Chapter 263: I Will Kill You

The divine powers lingering from the Dao Master and the Buddha Tathagata swept through the air. Qin Mu, continuing his treatment of Emperor Yanfeng, pondered, "Without the residual divine powers, his soul is stable. Although the Emperor's divine treasure is destroyed, if I can find enough spirit medicines, I can use the Magic Shadow Illusion and Law Heaven Mustard Seed arts to enter his divine treasure and refine pills within. Perhaps I can mend the damage." He paused, a flicker of uncertainty in his eyes. "Only..."

He had never treated an injury of this magnitude. In his heart, he held no certainty of success. If the divine treasure merely had cracks, he could treat it. But Emperor Yanfeng's divine treasure was shattered. The plethora of pharmacological knowledge passed down to him by the Apothecary contained no method for healing such devastation.

However, some medicinal materials could indeed treat injuries to the divine treasure, and the Great Nurturing Heavenly Devil Scripture also contained arts for strengthening it. Qin Mu felt that perhaps a combined approach might yield results.

The two left Emperor Yanfeng's divine treasure as dawn broke. Granny Si awoke, and Li Tianxing fell into a deep slumber. Qin Mu dispelled the Creation Heavenly Devil Art binding Emperor Yanfeng and said, "Your Majesty, I must go out to purchase medicine. This may take three to five days. During this time, you must not leave this room. Someone will bring food to your door. At night, no matter what sounds you hear, you must not step out. If someone tells you to look outside, you must not look."

Emperor Yanfeng, still weak, asked, "Qin Aiqing, where exactly have you brought me? It's all so mysterious."

Qin Mu's expression turned solemn. "Your Majesty, this is where my granny and Cult Master Li reside. You only need to know that anyone who comes to find you at night is undoubtedly Cult Master Li. If you look outside, you will die. And your death will not be the only one; the entire Eternal Peace Empire will perish with you! Furthermore, if you step outside this door, you will surely die!"

Seeing the seriousness in his demeanor, Emperor Yanfeng chuckled. "Rest assured, I understand. I am not a curious person."

Qin Mu half-closed the door. He took out a brush, dipped it in ink, and with a tremor of his body, adopted the form of Lord Zhenxing, human-headed with a serpent's body. Channeling his vital qi, he used the brush to draw a portal on the door, inscribing 'Cheng Tian Zhi Men' in the language of Youdu.

Then, his form returned to normal. On the ground, he wrote a line of words and said, "This is a portal transformed from the Great Nurturing Heavenly Devil Scripture's Lord Zhenxing's Emperor Earth Zhen Gong. Recite it, and you can enter. Fail to recite it, and you remain outside."

Qin Mu put away the brush and ink and said to Granny Si, "Granny, absolutely do not touch this portal. When you send food to the Emperor, use a bamboo pole to deliver it to him. Do not, under any circumstances, enter the door."

Granny Si examined the words on the door, blinking. "This portal?"

Qin Mu also blinked, remaining silent.

Granny Si understood. "I will absolutely not go in."

Qin Mu stepped out of the courtyard, mounted the Dragon Qilin, and turned to look at the room where Emperor Yanfeng was staying. He thought to himself, "If Li Tianxing recognizes the Youdu language, all is well. If she doesn't and forces her way in, she'll be dragged into Youdu, her soul claimed by Tu Bo! Granny will also be freed."

Emperor Yanfeng's condition had improved considerably, and he could now barely walk. However, he strictly adhered to Qin Mu's instructions and never ventured out. At noon, Granny Si used a bamboo pole to deliver a basket to the door. Emperor Yanfeng squatted down, the portal opened slightly, and he pulled the basket in. After eating his fill, he placed the basket at the door, still not going out himself. Since becoming Emperor, it was the first time he felt so confined.

After dinner, a sudden peal of giggling laughter echoed, pleasant to the ear. It seemed to bore into his very mind, describing an indescribable sweetness. It made Emperor Yanfeng feel as if he were drunk, believing that not a single one of his three thousand beauties possessed such a captivating voice.

"Since Cult Master Qin is not here, this concubine will play with the Emperor for a while. If I am pleased, I shall peel his skin and make it into clothing, then go to the capital and become Empress."

Emperor Yanfeng felt both fear and an intoxicating pleasure from the voice, his heart in turmoil. He wanted to open the door and see this woman's appearance, but then he recalled Qin Mu's words. He thought, "This is Li Tianxing, Cult Master Li! Using a magic sound to call me out! This old demon is actually pretending to be a woman, how shameless!"

He blocked his ears, but the alluring sound seemed to have already drilled into his mind, making it difficult to forget.

"Hmph, that brat is actually trying to test me! Truly doesn't know the immensity of heaven and earth... I don't recognize these words. I cultivate Lord Zhenxing's Emperor Earth Zhen Gong, and he also cultivates Lord Zhenxing's Emperor Earth Zhen Gong. I refuse to believe I am inferior to him!"

The woman outside attempted to decipher the mystery of the words on the door, repeatedly practicing the Emperor Earth Zhen Gong, but without success. Unknowingly, half the night passed. Emperor Yanfeng spent the entire night in fearful anxiety, finally falling asleep.

The next day was the same. At night, the woman again appeared and tried to decipher the meaning of the words on the door. Emperor Yanfeng was almost stirred by her voice to manifest a heart demon, constantly feeling a sweet, enchanting voice calling him to open the door and look.

On the third night, the woman angrily declared, "I can't practice it! I can't decipher it! If one path fails, I'll take another. I'll barge in, kill the Emperor, and peel his skin. Why bother with deciphering puzzles?"

Emperor Yanfeng's heart tightened in fear. He then heard the woman say, "No, no... When Cult Master Qin used this art, a third eye appeared, the room suddenly darkened, and the light turned green, not like the human world... This door is strange. If I go in, I might enter another world. That boy is very cunning, likely plotting against me..."

Emperor Yanfeng was surprised. "This woman is quite clever... No, it should be Cult Master Li is quite cunning! But isn't Cult Master Li an old man? Why is he pretending to be a woman, and so charmingly?"

He couldn't help but want to take a look. He thought, "Just one glance, it shouldn't be a big deal, right?"

Just as he was about to lie down at the window crack to peek, a dragon's roar suddenly sounded from outside. Qin Mu strode in, causing him to quickly abandon his idea of looking.

"Cult Master Li didn't enter the door? Could it be you don't know the words on the door? Do you admit that your Great Nurturing Heavenly Devil Scripture cultivation is wrong?"

"None of your business!"

"The meaning of the words on this door is 'Cheng Tian Zhi Men', in the language of Youdu. I will teach you then."

Saying this, Qin Mu taught the sentence in Youdu language to Li Tianxing once. He said, "Cult Master Li, now that you have learned, you can enter the door."

Li Tianxing giggled. "Now that I've learned this sentence in Youdu language and understood the meaning of the words on the door, I can enter safely? Cult Master Qin, this concubine is also a Cult Master and a Saint Teacher, with a spirit like a ghost. You cannot deceive me."

Qin Mu shook his head and stepped forward, entering the door. He used his sword qi to scrape off the words on the door. To Emperor Yanfeng, he said, "Your Majesty, I have gone to several nearby cities to buy medicine. Due to natural disasters and human calamities, the medicinal materials in the pharmacies are very scarce. I only managed to buy a few kinds, and I don't know how effective they will be."

"Qin Aiqing, just exert your abilities." Emperor Yanfeng said, "Did Qin Aiqing hear any news on this trip?"

"Your Majesty has passed away." Qin Mu looked at him, speaking unhurriedly. "News from the capital says that Your Majesty overworked yourself with state affairs and collapsed midway. The Crown Prince is now handling the funeral, and the entire country is in mourning."

Emperor Yanfeng's heart skipped a beat, and he said with a smile that wasn't quite a smile, "I have already passed away? Truly my good son, my good son... How about General Tian Ce and the others? Are they still alive?"

Qin Mu prepared the medicinal materials and refined spirit pills. He said, "In that battle outside Ba State city, only the Emperor was saved by the Heavenly Saint Cult. After you left, they concealed their banners and teleported away. Upper General Tian Ce, Upper Qing, Si Tu, and Si Kong were captured. The Dao Master and the Buddha Tathagata did not kill them but captured them and handed them over to the Crown Prince. They are masters of great families with significant influence in the capital. The Crown Prince needs the support of these great families to ascend the throne. Your Majesty, rest assured, they will not die."

"My good son, ah..." Emperor Yanfeng sighed. The influence of Upper General Tian Ce and the others was too great, controlling half of the capital's power, including military power and other forces in the court. The Crown Prince needed their support to ascend the throne.

"A country cannot be without a ruler for a day. His Highness the Crown Prince will ascend the throne, likely in the beginning of the third month, on the auspicious day of the sixth of the third month. He should ascend at that time. With the support of the Dao Gate and the Great Thunder Sound Temple, his claim to the throne is secure. Anyone who dares to oppose will have their family exterminated."

"Where is the Imperial Preceptor? I wouldn't have fallen to such a state."

"The Imperial Preceptor is on his newlywed journey, and there has been no news of him until now. On this trip, I also saw many spies searching for Your Majesty's whereabouts. They said it was the Crown Prince's order: see the person alive, see the corpse dead."

Qin Mu urged the Magic Shadow Illusion and Law Heaven Mustard Seed arts, drilling into Emperor Yanfeng's divine treasure. Within the Spirit Embryo divine treasure, he activated the medicinal power of the spirit pills, but the power dissolved within the Spirit Embryo divine treasure without repairing it. The effect was minimal. Qin Mu frowned, changing several kinds of spirit pills, but the effect remained minimal.

Qin Mu transformed into a black shadow and flew out from Emperor Yanfeng's brow, landing and revealing his true form. He paced back and forth, then suddenly said, "Your Majesty, your injury is very difficult to treat. I can cure your body injuries, even your soul injuries, but I cannot cure your divine treasure injury. My Apothecary Grandpa should be able to treat it. Is Your Majesty willing to go with me to the Great Ruins?"

Hope flickered in Emperor Yanfeng's heart. He asked, "Which Apothecary is this?"

Qin Mu hesitated for a moment, then honestly said, "The Jade Face Poison King."

Emperor Yanfeng's face turned ashen, and he said disheartenedly, "The Jade Face Poison King?" He was the Emperor, and the Empress Dowager was his mother. However, the Jade Face Poison King had an unclear relationship with the Empress Dowager. Before his true face was revealed, the Apothecary was known as the Jade Face Young Gentleman, with lovers all over the world, including some famous Daoist nuns and masters in the jianghu. Emperor Yanfeng naturally knew about this, but it was inconvenient for him to say anything. He had once secretly ordered people to assassinate the Jade Face Poison King to get rid of the Empress Dowager's paramour. The Apothecary was forced to hide in the Great Ruins, and he played a role in that. To have him go see the Jade Face Poison King, he was a thousand times unwilling.

"Qin Aiqing, I will not go to the Great Ruins. My rebellious son is about to ascend the throne and proclaim himself emperor, ruining my two hundred years of reforms. I cannot let this foundation be destroyed at once." Emperor Yanfeng said in a low voice, "Let's go to the capital!"

Qin Mu's heart was slightly shaken. He glanced at him. "Your Majesty is determined to go to the capital?"

Emperor Yanfeng nodded. "The capital is where the dragon veins converge. My Ling family's Nine Dragons Emperor Skill cultivates there with twice the result for half the effort. Perhaps I can borrow the qi of the Nine Dragons to recast my divine treasure. My blood and sweat, and that of the Imperial Preceptor, cannot be wasted! As long as I return to the capital, I can depose that rebellious son!"

Qin Mu thought for a moment, then chuckled. "Offense taken." He said, and took out a pig slaughtering knife, removed the Emperor's crown, and stripped off the yellow robe.

Emperor Yanfeng's face changed dramatically. "Qin Aiqing, what are you doing?"

Qin Mu pressed his head down. The pig slaughtering knife made a sizzling sound. After a moment, Emperor Yanfeng's head was bald, not a single hair remaining. Qin Mu then took out several incense sticks, lit them, and pressed them onto Emperor Yanfeng's scalp. Emperor Yanfeng cried out in pain as his scalp sizzled, adding several scars.

Qin Mu examined him for a moment, then laughed. "Good. I still need a set of monk's robes, straw sandals, and prayer beads. Also, your beard must be shaved." Saying this, he made the Emperor lie down and shaved his beard clean. Emperor Yanfeng was furious but couldn't resist. After a moment, he was clean and refreshed, dressed by Qin Mu in a yellow monk's robe, the majestic Emperor from before completely gone.

Qin Mu then took out a paintbrush, mixed the ink, and painted on Emperor Yanfeng's face. Emperor Yanfeng still wanted to resist, but Qin Mu directly sealed him, leaving him no choice but to stand there and let him manipulate him. Qin Mu finished painting and placed a mirror in front of him, laughing, "Your Majesty, do you still recognize yourself?"

Emperor Yanfeng looked at the person in the mirror. He saw a middle-aged monk with a knife scar that ran from his left eye down across the bridge of his nose, past his right cheek, and down to below his right ear, ending in a ferocious, sinister monk's face. It gave off the feeling of a monk who leisurely ate vegetarian food and chanted Buddha's name during his free time, but when things were evil, he would kill people and set fires.

Qin Mu took down the knife sheath and put it on Emperor Yanfeng's back. Emperor Yanfeng groaned and was pressed down onto the ground, unable to move. He cried out, "My bones, my bones are going to break! Quickly take it off, I can't breathe... breath..."

"I forgot, Your Majesty's cultivation is now wasted, and your body is not as before."

Qin Mu quickly took away the two pig slaughtering knives. He went outside the room and brought in a wooden board, carving two wooden knives. He painted them with iron paint, making them clearly black and white. He then made a knife sheath and put the two wooden pig slaughtering knives on Emperor Yanfeng's back.

Qin Mu examined him all around, then laughed, "Your Majesty, you can now go out with me."

Emperor Yanfeng drew out the two wooden knives and angrily said, "Qin Aiqing, you tease me so! I want to kill you! Stretch out your head!"

Qin Mu stuck out his head, laughing, "Your Majesty, please."

Emperor Yanfeng fiercely chopped two knives, then was too tired to breathe. Qin Mu handed him the pig slaughtering knife and said, "Your Majesty can use the real knife."

Emperor Yanfeng held the handle of the knife with both hands but couldn't lift it for the life of him. Angrily, he threw the knife on the ground and said angrily, "Your head is recorded first. Let's go!"

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