When My Flowers Bloom, a Hundred Flowers Fall

Su Yun was rather puzzled. "Didn't they just say I was the common ruler of all the Grotto-Heavens? How did I suddenly become a tyrant?"

Sang Tianjun reminded him, "Holy Emperor Su, there is no contradiction between being a common ruler and being a tyrant. You are the common ruler of the Seventy-two Grotto-Heavens in the lower realm, and also the tyrant who rules the Seventy-two Grotto-Heavens. See? Doesn't that make sense now?"

Su Yun looked at the indignant crowd and grew even more bewildered. "But I have never ruled them. The territory I govern is only the area around the Imperial Court, along with Heavenly Prefecture. And Heavenly Prefecture is jointly governed by Shui Yinghui and me."

"That is precisely the crux of the matter."

Sang Tianjun said, "The people do not fear you. As the Great Emperor of the lower realm, you possess no majesty, so naturally there will be those who rebel against you. Evil Emperor's realm was fought for. Di Feng's realm was won through rebellion. But the Holy Emperor's realm was bestowed by the Heavenly Empress, the Immortal Empress, and Di Feng."

Su Yun shook his head. "I have no desire to become emperor, nor do I intend to rebel against the Heavenly Empress, the Immortal Empress, or Di Feng. Tianjun, do not trap me in unrighteousness. My greatest wish is simply to have a small plot of land in the Imperial Court, plant flowers and raise grass, and be an idler in the clouds and wild crane. That would be enough. Fame, fortune, rank, and wealth are floating clouds to me. It is only that the world is not at peace, so I cannot withdraw bravely amid the rushing rapids..."

Sang Tianjun's expression turned solemn. "Holy Emperor Su, if you do not proclaim yourself