243 Untitled (2/2)
The bundle flew out of his arms, and the cloak spilled out. The little eunuch panicked and scrambled forward to retrieve it, but up ahead, someone appeared and swiftly picked up the fur cloak.
The little eunuch shouted, ”Hey, that's mine!”
”Yours?” The other party raised his head as a strange expression appeared on his face. ”Yours?” He repeated.
”Of course!”
That person reached out a hand and landed a fist on his head. ”I dare you to say one more time that it's yours!”
The blow was like a hammer crashing down, and the little eunuch's brain rattled. He felt as if his brain had been hammered into his neck as he saw stars in front of him.
”I…”
Ping!
Another blow.
”Say it one more time if you dare?”
The little eunuch started sobbing…'I didn't mean to say it's mine… I wanted to say ”I won't say anymore,”…'
The person repeatedly looked at the cape, and impatiently said, ”Tell me where you got it.”
The little eunuch was filled with tears as he shrank back and pointed at the personnel in the harem and said, ”A lad who wanted to work as an odd jobs eunuch offered it to me in respect…”
”Nonsense!” The person's voice was so thunderous that the little eunuch nearly wet himself. ”What status is he to treat you with respect?”
”What do you mean by status?” The little eunuch was dumbstruck. ”What status could a mere peasant have?”
”Peasant?” The person asked suspiciously, ”What does he look like?”
The little eunuch stuttered his answer, and the person's face grew more and more serious. ”Little Seven?” He mumbled under his breath.
He raised his head and glanced at the palace walls behind him—Little Seven had been abandoned by his heartless master and spent a long time in the Regent King's manor before receiving word that his master had already gone to the palace to meet the Empress. He was just thinking how to enter the palace and didn't want to be seen around with Zhan Beiye's cape since it was different; even his own clothes had been smothered with charcoal, and nobody was able to recognize it. Hence, it was extremely suspicious to spot a little eunuch holding Zhan Beiye's cape, so he naturally had to ask only to receive a shocking piece of news—Little Seven had gone to become a eunuch?
Tie Cheng's mind was whirring nonstop. He naturally knew about Little Seven being banished, and it was understandable that Little Seven wanted to enter the palace. However, the consequences of entering the palace in this way were far too brutal. Nevermind Zhan Beiye, but his master would have nightmares for a lifetime.
'Silly Little Seven! You're not atoning for your crimes this way, you're causing more trouble!'
Tie Cheng immediately grabbed the little eunuch by the head.
”Where is he? Take me to him!”
Moving back to ten days ago, atop a cloud-filled mountain in the divine realm, the pair of master and disciple had been in conversation for over three nights.
The area was filled with fog as a simply-dressed figure knelt silently, not getting up.
A round figure suddenly appeared in front of him in a flash, standing atop the steps in front of him. Tai Yan flicked a finger, and a red light fell onto Zhangsun Wuji's back as she shouted, ”Person under punishment, why are you sleeping! You are going against master's instructions!”
Zhangsun Wuji was stunned for a moment and raised his head. He was about to say something when Tai Yan suddenly disappeared as another figure appeared noiselessly in the fog.
Zhangsun Wuji lowered his head.
”Wuji, why haven't you come to your senses?” Supreme Elder's ancient face was unclear in the fog, and his expression was unreadable.
Zhangsun Wuji remained unmoving, unspeaking. His robe was open, and there was snow on his knees. Delicate snowflakes had also gathered between his eyebrows.
The old man watched him silently, and after a while, he sighed soundlessly. ”I once liked that attitude of yours, but now…” He turned around and said, ”You may get up.”
”Thank you, Master,” Zhangsun Wuji replied, but did not immediately stand up. The old man did not turn around, but he knew that he was temporarily unable to get up.
The peak of Jade Mountain was of the harshest cold, and normal humans would already lose their lives long ago if they were to kneel there for three days and three nights.
With a swish of his sleeve, natural energy began to circulate again as Zhangsun Wuji slowly stood up, leaning against a pillar behind him for support.
”Why?” The old man's voice carried a hint of exhaustion.
”My father is unwell,” Zhangsun Wuji replied mildly. ”As his son, I have a responsibility to support my father through his illness.”
”The elders have already given into you and allowed you to enter the mundane world, not taking on this position would not stop you from expressing your filial piety in the mundane world. In the future, whether you become emperor or not wouldn't affect you, so what do you still want?”
”I've caused Master to worry, Wuji daren't disobey.”
”I've already reached the Earth Celestial stage after I complete the mundane world tribulation, I will head to the Limitless Realm. If not for the fact that I've been fighting Tai Yan for so long, I would already have given you the position much earlier. Now that I've managed to convince the elders, you still remain stubborn as such, Wuji, you… Can't you just listen to your master and take the position earlier?”