Chapter 874: Chapter 808 · The world does not belong to one person, the world belongs to all the people!

In the dimly lit small room, only a single lamp cast the shadow of Zhang San onto the bed behind him.

“Emperor Kaihuang was a usurper, and so was the Red Emperor.”

“One sacrificed his own grandson, the other sacrificed his own father.”

“Can the Red Emperor truly achieve everything that Emperor Kaihuang did, and even surpass him?”

After saying this in the dim little room, Zhang San turned to glance at the bed behind him.

In the next moment, the person who had been lying on the bed suddenly awoke.

“Ah – am I… am I not dead!?”

Emperor Kaihuang sat up from the bed, looking at his own hands with joy, then felt over his heart.

He could feel that there were no wounds at his heart.

At this moment, Emperor Kaihuang looked at Zhang San in the small room with excitement, deeply moved.

“I knew it, Zhang San, you are my loyal minister! How could you possibly assassinate me? I knew it!”

With that, Emperor Kaihuang tried to get off the bed.

But as he supported himself with the bed, he felt as if he jumped up lightly and effortlessly.

Zhang San glanced at him and sighed helplessly.

“Your Majesty, you did die. Otherwise, how could Crown Prince Yang Quan inherit the Red Dust Immortal Position and ascend to the throne?”

“When I struck, I used Qi Gang to transform into a Horizontal Blade and, as I pierced your heart, absorbed your soul into the Qi Gang to hide it here. Otherwise, why wouldn’t I just use a regular weapon?”

Hearing this, Emperor Kaihuang couldn’t help but recall the scene at the Kindness and Longevity Palace.

Kneeling on the palace floor was only Minister Lu Qianqiu, showing sorrow at his departure, while the rest were all people of Crown Prince Yang Quan.

“Alas—so I really did die?”

Zhang San nodded somewhat awkwardly.

“No worries.”

Though there was a hint of bitterness in Emperor Kaihuang’s smile, there was also a faint sense of relief.

“Indeed, Zhang San, you are the true loyal minister. Even though I have died, seeing you here means I’m not truly dead, and so it seems I am the Heavenly Mandate! Hahahaha…”

Zhang San hadn’t expected Emperor Kaihuang to be so optimistic.

But on reflection, having died already…

Moreover, Emperor Kaihuang died at the hands of his own son; that must have been his life’s most sorrowful and despairing moment.

Now realizing he is “alive” again, his mindset is naturally much better.

“Zhang San, what did you just say? The Red Emperor? Has Quan’er ascended the throne now? What was the situation before he ascended?”

Zhang San then informed Emperor Kaihuang of recent personnel changes.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Kaihuang nodded slightly.

Though Emperor Kaihuang felt that with Li Moxian present, the Great Sui Dynasty Court would wield greater intimidation over the world’s Martial Artists,

he understood why Yang Quan wanted Li Moxian to leave.

After all, Li Moxian was too strong.

Having such a being who could, by himself, sweep through the Imperial Path, naturally made Yang Quan uneasy.

“However, though many of the people Quan’er uses are his confidants, there are indeed quite a few who are just competent officials. His ability to use these people shows he wants to get things done.”

Zhang San nodded in agreement: “Indeed it is so. While I cannot be sure if everything I perceive is true, at least I feel that the current Red Emperor has the ambition to prove himself. In this respect, he is quite like you, Emperor Kaihuang.”

Hearing this, Emperor Kaihuang chuckled.

After all, he is his son.

It’s naturally a good thing to be like oneself.

“But I must admit, the Red Emperor is a very ruthless emperor. I’m not sure if he will become an emperor remembered for ages, leading the Great Sui to a more prosperous future, or if he will become a cruel emperor.”

Seeing Zhang San’s concern, Emperor Kaihuang smiled and said, “Don’t worry. After all, he is my son. Though he may be ruthless, he won’t be too misguided.”

Zhang San felt that Emperor Kaihuang seemed much more optimistic than the one he knew before.

He wasn’t sure if his soul had changed, or if dying once had drastically altered his perspective.

“Your Majesty, I am now in charge of the Town Martial Office, and I’ve merged the Town Demon Office into it as well. Considering the number of people under me has increased, as Deputy Chief of the Town Martial Office, I naturally have to take responsibility for them. I can’t allow any mistakes. Your Majesty knows I’m not particularly loyal to you or to the Red Emperor; I am loyal to the world. So sometimes, I may need your help.”

Emperor Kaihuang immediately understood Zhang San’s meaning and replied with a smile, “That is, of course, no problem.”

“After all, who knows a son better than…”

Emperor Kaihuang cut himself off mid-sentence.

“After all, I have been Emperor for over twenty years, and I understand many imperial tactics better than you. Zhang San, if you have any issues, feel free to ask me!”

Emperor Kaihuang also knew that, in his current state, he could only act as an advisor.

But after all, he was Emperor Kaihuang, so he had to maintain some of his demeanor.

Zhang San had originally worried that Emperor Kaihuang, once ‘revived,’ would be emotionally unstable.

But for now, Emperor Kaihuang’s emotions seemed more stable than he had expected.

If so, then it seemed asking him directly about that matter wouldn’t be inappropriate.

“Your Majesty, there is indeed a matter I need to consult you about. Do you need to rest first, or can you discuss it with me now?”

In fact, Emperor Kaihuang felt quite uncomfortable inside.

But in front of Zhang San, even a dead Emperor was still an Emperor.

So the Emperor had to maintain his dignity.

“I’m fine. I am in high spirits now! Zhang San, my beloved minister, if you have any questions, just ask. I will guide you.”

Seeing Emperor Kaihuang’s assurance, Zhang San didn’t hesitate and spoke directly.

“The Red Emperor ordered me to suppress the rebellion in Sword South Path. How should this be done?”

Emperor Kaihuang paused, then questioned, “Sword South Path? Suppress the rebellion? Did King of Shu Yang Ling… rebel?”

Zhang San responded with a bitter smile: “Do you think whether His Highness Yang Ling, King of Shu, rebelled or not truly matters?”

In that moment, Emperor Kaihuang understood.

Zhang San continued: “Although my intelligence hasn’t yet detected any signs of King of Shu Yang Ling rebelling, I don’t know what he will do later. But that’s not the point. The point is, regarding King of Shu Yang Ling and his descendants, should I capture them alive or what? Should I bring them back to the Capital or deal with them on the spot?”

“Your matter can be explained as the Emperor dying of illness. But when I arrive at Sword South Path with troops, I will be acting under countless watchful eyes. This matter, as your humble minister, I truly do not know how to handle it.”

Emperor Kaihuang slowly closed his eyes, contemplated seriously for a moment, then slowly opened them again.

“I already have a plan for this. Listen carefully…”