Jiang Ping'an stepped toward the Human Emperor Palace, shrinking the ground into inches, and vanished from the street in the blink of an eye. Half a cup of tea later, he stood before the great hall of the Human Emperor Palace.
He had come to this palace once before. Last time, the Human Emperor had sent Nine Clouds to bring him here, and he had muddled through being called the "Future Human Emperor."
This time, he had come as Nine Clouds' Cultivation Partner.
The palace doors stood wide open, the guards standing solemnly at attention. Jiang Ping'an stepped into the hall and saw the Human Emperor seated upright upon the high platform. The Sun Moon Stars on his black Emperor Robe glowed faintly; his face was majestic, his gaze like a torch. The Empress sat beside him in phoenix coronet and rosy robe, graceful and resplendent, her brows and eyes resembling Nine Clouds'.
Nine Clouds stood off to one side. When she saw Jiang Ping'an come in, a trace of guilt and worry flashed through her eyes.
Jiang Ping'an walked to the center of the hall and bowed neither servilely nor arrogantly. "Jiang Ping'an pays respects to Your Majesty, and pays respects to Your Majesty the Empress."
The Human Emperor did not immediately tell him to rise. Instead, he stared coldly at him for a long while. The atmosphere in the hall was heavy; even the air seemed to have solidified.
"Jiang Ping'an," the Human Emperor finally said, his voice deep and severe. "Back then, I sent Nine Clouds to Sky Demon Island to receive you because I trusted you. You had just arrived in the Primal Beginning Realm, unfamiliar with both people and land. Nine Clouds guided you all the way, helped you make arrangements, and protected you thoroughly.