Chapter 39
Yun Zhongzi, thousands of miles away, froze for a moment before shaking his head with a sigh.
"Forget it!"
However, Zhu Wushuang held the Ju Que Sword in her hand, idly playing with it.
That night, Zhou Wang came by. Seeing Zhu Wushuang toying with the Ju Que Sword, he asked in surprise, "Beloved Consort, why are you holding that thing?"
Zhu Wushuang smiled. "Great King, I saw that this treasure still possessed some magical power, so I took it to have a look. But it turned out to be nothing special. Still, that man had some skill."
Zhou Wang smiled. "That Daoist was rather unusual. I believed him somewhat when he said there was a demon in my harem."
A murderous glint flashed through Zhu Wushuang's eyes. Your whole family is made of demons. Those vile bastards from the Clarification Sect actually dared slander my Jie Sect.
"Great King, my sisters and I also learned the Dao in the mountains from a young age and possess some abilities. Even if there are demons, we can deal with them."
"Oh? My two Beloved Consorts have such skills?"
Although Zhu Wushuang and Xiang Wuchen were ugly in appearance, every word and action of theirs pleased Zhou Wang. In particular, both of them strongly supported his policies.
"Of course."
As she spoke, Zhu Wushuang raised one hand. The Ju Que Sword circled around the room before finally falling into her grasp.
Zhou Wang stared at Zhu Wushuang in astonishment. "What skill!"
"Oh, Zhou Wang, we've grown weary of staying in the palace lately. We're people of the wilderness by nature, and sometimes we want to go out. Why not come with us? Wouldn't it be wonderful to hunt and enjoy the spring scenery in the Eastern Suburbs tomorrow?"
Zhou Wang hesitated. "It would be nice, but state affairs are keeping me busy..."
"Great King, only by balancing work and rest can one last."
Her words moved Zhou Wang. It was true that he had been exceptionally busy lately. "Very well, then let us go."
The next day, when Zhou Wang announced that he would hunt in the Eastern Suburbs, none of the court officials tried to stop him. Grand Tutor Wen, in particular, supported it with both hands and feet!
"Good! Good! The Great King is the supreme sovereign of the Human Race. Remaining in the palace for too long is indeed not good. Going out for a walk now and then will greatly benefit his health!"
Zhou Wang was stunned. In the past, Grand Tutor Wen had kept such a tight rein on him that going out to have fun had been impossible. Why was his Grand Tutor being so agreeable now?
He looked at Wen Zhong with gratitude. "Teacher, I never thought you would say such a thing!"
Grand Tutor Wen nodded and looked at the two enormous figures behind Zhou Wang. Senior Sisters, did I say that well?
Good. Keep doing it this way from now on.
Yes, Senior Sister.
Wen Zhong looked at Zhou Wang and thought, Did you think I wanted to? With these two ancestors here, how could I dare say no?
The Eastern Suburbs were refreshing and pleasant. Zhou Wang had originally ridden in a carriage, but once they arrived, he changed to horseback. It had been a long time since he had last ridden, and he galloped freely.
Only after riding for a while did Zhou Wang return. Looking at Da Ji and the other two sitting on the ground and chatting, he asked, "Beloved Consorts, why aren't you riding?"
Da Ji's little face reddened as she said shyly, "I never learned how to ride..."
Zhu Wushuang curled her lip. "I'm afraid I'd crush the horse to death..."
Xiang Wuchen nodded. "Definitely crush it to death."
Zhou Wang: ...
Right. These two Beloved Consorts had unusual builds. When he had compared their heights earlier, he found that the horse was not even as tall as Zhu Wushuang!
"Great King, take a walk with me!"
"Very well."
At that moment, Zhu Wushuang and Xiang Wuchen suddenly pointed at a Desolate Mountain. "Great King, that mountain is extraordinary. Just now, my intuition stirred, and I calculated that there is a hidden master living within it."
"Oh? A hidden master?"
Zhou Wang looked at the mountain in confusion. It was barren and desolate. How could there possibly be an Immortal living there?
"Great King doesn't believe us? How about a wager?"
"What are the terms?"
"If Great King encounters that hidden master in the mountain, then you must let me ride you like a horse."
Zhou Wang glanced at Zhu Wushuang. "Beloved Consort, it is not that I refuse. But if the countless common people learned that the Human Emperor had been crushed to death, they would probably die laughing..."
"Enough, Great King. Hurry and go! We'll wait here."
Zhou Wang was pushed into the Immortal Mountain by Zhu Wushuang in a daze. She then sent out a signal.
Tongtian was currently being lectured by Wang Yuan.
"If you don't cultivate properly, others will snatch your things away, understand?"
"Because you don't cultivate properly, you won't be able to protect such a great family fortune, understand?"
"If you can't protect the family fortune, then you'll be letting me down, understand?"
Tongtian's head was about to explode. Ever since returning last time, Wang Yuan's mouth had not stopped moving. Do Bao had been lectured so badly that he would not even stay in the house anymore and had moved to the foot of the mountain.
Suddenly, Tongtian's eyes lit up. "Uncle! Zhou Wang is here! Quickly open the formation."
"Oh?"
Wang Yuan nodded. "Cultivate properly."
With that, he headed toward the foot of the mountain. Along the way, he ran into Do Bao, who was hugging a boulder as he trained. He wanted to enter the Innate Realm sooner through external cultivation, but external cultivation was truly difficult.
Meanwhile, Zhou Wang, walking up the mountain, said disdainfully, "Though I do not understand cultivators, what cultivator would cultivate in a place where even birds do not shit?"
"Open!"
With a thought from Wang Yuan, the formation opened. Zhou Wang, who had been full of disdain a moment earlier, was instantly dumbfounded.
Cloud cranes and Colorful Phoenixes flew together overhead. Immortal Deer drank by the stream, lush green grass carpeted the ground, and spiritual energy swirled through the air.
"This... There is actually such a wondrous place in this world?"
Zhou Wang stared blankly at his surroundings.
"Is it not a joy to have friends come from afar?" A clear voice suddenly rang out from the distance, followed by a man walking over on the grass.
This was one of the wondrous uses of the Laws of Nature. Wherever Wang Yuan walked, a tuft of green grass would rise beneath his feet to support him. In any case, it took less effort than walking.
He was not a Daoist cultivator, so naturally he did not understand such things as avoiding the Three Lights. Even though Zhou Wang was a mortal, he used the laws without restraint.
Zhou Wang looked at Wang Yuan in amazement. The newcomer was utterly carefree, like an Immortal.
"The current Human Emperor greets the Immortal." He returned Wang Yuan's greeting without arrogance or servility.
Human Emperor?
Wang Yuan blinked, then understood. Before the Shang Dynasty, all were Human Emperors. Only the father and son of the Ji Clan in the Zhou Dynasty had betrayed the Human Race and bowed humbly beneath the Immortals. Otherwise, the Human Race's status would have been equal to that of the Immortals.
"Human Emperor, you have come from afar, and I failed to welcome you properly. Come, let us gather in my garden."
As he spoke, he pointed, and two small trees immediately rose beneath Zhou Wang's feet to carry him up the mountain after Wang Yuan.
Although Zhou Wang was shocked along the way, he did not show it on his face.
"We have arrived."
Wang Yuan brought him into the small courtyard. Zhou Wang saw several people there: a thin and frail man striking his own head with a stone, a young man drinking tea, and three women of peerless beauty.
"Immortal Elder... I came here uninvited. I hope you will not take offense."
"No offense, no offense!"
Wang Yuan examined Zhou Wang. This was a famous figure from history—the man associated with the bronze pillar torture and the wine pool and meat forest.
Yet no matter how he looked at him, Zhou Wang did not seem like that sort of person. Could the stories have been wrong?
Thinking this, Wang Yuan asked, "Human Emperor, what do you think of the current situation?"
"The current situation?"
Zhou Wang looked at Wang Yuan in confusion.
"Speak freely."
"The feudal lords rule separately, rites and laws are in disorder, the realm is unstable, and the people suffer."
Wang Yuan's eyes lit up, and he silently praised him as a great talent.
"The enslaved are highly capable, yet they are neglected and unused. The rites and laws of the feudal lords are in truth merely the rule of the strong."
"Sacrifices to Immortals and Gods exhaust the people and waste wealth."
After those few words, Wang Yuan understood everything.
Zhou Wang! The most wronged emperor in all of history!
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