Farewell to Emperor Jiang, the Heavenly Emperor's Master

Beyond the mirror.

"So this was how the Heavenly Emperor and Emperor Jiang became sworn brothers."

Someone spoke up.

The cultivators were all somewhat moved.

They had thought that Emperor Jiang's friendship with the Heavenly Emperor must have been forged amid earth-shattering trials, through calamity and brushes with death.

After all, once the Heavenly Emperor rose to prominence, Jiang Minghuang became the most loyal supporter at his back.

He followed the Heavenly Emperor in battle across the myriad heavens and worlds. Side by side, they swept away powerful foes from countless realms. His feelings for the Heavenly Emperor were exceedingly sincere; he never left him, never abandoned him.

Yet no one had expected their meeting and brotherhood to have been so ordinary.

Ordinary though it was, no one found it abrupt.

Thinking about it carefully—

At that time, both the Heavenly Emperor and Emperor Jiang had nothing at all.

They had been teenagers in their early teens, an age when loyalty and brotherhood outweighed the heavens themselves. The two had supported one another as they struggled to survive in the Lower Realm. With time, it was only natural that they would form such a pure friendship.

Such a bond might even have been impossible to find among cultivators.

There might be interests entangled in the relationships between cultivators; people might deliberately seek to befriend Jiang Minghuang because of his family background. But the brotherhood between these two could be called pure to the utmost extreme.

Jiang Minghuang looked dazed.

The vows of old echoed in his ears, sending waves of stabbing pain through his heart.

The haze of hatred was briefly soothed. Scene after scene from the past reverberated in his mind.

"If only you could have remained that big brother forever."

He sighed softly, but his heart was desolate, as though carved by knives, the chill piercing to the bone.

"But later, you changed! You changed!"

"Gu Changqing, why did you change?!"

Time flew by, and five years passed.

Gu Changqing and Jiang Minghuang wandered the mortal world for five years. Though they had nothing, they forged an exceedingly pure bond.

Now, one boy was twelve, and the other thirteen.

The five-year term had ended.

That day, golden lotuses bloomed across the sky, and thousands of rosy clouds shone brilliantly.

A group of immortals dressed in magnificent robes descended into the human world, vast and mighty, falling into the mortal dust like rain.

A host of cultivators surrounded an ornate agarwood carriage.

High above in the Nine Heavens, they roared in unison, "Welcome home, Young Master!"

Jiang Minghuang spread his arms as endless splendor enveloped him. A woman as beautiful as a banished immortal personally dressed him in a magnificent brocade robe.

Jiang Minghuang slowly rose into the air, like a favored child of heaven beneath everyone's gaze.

At that moment, how many mortal women regretted it, and how many female cultivators stamped their feet in vexation.

So he truly was the son of a towering great clan from the Upper Realm. So that woman as beautiful as a banished immortal truly was merely a maid at his side.

Suspended in midair, Jiang Minghuang turned to look back upon the mortal world. On that barren land, the ragged boy who looked like a beggar stood still, smiling.

"Big Brother, now you should believe that I'm the son of a towering great clan from the Upper Realm, right?"

Jiang Minghuang spoke, only to discover in surprise that even at this moment, there was not the slightest trace of the surprise he ought to have had on Gu Changqing's face.

"I never said I didn't believe you."

Gu Changqing smiled softly.

Jiang Minghuang froze for a moment, his expression complicated. Having accompanied this fellow through the mortal world for so many years, he knew those eyes could not lie.

He truly had never doubted him.

"Big Brother, come to the Upper Realm with me. The bitter days for us brothers are finally over today."

Jiang Minghuang invited him earnestly.

He had returned from his journey through the mortal world, yet could not bear to see Gu Changqing suffer the misery of the human world any longer.

However, Gu Changqing merely waved his hand indifferently. "You and I each have our own path to walk."

"My Dao foundation is shattered now. There is no longer any possibility of cultivation for me in this life. It makes no difference where I go. The riches and splendor of the Upper Realm are not as carefree as this mortal world, to me."

Jiang Minghuang's expression was complicated.

He knew Gu Changqing's stubbornness well.

At most, he himself cared somewhat more about pride and appearances. But this fellow would rather have his head cut off than bow his waist.

How could he possibly be willing to let those proud bones of his rest in Jiang Minghuang's home and enjoy wealth and glory?

Jiang Minghuang knew full well that he could not dissuade him. Yet now that they were parting, sorrow was inevitable.

Gu Changqing gave a bleak smile and called out loudly, "Jiang Minghuang, if I die one day, don't you dare forget me."

Jiang Minghuang was overcome with emotion. "Gu Changqing, if you fucking dare to die, I'll forget you! I'll forget you completely!"

Gu Changqing threw back his head and laughed, then turned away and waved his hand.

Beneath the setting sun, the ragged youth carrying a saber gradually disappeared into the distance.

Jiang Minghuang stood there stamping his feet for a long while before murmuring helplessly, "I was only saying it. How could I really forget you? You have to stay alive, no matter what. Otherwise, even if I cultivate into an unparalleled Great Emperor, what meaning would there be in it?"

Jiang Minghuang left.

Gu Changqing drifted through the mortal world alone.

His heart remained utterly lost.

He wished to avenge his blood relatives, yet could do nothing. His only remaining family was far away in the Immortal Realm.

Had he not gained a brother like Jiang Minghuang, Gu Changqing might even have found this human world unbearably dull.

Though he harbored a death wish, he understood clearly.

The current him had no right to die.

His blood relatives had yet to be avenged, and he still had to wait for his younger sister's return. Now that he had a brother like Jiang Minghuang, he had even less reason to die.

Perhaps even Heaven could not bear it, and so he continued wandering through this mortal world.

One day, not long afterward.

Gu Changqing suddenly encountered an old man with a kindly face and the immortal bearing of one who had attained the Dao.

Brought to you by the fastest updates of "Villain: Cleansing His Life, the Empresses Have Turned Against Him," by Divine Words Bewilder the Masses.

After neutralizing Cao Yuwei's attack this time, Mei Gongzi did not rush to counterattack. She merely stood where she was.

Cao Yuwei's brows drew together slightly. Was this little girl's perception really so sharp? After he had formed armor from flames, he had other methods at his disposal. If Mei Gongzi had followed up with an attack, he was confident he could have used that method to restrain her. But she had not stepped forward, forcing the ability he had poised to unleash to dissipate.

The war saber slashed out again, its surging saber intent several degrees stronger than before. Cao Yuwei moved with the blade, man and saber as one, charging straight at Mei Gongzi.

The Heavenly Secret Plume in Mei Gongzi's hand once again unleashed the Heavenly Mysterious Circle, and with an instant displacement, she switched positions. While dissolving her opponent's attack, she also broke his lock-on. In the next instant, she was already on the other side. A golden-red gleam flashed across Cao Yuwei's body. Had she not evaded so swiftly, another ability would undoubtedly have descended upon her.

A battle of attrition! She seemed intent on competing with Cao Yuwei in endurance.

Yet no one doubted where this ability came from. After all, the Peacock Demon Race's greatest innate gift was Stellar Transposition. Her technique bore the same marvelous resemblance to Stellar Transposition.

After neutralizing Cao Yuwei's attack this time, Mei Gongzi did not rush to counterattack. She merely stood where she was.

Cao Yuwei's brows drew together slightly. Was this little girl's perception really so sharp? After he had formed armor from flames, he had other methods at his disposal. If Mei Gongzi had followed up with an attack, he was confident he could have used that method to restrain her. But she had not stepped forward, forcing the ability he had poised to unleash to dissipate.

The war saber slashed out again, its surging saber intent several degrees stronger than before. Cao Yuwei moved with the blade, man and saber as one, charging straight at Mei Gongzi.

The Heavenly Secret Plume in Mei Gongzi's hand once again unleashed the Heavenly Mysterious Circle, and with an instant displacement, she switched positions. While dissolving her opponent's attack, she also broke his lock-on. In the next instant, she was already on the other side. A golden-red gleam flashed across Cao Yuwei's body. Had she not evaded so swiftly, another ability would undoubtedly have descended upon her.

A battle of attrition! She seemed intent on competing with Cao Yuwei in endurance.