Chapter 356: Unshakable

~~~

“You seem to enjoy courting death.”

Liu Jin almost laughs. It would have been terribly rude to do so, but how can he not feel the urge to after hearing those words? He has taken far too many risks and upset far too many powerful people. At what point can it be argued that he enjoys doing so? Why didn’t he try to live a quiet life after Eastern Port City fell? Why didn’t he try being a normal disciple of the Eternal Flame Clan? Why can’t he be a normal emperor?

Has he become too twisted to ever live a quiet life? What a pity.

“The world is not what it should be,” Liu Jin replies. “Arrogant as it is, I try to breach that gap.”

“It is arrogant. Supremely so,” the Duke says. “Child, when we last met, you told me you would seek to mend my country. Two years ago, you sent that one to me.”

He gestures at Xiao Nan with a tilt of his head.

“He said you had taken over the Storm Dragon Empire. That you claimed to be a Qing.”

“I know it must sound-”

“It is not surprising or unbelievable in the slightest. I knew your grandfather. I always knew what your blood was.”

Liu Jin blinks.

“However, I told you. If I am not satisfied with the state of my country after I become an Emperor, I will kill you,” the Duke says, glaring at him. “Now, you come to me, invite me to return to my country, and offer to do all you can to accelerate my ascension? Are you mad, boy?”

“He absolutely is,” Su Daji says from behind Big Sister Bai. “Understand that he was born that way. Please, do not be hard on him.”

“I understand the risks involved,” Liu Jin says. His eyebrow only twitches slightly after hearing his friend speak. “However, at the moment, I cannot afford not to have someone of your power at my side.”

“Little Brother, you do not need to do that,” Xiao Nan speaks up, placing a hand on his shoulder. It does not escape anyone that his body is facing the Duke, ready to act in case he needs to defend Liu Jin. “This Xiao Nan will be glad to lend his aid. There is no need to make this stubborn old man any stronger than he already is.”

Liu Jin frowns and shakes his head.

“No, that will not work. Elder Brother, you are a prodigy. I will never deny that, but your strength alone is not enough. If I do not gather as many allies as I can, I might as well tell the Duke to kill me right here.”

He bows his head.

“Duke, I need your strength for the sake of the Storm Dragon Empire. Will you come with me to our homeland?”

The Duke crosses his arms and considers him in silence. His large beard hides the expression on his face.

“You will not ask me to rethink my stance?”

“We are who we are because we follow our paths. Our way of living strives to be unshakable. I will not insult you by assuming your words are so light that you can take them back when it’s convenient,” Liu Jin says. “See with your eyes, then decide whether you need to kill me or not. If I cannot overcome your judgment, I clearly have no chance of surviving what awaits me.”

“You truly are an arrogant child.”

For some reason, the words sound almost fond.

~~~

“I begin to think there is wisdom in bringing Lady Meng Yue to the Storm Dragon Palace.”

Big Sister Bai looks directly at him as she speaks. The rest of the Flame-Wheeled Wagon is silent as they make their way over the Dead Plains. Xiao Nan and the Duke are not with them, preferring to fly with their own power. Liu Jin suspects Xiao Nan is only doing so to keep an eye on the Duke.

“I…am not sure if I would reject that,” Liu Jin admits.

Everything he has heard about Lady Meng Yue paints her as someone far too unpredictable to be kept close. He already has the attention of the Wandering Wind. He does not need another powerful cultivator who will do whatever she wants near him.

And yet, her power cannot be denied. The entire reason Liu Jin has gone on this journey is so he can recruit two Renegades to his side and hopefully turn them into Emperors. However, Lady Meng Yue is already on the Ninth Level of the Emperor Realm. She is stronger than even General Nie Dan, and unlike the Wandering Wind, she is far more likely to fight on their side, if only to protect Xiao Shuang.

“At least, you recognize it,” Big Sister Bai says. “I am not sure if that makes your behaviour better or worse.”

“I meant what I said. If I cannot overcome a single newborn Emperor, what chance do I have in the future? If I cannot turn someone like the Duke into my ally, I have to be able to defend myself against someone like him. I have talked this over with Lu Mei and Xiao Shaung. I have the Storm Dragon Palace, a Renegade on his level, and an Emperor with far more experience than him. I’m not carelessly putting myself at risk.”

Big Sister Bai stares at him in silence. Finally, she sighs.

“It does seem you have put more thought into it this time. Still, I worry.”

“It seems I do that a lot to the people around me,” Liu Jin says. “I would like to say I won’t do it anymore, but considering what the future holds, that promise would be empty.”

“Yes, yes, it would,” Big Sister Bai says.

“Eh, excuse me,” Su Daji says, raising her hand. “I would just like to remind you that Big Nose and I are still here, and this conversation feels like it is a little too private to be had in the presence of others.”

“Endure it,” Big Sister Bai says.

~~~

Stolen novel; please report.

Before leaving the Dead Plains, they make a short stop at the Eternal Flame Clan’s temple. It would be rude not to say goodbye to Senior Brother Lotus, and the last thing Liu Jin wants to do is accidentally give him the impression that he never returned from his quest. However, it’s a straight path to the Storm Dragon Empire after that.

That is when the problems begin.

The Duke has been silent for most of the trip, yet that silence becomes deeper after crossing the border. There is a stern air of disapproval around the man, and it is very easy to figure out the cause. The Duke became a Renegade long before the civil war and even before the death of Liu Jin’s Imperial Grandfather. He knew the Storm Dragon Empire as a prosperous nation, not a wasteland ravaged by war. Seeing the change with his own eyes is different from merely hearing about it.

Then they reach Cloudburst City.

“What is the meaning of this?!”

The Duke’s voice is a thundering roar that shakes the earth. His aura sends the soldiers cowering in fear. Xiao Nan is immediately behind the man, his arms under his shoulders to hold him back from doing anything rash. Liu Jin’s instincts scream at him to flee. Several people are already doing that. However, he manipulates his body into staying still while taking note of the soldiers who form up around him. They are foolish, but brave. That bravery deserves a reward. Not now, though.

There is a Renegade in front of him.