Chapter 74

"Father is so powerful." Zong Zi Xiao kicked and stomped at the small stones on the road. There’s a long flight of steps in front of him, and with one foot, the debris rolled down. It is the only noise other than his heartbeat in the silent, dark night.

Zong Zi Heng listened to his heartbeat, which had been drumming unstoppably since the moment Zong Ming He exerted the eighth Chongtian of the Zongxuan Sword.

"Father... is he that powerful?" Zong Zi Xiao asked hesitantly. He stopped in his tracks and looked at his big brother who was silent all the way.

Zong Zi Heng also stopped and raised his head. The new moon was like a hook, like a murderous sharp weapon hanging overhead. The moonlight spread on the glistening white snow, which made it more eerie and cold.

"Everyone says that you have to be extremely gifted to break through to the eighth Chongtian, but I've never heard of Father having that kind of root before, but it's uncle ..." Zong Zi Xiao said with confusion, "Big brother, uncle is the most powerful cultivator in our clan. If father has broken through to the eighth Chongtian, then uncle should come out of seclusion ah."

Zong Zi Heng lowered his head, his hair on his forehead tangled and danced in the wind and snow, falsely hiding the emotions in his eyes.

"Big brother?"

"It's time for uncle to come out of seclusion." Zong Zi Heng made a stifled, icy sound.

"Uncle should have accomplished it faster than our father. This is so weird."

"Do you miss uncle?"

"Yeah." Zong Zi Xiao thought for a moment, "Actually, I can't recall what uncle looks like, I was only eight or nine years old when he went into seclusion."

"I also ... I don't even have a portrait of uncle." Zong Zi Heng's voice could not hide his sorrow.

At this point in time, he couldn't make any more excuses for Zong Ming He. The world was at most surprised that the Human Emperor, who was rumored to have mediocre qualifications, could achieve this, and that the Daming Zong Clan, after being stagnant for three generations, was finally going to revive itself. The significance of this event was not trivial. He and Lu Zhao Feng are probably the only ones in the world who know the sordid, bloody truth.

How could such a despicable and cruel man be his own father?

How would Lu Zhao Feng, who’s holding onto this secret which can easily destroy the Zong clan, make use of it?

Zong Ming He, who is now sitting on a smooth path to immortality, would never have dreamed that the "Yan Shu" who served him and knew all about his ugly side was actually someone else, and that person hated him to the core and was waiting for a chance to take over his kingdom and bring him down.

Zong Zi Heng didn't know how to bear these secrets and didn't know how to face his father. He was unjust for his uncle, unjust for the cultivators who died in vain, but he had to protect his younger brother and the Zong clan's century-old foundation, so what should he do?

"Big brother, you look like you have a lot of things on your mind." Zong Zi Xiao gathered Zong Zi Heng's cloak so that not a single cold breeze could penetrate that front flap, "Aren't you happy that Father has attained this Dao?"

"..." Zong Zi Heng whispered, "I am as surprised as you are."

"But it's a good thing after all. It'll be good if uncle can come out of seclusion sooner." Zong Zi Xiao pondered for a moment and said, "But everyone guessed wrong. Father has no intention of appointing a Crown Prince, so big brother can rest assured."

"Perhaps it's just not being announced at this moment." Zong Zi Heng thought that the rumors from a while ago were perhaps deliberately put out to test the reactions of all parties, including making his cultivation known at the birthday banquet. Which is like demonstrating his power to the whole world.

"Actually, I don't want to be the Human Emperor." Zong Zi Xiao stood fixed in front of his big brother and stared into those warm and beautiful eyes, "I just don't want to see big brother being aggrieved."

"Big brother is not aggrieved."

"Liar." Zong Zi Xiao muttered, "Big brother always protects us and looks out for us, but no one protects or looks out for big brother."

Zong Zi Heng put his arm around his brother's shoulder, "As a big brother, I naturally have to take on more responsibilities. Besides, aren't you always looking out for big brother?"

"It’s not enough." Zong Zi Xiao pursed his lips and said reluctantly, "Just wait for me, I will become very strong. Since Father can reach the eighth Chongtian, I can reach the ninth Chongtian. In all of Jiuzhou, I want no one to give you any aggravation.”

Zong Zi Heng smiled, "Okay, big brother will wait for you."

The two of them had just walked down the stone steps when they suddenly heard the thunderous and urgent sound of a bell. They both turned back and looked towards the bell tower in the distance, and their expressions changed.

The sound of the bell signified there’s a major unforeseen event that had occurred within the Wuji Palace and that the strongest boundary had to be activated first, so no one was allowed to enter or leave.

Everyone inside the Wuji Palace at this time would be the first to think that something had happened to Emperor Zong, including the two of them as they ran wildly towards Zong Ming He's chambers with their hearts hanging in the air.

But halfway through their run, they found that many palace people were assembled in the opposite direction.

"Your Highness, Ninth Highness." A chamberlain said in a panic, "Something has happened to Second Highness!"

It was as if the night's dramatic change had begun when Zong Ming He wielded that powerful sword, just like destroying the withered grass and trees with ease*, dashing towards an abyss out of control.

When Zong Zi Heng saw Zong Zi Mo, who was in a horrible state of death, his body also became cold and stiff.

Cries and howls, rebukes and cries of grief boiled in his ears, muddling together in a gurgling mess. He could no longer distinguish between words and phrases, as the silhouettes of people busily intertwined before his eyes, gradually turning into unrecognizable remnants.

Everything was in turmoil.

But he cannot be in turmoil, as he received the first order from Zong Ming He in his grief --- to arrest all the guests who had come to celebrate his birthday.

---

That night, all of Daming City was sleepless, and before dawn, the news of the poisoning of the first son of Emperor Zong would spread across Jiuzhou.

This was the first day that the prohibition on Daming City had been lifted since the Jiaolong assembly, and it would probably be the last.

Zong Zi Heng and Zong Zi Xiao took a group of cultivators with them and surrounded the two guest residences in Daming City overnight. Placing boundaries to imprison everyone and questioning them strictly.

The Wuji Palace was now like an impregnable fortress, where not even a bird could fly out. Whoever the poisoner was, they were undoubtedly still in the Daming City.

The day after the incident, the head of the Wuliang Sect arrived in Daming with Li Xiang Tong's big brother.

Zong Zi Heng and Zong Zi Xiao questioned the foreign guests, staying awake for three days and two nights, but found no one or anything suspicious among the guests.

When they returned to the palace, the two of them bumped into Huang Hong and Huang Wu.

"Is there any progress?" Zong Zi Heng asked urgently.

Huang Hong said, "One of Second Highness's chamberlains has disappeared, and his body was just found in the lotus pond a few hours ago."

"How did he die?" Zong Zi Xiao's eyes widened.

"By silencing." Huang Wu said gruffly, "Only now, it's unclear whether he was silenced after getting bribed and putting in the poison, or whether he was silenced after the poisoner was discovered."

"What about the poison?"

"That poison is somewhat rare. The formula is similar to Medicine Valley's Wudusan, but the ratios are a bit crude. The emperor had the pharmacist look at it, and it doesn't look like it was prepared by someone who specializes in this. Instead it looks like it was mixed up by himself using a folk recipe."

"Has this recipe ever been made public in Medicine Valley, and what clues can be found?"

"Medicine Valley never publishes the recipe for poisons, but it does circulate among the folks. In this recipe, there is a medicine that might provide a clue." Huang Hong said, "A large amount of Chizhi is in the formula and can only be found in the red soil of the South China Sea. Since it is very difficult to refine and not widely used, there are very few traders who sell Chizhi. If we trace the source, we will definitely find something."

"Chizhi?" Zong Zi Xiao pondered, "I think I remember that the rouge used by women includes Chizhi?"

"Some do, but it is not cheap. Most rouges use vermilion. Even if the rouge contains Chizhi, it is used in very small amounts, only for retaining the color. Whereas to make Wudusan, a large amount of Chizhi is needed."

"How large is the large quantity?"

"At least a hundred, and it is even harder to refine than coming from red soil, so it is almost impossible."

Zong Zi Heng sighed, "We have interrogated the guests and found nothing."

"Your two Highnesses have worked hard."

"Big brother, let's go and see Father and Mother."

"Okay."

"Your two Highnesses ..." Huang Hong said, "For now, it's better not to go."

"What's wrong?"

"The Head of the Wuliang Sect is deliberating with the Emperor and Empress, so it is not appropriate to disturb them at this time."

Zong Zi Heng nodded, "Xiao Jiu, go back and rest for a while."

"What about you?"

"I want to go and see the body of that chamberlain."

"No, you go back and rest too." Zong Zi Xiao frowned, "We'll go together when we wake up."

"Yes, Your Highness, you have been tired for two to three days, so you should go back and get some sleep first since you won't be able to find out anything for a while."

Zong Zi Heng rubbed his sore brow, "Alright."

When he returned to Qinghui Pavilion, Shen Shi Yao was waiting for him.

"Heng Er." Shen Shi Yao walked over and worriedly touched her son's face, "Have you not been able to sleep for the past two days?"

"Son just now came back to rest, so mother doesn’t need to worry."

"Sigh, how can I not worry? You seem to have lost weight from exhaustion."

"It's all right."

"Have you made any progress in your investigation?"

"Not yet."

"I heard that the body of a chamberlain was found in the lotus pond today." Shen Shi Yao fiddled with her hairpin and said nonchalantly, "Maybe he was the one who poisoned him."

Zong Zi Heng did not answer.

"Could it be that Yan Shu who came back to take revenge?"

Zong Zi Heng said in a deep voice, "What kind of grudge can Yan Shu have with second brother?  If he wants to take revenge, he should be looking for me."

Shen Shi Yao lightly rebuked, "Don't talk nonsense. Zong Zi Mo has a lot of debts in and out of the palace, so he might have been imposed on this."

"Mother, don't criticize before a decision is made."

Shen Shi Yao snorted, "I don't believe Li Xiang Tong hasn't thought about it. If she can't control her own son, someone else will."

Zong Zi Heng felt a headache: "Mother, second brother has just passed away, what kind of words are you saying?"

Shen Shi Yao narrowed her eyes, "What are you talking about? How can you contradict your own mother like this? You should be happy that Zong Zi Mo is dead."

Zong Zi Heng stared straight.

"Xiao Jiu is still young, and all the other brothers are unworthy, so his death is your greatest opportunity."

"Mother!" Zong Zi Heng snapped, "We are blood brothers, how can you ... you ..."

Shen Shi Yao looked coldly at her son, "So soft-hearted! How did I give birth to such a weak and easily bullied son like you."

Zong Zi Heng clenched his fist, his eyes red: "Son is by no means a weak person. Mother is blinded by greed and is cold-hearted. It is really disappointing."

Shen Shi Yao raised her willow eyebrows and raised her hand high.

Zong Zi Heng looked sternly at his mother.

However, Shen Shi Yao's hand paused in mid-air, then slowly let it down as she sneered, "One day, you will understand Mother's good intentions."

 

 ----

destroying the withered grass and trees with ease*[摧古拉朽]--- A metaphor; using a powerful force to destroy corrupting forces.

 

Edited on 2 Apr. 21 (Emzie)

 

 ←Previous Chapter                                                                                                 Next Chapter→