Chapter 1155: Bestowal
Proofreader: Papatonks
Wu Randong’s eyes shook and clenched his fists. He was trying to hold it in, but the bloodshot eyes betrayed his anger.
Baili Jingwei gave a winning smirk.
A guard rushed in and bowed with four jade slips in his hands, “Prime Minister, reports from the lands came in of the completed operations. There are only stragglers fleeing, the Sword Kings are sending the soldiers to deal with. Overall, the four lands are seized.”
“Truly?”
Baili Jingwei lit up and snatched the jade slips. He read them and exploded, “Ha-ha-ha, a new world order. My nation rules all the lands at long last. Next remains handling the two dissidents. With them out of the way, humph…”
Baili Jingwei smirked and shouted, “Have all officials assemble in the imperial capital. His Majesty will bestow rewards and titles to celebrate this momentous occasion, ha-ha-ha…”
“Yes!”
The guard looked pleased as well as he ran to carry out the order. The deputy emissary glanced at Wu Randong with mockery, then slammed the cell door shut. Their steps echoed in the distance, leaving Wu Randong in solitude.
Wu Randong grinned, “Palace Lord’s cunning is flawless. He had me practice emotion and facial expression control. It took all I had not to laugh in Baili Jingwei’s face, ha-ha-ha…”
Wu Randong let out a carefree laughter, sharp like a crow’s that sent a chill down one’s spine.
…
Three days later, Zither Sword King sat in Double Dragon Manor’s Heaven Reaching Pavilion as he played a soothing tune matching the scenery.
A ruckus sounded out of nowhere disturbing the peace. Zither Sword King’s hand halted and he sighed.
“Uncultured philistine.”
Zither Sword King shook his head, finding Li Jingtian bringing her thuggish venerable along with a bow, “The Luo clan has blockaded western lands and is hunting down the stragglers. How might we be of help, Zither Sword King, having called us?”
Zither Sword King gave them a look, “Like a service clan, you’re not a good fit with me. Music is wasted on you.”
They shared puzzled looks.
“How’s the hunt going then? Even if some escape, they can never be allowed to leave western lands!”
“The Luo clan has lived the military way and is more than efficient in this. Those remnants won’t escape us. Zither Sword King can rest assured.” Luo Yunchang spoke with pride and a smile.
Zither Sword King eased and took out a jade slip, “Prime Minister Baili sent word, calling all ministers and officials to the imperial capital for bestowal. You’ve helped make things easier by working with us and have most credit for this achievement. You shall come with me!”
“Baili Jingwei will release Yunhai?” Luo Yunchang was stern, snatching the jade slip and looking at it with hope.
Zither Sword King nodded and resumed playing…
In northern lands’ Sea Bright Sect, Baili Yuyun took the highest people to Sect Leader hall, coughing, “Ahem, you’ve done well, everyone. Report!”
“The past few days were spent with the Sun Sea Sect working with the three Sword Kings and the central area’s ten million soldiers at the borders to clean the northern lands. Without the Sea Bright Sect leading, the other three sects were aimless, killed off so easily. But many people are hiding and scared. We couldn’t find them. At the moment, we are conducting a wide search to root them out and leave nothing for the empire to suffer later.”
Bu Xingyun was the first to stand in front with his head held high and his chest puffed out, “Only, Ouyang Changqing and the four elders have yet to be found, posing problems. As Sword King level experts…”
Baili Yuyun waved him off, “Ha-ha-ha, leave it be. What of it anyway? The Northern lands are ours, so what can they possibly do? They’ll end up surrounded like last time.”
“The Invincible Sword had been surrounded then and had suffered so, which means they will only have it worse, ha-ha-ha, ugh…”
Bu Xingyun choked, noticing Baili Yuyun’s cold glare.
Baili Yuyun was grave, “Sect Leader Bu, you’re the empire’s official now, not of northern lands anymore. Patriarch is our god and you treat him as a joke?”
“Uh, no, never. It’s sir who…”
“I only said how to deal with them, not hinting Patriarch. But you…”
“Sword King, I was wrong. Spare me, please!” Bu Xingyun wailed in tears.
[Blasted all to hell! You started going back memory lane and now you pin it on me? Were you setting me up?]
[Damn right it’s a setup!]
Baili Yuyun sneered inside, his eyes shining, “Nevermind, I’ll overlook it the first time. Just make sure to remember that Patriarch is never to be questioned.”
“Yes, thank you, Sword King, for your mercy!” Bu Xingyun’s spoke at ease.
Baili Yuyun nodded and showed a jade slip, “Prime Minister Baili called everyone back to the imperial capital for their rewards. Sect Leader Bu, you are the northern lands’ king and it will soon become official as well. Ha-ha-ha, congratulations!”
Bu Xingyun was overwhelmed with emotion, but he noticed Baili Yuyun’s smirk and he realized.
[Curses, did he set me up because he eyes my power as northern lands’ king?]
“Sword King, you jest. It’s all due to sir’s help in earning this glory. I will never forget it. I shall listen to sir’s every word even if named king!”
“Sect Leader Bu is so polite.”
Baili Yuyun chuckled.
[A northern lands’ king was like a regional governor, having great sway in the empire. Being the northern lands’ king, I will rise in status in the empire, and Baili Yuyun is using him to get higher too.]
[You may have gotten glory, but I can bury you just as easily!]
Catching his drift, Bu Xingyun became touched by Baili Yuyun’s care.
“Where’s that old Wine Sword Immortal?”
“I don’t know. He hasn’t been seen in days.” Bu Xingyun answered like a good puppy.
A stench of wine wafted in, followed by Wine Sword Immortal himself with a filled jar. His nose looked red like a tomato, “He-he-he, I’ve scoured Sea Bright Sect’s cellar and found at last that northern lands does have some good wine. This icy wine is so smooth and cool, I’ve never tasted anything like it. You should all try it, but just a sip, I barely found thirty of these.”
“Even with thirty jars, you’re still only letting others sip? Humph, you blind stinking drunk!”
Baili Yuyun mocked, “Wine Sword Immortal, Prime Minister called us to the imperial capital for rewards. Be ready!”
“We’re leaving now? There’s loads of fine wine in the north that I’ve yet to sample. You go while I try some more for a couple of days.”
“Make sure you don’t miss it. It’s too important!”
Baili Yuyun glared, waving the others to follow him out, “We’re going. Humph, that’s just how the old drunkard is.”
“See ya!”
Wine Sword Immortal waved them off with a goony smile, then his smile fell once they were gone. His drunk look was replaced with gravity, shouting, “Guard, assemble the men…”
The eastern lands and southern lands got Baili Jingwei’s message as well. Shangguan Feiyun grew eager at the thought of a ceremony and rushed to the imperial capital. Danqing Shen was respectfully sending off the officials sent to southern lands, while he did the same as Wine Sword Immortal, assembling the men for some baffling reason.
But with it taking time, they were bound to reach the imperial capital three days later.
In a blizzard, a man was sitting upright on the ice, a black sword hovering in front casting an eerie glint in the sun…