Journey to the West: Treasure Vase of the Great Dao-Chapter 713 - 362: Blood
A woman was being carried by the crowd, her bearing exuded an air of nobility. One could see her looking at the Capital City, her eyes curving into crescents of joy as she murmured softly, "This time, I must give Chen Xiang a great fright!"
In this crowd, the Sect Hierarch and protector of the Wu Sheng Cult walked helplessly forward. One of them stole a glance at the Rakshasa Princess and whispered, "What is the Holy Maiden thinking? Entering the Capital City at this time, is she seeking death?"
"Keep your voice down. Do you want to get us all killed? You know full well the Witch's methods. If she overhears us, none of us will have good fruit to eat," the Sect Hierarch said in a low voice.
They were originally swindlers and deceivers; founding the cult was simply a means to scam wealth. They had never dared to actually rebel, but since encountering the Rakshasa Princess, everything had spiraled out of control.
With the Rakshasa Princess's astonishing charm and terrifying power, the previously insignificant cult rapidly expanded, sweeping across the realm. The Rakshasa Princess was not one to sit idle with such power; now, they were even planning to enter the Capital City to overthrow the current regime. The feeling of madness overwhelmed them all.
As of now, they were stuck in a difficult position—everyone across the realm knew them as the leaders of the cult. Regardless of what they did, the Imperial Court would not spare them.
Thinking of this, they instantly felt uneasy, as if walking on a tightrope.
At that moment, the atmosphere in the grand hall of the Imperial Palace had become extremely tense. Faintly, one could hear the sounds of shouting and clashing weapons from outside.
Everyone was well aware that the outcome of the conflict outside would determine who would claim the throne. Despite appearing calm, everyone inside was extremely anxious; no one was truly fearless in the face of death.
The Crown Prince and the Second Prince faced each other, both confident in their ability to control the situation. Eager to see the other's downfall, their gazes were filled with anticipation.
The shouts and clashes grew closer, sounding as if they were right next to their ears. Bright red blood began seeping in from outside the door. Officials who were weak-hearted could no longer maintain their composure, collapsing weakly to the ground.
However, no one cared about that behavior, as they were not much better. They had lived in peace for so many years, and although the Emperor was cruel, they had managed to keep their lives safe. Barely keeping themselves from collapsing was all they could muster, leaving no room to worry about others.
With a loud crash, the tightly shut palace doors were flung open. A young man, holding a blood-stained long sword, walked in slowly; his shoes were soaked in blood, leaving a trail of bright red footprints on the floor of the grand hall.
Seeing this young face, everyone in the hall was visibly shocked. Even the Crown Prince and the Second Prince expressed astonishment. freewёbnoνel.com
"Who are you?" the two asked in unison. After speaking, they looked at each other and saw the hidden unease and fear in each other's eyes.
"My name is Wang Xing, just a common colonel," the young man said coldly.
"Who is your superior?"
"My superior." A cold smile appeared on the young man's face as he continued, "That fat pig has already been slaughtered by me. Crown Prince, I'm afraid you won't have the chance to meet him."
At that moment, Second Prince couldn't contain his joy, for the commander who supported the Crown Prince had died, and naturally, he was the victor of this struggle. He could no longer suppress the ecstasy in his heart and began to laugh wildly in the grand hall, as if to vent all the frustrations of the years.
However, the words of the young man that followed sent him plummeting into a cold abyss, only to hear his icy voice echo in the hall.
"Second Prince, don't rejoice just yet. Your men have also been eliminated by me."
The wild laughter of the Second Prince abruptly stopped, as if someone had grabbed a duck by the neck, his entire face turning red with restraint.
"You're talking nonsense!"
"Second Brother, even now do you still not accept your fate?" Third Prince said, smiling as he emerged from the crowd, his young face bearing a smug smile.
Everyone stared in astonishment at this young prince, no one having expected him to be the victor of this struggle, a person whom everyone thought would never have a hand in the throne.
"No, it's impossible, how could a mere Colonel have such power?" the Second Prince asked incredulously, for the Great Qin was a dynasty with strictly enforced ranks, and as the saying goes, 'A difference in rank may mean life or death', how could a mere Colonel eliminate two commanders? That was simply unheard of.
"It's strange that you all were blind, choosing such incompetent commanders, doing nothing worthwhile, only knowing how to bully us soldiers, never training regularly, which of the rank-and-file soldiers would follow them?"
"Why should we, who fight and die, let these two stupid pigs of people ride on our brothers' bodies and act high and mighty!"
The young man's angry roar filled the entire hall; it was a question of the times, a cry from the grassroots, a grievance suppressed for nearly a thousand years.
"Only Third Prince can change all this, end this era of injustice, and give us, who shed blood and sweat, the treatment we deserve."
It became clear at this point, that compared to the methods of the two other princes who sought to win over the upper echelons, Third Prince took a different approach from the grassroots, eventually succeeding in turning the military to his side. The arrangements of the two princes crumbled to nothing, certainly also owing to their underestimation. And Third Prince's widespread connections served to create an illusion, diverting attention from his military maneuvers.
Clearly, this young prince deceived everyone, keenly aware of the contradictions of the era, he rose with the tide, and against all odds, cut a bloody path forward. Now, with victory near at hand, his face couldn't help but reveal a joyful smile, while the Crown Prince and Second Prince both looked utterly dispirited.
After all their years of accumulation, to be so easily defeated by someone they never took seriously was an outcome both found hard to accept, and the court officials in the hall also showed a drastic change in expression. Many among them had refused the advances of the Third Prince, suggesting that a purge might follow with the new emperor's rise.
"Rest assured, my lords, Ying Xu hereby swears to heaven that he will not pursue any purges against you," at this critical moment, Third Prince's voice rang through the hall, easing the minds of all present. Such a vow was not even something the Emperor would easily break.
Seizing this opportunity, Third Prince subtly gestured to a young man, who understood immediately. His treasured blade flashed horizontally, and as the blade's light flickered, blood spewed forth, and two large heads danced through the air.
