Chapter 122: The Tragedy of the Chu Imperial Clan
Chapter 122: The Tragedy of the Chu Imperial Clan
Lu Qingming was almost driven mad with fury. He sped into the Miniature World of the Herb Garden, his body becoming a blur as he rapidly circled the area once, finally crouching in the deep pit and howling at the sky like a madman—
“Ah!”
He knelt powerlessly in the worthless dirt and burst into loud sobs.
Many of the medicinal herbs in the Herb Garden were top-tier Great Medicinal Herbs that the Carefree Sect had painstakingly searched for and plundered from all over for thousands of years!
The most precious among them were even regarded as treasures by top-level experts of the Unity Realm!
But now they were all gone!
Even the soil had been dug up and taken away!
Lu Qingming had completely lost his mind!
The Seven Free Swords naturally understood the value of the herbs in that Herb Garden.
The reason these things were placed in the mortal world, with Lu Qingming, was precisely to avoid attracting attention!
Although they could annihilate the Mount Taiyue Sect, in the Cultivation World, they dared not claim to be invincible.
There were plenty of beings who could destroy them as well!
Adhering to the principle of not putting all eggs in one basket, they placed the top-tier Herb Garden with Lu Qingming. Under normal circumstances, no one would have thought the Carefree Sect would be so bold.
But now, everything was gone!
The Seven Free Swords looked at each other, their eyes filled with confusion.
Song Ying couldn’t help but ask directly.
She looked at Lu Qingming, who was crouched in the pit weeping. “Junior Brother Song Qingzi, on what basis do you conclude the Herb Garden was definitely stolen by Ling Yi?”
Lu Qingming raised his head, his eyes bloodshot, glaring at Song Ying. “Does Senior Sister perhaps think I, Lu, embezzled it myself?”
Song Ying frowned slightly, somewhat displeased. “That’s naturally not what I meant. I just wanted to ask, how can you be sure the Herb Garden was stolen by Ling Yi?”
Song Guozi said in a grave voice, “This matter is no small affair. Without solid evidence, it’s indeed not suitable to make random accusations.”
That strange Blue Light was reflected in everyone’s heart.
So much so that even cultivators of the status of the Seven Free Swords were unwilling to directly confront Ling Yi.
Who knew if that Blue Light might suddenly descend upon their own heads?
The Herb Garden was gone, and now he was being questioned by his own people. Lu Qingming nearly spat out another mouthful of old blood.
He took a deep breath, trying hard to calm himself down.
He said in a low, heavy voice, “Last night, Chu Yanyu went out with Ling Yi. Those unaware thought they sneaked out for an affair. But in fact, I had long guessed that Chu Yanyu was not that kind of frivolous woman! All the previous acts were just to confuse me. Since she isn’t that kind of person, her colluding with Ling Yi could only be aimed at me.”
“They were in this vicinity last night, and then the Herb Garden incident happened right after. If it wasn’t Ling Yi, who else could it be?”
Lu Qingming looked at the seven of them. “The loss of the Herb Garden is also an unbearable blow to the Sect. I don’t expect you, my senior brothers and sisters, to take responsibility. I just hope you can help me capture that Ling Yi, interrogate him strictly, and we must recover the Herb Garden! Also, in the future before the Sect Leader, I hope you can speak a fair word for me. I truly did not embezzle it myself!”
“Have you ever seen someone embezzle and not even spare the soil?”
Speaking to this point, Lu Qingming finally couldn’t hold back and spat out another mouthful of blood.
The blood dotted his chest, staining his robes red.
He was filled with utmost grief and indignation.
Song Guozi gave a light cough and looked at Lu Qingming. “Junior Brother Song Qingzi, I think this matter needs careful consideration. The most important thing right now should be another matter.”
Lu Qingming closed his eyes slightly and let out a long sigh.
Finally, he nodded. “Fine!”
At half past seven in the morning.
The sound of killing suddenly erupted within the Chu State’s Imperial Palace!
Along with the cries of battle, large swathes of Blue Light rose!
That light was dreamlike and extremely brilliant!
Many early risers in the Royal Capital witnessed it with their own eyes.
In the hotel’s presidential suite.
Chu Yanyu, who had just gotten up not long ago, received a phone call. Her face instantly turned deathly pale, devoid of all color.
Seeing Ling Yi come out of his room, Chu Yanyu, with a trembling hand, hung up the phone. She took several deep breaths and looked at Ling Yi. “My brother Chu Yanping is dead. The two guards by my father’s side, Xuanyouzi and Huangmingzi from the Mount Taiyue Sect… are also dead.”
“They are attacking the Imperial Palace now. From inside to out, they are all Lu Qingming’s people. My father…”
At this point, Chu Yanyu’s body swayed slightly, and she fainted outright. Luo Xue, who had come out of the room, caught her and helped her to a nearby sofa.
Chu Yanyu sat there numbly, tears streaming down her face, saying nothing.
Great Chu Imperial Palace.
The guards around the Aged Monarch were swiftly killed one by one.
A group quickly fought their way deep into the palace.
Panicked cries and shouts came from the inner chambers.
But these sounds soon fell completely silent.
Some people charged into the Aged Monarch’s bedchamber and found no one.
Then someone kicked open the door to the imperial study. They found the Aged Monarch sitting in the study, dressed neatly, looking calmly at the person who had kicked the door open.
That was a Dao-Entry Grade expert cultivated by Lu Qingming!
But before this, he had also pledged loyalty to the Aged Monarch.
“Call Lu Qingming here,” the Aged Monarch said, his eyes appearing utterly calm, his tone so composed it was completely unlike a monarch of a country facing death.
“Grand Tutor Lu will not see you!” one of the men strode forward and thrust his sword.
Hum!
A soft humming sound echoed in the room.
An invisible energy shield directly protected the Aged Monarch.
This man’s sword thrust hit the defense; he used all his strength but couldn’t pierce through.
Then, a flash of Crimson Light suddenly appeared in the air.
When they looked again, the Dao-Entry Grade expert holding the sword stood stiffly there, motionless, maintaining the posture of thrusting his sword at the Aged Monarch.
The next moment, his body thudded to the ground, his sword clattering onto the ancient floorboards.
On both sides of his temples appeared small red dots the size of rice grains, from which blood slowly seeped out.
This scene completely stunned the others.
They hesitated, not daring to step forward.
“Call Lu Qingming here,” the Aged Monarch repeated, his tone flat.
At that moment, Lu Qingming, dressed in green robes, empty-handed, walked out from the back and stood at the doorway, looking at the Aged Monarch.
“I am here.”
The Aged Monarch showed a faint trace of mockery. “What? Even you dare not enter?”
Lu Qingming smiled and stepped inside.
Instantly, that Crimson Light flashed again!
But Lu Qingming abruptly stretched out a hand. Between his index and middle fingers, he held something entirely crimson, like a sewing needle.
“It cannot kill me,” Lu Qingming glanced at the Aged Monarch, then said to the men behind him, “You, go out.”
“State Preceptor…” someone voiced concern.
“Go out,” Lu Qingming waved his hand and closed the door.
Then he stood calmly before the desk, facing the Aged Monarch.
“You killed Yanping?” the Aged Monarch asked softly.
“Yes,” Lu Qingming nodded. “I had no reason to let him go. Although Yanping’s talent was average, ever since the Shen Xiaowu incident, I warned myself never to commit the mistake of releasing the tiger back to the mountains again.”
Thinking of the Miniature World Herb Garden that was now just a giant pit, Lu Qingming felt the urge to vomit blood again.
He hated Ling Yi to the bone!
“Your ruthlessness will be repaid one day,” the Aged Monarch sighed. “This is not my curse upon you, but a fact.”
Lu Qingming smiled faintly. “The Eldest Princess Chu Yanyu, ambitious, instigated a rebellion, colluded with enemies from another state, killed her father and brother… the Blue Light that appeared in the Imperial Palace serves as proof…”
The Aged Monarch looked at Lu Qingming and nodded. “Not bad. You’ve thought it through thoroughly. Not only found a perfect reason for war, successfully shifted the blame onto the Princess, but also basically cut off her path to the throne in the future.”
Lu Qingming smiled. “The Eldest Princess massacred the Imperial Palace, killed all the imperial bloodline. Discovered by me, helplessly, I could only take everything over. The Eldest Princess did not expect my side had the support of the Carefree Sect. Helpless, she could only flee Great Chu in a panic with her paramour, Ling Yi…”
“A state cannot go a day without a ruler. So helplessly, I can only temporarily act in place of the Monarch. But if they ask me to ascend the throne, I will definitely refuse!”
“Only when the Qin State is completely destroyed, the Eldest Princess captured, publicly tried and executed, avenging you, the prince, and the innocent wronged souls of the Chu imperial clan, only then will I comply with the people’s will and reluctantly become the Monarch of Chu State. Then I will lead Great Chu, sweep across the world, and unify the six states.”
Lu Qingming looked at the Aged Monarch. “Your Majesty, what do you think of my arrangements? Will they incur retribution?”
The Aged Monarch smiled and said, “Ultimately, they will.”
Lu Qingming also smiled. “If possible, I’d really like to spare your life and let you see if that day arrives.”
The Aged Monarch leaned back in his chair. “There’s no need for that, Lu Qingming. Your ruthlessness indeed exceeds my judgment of you. Originally, I even considered marrying Yu’er to you. Now it seems, fortunately, I didn’t do that.”
“Hmm, I don’t lack such an ambitious woman either,” Lu Qingming said smilingly, looking at the Aged Monarch. “Now, please begin your final journey, Aged Monarch!”
In the room, countless beams of Crimson Light suddenly erupted!
Lu Qingming moved as quick as lightning, while a powerful layer of defense burst from his body. He calmly pinched those crimson needles with his hand as he spoke. “Don’t try anymore. You are a formidable leader. I care for no one else, but I will grant you the most dignified death, and then bury you with the rites of a Son of Heaven… a magnificent funeral! As the last ruler of Great Chu, with such an honor, I think you can rest in peace.”
The Aged Monarch sneered coldly. “You massacred my imperial clan, killed my children. How could I rest in peace? Lu Qingming, remember this: my today is your tomorrow! Want to become the Monarch of Great Chu, want to be the Son of Heaven? You are not worthy. The wicked Carefree Sect… even less so!”
As he spoke, the Aged Monarch stared fixedly at Lu Qingming, a trickle of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.
The Defense Magic Array in the room also ceased at this moment.
Lu Qingming stepped forward, examined closely, then extended his Divine Sense to investigate. Immediately, he shouted loudly, “The Monarch has passed away! The Eldest Princess Chu Yanyu rebelled, colluded with Qin State’s Ling Yi, killed her father and brother… massacred the imperial clan members. Her crime deserves death!”
In the Imperial Palace, following Lu Qingming’s angry shout, more people roared loudly—
“The Eldest Princess colluded with Qin State’s Ling Yi to rebel, killed her father and brother…”
Lu Qingming stood outside the imperial study, his face cold, his eyes filled with contempt.
The foul anger from the Herb Garden theft was finally somewhat relieved.
Ling Yi, how are you worthy of contending with me?
The overwhelming momentum is like the brilliant sun; what can you use to block it?