Chapter 175

Hongjun quietly looked at Li Longji, feeling a sense of unfamiliarity toward this old man. After all, three years ago, he had seen the Son of Heaven personally lead an expedition at Mount Li. He was far from being as senile as he was today. Every time Li Longji came to the Golden Blossoms Fall for an audience, he would gradually show signs of aging, but it was never as obvious as it was now.

Hongjun had read in medical books that there was an illness in the human world that caused one to become muddle-headed at old age. It was called 'Soulless Amnesia'. At times, one would forget all of one's memories; at other times, one would have a violent temper and act arbitrarily without asking for the reason … Ever since Li Yuan, the Li Clan had a history of this illness.

Even if Yang Guozhong had the ability to reach the heavens, the Son of Heaven was the reincarnation of the North Star. A demon flood dragon would never be able to poison the Human Emperor.

"Li Jinglong." Li Longji pointed at Mo Rigen and slowly said, "Go to the Yellow River and summon that Black Dragon to assist Us."

Mo Rigen did not reply, narrowing his eyes in thought. Li Longji suddenly roared in anger, "Rebel! Rebel! Both of you have the intention to disobey me! Especially you! Li Jinglong! Someone come! Drag him down! "

"Your Majesty, calm your anger!" Yang Guifei hurriedly pulled on Li Longji's sleeve. Li Longji wanted to use his sword to cut down Hongjun and Li Longji, but he fell back heavily into his seat, panting.

"Imperial Father!" At this moment, Li Longji had led a group of officials into the Golden Blossoms Fall. Li Longji angrily shouted, "Where are the soldiers?! We ordered you to go gather the soldiers! "

The officials behind Li Heng were few and far between. Only Gao Lishi could speak. The rest were all close officials and internal attendants, as well as Huang Yong of the Supreme Court. Not a single commander of the six armies was present.

No matter how slow Hongjun was, he could still sense that after two years, Li Longji was on the verge of being deserted by his friends and family. What's more, the ministers with a bit of insight could also see that Li Longji was seriously ill. He was a hero of his generation, but when he was about to grow old, he only had Yang Yuhuan by his side.

However, when he thought of the beheaded Gao Xianzhi and Feng Changqing, he could no longer sympathize with Li Longji.

"Marquis Yadan is seriously ill." Li Heng said to the crowd, "Vice Envoy Mo Rigen promises that he will do his best to cover the evacuation of all Chang 'an citizens."

Huang Yong had never imagined that Li Jinglong and the Exorcism Division, whom everyone had looked down on, would become their only saving grace in this time of national crisis. Li Heng calmed down and said, "Everyone, there's no harm in immediately making arrangements to evacuate Chang 'an."

"Withdraw to where?" Gao Lishi trembled. "Can't we just defend Chang 'an?"

"We can't hold on any longer." Mo Rigen sternly said. "Those who wish to stay, please do so. In the name of personally leading the expedition, I request that the six armies escort the Imperial Household to temporarily move the capital."

Li Heng took a deep breath and said, "Let's first divide the troops into two groups. The Imperial Court will move to Lingwu and wait for General Guo Ziyi to return to rescue the Emperor. The six armies will escort His Majesty and withdraw to Bashu."

Huang Yong couldn't help but ask, "What if An Lushan crosses the Yellow River and comes here?"

"Then withdraw again," Li Heng coldly said. "Withdraw to Liangzhou until Li Jinglong wakes up and can properly deal with An Lushan."

Lingwu was not far from Chang 'an, and it was protected by the Yellow River. Withdrawing to the western border was the best method. But if the Exorcism Division could not deal with An Lushan, the rebel army would have to withdraw to Liangzhou if it came from the west. If they withdrew again, they would have to withdraw outside the pass … When the officials thought of this, they couldn't help but feel that it was absurd.

"We wish to personally lead the expedition …" Li Longji's decrepit voice came from the bed of golden flowers, but the officials could only turn a deaf ear to it.

"Let's go." Li Heng glanced at the bed and then at Yang Yuhuan. "Hongjun, promise me that you will protect Imperial Father as he withdraws from Chang 'an."

Hongjun was not worried about Li Longji. After all, although he was old, he was still the Emperor Star. Demons would not dare to directly attack him, so he grunted. The officials began to disperse. Just as Li Heng was about to leave, Yang Yuhuan said, "Your Highness, please wait. This concubine has a few words to say."

Hongjun was just about to invite Yang Yuhuan to leave when he heard these words.

"If we abandon the capital, what will happen to the ancestral temple and the country?" Yang Yuhuan said. "If An Lushan imitates Dong Zhuo and destroys the ancestral temple of the Li Tang, how will your Imperial Father face his ancestors in the underworld?"

Li Heng had been bullied by the Yang Family for a long time, and in the end, it was because of Yang Yuhuan that Yang Guozhong's faction had gained power in the court. Now, his old father had lost his soul. Although he knew that this had nothing to do with the Yang Family and was a natural phenomenon that could not be disobeyed, he still could not convince himself to lessen his loathing of Yang Yuhuan.

"The people are most important, the country is second, and the sovereign is the least important," Li Heng sternly said. Li Heng said in a deep voice, "Haven't the ancestors of the Li Family been humiliated enough by you monsters?!"

Yang Yuhuan paled at these words. Hongjun could not bear to listen any longer and was about to dissuade her when Yang Yuhuan changed her gentle expression and harshly said, "If Your Highness Crown Prince suspects me of being a demon, why not have an exorcist test me? So what if I'm a mortal? "

Li Heng's rage had reached its limit, and he immediately pressed his hand against the Crown Prince's sword. Hongjun immediately turned around and stood in front of Yang Guifei. "Your Highness Crown Prince!"

Li Heng grimly said, "Out of the way! You know very well whose subordinate you are! "

Hongjun did not budge, but Mo Rigen pressed a hand against the back of the Crown Prince's hand and coldly said, "Your Highness."

The six armies were in an uproar, and the words' a demon is causing chaos and destroying the empire of the Tang Dynasty 'were constantly on the tip of their tongues. The Yang Family had been at odds with the army for a long time, and Li Heng had long wanted to kill Yang Yuhuan.

"In this world, only she is serving your old father," Hongjun said. "Why don't you try drawing your sword?"

Everyone in the Exorcism Department was a tough nut to crack. Although Mo Rigen and Li Jinglong were tough, they were still people of the mortal world. Now that the otherworldly Hongjun had come, Li Heng finally experienced it. Suddenly, he recalled that he had heard that the Yang Family and the Kong Family had a relationship, so he could only swallow his anger.

Yang Yuhuan fearlessly stood behind Hongjun and coldly said, "The memorial tablets of our ancestors must be moved, or else in the future, not only your father, but even you will not have the face to see our ancestors."

"Send someone to do it …" Li Heng said to Mo Rigen.

Yang Yuhuan added, "The memorial tablets of the martyrs of Lingyan Pavilion must also be taken away."

Li Heng closed his eyes and took a deep breath, his hand trembling on the hilt of his sword.

"I'll go," Hongjun said to Yang Yuhuan. "Have the Emperor prepare to set out."

Yang Yuhuan added, "The palace, the commoners, the families of the officials, and the women and children must all be escorted by eunuchs. Otherwise, in the chaos of the army, I'm afraid that they will be humiliated."

Li Heng sternly said, "I'll write a decree for you and send someone to do it. Is there anything else?"

Yang Yuhuan calmly looked at Li Heng, the atmosphere tense. After a long while, Yang Yuhuan softly said, "There's nothing else. When your father was still conscious, he always favored you. In the past, fire and water were incompatible, and the war of words always fell on my big brother's head. It was my Yang Family who sowed discord, causing him to be pushed aside everywhere and create problems. "

Hongjun's heart skipped a beat. Yang Yuhuan's words were filled with ominous intent, as if the words of a dying man were kind. Li Heng seemed to understand something and turned to leave, saying no more. Before leaving Golden Flowers Fall, Yang Yuhuan said one last time, "Of all his children, when your father talks about you, he is always different. In his life … "

"I will be filial to him." Li Heng did not allow Yang Yuhuan to continue.

"It's a promise," Yang Yuhuan said.

Mo Rigen gave Hongjun a look. Yang Yuhuan whispered, "It's a pity that I didn't prepare any pastries for you to eat today, Hongjun. In the past, Physician Kong saved my life, and now it was his son who saved my life. I just don't know when I will be able to repay the kindness of your Kong Clan."

Hongjun comforted, "It'll be all right. Imperial Consort, let's go."

Yang Yuhuan summoned an inner attendant and helped the elderly Li Longji to the rear hall. Hongjun and Mo Rigen walked out of the garden. Hongjun said, "I'm going to Lingyan Pavilion."

"What Lingyan Pavilion?" There were times when Mo Rigen really couldn't stand Hongjun, replying, "I just casually agreed. Does it matter if I go or not? It's like fire is burning my eyebrows. "

Hongjun wanted to say something, but hesitated. Every time Mo Rigen reached a critical juncture, he always felt that he didn't understand Hongjun. However, as they got along, he often felt that Hongjun, with his unique principles and stubbornness, seemed to be able to see through too many of the world's great ups and downs with his simple eyes. When the words reached his mouth, he reconsidered and swallowed them back down.

"All right." Mo Rigen finally said, "Go quickly and come back quickly."

Hongjun nodded, saying, "Go back and take care of Jinglong. I'll come back as soon as I send them out of the city."

Hongjun and Mo Rigen parted ways in the imperial garden and went their separate ways. Lingyan Pavilion was northwest of Xingqing Palace. In the past, when the Tang Dynasty was first established, Li Shimin built this small two-story pavilion. Inside, he enshrined the portraits and memorial tablets of the country's founding heroes. From time to time, the important ministers of the country would be invited to enshrine them. However, when the Wu Zhou Dynasty established Luoyang, they no longer cared about Lingyan Pavilion. Now, it was a two-story pavilion covered in dust.

Hongjun used a throwing knife to cut the lock and walked into the dimly lit pavilion. Just as he was about to take down the portraits, a voice suddenly came from behind, "Why aren't you accompanying your lover?"

Hongjun cried out in surprise. When he turned around, he saw Qing Xiong still standing under the hazy sunlight, half naked and wearing a pair of dark brown trousers.

"Qing Xiong!" Hongjun never expected that he would run into Qing Xiong at this moment. He quickly stepped forward, as if he had reverted to his childhood self and only wanted to throw himself at him. However, after taking a step, he felt strange and embarrassed, saying, "You … Why are you here?"

"To see you." Qing Xiong's backlit figure seemed to emit a soft light, saying, "Your father wants you to return to Dazzling Gold Palace. Today, you have to leave the world behind and follow me. Are you coming?"

Hongjun had too many questions to ask him, but he didn't expect Qing Xiong to seize the initiative and bring up this matter again.

"Am I dying?" Hongjun suddenly asked.

Qing Xiong looked at Hongjun. His gaze was completely different from before, as if he was looking through Hongjun and looking at another person.

"You've been very smart since you were young." Qing Xiong said, "Great skills appear to be clumsy, great wisdom appears to be stupid. You've always remembered who treated you well and who didn't."

Hongjun didn't answer. Even though Qing Xiong was looking at him now, he could vaguely feel that he wasn't looking at him, but at his father from many years ago, who was his brother — Kong Xuan. Kun Shen could predict the future, and presumably, he could also predict whether he would live or die. Perhaps Qing Xiong came today to see him for the last time.

"Where's my father?" Hongjun suddenly asked.

"He said that you won't go home with him." Qing Xiong smiled faintly and said, "He doesn't want to see you again."

Hongjun stared at Qing Xiong in a daze. Qing Xiong let out a long sigh, as if a huge stone had been lifted from his heart. After a long time, he said, "Hongjun, you've grown up."

Hongjun didn't say anything.

Qing Xiong continued, "You can let go just because you want to. Once you choose Li Jinglong, you'll never look back. You and your father are really very similar back then. Today, you're no longer the sobbing you who was chased down Taihang Mountain by Chong Ming. Do you regret wanting to come to the human world? "

"I don't regret it." Hongjun smiled faintly and replied.

Qing Xiong reached out and lifted Hongjun's chin. After pondering for a long time, he finally gently stroked the side of his face.

"From now on, you'll have to walk alone." Qing Xiong said again.

"I've always thought that way." Hongjun replied.

Qing Xiong instantly dispersed, turning into countless specks of light that scattered and swept out of the Lingyan Pavilion. At the top of this two-story pavilion sat a king dressed in a fiery red robe, his hair like burning flames. His golden eyes gazed into the distance at the rolling black clouds that were spreading towards the Chang 'an.

In the courtyard of the Exorcism Department, Lu Xu was carrying the unconscious Li Jinglong to the car. Suddenly, he stopped and looked at the middle-aged man who had appeared in the alley at some unknown time.

Inside the Exorcism Department, Qiu Yongsi and the others who had been discussing battle tactics suddenly stopped and stood up.

"How did you get in?" Qiu Yongsi's brows were tightly knitted as he coldly asked.

"The door lock talisman is based on the space talisman in the Dragon-Subduing Pagoda." Yang Guozhong was calm and unruffled as he smiled slightly. "To others, it may be a barrier, but how can it stop me?"

The exorcists immediately acted as if they were facing a great enemy and secretly activated their spells. Yang Guozhong had already seen through their movements and laughed. "Last time in the Daming Palace, you all had endless brilliant moves and defeated me. If you want to capture me and bring me back to the Dragon-Subduing Pagoda, there's no need to make a big fuss. As long as the Immortal Venerable makes a move, I won't be able to escape."

As he spoke, Yang Guozhong casually glanced at the Carp Demon by the pond. The carp demon instantly jumped out of the water and trotted all the way to hide behind Qiu Yongsi.

"Xie Yu." Qiu Yongsi laughed instead. He opened the folding fan in his hand and stood in front of the exorcists. He mocked, "The mess you've made is not easy to clean up. You don't seem to know me very well. I always like to do the opposite. For example, if you think that I'll definitely capture you and bring you back to the Dragon-Subduing Pagoda today, I'll just do it."

As he spoke, Qiu Yongsi's hand shook the brush and replied, "No matter what you say, I'll never let you go today."

Qiu Yongsi's brush tip instantly flowed with glowing runes like flowing water. In an instant, the runes began to revolve around Yang Guozhong's entire body.

Yang Guozhong stood with his hands clasped behind his back, but he was very confident. He said, "How about we make another deal?"

Atay said coldly, "The last time I made a deal with you, I was almost ruined by you. I can't trust you anymore."

"Detain me," Yang Guozhong said, "If you still don't trust me, you can just capture me and bring me back to the Dragon-Subduing Pagoda at any time."

As soon as he finished speaking, Qiu Yongsi's runes took shape with a "hum" and converged toward Yang Guozhong. They turned into three blue halos and firmly bound him.

Yang Guozhong was tied up in this way. He immediately staggered and fell to his knees. Qiu Yongsi held the rune in his hand and frowned deeply. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't stick the rune. As soon as the rune was stuck, the Dragon-subduing Spell Formation would activate. Yang Guozhong would be directly transported back to the Dragon-Subduing Pagoda and would never be able to escape again.

"Do it!" Lu Xu urged.

Yang Guozhong said in a low voice, "If you stick this rune, you might miss the chance to save your companion. That's not all. A life for a life. If you throw me into the abyss of the Dragon-Subduing Pagoda now, no one will be able to save your life. Qiu. Yongsi. "

Qiu Yongsi's fingers trembled as he held the rune. He wanted to stick it to Yang Guozhong's forehead several times, but in the end, he mysteriously put it away.

"Speak," Qiu Yongsi said.

"Take me and Hongjun to see An Lushan," Yang Guozhong said. "Kun Shen's plan is doomed to fail. Only I can save him."

Lu Xu: "… …"

Everyone looked at each other. Yang Guozhong looked at Lu Xu. Even Qiu Yongsi didn't know the inside story. Everyone turned to Lu Xu. Lu Xu said in a trembling voice, "How did you know … Kun Shen's plan?"

Yang Guozhong said in a low voice, "Today, An Lushan possesses great power. It has absorbed an excessive amount of Heaven and Earth's Evil Qi from this war for its own use. However, without the demonic seed, it can't retain the Devil Qi. This is why all you see are Devil Soldiers, Devil Generals, and rolling black clouds. "

"Because of this, after absorbing the Evil Qi, it must release it after transforming it into Devil Qi. Otherwise, it will dissipate. It still needs the demonic seed in Hongjun's body. "

"Continue," Qiu Yongsi said coldly.

"In order to 'reforge' Mahamayuri, the demonic seed must be removed." Yang Guozhong knelt on the ground and said slowly, "The demonic seed is connected to Hongjun's three spiritual and seven physical souls. If it's removed by force, it will hurt the three spiritual and seven physical souls and cause it to disappear. Kun Shen's plan is to use Li Jinglong's Mind Lamp to separate the demonic seed and restore Mahamayuri's broken three spiritual and seven physical souls into pure energy. The third step is to reforge his soul."

Lu Xu's face turned pale. He muttered, "Xie Yu."

A strange smile appeared on Yang Guozhong's face. He said slowly, "This is the first time I suggested this to Kong Xuan. However, once the demonic seed leaves Hongjun's body, the Devil Qi will be forcefully absorbed from An Lushan's body. When that happens, Hongjun will be surrounded by the Three Thousand Nightmares, the Evil Qi of Life and Death, and the Endless Abandonment. Tianma will be truly born. Who can guarantee that the power of Li Jinglong's Mind Lamp will be enough to break through the Devil Qi?"

Qiu Yongsi muttered, "Xie Yu, you still haven't given up. What you really want is the demonic seed in Hongjun's body …"

"That's right," Yang Guozhong said, "Let me combine my soul with Hongjun's. I will devour his demonic seed and absorb the Devil Qi. When the time comes, I will take away the demonic seed. Both of you will reforge Hongjun's three spiritual and seven physical souls, and I … "

Qiu Yongsi said, "You will also attract the Heavenly Tribulation."

Yang Guozhong said, "That's right … When the strong Devil Qi surges in, it will allow me to break through the Flood Dragon's body and transform into a dragon. The Heavenly Tribulation …"

Yang Guozhong said, "You may successfully transcend the Heavenly Tribulation and become a dragon …"

Qiu Yongsi and Yang Guozhong looked at each other. The courtyard of the Exorcism Department was silent.