荔枝影院

Edited by: Michyrr

“Heh, you are worried about Us?”

The Sage Emperor smiled and shook his head, continuing to gaze at the capital to the south.

“Yes!”

As Gao Lishi spoke, his eyes dimmed.

No one understood the Sage Emperor’s condition more than he did. There wasn’t much time left.

“Your Majesty, can we not stop that matter? This will only increase the burden on Your Majesty’s body,” Gao Lishi said, hinting at something with his words.

“Yuanchong, I know what you are thinking, but death is a normal part of life, and no one can escape it. Have you still not seen this after following me for so long?” he Sage Emperor indifferently said, for the first time calling Gao Lishi by his courtesy name.

Everyone knew that Gao Lishi’s original surname was not ‘Gao’ and that he had another name. The courtesy name for this other name was ‘Yuanchong’.

Gao Lishi trembled upon hearing this familiar name, his eyes growing more stricken with grief. Meanwhile, the Sage Emperor’s voice continued to ring in his ears.

“...Moreover, that thing is the only thing I can leave for the Central Plains and the empire, and it will be the only thing that can help him after I am gone!”

The Sage Emperor did not say who this ‘him’ was, but Gao Lishi understood.

“This old slave understands. As long as Your Majesty wants it, this old slave will do everything in his power to carry it out!”

Gao Lishi bowed.

The hall suddenly became eerily silent. Gao Lishi raised his head in surprise and saw that there was a trickle of blood coming from the corner of the Sage Emperor’s lips.

Gao Lishi trembled and hurriedly came forward with a dark red pill that he helped the Sage Emperor swallow. Almost immediately, the Sage Emperor’s aura began to calm, but his complexion was still unhealthy.

The Sage Emperor waved his hand and said, “It’s fine. You go down first. Leave Us alone for a moment.”

Gao Lishi was still worried, but he did not defy the order, bowing and taking his leave.

......

Several days went by in the blink of an eye. Surprisingly, King Song’s proposal to form a new cabinet was passed.

The Great Tang was peaceful, but Wang Chong’s concern was increasing by the day.

In the early morning, Wang Chong was in his residence, looking through a pile of treasures. Upon hearing Wang Chong’s call, the great clans and martial arts titans had sent over a large variety of natural treasures.

Wang Chong had only said that he needed to treat injuries and needed many top-class natural treasures, not even mentioning the Sage Emperor, but this immediately caused a great stir. All sorts of treasures were sent to him, many of them so rare that encountering them even once in a lifetime was lucky.

There were cinnabar fruits, spirit roots, hundred-year knotweed, thousand-year spirit vines... All of them were sent to Wang Chong.

But Wang Chong could only sigh at all these treasures. As he inspected these natural treasures with Psychic Energy, he found that though they were brimming with spiritual energy, they were basically useless on an expert near the Saint Martial realm like the Sage Emperor.

“Haaa, is there really nothing that can be done?”

Wang Chong heaved another sigh, creasing his brows. For some reason, he had an extremely bad feeling.

Wang Chong looked down at the double fish pendant in his hand. The Sage Emperor had granted it to him, and it currently seemed that this mysterious pendant with so many secrets was more reliable than this pile of natural treasures.

“Reporting!”

As Wang Chong was focusing his Psychic Energy on the double fish pendant, the doors to the hall slammed open, and a Golden Guard rushed inside.

“Your Highness, Eunuch Gao has come!”

“What?”

Wang Chong’s brow creased in surprise.

Wang Chong and Eunuch Gao could be considered rather familiar with each other, and even if Eunuch Gao rarely visited the residence, did this Golden Guard really have to be so nervous about reporting his visit?

Before Wang Chong had time to think too deeply, there was a gust of wind, and a familiar figure wearing silk robes walked inside.

“Eunuch Gao!”

Wang Chong trembled in shock, his eyes flying open.

This was not Wang Chong’s first meeting with Eunuch Gao.

In Wang Chong’s memory, the number one eunuch official of the Great Tang, the Sage Emperor’s closest aide, always possessed a face that was ‘as round as pearls, smooth as jade’, beaming like the Maitreya Buddha. His round and smiling face was his most defining trait.

But the Eunuch Gao who appeared at his door was completely different.

The man was now incredibly thin, and his healthy complexion had become wrinkled and old. Rather than ’round as pearls, smooth as jade’, he had become like an ordinary old man.

Wang Chong could also see a deep fatigue and sorrow.

Wang Chong’s mind was reeling in shock.

He had never imagined that Eunuch Gao would grow so old so quickly.

Bang!

Before Eunuch Gao could speak, a familiar voice rang out like a bell in Wang Chong’s mind.

“Special Event: True Dragon’s Twilight!

“The divine turtle has a long life, but even it must die. The flying snake might be able to traverse the clouds, but even it will eventually become dust. The wise sovereign of a generation is on the verge of death!”

Rumble!

An illusion appeared before Wang Chong’s eyes.

Thunder rumbled while lightning crackled across the dark, cloudy skies. The sounds of fighting filled Wang Chong’s ears as if endless armies of cavalry and infantry were sweeping across the earth. The neighing of horses, the clashing of weapons, the blaring of horns, and screams of pain resounded across the world.

And in the middle of this army, Wang Chong saw a mountainous figure, wearing imperial robes and holding a long sword as he commanded the army.

Under this sovereign’s command, the countless soldiers swept out from all sides, defeating all foes. The banners of different peoples were cut down in twos and threes, and in the end, the army emerged victorious.

But even the strongest existence would fall one day.

Right after this momentous victory, this giant sovereign who was as radiant as the sun collapsed at Wang Chong’s feet.

The world turned dark!

“The True Dragon’s Twilight cannot be prevented. User has a chance to meet with the true dragon one last time and obtain the True Dragon’s Legacy!” the Stone of Destiny declared.

Bang!

Wang Chong shuddered as if he had been struck by lightning, the blood draining out of his face.

“How could it be like this?”

Wang Chong’s heart seethed in turmoil. His body immediately began to sway, all his strength draining out through the soles of his feet.

“Wang Chong...”

At this moment, the hair at Gao Lishi’s temples danced in the wind, his lips were trembling, and his voice was hoarse with grief.

“His Majesty has summoned you for an audience!”

This short sentence seemed to take all his strength.

......

Wang Chong went out the main gate, boarded his carriage, and headed toward the Imperial Palace. He leaned back against the cold wall of the carriage, his mind still blank.

He heard the carriage driver yell out ‘Hyah’ again and again, heard the guards at the gate say something, heard the gates open to allow the carriage entry... His daze continued until the carriage reached its destination.

“Your Highness, we’ve arrived!” A voice came from outside.

Wang Chong opened the carriage door and walked out. Looking up, he saw the looming silhouette of Taiji Palace.

Dark clouds hung low and thick, exuding a gloomy and sinister aura.

Taiji Palace appeared like a great Peng with its wings unfurled, soaring in the dark clouds with an immense grandeur and majesty.

But when he saw Taiji Palace this time, Wang Chong only felt great weight and sorrow.

Eunuch Gao walked over and sorrowfully said, “Wang Chong, hurry inside. His Majesty has already been waiting for a long time!”

Wang Chong climbed the steps and pushed open the heavy doors.

Creeeak!

The sound seemed to echo for eternity, and then Wang Chong stepped over the threshold.

Taiji Palace was somewhat cold and dark, and all was quiet. Wang Chong looked up at the great nine dragon throne and immediately saw that familiar figure.

Wearing his dragon robe, the Sage Emperor was resting his head on his hand, apparently in deep thought.

“You’ve come.” The Sage Emperor, who seemed to have just woken up, suddenly spoke.

He slowly sat up, and a wave of energy as scorching as the flames of the sun surged out of his body and swept through the entirety of the hall.

The dark and cold atmosphere was immediately swept away, and the entire place seemed to be basking in the light of the sun.

Wang Chong saw blood rushing back into the Sage Emperor’s pale complexion. That confident and dignified expression once more made Wang Chong recall the majestic and wise sovereign revered by all the people of the realm.

Recalling the Stone of Destiny’s words, he felt deep sorrow upon seeing this familiar figure that so closely matched the one from his memories.

But in a flash, Wang Chong buried all his sorrow and grief.

After walking another cycle, he had once more arrived at the moment of the Sage Emperor’s death.

Time was limited, and Wang Chong knew that the Sage Emperor could only have summoned him at the last moment of his life to impart something extremely important. He did not wish for the Sage Emperor to see the sorrow on his face.

Wang Chong took a deep breath, his eyes turning hard, and he got down on one knee and bowed.

“This lowly subject pays respects to His Majesty! May the Emperor live ten thousand years, ten thousand years!”

“Rise! There is no need for excess courtesy!”

A smile slowly crept onto the Sage Emperor’s lips.

For some reason, this smile made Wang Chong’s heart ache.