The Guilt Lies with Me

A metallic sweetness welled up in my throat; it wasn't blood, but something thicker than blood, something hard to swallow—the unforgettable humiliation.

His body was held firmly down by that invisible force, unable to move.

Yin Huan struggled to lift his head and looked towards the palace.

A sea of blood filled his vision: eight hundred armored soldiers, the swords that had accompanied his father throughout his life's battles, and many of them had even watched him grow up.

He ascended the throne to suppress the loyal and brave men of the Northern Region sects and Aristocratic Clan who refused to submit.

He risked his life, desperately slashing out with his sword, wanting to protect his trusted confidants.

They fell one after another, not in battle.

It was crushed by the overwhelming Mystic Origin Heavy Water.

The sound of veins bursting was crisp and audible, and fresh blood seeped from under the skin, staining the black armor dark red.

A scream rang out, he collapsed to the ground, his body convulsing, but he could no longer hold onto the sword in his hand.

Some people gritted their teeth and persevered.

But the pressure of the heavy water increased little by little, their knees slowly bent, and their backs cracked under the pressure.

Finally, he knelt down, his kneecaps shattering on the broken flagstones, and he could no longer stand up.

They looked in the direction where Yin Huan had been pinned down.

Their eyes met in the Unseen, an experience that Yin Huan could never forget.

I can't forget the purity in their eyes—no resentment, no blame, not even pain.

Even guilt.

It was as if they were saying: Your Majesty, we are incompetent; late Emperor, we did our best.

"What a touching scene..."

Sima Ruiming was deeply moved, but he didn't forget his current status and spoke sarcastically.

"Unfortunately, what I desire most is to destroy all of this."

Sima Ruiming opened his palm and drew lines in the air with his fingertips.

The vast waters between heaven and earth, surprisingly, formed into compressed, dark blue water lines as Sima Ruiming divided them.

Like countless venomous snakes, they coiled directly around the armored soldiers' limbs, torsos, and heads, especially their eyes.

Struggling fiercely, the muscles beneath his armor bulged, veins popping out like earthworms, yet he could not break free from the control of the wondrous treasure of heaven and earth.

Vast, towering waves!

Above the capital, a ghostly blue light illuminated the now ravaged palace.

The Great Yin Kingdom is in a state of collapse and decay, just like the oppressive weight of heavy water, teetering on the brink of destruction under the immense pressure of the times.

In front of the new emperor, Yin Huan, all his reliance, all his pride, and his last shred of dignity were stripped away, trampled, and crushed into dust, bit by bit.

"Please... stop it--!!"

"All are guilty, but the guilt lies solely with me..."

Yin Huan finally couldn't bear it any longer; his voice became hoarse and broken, like a trapped beast on the verge of death.

In mid-air, "Sima Ruiming" lowered his eyes slightly, glanced at him, his expression a mixture of indifference, smugness, and mockery.

An ant struggles at my feet, its stubbornness betraying its dignity.

He suddenly remembered the days when his father was alive.

He recalled his father standing in the palace, his back to him, his majesty over the world.

Then the state was entrusted to him.

"From this day forward, my son will be the heaven of the Great Yin."

"My son, you are destined to shoulder the responsibilities of the world!"

He thought he could handle it.

He thought that as long as he was stubborn enough, tough enough, and domineering enough like his father, he could hold up the sky.

But at this moment, he seemed powerless, like an ant that could be crushed by the roadside.

He could only watch as his people, his soldiers, and his last hope died one by one, and were shattered one by one.

He then realized how ridiculous he had been.

overbearing?

His domineering nature couldn't even protect these eight hundred loyal followers.

Rather die than surrender?

He refused to surrender to Cangxuan, yet Cangxuan's people trampled his capital and slaughtered his soldiers, and he didn't even have the right to fight back.

What kind of emperor was he?

Who does he think he is?

A thought suddenly arose from the depths of his mind, coiling around him like a venomous snake, suffocating him—

Perhaps... perhaps he really can't hold up this sky.

Father Emperor is mistaken!

Perhaps he doesn't deserve this position at all.

The moment this thought arose, it spread like wildfire, instantly consuming all his pride and stubbornness.

He always believed that as long as he didn't bow his head, the sky wouldn't fall.

But only now did he understand—

If he doesn't bow his head, the sky will fall.

But when the collapse occurred, it wasn't him who was crushed, but all those who followed him.

"His Majesty!!"

A hoarse shout suddenly rang out.

But Yin Huan seems to be trapped in doubt and inner demons, unable to shake off his afflictions.

Suddenly, Yin Ji rushed to his side and slapped him, waking Yin Huan up.

"Nephew! Wake up!"

Yin Huan was bewildered, forcing back his tears.

"Your Majesty... Your Highness! I... I regret not heeding your advice..."

Yin Ji's hair was disheveled, his clothes were in disarray, and his face was covered in blood and tears.

At this moment, she abandoned all decorum, stumbled and rushed to his side, grabbed his shoulder, and shook him violently.

"Listen to me!"

Yin Ji interrupted him, his voice hoarse like a broken gong, yet carrying an almost frantic urgency.

"An emperor must endure what others cannot endure!"

"It's never too late to admit and correct your mistakes!"

"Didn't you promise your elder brother that you would support the Great Yin Dynasty?"

"Look at them! Look at them!"

Yin Ji pointed sharply into the palace, where the pool of blood where the eight hundred armored soldiers had fallen was still spreading, their mangled bodies were still twitching, and their wails were still echoing.

"Did you hold out?!"

Yin Huan opened his mouth, but no sound came out.

"We can't hold it!" Yin Ji answered for him, his voice as shrill as a night owl.

"Uncle..." Yin Huan's eyes suddenly reddened, as if he had made up his mind.

"My nephew is incompetent... Tai'e... Uncle, take him and run!"

"No! No! You can't do this! He must be yours!" Yin Ji stared intently at Yin Huan and immediately interrupted.

"Tai'e is yours! Yours! Your uncle will never take it from you."

Tears welled in Uncle Wang's eyes, along with pain, inner turmoil, and panic. He calmly said...

"My brother... my brother entrusted you to this old minister,"

As Yin Ji spoke, he seemed to become emotional, and his voice choked up.

"Nephew... Huan'er... Your Majesty!"

He changed the way he addressed her three times, each time with increasing conviction.

"Listen to Uncle Wang's advice..."

"Keep your head down."

"Please... bow your head."

Yin Huan was startled.

Looking down?

Yin Ji saw the struggle in his eyes and felt a pang of pain in his heart, but he still gritted his teeth and continued speaking.

"The Ye Clan!"

"Cangxuan Ye Clan!"

"We still have the Ye Clan!"

Yin Ji gripped Yin Huan's shoulders with a frantic grip, as if he wanted to dig his hands into his flesh.

"The Cangxuan Ye Clan! Ye Jinyu has a grudge against Sima Ruiming!"

"Ye Jinyu has entered the fray! Only through this struggle between the two can our Great Yin Dynasty have a glimmer of hope!"

"Nephew! Don't you understand?!"

" In the Cangxuan Ancient Realm, those demons are engaged in vile and sordid infighting! And that's what the Ye Clan wants."

This means entering the fray and competing with the Sima Clan! What Ye Jinyu wants is you! He wants the Great Yin as his trump card!

"Give it to him! What good will it do him?!"

"At least... at least..."

Yin Ji pointed to the scattered remains and the ruined palace.

Pointing to the deep blue water curtain suspended in the sky, pointing to the indifferent figure in black robes looking down.

"At least it's better than dying here! It's better than letting these people who died for you die in vain!"

Yin Huan looked in the direction his uncle was pointing.

The palace city was barely surviving.

Sima Ruiming stood with his hands behind his back in mid-air, looking down at everything as if he were looking down at a group of ants struggling.

The Tai'e Sword, its blade stained with blood and its edge dull, lay on the ground like scrap metal.

But at that very moment, a glimmer of clarity seemed to flash through Yin Huan's mind, yet he couldn't quite grasp it.

"All the people are guilty, but the guilt lies with me! Hahahaha!"

"Uncle Wang... hahahahaha."

He understood, he seemed to understand everything. He glanced at Yin Ji and gave a stiff smile.

"The sinful Lord Yin Huan... in the name of the Great Yin Lord of the Wind Abyss Ruin Realm, earnestly requests the Ye Clan."

Yin Huan's voice was low and hoarse, each word sounding as if it were being ripped from his throat, as he struggled to his feet.

"Save... save Great Yin!"

"Good."

From the depths of the palace, amidst the vast and hazy mist, a voice rang out, clearly resounding throughout the entire capital of the Great Yin Kingdom. Every living being within the city could hear this voice.

A beam of azure light suddenly burst forth in the palace the instant Yin Huan finished speaking, carrying an overwhelming and unyielding aura of righteousness, like a drawn sword, slashing straight at "Sima Ruiming" hanging above the capital.

The sword light shone brightly!

Like a wind from the heavens, as clear as the dawn, it tore a crack in the deep blue water curtain formed by Mystic Origin Heavy Water wherever it passed!

Sima Ruiming suddenly turned around.

A knowing look of understanding flashed in their eyes.

Sima Ruiming raised his hand.

The Mystic Origin Heavy Water surged and converged from all directions, condensing into a wall of water in front of him.

The water wall was as thick as a mountain, with a faint, eerie light flowing around it, clearly having been gathering power for a long time, waiting for this very moment.

Boom--!!

The moment the azure light collided with the water wall, the entire capital trembled!

The shockwave swept through like a whirlwind, once again sending up a cloud of debris and dust over the already dilapidated palace ruins.

Countless pieces of rubble flew up and crashed to the ground with a loud thud.

Amidst the smoke and dust, the water wall crumbled inch by inch!

The Mystic Origin Heavy Water transformed into countless tiny droplets, scattering and splashing in all directions, landing on the ruins and in pools of blood, pressing down on the broken bricks and tiles until they creaked and groaned—even when shattered, they still weighed more than a thousand pounds.

But that blue light remained as sharp as ever.

Their momentum has not waned; they will strike directly at Sima Ruiming!

Sima Ruiming finally took a step back.

A brilliant blue light shone from his body, and a phantom dragon roared out, colliding head-on with the azure light!

Boom--!!

Another loud bang.

This time, both forces were finally annihilated simultaneously.

As the azure light faded, a figure stood suspended in mid-air.

The man was also young, with refined and serene features, dressed in a blue Yunlan, his dark hair tied up with a jade hairpin.

His aura was pure and gentle, like a gentle breeze at dawn from the heavens, yet at this moment it carried an undeniable sharpness.

Ye Jinxuan.

He looked down at the mess all around him.

Looking at Yin Ji and Yin Huan, he had a look of amusement and satisfaction.

Yin Huan's eyes were bloodshot, his pride almost crushed, while Yin Ji nodded calmly.

Sima Ruiming.

You've passed!

Sima Ruiming also laughed, his voice unusually low, hoarse, and deliberately muffled.

"Heh... heh... Ye Clan."

"What a busybody."

Ye Jinxuan also sneered; the two seemed to be in perfect sync.

Then Ye Jinxuan condensed a clear, Clear Heng Radiant Wind aura instantly enveloped the palace.

Where the Clear Heng Radiant Wind by, the screams of the armored soldiers, who were not yet completely dead, seemed to lessen.

The palace, which had been reduced to ruins by the heavy floodwaters, also stabilized and exuded an aura of purity and integrity.

"This Great Yin is now under the protection of the Ye Clan."

Ye Jinxuan said calmly.

Sima Ruiming's face held a playful expression.

"The Ye Clan, what a powerful presence they have."

"I only intend to take the life of the young Yin Clan. If the Ye Clan insists on interfering..."

"Then I'll ask you to stay with me."

As soon as Sima Ruiming finished speaking, the hundred or so Foundation Establishment cultivators behind him responded in unison!

A deep blue light shone simultaneously, and countless illusory dragons roared out, intertwining in mid-air to form a vast ocean.

"As luck would have it, Sima Ruiming, this is the person the young master specifically requested to protect."

Ye Jinxuan met the challenge head-on, refusing to back down in the slightest!

Sima Ruiming stared at Ye Jinxuan, feigning deep thought, and murmured something.

"Ye Jinyu?!"

Then, "Sima Ruiming" suddenly laughed.

The laughter grew louder and colder.

"Good."

"Then we'll give Young Master Ye some face."

He glanced at Ye Jinxuan, then at Yin Huan, to make sure everything was correct.

"Withdraw."

Behind Sima Ruiming, more than a hundred Foundation Establishment cultivators responded in unison, and the dark blue light receded like a tide.

In the blink of an eye, the sky was filled with Mystic Origin Heavy Water, the roaring phantom of the dragon, and the oppressive, suffocating power of the vast ocean.

All vanished.

Yin Capital was devastation, with corpses and pools of blood scattered everywhere.

Ye Jinxuan did not pursue.

Standing silently in the air, they watched "Sima Ruiming" and his entourage disappear from this place.

a long time.

Ye Jinxuan turned around and landed in front of Yin Huan.

At this moment, Yin Huan lay on the ground, utterly dejected.

Ye Jinxuan lowered her eyes, looked at him, and said calmly:

"You shall come to South-Pacifying City in person to plead guilty."

"The young master wishes to speak with you all in person."

After saying that, Ye Jinxuan also transformed into a streak of green light and departed.

Yin Huan sat alone on the ground for a long time, then got up and picked up the Tai'e, Tai'e was dim.

"Ye Clan, what do you want? I understand... Hehehe..."

From this day forward.

"I can tolerate anything."

"Can do anything--"

Yin Huan's voice was flat and calm, his laughter tinged with bitterness and resentment at his own incompetence.

"What happened tonight was the work of the Ye Clan, wasn't it, Uncle Wang?"

Yin Ji was startled, his heart filled with turmoil.

Finally, a sliver of gray-white appeared on the horizon; the wind and snow had long since stopped, arriving quickly and departing just as fast.

Scattered snowflakes, blood everywhere, and the wailing of living beings—yet there is an eerie balance.

Dawn is approaching, and there seem to be signs.

The gray-white light of dawn illuminated Yin Huan's face, its brightness and shadow unpredictable, making him inexplicably resemble the deceased emperor.

"I will personally Southern Region to apologize to the Ye Clan!"

"Uncle Wang... you should be of one mind with your nephew."

Upon hearing Yin Ji bowed his head and knelt down, his heart filled with countless emotions.

(Happy New Year! Wishing everyone all the best, may you ride the winds and waves, gallop across the vast ocean, and may everything go smoothly in the Year of the Horse. Today we've reached four thousand!)