Volume 1, Chapter 127: Extreme Contrast

Lin Yu sprinkled wine from the barbarians' celebration ceremony before the Loyal Souls Pagoda, then bowed deeply to the monument. 

"Brothers, I must return to uncover the mystery of my mother's origin. I'll visit you again when time allows. And your families—while I live, they will never be bullied!" 

After speaking, Lin Yu turned and left, transforming into a stream of light heading toward the Great Han imperial city. 

In the Great Zhou Dynasty, the Zhou Emperor stood angrily on the imperial dais, glaring at his ministers. 

"Why haven't the guards returned from the hostage mansion? I want the Han prince beheaded, his head sent to the border to show Han the price of betraying our alliance!" 

All ministers fell silent. They knew executing the Third Prince of Han would achieve nothing— the Han Emperor might even thank them for disposing of a burden. After all, the hostage was a cultivation cripple; his death would cause no stir. 

"Your Majesty," the Imperial Guards Commander entered, reporting loudly, "When I went to arrest the Han prince, he was gone. No one in the hostage mansion knows when he escaped." 

"Damnation! Han must have plotted this! Even their hostage has fled! Search the entire kingdom—do not let him return to Han!" The Zhou Emperor raged, and ministers trembled, none daring to bear his anger. 

"Urgent report from Wuxia Pass!" A guard rushed in with a battle dispatch, drawing all eyes. The Zhou Emperor's heart sank—had Han breached Wuxia Pass? 

"Speak! What has happened?" he demanded, bracing for the worst. 

"General Su reports that Wuxia Pass has fallen to Han forces..." 

"What? Wuxia Pass is an impregnable fortress! How could Han breach it?" 

"General Su is a great Zhou general—how did the pass fall so quickly?" 

"With Wuxia Pass fallen, the plains behind are exposed. Stopping Han will be hard!" 

Ministers burst into panicked议论 (discussion) before the guard finished, turning the court into a chaotic marketplace. 

"Continue," the Zhou Emperor said coldly. "If Wuxia Pass has fallen, what news could shock me now?" 

The guard trembled: "General Su says after the fall, the National Preceptor descended from the sky, slew Han's Great Prince, routed the army, and helped her retake Wuxia Pass." 

"What? Why was the National Preceptor at Wuxia Pass? Did he foresee Han's attack?" 

"No matter—thank goodness the National Preceptor intervened! Otherwise, Han would have overrun our cities." 

"I knew the National Preceptor is Zhou's pillar of support! With him, we are safe!" 

Ministers sighed in relief, preening at the mention of the National Preceptor as if they had dispatched him. 

"Excellent! I am blessed to have the National Preceptor!" the Zhou Emperor exclaimed. "Where is he? If he appears, I will make him a hereditary king, sharing my wealth!" 

"Congratulations, Your Majesty! With the National Preceptor, Zhou's江山 (state) is secure!" Ministers congratulated him, their gloom lifted. Su Miaozhen had chosen to hide Lin Yu's identity, so the report never mentioned the National Preceptor was the "useless" Third Prince of Han. 

"Explain! I made an alliance with Zhou to end hostilities. Why did the Great Prince attack Wuxia Pass without orders? Does he want the world to mock Han as faithless?" The Han Emperor raged at his ministers. Learning of the unauthorized attack, he had sent nine imperial edicts ordering retreat, but the Great Prince ignored them, pressing the assault. 

"Your Majesty," the Prime Minister stepped forward with a苦笑 (bitter smile), seeing the silent群臣 (ministers). "Rumor has it Zhou offended the Mysterious Celestial Sect, which has sent experts. Though the National Preceptor killed them, the sect will retaliate. The Great Prince may have attacked while Zhou was occupied, aiming to seize territory." 

"Damnation! If he fails to take Wuxia Pass, I will not forgive him!" The Han Emperor snorted—the Prime Minister had voiced his unspoken thoughts. 

"Urgent border report!" A guard rushed in with a dispatch. 

"Fumbling fool! What manners—" the Han Emperor began, frowning. 

"Your Majesty, perhaps it's the Great Prince's victory report," the Prime Minister smiled, and others awaited good news. 

The guard stammered: "Your Majesty... The Great Prince's personal guards all have demon blood. He reached Myriad Realms, breached Wuxia Pass with demon guards, but encountered Zhou's National Preceptor and died in battle. Wuxia Pass has been retaken; the Great Prince's remains were lost." 

"The Great Prince had demon-blooded guards? How...?" 

"His talent was average—how could he reach Myriad Realms so young?" 

"Is Zhou's National Preceptor truly that powerful? He killed the Great Prince?" 

Han ministers paled and gasped at the bombshell—this report defied all expectations. 

"What... My Great Prince... is he really gone?" The Han Emperor stared blankly, repeating the words. To him, demon blood or Wuxia Pass paled beside his son's death. 

"Father, the Great Prince clearly meant a lot to you. Hehe." A mocking voice, long absent from the court, suddenly sounded outside the hall.