Chapter 1368: All Is Well Forest

“Are you sure about that?” Emperor Jing Run pressed.

Fang Zhiyong hurriedly replied, “This meek subject is foolish, Your Holiness. Please correct me.”

“Do you know why I’m borrowing your hand to lay this trap?” asked Emperor Jing Run while turning around and looking at Fang Zhiyong.

Fang Zhiyong shook his head. “This meek subject does not know, Your Holiness.”

Emperor Jing Run explained, “It’s because Chu is in turmoil right now. Outside, the other empires are eyeing for any signs of weakness. Internally, the errant fools are growing restless as well.”

“If I were to act openly, certain opposers would stand in my way and cause many unnecessary troubles. That is why I’m claiming the Earthly Sovereign Bell through your hands.”

“I hope you can understand my burden, Grand Mentor!”

“This meek subject understands.” Fang Zhiyong saluted him. “Everything you do is for the sake of the realm, the soil and grain[1], and the people of Chu. This meek subject understands it all.” “You know me well, Grand Mentor.” Emperor Jing Run reached out and grabbed Fang Zhiyong’s shoulder. “Originally, I was hoping to kill two birds with one stone. I wanted to help you kill Ye Qing to claim vengeance for your sons, and to take the Earthly Sovereign Bell to save Chu from its current crisis.”

“Alas, I did not think that scoundrel would figure out my intentions. What can I do? What can I do?”

“Your favor deeply endears me, Your Holiness.”

Fang Zhiyong’s eyes reddened as his body shook, and his voice choked with emotions. “Do not worry, Your Holiness. This meek subject will obtain the Earthly Sovereign Bell for you even if he must give up his life in the process.”

Emperor Jing Run asked, “What is your plan, Grand Mentor?” Fang Zhiyong answered, “Ye Qing wants to trade the Earthly Sovereign Bell in exchange for the hostages, doesn’t he? Then this meek subject shall do as he says. This meek subject shall personally travel to the All Is Well Forest and retrieve the Earthly Sovereign Bell for you.”

“Do not worry about this meek subject losing his way over personal vengeance, Your Holiness. This meek subject understands that the greater good supersedes all else.”

Emperor Jing Run looked troubled. “Am I asking too much, Grand Mentor? To make you face a sworn foe and not be able to take revenge against him?”

“What is my petty vengeance compared to my duty to the empire, the safety of the people, and Your Holiness’ favor?”

Fang Zhiyong replied with a tone of utmost sincerity, “This subject will happily paint the floor with his gore in service of the empire, the people, and Your Holiness!”

“You truly are the pillar of this empire, Grand Mentor. It is Chu’s fortune, the people’s blessing, and my joy to have you.”

𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

Emperor Jing Run declared passionately yet dignifiedly, “Do not worry, Grand Mentor. The day Heavens’ Eye is restored is the day your vengeance is fulfilled. This is my promise to you.”

“Thank you, Your Holiness. This meek subject... this meek subject can only thank you deeply for your magnanimous favor,” Fang Zhiyong replied while trembling all over with emotion.

“This is my duty; my debt to you.”

Emperor Jing Run lifted the trembling Grand Mentor to his feet. “Take this mirror with you when you depart, Grand Mentor. I will attach a wisp of my mind to it. Should the unexpected happen, I will personally ensure your safety.”

Fang Zhiyong saluted him. “As you command, Your Holiness.”

“I believe you, Grand Mentor. I’m sure you won’t disappoint me.”

Emperor Jing Run turned around and walked back into the bronze mirror after saying this. The patterns warped, and the emperor was gone just like that.

“Do not worry, Your Holiness. This meek subject will fulfill his duty.”

Fang Zhiyong remained bowed for at least a dozen breaths before he finally rose back to full height. Then, he turned around and began walking toward the exit.

When he left the study, his reddened eyes, deferential expression, and trembling body abruptly vanished into nothing. Instead, thick, seemingly infinite coldness and cruelty replaced the deep-seated glint in his eyes.

......

The All Is Well Forest was a forbidden zone in Chu.

Most forbidden zones were rife with danger, terrors, and death. However, the All Is Well Forest was the complete opposite. Here, there was only peace, tranquility, and harmony.

Yes, the All Is Well Forest was quite the miraculous place.

Legend had it that the All Is Well Forest was the place where the first generation sage had passed away.

In ancient times, Strangers ran rampant, the nations were constantly at war with each other, and the people’s suffering seemed to be endless. It was at that moment a wise sage stepped out to change things for the better. He visited each and every country, wrote books and created stories, and restored law and order to the realms. He wished for the world to be at peace, the people to live happily, and all living things to be unharmed. He dedicated his whole life to seeing his dreams come true.

His will and his dreams lived on even after the wise sage passed away. It took the form of a forest; an Anomaly.

In this forest, one could not argue, fight, or kill one another. One could not even harbor negative emotions such as greed, hatred, anger, obsession and more. As long as they were in this forest, all living beings must interact with each other in peace and harmony. Hence the name.

If someone were to break the All Is Well Forest’s rules, then it would summon an apparition of the sage to kill them.

An apparition it might be, the sage was immensely powerful. It was invincible and inexhaustible so long as it was fighting within the All Is Well Forest. Not even a Sage could take it head on.

Logically speaking, the All Is Well Forest was a paradise on earth. It should be overcrowded and jam-packed with people. In reality, no one wanted to enter the forest.

The reason was simple. All humans were both with Seven Emotions and Six Desires. All humans possessed negative emotions. It might be possible for a human to restrain their negative emotions for a short time, but to do it across a prolonged period was a guaranteed recipe for heart demons and disasters.

Therefore, only someone born with an innocent heart, a person who was completely devoid of emotions or desires, or a saint of the utmost purity and benevolence could stay in the All Is Well Forest indefinitely. Everyone else would simply die given enough time.

Not even the Chief Libationist of Chu, the renowned greatest scholar of the entire world, dared to enter the All Is Well Forest. He declared that the All Is Well Forest was a place only for the holiest and purest of heart, not mortals. It was a tacit admission that he too was just a mortal of the mortal coil.

That was how the All Is Well Forest became a forbidden zone.

Of course, it wasn’t like the place was completely devoid of human traces. Enlightened senior monks or powerful warriors practicing a special art would occasionally visit the forbidden zone to hone their mind. But besides that, no one was willing to enter the All Is Well Forest.

This conundrum did not apply to Strangers, however. In fact, the All Is Well Forest’s special environment had given birth to countless special Strangers. These Strangers were naturally good, joyful, and carefree. They were gentle, cute, peace-loving, and kind. They always harbored enormous good will toward any living being who entered the All Is Well Forest.

Such was the case when Ye Qing and Spirit entered the All Is Well Forest. Flower Spirits held hands with each other and danced around them in a circle, Melody Trees waved their leaves and branches to create a wonderful tune, Stone Kids hopped, skipped and jumped toward them before presenting a handful of delicious fruits, Wind Children flew here and there and acted as their guides...

Everything was harmonious and wonderful like a paradise on earth.

Looking at this picturesque scenery, listening to the unique music, and making the company of tree spirits and flower sprites, Ye Qing felt as if he was purified from the bottom of his heart. When all was said and done, he felt no distracting thoughts, no violent impulses, and no resentment. There was only peace and tranquility.

Of course, it wasn’t just because of the environment. He was actively withdrawing his emotions to avoid provoking the All Is Well Forest as well.

“What a wonderful place this is!” remarked Ye Qing while taking a bite out of the fruit delivered by the Stone Children and staring at the Strangers flying here and there without worry.

“Yes, it is a wonderful place.”

Surprisingly, Spirit responded, “If only we can live as happily and carefree as them.”

“Simple is happiness, and mediocrity is perfection. Alas, you and I are but mortals. We will never get to enjoy this type of happiness.”

Ye Qing chuckled and looked in a certain direction. “What do you think, Grand Mentor Fang?”

1. Soil and grain was a common Chinese political term in the Sinosphere for the state. ☜