Chapter 818: Do What You Can
Wang Shizhong said, “Senior Lu, if I may?”
Lu Zhou looked at the boxes. He expected them to be filled with full talismans. Hence, he said, “What is it?”
“Court Master Yu holds an important post. Lately, we’ve discovered the presence of hidden elites with unclear origins. Those elites killed many of the capital’s elites. Court Master Yu has to look after the Sky Martial Court and can’t just leave on a whim. That’s why he requested His Majesty to personally negotiate,” Wang Shizhong explained.
“I thought the Sky Martial Martial Court is filled with elites. So there are times that they’re afraid as well?” Yu Zhenghai asked.
Wang Shizhong said, “Many of the Sky Martial Court’s elites are sent to the ten circuits of Great Tang. It’s rather difficult to gather all of them in a place. To be honest, we’re not only here for the release of the Sky Martial Court disciples. There’s another matter as well...”
“What is it?” Lu Zhou could tell the person before him held more power than it seemed. There might be better benefits behind this person. He could guess some matters based on how silent Li Yunzheng was.
Lu Zhou preferred to deal with someone who would keep his word. Unfortunately, Li Yunzheng was just a puppet emperor with no authority to speak of.
Wang Shizhong said, “Senior Lu... you’re from the golden lotus domain, am I right?”
The others looked up.
Eunuch Gao looked slightly taken aback as he looked at Wang Shizhong.
Lu Zhou did not admit nor deny it. He only kept his eyes on Wang Shizhong.
Wang Shizhong continued to say, “The two domains are now connected... I believe that you didn’t come all the way here across the Endless Ocean to invade and conquer Great Tang. Ever since the Sky Martial Court started researching the other worlds, they built the Water Shuttle, the Sky Shuttle, the flying chariot, the red ship, and other transporters... We can enter and leave the golden lotus domain as we please. The red lotus domain has already obtained basic information about the golden lotus domain 300 years ago. Within three centuries, the growth of the golden lotus domain is truly incredible. However, from what I know, there was a limit to the cultivation in the golden lotus domain. Nobody could reach the Nine-leaf stage. Then, a new cultivation theory emerged, and people began to severe the lotuses. Since the emergence of this method, the golden lotus domain progressed swiftly and produced more Nine-leaf cultivators. Even so, the overall strength of the golden lotus domain is still a far cry from the red lotus domain.” Then, he paused for a moment as he looked at Lu Zhou and asked, “Am I right, Senior Lu?”
Lu Zhou did not pay attention to Wang Shizhong. Instead, he looked at Li Yunzheng and asked, “You’re the emperor. What do you think?”
Li Yunzheng pointed at himself. “You’re asking... me?”
When Li Yunzheng saw everyone looking at him, he suddenly felt like a true emperor governing the lands. He said confidently, “In my opinion, although the two domains are connected, we shouldn’t interfere in each other’s affairs. We shouldn’t kill or invade... Whether it’s the red lotus domain or the golden lotus domain, we’re all humans. From the old books, I’ve read that humans have been plagued by beasts in the past. The books clearly said that even the most powerful experts aren’t a match for the beasts. The people won’t be able to live peacefully, and people’s cultivation base would suffer. The books have also said...”
At this moment, Eunuch Gao interjected with his sharp voice, “Your Majesty, these matters have nothing to do with the negotiations today. Please keep your words direct and simple.”
Li Yunzheng did not continue speaking. Not only did he not lose his temper like before, but he grew even calmer. He was not sure what came over him. He recalled Lu Zhou’s words and rose to his feet before he said evenly, “Bring me a saber.”
“Your Majesty, your hands don’t even have the strength to kill a chicken, what are you going to do with a saber?”
Li Yunzheng said solemnly “Do I need your opinion if I want my saber?”
Meanwhile, Wang Shizhong was intrigued. He wanted to see what the young emperor would do so he waved his hand and said, “Give His Majesty a saber.”
“Understood.”
Soon after, a soldier respectfully presented his own saber to the emperor.
When Li Yunzheng picked up the saber, he nearly lost his footing.
Upon seeing this, some of the minor eunuchs covered their mouths and snickered.
Li Yunzheng remained calm. He looked at Lu Zhou and said, “Old mister, you said... you said that I should remove everyone who stands in my way, right?”
“That’s right,” Lu Zhou said.
“For someone like me... Someone who can’t even hold a saber straight... How am I supposed to remove them?” Li Yunzheng asked the same question he had asked in Ganlu Hall that night.
This time, there was a hint of urgency to Li Yunzheng’s question. He needed answers. However, vague answers would not help him get out of his current predicament.
The sky above Cloud Mountain was clear, and the air was fresh. However, it felt difficult to breathe.
At this moment, Eunuch Gao raised a pot on the table with a disapproving expression on his face as he poured himself a drink.
Drip!
Soon enough, tea filled the wine cup.
Eunuch Gao raised the cup to his lips and finished the tea in a gulp. He placed the cup back on the table with a loud thud. Just like that, the wine cup sank half an inch into the table.
Nobody knew what was going through the young emperor’s mind at this moment, and nobody cared as well. After all, they were used to situations like this.
However, sometimes the most mundane things, when repeated too often, would become the straw that broke the camel’s back.
Lu Zhou stroked his beard and nodded. “I stand by my words. Do what you can.”
Li Yunzheng. “...”
Eunuch Gao smiled with a hint of smugness.
The palace girls and the eunuchs standing behind Eunuch Gao watched with bright eyes, clearly eager to watch the show.
Eunuch Gao said, “Please stay your anger, Your Majesty. We must prioritize the greater picture.”
Li Yunzheng raised the saber and walked to Eunuch Gao. He said in a voice seething in anger, “Gao Shiyuan, you’ve overstepped your bounds too many times and deceived your monarch. I’ll cut you down today!” Then, he raised the saber with both hands and brought it down toward Eunuch Gao.
Eunuch Gao’s expression was dismissive and disapproving as he raised his hand and caught the saber with two fingers.
‘As expected...’ Li Yunzheng expected as much. He felt his heart sink.
Eunuch Gao smiled and apologized. “Please stay your anger, Your Majesty. I’ll atone for this when we return to the palace. We’re now outside. Why must we make a fool of ourselves?”
At this moment, Li Yunzheng felt that he could not be humiliated any further. He had been so cowardly in the palace for so many years. Would there be a difference if he acted cowardly now? He tried to pick a saber up and brought it down on another person, but it made no difference.
At this moment, Lu Zhou finally said, “Did you try your best?”
Li Yunzheng put some strength into his arms and tightened his grip around the hilt of the saber. Compared to a cultivator, his strength was negligible.
“Your Majesty!” Eunuch Gao raised his voice. If this dragged on, their plan for this trip would go down the drain.
‘What’s gotten into this young emperor today?’
At this moment, Lu Zhou said tonelessly, “Impudent!” He raised his palm; his fingers glowed blue.
A blue palm seal faintly brushed past Li Yun Zheng’s shoulder.
Bam!
The palm seal struck the back of the saber, pushing the saber out.
Just like that, the saber severed three of Eunuch Gao’s fingers.
Li Yunzheng was stunned. His hands that were holding the saber shook.
Clang!
The saber dropped to the ground.