Superhumans of the Dome City-Chapter 1412 - 19: Imperial Machinations (Part 2)

It’s as if he were staring into a human-shaped abyss!

She suddenly understood Gongsun Ce’s words. This man’s body harbors a terrifying power akin to an abyss, yet he has always controlled it well, not allowing even the slightest malice to escape. But now the restraint was lifted, and the darkness at the cliff’s base leapt up, with violent and vicious power on the brink of erupting, ready to devour everything around!

"Yan Qi, hold steady." "Yan Qi, don’t frighten the child!"

Qin Ming and Gongsun Ce stood to his left and right, holding down Yan Qi’s shoulder. The young man in black silently regulated his breathing, and after two breaths, the previous abnormality vanished without a trace, and he reverted back to that usual rogue personality.

"Sorry, it wasn’t intentional." Yan Qi’s voice was hoarse. He took the packaged Yuanxiao from Qin Qianbai’s hands, intending to pat the girl’s head, but upon noticing the fear on her small face, he quietly withdrew his hand.

He took a few steps forward, distancing himself from the others: "Qin Ming, was that the Red Emperor’s martial arts?"

"Yes," Qin Ming replied, "but the Red Emperor’s imperial family does not consist of just one person..."

Yan Qi no longer listened, "Where did Chi Zijing go?"

Gongsun Ce squinted his eyes: "What are you up to—"

"I’m asking you, where did Chi Zijing go!" Yan Qi roared, his voice like thunderclaps.

Qin Qianbai cowered and covered her ears, while Gongsun Ce shielded the girl in front of him, calmly replying: "He went to the heavenly palace."

In an instant, the young man in black vanished, followed by the sound of repressed breathing that resonated after a long time. Liu Zhongwu nearly collapsed to the ground, Situ Yi’s face turned even paler than before, and Qin Ming stared at the human face that had not yet dispersed.

Qin Qianbai clutched Gongsun Ce’s coat, her voice trembling slightly: "What... happened to Yan Qi..."

Gongsun Ce gently patted her head.

"Don’t be afraid, your Uncle Yan is just in a bad mood," he whispered, "He’s like a child who hasn’t grown up; he goes mad when he’s upset. Unaware that others feel just as bad."

·

The moon, Taiqing Palace.

Chi Zijing hurriedly walked out of the teleportation array, arriving in such a rush that he was still wearing his travel clothes. But the tutors in charge of protocol at the palace dared not stop the Crown Prince. The look in this child’s eyes was like a quietly burning fire, identical to his father’s when furious, causing fear among people.

Chi Zijing also didn’t have time for those nonsense tutors, he had more important matters to attend to, matters more significant than anything. He swept through the dark palace like a whirlwind, causing the palace’s candle flames to tremble frantically with his arrival. In just a few seconds, Chi Zijing stood below the throne, his suppressed low roar causing the earth to shake: "Father! Wake up!!"

The man seated on the throne wore no crown, donned no ceremonial robe, only black attire resembling a practice outfit, closed his eyes as if resting with ease on the chair of power. He opened his eyes, and his pupils resembled the gloomy night.

"Zijing, what kind of attire is this?" the Emperor said, "Did you come to see your father dressed like this?"

Chi Zijing fiercely threw a faceless mask to the ground: "Never mind the clothes, take a look at this!"

The mask, thrown down, naturally replayed the words that Yan Qi and the others had previously heard from its mouth. The Emperor on the throne listened quietly, saying nothing, until all the recordings finished playing.

"Oh, so this is the festival gift you brought for your father?" he said, "But what else do you wish to express with this?"

Chi Zijing stared blankly at his father, who was as calm as the abyss, momentarily unable to utter a word. His face flushed red from the surge of blood, and all the shock and fury he had been struggling to suppress erupted at this moment.

"Father, you still have the leisure to joke? Have you lost your mind? I’m asking if this is real, damn it!" he breathed heavily, "I’m asking if you were the one orchestrating this war from behind the scenes, father!"

The young man’s angry shouts echoed in the great hall, reverberating like distant thunder. The voice of the man on the throne remained unchanged from before when he responded.

"Zijing, you have asked a question you shouldn’t have. You’re eleven now, with your talent and perseverance, you should have discerned your father’s martial arts from the sound, confirmed your father’s identity... Since you’ve known the answer, you shouldn’t have asked knowingly. This implies you don’t trust your wisdom and judgment, believing yourself to be a fool.

And if you can’t ascertain the truth yourself, it means you’ve neglected your practice recently. You’ve even let your father know of your laziness, isn’t that even more foolish?"

He glanced at his son and said calmly: "Father doesn’t mind giving you a useless answer, this is a recording from two years ago, said by father’s own mouth. Now that you know the answer, your coursework will double next month."

Chi Zijing stood motionless in place, the anger, astonishment, and confusion that drove him to this place seemed to be forcibly extracted by the Emperor, taking away his strength from his body as well. He hung his head like a child who had done something wrong, repeatedly acknowledging.

"Yes, father, you’re right. I should believe in myself. I will put more effort into my practice in the future... I... I must..." He suddenly lifted his head, "Is this the time to talk about this crap! Father, what are you up to after all!"

"What do you want to say?" Emperor Chong Xiao said.

"We’re talking about the secret war. About his killing and bloodshed!" Chi Zijing shouted at the top of his lungs, "The war’s been fought for almost ten years. Countless thousands have died at the border, countless people have suffered indirectly or directly because of the war. Even now, there are insane plans executing worldwide due to the war. They all think they’re defending their homeland! But in the end, all this is orchestrated by you from behind the scenes... Is the secret war a shameful transaction? Do you see war as a game? Do you think of yourself as the grand villain in a game?"