Chapter Sixty-six: A New Perspective on Luoyang (Part Two) (0.2)

Wu Yue stepped out of the palace gates and drew a deep breath—the feeling of standing on solid ground was truly marvelous. Behind him stood that unadorned yet supremely imposing palace gate. Before him, too, the gates opened upon a world both familiar and changed.

It had only been three years.

The brief months spent in the Garden of Eternal Life had already spanned three years in the city of Luoyang. Three years ago, there were still homes near this palace gate; now, it was deserted and desolate. In three years, Luoyang itself had been transformed beyond recognition.

That astonishingly youthful Crown Prince had recounted these three years, telling his story in a slow, measured voice. Though he now ruled as regent, he had sat cross-legged upon the ground with Wu Yue, treating him with a humility bordering on excessive.

Three years ago, after the farewell at Lake Changping, there should have been a grand feast that very night—a magnificent banquet attended by all, with the ever-hungry-for-talent First Emperor himself playing host. At the banquet’s end, as he accompanied his guest to the palace gates, ready to bid a fond farewell, calamity struck. The guest, whom the First Emperor had honored so, suddenly bared his fangs.

A blood-red cloud veiled the moon, and chaos engulfed the nation. The prophecy of Zhou Tiantai came true.

Though the traitors were slain on the spot, the First Emperor was gravely wounded and vanished without a trace. Soon after, among the Three Gates and Five Clans, two gates and two clans allied with several hidden sects from past years, launching a joint assault on Luoyang. They were ultimately defeated, but their valor was undeniable—the Li clan of Qin was no longer untouchable.

Thereafter, of the seventeen states under Qin rule, fifteen raised the banner of rebellion, vowing to overthrow the tyrannical Qin and restore their lands—seeking to revive their ancient customs and abolish the Li clan’s rule.

From then on, Qin was beset by internal strife and external threats, and only now, three years later, had the situation settled somewhat. The rebellious states formed an alliance known as Great You, allowing the various sects to preach freely within their lands—a sharp contrast to Great Qin’s ever-strengthening focus on “nation” and “family.” This drew countless cultivators and recluses to their cause. After several battles, both sides suffered losses and victories, eventually agreeing to a temporary truce, setting the Chu River and Qilian Mountains as the boundary.

The Crown Prince of Qin, Li Zheng, recounted these tumultuous years in detail, for Wu Yue, never having experienced them himself, could hardly find words to respond. Yet he felt a pang of emotion, recalling the awe that struck him upon first arriving in Luoyang.

At last, the regent prince extended an olive branch without reservation. This prince, older than his own sister by more than sixty years, seemed to possess no guile—his sincerity was almost excessive.

“If you are willing to serve me, I shall grant you freedom to come and go as you please, with no one to bind you. The treasures of Qin—elixirs, miraculous medicines, and all manner of magical tools—are yours for the taking. Should your heart be set on a princess of royal blood, you may marry any you choose. Should you seek an official post, the highest offices and generalships are open to you. Should you long for a life of leisure, I can grant you land and a thousand households to rule as your own. Between us, there shall be no distinction of rank—we may call each other brother.”

Li Zheng’s gaze burned as he looked at Wu Yue. Wu Yue stood dumbfounded, but in the end, he bowed and gave thanks. This was the expected answer. Though Li Zheng was disappointed, he did not lose heart, and laughed, “If this business cannot be struck, the friendship remains. I shall always await your return.” That final remark instantly eased the awkwardness in the air.

Wu Yue, too, managed a relaxed smile—after all, he was still on another’s territory. Li Zheng personally escorted Wu Yue out of the Hall of the Four Extremities, parting with pleasant conversation.

Unbeknownst to Wu Yue, the moment he left, a powerful and newly risen eunuch, having soared to great heights only to be cast down again, was the subject of heated words. After Wu Yue’s departure, Eunuch Feng said coldly, “That boy doesn’t know what’s good for him!” His voice dripped with murderous intent, caring nothing for the moment of warmth just passed.

The Crown Prince, always respectful of the worthy, cast a cool glance at this long-serving companion of the prince’s household and said, “The scribe’s post is of utmost importance. Go serve as Sima, chief eunuch, for a few years.” The blow struck Eunuch Feng like a thunderbolt—he had barely grown accustomed to his red brocade robe before it was stripped away. Li Zheng walked off without a trace of emotion. “Even if Zhou Tiantai’s prophecy proves false, this man is destined for greatness.”

Only then did Eunuch Feng hurriedly kneel, weeping bitterly.

Wu Yue and Li Suizhu had a brief, hurried meeting in the palace. The bond between them was deep, yet light.

Li Suizhu brought Wu Yue’s physical body to him—at last, someone to see him off, and he need not carry himself alone.

“I will be traveling in the Immortal Spirit Realm. Should the soldiers of Qin ever need me, I promise to help,” Wu Yue said after a moment’s thought.

Li Suizhu nodded gently. “I am, after all, a princess of Qin. I cannot wander the ends of the earth with you.” This was not the promise she longed for, and Wu Yue knew it.

“I’ll see you out of the palace,” Li Suizhu said suddenly after a long silence. From beginning to end, she never wished to use gratitude as a chain.

Wu Yue said nothing; both walked on in silence. As they neared the palace gates, Wu Yue suddenly stopped. “I suddenly think your brother’s offer was rather tempting.”

Li Suizhu looked at Wu Yue earnestly. “I do not need your repayment.”

For the first time, Wu Yue felt uneasy before this young woman.

The palace gates were now within sight—just a hundred paces, and perhaps less than that, would mean they would never meet again.

Wu Yue finally summoned his courage and said, “Would you wait for me? Perhaps a few decades, perhaps close to a hundred years.”

Li Suizhu suddenly burst into tears. Wu Yue hesitated, then drew her into his arms.

“In another world, long, long ago, I promised a woman I would make her my wife.”

Suddenly, he felt her slip from his embrace. Li Suizhu, tears wiped away, looked at him and said, word by word, “Wu Yue, I love you, and I want you to love me. I will wait for you here. But if I should meet someone else who moves my heart, I will quickly forget you, so you’d best not make me wait too long. I am myself, always myself—I am Princess Li Suizhu of Jinping.” With that, she smiled radiantly and turned to go.

“In this world, how can there be a perfect solution, so that none are left disappointed?” For a moment, Wu Yue could not tell right from wrong.

He stood before the palace gates and drew a long, deep breath. He kept his many troubles to himself—for now, the most important thing was to seize his fate and journey to the Primordial Realm.

No matter how many years had passed, Wu Yue would always return. There lay his enemies, and the woman he loved. His earliest memories were there, as well as the secrets of his origin. Though he could now see the path of destiny, it meant only that he knew the way—he still had to walk it step by step. What he had to do now was to become truly whole, to find a blessed land and break free from the mundane.

Wu Yue walked away, step by step.

Luoyang was as bustling as ever, yet somehow seemed quieter than before. It was as if the famously loud voices of its people had grown softer without anyone noticing. Their former spirit seemed dimmed.

“Brother Wu, I’ve been waiting here for you a long while.” Zhou Qilin, once again his rakish self, held a nanmu wood fan. Smiling, he said, “Let’s put all else aside and speak only of farewells. I envy you so much, truly.”

“The world is vast—I must go and see it,” Wu Yue replied with a smile.

“Exactly so.” Zhou Qilin flicked his fan behind him. “The world is wide, people come and go.”

Indeed, it was the Ever-changing Inn. At that very moment, Wang De could be heard shouting, “Get everything in order! My brother is coming!”

Meanwhile, just a few streets away, in a grand mansion, an old man—Chen Yankun—was blowing his beard and glaring. “What? That rascal showed up from start to finish! Don’t be angry, my dear granddaughter. Watch your grandpa avenge you. An invitation from the Crown Prince? Even the First Emperor couldn’t stop me. I’m going to the palace right now!”

And so, they missed each other perfectly.

Wu Yue let out a resounding sneeze...