Chapter 26 The Beast Emperor’s Mission
Chapter 26 The Beast Emperor’s Mission
I found several servants and ordered them to buy medical supplies so they could prepare nourishing medicine for my mother. In truth, although I had previously claimed that I would restore her beauty and youth, I did not have the slightest confidence that I could actually do it. After all, my mother had spent many years suffering heartache, and her mental age was far older than her physical age. A few days were nowhere near enough to heal this.
Even if her state of mind recovered, restoring her youthful beauty might still be impossible. I could only do what was within my power. Even if I used magic together with nourishing medicine, combined with the power of the two life-restoring stones, it would still require a miracle for her to recover.
Tomorrow I will enter the palace to meet the Beast Emperor.
I don’t know what his attitude toward me will be like.
Regardless, I feel that he is a good king, far wiser than my father.
He is my last hope. If I cannot save the Beast Clan through the Beast Emperor, then the Beast Clan is surely doomed.
After all, even if a person has power, there is still a limit to that power. Right now, I am like a bottle of vinegar that is only half full.
I ate a simple meal and returned to my room to cultivate the Heavenly Demon Art. I had to remain calm so that I could clearly present my report to the Beast Emperor and persuade him with my views. Only by doing so would it be possible for him to accept my perspective. Whether I could help bring about the revival of the Beast Clan depended entirely on whether I could convince the Beast Emperor during tomorrow’s meeting. Only after gaining his full support would I be able to fully exercise my own power.
On my journey back to the Beastmen Kingdom, my Heavenly Demon Art had successfully broken through to the fifth level. This breakthrough was thanks to the Gu brothers. After entering the fifth level, I discovered that advancing any further became abnormally difficult, just as they had previously warned. What I regretted was not asking them about the best circumstances for breaking through the bottleneck. It seemed I could only proceed step by step and follow the basic cultivation process. I could only hope that I would eventually encounter the so-called favorable conditions.
When I stopped cultivating, I realized that an entire day had passed and it was already the next morning. The cold streams of energy produced by my Heavenly Demon Art circulated within my mind, bringing an unprecedented sense of calm and clarity.
After hurriedly eating breakfast, I headed straight to the Royal Palace with eight Behemoth guards escorting me.
When we reached the palace gates, we were stopped by the guards.
“Stop there. State your purpose. Why have you come to the Royal Palace?”
Because I was accompanied by the Behemoth guards, the palace guards spoke respectfully and politely.
“I am Lei Xiang, vice general of the Behemoth Legion. I wish to meet His Majesty. Please help me report this.”
The guard looked at me briefly and bowed. “Please wait a moment.”
He selected another guard, who quickly ran toward the inner palace. It did not take long before he returned.
“His Majesty has ordered that Lei Xiang, vice general of the Behemoth Legion, is to meet him in the main hall.”
I nodded and walked into the palace with the Behemoth guards following behind me.
This was the second time I had come here. I still remembered how amazed I had been the first time I saw this grand palace hall. However, after witnessing the magnificent architecture of the Dragon God Empire, I no longer found anything particularly impressive about the Beast Emperor’s palace.
I casually looked around as I walked toward the main hall. Outside the hall, I lifted my robe and knelt on the ground.
“Your servant Lei Xiang has come to meet Your Majesty.”
“Is that Lei Xiang? Come in.”
Although I was still quite far from the throne, his voice sounded as though it came from right beside me. This alone hinted at the depth of the Beast Emperor’s strength.
I instructed the eight guards to remain outside and entered the hall alone.
The royal hall was about twenty meters high. Aside from the Beast Emperor, only about ten guards and servants were present.
The Beast Emperor looked the same as before. He wore an embroidered robe with a jade belt, and a shining crown rested on his head. His expression was calm, yet it carried the natural authority of a king.
I knelt once again.
“Your servant greets Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty.”
The Beast Emperor’s voice was gentle.
“Rise. You returned quickly. Was the journey smooth?”
I stood and stepped respectfully to the side.
“Reporting to Your Majesty. Your servant did not fail your trust and has returned successfully from the journey.”
“Oh? Raise your head.”
I slowly lifted my head. The Beast Emperor sat upon the throne with sharp, shining eyes. I met his gaze calmly without fear.
A trace of excitement appeared in his eyes. He smiled.
“Good. You are worthy of being Leo’s son. Come with me. Let us talk in the imperial study.”
This man truly knows how to maintain composure. He indeed possesses the aura of a king.
“The rest of you may leave. This matter does not concern you.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The Beast Emperor sat behind a large table where he usually read documents. After dismissing the guards and servants, he smiled.
“Sit and speak, Lei Xiang.”
“This servant has no right to sit before Your Majesty. I am already accustomed to standing. Please allow me to answer this way.”
“Very well. Earlier you said the mission was successful. Does that mean you completed the task I gave you?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. I have completed the mission entrusted to me.”
“Excellent. Now tell me about your journey.”
Beginning from the moment I departed for the Dragon God Empire, I recounted everything: how I fought Hua Lun, how I was confined by the vice principal, how I obtained the mission materials and records in the library, and how I eventually faked my own death to escape.
Naturally, I carefully omitted the parts that should not be revealed.
After hearing my report, the Beast Emperor spoke thoughtfully.
“According to your story, that vice principal treated you rather well. Why did you not remain there longer? The original time limit I gave you was ten years.”
“Your Majesty, may I ask a question first?”
“You may.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty. I wish to ask what Your Majesty thinks about the current condition of our clan.”
The Beast Emperor frowned.
“That question goes rather far.”
He sighed.
“Our clan’s situation is not good. In some respects, it is even dangerous. Why? Do you have an opinion?”
His bluntness left me momentarily stunned.
“When I left for the Dragon God Empire, I encountered hundreds of bandits on the road. From what I have observed, our clan is already in chaos, and our reputation has deteriorated to the point that people fear even hearing our name.”
“Since I completed the mission Your Majesty gave me, I returned as quickly as possible so that I could assist Your Majesty in restoring order to the Beastmen Kingdom.”
A flash of anger appeared in the Beast Emperor’s eyes.
“You wish to assist me in governing the Beastmen Kingdom? Did I hear correctly? Even if those words came from your father, they would still be somewhat inappropriate.”
I suddenly raised my head and looked directly at him.
“Your Majesty, if you refuse to listen simply because of my age, then you are not the wise king that this servant believed you to be. Wisdom is not determined by age. It is not the beard that makes the philosopher. I do not believe Your Majesty would judge so rashly.”
Even while facing the emperor of the Beastmen, I felt no fear.
The Beast Emperor burst into laughter.
“Very good, boy. You have courage, knowledge, and presence. Our kingdom lacks talents like you. Since you speak with such confidence, I will listen to your thoughts on governing the country.”
“However, you must understand that the chaos in our kingdom is unlike that of other nations. There are many matters beyond my control.”
I nodded.
“I understand, Your Majesty. But before I explain, please forgive this servant’s disrespect. If my words anger Your Majesty, I beg your forgiveness.”
“Speak.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty. I returned with the intention of serving the country. I now understand the situation of our clan. Although you are the Beast Emperor in name, there are nearly ten clan elders beneath you. They rarely interfere in daily governance, but they intervene during crucial moments. Each tribe has its own beliefs. If they issue a public call, someone will surely respond.”
“When Your Majesty said that certain matters were beyond your control, this is what you meant. Am I correct?”
The Beast Emperor smiled faintly and nodded.
“You see the situation clearly. Since you understand this, you must also understand my difficulties. It is not that I do not wish to govern, but these people prevent me from doing so.”
“At present, only the Lionman tribe and the Behemoth tribe are fully under my command. The other tribes have remained quiet for now. But if I issue an order that threatens their interests, they will unite in opposition.”
Hearing this made me feel relieved. His words revealed the mind of a wise ruler. Since he truly intended to govern the Beastmen Kingdom, I would do everything I could to assist him.
I paused briefly and continued.
“Your Majesty, although we cannot govern them directly, we can influence them gradually. Even though each tribe has its own beliefs, the Beast God is the true god whom all Beastmen worship.”
The Beast Emperor suddenly stood up, his eyes shining.
“Are you suggesting…?”
I nodded.
“Yes. What Your Majesty is thinking is exactly what I intend to suggest.”
“However, before dealing with the tribes, Your Majesty must first restore order within the country itself. Only then can we regain the people’s trust.”
“As for worship of the Beast God, the solution is simple. We can establish a Beast God Church and send trusted individuals to influence each tribe. Gradually we will deliver the Beast God’s decree to the people and allow them to break free from the chains of their previous beliefs.”
I leaned closer and quietly explained my method for reforming the religious structure of the tribes.
After listening, the Beast Emperor hesitated.
“Will this truly work?”
“Of course it will, Your Majesty.”
The atmosphere suddenly became tense.
After a long silence, the Beast Emperor sighed.
“Very well. For the sake of my people, I will follow your proposal. Your ideas are innovative and practical. If this succeeds, our clan will finally be united, and we will be able to stand equally alongside the Humans and the Demons.”
“If you succeed, the first Pope of the Beast God Church will be you.”
I shook my head with a smile.
“No. The first Pope must be Your Majesty. Every future Pope must also be the Beast Emperor. Only in this way will it be convincing, and only then can true centralization of power be achieved.”
“I am merely a pawn serving Your Majesty.”
“This matter cannot be rushed. We must proceed slowly and cautiously. I have prepared a three-year plan…”
As the Beast Emperor listened to my explanation, his astonishment grew. The strategy unfolded step by step, each part connected logically and realistically.
Finally, he sighed.
“To have such talent within the Beastmen clan is truly a blessing for our people… and a great fortune for me.”
“I will entrust this matter to you.”
“You have my thanks, Your Majesty. The materials this servant obtained from the Dragon God Empire are extremely useful. I will arrange for people to compile and record them. As for magic, I believe it is not particularly suited for the Beastmen to study. However, the cultivation techniques and military strategies are indeed rare treasures. If Your Majesty wishes to unify the tribes, you will need great authority, and now is the best time to cultivate it.”
The Beast Emperor said, “That was my original intention when I sent you to the Dragon God Empire. I have been preparing for this moment for a long time. I also attempted to train some people for this purpose. There are several talents ready for you. I will place them under your supervision so that you may cultivate them. What do you think?”
I smiled bitterly. “Your Majesty, this servant is not a sage and has limited energy. Establishing an academy for the empire still requires Your Majesty’s personal attention. I will take full responsibility for spreading the Beast God Religion. However, there is another matter that this servant must deal with.”
The Beast Emperor was surprised. “What else do you need to do?”
A cold expression flashed across my face as hatred filled my voice.
“There are countless bandits rampaging throughout our clan right now. They cannot be underestimated, Your Majesty. In my estimation, the number of bandits in our empire is beyond imagination. Their actions are what have truly weakened our empire. If nothing is done about them, how can the people live peaceful and prosperous lives? What this servant intends to do is annihilate them all.”
The Beast Emperor was startled. “Complete extermination? How many people would be killed? Could we not grant them amnesty instead?”
I gently shook my head. “Your Majesty, those who bring chaos to the nation must face severe punishment. Eliminating them will not only improve the country but also serve as a deterrent. Within about two years, this servant intends to make the country safe enough that people can leave their doors unlocked at night. If we are not ruthless, how could such a goal ever be achieved? This is also a crucial point in spreading the Beast God Religion. If we do not show the people real results, how could they believe in it?”
The Beast Emperor sat silently, staring ahead in deep thought.
I bowed slightly. “Your Majesty, this servant has spoken too much today. Perhaps Your Majesty should rest for now. This servant can return tomorrow.”
The Beast Emperor shook his head. “No, I am not tired. Quite the opposite—I am pleased. Do you know why? I have waited twenty years for such an opportunity.”
“Although I have maintained a good relationship with your father, he excels in war but cannot govern a nation. After all these years, you are the first person who has given me real hope.”
“I will tell you a secret. In truth, I am also a hybrid. Human blood runs within my Beastman veins. That is why, although I am a Lionman, I possess superior intelligence. It is also because of that intelligence that I reached my current position.”
Hearing this, I felt the distance between us shorten. At the same time, I understood that the Beast Emperor had not reached his position by chance. His ability to win people’s loyalty rivaled that of the Dragon God Emperor.
“Your Majesty, then I will continue. I began thinking about these ideas when I was still in the Dragon God Empire. If Your Majesty is willing to support me, this servant would like to present them.”
The Beast Emperor smiled gently. “Enough preamble. Speak directly.”
Although his tone was blunt, it carried a clear warmth. Of course, I would not let that warmth cloud my judgment. He was only doing this so he could make better use of me.
“I said earlier that I am merely a pawn. As I take action, Your Majesty must support me from behind. The talents Your Majesty mentioned—how capable are they?”
“Rest assured,” the Beast Emperor replied. “They possess mixed blood of humans and Beastmen like us. They are hybrids. Some of them are even hybrids of three races—human, Beastman, and demon—just like you.”
“They are all intelligent and merely lack proper guidance. I tried my best to teach them, but our teaching methods are too limited. We lack proper materials and suitable methods, so their natural intelligence has never been fully developed.”
“Their loyalty is absolute. Because of their bloodlines, they endured great hostility within their tribes. I was the one who rescued them.”
Relieved, I asked, “Then I am at ease. How many people are there?”
The Beast Emperor smiled faintly. “Enough for you to use.”
“This servant has prepared a list of the types of talent needed. Please review it. This group must be the very best.”
As I spoke, I handed him the list.
The Beast Emperor took the paper and began reading.
“The Beast God Religion requires twelve individuals skilled in coordination and administration. They will manage the future educational systems of each territory.”
“The military requires fifty individuals with command ability.”
“For agriculture, the more the better—people skilled in coordination, science, and technology…”
He paused and looked up.
“Lei Xiang, I understand the first two. But why do you need so many people for this last category?”
I smiled.
“Your Majesty, our country is currently dependent on the Demon Empire. Do you know why? Because we lack resources.”
“In truth, our land is not smaller than theirs. In fact, it is far more suitable for farming. But for many reasons, the land has long been abandoned. Encouraging agriculture and resource production is the only way to make our nation wealthy and strengthen our military potential.”
“Military talent is not the most urgent need at the moment.”
“My plan is this: we begin by encouraging agricultural production in the lands surrounding the imperial capital. The talents Your Majesty has trained will teach others how to cultivate crops. If necessary, we can enforce this policy. After some time, the results will become visible.”
“Each time this servant clears an area of bandits, Your Majesty can send these people there to promote farming. In this way, the tribes will not be disturbed. They will have no reason to complain and may even cooperate willingly, because every tribe desires prosperity.”
“There is also another reason why I wish to eliminate the bandits. Once we have successful harvests, we can store resources for future use. If people have food to eat and clothes to wear, why would they become bandits?”
“At the same time, this will help us win the people’s hearts and provide the perfect opportunity to promote the Beast God Religion.”
The Beast Emperor laughed.
“Excellent. We are already tired of the arrogance of those representatives from the Demon Clan. I endured it until now only because of resources. Your idea is truly excellent.”
I bowed.
“Thank you for Your Majesty’s praise. But the most important matter right now is cultivating talent. It would be best if we could train the first group within half a year.”
“Among them, the twelve Beast God Messengers will be the most important. Not only must their cultivation be strong, their convictions must also be firm.”
“They must do the same as I do—hunt bandits, earn the people’s trust, and spread the existence of the Beast God among the population as soon as possible.”
“When faith reaches a certain level, it will be time for our final victory.”
“While I train them, I will personally lead the campaign against the bandits and clear the path for them.”
The Beast Emperor nodded. His voice carried excitement.
“Vice General of the Behemoth Legion, Lei Xiang—hear my command.”
I immediately dropped to my knees.
“Your servant awaits Your Majesty’s command.”
“In order to ensure the steady development of the Beastmen Kingdom, you are hereby removed from the position of Vice General of the Behemoth Legion.”
“You are appointed Vice General of the Imperial Guard and Imperial Inspector of the Realm, with the authority to act first and report later.”
“From this moment forward, you are also the Vice Pope of the Beast God Church, responsible for all internal affairs of the church.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty.”
“Rise. This is a verbal order for now. An official imperial decree will be issued later, though the final title will not appear in it. This is what you wanted, correct? Do you have any other requests?”
I remained kneeling and respectfully bowed three times.
“Your Majesty, since you trust this servant so deeply, I will dedicate my life to fulfilling this responsibility.”
The Beast Emperor walked around the desk and personally helped me stand up.
“There is no need to speak of dying. I only wish for the Beastmen Kingdom to grow strong.”
“Lei Xiang… it would have been wonderful if you were my son. What a pity.”
The moment I heard this, I immediately understood his meaning. Since I had no great achievements yet, such a sudden promotion would naturally arouse suspicion.
I immediately knelt again.
“This son pays respect to Father Emperor.”
The Beast Emperor burst into laughter.
“Good, good. My son is indeed clever. From today onward you are my adopted son, and I am your godfather. Let us see who dares question it.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.”
“I would rather hear you call me Father. Having a son like you is my greatest pride.”
The Beast Emperor truly was shrewd. After determining that I was useful, he spared no effort to win me over.
“Father, this son will organize the knowledge obtained from the Dragon God Empire as soon as possible.”
“Yes. That is currently the most urgent matter. It must be resolved quickly.”
“And I have two personal matters I would like to report to Your Majesty.”
The Beast Emperor glanced at me.
“What is it? Speak.”
“I hesitated for a moment before speaking. “Father, because my father’s wife humiliated my mother, I killed her in a moment of rage. Only afterward did I learn that she was Your Majesty’s cousin. Because of this, I have come to ask for punishment.”
The Beast Emperor waved his hand dismissively. “This is not an important matter. I forgive you. You are not guilty. What is the other matter?”
I laughed coldly inwardly. Of course you would forgive me. Why would you punish someone you intend to use?
“The other matter is this: within three years, this servant will strengthen the Beastmen Kingdom from its very foundation. But after those three years, I wish to return all authority and power to Your Majesty and live a free and quiet life.”
The Beast Emperor frowned. “How can that be? We still need you for many things. You are still young—why are you already speaking of withdrawal from public life? Once you help me strengthen the Beastmen tribes, there will be no one above you except me.”
I sighed. “Power and authority are like drifting clouds to me. I only wish to find a quiet and peaceful place where I can spend the rest of my life. I say this now because I fear that otherwise Your Majesty would refuse to let me leave when the time comes.”
“But please do not worry. If the empire ever needs me, I will do everything within my ability to help. Besides, this empire belongs to Your Majesty. If I possess too much power, people may begin to gossip.”
As I spoke, the image of the Ji sisters surfaced in my mind. How wonderful it would be to find a peaceful place and build a warm home with them.
The Beast Emperor grew slightly irritated. “Who would dare criticize? We will discuss this matter later.”
Even if you refuse to let me leave when the time comes, I thought to myself, I will still disappear quietly.
After discussing the matter in greater detail, I took my leave.
“Father Emperor, what this servant son said today covered many matters. Please take some time to think about them before we continue. I will take my leave for now and prepare the documents containing the information I brought back.”
“Very well. There is no need to hurry. You have just returned—go and rest well.”
“Thank you, Father.”
Under the gaze of the Beast Emperor, I slowly walked out of the imperial study. Today had been a great success. The Beast Emperor fully supported my proposal, exactly as I had expected. Everything else would depend on how events unfolded in the future.
“Beastmen Kingdom… I will do what I can for you. I suppose this is my repayment for raising me.”
After I left, the Beast Emperor spoke toward the door. “Can he be trusted?”
A black shadow flickered, and a vague figure emerged from behind him.
“Judging from his words, he truly seems devoted to serving the country. At least for now, we can believe him. However, he is extremely intelligent. Your Majesty should remain cautious.”
The voice was gloomy, deep, and powerful, yet it was impossible to determine the speaker’s age.
The Beast Emperor looked puzzled. “Remain cautious?”
The shadow leaned closer and whispered something into the Beast Emperor’s ear.
The Beast Emperor’s expression brightened. “Good. We will do it that way.”
The shadow replied coldly, “If his heart ever harbors malice, I will personally execute him beneath my sword.”
By the time I realized it, it was already noon. I had spoken with the Beast Emperor for the entire morning. I quickly left the palace and returned to the mansion with the eight guards.
After entering the mansion, I immediately summoned a servant.
“Has Mother eaten yet?”
The servant replied respectfully, “Reporting to Third Young Master, Madam has already eaten and is currently taking her afternoon rest.”
“Good.”
It seemed Mother had regained some hope.
“Make sure her meals contain more honey, black sesame, and other nourishing foods. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Third Young Master.”
“You may leave.”
After dismissing the servant, I went directly to Mother’s room. The door was slightly open, so I quietly stepped inside.
Mother slept peacefully. A faint smile rested at the corner of her lips.
I gently covered her with a quilt, and warmth filled my heart.
After so many years, this was the first time I had seen such a peaceful expression on her face. Looking at her resting calmly, I silently made a vow. No matter how difficult it may be, I will make her dream come true.
I quietly stepped out of the room. I was about to go eat when a servant ran toward me in a hurry.
I scolded him coldly. “Why are you rushing like that? Did something happen?”
The servant gasped for breath. “Th-third Young Master… His Majesty has sent people here. They want you to receive an imperial edict.”
“I understand.”
Why had the Beast Emperor sent people so quickly?
Filled with questions, I hurried to the courtyard.
Most of the mansion’s residents had gathered there. When they saw me arrive, they quickly stepped aside to make way.
My stepmother—the one who had defended the vixen earlier—stood among the crowd with a smug expression.
“Let him kill people recklessly and see what happens. Even His Majesty has intervened. Let’s see how he escapes this time.”
Although her voice was very quiet, my sharp hearing caught every word. I merely laughed inwardly and showed no reaction.
Four Lionmen stood in the courtyard along with several individuals from other tribes dressed in plain clothing. The leader, a Lionman, held the imperial edict in his hand.
I stepped forward. “I am Lei Xiang. Is there an imperial edict for me?”
The Lionman spoke respectfully. “Are you Sir Lei Xiang?”
“Yes.”
“Lei Xiang, receive the edict.”
I knelt. “Your servant Lei Xiang receives the edict.”
The Lionman began reading.
“By the decree of the Beast Emperor: Lei Xiang, third son of Behemoth King Leo, is intelligent and resourceful, powerful in martial skills, fearless in danger, and has successfully completed an important mission entrusted to him by His Majesty. He is a pillar of the nation and a talent greatly valued by the throne.”
“Therefore, His Majesty decrees that from this day forward Lei Xiang shall become His Majesty’s foster son. Lei Xiang is hereby removed from the position of Vice General of the Behemoth Legion and appointed Vice General of the Imperial Guard and Imperial Inspector of the Realm, with authority to act first and report later.”
So it was a decree granting me new titles. The Beast Emperor truly moved quickly.
Although I knelt with my head lowered, I could clearly feel the astonished gazes from the surrounding crowd. As for my stepmother, her jaw had probably already dropped to the ground.
“Your Highness, please receive the edict.”
Hearing the Lionman envoy speak, I quickly responded.
“This servant Lei Xiang gratefully receives the imperial edict.”
I stood and accepted the decree. The Lionman envoy leaned closer and spoke softly.
“Your Highness, the scribes His Majesty sent with me are all talented individuals and have been placed under your command. His Majesty also wishes to see you in the palace tomorrow.”
“Understood.”
“Then this servant will return to report.”
As I watched the imperial envoy leave, I thought to myself, The Beast Emperor truly acts quickly. It seems I have gained his favor. After all, what monarch would refuse someone willing to strengthen his country for him?
I looked toward the eight scribes standing nearby. One Leopardman, one Wolfman, one Foxman, one Centaur… none of them belonged to the same tribe.
“From now on, you will serve under me.”
“Butler, come here.”
The mansion’s steward was a clever old Foxman. When he heard my call, he hurried over.
“Third Young Master.”
“Arrange a larger room for them to stay in.”
“Yes, Third Young Master.”
The Foxman steward quickly hurried away.