Chapter 213
Chapter 213
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 0
Chapter Title: The Drowning Decree
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In the spacious grand hall, a deathly silence prevailed.
An icy wind blew in from somewhere, chilling straight to the bones. Even the floor of the hall was coated in a thin layer of frost.
"Your Majesty overstates the matter."
Facing King Qing's question, Zhong Xin's expression remained steady and solemn.
"The outcome of the struggle remains uncertain. How can Your Majesty speak so lightly of survival or extinction?"
"Hahaha."
The next moment, King Qing suddenly burst into laughter.
"Minister Zhong worries too much. It was merely a jest on my part. Tell me about the front lines instead—which Foundation Establishment cultivators fell?"
Zhong Xin continued.
"One was a loose cultivator from Jiangbei. Beyond him, Cloud-Climbing Sect's Sect Master Fairy Yun He, the Zhao Xia Clan's old ancestor, and the Yuan Chen Clan's old ancestor were all taken alive. Those who escaped returned covered in wounds, their courage shattered by the Demon Sect. Given time, I'm afraid Dragon Guillotine Pass can no longer hold."
Zhong Xin explained the causes and sequence of events in detail.
After hearing the full account, King Qing's face twisted in fury.
"Incompetents who lose territory and shame the nation! It seems I must take the field myself!"
"Pass the order—I shall lead the campaign in person!"
"With my strength, channeling the power of the entire realm on the battlefield and proxy-holding the mantle of Great True Person, any demon whatsoever is nothing but a head ripe for the taking with a single sword stroke!"
"Your Majesty, restrain yourself."
Zhong Xin hurried forward upon seeing this.
"Your Majesty is a body worth ten thousand gold, the very foundation of the nation—not like ordinary folk. How can you venture into danger personally? This must absolutely not happen!"
"Then never mind."
King Qing smoothly returned to his seat.
Joking aside, he was of imperial blood, unlike those lowly commoners. How could he possibly risk battling a formidable foe?
Yet if he did not go, who could?
With this thought, he clasped Zhong Xin's hand once more, heaving long sighs.
"Minister Zhong, if I do not lead personally, who can share my burdens?"
"This minister is willing!"
Zhong Xin declared without the slightest hesitation, his tone solemn.
"Your Majesty may grant this minister the Emperor's Sword and proxy authority over the troops. Let this minister proxy-hold the position of Great True Person and lead the campaign in Your Majesty's stead. Even amid the perils of war, should calamity strike, it would be this minister who perishes—Your Majesty remains unscathed and may simply select another worthy soul."
"Would that not harm you too deeply?"
King Qing spoke with feigned warmth.
"Given your reservoir of merit and destiny, proxy-holding the position of Great True Person would consume you greatly. The backlash afterward might ruin the latter half of your life."
"To share Your Majesty's burdens, this minister welcomes it gladly."
At these words, King Qing nodded in satisfaction.
"Good! Good! Among all the realm's civil and military officials, you alone are the loyal minister, the worthy minister, the good minister!"
"Your Majesty flatters me."
Zhong Xin shook his head.
"This minister is merely straightforward."
King Qing smiled, then pivoted the conversation.
"If you are a straightforward minister, then speak plainly to me: to deal with that Chongguang of the Demon Sect, what precisely must be done?"
"The Jiangdong Dao Court cannot be relied upon."
"That old hag from the Celestial Observatory actually claims my heavenly mandate is spent—strong foes without, villains within. Better to surrender early than cling stubbornly to a corner."
Here, King Qing glanced at Zhong Xin again.
He might dismiss it verbally, but in truth, he believed it three or four parts. Otherwise, he would not have tested Zhong Xin earlier with talk of a personal expedition.
"In reply to Your Majesty,"
Zhong Xin continued.
"In this minister's view, the utmost priority is a thorough investigation across the realm. Every infant born less than a year ago must undergo strict screening."
"After all, per the Celestial Observatory's missive, Chongguang is a reincarnated soul."
"The time is still early—he is merely an infant. Even with some lingering divine abilities, he is easy to handle. The longer the delay, the greater the danger!"
King Qing nodded.
"I know this full well. I have already summoned numerous experts and eccentrics to comb the countryside. We must locate his reincarnated form."
"Forgive this minister's bluntness, but such methods will yield little result."
Zhong Xin shook his head.
"That Chongguang True Person is said to be a Great True Person of the Demon Sect, backed by a True Lord. Finding him would be exceedingly difficult."
At this point, a chill killing intent suddenly laced Zhong Xin's tone.
"Thus, rather than waste time searching, better to issue an order: drown every newborn infant outright! Even if that True Person is ever so capable, she will be a clever woman without rice to cook with!"
"Drown all newborns?"
As the words fell, King Qing narrowed his eyes.
He was no fool; he had considered this venomous scheme himself. Yet he could not enact it.
It was far too hateful.
Moreover, drowning newborns would undermine the Dao Court's very foundation. Without new births, the population would dwindle year by year—what rule could there be then?
But if a minister proposed it, that changed everything.
With this in mind, King Qing smiled faintly.
"A fine suggestion from you, Minister. But it requires a loyal, reliable sort who handles matters meticulously."
"Why not have you take charge? How about it?"
Zhong Xin bowed his head at once, without a word.
"This minister receives the command!"
"Excellent."
King Qing nodded.
"For this period, I shall claim illness and seclude myself in the palace, ignoring external affairs. During that time, the matter falls to you, Minister Zhong. I trust you will not disappoint me."
As he spoke, King Qing sighed inwardly.
What a pity to lose such a useful talent. Afterward, he could not be kept. The seclusion under pretense of illness was also to avoid entanglement in the infant-drowning affair. Once Chongguang was eliminated, he would naturally "recover" and emerge to set matters right.
He would remain the wise and martial sovereign.
As for Zhong Xin, he would become the great treacherous minister who abused sacred trust, wrought chaotic governance, and harmed the myriad masses—his value as a tool exhausted.
But just then—
"Report!"
A shout came abruptly from outside the palace. An armored soldier rushed in, clutching a dispatch, his face ashen.
"Your Majesty... we found it!"
"Found what?"
King Qing's brows lifted slightly. He snatched the dispatch from the soldier's hands and scanned it intently. He froze on the spot, then turned a bewildered gaze toward Zhong Xin.
Zhong Xin, too, betrayed curiosity.
"Your Majesty?"
"Hahaha! Found it!"
The next instant, King Qing erupted in laughter, his face alight with狂喜.
"The agents I dispatched report—we've located the reincarnated Chongguang True Person!"
Heaven-Connecting Cloud Sea, Sacred Fire Cliff.
Upon a bed draped in curtains on all four sides, Perfected Being Limpid Flying Snow reclined languidly, a lock of raven hair twined about her fingertip as she idly surveyed what lay below.
It was a map.
A mighty river cleaved it into east, west, south, and north. Dazzling stars dotted its expanse, one positioned precisely over [Qing Kingdom].
Yet up to now, that star had remained utterly dim.
In that moment, a crisp, melodious voice rang out.
"If Chongguang breaks through, then with the three of us joining hands, victory may yet be within reach in the endgame."
"The [City Wall Earth] could serve as well."
Perfected Being Limpid Flying Snow smiled, her gaze shifting across the map.
"That young Yuan Tu—I rather like him. His bearing and conduct evoke the style of our founder."
"Better not."
"The [City Wall Earth] resides in the Pure Land. The three of us alone cannot claim it. Those in the Pure Land treasure it dearly, awaiting the founding of an earthly Buddha realm."
At that, Perfected Being Limpid Flying Snow gave a cold snort.
"Those bald donkeys?"
"An earthly Buddha realm—daring to covet even a false Dao Lord throne!"
Just then, the dim star on the map began to glimmer faintly. It was far from rivaling the brilliance of the others, yet it shone at last.
"...It has finally begun!"
Witnessing this, Perfected Being Limpid Flying Snow fell silent, anticipation dawning on her features. Her vermilion lips parted slightly, and a voice plunged straight toward Jiangbei.
It fell into the ears of Lu Yang, secluded in retreat atop Gai Bamboo Mountain.
The message consisted of but four words:
"March south at once."