Chapter 1: The Old Tales of Ji Shen (2)
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“Lady Rong Ji, are you planning to rebel against me?”
Belle shouted angrily at the slender sword that Lady Rong Ji was delicately brandishing like it was a fancy toothpick.
Honestly, he was regretting his earlier decision to send away a few loyal clerics who would have been more than happy to act as his human shields right about now.
With a cheeky grin, Lady Rong Ji replied, “Rebel? Oh, I wouldn’t dare!”
“But, my noble Lord, your current reaction is rather different from usual. Back in the day, I’d be wondering if my head was still attached to my neck!
Could it be you’ve got some unspeakable trouble? Is this what they call ‘power dispersion’? Hehe.”
Belle’s face was as dark as a raincloud.
“I’ve heard that once you, my noble Lord, survive the power dispersion phase, your strength skyrockets. But right now, you’re as vulnerable as a kitten! Perfect time for me to take a crack at you!”
With a smirk, Lady Rong Ji licked her lips and took another menacing step towards Belle.
The Emperor’s expression was as blank as a canvas, as if he were utterly unconvinced by her claims. Yet unbeknownst to the world, his back was transforming into a mini swimming pool, courtesy of sweat.
At that moment, retreat was not an option. If he faltered even for a second, he would be as good as dead at the tip of Lady Rong Ji’s sword.
This woman certainly wasn’t one for soft hearts or indecision.
“Lady Rong Ji, haven’t you realized that sometimes, hatred can be a great motivator?” Belle sighed dramatically. “The left and right protectors are high-ranking within the Ji Shen organization; they’re my right-hand men!
Keeping them separate and competing against each other ensures the organization’s vitality! And, you and Fu Yetian have got the right mix of tension going. Let that grudge simmer in your hearts; it’s the fuel for your strength to blossom!”
“Your excuse stinks! Can’t you come up with something fresh?” Lady Rong Ji snorted. “I’ve put up with you long enough, and this opportunity is just too sweet to pass up!”
Belle’s light blue hair, a legacy from one of the four warriors, the mage Valentine, flopped as he nervously brushed it away from his forehead. Surprisingly, a smile crept onto his face.
“Lady Rong Ji, you can see me as your enemy if you like. But don’t forget: it wasn’t I who sought to defeat Fu Yetian and trap him in another realm; it was the Cold Moon Witch!”
Now that the Cold Moon Witch had strolled into the Imperial Capital, she clearly had more than just reviving the Goddess of Destiny on her agenda. She might have found Ji Shen’s main base and planned to wipe us all out!
So, we share a common enemy. If you take me out first, you’ll find yourself facing her alone. Your chances of winning? Hard to say.
But if we join forces against this threat, we could capture the Cold Moon Witch, return to the Sky Tower, and rescue Fu Yetian!
After all, you two were once my subordinates. Once this is over, regardless of whether I regain my powers, I won’t interfere in your affairs anymore.
You’ll soar as free as a bird in the sky, swim as freely as fish in the sea! Sounds great, doesn’t it?”
Lady Rong Ji finally halted about two meters away from Belle.
Belle let out a silent sigh of relief. He knew Lady Rong Ji would comply with his plan, just like a good little minion, as she had countless times before.
The lifespan of a demon was roughly double that of a human. Before officially diving into the power struggle, a freshly adult Belle had quietly slipped away from the Empire’s territory to wander the continent. During this little escapade, he accidentally bumped into the previous leader of Ji Shen and joined the organization under the title of Imperial Prince.
Initially, he hadn’t expected to climb the throne at all.
But thanks to Ji Shen’s unwavering support, he quickly transitioned from an unknown prince to a key player in the power struggle.
Clearly, he had struck a deal with Ji Shen. Once he claimed the throne, Ji Shen would get its paws on various resources from the Empire and rapidly grow.
A win-win situation, if there ever was one.
Belle’s cleverness lay in his strong will; he was certainly no puppet dancing on Ji Shen’s strings.
Everyone who had dealings with Belle usually found themselves charmed by this Imperial Prince. After all, no matter what problems they brought to him, Belle always managed to give them answers that could leave even the most troubled heart satisfied.
Over time, even within Ji Shen, whispers echoed that Belle was the perfect heir to become the next lord of Ji Shen.
Before the old leader passed away, he summoned Belle to his side and remarked, “The people believe Ji Shen should be in your hands, but I can’t shake this nagging unease. I hope it’s just my imagination. Don’t let me down.”
After the old leader’s demise, Belle swiftly took over Ji Shen.
Not long after, he snatched the throne, and suddenly, he was the talk of the town.
Under his leadership, Ji Shen expanded its reach, becoming the Empire’s information hub across the continent.
News of events happening in human and monster territories eventually landed on his desk.
Yes, his ultimate wish was to conquer the whole continent in his lifetime. That would surely etch his name into history and mark him as a great emperor.
But of course, it wasn’t that easy.
Both humans and monsters had numerous powerful individuals, while the demon race only had a handful of nobles with enough strength to challenge them. Most of their soldiers could only be considered strong and sturdy, not able to compete with the flying disciples of the human immortal gates.
Thus, he needed stronger powers.
He also required more capable hands to assist him in achieving this dream.
And that was where Fu Yetian, the chief of the Heavenly Sword Sect, entered his radar.
Lady Rong Ji was his planted spy in the Heavenly Sword Sect, meant to test Fu Yetian.
What he never expected was that the two would fall head over heels for each other, throwing all his careful planning to the wind.
Sometimes, love just hits you like a freight train, leaving everyone dazed and confused.
What Belle needed was loyal and capable subordinates, not love-struck fools. So, he promptly took matters into his own hands and cut the ties between the two.
From then on, Fu Yetian and Lady Rong Ji were as good as strangers.
Heartbreak and resentment propelled their rapid growth, especially Lady Rong Ji, who quickly escalated from being a tool to a minor leader, racking up impressive accomplishments before finally being promoted to right protector. Meanwhile, Fu Yetian, almost simultaneously, became the left protector.
To avoid him, Lady Rong Ji executed Emperor Belle’s orders in the demon domain until one day when she received a swift directive to head to Black Stone City.
Fate is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you’re gonna get.
Ultimately, Fu Yetian got stuck in a small world, unable to return, while Lady Rong Ji lost her chance to save him after her defeat by the Cold Moon Witch.
Even though she activated her rebirth skill at a makeshift “save point” before d*ath, the regrets she left behind in the modern small world were something she desperately wished to make right.
Finally, Lady Rong Ji turned to Belle and said, “Okay, I’ll trust you one last time.”
