Though he commanded the Imperial City Department and was accustomed to darkness and scheming, he still felt deeply powerless before this vast game of chess that would determine the course of the world.
"Your Majesty, must we simply sit by and do nothing? Stand and watch? Let Li Xinge lord it over the south, and even devour our Great Zhou's realm bit by bit?"
Veins throbbed at Song Wuya's temples, and his eyes brimmed with defiance.
As the Royal House's most loyal hound, he could not accept such a future.
The emperor did not answer immediately.
He rose and slowly walked out of the hall.
He looked up at the heavens.
At the countless stars scattered across the firmament.
At the fathomless night sky.
"Even if we cannot stomach it, what can we do?"
"King Ancestor Qin has fallen, and the Dragon-Slaying Sword has returned to its place in the Imperial Mausoleum. Though our Royal House still has reserves... must we exhaust them all for Li Xinge alone?"
"Li Xinge is not our Royal House's only enemy."
"For now, Li Xinge still does not dare rebel openly."
"But the same cannot be said of certain others."
Weariness and resignation colored the emperor's words.
"Certain others?"
Song Wuya's heart tightened.
"Your Majesty, could you mean the World-Cleansing Evil Cult?"
The emperor nodded, a flicker of resentment and gravity crossing his face.
He drew a deep breath.
"My old companion, swallowing your own knocked-out teeth is a bitter taste, but swallow them I must."
"If Li Xinge wants territory, I will give it to him!"
"If he wants power, I will give him that too!"
"Even if he wants to be a petty emperor in the south, I can turn a blind eye!"
Song Wuya's pupils contracted sharply. "Your Majesty, you intend