Chapter 1592: Don’t Want To Be A Dog

Emperor Jing Run paused for a moment after saying this. He wanted to savor Ye Qing’s panicked expression or hear his panicked voice. However, he was disappointed. Ye Qing was still wearing a faint smirk on his face, and his eyes remained as bright as the sun and as clear as the moon.

To be honest, he hated his smirk and hated his eyes even more. However, he could not show his loathing right now.

Seeing that Ye Qing wasn’t speaking, Emperor Jing Run had no choice but to continue his speech. Otherwise, it would be so much harder to speak up again once silence had taken over. Besides, Ye Qing hadn’t refuted him, so it meant that the young man was wavering, and that he still had a chance.

He wasn’t worried that the young man was keeping silent. He was only worried that he wasn’t tempted.

“Maybe you’re thinking that the Chief Libationist could help you out of this one. Unfortunately, the Chief Libationist is in quite the predicament himself. He won’t be able to spare you any help.”

Emperor Jing Run said, “I’m not trying to scare you either. The Chief Libationist is currently fighting against the Six Ghosts and Gods right now. The Six Ghosts and Gods are all top-tier champions who have survived for countless years. Not even the Chief Libationist would be able to make out of this one unscathed. Best case scenario, he would suffer grievous injuries from this fight. Worst case scenario, he would die. There is no way he could afford to help you.”

“Besides, the Chief Libationist had already offended King Taishan. They are bitter enemies already.”

Once more, Emperor Jing Run paused to gauge Ye Qing’s reaction.

“What’s wrong? Keep talking. I can’t deny that what you said makes a lot of sense.”

This time, Ye Qing gave Emperor Jing Run a response. He asked smilingly, “Tell me, what should I do?” Emperor Jing Run wasn’t completely trying to scare him. Most of what he said was the plain, unfiltered truth.

In fact, Ye Qing had already arrived at the same conclusion before he took action.

It couldn’t be helped though. It wasn’t his fault that the Chief Libationist wasn’t strong enough, and he had to intervene.

Was he supposed to just stand by and do nothing while the Yellow Spring corrupted everyone in the imperial capital into evil ghosts and monsters? Was he supposed to let a beautiful realm of humanity be warped into a ghastly, ugly domain of the Nether?

Yes, his actions might be stupid and thoughtless. Still, he could not stand by and do nothing.

Yes, he was forced to make this decision. But he did not regret it for even a second.

Hearing Ye Qing’s words, an odd glint flickered in Emperor Jing Run’s pupils. “It’s simple. You simply need to withdraw now and stop getting in my way. Then, the dangers you face will naturally disappear on its own.” Ye Qing chuckled. “It’s that simple, huh?”

“In fact, it is.” Emperor Jing Run declared confidently, “Once today’s matter is done, King Taishan will awaken, and I will become a true Yin Son of Heaven. The two of us are enough to protect you from anyone.”

“Not only that, the day King Taishan awakens is the day he bestows you unparalleled opportunities. He will remove all the obstacles in your way and aid you in accomplishing your supreme Way. Immortality is only a matter of time.” This time, Emperor Jing Run did not wait for a response from Ye Qing. “Yes, I am not blind to the feud between you and I. However, it is better to resolve a feud than to create one, don’t you agree? When it is time to let go, one should let it go.”

“So? What do you say?”

“This is your so-called solution?”

Ye Qing shook his head in disappointment after listening to Emperor Jing Run’s words until the end. “I should’ve known better than to expect anything of substance from you.”

“You... refuse?” Emperor Jing Run looked stunned. “But why?”

“It’s very simple. Because I don’t want to be a ghost or a dog.” Ye Qing said seriously, “All I want to be... is a human.”

Emperor Jing Run narrowed his eyes slightly. Of course he understood that Ye Qing was taking a jab at him. He could have been a human, but he chose to be a ghost. He could have been a man of free will, but he chose to become King Taishan’s dog. That was what Ye Qing was saying.

“Every human wants to be a human, but it’s not easy to be a human in this world sometimes. It’s even harder to be a good human since good humans usually don’t live long.”

Emperor Jing Run said in an eerie voice, “Only those who recognize the circumstances and submit to it accordingly can lead a long life.”

“You would say that, won’t you?” Ye Qing scoffed.

Emperor Jing Run retorted, “You can’t deny that I’m still alive.”

“Alive? How can you call yourself alive when you’ve completely lost your humanity?”

Ye Qing shook his head. “You’re not alive. You are at best the nauseating and pathetic remains of a man once called Jing Run. You are just a pile of steaming resentment and hatred who fell for a ghost’s scheme and never even realized it.”

“But don’t worry. I will set you free very soon.”

“Are you really going to defy fate, Ye Qing? Are you not afraid of Hao Tianhong and Xuanyuan Wang? Are you not afraid of offending King Taishan?” Emperor Jing Run roared.

At this point, his roars were beginning to look quite impotent. However, more than that was his puzzlement.

Did a man who did not fear death truly exist in this world?

“Of course I’m afraid.”

To Emperor Jing Run’s surprise, Ye Qing admitted his fears. “But fear is no excuse to do and not do certain things. “I, am not you.”

“Anyway, time’s up. It’s time for you to depart for the next world.”

As soon as he said this, Ye Qing placed a palm on the Earthly Sovereign Bell. Invisible shockwaves washed out, and dark yellow light slowly descended from above. It transformed into the sun, moon and stars, the birds and beasts, the rivers and the mountains, the cities and the people, the fire and smoke of humanity. It was a painting of the red dust.

“Hmph!” A muffled groan escaped Emperor Jing Run’s mouth, and he bent like a bow as if he could not endure the great weight pressing down on his back. Even the Son of Heaven Sword of Yellow Spring in his hands were bent like a crescent as well. The dirty yellow waters beneath his feet were also as still as a mirror.

Thunder and tremors were happening beneath the Yellow Spring though.

It was because the gap created by the Son of Heaven Sword of Yellow Spring was beginning to warp and collapse unto itself.

“Where are you going? Keep playing with me!”

In the Nether, the Chief Libationist pushed his palms forward like he was pushing Kunlun. Grand Fiend, Illuminating Sin, and Bright Star were instantly blasted out of his way. Then, he made a grabbing motion like he was plucking the stars out of the sky; embracing the sun and the moon. Cojoined, the ghost and god who was trying to detach themselves from the battle and stop the gap from collapsing, abruptly discovered that they were flying uncontrollably toward the Chief Libationist.

The lotus flower underneath Cojoined spun, and petals blocked between themselves and the Chief Libationist. Each petal was a world upon itself.

The Chief Libationist’s only response was to relax his hand, clench it into a fist, and punch.

Unstoppable courage, unfettered will. That was all it took to penetrate the myriad worlds blocking his way.

The next moment, the Chief Libationist abruptly appeared in front of Cojoined as if distance did not exist and punched them in the stomach.

“Argh!” Cojoined let out a bloodcurdling scream as she was sent flying. She exploded in mid-air.

“Hahaha... I told you that the outcome of a battle is never certain until it has been decided. Do you believe me now?” The Chief Libationist blocked in front of Tyrant Extinction, Grand Fiend, Illuminating Sin and Bright Star. His hair and beard were flying everywhere, and his aura was vast and imposing like that of a tyrant. Right now, he looked nothing like a refined or elegant scholar at all.

The ghosts and gods did not say anything. Their faces were dark and disturbed as well. Earlier, they were the ones who blocked the Chief Libationist’s way so that he could not stop Emperor Jing Run. Who would have thought that they would get a taste of their own medicine? The worst part? They could not overcome the Chief Libationist just like the Chief Libationist could not overcome them earlier, and now it was their turn to stew in impatience and frustration.

Was this yet another example of fate toying with its mortals, or was Emperor Jing Run just that incompetent?

“Stop blanking out and keep fighting me!” The Chief Libationist did not care what they were thinking though. He pushed out with both palms—Benevolence and Justice—and together, they were unrivaled.

Since ancient times, benevolence and justice had always been a dominant theme of humanity. They had always been ideals the people believed to be unparalleled.

Tyrant Extinction, Grand Fiend, Illuminating Sin, Bright Star, Cojoined and Sect Spirit abruptly discovered that the Chief Libationist had disappeared. Instead, he was replaced by the sages of the old.

They were people who dared to go first for the greater good, the people, and the world.

Their gall and liver were their two Kunluns, and their souls shone so bright the entire world basked in their illumination.

For a time, the Six Ghosts and Gods were beaten back repeatedly. They were actually outmatched.