They Are Archenemies, But They Have A Child - Chapter 104

Chapter 104: The Showdown

The following day.

A broad road paved with golden celestial silk extended from the entrance of the Ling Xiao Grand Court all the way to the elevated platform at the center of the court.

On both sides of the road stood gods with names and titles, while on the outer paths of the court stood minor deities and celestial beings who had ascended from the mortal realm.

At the very front of the court were two gilded seats carved with auspicious clouds, awaiting the Heavenly Emperor and Heavenly Empress.

The ceremony had yet to officially begin, but the gods and immortals were already eagerly anticipating the main protagonists of the day.

Wǔqǔ Star (God of War) Yáng Duàn was the most delighted. He stroked his long beard. “Although there was some mischief before, it is commendable that the Lord Prime has finally returned to the righteous path. Time truly flies. In the blink of an eye, the young Highness is about to form a contract and take on great responsibility.”

“What do you mean by returning to the righteous path? The Lord Prime has always been on the righteous path,” countered Wénqǔ Star (God of Literature) Xǔ Lín.

Yáng Duàn scoffed and flicked his sleeve. “Wénqǔ Star is immersed in those flowery literary things all day. What do you understand!”

“You spend all your time wielding blades and spears. Your physique is no better than mine. What do you understand?!” Xǔ Lín looked contemptuously at Yáng Duàn’s thin arms and legs.

Yáng Duàn was about to retort but was stopped by Yáng Yuǎnlí, who was beside him. Yáng Yuǎnlí looked at the high platform laden with various ritual vessels representing status, and said meaningfully, “Father God, save your energy. The ceremony has not even begun.”

Across from them, Yún Yǎ’s hand, concealed beneath her sleeve, was tightly clenched in nervousness. Mother Earth, who was beside her, patted her shoulder reassuringly. The two exchanged glances; what they wanted to say was already written in their eyes.

Leng Licí, disguised as Hóng Yuān, stood quietly next to the twin stars, masking the incongruity of Hóng Yuān’s identity appearing in this rank.

Yún Chuān’s gaze fell on the gilded seats, his eyes holding a firm resolve.

Chì Dì (Red Emperor) Bái Yuè followed Yún Chuān’s gaze. Ignorant of the background, she merely sighed, “Uncle God can finally put down his burden. You don’t need to blame yourself for the past anymore.”

Yún Chuān only smiled, offering no reply.

Some newly ascended immortals stood on their tiptoes, trying hard to see forward, but they could see nothing but the uniform tops of heads.

Even so, they were still excited. “What a grand scene! It’s even bigger than a mortal emperor’s tour!”

An Immortal Lord who had been immortal for many years said with an air of composure, “This is nothing. When the new Heavenly Emperor and Heavenly Empress ascend, the ceremony will be even grander than this.”

“Please, the Heavenly Emperor and Heavenly Empress, be seated.”

The voice of Grand Harmonizer True Lord approached from afar. The scattered discussions outside fell completely silent.

The Heavenly Emperor and Heavenly Empress walked to the vacant gilded seats one after the other. Their personal guards and attendants lined up on both sides, with Prime Maiden Jiāng Héyè standing closest to the Heavenly Empress.

The Heavenly Emperor nodded to the Grand Harmonizer True Lord.

The Grand Harmonizer True Lord turned and looked toward the other end of the golden silk road, announcing loudly, “Please, the Lord Prime and the Spring God, enter the court.”

Kǒng Yùn, one of the twin stars, eagerly looked toward the start of the golden silk, delightedly saying, “They’re here, they’re here! Cousin is here.”

The other twin star, Yún Dì, forcibly straightened his brother’s body, whispering, “Can you behave?”

Leng Licí’s gaze also turned toward Yun Qingwu, who was walking forward.

Yun Qingwu was dressed in a robe primarily white, embroidered with intricate and exquisite auspicious cloud patterns in gold thread. His belt and chest were adorned with gold accessories, and he wore a golden crown, his ponytail tied high and trailing behind him.

The golden sunlight reflected specks of light off these decorations. The light was mirrored and merged into Leng Licí’s eyes.

This was the first time he had seen Yun Qingwu in the attire of the Lord Prime.

It felt somewhat unfamiliar, and this unfamiliarity only intensified his desire to exert dominance.

His eyes darkened slightly.

He wanted to strip all those clothes off.

Others, however, were completely unaware of his thoughts.

Yún Fēiyǔ said with satisfaction, “The Spring God lives up to her name, making people feel as if they are bathing in spring breeze. The descendants they produce are certainly highly anticipated!”

Leng Licí’s gaze turned cold, and he looked at Jù Qīng, who was standing beside Yun Qingwu.

The style of their robes was similar, making them look particularly grating to the eye.

Yun Qingwu and Jù Qīng slowly ascended the stairs to the high platform.

Huá Yuān’s gaze was heavy, scrutinizing Yun Qingwu and the Heavenly Emperor seated in front.

His father had been missing for several days and was absent from such an important occasion, yet the Heavenly Emperor seemed unconcerned…

Could the Heavenly Emperor be involved in his father’s disappearance?

Lǐ Qīngyáng watched Yun Qingwu and the Spring God standing hand-in-hand on the high platform. The worry in his heart finally subsided somewhat. As long as the ceremony was completed today, it wouldn’t matter whether his junior brother remembered everything later.

The Grand Harmonizer True Lord looked at the perfect couple before him, fully satisfied. He picked up the incense tray from the table and walked over to Yun Qingwu and the Spring God. “Lord Prime, Spring God, please offer incense to the Heavenly Dao.”

Jù Qīng glanced at Yun Qingwu. Yun Qingwu returned a look that signaled her to remain calm. He obediently took the incense, lit it according to the ritual, and bowed toward the East.

The Grand Harmonizer True Lord then picked up the wooden tray holding two cups of wine. “Lord Prime; Spring God, please pay respects to the Heavenly Emperor and Heavenly Empress.”

The Heavenly Emperor’s gaze had been tightly fixed on Yun Qingwu. When he saw him pick up the wine cup again and bow to him as required, his gaze finally relaxed somewhat.

Grand Harmonizer True Lord: “Proceed with the Contract Ritual—”

But before this relaxation could fully settle, a projection of light suddenly appeared in the air. In the light, the scorching sun hung high, and people suffered terribly, reduced to eating each other’s children. Despair, born from futile prayers to the gods, was everywhere, like a living hell on earth.

The Heavenly Emperor’s gaze was fixed on Yun Qingwu atop the high platform, his expression so calm it bordered on lifeless.

After a moment of shock, the gods and immortals below began to discuss animatedly.

Chì Dì: “This… When and where did this happen?”

Lǐ Qīngyáng instinctively clenched his hand. “It’s the Nánzé Kingdom…”

He had once consulted the records; this scene was identical to what was documented.

The Dragon King’s heart tightened, and he murmured, “I clearly never made any mistakes in bringing rain.”

The Heavenly Empress looked at the scenes with a solemn expression, the veins subtly appearing on the hand resting on the armrest. Jiāng Héyè looked distressed and angry. “Mother Empress, when did this happen? Why did no god intervene?”

Facing the discussions below, the Heavenly Emperor’s expression remained unchanged. He waved his hand, gathering the light projection, and said lightly, “Continue the ceremony.”

Yun Qingwu knelt on one knee and bowed. “The Nánzé Kingdom was the first territory I governed, but it suffered such a terrible fate due to my dereliction of duty. If I cannot give them justice for even a single day, I am unworthy to succeed the throne of the Heavenly Emperor for even a single day. This contract, your grandson cannot continue today.”

Jù Qīng snapped out of her shock. She quickly understood Yun Qingwu’s intention in staging this scene, and without hesitation, she knelt down on one knee. “The Lord Prime speaks justly. Please, Heavenly Emperor, investigate.”

The Heavenly Emperor’s eyes deepened, but he did not speak.

Yún Yǎ stepped forward, bowing. “Father God, the Nánzé Clan is also considered Qingwu’s people. If there are other hidden circumstances, Qingwu’s request is reasonable.”

“That is true, but today is the Grand Contract Ceremony, concerning the succession of the next Heavenly Emperor. Is delaying it merely for an event that happened a hundred years ago not a case of sacrificing the major for the minor?”

Qīng Dì (Azure Emperor) Yún Mián’s expression was stern.

“Indeed, the Azure Emperor speaks wisely. Lord Prime, the major event today is more important. You can investigate the truth after your succession. Why delay it now?” another God Lord said.

Yún Chuān looked at the God Lord of Bright Virtue who had spoken. “The Contract Ceremony is merely a ritual. Why does the God Lord think it is more important than the lives of a nation’s people?”

With that, Yún Chuān stepped forward and knelt on one knee. “I ask Father God to investigate the truth.”

The Star Lord of Fate Management stepped forward, intending to help Yún Chuān up. “There are countless mortals in the mortal realm. If we treat every life as a major issue, wouldn’t we be exhausted every day? How is that possible? Crimson Flame God Lord, it’s understandable that the Lord Prime is young and foolish, but as his father, how can you join him in this absurdity?”

Leng Licí looked at the person still kneeling on the high platform, his right hand tightly clenched into a fist.

He didn’t have many personal feelings about these comments, but their contract connected them, and the other’s emotions were transmitted to his heart without obstruction.

Frustration, heartache, incomprehension.

A multitude of emotions mixed together, making him intensely desire to sweep away all these noisy, so-called gods on the spot.

The Heavenly Emperor looked at Yun Qingwu, finally speaking. “Qingwu, do you still insist? If you still cannot distinguish between the important and the trivial, how can you take my place on this seat in the future?”

Indifferent words were spat out one after another from the mouths of former familiar divine friends or elders, reaching Yun Qingwu’s ears, making him feel exceedingly alienated.

He suddenly understood his grandmother’s unspoken words at this moment.

But this was wrong. It shouldn’t be like this.

Wénqǔ Star Xǔ Lín walked forward and announced loudly, “Your Majesty, your minister also believes that there is truth to the Lord Prime’s words. It is truly inappropriate to assign importance between these two matters.”

“Wénqǔ Star, I was asking the Lord Prime.” The Heavenly Emperor frowned slightly, his tone becoming somewhat severe. “Since the Lord Prime has acted so today, Wénqǔ Star, as the Lord Prime’s teacher, you should also examine yourself.”

Upon hearing this, Yun Qingwu’s heart settled instead. He looked up at the Heavenly Emperor, his eyes resolute. “Grandfather God, if I cannot give an account to my people today, I believe I cannot bear the great responsibility for the people of this world.”

The Heavenly Emperor laughed in extreme anger. “Good. Qingwu has truly grown up. Guards—”

“Wait.”

Mother Earth, who had been silent, spoke up. She did not look at the Heavenly Emperor but directly at the Heavenly Empress. “Does the Heavenly Empress also believe this matter should be quickly dismissed?”

The Heavenly Empress rubbed her jade archer’s ring with her thumb. “This matter concerns the Lord Prime. Logically, I shouldn’t interfere, but this issue must be resolved as quickly as possible. I have a solution that serves both purposes, which the Heavenly Emperor may consider.”

The Heavenly Emperor restrained his emotions and said steadily, “Heavenly Empress, please speak.”

The Heavenly Empress nodded. “The Lord Prime’s request is both reasonable and emotional, but the matter of the contract should indeed not be delayed too much.”

The crowd below looked at each other, unable to determine the Heavenly Empress’s final stance.

“Why don’t I take charge of this matter? Héyè was adept at seeking evidence in the mortal realm. With her and me working together on this, we will surely give everyone an answer within seven days. The Contract Ceremony can then naturally be rescheduled. How about that?”

“It’s not easy for everyone to gather here today, and it would be a wasted trip because of this irrelevant matter. Ai ai ai—Mm mm!”

A God Lord complained, but before he could finish, his lips were suddenly glued together.

Leng Licí withdrew his power, scoffing, “Too noisy.”

Jiāng Héyè looked at the God Lord. “It only takes an instant for a God Lord to travel to the Heavenly Realm. Anyone hearing you would think you needed to spend months on carriages like mortals.”

At this, the immortals who were also disgruntled wisely kept their mouths shut.

The Heavenly Empress looked at Yun Qingwu. “Qingwu, do you agree?”

Yun Qingwu bowed. “Qingwu has no objection. Thank you, Heavenly Empress.”

The Heavenly Empress then looked at the Heavenly Emperor. “This matter will surely spread to the mortal realm. Does the Heavenly Emperor truly not care?”

The Heavenly Emperor straightened his back and said coldly, “Since the Heavenly Empress insists, I shall cooperate.”

With that, the Heavenly Emperor stood up. He took one last look at Yun Qingwu, who was still half-kneeling, his expression arrogant, with no trace of the anger from moments before.

Yun Qingwu’s jaw was clenched. He met his gaze directly, without the slightest flinch.

He knew that from this moment on, there was no affection left between him and Grandfather God.