Chapter 150: Chapter 286: Another Game
When Chu Jiuyue returned to the back garden, he saw Yu Huang sitting in a pavilion, tasting some pastries.
Yu Huang sensed that the others had left and glanced at Chu Jiuyue as he walked over. This fellow was becoming quite the silver-tongued devil.
"Xian'er has also come to persuade her brothers to plead for that child."
Yu Huang sighed softly. "Since Li Junye's death, she has harbored resentment towards me, her father. Yet, she has made an exception for this child several times."
Chu Jiuyue spoke in a low voice, "It shows that the young princess has grown up. She understands that Li Junye's death was not your fault, Your Majesty."
Yu Huang's eyes glazed over slightly, then he smiled gently, his mood seeming to brighten.
"That child has a carefree nature, but he has good connections. Even the Xia family is willing to take a risk and plead for him, despite offending the Buddhist sect. The other three Divine General Mansions are keeping quiet, though."
Chu Jiuyue smiled bitterly to himself. If the other three Divine General Mansions had also pleaded for mercy, it might have backfired.
After all, if all five Divine General Mansions were to plead for one person, whose world would this be?
Not just Yu Huang, any ruler would be wary and fearful of such a situation.
"It's normal for the Xia family to come since they owe that child a debt of gratitude," Chu Jiuyue said softly. "If they didn't come, it would seem like they were deliberately avoiding suspicion, which would be suspect in itself."
"That ancestor of the Li family sure knows how to bide his time. He's a veteran who followed the previous emperor on campaigns. He understands emotions and principles, as well as benefits and harms. I won't make a move against that child at this juncture either."
Yu Huang's fingers gently tapped the table, his eyes smiling.
"This Buddha Master is too hasty. He's so eager to become a saint that he's colluding with demons. His ambition is too strong."
"But in this world, we speak of reason—the logic of the Dao, not the logic of Buddhism."
Chu Jiuyue's eyes sparkled, and he wasn't surprised. He knew that His Majesty was already aware of the Buddhist sect's secret collusion with demons, and he wasn't surprised.
After all, there's no paper that can hide a fire, and the Buddha's light can't conceal it either.
"That child has helped us solve a big problem, but it's a pity that his actions were too crude."
"However, there's an advantage to his crudeness. It sets up the pieces for my next move."
A smile played on Yu Huang's lips.
Chu Jiuyue fell silent. In truth, he hadn't been completely certain that His Majesty would forgive the child during today's court session.
Even though what the child had done was beneficial to them, the ministers had a point—the child's growth rate was too fast, fast enough to be feared!
So fast that the threat he posed far exceeded that of the Buddha Master.
Although he was one of Yu Huang's most trusted confidants, he couldn't claim to fully understand the mind of this emperor.
After all, when the previous emperor passed away and the princes fought for the throne, this emperor had shown how ruthless he could be, and everyone had witnessed it. This was not a gentle-hearted ruler.
After a brief silence, Chu Jiuyue looked at Yu Huang and finally voiced the doubt that had been lingering in his heart:
"Your Majesty, there is one thing this old subject does not understand."
"Speak."
"Why are you so at ease with that child?"
Chu Jiuyue paused slightly.
This was the question that had always puzzled him.
Was it because they had played a game by the willow tree river?
Or did he feel that the child's talent was too high, that he might become a saint in the future and would not necessarily usurp the imperial power?
But if he became a saint, it would be difficult to overcome the hurdle of incense and faith.
Moreover, the human heart is unpredictable, and the stronger the person, the more they tend to keep control in their own hands rather than entrust it to others, relying solely on fragile trust.
Upon hearing Chu Jiuyue's words, the smile on Yu Huang's face faded slightly, and he didn't answer directly. Instead, he looked up at the late-blooming peach blossoms before him, their petals fluttering like leaves in the wind.
The scorching summer sun caused the spring flowers to wither early.
"I feel like playing another game."
Yu Huang spoke softly.
Chu Jiuyue was slightly taken aback.
But Yu Huang had already stood up and said, "You don't need to follow me. Just announce during tomorrow's court session that I am deeply troubled by the Buddha Master's actions and that my body is unwell."
Chu Jiuyue's pupils contracted slightly, but he quickly masked it and said in a low voice, "But Your Majesty, what if the disciples of the Buddhist sect are not satisfied and create more trouble?"
"Wait for my return, and I will have an answer," Yu Huang replied.
And with that, his figure disappeared from the back garden.
Chu Jiuyue gazed at the now-empty pavilion, the petals falling on the still-warm stone bench. He stared, his mind slightly dazed.
...
...
Qian Dao Palace.
This Taoist temple, standing atop Tianmen Mountain, was majestic and imposing. What was once a simple and quiet temple had become more grandiose due to its proximity to the royal palace, with numerous imperial gifts, and hints of gold could be seen within, making it appear even more majestic and solemn.
At this moment, deep within the temple, there was only a faint beam of light illuminating a quiet secret chamber.
Yu Huang, clad in a black dragon robe, appeared silently behind a Taoist priest sitting on a rush mat. The Taoist priest exuded an ancient aura, and before him was a statue of a Daoist saint.
"I plan to take a trip to see that child," Yu Huang said softly.
The Taoist priest on the rush mat slowly opened his eyes. After a while, he said softly, "Have you made your decision?"
Yu Huang fell silent for a moment before replying, "Let's see after I meet him."
The Taoist priest also paused briefly before speaking, "My lifespan is almost at its end, and my days are numbered. I had originally planned to take the Buddha Master with me when I pass away, but I didn't expect a child to solve the problem first, saving me the wait."
Yu Huang nodded slightly.
Previously, he had intended to wait until the Immortal Gate opened again and the Jiang family members returned before dealing with the Buddha Master. The Buddha Master had already anticipated this, so he was racing against time. Eight hundred years ago, he secretly damaged his cultivation and cultivated the Demon Luo.
Unfortunately, Yu Huang had failed to detect this in time and missed the opportunity to catch the Buddha Master at his weakest.
"He colludes with demons, rushing against time because he knows I have sent a message to the Immortal Realm. The uncles and Lao Shi, along with the others, are trying to find a way to contact the saints and reopen the Immortal Gate. However, one year in the Immortal Realm is equivalent to ten years in the mortal world."
"Originally, when they returned, it would be the Buddha Master's time of death, and they would help me, the Jiang family, retrieve the incense and faith. In the end, it would all return to me, with interest."
"But now, this place has been discovered by someone from the Immortal Realm. It is highly likely that there is a powerful figure behind those three Wilderness gods, and their actions are not merely for slaughter."
Yu Huang's eyes turned sharp, "Whether it is them or anyone else, no one can stop my Jiang family from resurrecting our ancestor. We are on the cusp of success, and we cannot afford any mistakes."
The Taoist priest nodded slightly and sighed, "Their foundation in the Immortal Realm is too shallow, and their situation is difficult. It is uncertain if they can gain the favor of the saints, and it may take a long time to reopen the Immortal Gate."
The Taoist's voice was aged and raspy as he said, "Before I depart, I will take away all the dust and troubles. If you haven't made a decision by then, choose between Chunsheng and Mingyue Jian as the next successor of the Taoist tradition, and I will entrust this Taoist temple to them."
The two people he mentioned were the two carefully selected disciples from his personal teachings.
Yu Huang glanced at him, that thin and frail body had been protecting the Great Yu Divine Dynasty for over three thousand years.
He bowed his head slightly and said, "Ten years is enough for that child."
The Taoist fell silent for a moment, realizing that the other party had already made his decision.
"Are you sure?" he asked.
Yu Huang did not answer.
The Taoist sighed and said, "I hope you haven't misjudged him."
"Wait for me." Yu Huang said softly.
In the chamber that had been dark for a millennium, a single lamp illuminated the room.
He knew what it took to light a long-burning lamp.
After speaking, he gave a slight bow and his figure disappeared in a flicker.
This faint light shone in the secret chamber, and the dust danced in the light, unable to hide.
...
...
Liangzhou, Tianmen Pass.
After killing the Buddha Master and returning from Wuliang Mountain, Li Hao brought Candlelight Divine and Xiyan, along with Feng Lao, back to the familiar Tianmen Pass.
When Ren Qianqian learned that Feng Lao's soul was missing, she burst into tears. This young girl, who usually seemed cold as ice, was highly emotional and easily moved to tears when it came to those she was familiar with.
Li Hao comforted Ren Qianqian and resumed their daily lives.
He knew that at this moment, the old man in the imperial city must be worrying about him.
He, too, was awaiting an outcome, and it wouldn't be long.
Even if the result was not ideal, he would not hold any grudges.
After all, that old man had given him too much help.
"Feng Lao, it's been a long time since you've tasted my barbecue, haven't you? Have a taste."
In the small courtyard, a rich aroma of meat filled the air, tantalizing the senses of Candlelight Divine and Xiyan as Li Hao grilled the meat, making them drool.
Feng Lao sniffed and his dull expression softened slightly. He took the grilled meat from Li Hao and began to devour it greedily.
Li Hao smiled and handed him the wine gourd.
The atmosphere in the small courtyard was filled with warmth and camaraderie.
Two days later, an old man dressed in a black robe arrived alone at this border pass in Liangzhou.
Looking up, he beheld the majestic and towering walls, with flags of the Haotian dynasty fluttering atop them.
The flags waved proudly in the wind, exuding a formidable aura.
The old man glanced up and slowly made his way into the city.
Presenting his pass, he encountered no obstacles along the way, and the inspecting soldiers could sense his extraordinary aura, deducing that he was either wealthy or of noble birth, and perhaps even held a position of power.
Within the city, various stalls lined the streets, and young masters and mistresses of aristocratic families wandered about, creating a bustling and prosperous scene that was unexpected for a border city.
The old man strolled leisurely, taking in the sights of the city, and before long, he made his way to the center of the city.
There, a small courtyard surrounded by a bamboo fence stood alone, with a spacious open area around it. Soldiers patrolled the vicinity, and no one dared to approach casually.
The old man heard the sound of a zither drifting from within the courtyard and couldn't help but smile. This fellow, he thought, had the leisure to play the zither after killing the Buddha Master, unaware that his actions had already stirred up chaos throughout the world.
He walked straight to the small courtyard and was immediately stopped.
"An old friend has come to visit," the old man said.
The guardian was no weakling, possessing the strength of a fifteen-li realm, and was about to ask more questions when he felt an indescribable sense of intimidation. Even though the old man before him had a peaceful expression, his mind felt as if it had been jolted, and he unconsciously nodded and turned to go inform Li Hao of the visitor.
"Please invite the esteemed guest in." Li Hao's voice echoed from within the courtyard.
The two guardians promptly ushered the old man inside.
Inside the courtyard, Li Hao's fingers paused on the zither strings, and his eyes reflected a hint of surprise as he recognized the visitor.
A wall could not block his perception, and even without deliberately probing, he instantly identified the old man's identity.
He never expected that after such a major incident, this old man, who should have been in the imperial city, would appear here. It was truly astonishing.
At this point in time, if Li Hao couldn't recognize the old man's identity, he would be far too dull-witted.
He had been waiting for news, but he never expected the other party to come to him personally.
Li Hao quickly stood up to greet him.
The old man and the young boy who had met by the willow tree river now met again in this bamboo-fenced courtyard.
Li Hao gave a slight bow, intending to pay his respects, but the old man lifted his hand, a force stopping him, and said, "No need for formalities."
Li Hao immediately understood and realized that he had not misjudged the other party's identity.
"Quite a pleasant environment," the old man commented as he surveyed the surroundings, noticing the girl practicing her swordplay, the dazed and sluggish Feng Boping, and the sovereign of the Taoxu realm, Candlelight Divine, seated nearby.
It was indeed a peculiar gathering in this small courtyard.
The old man couldn't help but chuckle.
Li Hao asked in surprise, "Why, why has Your Majesty come here?"
He did not address him as 'Emperor', and the other party's actions indicated that he did not wish to reveal his identity. Moreover, with the Great Yu Dynasty currently facing crises and hidden demons in various states, for Yu Huang to leave the imperial city and travel to this distant border pass made Li Hao's heart heavy.
He had just killed the Buddha Master, and for the other party to come and see him in person showed an extraordinary level of trust.
"My hands are itching for a game of chess," the old man said with a light laugh. Seeing the painting board, the zither, and the chess set in the courtyard, he couldn't help but find it amusing. "You spend your days indulging in these activities instead of cultivating?"
This is my way of cultivating... Li Hao thought to himself, but he could only smile awkwardly on the surface, unable to explain such matters.
"It must have been difficult to move here. Has your chess skill become rusty?" the old man asked with a smile as he strolled in the courtyard, noticing the young girl who had been practicing her swordplay now tilting her head curiously in his direction. He smiled at her.
"It's not that difficult. The border pass has its own unique charm, a top-notch scenery in the mortal world," Li Hao replied with a light laugh, inviting the old man to take a seat in the courtyard.
He then asked Ren Qianqian to bring tea to serve the guest.
Ren Qianqian was puzzled by the old man's identity but followed Li Hao's instructions and quickly brought tea to serve the old man.
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