"The weather was fine, how did it change so suddenly?"
Cannon Typical
Others didn't know the details, but seeing Cui Changting looking so distraught, they started shouting things like, "Cui Shixiong," "What's wrong," and "Quick, support him."
Ming Zhuo stepped up the stairs and said, "What did you just say? Ng, you said the people in the nearby towns are disobedient and should all be killed, but Yongze is a tyrant, and just killing these people won't make him submit. Don't you have any other methods?"
Cui Changting was terrified and didn't dare to respond. Someone among the crowd said, "Tongshen are compassionate. Cui Shixiong said that out of desperation. Moreover, Cui Shixiong didn't mean that we should kill all the people in the nearby towns but to use this method to intimidate them, make them wake up, and submit earlier than they otherwise would."
Another person said, "In these special times, we should use some thunderous means. Since those people are so stubborn, we should kill a few first to serve as an example, and also to show Yongze that we're not afraid of him. If we take down these towns, it would be like cutting off Yongze's left and right arms. How could he take revenge then?"
These two people echoed each other's thoughts, treating Cui Changting's words as gospel. Under normal circumstances, Cui Changting would have noted their names and praised them as models in the sect. However, at this moment, his tongue was tied, and he couldn't utter a word.
Ming Zhuo said, "If intimidation fails, wouldn't we still have to kill them all?"
Someone said, "For the sake of the bigger picture, we have no other choice. Cui Shixiong, you are now the head of the Qiankun Sect. You are the new leader of the two Southern Prefectures. As long as you give the order, everyone is willing to follow you to conquer these towns."
Cui Changting was drenched in sweat, "I... I..."
Luo Xu said, "You have many people, so it won't be difficult to conquer these towns, but what if you encounter the Heavenly Sea’s Imperial Guard? I heard that the Heavenly Sea’s Imperial Lord has been infatuated with the monarch and has become a rare fool in the world."
One of the people who had supported Cui Changting frowned and scolded, "Who are you two? You come here without introducing yourselves and start talking out of turn. How rude!"
Cui Changting was already terrified when he saw the two of them, and now hearing others scold them made him even more frightened. Trembling, he said, "Stop... stop talking..."
That person ignored the warning and stood up, saying, "Cui Shixiong is too lenient, which is why you people are so presumptuous! This is the Divine Palace, and without the invitation of East Dongzhao and West Xikui Mountains, outsiders are not allowed here. I see you two have no insignia, no weapons, and don't even dare to say your names. How dare you speak so brazenly here!"
Luo Xu reached into his sleeve, as if he had forgotten to bring the Silver Command of Heaven's Punishment, and said to Ming Zhuo in an innocent tone, "He asked for my name. Should I tell him or not?"
Ming Zhuo looked at the person and said, "Don't you already know our names?"
The person sneered, "You look so young, you're probably not even an adult yet, spoiled by your family to the point of not knowing manners. I've never seen you before, so how could I know your names?"
"Not remembering is fine," Ming Zhuo lifted his index finger and pointed to the Divine Palace beneath his feet, "Just remember, there's only one Lord here."
The person asked, "Which Lord?"
Ming Zhuo's amber eyes were cold and his smile was grim. Before the person could speak again, someone next to him said, "The weather was fine, how did it change so suddenly?"
"Yi, it's raining!"
Everyone was surprised to feel the touch of raindrops.
"What's going on? With the Fragrant God in the palace, we should have clear skies!"
"Quick, get Elder Huang..."
Before they could go looking for him, the two giant statues pulling the Divine Palace stopped. The rain came down in torrents, and a strong wind blew everyone's robes and sleeves.
Someone exclaimed, "Cui Shixiong, what's wrong with you?!"
The chair overturned, and Cui Changting fell to the ground. He was shaking all over, the horsewhip he had been using to show off had already fallen from his hand. He said, "Imperial... Imperial Lord, please listen to me! I didn't break the gate of Peidu, nor did I pull the Divine Palace. I... I came here to speak on your behalf..."
Luo Xu bent down to pick up the horsewhip. His silver hair slipped over his shoulder as he examined the whip, ignoring the wind and rain around him. "This is a good whip, but it has the Baiwei insignia of the Ming clan on it. Did you take it from the Divine Palace?"
Cui Changting shook his head vigorously, "It was Elder Huang who insisted on giving it to me. I didn't take it myself!"
"This is troublesome," Luo Xu sighed and wrapped the whip around his hand, "The Lord will only get angrier hearing this."
As if in response, thunder rumbled, the sky changed colour, and a loud crack of lightning signalled the arrival of a downpour.
Peidu had only one rule: when the monarch gives an order, it must be obeyed! Ming Zhuo wanted it to rain here, so even with the Fragrant God in the palace, it had to rain heavily!
The Author Has Something to Say
The incense isn't finished, so we’ll continue during the day. Let's have a bite first (serve the appetiser).
Thanks for reading.