Chapter 2944 - 127: Second to None

Because you challenge the state system.

The ruler, the utmost name and instrument!

Even when Xie Huaian captured Noble City, he dared not kill King Xia without permission and intended to bring him back to The Imperial Ancestral Temple.

At that time, to kill Yang Jiande, it still needed the murderer to personally draw the blade.

Zhuang Gaoxian has neither a bad reputation nor a crime; unless the two countries are at war, who can kill without permission?

How many heads do you have, Jiang Wang?"

"No matter how much of a hero to the Human Race you are now, highly praised, once you act recklessly, insisting on assassinating a ruler of a country without any evidence, you will lose everything you have today. Jinguo will surely hold you accountable, Jade Capital Mountain will need to punish you, and no one in the world can protect you!"

Jiang Wang merely pressed his lips together.

Seeing his stubbornness, Zhongxuan Sheng continued in a slow voice, "I believe you have the courage to make a desperate gamble, I believe you can give up everything you earned yourself. But Jiang Wang, strip away Qi Country, ask yourself again, can you now kill Zhuang Gaoxian? He is a ruler, a True Man of the Age, surrounded by masters and ambushes. If you were merely yourself, you could hardly approach the King’s palace!"

"I know Master Ku Jue protects you a lot, Yu Beidou counts as your friend, Ye Lingxiao is willing to preserve your life... This time you return with the Knowledge and Hearing Bell, even Mount Sumeru would owe you a huge favor."

"But even if Master Ku Jue truly takes control of the Hanging Monastery, even if Mount Sumeru turns for you, they neither dare nor can challenge the state system, to openly assassinate an innocent ruler!"

"The current of Human Dao has been rolling to this point, this order has continued for four thousand years, you and I are part of it! Everything we run, everything we have, is also within! We can’t escape from it."

"To kill Zhuang Gaoxian, there’s only one way to go. That is to strip him of his dragon robe, to overthrow his dragon throne, and this is not a one-day feat."

This fat Marquis, earnestly looking at his close friend, solemnly said, "Wait a bit longer."

At this moment, Jiang Wang was instead very calm, calmly smiling, "What a ruler of a country, truly counts as an unbreakable golden body."

And the reason this golden body can be steadily shaped, the reason it remains unbroken, is precisely because of the hundreds of thousands who will eternally rest in Maple Forest City Region. Truly ironic.

"It can indeed be considered unbroken." Zhongxuan Sheng said, "When meeting with the Son of Heaven, be careful what you say."

Jiang Wang stood up, simply saying, "I understand."

Actually, there’s still another way to kill Zhuang Gaoxian.

But as a friend, Zhongxuan Sheng didn’t want him to take that path.

The door of the quiet chamber gradually closed, just like this life born of a whore closing off a possibility.

...

...

"The Marquis has bathed?" Qiu Ji by the side of the palace vehicle said with a smile, in a slow tone.

The Son of Heaven urgently summoned an audience.

He himself drove the vehicle, as the Writing Eunuch Qiu Ji.

Yet Jiang Wang was still speaking with Zhongxuan Sheng in the quiet room, only willing to leave afterward.

If this were to spread, the Marquis Wu’an might unavoidably seem overly proud of his achievements.

So he proactively spoke, framing it as the Marquis Wu’an burning incense and bathing to show respect to the Son of Heaven, a kind of goodwill.

Jiang Wang replied warmly, "Thank you, sir."

At this moment, a call was heard from afar, "Marquis Wu’an!"

Jiang Wang turned towards the voice to see Ji Zhaonan in white robes and silver armor, walking briskly with Wang Yiwu, who had a long face and deep-set eyes.

He then half-paused on the carriage, greeting, "General Ji!"

Ji Zhaonan came close without a word, pushed the Golden Mountain and overturned the Jade Pillar, giving Jiang Wang a heavy bow: "About the Frost Wind Valley incident last time, Ji Zhaonan apologizes to the Marquis Wu’an, it was my lack of consideration and reckless action that endangered you. If you couldn’t return, I would never rest peacefully!"

Jiang Wang stepped off the carriage, holding Ji Zhaonan’s arm armor, supporting him, sincerely saying, "Our campaigns in the Monster Realm, it’s all within duty. Don’t say that you, Brother Ji, did what you ought to do, even if you did owe me something... Senior Brother Rao also repaid it for you."

The unparalleled demeanor of Ji Zhaonan, who never avoided responsibility nor cared about others’ opinions, was suddenly stunned, looking at Jiang Wang in disbelief.

A white robe seemed to fly like snow, and his eyes shone bright and terrifying.

Only then did Jiang Wang realize, not knowing for what reason, the War God had yet to inform Ji Zhaonan and them about the matters of Rao Bingzhang in the Monster Realm.

He raised a finger, handing over the Immortal Thought imprinted with the shot of Rao Bingzhang to Ji Zhaonan’s brow, "Senior Brother Rao often wielded the sword in the Monster Realm, only at the last moment... did he use the spear."

Ji Zhaonan clutched this Immortal Thought tightly, reading it again and again.

His face showed little expression.

But that Shao Hua Spear... resonated for no reason.

He took a deep breath before saying to Jiang Wang, "Marquis Wu’an, I owe you a favor. If you ever need anything from me, I will not refuse!"

His voice, upon speaking, was already hoarse.

Jiang Wang paused slightly, saying, "What if I ask you to help me kill someone?"

Ji Zhaonan didn’t hesitate in the slightest: "Just for this shot you brought back, as long as it’s not someone from Qi, I can kill anyone."

"How long does this promise last?" Jiang Wang asked.

Ji Zhaonan replied, "As long as I live, it stays valid. If I die, there are my junior brothers. If the junior brothers can’t manage... there are my senior brothers."

If anyone else said they might not manage, Wang Yiwu would certainly give them a thrashing. But Ji Zhaonan said it, and said it in front of Jiang Wang, Wang Yiwu just stayed silent.

Jiang Wang gave Ji Zhaonan a deep look, earnestly stating, "No matter what others think, or say. Brother Ji, during the exile in the Monster Realm, I never blamed you."

Having said this, he turned to board the palace vehicle, following Qiu Ji to see the emperor.

On the long street in front of the Marquis Mansion, Ji Zhaonan stood lonely for a long time.

Wang Yiwu spoke up, "Senior Brother Rao he..."

When Rao Bingzhang’s death news spread, he had not formally joined yet.

It was just that earlier, he and Ji Zhaonan came running over saying they would be his senior brothers. They even asked him to demonstrate his boxing. After smashing a set of Tiger Subduing Long Fist, the supposed supreme manual was actually "Tiger Subduing Long Fist · True Interpretation".

The so-called true interpretation was merely a few explanations, such as how a punch should be executed.

Regarding Rao Bingzhang, Wang Yiwu’s impressions were actually vague. He only remembered someone very handsome and rowdy.

Ji Zhaonan unfurled his white robe, lifted the spear, and walked towards the end of the long street, his voice like metal clashing: "Yiwu, remember this—"

"Ji Zhaonan is merely pretending to be carefree, but Rao Bingzhang is truly unparalleled!!"

There was none like him; thus, we part ways! How many times the echoes are heard in dreams!

...

...

The palace vehicle slowly drove into the Donghua Pavilion.

In this semi-official, semi-private place, Jiang Wang had met the emperor more than once.

The palace lamps shone brightly, pearls illuminated the space. The Son of Heaven on the brocade couch unusually set aside his book, carefully scrutinizing Jiang Wang, suddenly exclaiming, "Good!"

"Marquis Wu’an has made progress, even letting me wait for you!"

Jiang Wang did not say any empty words about burning incense and bathing, just formally bowed, "The minister had some matters unresolved in mind, only after serious contemplation, dared to come to see Your Majesty."

The emperor spoke leisurely, "In the future, you will have many matters unresolved, but a person must always look upwards. When you stand high enough, many things cease to be problems."

As he spoke, he motioned for a seat and continued, "Does Marquis Wu’an consider himself... standing high enough?"

Han Ling personally brought over a chair.

Jiang Wang lowered his eyes to his boots, sitting on half of the seat, "Not high enough, but already aware of the cold."

The emperor said, "This answer counts as cautious, but lacks some vitality! Marquis of Bowang, so young, how has the spirit aged so early? You disappoint me, genius!"

The reproach was indeed severe.

Jiang Wang placed both hands on his knees, "In surviving countless deadly situations, clearly aware of the value of life, I am filled with sincere trepidation, not something taught by the Marquis of Bowang. Please, Your Majesty, discern clearly."

The emperor waved his hand, indicating to let it pass, and added, "I waited for you five months. You have repaid me with a huge surprise."

He leaned forward slightly, "Today in this Donghua Pavilion, with no outsiders present, speak to me, what reward do you desire?"

Jiang Wang honestly said, "That I could return safely is entirely thanks to the emperor’s protection. Within my heart, I am grateful and truly want nothing..."

The emperor pointed at him, "Empty words!"

Jiang Wang reluctantly added, "Thanks to the emperor’s grace, I have everything I should have, thus I am without desires or demands..."

The emperor pointed again, "Empty words!"

Jiang Wang simply stood up, standing with his spine straight like iron, his voice like gold and jade: "I seek the Method of Truth-Seeking, to become a peerless True Man, to eradicate the blocks within my heart, and achieve the fulfillment of this life!"