Chapter 2216: Fate's Trickery

The autumns in Bailie were never harsh, and the past few days, it had been so warm and humid, it felt like spring.

The capital was lush with blossoms and greenery, the entire city bathed in a gentle breeze. This was in stark contrast to the frosty cold of Mu Nation's capital.

Yet, at this moment, the capital was under full martial law, with sentries every few steps. Even flies entering the city were first inspected to determine their gender.

The first meeting between the two emperors was arranged by the Zhaoxi Stream in Bailie's capital.

The meeting location, within Cangyan territory, had been proposed by Emperor Mu, showing his composure and confidence.

For this purpose, Bailie had hastily renovated a riverside inn by the Zhaoxi Stream.

In the early morning, Emperor Mu arrived with the warm sun at his back, followed by You Huan and a vast retinue.

Emperor Jiuyou had long been waiting. He strode out from the inn to greet him, with Du Shan, Lu Qiuwei, Qiu Hu, and a host of civil and military officials behind him.

The two parties advanced towards each other. Even from over ten zhang apart, they could feel the other's overflowing enthusiasm, as if the two nations had always been intimately close, without a single rift.

One said, “I, He, have been eagerly anticipating this, for indeed, seeing is believing!”

The other replied, “The world's heroes emerge from the young; the ancients truly did not deceive me!”

After speaking, both burst into hearty laughter.

He Lingchuan stepped aside, gesturing, “Please!”

The riverside inn actually consisted of a main building and three annexes.

The two emperors ascended to the third floor of the main building, while officials and attendants waited on other floors and in the annexes, partaking in tea and conversation.

The inn was a full fifty-five zhang away from the stream, a distance intended to prevent assassins from lurking in the water and to avoid a repeat of Situ Yu's tragedy.

Naturally, Emperor Jiuyou possessed formidable combat strength, making it difficult to assassinate him; as for Emperor Mu…

Suffice it to say, high-level security was still very much necessary.

The two emperors ascended the stairs and leaned on the railing, beholding the golden reflections shimmering on the water.

During its high-water season, the Zhaoxi Stream would expand its surface, becoming the Zhaoxi River.

Standing side by side, Emperor Mu gazed at the river, his eyes distant, “This Zhaoxi Stream still originates from Qiyun River in my Mu Nation. The mighty river flows, gradually branching out, and finally, as a trickling stream, reaches Bailie.”

He Lingchuan smiled, “Though it is a winding, trickling stream, it has never dried up, eventually passing through Bailie to merge into Qingyan Lake in my Cangyan, once again becoming vast and far-reaching, ultimately forming the true path!”

Right from their first encounter, the two engaged in a subtle battle of wits.

Emperor Mu brought up the past, and He Lingchuan responded with the present situation.

Then, they exchanged a smile.

Emperor Mu wore a high crown and wide sash, adorned in a magnificent purple-gold robe today. His appearance was entirely unfamiliar to He Lingchuan.

Yet, the moment he spoke, He Lingchuan felt a faint sense of familiarity, as if encountering an old acquaintance.

Emperor Mu suppressed his smile and sighed softly, “Your grand endeavor is now complete. Hmm, it would have been better if you had appeared sooner.”

To anyone else, this remark could easily be ambiguous.

Did he mean he wished He Lingchuan had appeared sooner so he could nip the threat in the bud?

But He Lingchuan discerned the underlying regret and pity in his words.

Emperor Mu truly regretted not having recruited He Lingchuan to serve him before He Lingchuan established his own dominion.

After He Lingchuan’s ruckus in the Heavenly Palace, he had come to the rear of Mu Nation to escape Beijia’s pursuit. At that time, Wang Xingyi, representing Mu Nation, had extended an invitation to him, which He Lingchuan politely declined.

Emperor Mu had noticed the man then and recognized his talent, but hadn't taken it too seriously. If He Lingchuan didn't want to come, then so be it. After all, Lingshan and Mu Nation were teeming with capable individuals; how special could this one person be?

If, back then, he had used some means to bring He Lingchuan into the Mu Nation court, would Mu Nation not be much more at ease today?

“It's not too late now,” He Lingchuan said slowly. “Working together to fight the Sky Demons is never too late.”

As long as our goals align, that's what matters. Even without a superior-subordinate relationship, a partnership is possible.

He was also reiterating the natural foundation for cooperation between the two nations:

The fight against the Sky Demons.

Only with a common powerful enemy could Cangyan and Mu Nation become close allies.

Emperor Mu glanced at him. “I have a question that piques my curiosity; please enlighten me.”

“Please ask.”

“Yuan Nation, Panlong City, and you — every possessor of the Grand Square Flask — have steadfastly opposed the Sky Demons,” Emperor Mu said slowly. “Why is that exactly?”

Not to mention ordinary people, most immortal sects and Daoist schools wouldn't consider the Sky Demons their ultimate enemy.

Everyone and every faction living in this mortal world had too many specific concerns and problems to deal with.

People are always first constrained by their immediate troubles. The Sky Demons, being ethereal and elusive, simply weren't a priority.

To some extent, He Lingchuan’s resistance to the Sky Demons was as strange as an ordinary person resenting Heaven.

But for Emperor Mu, the answer He Lingchuan was about to give was too important; it would determine Mu Nation’s policy towards Cangyan.

Jiuyou attempted to use the fight against the Sky Demons as a goal, to draw closer to Lingshan and Mu Nation. However, there is no love without reason in this world, no hatred without cause, and certainly no inexplicable steadfastness.

He had to know why Jiuyou's resolve to resist the Sky Demons was so unshakeable.

“The Grand Square Flask has never had a true master; no one is worthy of truly possessing it,” He Lingchuan corrected first, then added, “Its will is vast and boundless, and it doesn't explicitly tell me what to embrace or what to oppose.”

“Oh? Then what is the reason for your steadfastness?”

He Lingchuan reviewed his mental journey, realizing it was difficult to pinpoint the exact moment he made such a resolution.

It was a gradual progression, step by step, the natural outcome of overcoming countless hardships and growing accustomed to exhausting all his mental efforts.

Before he knew it, he had embarked on this path.

“To be frank, at first, it was for myself. As the preordained vessel for Nai Luo Tian and privy to the Grand Square Flask's secret, I both feared Nai Luo Tian’s arrival and worried about having no place to call my own in the world. Thus, I felt that only by becoming strong could I protect myself.”

His start in this world, though appearing as the carefree son of a minor official, was in reality one where he could be sacrificed to a celestial deity by his father at any moment.

And once his connection to the Grand Square Flask was exposed, it would be enough for Beijia to destroy him.

He didn't want to die, so he could only strive to improve and constantly move forward.

This compulsion was his initial motivation.

Emperor Mu could understand this predicament:

“And then?”

“Then I moved far away from Beijia to Yangshan Archipelago, thinking the world was vast enough for me to create a peaceful haven for myself and my friends.” He Lingchuan chuckled at his former naivety. “As it turned out, that was impossible; a tree desires stillness, but the wind does not cease. Even if I made Yangshan Archipelago thrive, my heart could not find a moment of peace. As for why, Lord Xin is well aware.”

Emperor Mu smiled, understanding.

Not long after He Lingchuan acquired Yangshan Archipelago, he was threatened by National Master Shuangye. Later, National Master Wang Xingyi passed by Yangshan and casually stirred up some trouble for him.

Beijia and Mu Nation, two great powers, had successively dealt He Lingchuan a hard blow, waking him from his dream of a utopia.

For He Lingchuan to become today's Emperor Jiuyou, Mu Nation had certainly made no small contribution.