He and It Chapter 204: Inquire Here (32)

Chapter 204: Inquire Here (32)

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: GaeaTiamat

 

“Wait!” Sensing that the Evil One was about to leave, the Holy Ancestor hurriedly called out, “I…there’s still one matter I need to clarify!”

The mist paused and turned towards the Holy Ancestor.

The Emperor of Wuping gathered his courage and boldly said, “First things first. What I can offer you is only two hours, no increase, no decrease. There won’t be any ‘this time I give you two hours, next time I’ll add another two hours’…and after the transaction is completed, you must leave completely. No lingering in Wuping.”

“Do you think I’m some street hawker who is buying your goods?” the Evil One’s tone lowered dangerously, “Rest assured, Emperor of Mortal Realm, a deal is a deal. I won’t play any word games with you…”

The Holy Ancestor wasn’t sure whether to be afraid or relieved.

“If you’re still not at ease, then let’s swear an oath.” the Evil One lazily suggested. “I’ll help you eliminate the threat to the Emperor without opposing you, and you willingly shorten two hours from this endless cycle of reincarnation to give to me as compensation. May the heavens witness, if either of us breaks the oath, may I endure the torment of soul and body, the pain of true yang burning. How about it?”

The Holy Ancestor calmed down and repeated the oath as instructed. Immediately after he spoke, he felt a tightening in his chest, as if he were bound tightly by a rope, accompanied by a biting sensation in his fingers.

Despite having an unbreakable covenant as assurance, the Emperor still harbored a lingering unease. Sensing that the Evil One was about to leave, the Holy Ancestor suddenly remembered something and quickly called out, “Wait! There’s…one more thing unclear.”

“Speak.”

“Since the young man in white is the saint, then what about the black-clad man beside him? Where does he come from?”

The Evil One paused, then burst into hearty laughter.

“He,” the Emperor casually replied. “He’s just the saint’s lapdog. Nothing to fear.”

The night wind was calm, and silence enveloped the Holy Ancestor’s ears, as quiet as a tomb.

The Evil One had already departed.

The moon shone faintly, and the mountains echoed with the faint chirping of insects. Liu Fuguang looked through the collected intelligence, and his eyes showed his surprise.

“Suppressing the rebellion in the northern regions, assisted by talented ministers, favorable weather across the lands, several major cases resolved, successive removals of influential courtiers…In the imperial harem, the empress and he grew up together, her character wise and gentle, currently pregnant and due to give birth soon, said to be the future crown prince, the most favored noble concubine, and the most beautiful woman of the time…What a mess of information.”

Yan Huan accompanied him with a flattering smile, “It’s a bit chaotic, but it’ll do, it’ll do.”

Liu Fuguang chuckled, “You might as well include the color of his night clothes…”

After a brief moment of quiet, his smile faded, and he sighed, “Perhaps this is the ultimate fantasy a man can dream of, right? The supreme ruler, reigning over all, with stability in the borders, everyone both near and far bowing down, loyal ministers under his command without a hint of dissent. Whether in personal prestige or wielding royal power, all reach the pinnacle. Not to mention a childhood sweetheart empress, an unparalleled noble concubine…oh, and he’s about to have a crown prince soon.”

Detecting the emotion in his words, Yan Huan cautiously observed his expression and tentatively asked, “Do you…like it?”

“Like it?” Liu Fuguang rarely chuckled. “It’s too mundane. Filled with foolish fantasies. How could I possibly like such delusions?”

He pushed aside the intelligence report, and spoke softly, “It seems that he condensed all the yearning and adoration of his life into a very short period of time, reliving it over and over, living it again and again…”

“Indeed,” Yan Huan chuckled. “This is the essence of greed and evil.”

Liu Fuguang looked up, his gaze briefly meeting Yan Huan’s face. A thought lingered in his mind, but he never voiced it.

The greed and evil of the Holy Ancestor, in fact, are also a part of you, and only a very small part at that.

“What promise did you make to him?” he asked.

Yan Huan said, “I promised to help. I assured him that I would help…eliminate the threat to the Emperor.”

“Oh?” Liu Fuguang raised an eyebrow, seemingly intrigued. “And what about the reward? What did you take from him?”

Yan Huan curved his eyes, and his smile reflected the evening stars above. Uncharacteristically, he didn’t immediately answer Liu Fuguang’s question. Instead, he raised his index finger, and teased, ‘A secret.’

–

The deal took effect!

The Holy Ancestor sat upright on the throne, and let out a long sigh.

Originally, the Emperor intended to take away the majority of his auxiliary guards, but after arguing his case, the Holy Ancestor managed to let the other party take only about half.

Although it pained him greatly, the Evil One did indeed keep his word. After his intervention, the Holy Ancestor looked around and saw no trace of Goodness.

As for the several cities emptied by Goodness…the loss was regrettable, but with timely remedial actions, it wasn’t too late. With careful management, Wuping could surely restore its former glory.

Feeling slightly relieved, the Holy Ancestor, after morning court, specifically headed to the palace of the Empress to visit his wife, who was nine months pregnant and due to deliver soon.

The Empress was gentle, wise, and exceptionally generous. His most favored woman was the noble concubine, but the woman he loved most in his life was undoubtedly the Empress. Married for many years, the Empress had never disappointed his expectations, and was always by his side, giving him strength and support.

Everything in his life was fine, except for the lack of heirs. He consulted a cultivator for astrological insights, and the cultivator affirmed that the fate of offspring was predestined and couldn’t be forced. Fortunately, the Empress was capable and finally bore him a lively and healthy heir…

With his major threat eliminated and thinking of his adorable son, the Holy Ancestor felt even more relaxed and joyous, and had a happy smile on his lips.

Despite the support of the cultivators, the Empress’s childbirth process had its challenges, which hinted at danger. After having experienced countless cycles over who knows how many lifetimes, the Holy Ancestor knew he had to be prepared well in advance.

“Your Majesty is here,” the Empress leaned on the bed. When she saw the Holy Ancestor enter, she moved to greet him. “Busy with court affairs. Are you tired?”

“Don’t get up.” The Holy Ancestor hurriedly pressed his wife back down. “I’ve been too busy these past few days, and didn’t even come to see you. How are you feeling?”

The Empress lowered her head, a shy tenderness in her gentleness. “Last night, I felt this little rascal kicking me several times, and it almost kept me from sleeping well…”

Being deeply affectionate with each other, the Emperor and Empress didn’t adhere strictly to royal etiquette in private, and addressed each other informally.

The Holy Ancestor frowned. “If you couldn’t sleep well, what are the attendants around you doing? Why didn’t they come and fetch me?”

“Sigh.” The Empress gently held her husband’s hand. “A few days ago, I heard Your Majesty was angry and blamed the noble concubine…Knowing that court affairs are difficult, how could I bother you with trivial matters?”

The Holy Ancestor was momentarily stunned, then recalled his recent outburst of anger. He couldn’t help but chuckle, “Don’t blame her! You know she’s obedient. It was me who couldn’t control my temper, not her.”

He repeated “don’t blame” twice. The Empress lowered her head, a fleeting trace of sadness in her eyes and brows where her husband couldn’t see. Quickly, she resumed her gentle smile and asked, “So, Your Majesty, are you ready for your meal?

This supreme Imperial couple, like an ordinary household, spent a day full of harmony and happiness. Several days later, it was time for the Empress to give birth. With many cultivators in attendance, she successfully delivered a healthy prince. The Holy Ancestor was overjoyed and immediately declared him the Crown Prince, the sole heir to the throne.

The Empire immersed itself in an atmosphere of peace, celebration, and unending joy until the bell tower rang, which marked the beginning of a new cycle.

The Holy Ancestor opened his eyes.

He felt as though he had awakened from a long dream. Though the dream began ominously, it ended smoothly; a tale of narrow escapes.

He got up, washed, and ate. It was a new day, with a new kingdom awaiting his rule, his enjoyment…

The Holy Ancestor furrowed his brow.

Breakfast was lavish, yet with each bite, his mind wandered. When he came to his senses, he had forgotten the taste of the food, left only with the feeling of being full.

Strange.

He reminded himself to focus. As he faced the court next, he couldn’t afford to be so absent-minded.

The rebel soldiers in the northern regions still needed to be dealt with, opposition voices persisted within the court, and several frontier cities were still plagued by floods…Big matters, small matters—they all had to be decided by him personally. The Holy Ancestor looked down at his many courtiers, the brilliant team he had painstakingly assembled, and a fleeting smile crossing his lips—

He froze.

He had just wanted to smile, but why did he want to smile? It seemed he had once again drifted away into another realm, and when his thoughts returned, he had already forgotten the reason for his laughter.

Suddenly plagued by an affliction, the morning court became unbearably dull and boring. Known for his wit, a senior minister noticed the monarch’s displeasure and tried to lift his spirits with fresh and amusing anecdotes.

The jokes were delightful, and the courtiers laughed heartily, as they presented a scene of camaraderie between ruler and subjects. Yet the Holy Ancestor remained frozen on his throne, eyes wide open like a rigid golden statue.

—He was horrified to discover that he seemed to have lost the ability to perceive happiness.

He hurriedly concluded the morning court, and rushed to the palace of the noble concubine, to the woman who could bring him the most joy. When he looked at his exquisitely dressed beloved concubine, his sense of amazement disappeared, and the satisfaction of possessing the most beautiful woman in the realm also vanished.

The Holy Ancestor didn’t understand what was happening to him; what was wrong with him. He temporarily suppressed his thoughts, gripped the wrist of the noble concubine, and forcefully pressed her against the luxurious bed. The release between the sheets had countless times relieved him of stress and troubles. His obsession with the beauty and body of the noble concubine was a well-known secret within the palace.

Unfortunately, the outcome was disappointing.

The Holy Ancestor, disheveled, flushed, and with a wild look in his eyes, threw open the spring curtains. His expression had turned almost manic.

Behind him, the noble concubine lifted her cloud-like hair, with her cheeks blushing shyly, and timidly said, “Your Majesty…”

It was useless…all useless!

The Holy Ancestor was on the verge of madness. A man in his prime, in the prime of his life, suddenly faced consecutive setbacks in matters of passion—such blows could indeed drive him insane.

He had forgotten the feeling of joy, the feeling of enjoyment, the feeling of conquest. He kissed the vermilion lips of his beloved concubine, yet tasted only the cloying sweetness of rouge, caressed skin as soft as jade, yet failed to ignite any passion in his heart. His mind was as calm as still water, as soft as mud, and utterly incapable of engagement.

Next, he rushed to the palace of the Empress, in the hopes that his gentle wife could inject him with some strength and support, but it was like a drop in the ocean. Even the imminent birth of the crown prince, the joy he was about to receive, all scattered away in his heart.

He only felt numb…a cold numbness that penetrated deep into his bones.

Days and nights flipped by unknowingly, and the Holy Ancestor exhausted all kinds of attempts. The expansion of the kingdom couldn’t ignite the prideful arrogance in his heart; the slaughter of rebels couldn’t give him the heroic vigor of a tiger swallowing thousands of miles; the growth of wealth only evoked a tiny, cold satisfaction reflected in gold.

Beautiful women, talented individuals, rare treasures, delicious meals…all the pleasures of the mundane world flowed in endlessly, and congested the royal city of Wuping.

Yet it was all useless. Utterly useless.

He looked at the myriad people and things, and it was as if he was looking at things completely unrelated to himself. He really wanted to be happy, he forced himself to smile, forced himself to show joy, but in the end, his heart was only left with indifference, as desolate as a desert in a thousand-year drought.

There must have been something wrong with the last cycle, he thought suddenly, there must be…there must be!

He had found the root of the problem, and almost couldn’t wait to reclaim his memories. There, he finally found all the answers, his deal with the Evil One to drive out Goodness.

“The Evil One!” he shouted hoarsely, running through every corner of the palace like a madman, followed by frantic servants. “Come out, come out!”

“I swore to you! You swore to me!”

“Come out! I command you to come out! You vile wretch, what have you done to me?! I demand you come out right now!”

The Emperor screamed until his voice went hoarse and ran until his legs gave out. Just as he was gasping for breath, on the brink of despair, his shadow lengthened once more, and the familiar, chilling, boiling sound echoed in his ears.

“What’s happened, Mortal Realm’s ruler?” the Evil One giggled, surprisingly coquettish. “Are you not satisfied with our deal?”

When he heard that voice, the Holy Ancestor thrashed violently, like a fish struggling without water.

“We had an agreement! You could only take two hours of my time! But what is this? What is this?!” he shrieked. “What have you done to me!”

The Evil One paused for a moment, and made a clicking sound as if it were facing an immature child.

“Yes, I could only take two hours of yours,” its tone was somewhat aggrieved. “But, you didn’t specify, what kind of two hours.”

The Holy Ancestor froze from head to toe, as if doused with icy water, as he trembled violently.

The Evil One continued to laugh, uncontrollably, almost gut-wrenchingly.

“So what I wanted was two hours of your joyous emotions. Two hours of your happiness. Every moment of laughter, every second of joy, every fragment of elated time…All of it, every bit, belongs to me.”

The Evil One hovered near the Emperor’s ear, and whispered softly, “So, do you have any objections?”