Chapter 1048 — The Crown Prince Escapes the Siege

" The palace maid hurried off. Shen Mu's heart settled, and he said: "With nephew freed from his plight, I count one wish of mine fulfilled. " The more the Martial Emperor looked at him, the more she liked him.

She said with a smile: "That blockhead of a brother-in-law of yours has never once thought of others like this. That old fool stammers and hedges when he speaks in anger, and when he acts he is not brisk either. " Shen Mu said gravely: "Elder Sister wrongs Brother-in-law. When I went to see him, he gave me two hundred Five Thunder Gourds and dispatched several hundred Sword Gods to reinforce Jingping. " The Martial Emperor said suspiciously: "That blockhead, so generous? When he and I lived together, he would have split a single copper coin into four if he could—would he give you two hundred Five Thunder Gourds?

" Shen Mu's face reddened slightly.

He said quietly: "At first Brother-in-law meant to give only one gourd, and even deceived me that there were only sixteen in all.

So I told him that Elder Sister had given two hundred, and only then did he become a bit more generous. " The Martial Emperor laughed until her whole body shook: "Brother Mu may be honest, but he has his cunning moments too. When that blockhead hears I was so generous, he will certainly grit his teeth and give you that much—but in his heart it will most likely be a river of blood.

Rest assured, little brother. You have come to see me; I shall not be stingier than that blockhead. " With these words from her, Shen Mu finally set his heart at ease: "Three hundred Five Thunder Gourds—enough to form an army.

And that army, once it moves, will be five thunders crashing down! " The Martial Emperor was indeed more open and forthright than Emperor Xuan.

She gave Shen Mu two hundred and one Five Thunder Gourds and said: "That blockhead promised you several hundred Zhenwu Sword Gods; I cannot be outdone. In the days of Kaihuang, when he came here to learn my arts, in exchange the strongest formation masters under his command designed for me the Flying Serpent Linked Ramparts Formation. This formation requires a thousand goddesses to deploy, and can contend even with an Emperor Throne expert.

This formation—I give you one. " Shen Mu was overjoyed, then hesitated: "Brother-in-law let the Sword Gods descend to the lower world to aid me, took back their surnames, and expelled them from the Northern Pole Heaven, saying it was to avoid implicating him. . .

" The Martial Emperor understood and said with a smile: "You fear my palace maids will rely on their Xuanwu bloodline to bully the people of Jingping? Rest assured, I shall arrange matters the same way. " Shen Mu breathed a sigh of relief.

Conversation with a woman of such intelligence was indescribably pleasant. "By the way, this is the second time Brother Mu and I have met. That time on the ghost ship was the first time I saw you, little brother, and it was thanks to your wisdom that we escaped the ghost ship. " The Martial Emperor said with a smile: "Sister Vermilion Bird often mentions you too. She said that when she met you in the early Longhan years, you even spoke of the Heavenly Alliance. " Shen Mu's heart tightened. He nodded slightly.

"The present Ten Heavenly Worthies are the Heavenly Alliance. Does Brother Mu know how great an impact your casual act that day had?

" The Martial Emperor said, as if with intent and as if without: "After the early Longhan years, nearly every great event has been connected to the Heavenly Alliance. As one of the Heavenly Alliance's most ancient elders, it should fall to you to be the main force in quelling the Heavenly Alliance's rebellion.

" "Elder Sister, do you think that if I had not spoken the two words 'Heavenly Alliance,' there would still have been a Heavenly Alliance afterward?

" Shen Mu asked. The Martial Emperor was briefly startled.

"There would still have been a Heavenly Alliance—or perhaps it would not have been called the Heavenly Alliance, but the Earthly Alliance, the Dark Alliance, or some such name. The chief cause of the Heavenly Alliance's formation was not me, but the Ancient Gods.

" Walking shoulder to shoulder with her, Shen Mu said softly: "If the Ancient Gods had treated the postnatal living beings and the demigods a little better, there would have been no Heavenly Alliance.

It was precisely because the oppression was too heavy, leaving the postnatal living beings and demigods little room to live, that the Heavenly Alliance came to be. Even if in the future I and the various Ancient Gods remove the Ten Heavenly Worthies, if you still act as you did before, there will be another Heavenly Alliance in days to come.

" The Martial Emperor was silent a moment, then said: "The Ancient Gods of today are much better than before. But those demigods in the Heavenly Court today are no different from the Ancient Gods of old—they too make the multitudes offer blood sacrifices. The Heavenly Alliance merely eradicated the Ancient Gods and became Ancient Gods themselves.

Brother Mu, you should think about the future—how not to become an Ancient God who squeezes the multitudes and drinks their blood raw. " Shen Mu was briefly stunned.

He bowed and thanked her: "Thank you, Elder Sister, for the reminder!

" The Martial Emperor returned the salute and said: "I have seen too many dynasties rise and fall, too many partings of life and death, too many disasters of the world. Having seen so much, I cannot help but feel despair, and think it all one great cycle.

To change the cycle—that I cannot do. You have drive and momentum; perhaps you will accomplish it. I shall not keep you. " Shen Mu took his leave and departed. The Martial Emperor escorted him to the Southern Heavenly Gate of the half-palace, watching him go far into the distance. Not long after, the palace maid brought Crown Prince Youming.

He transformed into human form, knelt, and bowed in thanks to the Martial Emperor. "Rise. " The Martial Emperor raised a hand and said: "Heavenly Worthy Mu went to considerable lengths to have me release you. He is a Heavenly Worthy; I could not but grant him this favor, and so I release you. Your father gave you ninety-nine lashes because you talked too much, to make you remember.

Now that your punishment is complete and you are freed from your plight, you must not be as naive as before.

" Crown Prince Youming assented. He scrambled to his feet and said: "Where is Heavenly Worthy Mu? Your child has not yet had time to thank him. " The Martial Emperor said: "He has already left.

He should be heading to the Western Pole Heaven to call on the Western Emperor.

Though you are freed, your fault remains. Heavenly Worthy Mu has shown you kindness; you shall descend to the lower world. You lost the Azure Heaven Banner—this tribulation is your due.

When you recover the Azure Heaven Banner, then return to the Northern Pole Heaven.

" Crown Prince Youming bowed again. The Martial Emperor sighed, helped him up, and said: "You are my son after all. Though you look like that foolish father of yours, a mother's heart still cannot bear to watch you walk into danger and death. You are too naive. Had I not kept you suppressed in the Northern Pole Heaven all these years, I fear you would not have survived even the Longhan era.

The Jingping era is even harder; you must grow more wary. " She took out a snakeskin pouch and said: "This was refined from the skin I shed.

It can contain all things and refine all things. Take it to protect yourself. Also, go see your foolish father once, and have him give you something for protection. " Crown Prince Youming choked with emotion and turned to leave.

When he reached the Xuandu Palace, Emperor Xuan saw him and could not help but fly into a rage, shouting: "Stupid woman!