Qin De's words rang like thunderclaps in Qin Yu's ears. The truth of his Ying Clan bloodline weighed on his heart like a boulder. Seeing the grief and expectation in Qin De's eyes, and recalling how he had borne the surname Qin all these years while cultivating in Cloud Mist Villa, Qin Yu felt the shock in his heart gradually give way to an indescribable sense of duty. He was not only the third prince of the Eastern Suppressing Prince Mansion, but also a descendant of the First Emperor Qin and an heir to the Ying Clan bloodline.
"Father, I... I understand." Qin Yu's voice was hoarse, but unusually firm. "Our Qin Family are descendants of the Ying Clan, and heirs of First Emperor Qin."
Qin De nodded solemnly, a hint of relief in his eyes. "Good. I'm glad you understand. For a hundred years, generation after generation of the Qin Family have endured in silence. We put down roots in the Three Prefectures of the Eastern Region and built up our strength, all while secretly waiting for an opportunity. We did it so that one day we could restore the Ying Clan's glory and overthrow the enemies who destroyed the Qin Dynasty and hunted our clan."
"Enemies?" A sharp glint flashed in Qin Yu's eyes. "Father, are any of the enemies who destroyed the Qin Dynasty still around?"
Xu Yuan slowly folded his fan, his expression grave. "Third Highness, those who destroyed the Qin Dynasty were the remnants of the Six Kingdoms, led by the Xiang Clan. The Xiang Family, the ruling house of the Chu Dynasty, are direct descendants of the Xiang Clan. They were also the most ruthless enemies in the hunt for the Ying Clan. The founding emperor of the Chu Dynasty was an ancestor of the Xiang Clan, and the current Chu Emperor, Xiang Guang, is even more ruthless and ambitious. He has long coveted our Qin Family and wants nothing more than to eliminate us."
Qin Feng picked up where he left off. "Third Brother, the reasons our Qin Family has been able to hold our ground in the Three Prefectures of the Eastern Region are, first, the foundation our ancestors left behind; second, Father's careful planning; and third, the help of Immortal Feng Yuzi. But Xiang Guang has never given up on swallowing up our family. He's secretly put plenty of obstacles in our way over the years, and skirmishes along the border have never stopped."
Qin Zheng said gravely, "Worse still, Xiang Guang is a savage who treats human lives like grass. In the Chu Dynasty, he has oppressed the people and preyed on his subjects. Countless loyal officials have been killed by him. Those at court and throughout the land dare not speak up, even though they're furious."
Qin Yu listened in silence as anger gradually flared within him. He had never imagined that the Qin Family and the Xiang Family of the Chu Dynasty had such a deep-seated blood feud, or that his ancestors had endured such a brutal pursuit. But there was still one question he had carried for twelve years, and at last he couldn't hold it back. "Father, there's something else I don't understand. My mother... how did my mother, Jing Yi, die?"
The moment the words left his mouth, the atmosphere in the hall turned heavy. Qin De's face darkened, and intense grief and guilt flashed in his eyes. His hands clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white, and even the aura around him grew unsteady. Qin Feng and Qin Zheng lowered their heads, their faces stricken with grief. Xu Yuan gently shook his head, his eyes full of regret.
Seeing their reactions, Qin Yu's heart tightened as a foreboding feeling rose within him. "Father, could it be... that the Xiang Family was also involved in Mother's death?"
Qin De slowly raised his head. His eyes were bloodshot, and his voice was hoarse and heavy, each word seeming to be forced through clenched teeth. "Yes. Yu'er, your mother's death wasn't an accident. That bastard Xiang Guang killed her!"
"Boom!"
The words struck Qin Yu's heart like a thunderclap. He sprang to his feet, his body trembling slightly, disbelief filling his eyes. His voice rose to a near-shout. "Father, what did you say?! Mother was killed by Xiang Guang? That can't be! Mother died of an illness. That's what everyone in the household said!"
"Died of an illness?" Qin De gave a bitter laugh, his grief and indignation almost spilling over. "I deliberately had people say that! Your mother came from a distinguished family. She was gentle and virtuous, and we loved each other deeply. But that bastard Xiang Guang coveted her beauty. He summoned her to his chambers under the pretext of attending a banquet and tried to force himself on her. Your mother was fierce and unyielding, so he failed. But in his rage, he killed her. Feng'er witnessed it himself."
"Feng'er was the one who told me. Otherwise, if he hadn't set fire to everything back then, we might never have learned the truth." Qin De's voice choked with emotion. "I was consumed with rage and wanted to raise an army against Xiang Guang at once. But the Qin Family wasn't strong enough then, and the Xiang Family had cultivators backing them. If we went to war, our family would have been wiped out. I had no choice but to endure it and claim that your mother had died of illness. I did it only to protect the Qin Family, protect you, and wait for a chance to take revenge!"
Qin Yu stood rooted to the spot, ice-cold, his mind completely blank. He had almost no memory of his mother; her face surfaced only faintly in his mind. He had always thought she had died of an illness. Though he regretted never knowing her, he had never imagined she had been brutally murdered—and that her killer was none other than the current Chu Emperor, Xiang Guang!
A towering rage surged from the depths of his heart and swept through his entire body. It burned hotter than his fury upon learning that the Ying Clan bloodline had been hunted, fiercer than his anger over the Qin Family's blood feud with the Xiang Family. It was the pain of losing his mother, the grief of seeing a loved one murdered, and a hatred that could never be reconciled!
"Xiang Guang!" Qin Yu ground out the name, one word at a time. His eyes were bloodshot, and his Xiantian aura surged wildly, almost slipping out of control. "I, Qin Yu, swear here and now: in this life, I will kill Xiang Guang, destroy the Chu Dynasty, avenge my mother and the ancestors of the Ying Clan, and avenge everyone the Xiang Family has harmed!"
His words rang through the empty council hall, powerful and resolute, moving everyone present.
Qin De looked at Qin Yu's grief-stricken face, his heart full of guilt, but with a trace of comfort as well. Qin Yu had grown up. He had the blood of the Ying Clan in him, and the determination to seek revenge. Qin De raised a hand and patted his shoulder. "Yu'er, I know how much pain and anger you're feeling. I want to avenge your mother right away, too. But the Xiang Family is powerful, and they have formidable cultivators backing them. We can't act rashly."
"Act rashly?" Qin Yu turned sharply, a flash of urgency in his eyes. "Father, are we supposed to keep enduring this? Are Mother's death and our ancestors' deaths just going to go unavenged? I can't wait. I want to avenge Mother right now!"
As he spoke, Yun Ce's face flashed through his mind. His master was a mighty Nascent Soul Late Stage cultivator whose strength was unfathomable. If his master acted, the mere Chu Dynasty and Xiang Guang would be no match for him!
"Father, Eldest Brother, Second Brother, I have a way!" A glimmer of hope flashed in Qin Yu's eyes, and he spoke urgently. "My master, Immortal Master Yun Ce, is a mighty Nascent Soul Late Stage cultivator with power beyond the heavens. If I ask him to act and destroy the Chu Dynasty by force, then killing Xiang Guang and avenging our dead will be within reach!"
Everyone in the hall brightened at his words. Hope flickered in Qin De's eyes. He had witnessed Immortal Master Yun Ce's power long ago; the man was an unfathomable Nascent Soul cultivator. If they could persuade him to act, destroying the Chu Dynasty would indeed be no difficult matter. Qin Feng and Qin Zheng nodded as well, their faces alight with anticipation. A glint appeared in Xu Yuan's eyes, and he seemed to be considering something.
"Good! Good!" Qin De said excitedly. "Yu'er, go back to Cloud Mist Mountain at once and ask Immortal Master Yun Ce to help us. If he agrees, the Qin Family will give everything we have to repay his kindness!"
Qin Yu didn't hesitate for a moment. He turned and ran toward the hall's exit, calling as he went, "Father, Eldest Brother, Second Brother, wait for me! I'll go ask Master to act. I'll be back soon!"
Qin De watched Qin Yu hurry away, his heart full of hope. Qin Feng and Qin Zheng were excited as well. Only Feng Yuzi furrowed his brow slightly and murmured, "Your Highness, Immortal Master Yun Ce is a powerful cultivator. Will he really agree to help?"
At that, Qin De's excitement cooled, and his brow furrowed too. He had been focused on revenge, but Feng Yuzi had told him that the more powerful cultivators became, the less interested they were in mortal affairs. Would Immortal Master Yun Ce really make an exception?
At Cloud Mist Villa, in Qin Yu's courtyard.
Yun Ce sat cross-legged as before, spiritual energy slowly flowing around him while he savored his leisurely peace. Feeling Qin Yu's hurried return—and sensing that his aura was disordered, full of grief and urgency—Yun Ce slowly opened his eyes, a trace of puzzlement in them.
"Master!" Qin Yu rushed into the courtyard and dropped to his knees before Yun Ce with a thud. His eyes were full of tears, and his voice choked with emotion. "Master, please act! Please help me get revenge!"
Seeing Qin Yu's grief-stricken state, Yun Ce's heart stirred. He raised a hand to signal him to stand. "Yu'er, what's got you so worked up? Take your time and tell me."
Qin Yu rose and wiped the tears from his face. He told Yun Ce everything he had learned, from beginning to end: that the Qin Family were descendants of the Ying Clan and sworn enemies of the Xiang Family, and that his mother, Jing Yi, had been murdered by Xiang Guang, the Chu Emperor.
When he finished, Qin Yu bowed to Yun Ce again, his plea utterly earnest. "Master, please act. Destroy the Chu Dynasty by force and kill Xiang Guang. Avenge my mother and the ancestors of the Ying Clan! With your power, destroying the Chu Dynasty would be no more than raising a hand!"
Yun Ce listened in silence, not a ripple crossing his eyes. Destroying the Chu Dynasty and killing Xiang Guang would indeed be child's play for him. With the strength of his Nascent Soul Late Stage cultivation, a single surge of spiritual energy could level the Chu Dynasty's imperial palace. Xiang Guang, a mere mortal emperor, would be even less of a challenge.
Instinctively, he wanted to agree. Qin Yu was his disciple, the Child of Destiny to whom he was deeply bound. His disciple's enemies were his enemies. And destroying the Chu Dynasty would be effortless for him, costing little of his spiritual energy.
But just as he was about to answer, a certain unwritten rule of the cultivation world surfaced in his mind, a shared understanding followed by all high-ranking cultivators: "Cultivators must not take part in wars between mortal nations."
Yun Ce slowly shook his head and said calmly, "Yu'er, I can't agree to this."
"What?" Qin Yu looked up sharply, disbelief in his eyes. His hopeful expression was instantly replaced by disappointment. "Master, why can't you agree? Xiang Guang killed my mother and murdered countless loyal officials. Destroying the Chu Dynasty would be for the good of the people! And with your strength, it would be no more than raising a hand. Why can't you act?"
Seeing the confusion and grief in Qin Yu's eyes, Yun Ce remained patient. His voice was gentle yet solemn as he slowly explained, "Yu'er, it's not that I don't want to help you get revenge. The cultivation world has an ironclad rule, an unwritten law followed by all high-ranking cultivators: cultivators must not take part in wars between mortal nations."
"Why?" Qin Yu asked urgently. "Master, you're a cultivator with great power. Does that mean you can't decide the fate of mortals? Xiang Guang is cruel and unjust. Destroying his dynasty would be a good thing!"
"You don't understand." Yun Ce shook his head gently and continued, "Cultivators and mortals exist on entirely different levels. Once cultivators reach the Nascent Soul stage or higher, they can summon wind and rain, move mountains and fill seas, and destroy cities and nations with a single gesture. If we took part in wars between mortal nations and acted as we pleased, we would inevitably leave lives in ruins and corpses strewn across the land. Countless ordinary people would die."
"Besides, the rise and fall of mortal governments follow their own course. They're part of the cycle of the Heavenly Dao. If cultivators interfered by force and altered the fate of the mortal world, we would disrupt the order of heaven and earth and throw it out of balance. We might even incur heavenly retribution and suffer the backlash of the Heavenly Dao." Yun Ce's tone grew increasingly grave. "That's why high-ranking cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage and above generally follow the unwritten rule of not interfering in mortal governments. Even when they see conflict in the mortal world, they don't intervene lightly."
Qin Yu listened in silence. Gradually, the grief and urgency on his face gave way to calm. He was still unwilling to accept it, but he understood his master's predicament. It wasn't that his master didn't want to help him, but that he couldn't break the rules of the cultivation world, incur heavenly retribution, or cause countless ordinary people to suffer for nothing.
"But, Master..." Qin Yu's voice caught with emotion. "Does that mean my mother's death will go unavenged? Does that bastard Xiang Guang get to remain at large forever?"
"Of course not." Yun Ce looked at Qin Yu, a sharp glint in his eyes. "Although I can't personally destroy the Chu Dynasty or take part in a war in the mortal world, I can help you eliminate the Xiang Family's cultivators. The Xiang Family's hold on the Chu Dynasty and its ability to suppress other factions rely not only on their mortal troops, but more importantly on the cultivators backing them."
A glimmer flashed in Qin Yu's eyes. He asked urgently, "Master, you mean...?"
"The Xiang Family has three core cultivators." Yun Ce spoke slowly, his tone calm yet brimming with confidence. "The Xiang Family's patriarch, Xiang Yang, is a Nascent Soul Early Stage cultivator and the family's bedrock. Wu Xing is a Golden Core Mid Stage cultivator, and Wu De is a Golden Core Late Stage cultivator, even stronger than Wu Xing. They are Xiang Guang's two strongest fighters."
"When the Qin Family and the Xiang Family of the Chu Dynasty officially go to war, you must settle the mortal conflict yourselves. I won't interfere. But if those three cultivators dare interfere in the war between mortals or harm anyone from the Qin Family, I will step in and kill them, one by one." Yun Ce looked at Qin Yu and made his promise solemnly. "With me here, the Xiang Family's cultivators will never stand in the way of your revenge!"
Hope flared in Qin Yu's eyes, and the disappointment vanished from his face. He bowed deeply to Yun Ce, his voice full of gratitude. "Thank you, Master! Thank you! With your word, I can rest easy. Once the Xiang Family's cultivators are gone, they'll lose their greatest support. Our Qin Family will surely destroy the Chu Dynasty and avenge Mother!"
Yun Ce nodded slightly. "Good. But remember, you mustn't rush your revenge. The Xiang Family has ruled the Chu Dynasty for many years; they have immense influence and a powerful army. Even without cultivators backing them, they can't be destroyed overnight. You'll need time to prepare and build your strength while you wait for the right moment."
"I understand, Master!" Qin Yu nodded firmly, resolve filling his eyes. "I'll go back and tell Father. Our Qin Family will prepare carefully, build up our strength, and wait for the chance to take revenge!"
After bowing to Yun Ce once more, Qin Yu hurried down the mountain and returned to the Eastern Suppressing Prince Mansion.
In the Eastern Suppressing Prince Mansion's council hall.
Qin De, Qin Feng, Qin Zheng, and Xu Yuan waited anxiously for news from Qin Yu, their expressions varied: some hopeful, others worried.
"Father, why hasn't Third Brother come back yet? Could it be that Immortal Master Yun Ce doesn't want to help?" Qin Zheng couldn't help asking, concern in his voice.
Qin De furrowed his brow, anxiety filling his heart as well. "Hard to say. The cultivation world has strict rules, and the Immortal Master may truly be unwilling to make an exception. If he won't help, destroying the Chu Dynasty and avenging our dead will be difficult."
Just then, Qin Yu's footsteps sounded outside the hall. Everyone immediately looked up. Qin Yu strode into the hall, his face showing no disappointment, only determination and hope.
"Yu'er, how did it go? Is Immortal Master Yun Ce willing to help?" Qin De asked urgently, leaning forward with anticipation in his eyes.
Qin Yu walked up to Qin De and bowed before speaking. "Father, although Master can't directly destroy the Chu Dynasty or take part in a war in the mortal world, he agreed to help eliminate the Xiang Family's three cultivators when we go to war with them: the Xiang Family's patriarch, Xiang Yang, at the Nascent Soul Early Stage; Wu Xing, at the Golden Core Mid Stage; and Wu De, at the Golden Core Late Stage."
Everyone in the hall brightened at his words, their worry instantly replaced by delight.
"Good! Good!" Qin De rose excitedly. "Having Immortal Master Yun Ce's word is enough! The Xiang Family's cultivators are their greatest support. Once the three of them are gone, the Xiang Family will be like an eagle with broken wings. They'll never be able to suppress our Qin Family again!"
Qin Feng said excitedly, "That's right, Third Brother! With Immortal Master Yun Ce's help, we'll have nothing to worry about. That bastard Xiang Guang is as good as dead this time!"
Xu Yuan slowly folded his fan, a glint in his eyes. He spoke in a measured tone. "Your Highness, Third Highness, although Immortal Master Yun Ce will help us eliminate the Xiang Family's cultivators, we must not let our guard down. The Xiang Family has ruled the Chu Dynasty for years. Their army is powerful, and their foundation is deep. We'll need time to prepare before we can destroy the Chu Dynasty."
"Uncle Xu is right." Qin Yu nodded. "Master also told me that we mustn't rush our revenge. We need time to build our strength and wait for the right moment."
Qin De took a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. His expression turned solemn. "Xu Yuan is right. The Xiang Family is powerful; we can't act rashly. Starting today, the Qin Family will speed up our preparations to conquer Chu. We'll make our plans in secret."
His gaze swept over Qin Feng, Qin Zheng, and Qin Yu, and he spoke with solemn resolve. "Feng'er, you're in charge of reorganizing the forces in the Three Prefectures of the Eastern Region, training new soldiers, and improving the army's combat strength. At the same time, secretly contact anti-Xiang factions within the Chu Dynasty and build up our strength."
"Yes, Father!" Qin Feng bowed and accepted the order.
"Zheng'er, you're in charge of managing the Qin Family's businesses and gathering grain, military supplies, and money to prepare for the war to conquer Chu. At the same time, secretly investigate the Xiang Family's troop deployments and movements, and gather intelligence."
"Yes, Father!" Qin Zheng bowed as well.
Qin De's gaze finally settled on Qin Yu, his eyes full of expectation. "Yu'er, continue cultivating under Immortal Master Yun Ce and improve your strength as quickly as possible. Ten years—I'm giving you ten years. I hope that by then, you'll have become a powerful figure in your own right and can join us in leading the army against Chu, destroying the Xiang Family, and avenging your mother. We'll avenge the ancestors of the Ying Clan, too!"
Qin Yu looked up sharply, determination filling his eyes. He bowed deeply to Qin De and spoke with ringing conviction. "Father, rest assured! I won't fail you! I'll cultivate diligently and improve my strength over the next ten years. Ten years from now, I'll lead the army against Chu, kill Xiang Guang, destroy the Chu Dynasty, and bring our revenge to its end!"
Qin Feng and Qin Zheng bowed as well and said in unison, "Father, rest assured! We'll do everything we can to prepare. Ten years from now, we'll conquer Chu, avenge our dead, and restore the Ying Clan's glory!"
Xu Yuan cupped his hands toward Qin De. "Your Highness, I will serve you wholeheartedly, advise the Qin Family on our campaign against Chu, and devote myself to the cause until the end."
Qin De looked at everyone before him, resolve in his eyes. He knew the road to revenge would be full of hardships and obstacles. He had already spent a long time preparing; ten more years would be worth it. He believed that if everyone in the Qin Family worked together, and with Immortal Master Yun Ce's help, then ten years from now they would destroy the Chu Dynasty, avenge their dead, and restore the Ying Clan's glory!
The setting sun streamed through the hall's windows, its golden light falling across their resolute faces.
In the courtyard on Cloud Mist Mountain, Yun Ce watched the direction Qin Yu had gone, a thoughtful look in his eyes. He knew that Qin Yu's road to revenge was also the road to his growth. As Qin Yu grew stronger, so would Yun Ce's cultivation, bringing him ever closer to his goal of shattering the void and roaming the cosmos.
Ten years would be enough for Qin Yu to become a powerful figure in his own right, and enough for the Qin Family to build up formidable strength.
The Xiang Family of the Chu Dynasty, Xiang Guang, Xiang Yang, Wu Xing, Wu De... A sharp glint flashed in Yun Ce's eyes as he thought to himself, You have brought your deaths upon yourselves.
Before you continue