Chapter 1290, Bringing Justice to Chu Heng; The Arrival of the Soldiers

Translator: Fate

Translation Checker: Silavin

 

“This is ridiculous!”

 

“What are those from the Primary Hope Holy Church trying to achieve? How dare they doubt the Primary Hope Saintess’ identity without any evidence? Are they going to get a new Saintess?”

 

“We’re the righteous ones. How could they claim that we’ve collaborated with the remnants of the Black Disaster without providing any evidence?”

 

In the hall, many ministers were furiously criticising the actions of those from the Primary Hope Holy Church.

 

A horrifying and gloomy aura loomed over everyone. However, Chu Gucheng did not utter a word. He only looked out the hall in silence.

 

Elder Jin, Ouyang Ji of the Unfettered Heavenly Palace, Old Lady Xing Ying of the Ardent Ruins Cave, and the guests who had not left the Land of Celestial Suffering were also watching everything in silence.

 

Chu Xinyue, who had disguised herself as the Primary Hope Saintess, was also in the hall. She was confused when she saw how anxious the ministers were, not knowing what had gone wrong that resulted in this outcome.

 

The Primary Hope Saintess was still confined, and she had been keeping an eye on the Primary Hope Saintess during this period. How did the news get leaked?

 

Other than her Father and a small number of people, no one else was aware that the Primary Hope Saintess had been confined and replaced. How did those from the Primary Hope Holy Church find out about it?

 

She was flustered deep within, feeling that she was about to black out. She did not even hear that the old ministers were pleading with her to stand up for them.

 

Just then, a voice thundered from outside the palace. “Please give me an explanation, Your Majesty.”

 

Following that, a violent and terrifying aura descended from the dark sky, making everyone feel immensely pressured.

 

There was a towering figure who was clad in armour. He was none other than the Champion General, Chu Heng.

 

Behind him were the old minister, Han Feng, Chu Bai, and the others. All of them were solemn. The old minister was especially mournful and incredulous.

 

Chu Heng had led his army to retreat from the border. However, his army was not behind him. They were waiting outside the capital.

 

“Champion General…” When the ministers in the hall heard the growl, they could not help but turn around.

 

The Eldest Prince, Chu Wushang, was pale and could not stand stably. When he swept a glance over Chu Heng and saw the matching jades in his hand, his shoulders slumped.

 

He had no idea how the missing jade even fell into Chu Heng’s hands. When he saw the jade, it explained why Chu Heng had decided to be absent from his duties and hurriedly return to the capital.

 

Chu Gucheng donned a gloomy expression. When his gaze fell upon Chu Heng, there were finally some emotions on his impassive face.

 

He said coldly, “Champion General, you’re absent from your duties and retreated with your army without permission, ignoring the safety of the border. How do you want to be punished for putting the Land of Celestial Suffering at risk?”

 

Upon descending from the sky, Chu Heng stepped into the hall and swept an icy glance over the ministers. His gaze eventually fell upon the pale Chu Wushang.

 

“Are you still trying to protect the Eldest Prince at this point, Your Majesty? I’ve always been loyal to the Land of Celestial Suffering. I’ve expanded territories for the Kingdom and made countless contributions over the years. Is this how I’m treated in the end?”

 

Upon finishing his words, he showed everyone the matching jades. He could hardly conceal his fury and iciness.

 

Chu Gucheng looked at the matching jades and said emotionlessly, “What are you trying to say, Champion General? I’ve been treating you like my own Son. I taught you cultivation techniques when you were young and gave you countless resources and opportunities. I’ve always valued you and helped you become who you are. Why have you joined forces with outsiders to betray me now?”

 

All the ministers were shocked. People who were not aware of the truth did not know why Chu Heng was so furious. He even disobeyed Chu Gucheng’s order and returned from the border.

 

Some had formed speculation as a myriad of expressions came over them. They were in a state of disbelief.

 

When Chu Heng saw that Chu Gucheng was still trying to cover up the crime and pretend to not know anything, his heart turned cold.

 

He initially felt guilty about what he was doing, but he soon cast the emotion away.

 

Chu Gucheng indeed treated him well. It was thanks to Chu Gucheng’s help that he became who he was today.

 

Nevertheless, it was also true that Chu Gucheng treated him like a chess piece and never punished his Son for violating the modesty of his Wife and killing her.

 

Before returning to the palace, he had come into contact with people like Han Feng and Chu Bai to retrieve the other jade.

 

When the two jades became one, a special energy field was formed. What had happened that day was reenacted, which allowed him to find out how his Wife was humiliated.

 

The scenes made him wrathful and distraught. He was so resentful that he wished he could go back into the past and kill the culprit right there and then.

 

Before the incident was reenacted, he had thought about many possibilities. Much to his surprise, the culprit was the Eldest Prince of the Land of Celestial Suffering, Chu Wushang, whom Chu Heng had known since young.

 

The truth struck him like a bolt of lightning. He was rooted to the spot, finding it hard to believe what he had just seen.

 

He knew that Qing Lan and Chu Wushang were childhood sweethearts. Before he was adopted by Chu Gucheng, Qing Lan and Chu Wushang had been cultivating together. It could be said that they were fond of each other.

 

Qing Lan eventually married him because she was moved by his sincerity.

 

Chu Heng regarded Chu Wushang as his Brother and never did anything that would cross the line. He only started pursuing Qing Lan when he learned from her that she never loved Chu Wushang. She only treated him like a Brother.

 

As such, he was not aware that Chu Wushang was so deeply in love with Qing Lan. He even believed that Qing Lan had betrayed him and decided to love another man.

 

This was the reason that after he left the capital on the same night Chu Gucheng’s birthday banquet was held, his Wife was humiliated by Chu Wushang.

 

Now, it was pointless for Chu Heng to be regretful or furious. Regardless of the reason that prompted Chu Wushang to do such a thing that night, he had to pay the price. Chu Heng was determined to get justice for his deceased Wife.

 

“It’s pointless to say anything at this point. Since you’re still trying to protect the Eldest Prince, I’ll let everyone see this.”

 

Chu Heng’s face was as icy as a blade, causing the void to tremble.

 

He waved his hand and cast the matching jades, which radiated lights of different colours.

 

A vague energy field was formed in the void as images started appearing.

 

It was a set of magnificent buildings. An alluring woman was wearing white clothes with a cloak on top as she looked into the distance from her tranquil courtyard.

 

There was a hint of sorrow between her brows. She seemed worried about her Husband, who was far away on the battlefield. Although Chu Heng had used his might to conceal the woman’s face, all the ministers could recognise that she was his Wife, Qing Lan.

 

When a minister made out what it was, he exclaimed, “Is this the reenactment of the night when Lady Chu was killed?”

 

All the people in the hall shifted their attention to the scene.

 

Before this, many people had looked into the reason Qing Lan killed herself. Some tried to deduce what had happened. However, all their efforts were futile.

 

Now, Chu Heng was able to reenact the incident that night using this special method.

 

In the vague scene, Qing Lan was conversing with her maidservant in the courtyard. She felt that those from the Beast Court and Purple Sky Mountain were being too aggressive and persistent, so she was worried about her Husband’s safety.

 

All this was normal. Nothing seemed off.

 

Chu Gucheng watched everything with dispassion. As the scene progressed, his pupils dilated when he saw the appearance of another figure. His expression changed drastically as he was in disbelief.

 

“What?” the ministers exclaimed. Some rose to their feet and stared fixedly at the scene.

 

Chu Heng felt a piercing pain in his heart when he saw the scene again, but he did not stop it. It was not until his Wife was about to be humiliated that he kept the matching jades.

 

The hall fell into dead silence. All of them were too stunned to speak.

 

“This is what happened to Qing Lan that night.” Chu Heng said coldly, breaking the silence.

 

“How is that possible?” All the ministers were flabbergasted. Some felt their heads buzzing.

 

If they had not seen it with their eyes, they wouldn’t have believed that the culprit was the Eldest Prince, Chu Wushang, who had always been solemn and respected. All the ministers held high hopes for him.

 

At that moment, many shifted their attention to Chu Wushang. Disbelief was written all over their faces. Chu Gucheng’s children were astounded as well.

 

Chu Wushang turned pale. Instead of looking at them, he closed his eyes. He knew that there was nothing he could do about it. He was doomed the moment Chu Heng produced the evidence. His action was no different from acknowledging that he was the person who had harmed Qing Lan.

 

“How is that possible?” Chu Gucheng donned a dark expression. He looked as if he could not believe what he had just seen.

 

“I’m sure all of you can see that the images are real. Now, I just want an explanation from you, Your Majesty,” Chu Heng said emotionlessly while observing Chu Gucheng’s expression.

 

He did not believe that Chu Gucheng had just found out about this. An Ancestral Dao Realm expert like him surely wiped away all clues and helped conceal traces of Chu Wushang’s crimes.

 

After all, Chu Wushang could not have asked an Ancestral Dao Realm expert of the Land of Celestial Suffering for help without Chu Gucheng’s permission.

 

Now, Chu Gucheng pretended that he knew nothing. He could only fool those ministers who were not aware of the truth.

 

“I’m sorry. I did not know that it was Wushang’s doing.” Chu Gucheng looked remorsefully at Chu Heng. His shaky voice seemed to show that he was apologetic and could not accept the truth.

 

Many ministers felt their heads buzzing. Some almost blacked out.

 

They wondered what happened to the Land of Celestial Suffering and whether they were destined to face this calamity. While they were dealing with their enemies, such an inconceivable thing had happened among themselves.

 

An unconvinced Chu Heng only looked impassively at Chu Gucheng.

 

Just then, Chu Wushang, who had closed his eyes, finally said, “I’m sorry for letting you down, Father. I’m sorry for disappointing all the ministers. It was indeed my doing and I used an ancient Artifact to erase all clues and evidence after my crimes. Later, I was worried that the Champion General might find out about it, so I pretended to be my Father and sent some people to kill the Champion General’s trusted aide. I also destroyed all his spies in the capital…

 

“I don’t deserve to be the Eldest Prince of the Land of Celestial Suffering. I’m a disgrace to my Father and the Land of Celestial Suffering for doing such a horrible thing.” He looked mournfully and regretfully at the people in the hall. It seemed that he was sorry for what he had done, but he gradually calmed himself down.

 

“Why did you do such a thing, Eldest Prince? This is not something you’d do.”

 

Many ministers were heartbroken. They still could not believe that it was Chu Wushang’s doing.

 

Chu Wushang put on a bitter smile and shook his head. “I loved Qing Lan but could not get her. She had become my Heart Demon. I’m willing to be punished for the crime I’ve committed.”

 

Then, he glanced at Chu Heng with a look of guilt, but he gradually became emotionless.

 

“You’re a disappointment and don’t deserve to be the Eldest Prince of the Land of Celestial Suffering. I’ve always been impartial. I won’t forgive you just because you’re my Son. Now, I’ll get justice for the Champion General right in front of everyone.”

 

Chu Gucheng stared coldly at Chu Wushang. The moment he finished speaking, he waved his hand as an attack struck between Chu Wushang’s brows.

 

The next instant, his blood splattered in the hall. Although Chu Wushang was a Dao Realm expert, how could he possibly resist Chu Gucheng’s furious attack? His Soul fell apart right there and then.

 

Naturally, many believed that it was because Chu Wushang was determined to die and did not resist.

 

The ministers had intended to stop him, but they became rooted to the spot upon seeing this.

 

Chu Gucheng was so ruthless and decisive that he killed his Son right in front of everyone. They trembled in fear when they saw how cruel Chu Gucheng was.

 

Chu Heng did not expect Chu Gucheng to be so decisive. He did not hesitate to discard his own Son when it was necessary.

 

Still, it was strange that Chu Gucheng ended Chu Wushang’s immediately after Chu Heng produced some evidence. [Had His Majesty already expected this day to come? Was Chu Wushang ready to lose his life at any moment?]

 

“Wushang is dead. He’s paid the price for what he’s done. Are you happy with the outcome now, Champion General?”

 

After killing his Son, Chu Gucheng closed his eyes, trying to conceal the sorrow behind his gaze.

 

Things had come to a point where Chu Heng couldn’t say anything else. Chu Gucheng had given him the justice he needed. Chu Wushang had paid the price for harming his Wife.

 

In terms of the matter, it had been settled. There should be nothing he was not satisfied with.

 

Despite that, his frustrations and fury were still not resolved. After all, he did not retaliate against Chu Wushang with his own hands. He was displeased that Chu Wushang was so quickly killed.

 

“Since the enemies are still at our border, I hope you’ll consider the bigger picture, Champion General. The safety of our people is in your hands.” Chu Gucheng spoke after coming to his senses.

 

Chu Heng nodded. “Don’t worry, Your Majesty. I know what to do.”

 

Chu Gucheng inclined his head and spoke no further. A hint of sorrow flashed across his eyes when he looked at Chu Wushang’s corpse.

 

Later, the ministers started discussing how they could deal with the predicament facing the Land of Celestial Suffering.

 

Suddenly, violent fluctuations were felt coming from the sky. Spacetime was in turmoil as a massive passageway appeared.

 

The dazzling light seemed able to tear apart the Great Universe. It was like a gigantic hand was extending from the other end of the sky, trying to destroy Heaven and Earth. Threads of sacred light exuded from it and the barrier of this world seem to have been shattered.

 

Some vague figures stood at the other end of this Spacetime passageway and looked at the Land of Celestial Suffering.

 

“Those from the Land of Celestial Suffering have collaborated with the remnants of the Black Disaster and confined the Primary Hope Saintess. They have violated the order of the world. This is something we can never tolerate in the Primary Hope Civilisation. I hope all Forces will come together and destroy them.”

 

The voice penetrated the whole Civilisation. It came from the other end of the Spacetime and reverberated across the territories of the Land of Celestial Suffering, hurting the ears of countless people.

 

More and more figures appeared through the passageway, as if a whole army had gathered.