Chapter 475: Fate

Limbo trembled as a result of the Harken’s infuriated roar. The netherflames around quivered in fear, while Arthis shut her eyes in awe as her hair fluttered wildly.

Qin Ye’s attitude wasn’t right. Despite being the King Yanluo of Hell, he would be absent from Hell for protracted periods of time. And even when he was around, he would be approving documents in the wee hours of the night when none of the other Emissaries of Hell were working. Hell couldn’t possibly force all of their civil servants and officials to work around the clock just to match Qin Ye’s schedule. Even though Yin spirits didn’t physically need sleep, they would still grow tired and weary.

And even if he could, then what about the next steps? Could he really chart a course for Hell’s growth without proper discourse with his ministerial team? Is he really that naive to think that everything could be addressed in a single meeting?

Even his advancement to the ranks of an Infernal Judge was in part attributable to his efforts back in the mortal realm.

Now, Qin Ye was a True Emissary of Hell ruling over Ashmound City and the rest of Eastmount Province. In fact, they were arguably even on the cuff of taking control of all of the coastal provinces in the region. That would place an entire district of Cathay in their charge. Hell might have needed the aid of the mortal realm when it first began, but it certainly didn’t with Ashmound now under its control!

“Back then, he’d willingly assumed responsibility over the redevelopment of Hell because the collapse of the delicate balance between the mortal realm and the netherworld would lead to his eternal death. His actions implicated billions of Yin spirits. However, his mentality hasn’t changed once ever since his assumption of responsibility. Ashmound is a crucial point of inflexion for Hell’s development and growth. Back then, Hell was nothing more than the size of an insignificant speck, and it didn’t matter how Qin Ye wished to conduct himself. But now, with Ashmound and its 20 million Yin spirits and hundreds of square kilometers of territory under his control… how can he act that way?!” The Harken snorted.

Arthis heaved a long sigh, before finally adding, “Nobody’s perfect… And he’s… still a human being after all.”

“And do you think I could care less if he weren’t the next King Yanluo of Hell?!” The Harken’s golden eyes flared up with rage as it scrambled to its feet, “So long as he remains a successor to the throne, he remains duty-bound to see through this task to the very end! Arakshasa, this isn’t the time to be soft-hearted. You’ve been following closely by his side for such a long time, and yet you haven’t done anything to nudge him in the right direction? What a disappointment!”

Was Qin Ye wrong?

After all, he’d just been living his own way, without deviating from his principles or path in the slightest. He was the first one to notice the importance of Ashmound. In fact, every single one of his decisions thus far were more far-sighted than anyone could have imagined. He had considered everything around him as best as he could, and from every perspective possible, and yet, the one perspective that he did miss was the perspective of the self.

From his own perspective, yes. But if simply one considered his role as the successor to the throne, then the answer would be a resounding no.

Rumble… The presence of the small brush bore down on Limbo with such great force that everywhere within a hundred-mile radius trembled violently. All monarch beasts instantly bowed down in submission and remained completely still and silent.

“Yes… Fate.” The Harken gazed deeply at the brush that appeared to be constructed out of pure gold. The shaft of the brush was even hollow carved with exquisite patterns of the goddess of the moon, while a pure gold soul could be seen tossing and turning within.

“Everything will fall into place, bit by bit, giving rise to the end state that is reflected by the prophetic statement. Not even the King Yanluo of Hell can reverse its effects once it has been properly set into motion.”

The Harken paused and turned to Arthis, “You’ve got something to say?”

She understood Qin Ye better than anyone else.

He might be flippant at times, but he was never sloppy whenever it came to the decisions that mattered. Apart from that, she also knew that Qin Ye… was a man who valued the self.

And to that end, Fate was something that would allow him to soar in the sky in exchange from ever returning to the ground again.

She knew something didn’t quite fit, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. She didn’t have the right words to describe the harmonious middle ground between the two polar opposites of the self and the greater good.

The Harken responded softly, “That he… becomes a competent King Yanluo of Hell.”

“Arakshasa, you still don’t get it.” The Harken sighed and continued solemnly, “If he was just any Emissary of Hell, be it Hellguard or even Prefect, I wouldn’t even have considered using Fate to begin with. But the crux of the matter is that he’s the next King Yanluo of Hell, and the only successor to the throne. All hopes of Hell’s future lies solely on his back. He needs to have the heart and the mind… as well as the attitude befitting of a King Yanluo.”

“Let me make this clear once and for all - our borders will be open to the world in just 150 years’ time. Do you really think we have a year or two to spare on such trivialities?”

“My Lord, please hold on!” Arthis grew considerably anxious, “Aren’t you afraid that this would cause the rift between you both to widen so much so that your relationship completely breaks down?”

As it spoke, Fate’s tip struck the canvass of the void and began to write with stiff, majestic strokes.

“As a divine beast of Hell, I’m under the responsibility to support the revivification of Hell. I’ll support him where he’s lacking. And if he can’t steel his heart, then I’ll have no choice but to help him, no matter the cost - even if it means being hated by the next King Yanluo of Hell for the rest of all eternity!”

It wrote slowly. Each stroke of the brush was accompanied by the ragged breaths of the Harken, who had just recovered from grievous wounds. Evidently, the use of Fate was taking a huge toll on the Harken.

She sincerely hoped for Qin Ye to come to this realization on his own. That said, just as the Harken had said, she also appreciated the fact that time wasn’t on Hell’s side!

𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Several words were completed in the blink of an eye - ‘Let Qin Ye become a competent King…’ Just then, Arthis spoke up once more, “My Lord, please wait a little while longer.”

“Just today!” Arthis gritted her teeth, “Do you know what he’s going to do today? He’ll be convening the provincial-level meeting with all ministers today. He’s still working hard at it… and there’s going to be many things to be discussed today. I expect that this upcoming meeting is going to give him a better perspective of the things to be done, and hopefully, the pressure weighing on his shoulders… would suffice to show him the folly of his ways.”

Arthis took a deep breath and continued, “And I’ll have a word with him about this proper - honestly and without mincing any words! But you’ve also got to give him some time!”

“And if you still aren’t--... Ah?” Arthis was just about to go on when she suddenly paused mid-statement. Then, she glanced up with great elation and bowed deeply to the Harken.

“Mm.” The Harken nodded as he ingested Fate once more, “But you cannot let him know about Fate.”

“Yes.” Arthis promptly vanished without another word.

“I can even imagine what kind of response he’s going to give. He’s smart, but perhaps too smart for his own good, so much so that he might well think that there’s nothing he can’t do. Sure, he will listen very carefully, and perhaps even undertake a proper assessment of himself, but he will never be able to let go off the mortal realm just like that.”

“It’s because that’s the proof of his existence as a human being - the seal of being part of the living. Why else do you think I would even consider using Fate to begin with?”