Outside Shenjing City.
High in the sky, several hundred miles away.
A medium-sized Cloud Boat flying the banner of the Chu Province Cui Clan raced south at its utmost speed.
Inside the Cloud Boat's lounge.
The moment the lounge door closed.
Cui Yuanhe, who had acted so imperiously in the Golden Throne Hall, so arrogantly that he had dared point at the emperor's nose and mouth off...
Seemed to have had every bone in his body pulled out at once.
His legs gave way.
He collapsed onto the cold floor without a shred of dignity!
"Hah... hah..."
Cui Yuanhe gasped for breath, his chest heaving violently.
His lavish brocade robe was already soaked through with cold sweat, as though he had just been fished out of the water.
"Terrifying! Absolutely terrifying!"
"That was the emperor."
Cui Yuanhe muttered to himself, his eyes filled with terror and lingering dread.
Not afraid?
Not showing fear?
Facing death as though returning home?
Bullshit!
He, Cui Yuanhe, was human too, flesh and blood!
Facing the Great Zhou emperor who ruled this vast realm, facing those northern heavyweights whose eyes looked ready to swallow him alive and flay him raw, how could he possibly not be afraid?!
"Damn it... I nearly pissed myself back there..."
He gave a bitter laugh and roughly wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.
He had only kept himself standing through sheer ferocity, gritting his teeth and forcing himself to hold on!
He knew he could not retreat even half a step.
Half a step back would disgrace the Marquis of Chu, the Chu Province Cui Clan, and even all the Southern People.
Not only would he die, but his parents, wife, and children far away in Chu Province would all die too!
Yet he had volunteered for this mission,