Stranger Danger

Chapter 1031: Meeting

The loss of the Nanjiang Royal Court, the capture of Profound Spirit Taoist and Chi Tian, the total annihilation of Barbarian Slayer, Wildland Suppression and King Slayer, and the serious injuries Wei Nanhua suffered were transmitted to the Chu capital and entered the ears of the most respected person of Chu at first notice.

Right now, the air inside the Chu imperial palace—also known as Qian Yuan Palace and the symbol of power and status in Chu—was so silent, so suffocating, that one could hear a pin drop.

A few breaths later, a man opened his mouth and said accusingly, “What has happened to the war situation in Nanjiang, General Li?”

The speaker was a middle-aged man in his forties. He had a handsome face and a long, refined beard. Right now though, his eyes were sharp and threatening.

His name was Cui Qingshan. He was the Director of the Imperial Secretariat of Chu.

“Don’t you already know, Director Cui?” Another man answered.

The other speaker was in his fifties, refined in manner yet soldierly in appearance. His eyes were deep and unfathomable like seas of stars.

His name was Li Chengzhong, and he was the Strategist-Generalissimo of Chu. He was also the man responsible for supervising the armies of Chu and general military affairs.

“I am aware of the outcome, but not the process,” Cui Qingshan said.

“If you don’t know, then you shouldn’t know.”

Li Chengzhong replied coldly, “There is no need for you to know either.”

“This is a military affair. Of course I have the right to know about this.”

Cui Qingshan’s tone grew even more threatening, “Or is there something fishy that you are afraid of letting us know?”

“Freedom of speech does not mean freedom of consequences, Director Cui. Watch your mouth,” a military officer next to Li Chengzhong said sternly.

“Consequences?” Cui Qingshan let out a cold chuckle. “Speaking of consequences, can you please tell me how we lost the Nanjiang Royal Court, how Barbarian Slayer, Wildland Suppression and King Slayer were annihilated, and how Wei Nanhua took serious injuries, General Zhou?”

“It might be presumptuous for me to say this, but I don’t believe that the Meng Clan remnants alone could do this.”

“Put yourself in my shoes and tell me you don’t think that something fishy is going on. I dare you.”

“You...” Zhou Yuchong could not respond immediately.

“What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue?”

Cui Qingshan did not hesitate to press his advantage. “So, was it negligence of duty, inflation of self-importance via nurturing the enemy, or outright collusion with the Meng Clan remnants?”

“You jest, Director Cui. I am an old man with one foot in the grave. What expert opinion can I possibly give you?” Wan Bainian waved him off. “It is up to you younglings to share the burden of His Imperial Highness now!”

“That said, considering that His Imperial Highness hasn’t arrived yet, I believe that he has already arrived at a decision.”

“Oh? How do you know?” Cui Qingshan asked curiously.

“It’s just a guess.” Wan Bainian chuckled good-naturedly.

Like I’ll believe that, you terrible, cunning old man! Cui Qingshan sneered mentally.

It was at this moment a palace attendant stepped in from the inner hall.

“Where is His Imperial Majesty, Eunuch Li?” Cui Qingshan asked the palace attendant.

“His Imperial Majesty has gone to the Heavens' Eye Tower, so there will be no court. Please return,” Eunuch Li reported.

“He’s visiting the Heavens' Eye Tower?”

Cui Qingshan, Li Chengzhong and more all exchanged a confused glance with each other. This hardly seemed like the time to be visiting the Heavens' Eye Tower.

A flicker of intelligence appeared in Wan Bainian’s murky eyes. “Is His Imperial Majesty planning to use the Heaven’s Eye?”

“You are as wise as ever, Elder Wan,” Eunuch Li replied with a smile.

“Heavens’ Eye?” Li Chengzhong frowned deeply. “His Imperial Majesty is planning to take out the Nanjiang Royal Court himself?”

The Heavens’ Eye was the national relic of Chu and ranked sixth on the “Strange Artifact Register”. It could guard the realm, suppress evils, and even move mountains and turn over seas.

It was clear now that Emperor Jing Run was planning to destroy the Nanjiang Royal Court using the Heavens’ Eye.

“The Heavens’ Eye is an important artifact that guards the entire realm. Isn’t it a little too risky?” Li Chengzhong voiced his worry.

Heavens’ Eye could suppress evils and guard Chu because fragments of its power was scattered across the entire realm. If Emperor Jing Run plans to use Heavens’ Eye, then he must first assemble all these fragments. Once Heavens’ Eye unleashed its full power, it would become much weaker than before and require a long time to recover.

As a result, Heavens’ Eye would no longer be able to watch over the entire realm as it had before. The prefectures and the commanderies were one thing—they had enough guards and elites to handle the Strangers and protect the people from harm—but the counties, villagers, and other secluded and backwater places where manpower was low would surely be beset with disaster.

Besides that, Heavens’ Eye was the national relic and the guardian of the Will of the Empire. Therefore, unleashing its power would damage Chu’s Will of the Empire as well.

Finally, Heavens’ Eye could only be used by the emperor, and Emperor Jing Run was not a Sage. The consequences were unimaginable if something bad were to happen during this time.