CHAPTER 548: CHAPTER 547: SONG HUAXU’S PURPOSE, DESTROYING THE WORLD

As soon as Chu Qi entered the door, he was embraced by Concubine Chen Jieyu, who clung to him, crying like a delicate beauty with tear-stained cheeks.

"Your Majesty, we have lost our child."

Concubine Chen Jieyu’s control over her emotions was impeccable, unlike her previous unrestrained sobbing, each tear at this moment seemed meticulously orchestrated.

Chu Qi could only feel heartache and embraced her as they walked inside, comforting her with care, "It’s alright, as long as you are here, I am at ease. We can have another child in the future."

At that moment, he had no interest in caring whether Su Bai had followed or not.

The Imperial Study was empty.

Taking the opportunity to return and help Chu Qi with something, Su Bai easily sneaked in.

The surrounding area was very quiet, devoid of any human presence.

She was certain of it.

After touching and tapping around, she finally found a glass lamp that could not be moved. Twisting it, a secret door opened.

Su Bai felt a tightening in her throat.

Ever since she learned about this secret chamber, her emotions had been extremely complicated.

No one could accept that their memories had been forcibly imposed by someone else.

The narrow corridor was just wide enough for one person to pass through.

After pondering, she took a broken dagger from the wall and held it tightly in her palm, entering with composure.

The passageway was dark, and she carefully navigated her way through the flickering candlelight on either side.

Soon, the path widened.

First, there was a wall of books.

She moved past the book wall and came to the other side.

There, she saw a massive crystal coffin.

...

Meanwhile, atop the cliffside.

The man clad in a gray robe, Song Huaxu, stood in the wind, his demeanor unruffled and calm.

"Junior Brother, after so many years, you still harbor such intense killing intent."

The man addressed as Junior Brother, Yan Jing, now had hair long enough to be tied back into a short ponytail.

Heterochromia eyes were filled with murderous intent.

"Song Huaxu, save your breath. You killed her, and today will be your end."

Song Huaxu laughed scornfully, "Her? Is it a ’he’ or a ’she’? Or which ’she’ are you referring to?"

"There are too many so you can’t remember, is that it?"

"It doesn’t matter. Once you’re dead and gone, they will drag you down into the eighteen layers of Avici Hell." Yan Jing revealed his weapon, "Stop dodging, Song Huaxu, it’s time you gave an account."

Song Huaxu bore a hint of a cold smile, shaking his head, "Ah, Junior Brother, we became sworn brothers halfway through our journey. I’ve always held back, yet you think I can’t beat you. I’m tired of pretending now."

He flung his sleeves.

In an instant, clouds on the edge of the cliff, as if summoned, gathered furiously toward Song Huaxu.

Yan Jing, standing not far away, was on alert.

What kind of move was this, one he had never seen before!

His master had not taught him this technique.

"Senior Brother knows why you are here, as well as what’s happening inside the palace. Do you think by tricking me into coming out, you’ll get your wish? Hahaha..." Song Huaxu laughed heartily in the mist, "Since I dare to show myself, I am fully prepared!"

"Instead of confronting me here, you might want to hurry and check on your Yan Family’s younger generation. If you’re too late, there might be nothing left of them."

"Stop boasting!" Yan Jing charged towards the depths of the mist with his weapon in hand.

But he hadn’t expected that the surroundings seemed protected by a thin membrane, making it impossible for him to get close.

"Song Huaxu, what sorcery is this!" How could such an evil technique exist under heaven.

Song Huaxu’s ethereal voice echoed from all around, "You label it sorcery just because you have not seen it? It only shows that you know nothing beyond your own small world. I made only one mistake back then and got involved in these worldly affairs, losing some of my memories and forming attachments with you. But thanks to my dear disciple, who pushed me to a dead end, I regained my past memories. Once I settle these worldly matters, I’ll return to my world."

Yan Jing couldn’t make head or tail of it.

But he knew that he was no match for Song Huaxu any longer.

"What do you mean by ’worldly matters’?"

Song Huaxu was forthcoming, not one for secrecy.

He responded candidly, "Annihilation."

"I’ve wandered in this world too long, so long that I thought I was one of its people. The Radiant Church, independent powers among states—you name it, their goal is to incite war.

Now, with Dawei and the Chu Kingdom at war, the Qin State is looking to join in on the spoils.

With the world in chaos, his mission is nearing completion.

Song Huaxu could even feel his strength gradually returning to his body.

All that he had done before was out of instinct.

But now, he had his own will.

"Song Huaxu, are you sick, what on earth are you talking about?!" Yan Jing felt as if his brain wasn’t his own.

He was spinning in the mist, only able to hear voices constantly appearing, yet he couldn’t find where Song Huaxu was hiding. It was like suddenly having a nightmare filled with fog, unable to see where he had come from or find the path ahead.

"Ants do not need to know so much, Yan Jing, my good junior brother, enjoy this last half a year."

As soon as the words ended, Yan Jing immediately collapsed on the ground.

By the time he woke up, he was no longer on the cliff but instead in the midst of a jungle.

Yan Li’an!

Thinking of what Song Huaxu had said before he passed out, Yan Jing immediately got up and ran towards the distance.

By the time he arrived, only a pool of blood was on the ground.

He saw a girl in white standing expressionlessly under the moonlight, holding a long sword aimed at the throat of the person on the ground. The face was familiar, but the eyes were all white.

"Yan Wanqing!" Yan Jing couldn’t believe what he was seeing and exclaimed.

"Run! She’s gone mad! She is not Yan Wanqing at all!" Yan Li’an, with his shoulder blade pierced through, yelled at Yan Jing with difficulty.

What on earth was going on?

Yan Jing had no time to think at the moment.

He couldn’t just stand by and watch someone die—not when it was his elder brother’s child.

He charged forward with all his might, deflecting the long sword Yan Wanqing aimed at Yan Li’an’s throat, then started grappling with her.

The more Yan Jing fought, the more terrified he became.

It wasn’t his first time fighting Yan Wanqing, but it was nothing like tonight.

Her moves were like those of a lifeless puppet, acting on instinct, her strength and techniques far exceeding the range of a normal person.

He couldn’t win.

That was Yan Jing’s realization.

If he couldn’t win, he could only run.

He took a pack of powder from his bosom and threw it directly at Yan Wanqing’s face, then taking advantage of the moment she waved her hand, he scooped up the injured Yan Li’an and dashed several miles away in an instant.

It was a narcotic.

No matter how fast Yan Wanqing was, she still inhaled quite a lot.

The whites of her eyes finally dissipated, returning to normal.

Her body swayed and then she collapsed on the ground.

After an unknown amount of time.

A carriage appeared beside her and took her away.

...

Without looking back, Yan Jing carried the injured Yan Li’an and left immediately, heading towards the place furthest from Chu Kingdom through the night.

Everything that happened tonight was far beyond his comprehension.

Whether it was Song Huaxu or Yan Wanqing, both were too eerie.

He found a small inn and settled the injured Yan Li’an there.

Two people, one sitting, the other standing, faced each other not knowing who should speak first.

Nobody wanted to be the first to break the silence.

"I think..."

"Song Huaxu..."

The two looked at each other: "You go first."

"You go first."

Yan Li’an clicked his tongue: "You’re older, you go first."

At this moment, Yan Jing couldn’t be bothered to argue: "Just now Song Huaxu..." He recounted his encounter and fight with Song Huaxu.

After hearing it all, the unease deep in Yan Li’an’s eyes finally magnified at that moment.

"He said, within half a year, the world will perish?"

Yan Jing nodded with a grave expression.

"I don’t think the person who appeared tonight was Yan Wanqing," Yan Li’an recalled carefully: "She was very lively before, but tonight she was like a puppet being manipulated."

Yan Li’an regretted deeply: "If I had known, I would not have let her enter the palace today."

"If what Song Huaxu said is true, then it’s not just the Yan Family’s affair," Yan Jing said solemnly: "I will leave for Dawei immediately, and as soon as your wounds are somewhat healed, start your journey back to Qin State right away. We cannot let Song Huaxu’s schemes succeed!"

This war, no matter what, must not break out!