not disappoint me."

Armando looked curiously at his father, sensing something unusual about him today, as if he was burdened with worries.

"Rest assured, Father, I will not let you down," Armando firmly replied.

The king approached Armando, placing his hands on the shoulders of his son, who was now nearly as tall as he was, and said with a heavy tone, "When you ascend to the throne, you must not kill your brother. Can you promise me that? I do not wish to see my sons fighting each other."

Armando, unaccustomed to his father speaking to him in such a pleading tone, was momentarily taken aback.

After a pause and meeting his father’s gaze, Armando assured him, "Don’t worry, Father. I will definitely protect my brother."

Hearing the answer he desired, the king’s face was adorned with a satisfied smile.

"You must be tired as well. Go now and rest. Your father needs to rest too. With age, the body doesn’t quite keep up with the spirit."

"Yes, Father. Your son takes his leave."

...

That very afternoon, National Preceptor Blois visited Alison’s home.

"Come, come, I invite you, National Preceptor, to taste our home-brewed rice wine!"