768 World of Rising Floods (1/2)
A torrent of water fell from the sky. Raindrops collided with the earth, and thousands of shattering sounds overlapped, turning into a roar that engulfed the heavens and the earth.
Steam rose up thickly in the deep night. Even if you held an umbrella with all your might, you would still feel suffocated.
As the ground shook, the huge arched gate slowly opened, and the lightning in the sky illuminated the hideous palace in the distance.
The imperial secretary holding a lantern stood in the rain. He lowered his eyes.
”Please come here, my lord.” The secretary led him through the violent rain. His scarlet robe was made dark red by the rain, like blood.
In the dark night, under the cover of heavy rain, waves of aether fluctuated one after another in the palace. They intertwined, shaking the rain curtains as if they wanted to reach the firmament, casting down limitless pressure.
It was suffocating.
After passing through countless palace gates, he finally came to the front hall of the palace. Rain poured down off of the eaves. The dark palace was illuminated by a faint light that lit up his somewhat pale face.
At the palace gate there was a hoarse, forbidding voice, ”His Majesty beckons.”
He took a deep breath, shook the raindrops off his clothes, bowed and entered the palace. He walked 15 paces then stopped under the jade steps and then bent down with the other two musicians.
”Your humble minister, here to see Your Majesty.”
An old voice came from behind the curtain, ”Tai Changqing, These are the men of outstanding talent that you recommended to me?”
”They are the disciples that I trained myself.”
The old man sitting next to the jade steps responded with a sigh of relief. ”Even if they are not the blood of devas, they are still not inferior to the Dragon Bloodline at all!”
”Then let's follow your idea.”
The frail old voice sighed. ”Just please be quick, Tai Changqing. I am old, and cannot wait too long.”
Beneath the jade steps Tai Changqing said nothing, he just bowed deeply.
This musician who had helped the Emperor manage the empire for 30 years was quite old, but there was no trace of his age on him. There was none of the white hair that the devas were so proud of on his head, as it had been completely removed, replaced by an array that was carved into his flesh.
No one was there to assist him, and so the Emperor personally descended the steps to place a blood-stained scroll into Tai Changqing's hands.
”This is the map that Wu De risked his life to bring back,” said the old Emperor. ”Go 100,000 miles to the west. The thing rests in India.”
Tai Changqing sighed and kowtowed. ”I beg you to reconsider, Your Majesty.”
The Emperor smiled and sat wearily on the jade steps. He sighed softly. ”So you are old, Tai Changqing, just like me. How long will you live after I die? After the two of us are gone, what will happen to everything?”
Tai Changqing said nothing.
The hands holding the scroll trembled, but he refused to accept them.
Those on the floor heard a hoarse voice. ”Look up at me.”
When they dared to look up, they saw a pair of deep eyes reflecting their faces and the dim light within the palace.
The stooped Emperor sat on the steps. His luxurious crown and imperial robes could not cover up his age and weakness.
He did not have many days left.
”Who will take charge of the situation after I die?” The Emperor toyed with the supreme imperial seal that he held. ”Who will support this country that is about to collapse,” he said to himself. ”Will it be that pack of ambitious dukes and nobles just waiting for me to die? Or will be it be my few good nephews? Or maybe my daughter or was born deep within the palace and raised by my wife? No, they can't do it. No one can. No one can control the Empire of Aurora. After I die, the floods will rise.”
The Emperor raised the seal in his hand, letting them see the supreme symbol of authority clearly, and told them, ”Everything will collapse.”
A cold light burst forth in the Emperor's eyes like a flame from hell, making everyone there bow in awe and kneel to the floor.
”I can't save it, but someone can. Someone who is ten times stronger than me, a hundred times, ten million times stronger than me can.” The Emperor looked at the minister who had been the right-hand man of three emperors. He said in a hoarse voice, ”Tai Changqing, bring it back. Bring that thing that is called the Monster of Truth back!”
Bring the heir who can revitalize the Empire of Aurora, the wise man who can reorganize the chaotic world to me!
In the silence, the wizened musician nodded sadly.
”I will not fail you!”
At that time he obeyed his master and kowtowed. He did not know that he would regret this far-away journey for the rest of his life.
…
In the early morning, the gate leading to the Imperial District of Heaven's Gate slowly opened.
Mr. Hu saw Ye Qingxuan through the gate, and the attendants brought a horse. Mr. Hu patted the white horse's neck and handed the reins to Ye Qingxuan with a parcel.
”These are my orders. They'll let you pass through the Imperial District without any obstacles. This is my letter of introduction, give it to His Majesty and he will be happy to help you.”
”I really don't need a horse.” Ye Qingxuan smiled. ”I could just fly there.”
Mr. Hu shook his head. ”Even though you're the King of Yellow now, this is the Empire of Aurora, it's best to lay low. The Imperial District is the land of the Dragon Bloodlines. If you have the help of the City in the Sky you don't need to use your movements casually, which can lead to some unfortunate misunderstandings.”
Ye Qingxuan looked up into the sky, and his line of sight passed through the realm of aether. He was able to see that far away city high in the sky and the majestic Great Wall. He also saw Mr. Hu's serious expression.
”Alright, I'll listen to you.” Ye Qingxuan sighed.
”Then I won't keep you. Go on.” Mr. Hu took a few steps back, and Ye Qingxuan took the horse's reins and turned the horse. He waved to Mr. Hu. ”Then let's say goodbye here. I hope the road will not be too far.”
”Have a good trip,” Mr. Hu waved. ”Don't waste your time here. It'll take two days to get the capital from here. After you find Bai Xi, take here away from here quickly. Don't worry about what's going on here. And...” He paused as if he had thought of something embarrassing. He smiled awkwardly and shook his head. ”Never mind. Go on, go on!”
Ye Qingxuan glanced at him in confusion, saw his smile, and laughed as he rode away.
He watched Ye Qingxuan leave until he disappeared at the end of the road.
Mr. Hu grinned and looked relieved.
”Goodbye,” he whispered and turned back towards Heaven's Gate.
Your era has come, Ye Qingxuan.
If I wasn't there to give you some extra pointers, would you be able to wake up from your confusion?