Chapter 42: Great Zhou Emperor, What Are You Trying to Do?
Two Sunmoon experts from the Heavenly Demon Sect had been cursed to death by the power of the curse in the Myriad Text Academy, drawing attention once more to the long-forgotten deathtrap.
The Myriad Text Academy became a place that made people blanch at its very mention.
Inside the academy, Su Xiuyi was very pleased with the outcome. In recent days, even the people from the Heaven Patrol Pavilion had withdrawn far away.
Before long, a month had passed.
Roar!
A beast's roar rang out in the air, piercing gold and splitting stone.
A giant lion with wings on its back flew in from the horizon, its overwhelming pressure palpable even from afar.
It was an incomparably terrifying ferocious beast, stronger than everyone in Southern Heaven City: a Half-Step Invincible great demon. Its pressure came quickly and vanished just as fast.
Hearing the roar and sensing the terrifying pressure flash past, all the experts in Southern Heaven City had a strange look in their eyes.
Whether they were from the Heaven Patrol Pavilion, the city lord's residence, or the Southern Heaven Academy, they all hurried out at once and waited outside Southern Heaven City.
Soon, the two-winged fire lion arrived, sweeping its fearsome demonic eyes over the crowd.
At that moment, those present noticed a young man standing on the fire lion's back. Their expressions grew grave.
This fire lion was no ordinary demon beast, but the mount of the Heaven Patrol Pavilion's master. With the mount of the pavilion master personally bringing someone here, countless thoughts raced through their minds.
"His Majesty's oral decree!"
The fire lion spoke in a human voice, paying the people before it no heed.
"We respectfully welcome Your Majesty."
Ji Zhan and the others immediately changed expression, and the young man on the fire lion's back hurried down to the ground and bowed as well.
Seeing them bow, the fire lion spat out a golden scroll bearing a golden dragon with nine claws.
"An oral decree from the Great Zhou Emperor?"
Inside the Myriad Text Academy, Su Xiuyi, who had been cultivating, also opened his eyes and activated the Pupil of Void Breaking to look over.
After spitting out the scroll, the fire lion hovered silently as the golden scroll slowly unfurled in the air.
An overwhelming imperial majesty erupted, and a golden silhouette appeared, dazzling as the blazing sun and impossible to look at directly.
At the same time, a domineering, weighty voice filled with majesty rang out. "The Silver Wolf Demon Race murdered my teacher. Though I severed their bloodline and destroyed their legacy, my heart remains as though cut by a knife. Fortunately, the Wang family has produced another qilin son, and my heart is filled with joy. The Literary Court of the Southern Heaven Academy is where a sacred dragon of the Great Zhou imperial family once cultivated. Since the imperial tutor passed away, the position of its head has remained vacant. Today, I appoint Wang Lin's grandson, the Wang family's qilin son Wang Cheng, to preside over the Literary Court. I hope he will bring the imperial tutor's splendor to life once more."
When the voice fell silent, the scroll slowly descended, and Wang Cheng hurried to catch it.
"Thank you, Your Majesty!"
Holding the scroll in both hands, Wang Cheng bowed toward the sky.
"Wang Cheng, do not disappoint His Majesty's favor." With those parting words, the two-winged fire lion tore through the air and left.
After the fire lion departed, countless thoughts raced through the minds of those present as they pondered the Great Zhou Emperor's intentions.
Wang Cheng was far too young, excessively so, and his strength was not great either, yet he was to take charge of the Literary Court.
Inside the Myriad Text Academy, Su Xiuyi frowned. This was far too abnormal.
All that talk about Wang Lin being murdered and the emperor's heart being cut by a knife was utter bullshit. How long had it been already? Moreover, Su Xiuyi could see very clearly that Wang Cheng was young, only sixteen or seventeen, and had yet to undergo his coming-of-age ceremony. His cultivation was even weaker, merely at Skysoar. Although such cultivation at his age did make him a genius, he was nowhere near qualified or capable enough to take charge of a court.
Su Xiuyi's gaze grew razor-sharp, like a sword drawn from its sheath.
"Great Zhou Emperor, what are you trying to do?"
"Congratulations! Congratulations! Congratulations!"
Before the city gates, the prominent figures' minds raced as they tried to work out why the Great Zhou Emperor had done this, and they held the young man before them in utter contempt. But every one of them was shrewd and calculating, so they hurriedly cupped their fists and offered their congratulations.
"In matters I do not understand, I hope all you seniors will look after me."
Neither servile nor arrogant, Wang Cheng cupped his fists and returned their greetings.
They were slightly taken aback by how calm he was. They now understood that, young as he was, Wang Cheng was not to be underestimated, and they all committed him to memory.
Soon, Wang Cheng followed Ji Zhan back to the Literary Court.
The Literary Court was now frighteningly deserted, without a single disciple. Fallen leaves lay everywhere across its vast grounds; clearly, it had not been cleaned for a long time.
"Court Head Wang, the Literary Court has no disciples and has fallen into some disrepair these past days. I'll arrange for some disciples to come and clean it up shortly," Ji Zhan said with a smile.
"You're too courteous, Chief Libationer. There's no need for so much trouble. For now, I'm alone, so clearing out the main hall for me to live in will do. The people you send can handle the other matters. After all, I'm young and there's much I don't understand." Wang Cheng smiled faintly, and a Will Character appeared the next moment, clearing all the clutter from the main hall.
Ji Zhan gave him a perfunctory response and left, but he called over some disciples, ostensibly to help. Wang Cheng knew, however, that Ji Zhan had probably received orders to send people to watch him, and that he could not refuse them.
His coming to the Southern Heaven Academy was itself an unusual matter.
Su Xiuyi, who exactly are you? Could you really be that person's blood descendant? But that's impossible. You weren't born until three years after that person died. Did your mother use some special method to keep you in her womb for three years?
Young as Wang Cheng was, he knew that the Great Zhou Emperor had definitely sent him to the Southern Heaven Academy with a purpose.
"Prepare some fine wine and dishes. I'm going to the Myriad Text Academy." Though Wang Cheng was young, he commanded respect without anger. Since these people had come to watch him, he had to make use of them. They were free, after all, and he could dispel some people's suspicions.
"Yes, Court Head!"
Though the disciples looked down on him, they all obeyed at once. They prepared the things and accompanied Wang Cheng to the Myriad Text Academy.
Once Wang Cheng was gone, Ji Zhan and Old Zhou from the Heaven Patrol Pavilion appeared.
Ji Zhan frowned. "Is Wang Cheng really so impatient? He's already in such a hurry to see Su Xiuyi? Could he have something important to convey?"
But Old Zhou, standing beside Ji Zhan, shook his head. "No, Wang Cheng is no simple person. Not only is he extremely talented, but he's also very scheming. With so many people going along, he naturally won't do anything. Su Xiuyi was Wang Lin's prized disciple, so he's naturally Wang Cheng's senior as well. It's only human to pay his respects to an elder at the first opportunity. If he didn't go, that would arouse suspicion. Step up the surveillance in the coming days. Hopefully we'll get some useful information. The trail to Su Xiuyi's origins has gone cold, but we might be able to get some crucial information from Wang Cheng."
"Yes."
Ji Zhan hurriedly nodded.
Wang Cheng had already arrived outside the Myriad Text Academy. He bowed toward it and said, "Your nephew Wang Cheng pays his respects, Uncle Xiuyi."
Inside the Myriad Text Academy, Su Xiuyi opened his eyes. A trace of surprise appeared in them, and a smile touched his lips. "Clever little fellow."
The Zhou Emperor already harbored dissatisfaction with the Wang family and questioned their loyalty. Trying to cover things up would only make them look more suspicious.
"Wang Cheng? Who is your father?"
Su Xiuyi's voice carried outside. He walked to the entrance, opened the small window, and brought in the prepared dishes. Although Wang Cheng was paying a visit, Su Xiuyi was a serious criminal, so they could not actually meet.
"My father's given name is Po," Wang Cheng said, sitting cross-legged outside. He too set out his wine and food, but a door stood between them, and they could not see each other.
I'm shamelessly asking for votes.
(End of chapter)