Chapter 1646 — A Loyal Dog

The moment the words left his mouth, the Heavenly Masters remaining in Lingxiao Hall fell silent, their gazes flickering as they watched to see how the Fire Heavenly Master would answer. The Fire Heavenly Master raised his cup, tilted back his head, and drained it dry.

"Your Majesty jests. How would your subject dare ask for half the world? Your subject asks only for half of Jingping; beyond that, not one inch of land do I want.

" Emperor Hao smiled, and his gaze met the Fire Heavenly Master's.

"Ha ha ha ha!

" The two of them burst into laughter at once. The other Heavenly Masters laughed along with them, and the laughter gradually subsided.

Emperor Hao said with a smile, "Patriarch God King, do you want Jingping? " The Patriarch God King inclined slightly and said with a smile, "Your subject holds Xuandu by Your Majesty's command. Xuandu alone shrouds all the heavens and the myriad worlds; its lands are so vast that I can scarcely keep them in order as it is. I would rather not.

" Emperor Hao looked next to the Void Heavenly Master, who shook his head. "Your Majesty, like the Patriarch God King, your subject dares not covet the wealth of Jingping; I ask only to govern Youdu well. " Emperor Hao smiled.

"Then it falls to Us and Our beloved minister Huo to divide Jingping between us.

" Taichu smiled.

"Pray hold a moment, Your Majesty. " A dead silence fell over the Lingxiao Treasure Hall.

Not a sound remained; every eye turned upon Taichu. Taichu smiled and said, "In the years when we were still the Ten Heavenly Masters, our interests were one and our gains were shared equally. Today the world is unified, and naturally we cannot do things as we once did. The whole of the primordial universe belongs to Your Majesty — yet Your Majesty's accession to the throne also rested upon the support of us old brothers. Having won the world, Your Majesty ought to reward merit and soothe the hearts of your old brothers; you must not let their hearts grow cold. " Emperor Hao smiled. "The Retired Emperor speaks wisely.

We have only just taken the throne of Heaven, and are not so practiced in it as the Retired Emperor. How does the Retired Emperor think Jingping should be divided? " Taichu went on, "Reward merit, and nothing more.

In the battle of Xuandu and the battle of Youdu alike, our old brothers gave all they had, staking their lives upon it, and several of our dao companions even fell. The living have won fame and standing, true, but the widows and orphans of the dead cannot go uncared for. Jingping's wealth falls only a little short of the Heaven Court's; divide it by the old rules, and Your Majesty loses very little by it. " The other Heavenly Masters said nothing more, and listened quietly. Emperor Hao said gravely, "The Retired Emperor's guidance is just. " Taichu smiled. "The Fire Heavenly Master — the human race, the celestial race, and besides, he has a covenant with Your Majesty.

The Void Heavenly Master, the Patriarch God King, the Taiji Ancient Gods, and myself, the Retired Emperor — even the Eastern Emperor Qinglong — all are ministers of merit.

Add to that the Heavenly Master Mu's submission; he wept and wailed in his letter of surrender, saying he wished only to beg a place of seclusion where he might pray for Your Majesty's blessing.

All of these are matters that must be discussed. " He laughed heartily. "The Void Heavenly Master and the Patriarch God King dare not ask for Jingping, but wealth can still be divided among us. Jingping is so rich, with so many forges and workshops, so many masters of the arts of calculation, so many master smiths. If we do not divide it, what if one day its people twist themselves into a single rope again and rise in rebellion? Better to divide it.

Better to divide it. " Emperor Hao pondered, nodding again and again, and said with a grin, "The Retired Emperor speaks wisely. Wisely. . . " He shot a glance at the Son of Heaven Yin, who steeled himself and said, "Retired Emperor, your subject also has merit.

Your subject would also like a share. " The Fire Heavenly Master said coldly, "Son of Heaven Yin, in the battle of Youdu you never so much as showed a hair of your head.

What merit have you? " Emperor Hao laughed.

"Yin Zhaojin is a Heavenly Master after all, and being a Heavenly Master, he may still have a cup of the broth — otherwise, would he not be a Heavenly Master in name alone? Patriarch God King, Void Heavenly Master, you two need not stand on ceremony either.

Jingping does indeed hold a share for you as well. " The Patriarch God King and the Void Heavenly Master exchanged a glance, then bowed as one and said, "We thank Your Majesty for your grace. " Emperor Hao smiled. "The Heaven Court once had Ten Heavenly Masters.

Now there are only the Void Heavenly Master, the Patriarch God King, the Fire Heavenly Master, the Retired Emperor, the Son of Heaven Yin, and Us. It seems fresh blood must be added.

The Son of Heaven Yin has become Heavenly Master Yin; the White Emperor, the Red Emperor, and the Azure Emperor may likewise be candidates for the Ten Heavenly Masters. " Taichu smiled. "The White Emperor, the Red Emperor, and the Azure Emperor are still somewhat lacking in character. Your Majesty, the Taiji Ancient Gods might serve as Heavenly Masters. " Emperor Hao toyed with his cup and laughed heartily.

"We had nearly forgotten. Our two dao brothers did indeed exert themselves greatly in the battles of Youdu and Xuandu, and may be ranked as Heavenly Masters.

That being so, why not add the Heavenly Master Mu as well? Then we should have Nine Heavenly Masters. " The Fire Heavenly Master protested, "Your Majesty, how can a rebel be made a Heavenly Master? " Emperor Hao smiled. "Does Our beloved minister Huo perhaps have another candidate in mind?

" The Fire Heavenly Master said, "The Heavenly Master Mu is a rebel.

To rank him among the Ten Heavenly Masters — to say nothing of your subject's refusal to accept it, no other Heavenly Master would accept it either!

Besides, it is not as though the Ten Heavenly Masters lack a man. Is the Divine Emperor Langxuan not still with us? " The cup in Emperor Hao's hand was crushed flat. He smiled.

"The Divine Emperor Langxuan died at the Heavenly Master Mu's hands. .

.

" "The Divine Emperor Langxuan has Heaven's own protection. He lives still. " The Fire Heavenly Master's face was suddenly wreathed in smiles, which made the mask upon his face look all the more terrifying. "Has Your Majesty forgotten that the Divine Emperor Langxuan kept a clone in Jingping?

Heaven took pity. Your subject has rescued that clone, so that it did not perish at the rebel Mu's hands. " The cup in Emperor Hao's hand melted and ran down as molten gold. Suddenly he burst out laughing.

"Well done!

Splendidly done!

Our beloved minister Huo is loyal to his lord and loves his country, a minister of matchless loyalty — worthy indeed of being the man We treasure most! " The Fire Heavenly Master, all trepidation, said, "Your Majesty overpraises me.

" Taichu's gaze flickered, and he laughed loudly.

"The Fire Heavenly Master is indeed unmatched in loyalty and righteousness! " Emperor Hao gave a cold humph and said, "The Eastern Emperor Qinglong has come to submit, and may be ranked among the Heavenly Masters. The Fire Heavenly Master should have no objection? " The Fire Heavenly Master smiled. "The Eastern Emperor Qinglong as a Heavenly Master — I have no objection.

" Emperor Hao clenched his fist, then slowly unclenched it, and smiled.

"Jingping's interests are great; how they are divided need not be argued among us.

Let the youngsters below discuss it. Today is the day of Our accession; let us not speak of such vexations. We shall rejoice with all Our beloved ministers, and none shall go home until drunk! " In Lingxiao Hall the cups and tallies crossed and re-crossed, and laughter and talk rose gradually.