Li Er, a Ruler's Word Is His Bond

The moment they heard about the restrictions that came with being listed, the emperors immediately lost interest in the Investiture of the Gods.

Liu Che gave an awkward smile. "Then I'll pass. I'm still young, after all, and I doubt I'll need the Investiture of the Gods anytime soon."

Liu Bing's lips curled slightly as he teased, "No problem. If you ever want to be listed, just let me know. I treat my employees very well, unlike certain people who end up hanging from lampposts."

"No need, no need. Thanks for the offer." Liu Che waved his hand.

Liu Bing turned to Zhang Jiao and asked, "Daoist Zhang Jiao, would you be willing to be listed?"

Hearing this, Zhang Jiao nodded without hesitation. "I'm willing. Please grant my request, sir."

Who would want to die if they could live?

If he could avoid death, he would have more time to do more for the people of the world. Perhaps he could even lead them out of the mire of chaos.

Liu Bing nodded. A brush appeared in his hand, and he wrote Zhang Jiao's name on the Investiture of the Gods.

As soon as Liu Bing finished writing, Zhang Jiao felt as though he had undergone a complete transformation.

The aura of death that had once surrounded him vanished in an instant. In its place, a surging vitality poured into his body without end.

At that moment, he felt as if he had been reborn. The weakness that had left him seemingly on the brink of death was gone, replaced by an unprecedented vigor. Even his eyes had grown strikingly bright and sharp.

What was more, he clearly sensed an immense, boundless power coursing through his limbs and bones. It seemed that the slightest movement of his finger could stir heaven and earth.

He examined his hands in amazement, but had no intention of immediately using the power within him. He bowed respectfully to Liu Bing. "Thank you, sir. I'll remember your kindness forever."

The emperors watched Zhang Jiao go from looking pale and sickly to being full of life and rosy-cheeked in an instant. Their eyes flickered with thought.

Perhaps, if someone close to them was on the verge of death one day and they had no way to save them, they could ask Liu Bing for help.

Zhu Yuanzhang in particular was thinking more actively now. Of all the emperors, he was the oldest, and the one most likely to need the Investiture of the Gods first.

After all, the Fifteenth Year of Hongwu was only four years away. If Empress Ma and Zhu Xiong Ying died as recorded in the History of Ming, he would have to ask Liu Bing for help.

Liu Bing's lips lifted in a faint smile. "Daoist Zhang Jiao, there's no need to be so formal! We're all in the same group. We should help one another."

A warmth rose in Zhang Jiao's heart. He could tell Liu Bing meant what he said. So he replied readily, "In that case, I won't stand on ceremony."

"Earlier, I heard you mention a way to help all the people of the world live better lives. Would you tell me about it?"

Now that Zhang Jiao was no longer troubled by the prospect of dying at any moment, he felt he ought to do something for the people of the world.

"Once, there was a man much like you, Mr. Zhang Jiao. He, too, saw the people's suffering. He had originally studied medicine, believing that once he mastered it, he could heal everyone in the world."

"Later, he saw how numb the people had become, how indifferent they were as their own countrymen died before their eyes. He came to understand that studying medicine could not save the world; healing the spirit was more urgent than healing the body."

Liu Bing paused, and Zhang Jiao fell into a daze.

He felt deeply moved by those words. He had always devoted himself to treating the sick and saving lives. But he had also seen many people who, even after being saved, were hardly any better off than before. Their bodies were alive, but their convictions were gone.

The people he saved were like walking corpses, living on in numbness. They didn't even know why they were alive. Perhaps all that remained was the instinct to survive—the mere desire to keep living.

Back then, he had no time to dwell on such things. Too many people were trapped in the mire of chaos, and they could die at any moment. He had no time to think it through. He could only do everything in his power.

Now, hearing Liu Bing say this made him realize that simply saving people was not enough. He even wondered if the Yellow Turban Army he had gathered would immediately fall apart if he died.

Just then, a thick red book appeared out of thin air in Liu Bing's hands. He lifted it and held it out to Zhang Jiao. "It seems you've had some insights. This book should help you find the answer. Take it."

Zhang Jiao accepted the book solemnly. His gaze was immediately drawn to the four gilded characters on the cover: Red Will.

Just one look at the title filled him with a strange sensation, as though some unseen force was constantly stirring his heart. It was as if a voice deep within told him that the book held the answer he was seeking.

At the same time, the emperors nearby saw what was happening and gathered around, looking at Liu Bing expectantly.

"Sir, could you give us a copy too? We want all the people in the land to live good lives as well." Zhu Yuanzhang looked at Liu Bing with a cheerful grin. He truly wanted the people of the world to live better. After all, he had risen from the lowest ranks himself and knew all too well how hard life was for ordinary people.

Liu Bing gave the emperors an inscrutable look, then handed each of them a copy of Red Will. "Just have a look. This book won't be of any use to you."

"What do you mean by that, sir? We'll certainly put this book to good use and bring blessings to the common people." When Li Shimin heard Liu Bing say the book would be of no use to them, he felt Liu Bing was looking down on him.

Who was he? The emperor of Great Tang, the future Heavenly Khan, the ruler who would usher in the golden age of Great Tang. How could this book be useless to him?

Ying Zheng opened the book. On the very first page, he saw a person raising a hand. Beside the figure was a sentence—one that made his scalp tingle.

[Long live the people!]

Ying Zheng understood. This book was certainly unsuitable for emperors like them. After all, what emperor would shout those words? They could give the people better lives and make sure they had plenty to eat and wear. They could even help every person become a dragon. But they would never say "Long live the people" to them.

Liu Che had seen the words too. With an inscrutable smile, he said to Li Shimin, "Well, Li Er, I'll just have a look at this book. It may not be of any use to me. If you want to use it, you can't take it back later. A ruler's word is his bond."

When Li Shimin heard Liu Che, his heart gave a sudden lurch. He sensed something was wrong. Carefully, he opened the cover of Red Will and saw the figure and the words.

In an instant, Li Shimin's face turned green.