Chapter 941: "Tenth Slap (5)"
The Emperor's eyes flared wide open.
"What..... What are you doing! ?" The Emperor shouted in a panicked fluster.
Jun Wu Xie lifted an eyebrow and asked: "What? Your Majesty doesn't recognize this ring?"
"What ring! I do not know anything about it!" The Emperor's heart was filled with terror, as he told himself again and again to remain calm in his heart.
[There was no way Jun Xie would know the secret behind the Ring of Imperial Fire!]
[Absolutely impossible!]
"The First Emperor of your line laid down a Decree, that whenever the possessor of the Ring of Imperial Fire shows up in the Fire Country, regardless of which generation of his descendants ruling at that time, must immediately abdicate the throne, and hand it to the possessor of the Ring of Imperial Fire. Doesn't Your Majesty remember this?" Jun Wu Xie's words, had crushed any last sliver of hope the Emperor still held in his heart.
He fell back defeatedly, slumped into the throne, all colour quickly draining out from his face.
"How did you know..... The Grand Adviser? It's the Grand Adviser who told you!" The Emperor's eyes turned red and bloodshot as he stared at Jun Xie.
But right at that moment, Lei Chen suddenly spoke up: "It was me."
The Emperor turned to stare at Lei Chen, as his face twisted up in disbelief.
"It was actually you....."
Lei Chen fearlessly looked directly into the gaze of the Emperor who was staring at him like he wanted to eat Lei Chen up.
The Emperor then screamed: "Few people under the Heavens are even able to recognize the Ring of Imperial Fire! Jun Xie! Don't think you can come snatch my entire empire with just one measly ring! The Fire Country is mine! The Emperor's! I am the Emperor of the Fire Country! So what if you hold the Ring of Imperial Fire! ? If you kill me, the entire Fire Country will do all it can to annihilate you! No one will know about the Ring of Imperial Fire! You will never be able to ascend to the Fire Country's throne! Impossible! You will never be able to!"
Jun Wu Xie snorted derisively and said: "You think I care for it?"
The Emperor was too astounded for words.
"If not for the fact you seeked your own death persecuting me, this crummy seat of yours, I would not care for it in the least. But as you made moves to go against me, in reciprocation of the gift you gave me, I would naturally want to help you realize the crime you have pinned onto me." Jun Wu Xie's eyes suddenly flashed an icy chill.
[So what if this is the Emperor's throne of the Fire Country ? In her eyes, it was not even comparable to a blade of grass back in the Lin Palace.]
[But when the Emperor was trying to kill her, how could she allow him to do as he wished?]
"It's not possible..... You will not become the Fire Country's Emperor..... Impossible..... Impossible....." The Emperor was overwhelmed by the terror that washed over him, and he could only repeat those few words to himself over and over again.
The Imperial Guards were outside the main hall, blocked by Lord Meh Meh and would not be able to save him. The only son of his inside the main hall was unwilling to help him because of the long years of neglect and indifference he had shown his son.
The ruler of the mightiest country under the Heavens was at the moment feeling unprecedented helplessness and terror!
"Do not forget, that Imperial Decree, is currently still in the hands of the Empress Dowager." Jun Wu Xie reminded the Emperor helpfully.
The Empress Dowager had always followed the will of the First Emperor of their line and even if the Emperor was her own descendant, she would not change her mind about it.
"Rest assured though. I will not become the Emperor of the Fire Country." Jun Wu Xie said suddenly.
The Emperor's eyes immediately flashed with a glimmer of hope!
But Jun Wu Xie's eyes was still filled with that same glint of icy chill.
"After you abdicate, and the throne is handed over to me, I will immediately make a decree, to have Lei Chen become the next Fire Country's Emperor!"
The Emperor's eyes flared wide open once again, as his gaze suddenly turned to see Lei Chen's eyes showing the exact same expression.
Jun Wu Xie truly cared nothing for the throne, and was even handing it over to one of such lowly birth, a bastard child where the blood of a palace maid and lowly guard flowed in his body! The Emperor suddenly felt that his mind had been caught up in an incessant whirl!
Chapter 942: "Empress Dowager (1)"
If Jun Xie was truly going to do that, then all that the Emperor had previously done in scheme was deemed for nought.
Even when Jun Xie knew the secret behind the Ring of Imperial Fire, he still held nothing but disdain for the throne of the Fire Country. The Emperor turned to look fearfully at Jun Xie and he could not help but think. [If he had not harboured thoughts of eradicating Jun Xie right from the start, if he had treated Jun Xie exactly like how he had treated all the other youths, would that mean that none of this would have happened?]
Alas, there was no medicine or cure for regrets under these heavens!
The Emperor sat trembling in his throne, and he suddenly felt cold and his body chilled. The chill ran through his entire body which suddenly made his own ring on his finger feel icy cold.
"I am the Empress Dowager's grandson..... She will not..... She will not help you....." Till the last moment, the Emperor was still struggling against the fact.
"Oh? Is that so?" Jun Wu Xie's lips curled up at the corners in a cold smile.
From the back of the main hall, three figures suddenly appeared.
The Grand Adviser was with the real Qu Ling Yue, and an old lady with a full head of white hair walked slowly into the main hall.
"Empress Dowager!" Lei Xi who had been been standing dazed within the main hall suddenly gasped in surprise when he saw the Empress Dowager.
The Emperor screamed out immediately: "Grandmother! Save your grandson! This conniving thief wants to take your grandson's life!"
The Fire Country's Empress Dowager was already coming close to a hundred years old and the long years had left indelible traces of its passing on her countenance, but the poised and unperturbed demeanor she carried herself with however stood out the most.
Since the passing of the First Emperor of this line, the Empress Dowager had assisted the late Emperor to ascend the throne. And after the late Emperor handed the throne down to her grandson, she had completely closed herself off and lived in seclusion within the Imperial Palace, never interfering with all affairs, big or small, be it in the Imperial Court or back within the Imperial Harem, never once asking about a single thing, to the extent that many of the Court Officials who attended Court every morning had almost forgotten the existence of the Empress Dowager.
Only the Emperor knew, that the one who held the most powerful fighters of the Fire Country, was the Empress Dowager herself!
Although she never once asked about Court matters, there wasn't a single thing she did not know about what went on around her.
"Imperial Grandmother! Imperial Grandmother! Save your grandson!" The Emperor was almost scrambling and crawling as he escaped to come to the Empress Dowager's feet. At that moment, the Emperor showed not a single ounce of the dominating air a ruler should possess, his old and tired face covered in tear streaks, his eyes filled with terror.
The Empress Dowager stood composed and dignified within the main hall, her deep and calm eyes tinged with the wisdom of one who had seen much trials. She looked down silently at the Emperor who was crying like a boy at her feet and she gave a heavy sigh.
"Does Your Majesty still remember the Decree the First Emperor laid down? Members of the Lei Family, always stand by their word. Do you still remember the circumstances under which the First Emperor ascended to the throne? When your Father handed the throne down to you, he had reminded you time and time again. So why are you now still so stubbornly attached to authority and power?"
The Empress Dowager was looking at the Emperor with helplessness in her eyes.
"Imperial Grandmother....." The Emperor looked up in astonishment, not believing he was hearing what the Empress Dowager was saying.
The last vestiges of hope that had just barely risen in his heart had been severed once more. The words of the Empress Dowager had just admitted that Jun Xie possessed the right to become the Emperor of the Fire Country. With the Imperial Decree drafted by the First Emperor himself in the Empress Dowager's hands, those very words alone would be enough to forced the Emperor to abdicate the throne!
The Empress Dowager turned to look at Jun Xie. This was the first time that she was seeing the youth who possessed the Ring of Imperial Fire. When she had previously heard from Wen Yu telling her that the possessor of the Ring of Imperial Fire had appeared, her heart had been filled with surprise and joy. She had not thought that her own grandson would be so muddled in his head, to defy the First Emperor's decree, and tried to kill off the possessor of the Ring of Imperial Fire.
Chapter 943: "Empress Dowager (2)"
Looking at the delicately attractive and petite sized youth in front of her, the Empress' gaze fell upon the Ring of Imperial Fire upon Jun Xie's hand.
"How are you related to Lei Qian?" The Empress Dowager asked gently.
Jun Wu Xie shook her head.
The Empress Dowager then asked: "This ring, belonged to the First Emperor's Elder Brother, the Emperor of the Fire Country in his time, Lei Qian."
"Since you came to possess this ring, you must be linked to him in some way. But no matter, the First Emperor's Imperial Decree is here, and since you are the possessor of the Ring of Imperial Fire, then from this day onwards, you will be the Fire Country's Emperor."
Jun Wu Xie was just about to say something.
But the Empress Dowager continued on: "I know the Emperor had been guilty of quite a few wrongs that he had committed, and it is completely reasonable that you hold hatred against him. I do not plead for anything else from you, but to only ask that you spare him his life. Rest assured that henceforth, I will bring him back to my palace, and discipline his strictly, and will not allow him to create any more trouble for you."
The Empress Dowager had abided by the First Emperor's decree, but she could not bear to see her grandson's life end just like this. She had been herself with Wen Yu and Qu Ling Yue in a secret room at the back of the main hall for a long while and everything single word that the Empress had said earlier, she had heard them all clearly.
"Sure." Jun Wu Xie nodded her head. Killing someone off would be too easy for them, moreover she had not intended to take the Emperor's life anyway. Instead of slicing a knife across his throat, it would be better that he was trapped within the Imperial Palace, and forced to witness the throne of the Emperor he valued the most, falling into the hands of the person he disliked the most, Lei Chen. The heart rending torment and the burning jealousy, would be hundred folds more agonizing for him!
"But, I need him to first hand over something to me." Jun Wu Xie said, her eyes narrowing.
"What is it?" The Empress Dowager asked.
"A piece of human skin map." Jun Wu Xie then replied.
The forlorn and despondent Emperor had suddenly stiffened his body when he heard Jun Wu Xie's words, his eyes suddenly showing astonishment and disbelief.
And even for Wen Yu standing at the side, a strange glint had flashed in his eyes very briefly as well.
"Human skin map?" The Empress Dowager was obviously unaware of this as she looked down and asked the Emperor. "Do you have it? If you do, then hand it over."
The Emperor shook his head vehemently and the fear showing on his fear was even more intense than earlier.
"Imperial Grandmother..... your Grandson cannot..... cannot hand that map to anyone! Or your grandson will die! Those people will definitely take your grandson's live!" The Emperor's voice had completely distored suddenly.
"Those people?" The Empress Dowager still did not understand.
The Emperor said sobbingly: "Imperial Grandmother, do you still remember how the First Emperor's Elder Brother went missing?"
The Empress Dowager replied: "Elder Brother Lei Qian had suddenly wanted to bring some men to go to a place outside of the Fire Country, but no one had mentioned where he was going to. How is that linked to this matter?"
The Emperor then said: "It is exactly because of that map! That was why Lei Qian had gone missing! That map was found by your Grandson while I was sorting through the items Father had left behind. But not long after your Grandson had just found that map, several mysterious men suddenly appeared. They held extraordinary powers, all of them possessing Purple Spirits. They told your grandson that they gave that map to Lei Qian many years ago but the map was not complete. They had wanted Lei Qian to use the Fire Country's might to help them complete the entire map and it was because Lei Qian had gone out to search for the place indicated on the map that he finally disappeared....."
The Emperor was getting more fearful the more he spoke. Under the vast heavens, the things that could drive fear into the ruler of the mightiest country was few and far between. But the astounding power of those men caused the Emperor to fear even the thought of disobeying them!
Chapter 944: "Empress Dowager (3)"
The Emperor's words rather surprised the Empress Dowager. She had not been the least bit aware about this.
But when those same words fell onto Jun Wu Xie's ears, it was immediately clear to her that those people who had come to seek the Emperor out must have been people from one of the palaces among the Twelve Palaces!
"Imperial Grandmother! They told your grandson, if your grandson does not follow their orders to continue seeking out whatever is on the map, they will kill your grandson! Your grandson really doesn't dare to hand the human skin map over. They will really kill me!" The Emperor was shaking like a leaf, his face filled with terror.
The Empress Dowager's eyebrow lifted and she turned to look at Jun Xie.
However, Jun Wu Xie told her: "That map, I cannot do without."
The Empress Dowager could not do anything but sigh as she told the Emperor: "Rest assured. After you hand the item over, I will bring you away from here and find us a place to live in seclusion. They will definitely not be able to find you."
The Emperor was highly terrified as he looked at the Empress Dowager. He hesitated a long while before he nodded his head slowly. He crawled over to the throne and he reached for the base and took out a brocade box from a secret compartment. The Emperor's hand holding the brocade box was shaking as he walked to come before Jun Xie, as he trepidly handed the box over.
At that moment, the Emperor already knew that he was completely defeated. He and his sons were no longer capable of reproduction and Jun Xie possessed a high level of power. Moreover, the Empress Dowager had already made a decision and it did not matter how much longer he struggled against it, it would only bring him more agony.
Might as well, he wasn't a moron, and he knew that there was nothing he could do to change the situation, so why shouldn't he choose to be cooperative where he would at least be able to save his own life.
Jun Wu Xie took the brocade box and opened it to take a look, and a piece of human skin map sat neatly within.
"Today, you will announce your abdication, and everything between us will be written off henceforth." Jun Wu Xie put the brocade box away carefully, having no intention to waste any more of her breath on the Emperor. Her aim in coming to the Fire Country had been achieved and the people who provoked her have all been punished. Hence, she did not want to waste any more time here.
The Emperor retreated meekly and went to stand beside the Empress Dowager. The only person who could protect him would only be the Empress Dowager. Although the mysterious strangers were extremely powerful, the hidden bodyguards behind the Empress Dowager were not people to sniff at either.
"After he announces his abdication, I will reveal the First Emperor's Imperial Decree to the public, and from today onwards, you are the Emperor of the Fire Country." The Empress Dowager said, finally having fulfilled one of her wishes that had been in her heart for so many many years.
Jun Wu Xie raised up her hand suddenly and said: "No need. You only need to hand the throne over to Lei Chen and that will do."
Lei Chen was taken aback.
The Empress Dowager seemed to want to say something more, but Jun Wu Xie did not want to stay in that place any longer. She called out to Drunk Lotus and walked straight out of the main hall, to climb onto Lord Meh Meh's back, calmly leaving the place under shouts of surprise from the Imperial Guards.
Within the main hall, it had fallen deathly quiet.
The Empress Dowager's eyes widened, as she stared at the little back view that was leaving with uninhibited abandon. When she had been hidden within the secret room earlier, she had heard Jun Xie say those very same words, but she had thought that Jun Xie was only using it to agitate the Emperor, never having expected that she really did not care for the Fire Country's throne.
"Empress Dowager!" Lei Chen said as he suddenly knelt before the Empress Dowager.
"I am not the Fire Country's Emperor! And neither do I want to be the Emperor. I will do everything I can to convince Jun Xie, to have her take up all of it."
The Empress Dowager was a little surprised as she looked at Lei Chen. But Lei Chen had immediately gotten up to chase after Jun Xie the moment he finished saying those words.
The Emperor who was yearning so badly for the throne, saw Jun Xie and Lei Chen not showing any interest in it the slightest, the bitterness he felt in his heart at that moment could not be described with mere words.
Chapter 945: "The Fifth Map (1)"
"Guards, lock these three people in the dungeon and have them dealt with." The Empress Dowager was already tired. She cast a glance over at the Empress, Prime Minister and Lei Fan in the main hall. Although she had complied with and executed the First Emperor's decree by making the Emperor abdicate his throne, but she could not find it within herself to forgive these three thankless ingrates who betrayed the Emperor's benevolence!
The Empress Dowager brought Lei Xi and the Emperor back together with him and made preparations for the Emperor to abdicate.
Within the Imperial main hall, Qu Ling Yue stood staring blankly in her spot with his eyes slightly widened, staring at the wide open doors leading outside, her gaze seemingly having never moved from the direction that Jun Xie ssessed left from.
"Miss Qu?" Wen Yu asked, looking at Qu Ling Yue's dazed little face.
Qu Ling Yue quickly snapped back to her senses. Yesterday, Lei Chen had brought her to the Grand Adviser's Mansion and requested for the Grand Adviser to secretly sneak her into the Imperial Palace, and to invite the Empress Dowager to come to the main hall. Although all those words had been said by Lei Chen, but Lei Chen had already stated that all of it had been Jun Xie's idea.
"Lord Grand Adviser, where is Uncle Xiong and the others now?" Qu Ling Yue's eyes suddenly sparkled as she asked anxiously.
The Grand Adviser smiled and brought her to the place Xiong Ba and the others were resting at. The Fire Country's ruling regime underwent a complete change that day.
When Xiong Ba and the others saw the real Qu Ling Yue, their faces immediately beamed widely, and they quickly bid their farewells to the Grand Adviser, before leaving the Imperial Palace.
When they got back to the inn, Qu Ling Yue was feeling a little restless. She then rather anxiously invited Xiong Ba and the rest to come to her room.
"Uncle Xiong, in the Imperial main hall today, I saw some incredible things."
"What is it? Is it something that Jun Xie stirred up again? I have said we shouldn't have agreed ct to that kid's request. Don't just think that that brat is just a little kid, that mind of his is capable of much mischief." Xiong Ba said as he recalled what he had had to go through when they went to the Imperial Palace that day, deciding that they had better keep their distance far away from Jin Xie in future.
He could see that Qu Ling Yue did not dislike Jun Wu Xie. And it was because of that that he had to speak up about the things that happened between Jun Xie and Lei Fan in the Imperial Garden.
Qu Ling Yue listened to it in rapture. In the Imperial main hall today, she had already gotten a rather clear picture of all that had happened today, and she knew very clearly that this perfectly executed plot, was all laid out by that delicately attractive youth.
She was rather sure that when Lei Chen had first invited them to the Crown Prince's Residence, the youth had already planned it all out.
"Uncle Xiong! With Jun Xie's extraordinary intelligence, do you think he can help father....." Qu Ling Yue's eyes were sparkling brightly with a glimmer of hope.
When Xiong Ba heard those words from her, he immediately understood what she meant, and his expression immediately changed, his voice grew stern.
"Young Miss, the Chieftain's issue is no child's play. Though Jun Xie is devilishly intelligent, but people like that are highly dangerous before they are ascertained to be friend or foe."
Qu Ling Yue retorted: "But..... He shouldn't be counted as an enemy to us, should it?"
Xiong Ba frowned and said: "He cooperated with us this time because our goals aligned. We wanted to seek redress for injustice done upon us against the Fire Country and he wanted to achieve his own aims. With it being beneficial to both sides, we can't be sure of our relationship with him."
"But..... if there is something that can make him align his goals to ours?" Qu Ling Yue asked, her heart jumping slightly, her mind thinking back to the scene when Jun Xie had asked for the brocade box from the Emperor earlier.
"Uncle Xiong, the Fire Country's Emperor had in his hands, a map just like the one we have. Jun Xie needs them. If I took him that the Thousand Beast City has one as well, would that mean that he will....." Qu Ling Yue asked, almost too anxiously.
Xiong Ba's eyes widened suddenly.
Chapter 946: "The Fifth Map (2)"
After Jun Wu Xie left the Imperial Palace, Lord Meh Meh changed back to it tiny sheep form and not long after that, Lei Chen came over.
Before Lei Chen could say anything, Jun Wu Xie said: "Dismiss the Imperial Guards around the Immortals' Loft."
Lei Chen was stunned a moment before he recalled that the Emperor had ordered for the Imperial Guards to keep watch over the Immortals' Loft with Qiao Chu and the others still idling inside the Immortals' Loft inn. In just a few days, the world had changed for people in the Fire Country and mere hours later, the Emperor's Imperial Edict announcing his abdication was released.
"Sure. Little brother Jun, about the throne, can you think about it carefully once more?" Lei Chen agreed to Jun Xie's demand immediately, but he had not forgotten to continue to persuade him to reconsider.
However, Jun Wu Xie did not even look at him but just walked off on her own.
Very soon, the Imperial Guards surrounding the Immortals' Loft retreated. Qiao Chu and the others had not suffered much throughout those few days, but had only idled their time away inside the inn.
When they saw Jun Wu Xie return, Qiao Chu had immediately leapt to come right before her.
"How was it? Was it a success?"
Jun Wu Xie nodded and she handed the brocade box containing the human skin map to Hua Yao standing at the side.
With the addition of this map, they had a total of four in their possession. Towards the goal of eight maps, they were already halfway there!
With the addition of Jun Wu Xie to the companions, their speed at gathering the map had become very rapid. All of them firmly believed that it wouldn't be too far in the future that they would be able to find the other four maps, and be able to finally open up the long sealed entrance to the tomb!
"With Little Xie carrying out the task, things get done quick and good as expected! So, what are you planning to do next?" Qiao Chu asked with a big smile on his face. The aim they had come to the Fire Country for had been achieved and they would be setting forth on a brand new journey from here. Fei Yan had not found any clues on the locations of the other maps and they do not have a clear destination next.
"Let's return to the Zephyr Academy first." Jun Wu Xie said expressionlessly.
Everyone smiled and nodded, immediately moving to pack their luggages, not wanting to stay at this place another minute longer.
None of them would ask her anything about the Ring of Imperial Fire. They all knew very well that Jun Wu Xie had absolutely no interest in the throne afterall.
Qiao Chu and the others were packing up and they were already all prepared to return to the Zephyr Academy.
Just then, the horse carriages of the Thousand Beast City suddenly came before the doors of the Immortals' Loft and stopped outside.
Xiong Ba and Qu Ling Yue stepped out from the horse carriage and saw that Qiao Chu and the others were loading their luggages onto their own horse carriages. Anxiety immediately showed on Qu Ling Yue's tiny face.
"Where are all of you headed off to?" Qu Ling Yue walked hurriedly over to Qiao Chu and asked.
"We are naturally returning to the academy." Qiao Chu said with a laugh.
"Jun Xie..... Jun Xie, is he here?" Qu Ling Yue was taken aback, as she asked immediately.
"Still packing up inside." Qiao Chu did not think much of it and just pointed upstairs easily.
However, just as his voice fell, Qu Ling Yue and Xiong Ba immediately moved like the wind as they rushed inside. They highly anxious expressions confused Qiao Chu a little.
Jun Wu Xie was still packing up. She did not have many things with her, hence she sorted them out quickly and put them all within the Cosmos Sack. She was just about to walk out the door when she suddenly saw Qu Ling Yue standing right before her door, panting heavily. And standing right behind her, was the towering figure of Xiong Ba.
"Something you need?" Jun Wu Xie lifted her eyes to look at Qu Ling Yue little face which was looking slightly flushed a slight pink from her loss of breath. She had been able to overthrow the Fire Country's Emperor so smoothly this time had largely been due to Qu Ling Yue's help. And as Jun Wu Xie did not hold any grudges against Qu Ling Yue, she had shown herself to be too cold.
"You are leaving?" Qu Ling Yue finally managed to ask.
"Mm." Jun Wu Xie nodded slightly.
Chapter 947: "The Fifth Map (3)"
"About that, can you please hold it off a moment! ? I have something I need to tell you!" Qu Ling Yue's face was filled with anxiety.
Jun Wu Xie took a step back and said to the two of them: "Come on in and talk."
She might have a rather cold personality, but towards people who have helped her before, she wasn't stingy with her words. Seeing the highly flustered state Qu Ling Yue was in, she must have something important to say, and if it was within her power, she wouldn't mind giving her a hand.
Qu Ling Yue and Xiong Ba went in hurriedly and the three of them sat down around the table. From atop the lap of Jun Wu Xie, the little black cat raised its paw and pawed at the teapot on the table as it turned its head to look at Jun Wu Xie.
"Meow."
[Aren't you at least going to pour them a cup of water? They had at least helped you before.]
Towards its Mistress' knowledge in basic manners when receiving guests, the little black cat had always been in despair.
Jun Wu Xie was stumped for a moment before she picked up the teapot awkwardly, and poured out cups of water for Qu Ling Yue, Xiong Ba and herself.
Qu Ling Yue nodded appreciatively but did not even bother to moisten her throat as she couldn't wait a moment longer and immediately went on to say: "I would like to ask you to make a trip to go with us back to the Thousand Beast City. Will you?"
Jun Wu Xie had just lifted her teacup to take a sip of water when she heard Qu Ling Yue's words, which caused her to pause a moment. Her gaze was questioning as she could not fathom why Qu Ling Yue would invite her to go to the Thousand Beast City all of a sudden.
She had come to have some interaction with Qu Ling Yue only solely because of the plot from the Fire Country's Emperor and if not for that, they wouldn't have communicated at all. Although Jun Wu Xie did not feel any animosity between her and Qu Ling Yue, but she could not come up with a plausible reason for Qu Ling Yue's invitation.
"Why?"
Qu Ling Yue bit on her lip and she turned to look somewhat pleadingly at Xiong Ba.
Xiong Ba drew in a deep breath and looked at Jun Xie to say: "My Young Miss has told me everything that occurred in the Imperial Palace today. I must admit my humble self has greatly underestimated Young Master Jun and had not thought that Young Master Jun possessed such heavenly capabilities." Towards everything that Qu Ling Yue had told him, Xiong Ba could not make himself imagine that Jun Xie had just based purely on one trip into the Imperial Palace, had in a matter of mere hours, forced the Emperor of the Fire Country to abdicate from the throne!
And together with that, the Empress, Prime Minister, and the most favoured Fourth Prince had all been put to ruin as well!
The Fire Country was the biggest country under the Heavens and feared by many! It was a place many looked up to and the Fire Country's Imperial Family was overwhelmingly stronger than all other countries. People who were capable of stirring up a storm in the Fire Country were few and far between, but Jun Xie had used just her own brain to devise a plot, which had completely overturned this biggest and mightiest of countries. Such ingenuity and resourcefulness really made one bow and respect before him!
Even for someone like Xiong Ba who was not too quick witted, was completely won over and held the highest admiration for Jun Xie's scheme.
"Oh?" Jun Wu Xie answered without commitment, in no hurry to respond, as she knew that Xiong Ba was sure to have more to say.
Xiong Ba paused a moment before he continued: "Young Master Jun's resourcefulness is unparalleled and I have come with my Young Miss here today to..... ask Young Master Jun to lend the Thousand Beast City a helping hand!"
"What kind of help?" Jun Wu Xie asked, an eyebrow lifting up. She did not know much about the Thousand Beast City, but from the misgivings the Fire Country's Emperor had shown going against the Thousand Beast City, she was able to tell that the Thousand Beast City would surely hold a significant amount of might.
As a Clan Hall Chief of the Thousand Beast City, why would Xiong Ba come here with the Young Miss of the Thousand Beast City to seek help from a youth still of such a young age?
"We would like to ask you to help resolve a crisis the Thousand Beast City is currently facing!" Xiong Ba said with all seriousness.
Jun Wu Xie's eyebrow was raised as she replied slowly: "Apologies, but I'm not interested."
If it was just lifting a finger, she wouldn't mind lending them a hand. But judging from Xiong Ba's tone of voice, Jun Wu Xie was guessing that the assistance being requested was no small feat!
Chapter 948: "The Fifth Map (4)"
Faced with Jun Xie's refusal, Xiong Ba wasn't the least bit surprised. He knew the relationship they shared with Jun Xie couldn't be considered as close but they had just cooperated once. But the only person they wanted to gain assistance from was only that one youth!
"Jun Xie, do not be to quick to refuse us yet and hear me out first. I saw the map that you got from the Emperor's hands today. Is that map very important to you?" Qu Ling Yue was still young and green afterall, and her temperament was not as steady as Xiong Ba. When she heard Jun Xie reject them, she immediately began to panic.
Hearing Qu Ling Yue mention the map, Jun Wu Xie's eyebrow came up.
There were only a total of eight pieces of the human skin maps which were intricately linked to the Dark Emperor's tomb's exact location. Among those eight maps, seven of the pieces had been in the hands of the Twelve Palaces and the matter about the Twelve Palaces secretly searching for the Dark Emperor's tomb had been carried out covertly all this time. Other people were completely unaware of what those maps were for and she had not guarded against the others in the Imperial main hall then.
But Qu Ling Yue seemed to have noticed the unique difference of that map.
"Yes." Jun Wu Xie replied coldly, her gaze calm as still water, without a single ripple in her eyes. There was only a faint chill in them as she looked at Xiong Ba and Qu Ling Yue, when a faint trace of probing appeared thereafter.
Xiong Ba quickly detected that Jun Xie had raised his guard up and deeply afraid that Jun Xie would misunderstand them, he quickly added: "Young Master Jun must not misunderstand. My Young Miss did not mean anything else with her words, but just that our invitation for you to come to the Thousand Beast City is directly linked to that map my Young Miss mentioned."
Jun Wu Xie's eyebrow lifted up questioningly.
"In fact, that same kind of map, we have a piece of it within the Thousand Beast City as well." Xiong Ba said suddenly.
With that revelation, the calm that was in Jun Wu Xie's eyes wavered as she asked: "The Thousand Beast City has one as well?"
Xiong Ba nodded.
"That map in currently held by our Grand Chieftain and it is exactly because of that map that our Thousand Beast City is unable to fend for themselves entirely." Xiong Ba said, as a bitter smile came onto his face.
"Young Master Jun must have been aware that the reason that the Thousand Beast City is able to enjoy our current status today, is the fact that we possess the unique Spirit Tamer Bone Flute. But besides that, it is also because the Thousand Beast City had previously produced two Purple Spirits before and those two people had soon after achieving a breakthrough to the Purple Spirit, departed from our city. But about ten years ago, one of those two Purple Spirit users, had suddenly returned to the Thousand Beast City, and had brought back a human skin map just like yours. The Purple Spirit user had then asked the Grand Chieftain to employ the power of the Thousand Beast City to help her discover the secret behind the map..... Initially, the Grand Chieftain had followed and carried out her instructions as she was a revered Senior in the Thousand Beast City. But with every exploration mission, the Thousand Beast City would suffer great losses of its people. It could be said that every single man sent out, had not returned back alive."
When Xiong Ba spoke about that last point, he could not help but gritted his teeth, and a tinge of hatred grew in his eyes.
"The Grand Chieftain saw that the brothers in our city were taking heavy losses and he was unwilling to continue. But the Purple Spirit Senior refused to give in and insisted that the Grand Chieftain continue. Although our Grand Chieftain held a high level of spirit power as well, but he was still not a match for a Purple Spirit. Moreover, that person had brought back with her several other mysterious people who possessed similar spirit powers with her, which forced our Grand Chieftain to have no choice but to submit to their wishes. Over the years, every time the Grand Chieftain sent out a team, his heart bleeds. We can no longer remember how many of our brothers we had lost out there because of this."
"Seeing that Young Master Jun is so tremendously resourceful, and holds such great interest in that human skin map, Xiong Ba here is sincerely pleading with Young Master Jun to help us resolve the Thousand Beast City's crisis. After the deed is done, the Thousand Beast City will make sure that we offer up the map to you will both hands!" Xiong Ba suddenly stood up after saying that, and then bowing formally in all seriousness before Jun Xie, his back bent at a ninety degree angle.
Chapter 949: "The Fifth Map (5)"
"Seeing that Young Master Jun is so tremendously resourceful, and holds such great interest in that human skin map, Xiong Ba here is sincerely pleading with Young Master Jun to help us resolve the Thousand Beast City's crisis. After the deed is done, the Thousand Beast City will make sure that we offer up the map to you will both hands!" Xiong Ba suddenly stood up after saying that, and then bowing formally in all seriousness before Jun Xie, his back bent at a ninety degree angle.
Jun Wu Xie's eyes narrowed . Xiong Ba's words had surprised her as she had not thought that the Thousand Beast City would possess a piece of the human skin map as well!
"You mean it?" Jun Wu Xie asked.
"It is the truth! If there is any untruth in my words, may I be struck by lightning!" Xiong Ba swore to the Heavens determinedly. If not for the fact that Qu Ling Yue had witnessed Jun Xie's resourcefulness with her own eyes, and strongly believed that he was the person who would be able to turn the situation the Thousand Beast City was currently facing, Xiong Ba would not have dared to reveal such highly secret affairs of the Thousand Beast City at all.
For so many years, other people saw the Thousand Beast City basking in their glory, and only the core members of the Thousand Beast City knew that they were almost drained and almost spent.
Everytime he saw the Grand Chieftain vexed and tormented late at night, Xiong Ba felt like a knife was cutting at his heart, wishing that he was able to share the Chieftain's burden.
And now, as long as there was the slightest sliver of hope, they would have to give it a try!
Jun Wu Xie's eyes lowered as she considered Xiong Ba's words.
News about the human skin map were highly scarce and for the previous four pieces of the map, Fei Yan had sacrificed blood and tears before he managed to locate two of them, whereas for the other two, one was a unexpected surprise brought about by Fan Zhuo, the other was just something they happened to stumble across. It could be said that every single piece of those maps were highly difficult to search for and now, Xiong Ba had suddenly come up to them on his own and offered news about the fifth map.
However, the situation surrounding the map this time was entirely different.
Those people who have been entrusted with the map before had been highly protective of the maps. But from Xiong Ba's words, it was not difficult for Jun Wu Xie to surmise that the fifth human skin map had not only not brought the people from the Thousand Beast City any joy, but it had been more of fear panic and death.
If they had a choice, the Grand Chieftain of the Thousand Beast City would definitely not wish for that map which was so highly stained with blood to continue to remain in the city. But the Purple Spirit user who had once been from the Thousand Beast City was like a heavy lock and chains, which tightly bound the Grand Chieftain of the Thousand Beast City, forcing him to have no other choice but to follow orders.
But within all of that, something did not feel right with Jun Wu Xie somehow and she lifted her eyes and looked at Xiong Ba to ask: "I believe your Chieftain is not following the orders of that person only because he fears the power of the Purple Spirit right?"
Although the Purple Spirit was powerful, the Thousand Beast City possessed the Spirit Tamer Bone Flute that was able to control Spirit Beasts and if they really fought to the death with everything they had, using the Spirit Tamer Bone Flute would surely cause the enemy substantially heavy losses. But even after so many years, the Thousand Beast City had not put up any clear show of resistance. If their people were not naturally timid people, then that must mean that that person must be holding some other handle against them.
Xiong Ba was suddenly stumped for words and he was looking rather awkward at that moment. Qu Ling Yue bit on her lip as she stared at Xiong Ba's perplexed expression. She summoned up her courage and then said to Jun Xie: "Because in the hands of that Great Grandaunt, she holds many people's life."
Jun Wu Xie lifted an eyebrow.
"She captured my mother, and many other relatives and family of the Thousand Beast City. If we do not do as she says, she will kill those people." Qu Ling Yue's eyes darkened. It wasn't that her father had not thought of resisting, but her mother and several uncles and aunts were in the Great Grandaunt's hands. Her father and many people in the Thousand Beast City had no choice but to submit themselves to her back and call and not matter how unwilling they were, they had to do it.
Chapter 950: "The Fifth Map (6)"
"Where did she keep the people she captured?" Jun Wu Xie asked.
Qu Ling Yue shook her head. "It is because we do not know where she had hidden the hostages that father is unable to rescue those people. Great Grandaunt had secretly abducted those people when father showed his unwillingness to continue with carrying out her orders and till today, no one knows where she has imprisoned our people."
"Then how do you know that those people are still alive?" Jun Wu Xie asked.
"Great Grandaunt will release a batch of people back to the Thousand Beast City every month to see their family, showing that they are still safe. She releases a different batch of people every month and at the end of that month, they will be brought away again. If anyone among those people dares to secretly escape, then she will punish those people who are still imprisoned by killing them." Whenever Qu Ling Yue remembered the Great Grandaunt's vicious maliciousness, she would feel chills run through her bones. Her father had not wanted her to be dragged into all of that and had sent her to the War Banner Academy long ago. Although she seldom returned to the Thousand Beast City, at the times that she did, she would always see many things happening that chilled her heart.
"As my father's child, but am unable to share my father's burden, but can only continue to see him made to submit to others. I have been useless, I have worked very hard to raise my own spirit power, thinking to bring my mother and the others back..... But..... I am still too weak." Qu Ling Yue said, her voice growing hoarse as she spoke.
Although she had achieved the War Banner Academy's top rank in their own Spirit Tournament, she was still gravely inadequate, a cup of water before a burning cart in the face of a Purple Spirit, amounting to nothing!
Jun Wu Xie stared silently at Qu Ling Yue who was weeping softly behind her hands. From Qu Ling Yue's sobs, she could feel the self admonishment and her refusal to submit.
The feeling one felt when the people most important to them were harmed by others, but due to themselves being too weak, they could do nothing but watch the tragedy unfold, unable to retaliate.....
Jun Wu Xie was no stranger to that.
Back in the most initial period in the Lin Palace, she had felt just like that.
Only difference was that she had been more fortunate then, as the opponents she faced were people from the Lower Realm, while Qu Ling Yue was faced with people from the Twelve Palaces of the Middle Realm!
The disparity between the Middle and Lower Realm was too great and it was completely beyond Qu Ling Yue to be able to turn the situation around.
Jun Wu Xie believed, that the Great Grandaunt that Qu Ling Yue mentioned, must have been roped in by the Twelve Palaces to go to the Middle Realm after she broke through to the Purple Spirit, and had subsequently been entrusted with the human skin map by the Twelve Palaces after that.
But just how hard hearted must one be, to be able to inflict such a blood filled conspiracy upon the people from her own family?
Jun Wu Xie's brows creased up together and subconsciously thought of the prison in the past, that demonic devil, had also seemed to enjoy such methods as well.
"I can help you." Jun Wu Xie said finally.
And at the instant that Jun Xie opened his mouth, Qu Ling Yue raised up her head in joy and delight, her face burning with hope, big teardrops running down her cheeks, but her eyes were clear and sparkling.
"Really? You will really help me?" Qu Ling Yue grasped at Jun Xie's hand excitedly, so agitated that her hands started trembling.
She could think of no other ways anymore and witnessing Jun Wu Xie's resourcefulness and intelligence had shown her a glimmer of hope.
Jun Wu Xie nodded her head slightly. Even without Qu Ling Yue's request, when Fei Yan discovers that the Thousand Beast City had one of the maps, they would still make their way there regardless. And with Qu Ling Yue and Xiong Ba's help, it should make it easier for them to get their hands on that fifth map.
"Thank you! Thank you!" Qu Ling Yue was so agitated she started crying again. Xiong Ba patted her on the shoulder comfortingly and at the same time, he threw Jun Xie an appreciative glance of gratitude..