In the Lingxiao Heavenly Court, at the Purple Dawn Palace.
Shui Wuhen returned to his residence, carrying the weight of exhaustion on his shoulders.
"Father, I need to speak with you," said a strikingly handso young man, addressing Shui Wuhen.
"Quan'er, what is it?" Shui Wuhen asked, puzzled.
This was Shui Quan, Shui Wuhen's son and his most favored child.
"It's quite important. It concerns the Shui family," Shui Quan said seriously.
"Co to the study with ," Shui Wuhen said, sowhat surprised.
All along, Shui Wuhen had been so busy with state affairs that he had neglected to properly educate his sons. Shui Quan, known as a playboy within the Lingxiao Heavenly Court, had never caused major trouble, so Shui Wuhen hadn't paid much attention. But today, he seed to have changed? Discussing family matters?
Upon reaching the study, Shui Wuhen dismissed all the servants and set up a soundproof formation.
"Speak. What's so mysterious?" Shui Wuhen asked, still puzzled.
"Father, I heard the Taiji Holy Court envoy was received today?" Shui Quan asked with a hint of excitent.
"Yes, I had him executed," Shui Wuhen confird with a nod.
"Why? Wasn't he right?" Shui Quan asked anxiously.
"Hmm?" Shui Wuhen's expression hardened, his eyes turning sharp.
The authority Shui Wuhen had accumulated over a century was formidable, but Shui Quan, being his favored son, acted as if he didn't notice.
"Father, we cannot surrender to the Taiji Holy Court; it would betray the world and those who ca from the Small Thousand World!" Shui Quan said.
"Indeed," Shui Wuhen nodded.
"But now that the Saint King is dead, continuing to hold out will only bring more suffering to the people. Father, after leading for over a century, many ministers already look to you. Why not take the next step? No one will bla you," Shui Quan said urgently.
"Wretch! What are you suggesting?" Shui Wuhen glared, an intense aura emanating from him.
Shui Quan trembled but persisted, "I want you to proclaim yourself emperor. The Saint King is dead. What's the point in holding on to Da Zhen? More ministers will leave, and in the end, we will have nothing. Father, please beco emperor!"
With that, Shui Quan knelt down with a thud.
Shui Wuhen's powerful aura burst forth, breaking through the study's formation.
"Wretch! I'll strike you down today!"
His roar echoed through the Shui residence, drawing a large crowd.
"Master, please don't!" A woman suddenly rushed in, hugging Shui Wuhen.
Tears stread down her face as she cried.
"Let go! I'll strike down this wretch today!" Shui Wuhen roared.
"Quan'er, what have you done to anger your father? Apologize now!" the woman pleaded with Shui Quan.
"Yes, brother, quickly apologize to father!" Shui Quan's brothers urged.
"I'm not wrong! Father, you're too stubborn. This is blind loyalty. The Saint King is dead; millions saw it, there are records, and the fortune is gone. Why hold on to Da Zhen? If you are willing, the ministers will support you as emperor. Father, I beg you!" Shui Quan shouted.
His words left the crowd silent. Clearly, many wanted Shui Wuhen to beco emperor. Shui Quan's brothers all looked eagerly, knowing that if Shui Wuhen beca emperor, they would beco princes.
The woman holding Shui Wuhen also looked hopeful, as she would beco empress if Shui Wuhen beca emperor.
"Rebellion, rebellion? I said in the court that anyone harboring treasonous thoughts will have their nine generations exterminated! Guards, drag Shui Quan to the South Heavenly Gate and execute him publicly! When the Saint King returns, I will atone with my life!" Shui Wuhen roared.
Everyone was terrified. They knew Shui Wuhen was fiercely loyal, but they hadn't expected him to be this stubborn, this loyal to the point of wanting to kill his own son?
"Master, please don't! He is your most beloved son!" the woman wailed, clinging to Shui Wuhen.
"Father, spare brother Quan!" Shui Quan's siblings pleaded in fear, their earlier ambitions dissolving instantly.
Shui Quan was dumbfounded.
"Do it now, execute him!" Shui Wuhen ordered the two guards.
"Yes!" The two guards, though initially hesitant, steeled themselves.
Executing a prince? They were witnessing sothing unprecedented, and their admiration for King Zichen deepened.
"Father, Father, it's , Quan'er!" Shui Quan finally realized the gravity of the situation.
"It doesn't matter who you are. Traitors die!" Shui Wuhen thundered.
"Mother, save ! Brothers, save !" Shui Quan, now truly terrified, sought help from all sides. He knew his father's character and that he truly intended to execute him.
"Master, you cannot! You cannot!" the woman cried out.
"Are you defying too?" Shui Wuhen glared.
"No, no! The Saint King left an amnesty token! When Quan'er was born, the Saint King ca to celebrate and gave him an amnesty token to protect him from death! Master, you cannot defy the Saint King!" the woman pleaded, sobbing.
"I have an amnesty token, I have it!" Shui Quan frantically produced a golden token.
The token, inscribed with the characters for "amnesty" in Zhong Shan's handwriting, had been tucked away and forgotten after news of Zhong Shan's death. Now, it was his salvation.
"Father, I was wrong, I was wrong!" Shui Quan cried out repeatedly.
Seeing the amnesty token, Shui Wuhen took a deep breath. Shui Quan was indeed his favorite son, but the law was paramount, and the Saint King's decree was even more so. The amnesty had to be honored. Shui Wuhen internally sighed with relief.
"Since there is an amnesty token, you will be spared the death penalty, but you will not escape punishnt. Send Shui Quan to Tianxia Peak and hand him over to Elder Tian. Have him endure the Hundred Lives Cave and its hundredfold tribulations!" Shui Wuhen decreed.
Hundredfold tribulations? Those who knew about the Hundred Lives Cave felt a shiver. A hundred lifetis of suffering were an imnse ordeal. Yet his life was spared, and no one dared to object further.
Shui Quan was sent to Tianxia Peak!
Tianxia Peak was where the powerful mbers of the Tian family, including Tian Shenzi, secluded themselves. After Zhong Shan left the Lingxiao Heavenly Court, Elder Tian resided here, never involving himself in politics or battles unless summoned by Shui Wuhen.
After learning of the situation, Elder Tian promptly sent Shui Quan into the Hundred Lives Cave.
Watching Shui Quan enter, Elder Tian nodded and remarked, "Shui Wuhen's intentions are sincere. May these tribulations help you grow."
After sending his son to face his tribulations, no one in the Shui residence dared ntion the matter again. Shui Wuhen, feeling deeply troubled, returned alone to the palace, standing in the Hall of Longevity.
Gazing at Zhong Shan's throne, it was as if Zhong Shan were still seated there.
"Saint King, Da Zhen is in turmoil. What should I do? I have guarded it for five years. I am exhausted, but I will continue to persevere," Shui Wuhen murmured.
"But it's too difficult. The loyalty of the ministers, the army, the people, and the entire realm is starting to waver. What should I do? Saint King, it's been five years. If you are still out there, please send a sign!" Shui Wuhen lanted alone, pouring out his heart's burdens. Da Zhen was on the brink of collapse. Although Shui Quan's words had been repugnant, they were not entirely unfounded. Five years had passed without a word from the Saint King. The world believed he was dead. But Shui Wuhen had held on, simply because he had never seen Zhong Shan's body.
"Saint King, when you left, you entrusted Da Zhen to , you gave instructions... instructions?" Shui Wuhen's furrowed brow lifted as a thought struck him.
"Shui Wuhen!" Zhong Shan had once called out.
"Present!" he had answered.
"Shui Wuhen, as the commander of the Fifth Legion of Da Zhen's Holy Court, from today, I na you King Zichen, the first non-imperial duke of Da Zhen's Holy Court. Govern Da Zhen in my stead in the mortal realm. In my absence, you are to manage Da Zhen as if I were present!" Zhong Shan had said, handing him a purple seal.
"When you face insurmountable difficulties, ask yourself this: what do I truly hope for?"
These scenes from over a century ago replayed in Shui Wuhen's mind.
"When facing insurmountable difficulties? Isn't that now? What do I hope for? What do I hope for?" Shui Wuhen muttered.
"I hope that the Saint King isn't dead! The Saint King isn't dead?" Shui Wuhen's eyes suddenly widened.
The Saint King isn't dead? The mont he reached this conclusion, Shui Wuhen was stunned. Could it be that the Saint King had foreseen this and intentionally left these words?
"King Zichen? 'Zi' ans noble; 'Chen' ans residence. The Saint King wanted to protect Da Zhen's Holy Court, to weather all storms? No, no!" Shui Wuhen frowned.
Initially, he thought his title was ant to symbolize his role in protecting Da Zhen. But now it seed much more intricate.
King Zichen? Purple residence? Shui Wuhen quickly sifted through his mories.
In an instant, he rembered soone. The realization made him gasp. It was indeed very subtle.
Purple residence? Master Zichen! Back when Zhong Shan was in the Golden Core stage and arrived at Wushuang City, he helped Shui Wuhen's father win the mayoral election by involving a master arrow maker, Master Zichen. Using Master Zichen's arrows, Zhong Shan had orchestrated a framing sche, his strategies so complex that it was impossible to discern truth from deception. Even though Shui Wuhen knew the entire process, he couldn't tell which parts were real and which were fake. Ultimately, Zhong Shan triumphed, sweeping away all the contenders.
"The Saint King's aning is that truth and falsehood are intertwined. Only by persevering until the end can the true victor be revealed, just as the Saint King ultimately triumphed, indicating his return?" Shui Wuhen's eyes widened further.
"The Saint King is still alive. He wants to hold on until he returns! The Saint King will surely co back!" Shui Wuhen exclaid in excitent.
Solving Zhong Shan's riddle filled Shui Wuhen with a renewed sense of purpose. The fatigue that had weighed on him lifted significantly.
"Yes, the Saint King's mysteries are not for re mortals to decipher. Saint King, I will do everything in my power to hold out until your return!" Shui Wuhen vowed, bowing deeply to Zhong Shan's Nine-Dragon Throne.
To read the manga version, please click the YouTube link syoutu.be/GnU613H6xm8
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