You're Strong But Now You're Mine-Chapter 547 - 545: Kneeling in Reverence

The night of the demon uprising brought heavy casualties all over Yanjing!

The two major choke points, Beichen Pass and Nanming Pass, were seized by the rebels amidst the chaos of the demon uprising!

A hundred thousand rebel troops are advancing towards Yanjing and could attack the capital at any moment!

The defenses of Yanjing City are weak and vulnerable!

Wave after wave of bad news, each more alarming and terrifying than the last. Just as the people of Yanjing were overcome with fear and wealthy families scrambled to pack their belongings and flee, while the ruffians took advantage of the chaos, causing public order to drastically deteriorate, a message from the Imperial Court suddenly brought peace to the entire city.

"The Ascension Ceremony will be held at Shuiyun Palace three days later. It will take place at the Ascension Platform to wield brilliance and protect all living beings."

"As constant as the moon, as rising as the sun!"

"The safety of the new Emperor is the wish of all beings; the people's wish is to shorten their lifespan in exchange for the new Emperor's long and healthy life! The people's wish is to shorten their lifespan in exchange for brilliance for eternity!"

"May the great lord of the sun hear the prayers of the common folk, and may heaven answer the people's wishes! May the ancestors hear the voices of their descendants, and may all wishes come true!"

"The people's wish is to shorten their lifespan, praying for a brilliant nation, as constant as the moon! Praying for a benevolent new Emperor, as rising as the sun!"

When Kui Nianruo went to the market to buy vegetables, she saw countless makeshift altars and people kneeling by the roadside, facing the Imperial Court, kowtowing and praying. Their voices were hoarse, their foreheads bleeding, yet they did not stop.

Every sentence followed by a kowtow, every word a prayer. The voices of the people in every alley and street were united, their cries echoing over Yanjing, their kowtows transmitting deep into the Imperial Court.

They were so fervent, so devout. The elderly knelt on the ground, unable to rise; children dared not misbehave, kneeling alongside their grandparents. Young women prayed whenever they had a moment from their work, and because they could only pray intermittently, their voices were even louder, their kowtows even crisper.

Walking on the streets at dusk, Kui Nianruo saw countless kneeling civilians by the roadside, the last rays of the setting sun casting a holy glow on their devout, emaciated faces. For some reason, she suddenly felt a chill run down her spine, as if standing by the roadside were deathly ghosts, and the bustling Yanjing was a decaying grave.

Carrying her vegetable basket, she quickly returned to her small home in Vermilion Bird Alley. As soon as she entered, she saw Li Ying, Qin Yueshi, and Qian Yuya playing an intense game, and hurriedly handed the vegetable basket in the kitchen to Lin Xue who was cooking, then grabbed Li Ying's arm, saying, "Li Ying, you really should go outside and see; everyone is praying and celebrating for Shuiyun!"

"Isn't that great?"

"But, but, I don't even know what to say!" Kui Nianruo's tone was very conflicted: "They obviously know that once Shuiyun ascends, they have to use the Holy Sword to repel the enemy, and using the Holy Sword will inevitably cost life! They know clearly that Shuiyun's days will be numbered after ascending, but they still... Anyway, I feel very uncomfortable and troubled, but I don't even know who to be angry at! Li Ying, I—"

"Wait a minute, it's my turn."

Kui Nianruo acknowledged with a sound, thinking Li Ying would talk to her after finishing this round.

However, Li Ying placed her cards face down on the table, then turned and gave Kui Nianruo a beating, tied her hands and feet with some hair ties, and took a handkerchief from Kui Nianruo's chest to gag her, then threw her onto the couch.

Li Ying then returned to the table, played a tactic card: "Take the initiative."

"Mmm! Mmm mmm!" Bound up, Kui Nianruo struggled and rolled around on the couch continuously. She didn't mean not to resist earlier, but with the power to warp reality due to her immortal blood constitution, Li Ying dominated her. Although martial artists at the level of integration and mastery could resist such sneak attacks, in battles between lower-level martial artists, such powers were akin to unfair cheats at the Wind Spirit Moon Shadow level, leaving Kui Nianruo almost unable to retaliate.

But everyone ignored her and continued playing cards. During the game, Lin Xue came out, saw the situation, and, finding it both infuriating and amusing, said, "Don't bully Nianruo. But, Nianruo, you should calm down first."

With that said, Lin Xue surprisingly went back to cooking without untying Kui Nianruo. Kui Nianruo made a couple of muffled sounds, feeling ignored and almost on the verge of tears due to feeling wronged.

"Xiaoyu, will you save me? If you don't, you won't be able to stop Sister Poem's full-powered, fully-equipped assault alone!"

"Don't save him." Qian Yuya said coldly.

Li Ying helplessly put down her hand and went over to untie Kui Nianruo. Kui Nianruo didn't make a big fuss, and said aggrievedly, "Why did you tie me up?"

"Because you were annoying me, and more importantly, because right now I can beat you." Li Ying said, "If I don't take this chance to bully you a few times while I can, there won't be any opportunities in the future."

"And also, you clearly feel uncomfortable with the situation outside, yet you specifically came back to tell us about it. To put it nicely, it's like you're trying to share both happiness and hardship with us; to put it bluntly, it's like you went outside, ate some shit, and came back looking for us to kiss."

Li Ying grabbed Kui Nianruo's shoulders and shook her: "You're unhappy and want us to be unhappy too. Now tell me, do you deserve a spanking, to be tied up, or to have a gag put on you?"

"...Yes." Kui Nianruo nodded with a pout.

While playing cards, Qian Yuya and Qin Yueshi exchanged a glance. Through eye contact, they reached a unanimous agreement: from now on, their group of girlfriends must strictly control Kui Nianruo's social interactions; otherwise, if they're not careful, Kui Nianruo might just be whisked away by some wild man and a few years later, they might not even recognize her as the mother of several children.

Li Ying's few words of sophistry managed to entangle her, but it's not really that she's stupid; it's just that most of what she eats seems to get absorbed into her chest and hair.

"I understand how you feel too," Li Ying patted Kui Nianruo's head and sighed, "Do you feel that the people outside are too mercenary, lacking any sympathy, wishing Shuiyun would wield the Holy Sword of Radiance today, treating Shuiyun as the sacrificial offering for the Holy Sword of Radiance?"

"Yes, yes! Just like you said!" Kui Nianruo nodded repeatedly, "That's why I feel so awful inside, it seems like we're the only ones in all of Yanjing who care about Shuiyun's life or death."

"You don't need to think of others so badly," Qian Yuya said calmly, "They aren't us. To them, Shuiyun is just an imperial symbol, a stranger, a savior who descended from the sky to relieve their disasters. They don't know that Shuiyun is just a teenage girl, an average student, a girl who fears loneliness and loves to dream."

"They know nothing, so naturally, they can't care about Shuiyun the way we do. They have no obligation to care; they only have the obligation to be grateful. In terms of gratitude, they're doing well."

"You think they are pushing Shuiyun to die, but aren't they also showing that they aren't ungrateful by acting this way? Everyone has self-interest, but gratitude is also a part of human nature. Not everything in the world is black and white."

"Most people kneel, driven by naked desires, but the act of bowing might actually come from sincere gratitude."

"I actually understand too..." Kui Nianruo said dejectedly, "But I just feel in my heart that this is... too cruel."

"Forcing someone our age to listen to the prayers of the masses and bear this heavy responsibility is indeed too cruel." Li Ying sighed, "Could it be that the imperial court fears Ming Shuiyun's reluctance to wield the Holy Sword of Radiance and is stirring up things among the people on purpose?"

"No." Qin Yueshi shook her head, "Although someone is indeed stirring things up, the imperial court hasn't interfered... but they have given their tacit approval."

"Who's stirring things up?"

"Nobles, merchant guilds, aristocratic families." Qin Yueshi said flatly, "Although our Qin family hasn't participated, the Steam Guild did provide money. The reason those people kneel so diligently and fervently is mainly because the upper class is funding them."

Li Ying suddenly understood, but Kui Nianruo was still a bit puzzled: "Why would the upper class fund this?"

"If there's a military disaster, the common people might just lose their lives or a house, but what's that compared to the nobles, merchant guilds, and aristocratic families who would be the prime targets for the armies from the outer district? If rebels invade the city, the accumulations of many generations over hundreds of years could be destroyed in an instant—how could they not be anxious?" Qin Yueshi explained, "They can't afford to lose Shuiyun's courage; they must make sure she gathers her resolve and must ensure her willingness."

"The lives, properties, futures, and destinies of everyone in Yanjing hinge on one person." Lin Xue emerged from the kitchen holding a dish and placed it on the dining table, "Although she has thousands of subjects, she still has to fight alone."

Lin Xue's cooking skills were excellent, but tonight, all the dishes seemed tasteless to them. Once again, Kui Nianruo, oblivious to the tension, raised a question: "Still no news from Teacher Qin?"

"I asked Teacher Yan and Teacher Ning at the Medical Bureau, and Teacher Ning said she also doesn't know, but Teacher Qin is definitely safe." Lin Xue replied, "The principal definitely knows Teacher Qin's whereabouts... but the Imperial Academy is currently not allowing anyone to enter or exit. Besides, he didn't tell us yesterday, so he wouldn't tell us now either."

At noon yesterday, they were all bewilderedly sent home by Cha Huan, who only said that 'the academy needs Teacher Qin's assistance', and at that time, they hadn't realized the gravity of the situation—no student would doubt Cha Huan's character, even if they didn't trust his aesthetic sense.

It wasn't until the afternoon when the Imperial Court announced the news of "Shuiyun Emperor's Glory Rising" that they realized things were out of control.

"Why did they imprison Teacher Qin..."

"Because he's like you; he knows the living 'Ming Shuiyun,' rather than the 'Shuiyun Palace' worshipped by the masses." Li Ying said, "But unlike us, we can only sulk here, while he has the power to change the outcome."

"He can't change it," Qin Yueshi replied, "We no longer have a chance to escape Yanjing. If we want to survive, we too have to rely on Shuiyun to wield Glory and suppress the rebels, and we too can only accept Shuiyun's protection."

"In this respect, we're no different from those outside who worship. Even if we have a bit more sympathy than them, just with good intentions, what can we protect?"

"What Xiaoyu said earlier was right; don't look down on those people. Because from the perspective of results, we are the same as them... so is Big Brother."

If Kui Nianruo's words were feeding shit, then Qin Yueshi's statement was akin to blowing up the dung pit, making the meal even harder for others to swallow.

"I suppose after Shuiyun ascends, we'll see Teacher Qin."

After a while, Lin Xue spoke lightly, "By then, Teacher Qin shouldn't be a teacher but should enter the Imperial Court to assist Shuiyun."

Li Ying echoed, "Based on his status, he should at least start as a pure blue agent, right?"

Qin Yueshi sneered, "Even a chief graduate of the academy can start as a pure blue agent, you're underestimating the scabbard's dragon-following merit. Not to mention Shuiyun's rebellion suppression merits, the Imperial Court can't defy her authority. In my opinion, Big Brother should at least start as a purple-blue agent, directly donning a purple robe and wielding a gold jade long rod, becoming an actual minister isn't impossible."

"Actual Minister... then, won't your Qin family rise to prominence?"

"Your words are quite crude... but with Big Brother in the court, Second Brother in the Statistical Department, and me in charge of the business association, it's indeed just a matter of time before becoming a noble family in Yanjing. If Big Brother gets a title, the Qin family might even become a new aristocratic family, as long-lived as the nation!"

"That being said, if we venture into officialdom, Shuiyun should also promote us..."

"It's not just Shuiyun, show some respect; that's the honorable Empress!"

"Li Ying, don't rush to bootlick; there's a review for court agents, though it's almost nominal for the Imperial Academy students, but your academic performance..."

"If starting as a pure blue agent after passing the review, then from today, as long as I don't die from learning, I'll study to the death!"

"Such firm determination! So you won't hit Unmatched Kill anymore?"

"As long as I win a game each day, I won't hit anymore!"

"You're saying you don't want to study?"

Lin Xue, Qin Yueshi, and Li Ying enthusiastically discussed the future, while Kui Nianruo ate with reddened eyes, and Qian Yuya remained calm, not joining in their conversation.

Gradually, the conversation at the table dwindled, becoming less and less.

At last, Qin Yueshi put down her bowl heavily and said coldly, "Even I won't earn money at the expense of a friend's life!"

Li Ying was somewhat helpless, "But aside from envisioning the future to improve our mood, what can we do? We have no power to influence the situation."

"Teacher Qin might," Lin Xue said, "if he could meet Shuiyun, perhaps the outcome would be different..."

"He can't!" Qin Yueshi couldn't help but retort, "What can he do? If he doesn't wield the Holy Sword Glory, Yanjing will be breached, then everyone dies together, and Ming Shuiyun and other royal families would surely be the first to perish! Now, with Ming Shuiyun's sacrifice needed, it's already the best outcome."

"Big Brother might have become a good person, but fundamentally he's still a rational person... even if unwilling, he'd force himself to accept reality! He wouldn't persuade Shuiyun to walk a doomed path, dragging all of us into the grave!"

"No."

Qian Yuya put down her bowl and calmly spoke, "If Brother Hongle had no way, he wouldn't be locked up. And the fact he's locked up now only shows he's resisting Shuiyun's decision, so the Imperial Court had no choice but to imprison him."

"Brother Hongle isn't impulsive, if he chose to resist, it means he has a better way that could lead to a no-tears ending for everyone... but for some reason, he couldn't sway the Imperial Court to let Shuiyun accept his suggestion."

As she finished speaking, Qian Yuya suddenly stood up, "After waiting a day, Brother Hongle still hasn't appeared, we should take action."

"What are you planning to do?" Lin Xue asked.

"Let him meet Shuiyun."

Li Ying, "But how? We don't even know where Teacher Qin is!"

"Do what we can, do our best." Qian Yuya pointed to her temple, "Utilize all our resources in Yanjing to pave a broad path for Brother Hongle to reach Shuiyun."

"It's pointless!" Qin Yueshi stood up and grabbed Qian Yuya's hand, "My Big Brother can't have a solution! It's reached the point where only the Holy Sword Glory can break the deadlock, what solution could he have? Can he annihilate a ten thousand strong army? Or summon wind and rain, killing invisibly?"

"Are you underestimating the Holy Sword Glory, or overestimating my Big Brother?"

Qian Yuya's expression was as calm as a lake, without joy or sorrow. She looked into Qin Yueshi's eyes and said, "Yueshi, you said a sentence just now that I completely agree with."

"What sentence?"

"We're actually no different from those outside who are kneeling," Qian Yuya replied, "However, even among those kneeling, there is a difference. Although we can't stand up, we can strive not to lie down."

Qin Yueshi was slightly stunned and released her hand.

"I'll go find Teacher Lou tomorrow." Kui Nianruo suddenly said, "I know where Teacher Lou lives!"

"I'll contact the members of the Unmatched Kill research society; many are noble heirs, maybe they know something." Li Ying said.

"I'll continue to visit the Medical Bureau to find Teacher Yan and Teacher Ning." Lin Xue said, "They also know Shuiyun, they'll surely be willing to help us."

"Statistical Department..." Qin Yueshi sighed, weakly sitting down, "I'll go home tonight and ask Second Brother to find Xian Chanchen... the Statistical Department must know something."

"Very good."

Qian Yuya nodded, put on her coat, and prepared to leave.

Lin Xue asked in surprise, "You're going out now? Who are you going to find?"

Qian Yuya stepped into the chilly night, leaving a name behind in the house:

"White Night."