Chapter 1611: Plotting Against King Taishan

“Hahaha... That’s quite the hard stance you’re taking there. It reminds me of myself.” The Chief Libationist picked up his wine cup from the table and drained it in one gulp. “If even our forefathers need not fear the treacherous and despicable, why should we?”

“This deserves a cup of wine!”

Haotian Hong, Xuanyuan Wang and Yue Hanhai all looked ashamed. Like a blade, the Chief Libationist’s laughter had cut their high and mighty pride and dignity to shreds.

Why did they suddenly feel like this? It was because they realized that right here and now, they, descendants of the three sovereigns and seniors centuries older than Ye Qing, were inferior to him.

And how were they inferior to him, exactly?

Their sense of responsibility was inferior!

Their courage was inferior!

Their spirit was inferior!

Had they enjoyed so many years of peace that they had forgotten the fearless, self-sacrificing spirit and faith that the three sovereigns had imbued within themselves to ordain conscience for Heaven and Earth, to secure life and fortune for the people, to continue lost teachings for past sages, to establish peace for all future generations?

Had they embroiled themselves in plots and conspiracies for so long that they had forgotten their duty and responsibility; their original intentions and belief?

They... probably had.

This should not have happened!

“Your words shame us deeply, young friend.” Xuanyuan Wang let out a sigh and raised his wine cup. “A toast to you!”

“You flatter me, senior. I’m the one who should be toasting you!” Ye Qing raised his own wine cup and drained it in one gulp.

“I don’t like you, but your words are respectable.” A surly-looking Haotian Hong poured himself a cup of wine and raised it. “A toast to you.”

“Again, you flatter me.” Ye Qing smiled and responded in the same manner. He poured himself a full cup, raised it in toast, and drained it to the last drop.

“I have nothing to say. Frankly, you acted more like a descendant of the Earthly Sovereign than me just now. I now see that you truly deserve to possess the Earthly Sovereign Bell and succeed the Earthly Sovereign.” Yue Hanhai raised his cup and drained it all. “The Earthly Sovereign Hall is the descendants of the Earthly Sovereign. It is our duty to safeguard humankind. Therefore, it is our duty to participate in the slaying of the Four Evils. If you need our help, just speak up, and the Earthly Sovereign Hall shall give you our all.”

“Thank you, senior.” Ye Qing replied gratefully, “My virtue is shallow, and my strength is lacking. I do, in fact, need everyone’s help.”

“No problem. As Lord Yue said, it is everyone’s natural duty to slay the Four Evils. You can count me in, boy,” the Chief Libationist declared fearlessly.

Haotian Hong and Xuanyuan Wang exchanged glances with each other and declared, “You can count us in as well.”

“This junior is thoroughly impressed by the noble character and unquestionable integrity you are currently displaying, seniors.”

Ye Qing saluted them respectfully. “With your aid, it is only a matter of time before we slay the Four Evils and fulfill the Earthly Sovereign’s last will!”

𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

“This junior would like to offer you all a toast in gratitude!”

“Of course!”

“Let us drink!”

No one turned him down. They all raised their wine cups and drained its contents to the last.

“Hahaha! This feels great!” The Chief Libationist set down his wine cup and let out a bark of laughter. “Well done, boy. My opinion of you three have improved as well. As expected of the descendants of the three sovereigns, you can change once you have seen the light.”

“Another toast, my Dao Friends!”

“You flatter us, Chief Libationist.” Haotian Hong, Xuanyuan Wang and Yue Hanhai chuckled bitterly among themselves. Only the Chief Libationist knows if he was truly paying them a compliment or taking a subtle jab at them.

With this, the matter regarding the Earthly Sovereign Bell had ended peacefully and perfectly.

Now that the conflict was resolved, the atmosphere in the Happiness Pavilion was much better than before. Ye Qing and Feng Qingyou exchanged knowing smiles with each other.

The decision to return the Earthly Sovereign Bell to the Earthly Sovereign Hall was not something he had come up with on his own. It was the outcome of his discussion with Feng Qingyou.

On the surface, it looked like he was taking a loss with this decision—actually scratch that, it was absolutely a significant cost to his person. However, it was undoubtedly the best solution right now.

The outcome was decided from the moment the powerful and renowned Chief Libationist decided to take his side. The three sect masters were always going to be forced into compromising and swearing that they would not personally go after Ye Qing anymore, and he was always going to get to keep the Earthly Sovereign Bell.

However, this solution treated the symptom but not the root cause. In fact, it came with a lot of caveats.

As the Chief Libationist told him earlier, the three sect masters would obey the Chief Libationist’s command and not openly go after him, but they were absolutely going to scheme behind his back. In fact, their resentment toward him would deepen to the point where one must die for the grudge to be fully resolved.

However, the solution he and Feng Qingyou came up with changed that terrible outcome completely.

By doing this, he could still keep the Earthly Sovereign Bell, but he also mended his relationship with the three sect masters. Now that they had become his allies, they would no longer scheme and plot against him, and he did not need to be on guard against them.

Two, slaying the Four Evils was not an easy matter, not to mention that King Taishan was also involved.

Despite all the pretty words he said in front of the Chief Libationist and the three sect masters, despite how he made it look like King Taishan was an ant he could squish as he pleased, he was aware just how formidable of a threat the man was. He was nowhere arrogant enough to think that he alone could resolve this. That was why he needed to gather allies.

The three sect masters were undoubtedly one of the best possible allies he could ask for. With their aid, slaying the Four Evils would be an easier task at the very least.

By doing this, he was both resolving the grudge between them and earning their goodwill. It also formed the foundation of their alliance.

This was a move that killed multiple birds with one stone, so why not? Of course, this move wasn’t without its drawbacks. He must give up the Earthly Sovereign Bell.

It was fine though. Losing the Earthly Sovereign Bell was an acceptable price if the reward was the end of the Four Evils.

However, it would be two decades before he needed to return the Earthly Sovereign Bell. Two decades was enough time for him to rise to an unimaginable height; perhaps high enough that he no longer needed the Earthly Sovereign Bell to protect himself.

Besides, anything could happen in twenty years. Maybe something would happen, and he didn’t need to return the Earthly Sovereign Bell anymore.

In conclusion, twenty years was a very long time, and anything could happen during this time. Rather than worrying about the future, he would rather focus on the present.

And as of now, he had everything to gain and nothing to lose.

“Can I say something, Chief Libationist?” It was at this moment Xuanyuan Wang set down his wine cup and looked at the Chief Libationist with a serious expression.

The Chief Libationist replied smilingly, “Please, say your mind!”

“Have you wondered how exactly you are going to deal with King Taishan?” Xuanyuan Wang took a moment to organize his words before starting, “King Taishan has always been malicious toward humanity. Not long ago, he tried to corrupt Chu and turn it into an empire of ghosts. Now, he is involved with the Four Evils. We must be on our guard!”

He wasn’t saying this purely for Ye Qing’s sake. In fact, they had come today not just for the Earthly Sovereign Bell, but also King Taishan.

After all, King Taishan had revealed himself to be a definite threat against humanity. As the guardians of humanity, it wasn’t just the fate of humanity that was on the line here. Their own powers were intricately tied to the Human Way as well. Should they fail, then destruction would visit them faster than they could say, “Oops.” No matter what, they had no reason to leave King Taishan be.

That was why they would not have done nothing even if Ye Qing had not revealed that King Taishan was plotting the release of the Four Evils. But of course, they did not have a set plan yet, nor were they planning to get involved too deeply at the time.

But now they knew that King Taishan was involved with the Four Evils, and Ye Qing’s words had awakened a new sense of responsibility and crisis in them as well. All these had affirmed their determination to defeat King Taishan!

The Chief Libationist smiled at this. “To tell you the truth, the Earthly Sovereign Bell wasn’t the only thing I wish to discuss with you today. I was planning to talk about plans against King Taishan as well.”

“Although our young friend and I managed to foil King Taishan’s conspiracy at the last moment, I am sure he would not allow things to end like this. He will make a comeback eventually. That is why we must remove him once and for all.”