Sending the Divine - Chapter 161: His Royal Highness

After the Battle against Luojiu, the emperor’s health improved day by day. The ministers believed it was the protection of the heavens that spared the emperor from illness. Only a few knew the truth—that Xu Jingxing’s strange illness, which seemed to slowly stew him like cooking meat, was clearly the work of the Imperial Preceptor’s lineage. The Immortal Assembly, with its vast supernatural powers, might have already planted the Twin Roots in Xu Jingxing before he became the crown prince.

The Immortal Assembly was temporarily taken over by the Jianchen Temple, while Jiang Youyue and Qu Duanyun were imprisoned deep within the imperial prison. Xu Jingxing, wanting to torment the two, kept them under the pretext that the war wasn’t yet settled, neither interrogating them nor letting anyone see them. It was unknown how long they hadn’t seen daylight.

Compared to this Emperor Brother, the Prince of Rong’s condition was even worse.

Xu Jingming had weathered many storms. He would occasionally think of the time when he first entered the Ghost Tomb. Compared then to now, it seemed like another lifetime.

Many people knew Xu Jingming well and said that the Prince of Rong had changed. Before, Xu Jingming looked down on everyone and didn’t value the lives of commoners. But after experiencing the recent tribulations, his arrogant demeanor vanished.

The old servant brought Xu Jingming a calming soup at night. The prince was staring at the plants in his room. The night was silent, making the creaking sound of the door particularly sharp. Xu Jingming was startled and thanked the servant after the soup was set down.

The servant was surprised by this and almost spilled the soup, wondering if his master was possessed. However, seeing Xu Jingming’s actions, he dismissed the idea, thinking that the prince was still recovering from a recent shock.

Indeed, Xu Jingming hadn’t recovered. His mood fluctuated, and his pride as a royal had taken a hit. After learning about the True Immortal, his self-worth plummeted from “above all” to “just a larger ant”. His past cruelty now seemed like a joke.

The Prince of Rong was mentally unstable and couldn’t keep up his usual demeanor. Everyone was equal, so who was truly noble? But changing one’s attitude required saving face, and Xu Jingming had thin skin. With these conflicts, he hadn’t been able to sleep well.

Out of desperation, Xu Jingming sneaked out to see his Emperor Brother.

The world wasn’t settled yet, so the Prince of Rong stayed near the palace. The diligent and caring emperor, Xu Jingxing, wouldn’t sleep before the middle of the night, so Xu Jingming wasn’t worried about visiting.

Seeing his younger brother approaching, the emperor spoke first.

“Don’t worry. For this mission against Luojiu’s Hanging Tree, I’ve sent some people.”

Xu Jingming blinked and looked at his brother. Lu Fu, closely related to the Immortal Assembly, had been replaced. The emperor, draped in a robe, was reviewing documents. The light was dim, but the emperor looked much healthier than before.

“The Minister from the Ministry of Heaven is in charge, and I trust them. Shen Zhu is a remarkable woman with strong hatred and persistence. This time, many sects sent their best fighters with diverse skills, making their infiltration into Luojiu less suspicious.”

“Mm,” Xu Jingming responded absentmindedly.

He wasn’t too surprised about Shen Zhu’s mission into Luojiu. Only someone truly determined would challenge the Immortal Assembly as a commoner. And she actually succeeded in her revenge.

However, Xu Jingming’s main concern wasn’t the foreign Hanging Tree.

Noticing his distraction, the Emperor asked, “What’s the matter?”

“Brother, how do you plan to deal with the people from the Immortal Assembly?” Xu Jingming hesitated before asking.

“You’re pleading for your friend?”

“I’m not sure if Qu Duanyun considers me a friend,” Xu Jingming replied with a bitter smile. “It’s just… It’s just that few of us acted humanely. Since childhood, we’ve viewed Jingzhi as a monster. You’re a good Emperor, but I…”

He held himself in high regard, never valuing the lives of those beneath him. Compared to Qu Duanyun, he was no different, akin to the saying, “The pot calling the kettle black.” Before the exposure of the Hanging Tree, he too viewed everyone as if they were mere animals, only differing in that he lived comfortably and didn’t take extreme actions.

Now, Qu Duanyun was imprisoned, while he roamed freely outside. Although Xu Jingming didn’t think of himself as irredeemably guilty, he still felt a subtle mix of emotions inside. A blend of the relief of survival, overwhelming shame, and confusion made him genuinely uncertain about what to do next.

Xu Jingxing sighed deeply, giving Xu Jingming a profound glance before shifting the conversation.

“Jiang Youyue is deeply involved in this matter and cannot escape responsibility. However, the Immortal Assembly has a significant influence among the commoners, so I cannot publicly execute him. The most I can do is imprison him until his death.”

Jiang Youyue looked young, but he was old inside. In prison, there were no materials for performing magic and no books to relieve boredom. The prison guards prohibited any conversations with prisoners, and he couldn’t even see sunlight. Even without any mistreatment, he wouldn’t live long given his age.

Yet, compared to Yin Zizhu’s fate, this might be lenient.

“Qu Duanyun is problematic. Although there are witnesses from the martial world, there is a lack of physical evidence. Moreover, the Qu Clan has many relatives in the court. It’s a crucial time for employing talents. Hastily dealing with him might upset the Qu Clan.”

Xu Jingming looked at the emperor with confusion, not understanding why this was being said to him—he had no concerns about politics, and now his head was reeling from all this information.

“Qu Duanyun’s parents understand the bigger picture. I’ve discussed the matter with them. They’ve decided he should change his last name, sever ties with him, and expel him from the Qu Clan. The martial world disputes should be settled within the martial arts community. Now, as a common man, let the martial artists handle him. Whether he lives or dies will depend on his fate.”

Xu Jingming listened silently.

“When Qu Duanyun is released, you will escort him out. I’ve already informed the Yueshui Pavilion about it. Now, even Taiheng wouldn’t accept him. Since you are old friends, you should be the one to settle him.”

“…Alright.”

Xu Jingming agreed verbally, but he was still puzzled. He was dealing with significant life events, yet the Emperor entrusted him with such a baffling task. The Yueshui Pavilion would clearly be a better fit for settling a commoner.

By the time Qu Duanyun was released, it was midsummer.

Compared to when he was imprisoned in spring, Qu Duanyun looked much leaner. Now he appeared haggard, missing his former vigor and energy. In jail, with poor food and living conditions, his once robust physique had deteriorated. At a glance, he looked no different from an ordinary person walking the streets.

Although Qu Duanyun was persistent, he wasn’t foolish. The Hanging Tree had been destroyed, the lineage of the Imperial Preceptor had been firmly controlled by the Emperor, and it was impossible to reverse the Hundred-Year Project. Expelled by the Qu Clan, he couldn’t pursue a career or join the army. With his debt in the martial arts world, he was a pariah. Qu Duanyun might have preserved his life, but his eyes reflected only confusion.

The Emperor spared his life, but only just.

Without a great cause or any prospects and only enough money for a few days of sustenance, Qu Duanyun sat blankly in the carriage, unsure of his next steps. Outside, the curtain of the carriage window fluttered slightly as a porter passed by. The man’s skin was sunburnt and sweaty, yet he had a beaming smile, chatting away with the guards at the city gate.

Previously, Qu Duanyun would have disdained such a sight. Now, it evoked complex feelings. Compared to this ordinary porter, he seemed to be living a more miserable life.

“…You look worse than a corpse.”

Xu Jingming sighed from the other side of the carriage.

“When Jingzhi left the city, his situation was similar to yours. The emperor didn’t give him much money or a decent identity. The money he made afterward mostly came from treating people.”

Qu Duanyun looked at Xu Jingming silently, expecting him to say something about “victors and losers”, but Qu Duanyun remained silent.

Perhaps this was his first real taste of the burdens of the mortal world. Xu Jingming smiled wryly. After all, they had never truly experienced life from the bottom before.

“You… You should think of a way to make amends to the martial world. After all, being alive is better than being imprisoned until death. You have skills, and even if you can’t be part of the martial world, you won’t starve by doing physical labor.”

“Doing physical labor won’t make me starve.” Qu Duanyun finally spoke, his voice tinged with sarcasm. “Your Highness speaks lightly. Have you ever thought of doing physical labor yourself?”

Xu Jingming glanced at the heat outside the carriage and confidently retreated—after all, it was easy for him to talk without walking the walk.

“I, Qu… have seen the pinnacle of success. I wouldn’t stoop to scraping by in the mud.” Qu Duanyun’s voice wavered. “As long as the Hanging Tree exists in this world, it can be used by people…”

He didn’t sound as confident as before, and Xu Jingming didn’t point it out. Having once experienced the taste of looking down on the world, it was hard to lower one’s gaze again.

“Forget about the Hanging Tree. You should think of a new surname for yourself first.”

Qu Duanyun stared at Xu Jingming for a while, his gaze incredibly complex. Xu Jingming shrank back slightly, feeling goosebumps. Since their reunion, it seemed Qu Duanyun had never really looked at him so intently.

“You’re something else,” Qu Duanyun said softly, his tone somewhat absent-minded. “Whether starting over or persisting, you seem much more at ease.”

After saying this, he looked out the window again and didn’t say another word to Xu Jingming. The Prince of Rong stood frozen on the other side, pondering and seemingly having an epiphany.

The palanquin swayed as it left Yidu.

When they reached a pavilion in the suburbs, the palanquin slowly stopped. Xu Jingming picked up the food box and got out. At the same moment, a man flew out of the pavilion, stepping lightly on the breeze, his face full of smiles.

“You’re here, quite punctual. I smelled it from far away.” Shi Jingzhi grabbed the food box and winked at the bundle. “It’s rare for His Royal Highness of Rong to deliver things personally. Goodbye.”

Then, he rushed into the pavilion, exclaiming, “Zizhu, Zizhu, these are the snacks I ate when I was young! I especially requested them from the palace. Taste them while they’re hot!”

His words became muffled, likely due to him already eating.

Xu Jingming mentally prepared himself and clapped his fan. An artifact shot out, trying to catch the escaping master. Just as the fox let out a groan, a flash sword qi struck with a cold light and actually cut the artifact in two.

In an instant, Yin Ci descended from the sky, his presence chilling.

Xu Jingming sighed at the loss of his expensive artifact. “The bastard… Elder brother ran too fast. I just wanted him to stay.”

He tried to greet with a smile, but who would’ve thought Shi Jingzhi would run off, treating him with such indifference as one might treat a delivery boy.

“Oh, then stay,” Yin Ci said with a meaningful smile. “We’re just here to cool off. There’s nothing serious to discuss.”

“It’s… It’s not a big deal. The Emperor has handed Qu Duanyun over to me, and I’m not quite sure how to handle it. Elder… Brother Shi, you’ve been around and are well-established in the martial world. I thought you might have some suggestions.”

Xu Jingming rubbed his hands and hurriedly apologized.

“It so happens that I arranged to meet with you, so I thought…”

“Huh? Qu Duanyun?” Shi Jingzhi took a piece of snack and poked Yin Ci’s lips with it. “Just find any river and throw him in to feed the fish.”

Xu Jingming: “……”

He had overestimated the Child of Desire’s humanity. Shi Jingzhi’s words truly came from his heart, confirming that he indeed had no familial affection. If Xu Jingming were to hand over the hot potato that was Qu Duanyun to Shi Jingzhi, Qu Duanyun might actually end up as fish food the very next day.

Xu Jingming: “Elder Brother, enjoy your meal. I was just casually asking. Farewell.”

This time, it was the Prince of Rong who turned and fled. He rushed back to his palanquin and quickly instructed the driver to continue the journey.

Shi Jingzhi snorted at the swaying carriage and then turned to Yin Ci with a cheeky grin. “Is it tasty? Want me to feed you another piece?”

Yin Ci slightly lowered his head, one hand holding onto his slipping hair, carefully licking the crumbs from the other’s fingertips. “Sure.”

Xu Jingming glanced over—he had never seen such a soft expression on Shi Jingzhi’s face before. It was as if he was racking his brain to dig out all the sweetness from the past, breaking it piece by piece to share with his beloved.

It was almost blinding.

He yanked the curtain of the sedan chair, rolling his eyes upwards. After a long pause, he finally exhaled.

“That’s it. I’ve done my best. From now on… you go your way, and I’ll go mine.”

After saying this, he felt a sudden wave of relief.

Qu Duanyun didn’t respond but simply nodded.

In the years that followed, Xu Jingming didn’t achieve any significant accomplishments but was renowned for being extremely cautious. His mansion became a widely praised place among the servants. To some extent, he even gained a popular reputation. He also kept track of Qu Duanyun’s movements—the man, after all his efforts, mingled and maneuvered in the martial world, ultimately paying the price by sacrificing a limb to save his life. In the first two or three years, Xu Jingming heard rumors of the man trying to rise again. Years later, there were still tales of “Lord Duanyun” in the martial world.

However, twenty years passed, and he never heard of the man’s whereabouts again.

…But that’s a story for another time.

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Sect Master Shi: Digging out all the cherished memories to offer.

Demonic Lord Yin: Happy.jpg.