Chapter 1697 — Yours Truly Raises the Standard of Revolt
The Herdsman of the Wasteland · Page 4 of 4
Meng Yungui was ordered to go to the Southern Heavens and strip them of the wealth of their great heavens. Yan Yazi, a disciple of the Heavenly Venerable of Fire, hurried out to welcome him and entertained him in person; having received the Heavenly Emperor's decree, he at once ordered the great heavens of the Southern Heavens to send in their wealth of every kind.
Meng Yungui waited in the Southern Heavens for more than ten days. Yan Yazi had made everything ready, and hundreds of cargo ships were drawn up in a line along a tributary of the Heavenly River.
Yan Yazi respectfully saw Meng Yungui off and said in a low voice, "This humble official has heard that the Celestial Master is of the human race and fond of rare treasures. Celestial Master, that last small boat is a gift from this humble official."
Meng Yungui boarded, feeling considerable contempt for Yan Yazi. Coming to a tower ship, he gave the order: "Open the holds and inspect the supplies. Not an ounce short."
The divine officials aboard opened the holds. Meng Yungui looked in and was struck dumb: the holds were packed full of humans, the old among them and the young and strong.
Meng Yungui's mind went blank. Yan Yazi hastily smiled apologetically: "Rest assured, Celestial Master, I would never give short weight! Every human in the Southern Heavens over forty years of age has been sent here! These are only two hundred ships; more slave ships will come in an unending stream..."
Meng Yungui seized him by the collar and hauled him up, his voice hoarse: "What I want is supplies!"
"Celestial Master, this is the supplies."
Yan Yazi struggled once and could not break free, and said in a fluster, "In the time of the Fire Bandits, humans were sacrificed at seventy, but that is an old calendar. Now the Ancestral God King has laid it down anew: at forty they may be sacrificed! Rest assured, Celestial Master, they are all most willing!"
He turned his head and called into the hold, "Are you willing?"
The humans in the hold answered with one voice, "Yes, my lord, we are willing!"
Meng Yungui's hands lost their strength and he set Yan Yazi down. He patted his shoulder and murmured, "Yan Yazi, you have done well, done very well..."
The supply fleet set out. Meng Yungui stood at the prow, clenching his fists again and again, and again and again letting them go; again and again he turned his head to gaze back at the long line of ships, and again and again he turned away.
"I will deliver these kinsmen to the Heavenly Court's army with my own hands, deliver them there myself, as rations for the Heavenly Court's gods and demons..."
His mind was a blur, when suddenly a voice echoed in his head like a nightmare.
"I have a dream... Heh, and it is this cruel..."
He spat out a mouthful of blood, yet his color improved greatly.
Yan Yazi watched the supply fleet recede into the distance and was about to go back and prepare more slaves when Meng Yungui's voice suddenly came: "Yan Yazi!"
Yan Yazi hurriedly turned, smiling apologetically: "Celestial Meng..."
A flash of light passed and pierced him through the brow!
The world before Yan Yazi's eyes collapsed, and darkness slowly closed in. He heard Meng Yungui's voice come, and there was joy in it.
"Yours truly... has turned rebel!"