Emperor Personally Welcomes Him

Golden Leaf Dynasty, Imperial Capital, Nord Family estate.

Raymond Nord finished reading the secret report in his hand. A flash of lightning flickered at his fingertips, and the report instantly turned to ashes.

"Lilith, did you see that? That brat Qi Bei has finally made something of himself. From now on, anyone who dares laugh at him, I'll twist his head off." Raymond Nord gently caressed the jade ring on his finger as he spoke, his eyes revealing relief tinged with faint sorrow.

Raymond Nord was the leading figure of his generation in the Nord Family, but when it came to the position of the next family head, he might not necessarily be the one to claim it.

As the head of this enormous family, a leader needed both talent and powerful strength—but offspring were another crucial part of the equation.

Among Raymond Nord's dozen or so brothers, he had the fewest children: only two sons. After his wife died in childbirth, he never remarried. And of those two sons, Qi Bei was destined to become nothing more than a parasite. With such successors, his position was far too tenuous.

Raymond Nord had never marginalized Qi Bei simply because he was a good-for-nothing. Of his two sons, Huai'an looked like him, while Qi Bei looked extremely like his mother. And because Qi Bei could not cultivate magic or battle aura, Raymond's protection of him had bordered on doting.

The family head had been very displeased, but Raymond Nord had stood by his convictions and could not bear to see Qi Bei suffer the slightest grievance. As for the genius-like Huai'an, Raymond had been extremely strict with him in order to temper him.

But now, Qi Bei had also risen like a comet. Although Raymond still found it somewhat hard to believe, Huai'an would certainly not have lied. All that remained was for Qi Bei to return so he could personally test him.

"Emperor Hanmos, just look at how you've handled Mingyue and Qi Bei's marriage this time. Hahaha." At the thought, Raymond Nord could not help bursting into loud laughter.

Emperor Hanmos was an emperor of extraordinary vision and ability, but the conflict between imperial power and the great aristocratic clans had never been erasable, no matter the dynasty. In the Golden Leaf Dynasty, however, that conflict was even more acute.

Even if the Nord Family declared that it would abandon its power, its prestige and influence alone would still leave Emperor Hanmos unable to eat or sleep in peace—unless he uprooted the Nord Family completely.

But the Nord Family numbered tens of thousands from top to bottom. How could they possibly stretch out their necks and await slaughter? Thus, the conflict between the two sides could never be reconciled.

The Nord Family's good-for-nothing Fifth Young Master had actually returned alive from the Undead Mountain Range!

The news rapidly swept through the entire Imperial Capital. From officials and nobles down to commoners, nearly everyone was discussing it. If you knew nothing about it, people would certainly look down on you.

At this point, nine months had passed since Qi Bei was abducted to the Undead Mountain Range by that necromancer.

What kind of place was the Undead Mountain Range? It was a forbidden zone for the living. Even a king-rank mage or warrior would have been reduced to bones after staying there for so long.

Yet Qi Bei was a good-for-nothing who could not even truss a chicken. How exactly had he managed it?

Some said Qi Bei had hidden in a cave the entire time, surviving by eating earthworms and the like until his elder brother, Nord Menghu, found him.

Some said Qi Bei had discovered a divine elixir left behind by a god. After consuming it, his entire body had become impervious to blades and spears and immune to every poison.

Others said Qi Bei had caught the eye of an intelligent female zombie in the Undead Mountain Range. To stay alive, he had to be xxooed by that female zombie a hundred times every day. If Qi Bei heard this version, who knew what he would think...

Aside from that, the topic discussed most was Qi Bei's marriage to Princess Mingyue.

Back then, Emperor Hanmos had personally promised that if Qi Bei returned alive from the Undead Mountain Range, he would marry Princess Mingyue to him.

Whether Emperor Hanmos would go back on his word or fulfill his promise had become the focus of discussion.

There were far fewer versions concerning this matter than there were about how Qi Bei had returned alive from the Undead Mountain Range. The discussants had split into two sharply opposed camps.

One side believed that Princess Mingyue was Emperor Hanmos's most beloved daughter, a genius who cultivated light magic, while Qi Bei the good-for-nothing was as far apart from her as mud from clouds. Emperor Hanmos's promise back then had merely been meant to placate the Nord Family. Even if Qi Bei returned alive, he could renege if he wished. Could the Nord Family really bite him over it?

The other side believed that Emperor Hanmos was the emperor, and an emperor's word was his bond. Besides, the Nord Family was no pushover. He was now riding a tiger and could not get off, so he had no choice but to swallow this dumb loss.

With the entire Imperial Capital thrown into such a storm, and the matter causing such an uproar, it was absolutely impossible that neither side had been fanning the flames behind the scenes.

At this moment, Princess Mingyue, one of the parties involved, sat calmly on a swing in the rear garden, holding her Unicorn Cub. Her snow-white skirt floated with the swing's motion, making her seem like someone from a painting.

"Xiao Bai, he actually returned alive from the Undead Mountain Range. What do you think I should do?" Princess Mingyue asked softly. Her gaze was cold as the moon, however, without the slightest trace of confusion. Perhaps she had long since had everything planned.

The Unicorn Cub in her arms cried out twice. It could not understand what its master was saying.

"Kill him!" a drifting voice whispered beside Princess Mingyue's ear. At some point, a ghostlike figure had appeared behind her.

Princess Mingyue's expression did not change in the slightest. The question she had asked just now had not been directed at the Unicorn Cub, but at this mysterious person.

"He cannot die yet. Father Emperor's plans are not complete. If he dies, the Nord Family will certainly strike back. Then all our efforts will be ruined, and I will become a sinner of the Golden Leaf Dynasty." Princess Mingyue spoke indifferently.

"I only know how to kill people. Asking me is the same as asking nothing." After the mysterious person finished speaking, the figure gradually faded, soon vanishing into the air like snow melting beneath the sun.

"Sigh, I wasn't asking. I just wanted to find someone to talk to." Princess Mingyue sighed softly and brushed back the hair at her temple.

At the southern gate of the Imperial Capital, two lines of fully armed soldiers stood to either side. On the gatehouse wall, Emperor Hanmos stood in person, gazing into the distance with deep-set eyes.

To Hanmos's left stood a group of his trusted ministers, while several core members of the Nord Family stood to his right.

The head of the Nord Family, however, was seated. Kodi Nord stood beside Emperor Hanmos. This renowned old man, famous throughout the heavens, was already ancient and decrepit. His face resembled tree bark, his gaze was somewhat cloudy, and he leaned on a cane made from an unknown material. He looked as though he had one foot in the grave and might kick the bucket and ascend to heaven at any moment.

However, Kodi Nord had already looked like this ten years ago, yet he was still living quite well. Now, he merely appeared somewhat more aged.

"You old corpse, why haven't you gone and died yet?" Hanmos shot a glance at the drowsy Kodi Nord and cursed inwardly. He dared guarantee that the old bastard's appearance was an act, but his face nonetheless arranged itself into a warm and respectful smile.

"Old Kodi, the wind is strong here. You should go back and wait," Emperor Hanmos said with concern.

"Ah... What did His Majesty just say? This old subject's hearing is a little poor. I didn't hear you." Kodi Nord opened his cloudy eyes and shouted toward Emperor Hanmos.

Emperor Hanmos repeated himself. Only then did Kodi Nord nod and shout, "His Majesty's health is important. Since the wind is strong, there is no need for His Majesty to wait here. This old subject respectfully sees His Majesty off."

Kodi Nord's voice was extremely loud—loud enough for everyone on and below the city wall to hear.