Chapter 613 - 612: It’s Me

Chapter 613: Chapter 612: It’s Me

The only sound was that of kowtowing. The air felt frozen, but no one dared to step forward and resist.

This was especially true for Young Master Shi, who had been kowtowing nonstop. His forehead was already a bloody mess, but he could only continue slamming it into the ground, begging for Yi Tianyun’s forgiveness. By now, the rest of the White Lotus Prefecture had arrived, drawn by the commotion. They all stood meekly to the side without a sound. Even their Mansion Master, upon her arrival, could only stand quietly at the periphery, not daring to utter a single word.

The Mansion Master of the White Lotus Prefecture was a beautiful woman in her forties, exuding an air of maturity and composure. But now, she stood near Yi Tianyun like a servant girl, hands folded over her abdomen, watching everything with a grim expression.

Her cultivation was decent—Eighth Layer of the Core Formation Realm—but in Yi Tianyun’s eyes, someone of her level could be killed with a single, effortless slap.

Even as Elder Bai Yu and the others kowtowed until their foreheads bled, the Mansion Master of the White Lotus Prefecture did not step forward to say a single word.

In this world, strength reigned supreme. Even if what Yi Tianyun was doing was wrong, they could only swallow their pride and endure it. To resist would only lead to annihilation.

Besides, now that she understood the full story, she had even less reason to intervene.

"That’s enough."

Yi Tianyun raised a hand slightly, and they stopped at once. They all lifted their heads to look at him, pleading for his forgiveness.

"Do you think a crude pity ploy like this is enough to earn my forgiveness?" Yi Tianyun said, looking at him calmly. "Never mind bloodying your forehead; it would be meaningless even if you chopped off your own hand."

Young Master Shi’s face paled. "N-no..." he stammered in a panic. "I... I truly never used the Great Emperor’s name to bluff and deceive anyone! Truly...!"

"We’ll see about that. I’m sending people to investigate," Yi Tianyun said. "Whether your Demon Celestial Mansion is allowed to continue existing will depend on what they find." He then turned to Zhao Yu and her companions. "The three of you, go and gather intelligence. Find out exactly how many times the Celestial Demon Mansion has used my name to get what they want."

"Yes, yes..."

Feeling the pressure on her vanish, Elder Bai Yu scrambled to her feet. She nodded hastily and hurried off to her task. Wei Yun also nodded and set to work. Zhao Yu, likewise, showed no sign of complaint—not that she would dare—and quickly left to gather information.

Only Young Master Shi remained kneeling, his expression growing more and more ghastly. He was sick with regret. ’If only I hadn’t boasted so extravagantly!’ He had assumed Yi Tianyun would never come to this area. He never imagined that not only would Yi Tianyun show up, but he would also run right into his idiotic underlings!

"Celestial Cloud Emperor, perhaps our White Lotus Prefecture could also dispatch people to assist your investigation? Please consider it a small token of apology for our rudeness," the Mansion Master of the White Lotus Prefecture said, stepping forward respectfully.

Yi Tianyun nodded. "Very well. I’ll trouble you, then."

"It’s no trouble at all! No trouble at all!" Bai Yulian gave a small smile. ’Even if it were, I wouldn’t dare say so.’ The situation was simply too awkward.

When she learned the full story, she knew their hospitality had been sorely lacking. How could she dare call this a bother? He hadn’t tried to deceive them at all; they had simply refused to believe him.

Bai Yulian immediately dispatched numerous disciples to search for information. Meanwhile, Young Master Shi remained kneeling on the ground, not daring to stand. Yi Tianyun hadn’t given him permission to rise, so how could he possibly dare to?

Young Master Shi could only pray that they would find little incriminating evidence. Otherwise, he was a dead man. The more he thought about his past actions, the more cold sweat beaded on his brow.

After instructing all her disciples to go and search for information, Bai Yulian bowed respectfully and said, "Celestial Cloud Emperor, I heard you were looking for me?"

She truly couldn’t recall why Yi Tianyun would be looking for her. She was certain she had no connection to the Celestial Cloud Empire, and it was even more unlikely that she had done anything to offend them.

’Could it be...?’ Her gaze shifted to Yu Shiqian at her side, sensing that she was the key to all this.

Yu Shiqian’s looks and talent ranked among the very best in the entire White Lotus Prefecture. She had numerous suitors, and Young Master Shi was one of them. This time, he had decided to use force, relying heavily on the Celestial Cloud Empire’s name to strong-arm her into accepting him.

Who knew that this time he’d bitten off more than he could chew and been caught red-handed by Yi Tianyun himself!

At the thought that Yu Shiqian could become the Empress, Bai Yulian was inwardly ecstatic. ’If she becomes the Empress, our White Lotus Prefecture will skyrocket to prominence! Who would dare provoke us then?’

"Dismiss those little ideas of yours," Yi Tianyun said coolly. "I have met Miss Yu before. She is kind-hearted and once gave me a well-intentioned warning. I consider that a favor, and it’s the only reason I’m getting involved."

Beside them, a stunned Yu Shiqian asked, "Great Emperor, I... helped you before?"

She couldn’t recall ever helping Yi Tianyun. They had met before, but they hadn’t even exchanged a full sentence, let alone her providing any help.

"How about now?"

As Yi Tianyun turned to look at her, he gave a light wave of his hand. A familiar face appeared before her eyes. Once she got a clear look, he waved his hand again, and the Hundred-Change Mask vanished. No one else saw a thing.

"It... it’s you..."

Yu Shiqian was dumbfounded. She finally realized when she had met Yi Tianyun. To think it was the person she had encountered long ago on Demon Cloud Island. She was utterly floored; it had happened so long ago that she had almost completely forgotten about it.

If not for that face, she truly would never have recalled it.

"Now you remember, don’t you?" Yi Tianyun said with a faint smile. "If the White Lotus Prefecture doesn’t treat you well, you are welcome to come to my Celestial Cloud Empire. I will arrange a suitable position for you."

This was a blatant attempt to poach her disciple right in front of her, yet Bai Yulian was not the least bit unhappy. In fact, she was thrilled! ’Even if she doesn’t become the Empress, holding an important post in the Celestial Cloud Empire will absolutely be a great help to the White Lotus Prefecture!’

"I... I will..." Yu Shiqian was stunned. She never thought a single well-intentioned warning could yield such a reward. ’A Great Emperor is looking out for me personally?’

Yi Tianyun was no fool; he wasn’t saying this just because she was beautiful. Back then, despite Yu Shiqian’s high talent and respectable status, she had still been willing to offer him a warning, which proved she was kind-hearted.

A kind heart was one of his most important criteria for judging someone. Combined with her own considerable abilities, she was an ideal candidate for a high-ranking official in the Celestial Cloud Empire.

Yi Tianyun simply smiled without another word and started walking into the White Lotus Prefecture. Bai Yulian hurried to keep up, gesturing for Yu Shiqian to follow as well. ’Even though he didn’t come here specifically for Yu Shiqian, the fact that he has a good impression of her means there’s still a chance,’ she thought.

Yu Shiqian nodded and followed them inside, wondering what this was all about.

"Right. You will wait here for the news to return. If you move a single step from this spot, you will bear the consequences." Yi Tianyun’s tone was calm, but to Young Master Shi’s ears, it was utterly terrifying.

"Yes, yes... I... I won’t move a single step. Not one."

Even if Yi Tianyun hadn’t said it, he wouldn’t have dared to move. He could only continue to kneel there obediently. Although it was humiliating, his life was more important. ’A wise man knows when to yield,’ he told himself. ’Kneeling before the Celestial Cloud Emperor isn’t really a disgrace.’