Death… and me

"You aren't me! You don't know how I feel!" Tie Bu Tian grounded his teeth and said, "Although it might be torturous, as long as he still breathes, there is still hope! Although this hope might be slim and even considered to others as ridiculous, it still exists! I also feel that each day is filled with hope!"

"Seventeen thousand years ago, while things were still primitive and barbaric, in the first generation or Shen Yu Empire the emperor's life was threatened by an illness. All of the saintly doctors said that he couldn't be saved. However, there was a mysterious individual who appeared at the very last moment with a Nine Tribulations Pill. This allowed the first emperor to make an immediate and full recovery! It was also said that this his condition was far worse than that of my father's." Tie Bu Tian reached out and grabbed Chu Yang by his shirt hem. He said painfully, "He was an emperor; my father is also an emperor! But why isn't anyone giving my father Nine Tribulations Pill? Why?"

"Nine Tribulations Pill?" Chu Yang felt as if his mind was hit hard and was shocked by Tie Bu Tian's actions!

"Yes! The Nine Tribulations Pill! Although the truth behind this has been long buried by history, no one will dare to say that the skim records written in the ancient books of the royal family are infallible simply because they were written by the royal family." Tie Bu Tian looked up at the heavens and said angrily, "Why is there nothing when it is my father's turn?"

Chu Yang kept silent!

He could not believe that there was such a story!

The Nine Tribulations Pills had first appeared seventeen thousand years ago. It could thus be said that seventeen thousand years ago, there was a Nine Tribulations Sword master! This was because only a Nine Tribulations Sword master would be capable of obtaining a Nine Tribulations Pill!

"Everyone knows that Father might be better off dead rather than alive. However, even if they look at things from the perspective of human emotion or politically, if Father dies… Would others view me as a humane leader? Why would anyone want to fight for Iron Cloud if their leader was a cold-blooded individual? Would anyone voluntarily fight for him? If he couldn't even take good care of his own father, would he still have a conscience? Is he worthy of others risking their lives for him?"

"Although I don't want to think about this because it is too cruel, I cannot avoid not thinking about it! Do you think that I, Tie Bu Tian, really want to be the prince? Do you truly believe that I crave for the power as an emperor of a nation? Do you believe that… I really do not pay any mind to the people or the lives of the soldiers?" Tie Bu Tian angrily stared at Chu Yang, "You come an uncultured background; how much of this politics do you understand?"

"You are only aware of what it should be or what it shouldn't be! But are you aware that between these two extremes there is a grey area?" Tie Bu Tian roared in frustration, "What all of you see are well defined boundaries. However, when I look at it, it is not as such! Moreover, the pressure is on me as a ruler, six hundred million people are watching me and criticizing every decision that I make."

"I would also like to give up on everything and just fall into a deep sleep but I simply cannot afford to do so! I would like to work when the sun rises and rest when the sun sets. Did you know that what I dream of is being a peasant every night? However, the fact is that I will never be able to live such a life. Even if Iron Cloud is destroyed, I will never be able to have such a life! Do you even understand?

Tie Bu Tian said solemnly, "I am very tired. Each day, I am so tired that I would rather die. Have you ever thought that as my father lies on the bed, watching me, his child giving his all for Iron Cloud Nation, it fills me with renewed strength to push through every moment despite my fatigue! Will you ever be capable of understanding such feelings?"

"If Father dies… me losing my father would be considered as a minor incident. However, this minor incident might have an effect on the lives of six hundred million people within the thirteen hundred miles of Iron Cloud territory!"

Tie Bu Tian's voice slowly grew lower and lower, "Right at this moment, the disappearance of saintly doctor Du has taken away all hope for Father!"

"I would not have wanted the saintly doctor Du to go missing or your father to suffer from such an unfortunate incident." Chu Yang replied. "However, there is one thing. You are a prince ruling an entire nation. Even if it is cruel, you have no choice but to look at everything from an objective perspective… this can only be advantageous for Iron Cloud."

"That is correct." Tie Bu Tian's tone was icy cold. "Despite my position as a prince, Iron Cloud has been ruled under me for a long time. In any case, I am not a ruler in name and a nation cannot be ruled by two rulers. In the event that Father dies, the entire royal court of Iron Cloud, regardless of whether they are military or court officials, against me or for me, they would have to take a step toward me as their center! For Iron Cloud, this can only be advantageous!"

"Especially with the current messy situation of the country on the verge of collapse, this can only be a good thing!" Tie Bu Tian smiled coldly and said, "But who has thought about how I feel?"

"Have you thought about it?" Tie Bu Tian asked Chu Yang directly, "Have you thought about it?"

Chu Yang remained solemnly silent.

"I am not by nature an ambitious person who is constantly hungry for power." Tie Bu Tian said in a quiet voice. His shoulders trembled. In that moment, Prince Bu Tian maintained his intelligence and calmness. Yet, he seemed extremely delicate and pitiful…

"I am going to head back to the palace. During this time, I will have to trouble Minister Chu." Tie Bu Tian took a deep breath and said, "Regardless of whether it involves giving out pensions for the families of the deceased soldiers, finding spies, or rescuing saintly doctor Du, I trust that Minister Chu will do a good job."

Tie Bu Tian turned and said softly, "My father only has a few days left; no matter what, I must remain by his side and take care of him until the moment he dies! Even if I lose this country for it, I… will not have any regrets!"

He then walked towards the exit quickly. After the moment he reached the door, he paused and said in a gentle tone, "Chu Yang, if you are unable to find Du Shi Qing… I will hate you for the rest of my life!"

Tie Bu Tian was no idiot. Du Shi Qing had left Chu Yang's premises and thereafter vanished almost immediately. How could he not be suspicious? But he said "hate" not "kill." This held another meaning within.

After he finished his sentence, Tie Bu Tian immediately disappeared behind the door.

Chu Yang stood at the door and stared outside in surprise. If someone was able to see his face behind the mask, they would realize that he struggling internally.

Tie Shi Cheng was currently better off dead than alive and dying a little earlier would be a relief for him. Moreover, it would be doing him a favor! Everyone understood this.

Forcefully extending the life of a once mighty emperor was truly a cruel thing to do! Everyone was aware of this!

Letting Tie Shi Cheng die at this time was not a sad thing for everyone in Iron Cloud but instead would be a reprieve. In addition to that, the government of Iron Cloud would be more fortified. Tie Bu Tian's power would finally be recognized by all. With regards to the war between the two nations, this would not have been damaging in anyway. If anything, it would have been a better for the nation!"

Moreover, Chu Yang's choice to have Du Shi Qing go missing at this moment had three different objectives. First was being able to protect Du Shi Qing. Second, the Iron Cloud Citadel was currently in chaos and the remnants of the Golden Horse Riders Department were without a doubt still within the citadel. Therefore, he would have been able to use this as an excuse in further increase the manpower allocated to the search. Most importantly was the fact that the Golden Horse Riders Department would have lost a great loss of personnel.

Moreover, to add to that, one of the two King level leaders was dead while the other was dying. The three Command Horse Riders were also deceased. Thus the strength of Golden Horse Riders Department in Iron Cloud Citadel would have been greatly weakened. In addition to that, spies like Tang Xin Sheng have already been captured. Since these things happened not too long ago, Golden Horse Riders Department would likely not have a chance to arrange something else.

Moreover, if Tie Shi Cheng died at this point, it would cause an upset in the plans of Diwu Qing Rou. Chu Yang even speculated that Diwu Qing Rou would not be able to even react in time.

It was because the Golden Horse Riders Department were people who were still in Iron Cloud Citadel and would not have dared to contact Great Zhao. Therefore, given this fact, Diwu Qing Rou would be even more unaware of the events which went on in Iron Cloud. Thus, as long as he remained unaware or became aware of the situation very late, they would be able to safely pass through the chaotic period that was destined to come in the previous life after Tie Long Cheng died!

Without a trace, he was able to eliminate a chance of Tie Bu Tian getting assassinated and thus advert a great crisis for Iron Cloud!

For Tie Shi Cheng, it was a good thing; for Iron Cloud Nation, it was a good thing; for the six hundred million people, it was also a good thing. However, with so many benefits to such a plan, Chu Yang had neglected to considered Tie Bu Tian!

He never considered Tie Bu Tian's perspective on this issue.

Or perhaps he did, but disregarded it.

However, Chu Yang currently felt guilty because of Tie Bu Tian's reaction. This caused him to begin reconsidering his decision and reflect if he did make the right decision.

My decision is not wrong.

However, the starting point needs to be reevaluated.

No matter what, this will definitely hurt Tie Bu Tian. Regardless of whether the starting point stems from a humane cause or a desire, I will feel a little guilty as I feel as though I am not doing right by Tie Bu Tian.

From this thought, Chu Yang expanded further and suddenly he had this feeling: I want to change fate and change this world; how can I be selfish in considering this issue?

Chu Yang felt enlightened after he thought about it.

He did not regret any action from today, but he decided to set out a principle for himself: From now on, whenever he did anything, he would give more thought about it.

He was afraid that if he neglected to do so, he might regret his decision later! Either that or at some moment in time, thinking about it might cause his heart to become restless.

Chu Yang understood well that this kind of self-torture on one's mind was truly the greatest kind of suffering in life! It was the kind that tore and ripped at one's conscience which could send an individual into a deadly dilemma.

Chu Yang did not want himself burdened with such a guilty conscience for the rest of his life.

That afternoon, the people who went to search for Yin Wu Fa were not able to find any information. Just as Chu Yang was planning on going back to Heavenly Armament Pavilion, one of the Shadow Guards appeared, "The Emperor wants to see you!"

"The Emperor wants to see me?" Chu Yang was temporarily stunned, "The Emperor?"

"The currently ruling emperor!" The Shadow Guard dryly explained, "Let's go."

Before Chu Yang could reply, the Shadow Guard had grabbed him. Then Chu Yang felt himself floating out the door and out of the gate. And like a dream… he was at the royal palace…

Chu Yang did not know what to say.

Even if you want to take me away, you should at least give me a word of warning. Especially when you whisked me away, you don't show yourself. People on the road looked at me as if I was a demon flying in the air.

This feeling was truly frustrating!

"The energy in your body is very odd!" When the Shadow Guard placed him down, he suddenly said something odd. He frowned and shook his head, "I have never encountered it before."

Then he disappeared without even waiting for Chu Yang's answer.

Chu Yang gathered his wits and looked. He was at large room in the royal palace. The air was filled with the noxious smell of medicine. Through a thin curtain of tassels, he could faintly see Tie Bu Tian standing vigilantly within. He seemed to be talking about something in a very low voice.

After a pause, Tie Bu Tian turned his head toward the door and said softly, "Is that Minister Chu out there?"

Chu Yang said, "It is Chu Yang."

"Please come in." Tie Bu Tian said with a mournful voice, "Father has been wanting to meet you."