章 42: The Path to Immortality: A Game of Deception and Power Part: 2

The carriage stopped in the middle of the martial arts competition field, its golden exterior shining in the sun. The imperial guards stepped down from the carriage, making way for the emperor as the door of the carriage slowly creaked open. From within emerged a majestic man, wearing a dragon robe and a golden crown, followed by two elderly men.

Everyone on the field stood up, bowing down in reverence to the emperor. Madam Chi, her sisters, and the elders, however, simply clasped their hands and greeted the emperor respectfully. The emperor returned their greetings, making his way towards Madam Chi and her sisters.

"Majesty, did you feel any discomfort on your way here?" Madam Chi's third sister asked, her tone filled with concern.

The emperor chuckled, "No, my dear, I am perfectly fine."

The first sister teased, "Look how much our sister is concerned about her husband. I bet she got anxious just in one day. Little brother Azura, did you forget your senior sister?" she continued, a twinkle in her eye. "I still remember when you were a child, your brothers used to bully you, and you came to me, crying for justice."

The emperor blushed, clearly embarrassed by the memory. "Sister, why bring up these old things now that I have grown up?" he replied. "And how can I forget about my beautiful and mighty sister?"

Madam Chi and her fourth sister chimed in, "What about us?"

The emperor smiled warmly, "Do not worry, my dear sisters. I brought beautiful gifts for all of you, as well as the elders."

The grand elder interjected, "Azura, the patriarch is waiting for you in the main hall. The immortal is expected to arrive soon, so you should hurry."

The emperor nodded, introducing the two elderly men behind him. "These two gentlemen will accompany me. You all should know them. This is Master Li, an expert in luck and divination, and this is Prime Minister Wu." The emperor paused, looking around the group. "By the way, where is Chang'er?"

"He is with his grandparents, waiting for the immortal," the grand elder replied. "We still do not know who will come from the main branch this time, so you should hurry to the main hall."

Zhang Wei stood there in the crowd, watching everything unfold before him. The sight of Emperor Azura, surrounded by wealth and power, filled him with a deep sense of anger and jealousy. The two men lived in the same world, yet their lives could not be more different.

While Emperor Azura was born into a life of privilege, everything he had was handed to him on a silver platter. Women, resources, and respect were all given to him without a second thought. Zhang Wei, on the other hand, had to fight for every scrap of what little he had. He had to lower his head and suffer, just to survive.

The contrast between the two was a brutal reminder of how unfair fate could be. It was fate that had made Zhang Wei a beggar, a blind one at that, and it was fate that had given him a life filled with pain and humiliation. Every day was a struggle just to get by, and every night was filled with the haunting memories of the past.

Zhang Wei had never known anything but suffering. He had never felt the warmth of a loving home, the comfort of a full stomach, or the security of a roof over his head. He had never known the loving touch of a woman, the laughter of children, or the love of family. All he knew was the cold, hard ground, the endless darkness of his blindness, and the never-ending pain of his existence.

As he watched Emperor Azura, surrounded by all the things he had never had, Zhang Wei felt a deep sadness wash over him. He was filled with despair and hopelessness, knowing that his life would never change. He was stuck in this endless cycle of suffering, with no escape in sight.

Zhang Wei closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh, feeling the weight of his despair bear down on him. He felt like he was stuck in a never-ending nightmare, one that he could never wake up from.

For Zhang Wei, there was no escape from his pain. No matter how hard he tried, he would always be the blind beggar, suffering in the shadows of those with more power and privilege. He was stuck in a life of despair, with no hope for the future.

And as he stood there, watching the grand display of Emperor Azura's power and wealth, Zhang Wei felt a deep sadness fill his heart. He was filled with the pain of his past, and the hopelessness of his future. He was a prisoner of fate, doomed to suffer for all eternity.

But then, a dark thought crossed his mind, "If fate is unfair and doesn't give me what I deserve, then I'll take it for myself."

With a determined heart, Zhang Wei looked at the Emperor Azura and his family, his eyes filled with lust and evil intentions. He knew that he was powerless against the emperor, but he also knew that he had something much more dangerous than physical strength. He had a cunning mind, a wicked heart, and a thirst for power that could not be quenched. He also knows what his next step will be. "The taste of an emperor's wife will not be very bad." He thought evilly.

The emperor was unaware of Zhang Wei's thoughts and with a final nod, the emperor made his way to the main hall, surrounded by his imperial guards.