Chapter 134.2 Zhu Yan Is Here To Help Me (2/2)
Chapter 134.2 Zhu Yan Is Here To Help Me (2/2)
The demonic sect leaders reached a consensus and their subordinates naturally agreed. They played Mahjong first and waited for their superiors to finish the game before they went about rescuing Zhu Yan, the troublemaker.
None of them thought that the latter would be in a dire situation, besieged and with no chance to escape.
Zhu Yan never expected that his demon allies would consider Mahjong as more important than saving him. To top it off, they only sent the weakest demon to check things out.
He was beyond hopeless; his face showed this as the cultivators sent their swords to attack him.
“Hold on!” said a sudden voice.
The grudge between the righteous and the demonic factions left no room for compromises; not even a pause was ever granted. This time was different, though. The leading cultivator cried out, “Stop! Hear Brother Wang out. Hold on!”
“Understood, eldest apprentice-brother!” The cultivators pulled back.
Beads of sweat covering his forehead, Zhu Yan alternated gazes between his attackers and Wang Ke, as the latter stopped them in the nick of time.
When did Wang Ke gain this much influence?The righteous disciples listen to his commands?And yet you say you don’t know them?
Zhu Yan almost peed his pants in fear when the sword cultivators rushed at him.
“Brother Wang, what instructions do you have for us?” the leading sword cultivator asked Wang Ke.
“You are…?” Wang Ke looked back at the leader of the group and asked.
“Hahahaha, Brother Wang, you don’t recognize me?” the blue-robed man replied with a smile, “That’s understandable. It’s been a year already, and I don’t look as wretched, compared to the time we last met. You must have forgotten our encounter back on Divine Dragon Island! Tie Liuyun, me, and the others were chained up in a prison! You were the one who saved us. Brother Wang, you are such a righteous person; to think you would enter the demons’ den and carry out good deeds without taking any credit! I am Zhao Si, Xiangcun Sect’s eldest apprentice-brother!”
“Xiangcun, as in, a village? Zhao Si?” Wang Ke was a little surprised by the name.
Zhao Si replied, “The Xiangcun Sect is only a small, ordinary immortal sect. The likes of the Heavenly Wolf Sect are far above ours, but we are still part of the righteous faction! This time our Xiangcun Sect is responsible for watching over the Qing Capital! I didn’t expect to meet you, Brother Wang! It’s such a fortune!”
“Ohhh, you’re Brother Zhao Si!” Wang Ke said with an awkward look.
Zhao Si continued, “You’re too courteous. Brother Wang, I know this demon. He’s Zhu Yan; he wanted to harm you back on the island! He’s already a demon and still he craves the throne in the Mortal Zone. Why do you want to keep him alive? Why don’t we kill him right now?”
Zhu Yan began to sweat profusely upon hearing that.
Wang Ke shook his head and said, “Oh no, there has to be some misunderstanding! Zhu Yan wasn’t interfering with the empire’s succession. He’s here to help me!”
The grudge against Zhu Yan was more than clear. He had no need to help the demon, but he still had to curry Zhu Hongyi’s favor; Zhu Yan was the latter’s ancestral nephew after all. Wang Ke wouldn’t have cared less if Zhu Yan died anywhere else, but the demon ancestor could resent him if the former emperor died right before his eyes.
“He’s here to help you?” The sword cultivators looked at Zhu Yan.
“Yeah, right! I… I’m here to help Wang Ke!” Zhu Yan said excitedly.
Zhu Yan would hold on for dear life, even if it was just a sliver of hope. Wang Ke was trying to save him for reasons unknown; not cooperating would be his undoing.
Wang Ke continued explaining, “That’s right. You might not be aware, this is the head of the military clan in the Qing Capital! He’s my big cousin-brother! I came to the capital to have a look at the overall situation! Another goal is to persuade these officials to do something for the people! And to end this war swiftly. After all, the ones who suffer the most are the people on the lowest rungs of society!” Wang Ke bemoaned while addressing the suffering of the people.
“Brother Wang, you have a compassionate heart for all people! A true role model to all of us!” Zhao Si praised Wang Ke with a stern look.
Being righteous disciples, no matter their hidden agendas, they had to veer to politically correct stances and support anything to do with saving lives without hesitation. Wang Ke mentioned rescuing the innocent—whether they believed it or not, they would at least pay him respect and show that they shared the same ideal.
“Yeah, it is all for the people! You weren’t here just now. These elderly officials want to do something for the people by ending this war as quickly as possible. You can ask them!” Wang Ke said while pointing at the seniors present.
The old men nodded with determination in their eyes.
“‘What about Zhu Yan?’ you might ask,” Wang Ke continued, “He was the Great Qing’s emperor; he did many things that angered the heavens and the people. The common people suffered and died because of him, and now the entire empire collapsed, also because of him! Fortunately I was able to persuade him. His soul was baptized anew, and he wants to do something good for the people!”
Zhu Yan looked at Wang Ke with staring eyes. My soul, baptized by you?Baptize your head!
—But, considering the twenty swords threatening his life, he could only nod with tears in his eyes. I’m being coerced!
“Him? Really? He wants to do something good for the people? But he’s a demon!” Zhao Si was doubtful.
“It’s true! The old officials want to restore order in the Great Qing Empire by recognizing this imperial edict written by Zhu Yan’s father, the previous emperor!” Wang Ke continued, “Zhu Yan no longer holds power, but he wants to do something nonetheless. He has sworn an oath to the people, all to prove that this imperial edict is real. He is also going to write an edict to pass his throne to my big cousin-brother! Let’s count this effort as a perfect ending to his imperfect life!”
Zhao Si and his juniors turned and glared at Zhu Yan in disbelief.
Zhu Yan was close to vomiting when he heard Wang Ke’s scheme. Unfortunately, the twenty swords pointing at him left him with little to no choice on the matter. I’m in a very difficult spot!
“Yes, I was about to do that, but you stopped me!” Zhu Yan could only cooperate, although bitterly.
Zhao Si and his juniors frowned in suspicion.
Wang Ke cupped a hand courteously and said, “Brother Zhao Si, please let us continue!”
Zhao Si’s expression changed as he remembered that Wang Ke wasn’t just a righteous disciple. He had also infiltrated the demonic sect to rescue more captives from the righteous faction! He also has to also entertain demonic disciples. He’s sacrificing himself for the sake of our righteous brothers; how can I stubbornly disrupt Brother Wang’s plan?
Zhao Si gave a determined reply, “Brother Wang, you’re being too courteous! I believe you! Whatever you say, I believe!”
“Thank you!” Wang Ke thanked him with a smile.
“Eldest apprentice-brother, don’t let this demon go!” a junior pleaded.
“Shut up. Are you going to disobey me? Listen to Brother Wang!” Zhao Si reprimanded his juniors with a stare.
His juniors could only obey.
Zhao Si then turned and said to Zhu Yan, “Fine, Zhu Yan. I’m going to let you off only because Brother Wang asked us to! Now, show me that you’re not lying to our brother! Go and write your edict! I will kill you on the spot if you dare to deceive Brother Wang!”
Zhu Yan: “………………..!”
Damn it. Am I really going to write that?
Meanwhile—Big cousin-brother had already summoned his servants to prepare the paper and pen. Everything was ready for Zhu Yan to write the edict and declare the transfer of authority, all to do at least that much for the sake of the empire.
Since a host of elderly officials were already supporting the motion, it was technically enough to re-establish the Great Qing Empire. The ex-emperor’s edict would be the final nail on the coffin.
Zhu Yan’s arrival was too timely!
Wang Ke never expected Zhu Yan’s well-timed help! Everything was ready, except for a final piece of ‘legitimacy,’ and now you’re giving it to me!
No one would dare question my Wang Clan’s rule in the future!
Teary eyed, Zhu Yan wrote the edict to declare the transference of his throne.
Some continued to be stubbornly faithful to the Zhu lineage among the old officials, but Zhu Yan’s personally written edict left no more room for hesitation. The Great Qing is going to change its surname to Wang!
Zhang Zhengdao approached Wang Ke and whispered, “Wang Ke, what happened? Why is Zhu Yan here?”
The latter replied with an awkward look, “I don’t know either! But he always appears at critical times to help me! I really need to thank him!”
Zhang Zhengdao rolled his eyes.
Outside the palace—
A demon scout was at the moment hiding on top of a giant tree. He was confirming whether Zhu Yan was about to be killed by the righteous disciples. The demon was shocked by what he saw from a distance.
What’s happening? Zhu Yan, were you lying to us? Weren’t the righteous disciples coming for your life? Why are they watching you have a go at calligraphy? Are they trying to learn a few writing pointers from you?” The demon descended the tree, visibly confused.
The latter was in deep thought as he made his way back to report the situation. How am I going to explain this to my bosses?Zhu Yan has gone nuts! Why does he need to call us when he’s just doing some calligraphy!Did he call us over so we could admire his handwriting?Ptooey! What the hell!Now I don’t even know what to say to my bosses because of you!