Book 08 Chapter 011: Wind Zombie Duke

The emperor’s study, Borderless Heavenly Capital:

Gu Hai sat behind a desk, perusing a report as Gu Qin stood in front.

Clack!

Gu Hai closed the report, his eyebrows knitting together in deep thought.

“Was this information sent by Gu Ming?” Gu Hai turned his gaze to Gu Qin.

Gu Qin nodded solemnly. “Father, Houqing has defected to Ji Dihong!”

Gu Hai was silent for a while before saying, “Tell Gu Ming to be cautious. Unless it’s a matter of life or death, he should avoid sending messages to prevent detection.”

“Yes!” Gu Qin acknowledged with a nod.

“Father, as you’ve seen in the message, Chiyou’s corpse is indeed a trap. It is meant to lure you away from Borderless Heavenly Capital. Cangjie has locked on to you now. As soon as you leave, they will know immediately and make their move with full force, so…,” Gu Qin said with a trace of concern.

However, Gu Hai assured him, “Don’t worry. I understand the situation.”

“Yes!” Gu Qin nodded.

“However, what should we do about Houqing defecting to Ji Dihong? He knows many of our secrets. Furthermore, Gu Ming said he was revealing information about us in exchange for a high post,” Gu Qin said with frustration.

“Secrets? If they are leaked, so be it. That isn’t what I am worried about. What concerns me is the mind control. Has Emperor Kong found a replacement for Dahong? Such a Huang Nation expert would be extremely dangerous.” Gu Hai frowned.

Gu Qin also frowned. “Mind control is indeed powerful, but as long as our people are careful, we should be able to avoid it, right?”

Gu Hai shook his head. “It’s not as simple as you think. If you were Ji Dihong and could control minds, what would you do?”

“Uh…” Gu Qin frowned slightly.

Gu Hai elaborated, “In the past, he had to hide this ability, but now he doesn’t. If he controlled the sovereigns of all the imperial dynasties, what would happen?”

“Ah!” Gu Qin’s expression changed.

“Now, let’s expose Ji Dihong’s mind control to all the imperial dynasties, so they can be prepared,” Gu Hai said sternly.

“Yes!” Gu Qin agreed.

“Father, about Houqing…” The anxious Gu Qin returned to this topic.

“He does not actually know that many secrets. While it may lead to some losses for us, they are not crippling,” Gu Hai said after some consideration.

“But…” Gu Qin still felt pessimistic.

“Never mind. Let’s inform Lady Houtu about this.” Gu Hai frowned slightly.

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The emperor’s study, Xuanyuan City:

Ji Dihong sized up Houqing with a frown. He asked Houqing, “Did you say that Gu Hai has a clone?”

Houqing nodded, thinking back. “Yes, that clone was a bit weird! Although he never acted, it felt like he was at the Upper Heavenly Palace Realm’s ninth layer!”

“He never acted? Where did you see this?” Ji Dihong asked with a frown.

“The first time I saw him was at the flawed immortal firmament. Back then, he appeared out of nowhere with Kong Xuan. However, he never made a move. Later on, that coward, the Blood Shaman, got scared and ran away outside the Yellow Springs Sea,” Houqing recalled.

“A skeleton clone? The Bone Ancestor?” Ji Dihong frowned.

“That should be so. Back then, I was severely injured and could not get a careful look. However, his cultivation was truly poor. I could easily knock him down with one hand!” Houqing declared with an air of confidence.

A shared look passed among Ji Dihong, Cangjie, and Emperor Kong, all displaying a trace of seriousness in their eyes. At the same time, they frowned at Houqing’s words. Could he really overpower Gu Hai’s clone with a single hand? What a joke!

“Mister Houqing, in your opinion, who’s the most formidable in Borderless Heavenly Capital?” Cangjie asked seriously.

“It should be the Unborn Man,” Houqing replied with a frown.

“Oh?”

“I remember a time in the flawed immortal firmament when the Unborn Man battled three consummate Upper Heavenly Palace Realm cultivators alone, yet he himself was only at the ninth layer of the Upper Heavenly Palace Realm!” Houqing recalled.

“Impossible!” Emperor Kong exclaimed in disbelief.

However, Cangjie shook his head. “Not necessarily. He’s a lifespan cultivator, and you don’t fully understand their ways. Rest assured, though; I know how to handle him.”

“Oh?” Houqing seemed surprised.

Houqing exhaled lightly. The stronger the Huang Heavenly Dynasty was, the wiser his decision to join them.

“Do you know anything about Vairocana’s origin?” Ji Dihong asked again.

“Vairocana? Uh…I’m not aware of that,” Houqing admitted, shaking his head.

“Gu Han, Shangguan Hen, Vairocana, Kong Xuan, Chen Xianer, Long Wanqing, Lady Houtu, and Mao Tianyun? Well, this is surprising. In such a short time, Gu Hai has managed to gather eight consummate Upper Heavenly Palace Realm cultivators. Eight?” Ji Dihong’s face darkened.

Eight consummate Upper Heavenly Palace Realm cultivators—what a force to reckon with!

“Your Holy Eminence, even if the Han Imperial Dynasty has eight, that’s just a numerical advantage rather than a qualitative one. It’s like the Heavenly Demon Holy Land—over a dozen consummate Upper Heavenly Palace Realm cultivators, yet most are insignificant,” Emperor Kong pointed out.

Ji Dihong nodded in agreement.

“Ji Dihong, I’ve said all there is to say. What about what I asked earlier?” Houqing ventured, frowning.

“Mister Houqing, your presence in my Huang Heavenly Dynasty is an honor. Please, stay with us. Today’s information alone has been of great help to my nation. I would like to bestow upon you the title Wind Zombie Duke. How does that sound?” Ji Dihong proposed, looking at Houqing.

Houqing’s eyes lit up. The Wind Zombie Duke? An instant promotion to a duke of a heavenly dynasty?

“This subject, the Wind Zombie Duke, Houqing, salutes Your Holy Eminence. Long live Your Holy Eminence! May Your Holy Eminence live for ten thousand years!” Houqing kneeled in excitement.

Ji Dihong rose to his feet and personally helped Houqing up. “With you assisting, we have gained a great asset.”

Houqing felt warmth in his heart.

“By the way, Houqing, you mentioned earlier that Houtu and Mao Tianyun chose to stay in Borderless Heavenly Capital. Why is that? Are they close to Gu Hai?” Ji Dihong asked out of curiosity.

Houqing frowned, recalling his elder sister’s words before he left, and decided not to mention Long Wanyu.

“Uh…it’s probably because of Ensnaring Performance, Longevity, and Purple Subtlety. As you know, the five divine envoys have always been on good terms. Now that three of them are staying in Borderless Heavenly Capital, the others also chose to stay. But don’t worry; my elder sister and Mao Tianyun aren’t that close to Gu Hai. They certainly don’t serve him,” Houqing assured them.

“Oh? They don’t serve Gu Hai?” Ji Dihong appeared intrigued.

“That’s right. So, when it comes time to face off against Gu Hai, I ask Your Holy Eminence to show mercy to my elder sister,” Houqing quickly requested.

“Rest assured, Mister Houqing. Since Houtu is your elder sister, we will certainly treat her differently,” Ji Dihong confirmed, nodding.

“Thank you, Your Holy Eminence!” Houqing said joyfully.

“Mister Houqing, since you’ve just arrived, you must be tired. Why not rest first? Tomorrow, we will personally welcome you,” Ji Dihong proposed with a smile.

“There’s no need for formalities, Your Holy Eminence!”

“It is necessary. Hahaha! With Mister Houqing’s help, what great things can we not accomplish? Emperor Kong, guide Houqing to the Jade Water Palace. That will be his residence from now on,” Ji Dihong ordered.

“The Jade Water Palace? Your Holy Eminence, that’s the residence you prepared for yourself!” Emperor Kong exclaimed in surprise.

Houqing was also taken aback. His Holy Eminence’s residence?

”It’s only fitting that Mister Houqing’s residence be the Jade Water Palace. This is the first gift we present to him. Don’t argue with me on this!” Ji Dihong stated with a laugh.

“Understood!” Emperor Kong responded respectfully.

“Thank you, Your Holy Eminence!” Houqing said joyfully.

This was a great blessing. Houqing felt his decision to join the Huang Heavenly Dynasty was correct.

“Mister Houqing, this way, please,” Emperor Kong invited with a smile.

“This subject shall take his leave,” Houqing said, looking towards Ji Dihong.

Ji Dihong watched Houqing leave with a warm smile. But the moment Houqing was out of sight, Ji Dihong’s smile faded, and his face turned grim.

“Cangjie, what’s your opinion?” Ji Dihong asked in a low voice.

“Does Your Holy Eminence suspect Gu Hai sent Houqing over?” Cangjie smiled.

Ji Dihong nodded. “If what Houqing said is true, then he is overly boastful. If what he said is false, then Gu Hai’s scheming is quite shallow. It doesn’t fit Gu Hai’s style.”

“But, Your Holy Eminence, haven’t you already made him a duke?” Cangjie asked with a smirk.

“A duke? Hah! It’s just a title without power. Gu Hai can send as many consummate Upper Heavenly Palace Realm cultivators as he likes, and we can make as many dukes as they come!” Ji Dihong sneered.

“Actually, if His Holy Eminence wants to investigate Houqing, we do have ways!” Mr. Cangjie said with a chuckle.

“Really?” Ji Dihong asked, sounding puzzled.

“We could start with Lady Houtu,” Cangjie began, then stopped speaking.

After all, Ji Dihong understood what Cangjie meant.

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Houtu Palace Hall’s entrance, Borderless Heavenly Capital:

Lady Houtu had just sent off Gu Hai.

As she watched Gu Hai leave, she felt frustrated.

“Meow! Did Houqing really pledge allegiance to Ji Dihong?” Mao Tianyun walked over from the side.

“Gu Hai personally said it, so it should be correct. That Houqing will be the death of me! He knows the Han Nation and the Huang Nation are at loggerheads, yet he still runs to the Huang Nation now? I have investigated Gu Hai’s growth in the past few days. This Gu Hai is a ruthless character. Has Houqing gone mad? What if…” Lady Houtu’s expression turned unsightly.

“Didn’t Gu Hai just tell you? He will try his best to take care of Houqing! As long as he doesn’t go too far!” Mao Tianyun said.

“Too far? What does that mean? You know my younger brother. When he went to help Chiyou back then, he was so impulsive. People praised him, and he completely lost his rationality. I would rather he had a lower cultivation than cause trouble with his current cultivation. Any trouble he gets into now would be life-threatening. Moreover, he would be at the hands of the cunning and sly Ji Dihong!” Lady Houtu’s face darkened.

“Everyone has their own fate. You shouldn’t worry too much. Maybe the Han Nation will lose to the Huang Nation?” Mao Tianyun tried to console her.

“Hah…,” Lady Houtu sighed faintly.

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Two days later:

Lady Houtu held a letter, knitting her eyebrows.

“Who sent the letter?” Mao Tianyun asked curiously.

“Houqing!” Lady Houtu responded, her frown deepening.

“Houqing? He dared to write a letter? What does the letter say?” Mao Tianyun asked, surprised.

“He wants to meet me!” Lady Houtu said, scowling.

“Meet? Doesn’t he just want to persuade you to join the Huang Heavenly Dynasty?” Mao Tianyun asked, amazed.

“Although the letter doesn’t say so, I know his writing style. Ji Dihong has him fooled; he surely wants to win me over to the Huang Nation. Hah…,” Lady Houtu sighed.

“So, what will you do?”

“This won’t do. I must go and dissuade him!”

“Do you think you can convince him?”

“I don’t know. I couldn’t dissuade him back when he joined Chiyou against the Yellow Emperor. But this time, I must try!”

[TL Note: Just a reminder, the Huang Emperor, Ji Dihong, was previously known as the Yellow Emperor when he served under Jiang Lianshan. The above Yellow Emperor refers to Ji Dihong and not the one that recently arrived from Earth.]

“Should I accompany you?”

Houtu shook her head. “There’s no need. Houqing said it would be just him this time; he wants to have a private conversation with me. You all don’t need to interfere in our siblings’ affairs!”

“Are you sure this letter is from Houqing?”

“Don’t worry. I can tell he wrote it. I want to try to convince him to return. Don’t tell anyone about this!” Houtu instructed.

“Alright, just be careful!” Mao Tianyun nodded in agreement.

Houtu put the letter away, sighed, and quietly left Borderless Heavenly Capital.

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Not long after Houtu left, Ensnaring Performance hurried to Gu Hai’s study.

“Master, you told me to monitor this. Indeed, Houqing wrote a letter inviting Houtu to leave. I heard everything; my hearing is good,” Ensnaring Performance reported.

Gu Hai’s eyes narrowed slightly.

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