Chapter 1360: An Emperor’s Conspiracy

It was time to convert thought into action, so Ye Qing laid down multiple restrictions around the house before producing a porcelain bottle from Nine Heavens.

First, he prayed to the bottle one time, causing a stream of clear water to shoot out of the bottle. The water did not hit the ground, however. It formed a mirror of water in the air instead.

A few breaths later, Feng Qingyou’s face appeared in the mirror.

The porcelain bottle was called the Horizon Bottle. It contained the Inch Water. When used together, one could communicate with each other across a vast distance as if they were just inches apart. Hence, the Strange Artifact was called, “Horizon Inch”. It was a Phenomenon-class communication-type Strange Artifact.

Obviously, Horizon Inch was extremely valuable. The Horizon Bottle was forged from Horizon Stones, a rare material. The Inch Water was even rarer especially because it was a consumable item. Every time Horizon Inch was activated, a bit of Inch Water was consumed. If every drop of Inch Water was used up, one must refill it, or the Strange Artifact would become unusable.

Feng Qingyou had gifted him this Strange Artifact when he first left Nanjiang. He had used it twice since. The first time was after he left the Kunlun Ruins to inform Feng Qingyou that he was safe and sound, and the second time was when he borrowed Tao Youran from her prior to the East Radiance gathering. This would be the third time they communicated with each other.

“Long time no see, Joyless.”

Feng Qingyou gave him a small smile when she saw him. It was a pure, gentle smile that resembled water or light, and it soothed his irritation and frustration instantly.

“Long time no see, Qingyou.”

Ye Qing too greeted her with a smile, “How goes the situation at Nanjiang?”

“It’s more or less stabilized. Chu is too busy handling their own internal troubles and can no longer organize an effective suppression or counterattack against us. In essence, this war is more or less over.”

After briefly explaining the current situation of Nanjiang, Feng Qingyou looked Ye Qing up and down before saying meaningfully, “You look tired. You’re probably not at Bei You right now. I wasn’t expecting a call from you either. Did you get yourself into trouble again?”

For a moment, Ye Qing didn’t know what to say. Yi Pin called him a troublemaker, and now Feng Qingyou too? Was he really that much of a troublemaker?

... He probably was. But it wasn’t his fault! What could he do if trouble found him?

Feng Qingyou smiled again when she saw his expression. “Looks like I’m right. Well, tell me. What trouble have you gotten yourself into this time?”

Ye Qing let out a sigh before confessing, “It’s Fang Zhiyong. He wants me to enter the imperial capital of Chu. I’ve already agreed to his condition.”

“Alright, let’s start from the beginning. What happened? Why did you agree to enter the imperial capital?”

Although Feng Qingyou did not fly into a rant like a certain someone—yes, I’m talking about you Gu Suitang!—her expression subconsciously grew serious. It was clear she knew exactly how severe the situation was just from those few words.

And so Ye Qing told Feng Qingyou everything. He told her about the Yin Horse Carriage incident that entrapped his Pacification Bureau friends, how Fang Zhiyong had captured their families including Wawa and Kungfu Frog, and more. He explained everything in fine detail and did not leave out anything.

“So that’s the situation. Do you have a solution, Qingyou?”

“The easiest way to solve this is to ignore this trap and leave Chu right now.”

Feng Qingyou answered after some thinking, “Because I do not think that this is Fang Zhiyong’s conspiracy alone.”

“What? Who else is involved? Chu Wangsun’s family?” Ye Qing asked.

Feng Qingyou shook her head. “They’re not the only ones.”

“Who else could it be?” Ye Qing joked, “It couldn’t possibly be the Chief Libationist, could it?”

“Naturally. If the Chief Libationist really wants you dead, he wouldn’t bother with petty tricks and conspiracies.”

Feng Qingyou smiled gently. “Be honest. You already know the answer, don’t you?”

Ye Qing remained silent for a moment. Finally, he said quietly, “Is it Emperor Jing Run?”

Emperor Jing Run was the current emperor of Chu.

Feng Qingyou nodded affirmatively. “Correct.”

“Why are you so sure that he is involved in this, Qingyou?” Ye Qing asked.

He did have a feeling that this journey to the imperial capital would not be an easy one. Obviously, those connected to Fang Zhiyong, Chu Wangsun, and the rest of his enemies would see him undone. The profiteers of the imperial court might stick their hands into this business as well.

But Emperor Jing Run? Why would Emperor Jing Run care about little ol’ Ye Qing? Sure, he had pulled off many stunning feats. Sure, he was now a Half-Sage. However, Emperor Jing Run was an

emperor

; supreme ruler of an entire realm. In his eyes, a famous Half-Sage was probably just a bigger ant. Why would Emperor Jing Run choose to dirty his hands by killing a bug?

“He’s getting involved probably because of the Earthly Sovereign Bell!” Feng Qingyou answered.

“The Earthly Sovereign Bell?” Ye Qing exclaimed in surprise. He had thought of many reasons why Emperor Jing Run might want him dead. Maybe it was because he damaged Chu’s dignity or something. Maybe it was because he didn’t like his face. Maybe it was because he was afraid that he would be a threat to Chu after he grew up into a Sage. So on and so forth.

However, he never once thought that Emperor Jing Run might target him because of the Earthly Sovereign Bell. After all, who was Emperor Jing Run? He was the supreme ruler of an empire, lord of the four seas and master of millions and millions of people. What treasure could he not get if he wanted to? Why would he be coveting

his

treasure

like a common bandit?

“Isn’t he an emperor? Why on earth would he covet my Earthly Sovereign Bell when he already has everything?”

“I think you’re underestimating the Earthly Sovereign Bell a little too much, Joyless!”

Feng Qingyou chuckled. “In your hands, the Earthly Sovereign Bell is just a priceless offensive and defensive artifact. However, this had never been its true power.”

“The Earthly Sovereign Bell is the artifact that made the Earthly Sovereign’s Dao. It is born from profound yellow and the fate of the world. It naturally possesses great fate and fortune. Its possessor can not only secure an entire realm’s will singlehandedly, it can continuously absorb other will to strengthen it.”

“It would not be an exaggeration to call the Earthly Sovereign Bell a peerless national artifact.”

Ye Qing exclaimed in realization, “I see! So, Emperor Jing Run wants the Earthly Sovereign Bell to secure and improve the will of Chu!”

“Yes, and no.” Feng Qingyou explained, “Remember that Chu’s Will of the Empire recently suffered great damage because of the damage sustained by the Heavens’ Eye. Stranger attacks and turmoil are growing everywhere and costing them will every day.”

“So long as Heavens’ Eye isn’t fixed, Chu will continue to lose Will of the Empire and strength. It won’t be long before Chu falls into chaos and eventually, destruction.”

“That is why Emperor Jing Run has been doing everything in his power to collect precious materials and invite master artisans to fix the Heavens’ Eye. Alas, his efforts yielded minimal results. Not only that, he’s been scouring the world for treasures and Strange Artifacts that could accumulate or secure a nation’s will, fate and fortune. Of course, it’s to stop the bleeding while Heavens’ Eye is being fixed.”

𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

“However, such Strange Artifacts, treasures, and materials are beyond rare. They are either the ultimate treasures of a clan, sect or nation and so cannot be taken easily, lost to time and history, or so weak that they are useless to an empire.”

“You have never functioned in an imperial court, so you do not know this, but Emperor Jing Run has already ordered many sects and aristocratic families of Chu to submit their fate securing treasures to stem the tide. Still, it is like pouring a cup of water on a burning house.”

“As for the treasures that could actually save Chu such as the Clear Sky Mirror, Xuanyuan Sword, Sky Blotting Flag, Heaven Mandate Seal, Primal Chaos Diagram and more, they are either divine artifacts of the other three empires or ultimate treasures of a hidden, major sect. There is no way Emperor Jing Run could get their hands on them.”

“But now, Emperor Jing Run finds out that you possess the Earthly Sovereign Bell, a potent artifact that could stem and even reverse the current trend of Chu. With that in mind, why would he allow this opportunity to slip through his grasp?”