Demons

"Master, are we going to see our imperial father?"

Li Zhu's face was pale as death, staring in terror at Prince Guangyang's severed head.

"Not me. You yourself."

Zhou Yi handed him the prince's head, flicked his finger, and a streak of Sword Qi sliced across Li Zhu's shoulder.

Blood instantly soaked the yellow robe, and Li Zhu let out a startled cry.

"Prince Guangyang plotted rebellion, attempted to assassinate the Crown Prince but failed, and was killed along with his entire household by the Crown Prince in self-defense."

Li Zhu clutched the head with its unseeing eyes, his face blank.

"Master, will anyone believe that?"

"Whoever doesn't believe Prince Guangyang rebelled, let them come find me!"

Zhou Yi suddenly said, "Ever heard of pointing to a deer as a horse?"

"Naturally. That was the treacherous Zhao Gao's doing, infamous for ten thousand years."

"Mm. You must learn to point to a deer as a horse."

Qianyang Palace.

Before Prince Guangyang died, the Emperor had already received reports.

After all, this was the capital of Great Jing; though the Imperial Guard Directorate was no longer in place, the imperial clan still had its means of surveillance.

Li Yu roared, "That demonic Daoist! Truly a demonic Daoist! Great Companion Chu, go to Prince Guangyang's mansion at once."

But before the eunuch Chu Xiu could leave the palace, another report arrived: the entire Prince Guangyang household had been wiped out!

An Innate Grandmaster killing mortals was like crushing ants. While the first wave of scouts was still en route, Prince Guangyang's head had already fallen.

Li Yu smashed his beloved Glazed Lamp to pieces, eyes bloodshot: "How dare he! How dare he! That was an imperial prince, a super-first-rank minister!"

"Even the Demonic Monk corrupting the court wasn't this brazen!"

Chu Xiu advised from the side, "Your Majesty, I believe Chixiao True Person has no interest in power. Perhaps his actions have deeper meaning."

"Whatever he intends, this demonic Daoist cannot stay!"

Li Yu's eyes burned red. He didn't care that Prince Guangyang was dead—he knew the Eight Great Kings had long since turned from Great Jing's meritorious servants into its parasites and scourges.

What he feared was that Zhou Yi might kill the Emperor just as easily as he'd killed the prince.

Just then, a eunuch rushed in: "Your Majesty, the Grand Tutor requests an audience."

"Oh?"

Li Yu's face first showed fear, then after a moment's thought, he said, "Summon him!"

Chu Xiu silently positioned himself behind Li Yu. As an Innate Grandmaster, even if he couldn't defeat Zhou Yi, he could at least protect the Emperor.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

Zhou Yi entered and offered a casual bow.

The dense Blood Fiend Qi radiating from him made the palace maids and eunuchs feel an inexplicable chill in their hearts.

"Grand Tutor, what business brings you here?"

Li Yu suppressed the fear and hatred in his heart, acting as if he knew nothing of Prince Guangyang's death.

"Naturally, to save Your Majesty's life."

The moment Zhou Yi spoke, the maids and eunuchs wished they could faint on the spot.

Palace secrets were not safe to hear. Every year, countless servants heard things they shouldn't and vanished without a trace.

Catching Li Yu's signal, Chu Xiu announced, "All of you, withdraw. His Majesty wishes to speak with the Grand Tutor alone."

"What does the Grand Tutor mean? I am in my prime, with no hidden ailments. Why would my life be in danger?"

Li Yu kept telling himself the demonic Daoist was spouting nonsense, not to be swayed. Yet deep down, a sliver of belief lingered.

After all, too many people wanted the Emperor dead—whether within the imperial clan or among the ambitious heroes eyeing the throne, all longed for Li Yu to drop dead.

Li Yu trusted Chu Xiu not just out of sentiment, but because Chu Xiu captured or killed waves of assassins every year.

Zhou Yi said, "Your Majesty, do you know why Pu Du Ci Hang covets the position of Imperial Preceptor?"

With only the three of them in the hall, Li Yu didn't bother hiding his desire to be rid of Pu Du Ci Hang.

"Isn't the Demonic Monk after power? I know the Buddhist Sect has expanded rapidly these past years, all thanks to his indulgence."

Zhou Yi shook his head. "No, no. Pu Du Ci Hang is not a monk."

Li Yu frowned. "Not a monk? Then is he some demonic creature in disguise?"

"Your Majesty speaks truly. Pu Du Ci Hang is a demonic creature in disguise."

"Do you have proof?"

"Your Majesty can test it easily. Many court ministers have already had their internal organs devoured by demons, with only minor fiends puppeteering their empty shells."

Zhou Yi understood the relationship between the Buddhist Sect and Pu Du Ci Hang, but he truly knew its inner workings.

A Centipede Demon, perhaps not as old as the Thousand-Year Tree Demon in terms of cultivation, yet its strength was unfathomable, already far surpassing ordinary Qi Induction into Body cultivators.

During that Magical Combat, it hadn't even revealed its true form before four Daoist True Men were routed.

"Demon... vessel..."

Li Yu was lost in a daze, muttering to himself: "No wonder my teacher, full of righteous aura, had become a follower of that Demonic Monk."

"Great Companion Chu, do you think I wronged my teacher?"

Chu Xiu bowed and said: "Master He has been killed by the demon. Your Majesty, you should avenge Master He."

Imperial Tutor He Zhizhang was not only Li Yu's teacher—he had pushed him onto the throne—but also Chu Xiu's teacher.

The eunuchs by the emperor's side did more than just serve; they had to master all manner of classics. If Chu Xiu had taken the imperial exams, he would have had the talent of a jinshi scholar.

It was precisely because he understood the classics and had learned the martial traditions of the palace that he could achieve perfection both internally and externally, ascending in one leap.

"Back then, my father wanted to depose the legitimate heir and install the youngest. It was my teacher's deathbed remonstration that preserved my position as Crown Prince."

Li Yu recalled: "I still remember twenty years ago, when I ascended the throne, I swore to emulate the Great Ancestor, to cleanse the world and revive Great Jing. My ministers and I worked with one heart for six years, and the realm had already begun to stabilize."

"At that time, I remember Great Companion Chu also served as Inspector, rooting out corrupt officials, and was called Chu the Azure..."

Chu Xiu's eyes reddened: "Your Majesty, for Great Jing, I would die ten thousand deaths without regret."

Zhou Yi listened attentively on the surface, but inwardly he was deeply helpless. Pu Du Ci Hang had nearly driven Li Yu mad; at every opportunity, he would reminisce about the past and try to win people over.

Relying on sentiment to win loyalty was the greatest tragedy for an emperor.

"Teacher, Jiang Yu, He Can, Yan Deze..."

Li Yu listed a string of names, his eyes actually turning red as two tears fell.

"I swear, even if I die, I will eliminate that Demonic Monk and restore a clear sky to Great Jing!"

Chu Xiu knelt on one knee: "I am willing to die for Your Majesty!"

"Great Companion Chu, when the world is at peace, you shall enter the Imperial Ancestral Temple."

Li Yu was not just a boss who spoke of feelings and ideals; at least he knew that to make his men risk their lives, he needed to promise corresponding rewards.

For a eunuch to enjoy the honor of the Imperial Ancestral Temple was unprecedented.

Zhou Yi chose the right moment to speak: "Your Majesty, I have come precisely to rescue you."

Li Yu wiped away his already-dried tears, his expression turning stern: "That Demonic Monk dares to act against me? Does he not fear divine retribution?"

Great Jing had ruled the realm for centuries and understood Buddhist and Daoist cultivators well, knowing that an emperor bore the collective will of the people, commonly called Dragon Qi protection.

True Men, Arhats, Demonic Monsters and Ghosts—none would touch Dragon Qi; backlash from the people's will, even being struck by five lightning bolts, was normal.

"Your Majesty, you may not know this, but Pu Du Ci Hang has been secretly refining Dragon Qi. Devouring the hundred officials wasn't to control the court, but to refine their fortune and weaken Great Jing's Dragon Qi."

"When the time is ripe, Your Majesty will be Pu Du Ci Hang's ultimate goal."

"The reason I had no choice but to threaten Your Majesty that day was because I knew Pu Du Ci Hang might kill anyone, but would not harm Your Majesty."

Zhou Yi said: "Because Your Majesty is his most important... food!"

With every word Zhou Yi spoke, Li Yu's face grew paler.

When he finally heard the word "food," he nearly vomited the imperial meal he had just eaten.

"Daoist Master Chixiao, how can you save me?"

"If you eliminate that Demonic Monk, I will grant you the position of Imperial Preceptor."