Chapter 74

Chapter 74.1: You Want to Leave The Water Edge

The man's voice was not loud. But in that instant that he opened his mouth, the grand hall became quiet, and everyone was carefully waiting to hear the response.

Before that pair of eyes filled with longing and anticipation, Qing Ye Li nodded his head, his voice seemingly filled with a kind of magical strength that was highly calming to people's hearts. "On this trip, I found the person that I have been looking for many years, and I have given my word that your Majesty's condition will definitely improve when that happens."

Hearing those words, Yue Mu Chen's eyes widened. "Are you saying that you've really found that highly powerful Elixir Cultivator?"

"Yes, I have."

"Then where is he? Has he come to the Water Edge Kingdom with you? Bring him in quickly!" Yue Mu Chen said rather excitedly.

Qing Ye Li then gave a soft sigh. "Unfortunately, that person did not come here, but has gifted to me some elixirs before we parted, that would be able to temporarily regulate and condition your Majesty's body first."

With those words, the Emperor seated up above could not help but feel a little disappointed.

Seeing that, Qing Ye Li's eyes darkened and his voice was low as he said: "Your Majesty, you body is now too weak and frail and the process has to be slow. Although it cannot be guaranteed that the condition will be completely cured, but we can at least stabilize the condition first so you will not cough out blood any more."

"Will it really do that?" Hearing Qing Ye Li say that. Yue Mu Chen was still filled with anticipation.

As he had this condition that made him cough out blood, everytime his blood and Qi surged, he would suffer an especially hard bout of coughing, expelling a great amount of blood, where his body would then collapse completely.

If that could be alleviated by just a bit, it would be a lot easier for him.

"I believe that your Majesty believes in what I say." Qing Ye Li said expressionlessly. "All other Elixr Cultivators in these lands are not even one tenth of this person."

"I will naturally believe the words of the Duke of Vast Seas. But with such a talented person, if we can….." Yue Mu Chen's words hesitated slightly, his gaze looking straight at the Qing Ye Li. "I hope that the Duke of Vast Seas will be able to persuade this person to come work for the Water Edge Kingdom."

Once that voice fell, the aura around Qing Ye Li changed in an instant. The powerful oppressive aura caused everyone in the grand hall to be unable to breathe and Yue Mu Chen who was nearest to him was implicated as well, his face immediately turning even more pale.

"For some people, I think it is better that your Majesty does not come to harbour any ideas." The beast like eyes under the mask were watching the Emperor on the elevated main seat unfeelingly. "It's enough that the Water Edge has me."

The oppressive aura then faded, and everyone was granted relief from the oppression.

The mysterious and powerful man had given his word to remain in the Water Edge to support Yue Mu Chen because Yue Mu Chen had saved his life many years before and he had put down the chaos that had been sweeping through the kingdom in one fell swoop, allowing the frail and sickly Emperor who had not been able to gain the support of everyone to ascend to the throne, helping Yue Mu Chen firm his hold on the position.

With his powers, if he had the slightest notion, he could very well have just proclaimed himself to be the Emperor, but he did not. That was enough for people to see his character and how he kept to his word.

Qing Ye Li did not belong to the Water Edge nor was he even from these very lands. Everyone all thought this was the will of the Heavens, to have him descend among them, and help the Water Edge Kingdom become the strongest kingdom.

But they have forgotten that Qing Ye Li was never a person they could ever control. Although Yue Mu Chen was the emperor, the two people did not interact with each other like the way it should be between an Emperor and his minister, but was more like friends standing on equal grounds.

Yue Mu Chen had gotten a little too anxious just now and his tone of voice had unconsciously sounded a little like he was giving a command.

But Qing Ye Li did not mind such insignificant details in the least. What bothered him was that Yue Mu Chen should not have come to harbour any thoughts of recruiting Qing Yu under them.

She was meant to be high up above people from the moment she was born, and no one was qualified enough to make her submit.

Chapter 74.2: You Want to Leave The Water Edge

Yue Mu Chen was startled for a moment by the insidious cold in the man's eyes before he shook his head and laughed. "I have merely been too excited and lost myself for a moment. I do not mean anything by that."

"Your Majesty should know how haughty and arrogant a high level Elixir Cultivator is, never submitting themselves to anyone easily, and it is only because of me that the person is willing to lend a helping hand." Qing Ye Li said and then passed the two little porcelain bottles to the attendant. "The dosage is indicated on them and it will help regulate his Majesty's condition."

"You've gone to so much trouble." Yue Mu Chen said gratefully.

"Your Majesty, I have a presumptuous request to make." Qing Ye Li suddenly stood up and opened his mouth to say. Although he had stated it as a request, his tone of voice was determined and resolute. "I would like to, resign from my position as the Duke of Vast Seas!"

"What?"

Once those words came out, not only Yue Mu Chen, but all the court officials below were stunned in their spots. To all of them, it was as devastating as being struck by a bolt out of the blue.

The Duke of Vast Seas was the Water Edge's god of war and the very soul of the entire army's morale. If he was no longer with them, the Water Edge Kingdom would definitely be thrown into chaos.

Yue Mu Chen's face changed slightly and then slowly said: "Why do you want to resign? Are you thinking of….. leaving the Water Edge?"

"That's right." Qing Ye Li answered.

"For so many years, it is only because the Duke of Vast Seas, you, existed here that our Water Edge Kingdom was able to grow by the day, rising up to be the top among the Three Great Kingdoms. If you are not with us, all those smaller neighbouring countries sitting restless around us would jump at the opportunity and the Water Edge Kingdom would be placed in a dangerous situation. I sincerely ask that you reconsider!"

A tall and burly general among the officials clasped his hand over his fist and knelt on one knee, his face grave as he spoke. All the other officials then followed suit, the entire hall falling to their knees in a flurry.

"We beg that the Duke of Vast Seas consider!"

"Duke of Vast Seas, the Water Edge Kingdom cannot do without you!"

"Will the Duke of Vast Seas please stay! ?"

Seeing the scene before his eyes, Qing Ye Li's eyes darkened, his thin red lips stiffening up.

As for Yue Mu Chen, except for the shock he showed right at the beginning, he had now become calm. He got up from his Dragon Throne and came walking one step at a time to stand before Qing Ye Li, his pale white lips slightly curled up. "All the way from the beginning, I have known that this day would come sooner or later, but I had not thought that it would be so sudden."

"Is it because you have found that person that you have not been able to find all this time?"

Yue Mu Chen still remembered that right from the beginning, the was another big reason why Qing Ye Li had remained here in the Water Edge Kingdom besides repaying the debt for saving his life. He was looking for a person who could possibly have fallen into this world like him, and in the ten over years he had stayed in the Water Edge, he had sent people out across the oceans to search, but it had been to no avail.

And this time he had merely gone on a trip to the Green Wave Kingdom and he had immediately made such a request upon coming back. Yue Mu Chen's quick wits had guessed that was the case in an instant.

Qing Ye Li could not deny his words. "That person heard that you saved my life and took the initiative to say that if there is an opportunity to come to the Water Edge, your Majesty's health will definitely be restored. And I….. from very long ago, I have always been by that person's side, never ever parted for such a long period of time."

Yue Mu Chen laughed softly. "I am very curious what kind of person can make you do this. But I think that it must be a lady of extraordinary beauty!"

That was the only plausible scenario that even someone like Qing Ye Li would be wrapped around someone's finger like this.

"If fate decrees, you will see her too."

Yue Mu Chen suddenly turned his back around, and signaled to his attendant.

The attendant immediately stepped forward and announced to all the officials in court: "Today's morning court ends here. Court is dismissed!"

Chapter 74.3: You Want to Leave The Water Edge

All the people below then obediently took their leave where even the Imperial attendants bowed their backs and walked out. Within the vast grand hall, only Yue Mu Chen and Qing Ye Li were left, but the young Emperor had his face turned away at that moment so the expression on his face could not be seen.

After a long while, a long sigh was then heard from him.

"Including this year, it has been a good thirteen years since you came to the Water Edge Kingdom. This is a number that has now come to mean your impending departure." Yue Mu Chen's voice was soft, and listening to it carefully there did not seem to be any emotion in it. "I have always admired you and Xin Yan like you more than she likes me, her biological elder brother. Thirteen whole years….. Qing Ye Li, grant me this one last request. Only after the rest of this year has past, and then leave will you? !"

There was only two of them there at that moment. Yue Mu Chen did not use an officious tone but spoke like they were friends, sounding a lot more casual.

Qing Ye Li had thought that Yue Mu Chen had dismissed everyone else because he wanted to persuade him to stay, never having expected that he would be so candid and straightforward, not saying a single word about it.

But even if he had, it would be of no use. He was determined to go and anything he might have said would be in vain.

The expression on Qing Ye Li's face did not change. "I thank your Majesty for understanding. Although I will be leaving, but if the Water Edge Kingdom is in trouble, I will definitely lend a helping hand."

The Emperor's tall and thin figure did not move in the slightest but merely waved his hand, to indicate that Qing Ye Li can leave.

It was not known how long it had been, but only when he was the only person left in the vast hall, did Yue Mu Chen finally heave a sigh of relief, his face dejected as he slumped into his throne.

It was most probably because he had known Qing Ye Li for too long and now that the man was leaving, he was finding it hard to accept it. It was like having gotten used to having something in your life, and then suddenly finding that it had disappeared.

Yue Mu Chen gave a soft and imperceptible sigh as he raised his long fingers up to cover over his forehead in between his brows.

——

Every year when the great sects opened their doors to recruit new disciples, the atmosphere would always become exhilarating and nerve wracking at the same time. Even the Young Masters who were always out and about pleasure seeking were seen to restrain themselves, behaving quite a lot better.

The Three Great Sects were each other's checks and balances and the Faint Mist Sect had firmly taken the top position among the sects for many years with the Limitless Sect hot on their heels. Although the Carefree Valley was last among them, but they commanded great might as well. But as its ways and methods ran counter to the of the other two sects, having trained a top notch band of dark assassins who were both orthodox and unorthodox, greatly feared by many and despised by those who proclaimed themselves to be righteous.

At the very moment in the Carefree Valley, a gloomy looking middle aged man stood, his hands behind his back as he said: "Say that again?"

"Valley Chief please appease your anger. Your subordinate was ambushed midway through the journey and when I woke up….. all my clothes had been stripped off and I was bound to a tree….." The man down below was so angry his teeth were gritted together. "It must be the work of that traitor of the Carefree Valley, Baili Ji Ran who did it. I heard that he went to attend the All Saint's Day festival as the Carefree Valley's Young Lord! That is just utterly despicable!"

"Is that so?" The middle aged man said those two words very softly, and it was not possible to discern whether it was spoken in joy or rage.

"Valley Chief, isn't Baili Ji Ran being too wilful and arrogant here? Should we teach him a lesson? He was once a member of the Carefree Valley afterall and for him to disrespect the Carefree Valley so completely, it is the greatest affront to the Valley Chief!"

"Do not drag the Carefree Valley into your personal grievances." The middle aged man said offhandedly as he glanced at the man down below, like he could see right through him. He is someone from the White Fens Lands afterall and with the Four Great Family Clans branches from the same tree and united in the same breath, however strong the Carefree Valley is, do you think we can stand against the Four Great Family Clans of the White Fens Lands?"

With those words, the man immediately clamped his mouth and dared not speak. No matter how displeased he was with Baili Ji Ran, when before absolute might and authourity, he could only cowardly submit.