Claiming the Throne of Gods, Starting from the Rebirth of Nezha
Chapter 161: Prince Bo Yikao

Chapter 161: Chapter 161: Prince Bo Yikao

"I will definitely kill you."

Cai Yun’s face was as cold as frost, and the murderous intent was evident in her bright, beautiful eyes, making Nezha’s hair stand on end.

But her gaze softened immediately, and she said, "But before that, I must thank you for saving my life."

Cai Yun bowed in salute, and Nezha returned the gesture.

Originally, if he had said some polite words now, the relationship between them could have eased a lot. But he had just been discussing the Dao with Shi Ji, and his mind was full of cultivation matters, not yet digested. At this moment, he didn’t know why, but suddenly blurted out:

"Look at us now, doesn’t it look like a couple bowing to each other?"

After saying this, he couldn’t help but want to slap himself, daringly looking at Cai Yun’s reaction. He saw the girl’s pale face quickly flush with redness, and even her ears and neck turned red.

"Rogue! How rude! Watch my sword!"

Cai Yun drew her sword to stab, though she didn’t make any real move to hurt Nezha. But Nezha, knowing he was in the wrong, had no choice but to run.

Bi Yun, who was cooking mushroom soup in the woods, saw the two beams of tunnel light entangled in the sky and shook her head helplessly. She said to the divine deer beside her, "Look, each of them usually says I’m stupid, but I can understand what’s going on, and now they can’t see it for themselves. Hmm, this mushroom smells so good. Although it’s red again this time, there are seven white spots on it, corresponding to the Beidou Seven Stars. With such rich Dao essence, it shouldn’t be poisonous again, right?"

Returning to the Outer World Town, Nezha saw his mother in the hall.

Lady Yin was currently offering incense for Li Jing in the ancestral hall. She still wore white mourning clothes and was in mourning.

This relocation was complete, even moving the ancestral hall and the few jujube trees at home to the manor here. As soon as Nezha entered, Lady Yin ordered him to kneel.

"What did your father do wrong?"

Upon hearing this, Nezha’s heart skipped a beat, thinking perhaps his mother had guessed everything?

"What did your father do wrong to suffer the harm of this vile person?"

What did he do wrong?

Nezha breathed a sigh of relief. In his view, all today’s consequences were due to Li Jing’s self-inflicted misfortune and the Chan Sect’s relentless pressure.

Everything is predestined by heaven, not controlled by human effort.

Lady Yin cried again, and after crying enough, she asked Nezha to offer incense to Li Jing. This woman wiped her tears and regained her strength.

She helped Nezha up, looking at Nezha’s jet-black eyes, which were different from ordinary people’s, filled with love and indulgence in her own eyes.

"My Nezha has grown up and can make many decisions on his own. But seeing my child having to think about so many things at such a young age makes me really heartache."

Seeing Lady Yin’s expression, warmth surged through Nezha’s heart. He said, "Your child is not suffering. From what I see now, many things in the Outer World Town still require your attention, Mother."

"It’s only right for an adult like me to take care of things. You, as a child, shouldn’t think so much.

Besides, it’s more your sisters who need looking after. I’m not that busy. The more people there are, the more unexpected things happen, though it’s indeed not that simple. But for now, I can barely manage. If you have something to do, go do your work first."

...

Back at the Xiqi Royal Palace, one day the son of Duke Ji Chang, Bo Yikao, spoke to the ministers in the hall: "Father has been imprisoned in Youli for seven years. I wish to go to Zhaoge myself to redeem my father. What do you all think?"

Upon hearing these words, the old ministers in the hall were moved to tears, but a few wise and sharp-minded ones had strange expressions.

To be honest, although Ji Chang was imprisoned in Youli, it seemed that his life or death didn’t significantly affect Xiqi at present.

Moreover, communication between Xiqi and Zhaoge was not entirely cut off. After several investigations, they actually knew that apart from poor food and accommodation, and fewer wives, the Marquis was not really suffering.

San Yisheng stood and reported: "Minister reports to the prince; the lord’s farewell words were: ’Seven years of misfortune is over; the disaster will end naturally, and he will return.’ Do not act rashly or violate the lord’s farewell words. If the prince is uneasy, he could send a soldier to inquire about his well-being, which would also fulfill the duty of a son. Why must the prince personally take the risk?"

"Alas, I know what you say. Father has suffered for seven years, confined in a foreign land, with no kin in sight. As a son, how can I bear it in my heart? Nation-building and family-setting are but empty words. What is the point of us having ninety-nine sons! I’ve thought it over. This time, I’ll take the three ancestral treasures to Zhaoge to present as tribute to atone for my father’s sins."

Thinking of this, Bo Yikao’s mind was full of his father’s image, his eyes sore, yet he held back tears.

He was not one to scheme, yet he knew that with his status, although he could cry, there was a time and place for it. Tears could sometimes win people’s hearts, and sometimes only show his own weakness.

At this point, a messenger outside reported the arrival of a black-robed Taoist, appearing like a youth, requesting an audience.

Bo Yikao summoned him to meet.

A series of light footsteps echoed in the spacious hall, steady but with an indescribable rhythm.

As the footsteps grew closer, the crowd in the hall was surprised to find their heartbeat nearly matched the rhythm of those footsteps.

Everyone turned, seeing a thin, solitary silhouette.

"Commoner Li Nezha of Chentang Pass, greets Prince Bo Yikao."

Nezha bowed in salute, looking up at the elegant prince, truly matching his reputation.

With graceful demeanor, clear brows, and bright eyes, red lips, and white teeth, he was indeed a rare figure in the human world.

And when Bo Yikao saw Nezha, the first sight was those jet-black eyes, startling his heart, yet the next moment he felt a sense of familiarity, like an old friend unseen for many years.

He said, "What business brings you to the hall?"

"To report to the prince, Nezha previously stayed in Youli for half a year and had the fortune to meet His Highness King Wen. He entrusted me with a letter for you."

Hearing this, Bo Yikao immediately rose in excitement, "Father’s letter? Quickly present it."

This letter was indeed written by Ji Chang at Nezha’s request.

Nezha remembered when he asked him to write the letter, that old man was surrounded by beauties, one grinding ink, one pouring tea, another massaging his shoulders, living quite happily.

Bo Yikao read the letter and fell silent.

He naturally recognized his father’s handwriting, and the letter elaborated on pros and cons, with thousands of words, aiming to deter him from going to the capital.

Yet he felt anxious, turned to the Upper Doctor San Yisheng for advice, while pacing back and forth in the hall.

After reading it, although old, San Yisheng was still energetic, saying, "Since the Lord has given orders and is safe, what has the prince to worry about?"

Bo Yikao was an honest gentleman and said, "Father is kindhearted. Even if he hadn’t sent the letter, I know what he would say. The emperor has lost his governance, traitors fill the court, and Zhaoge is truly a den of wolves. His concern for my safety is rightful."

Duke San Yisheng also fell silent, knowing Ji Chang’s character well, understanding what kind of romantic he was since childhood.

However, Nezha realized that having only the letter was not enough.

If this continued, Bo Yikao was still in danger of calamity in Zhaoge.

He looked around the hall but didn’t see Ji Fa. If Bo Yikao didn’t die, how could Ji Fa become king in the future?

Yuanshi Tianzun allowed him to live and participate in the Sealing God Battle, already a great generosity. Would he let him act so recklessly, altering the predetermined fates other people had in this world?

This thought flashed through Nezha’s mind and was immediately discarded.

Hesitation and tentativeness were not his nature.

He spoke frankly, "Listening to the prince’s words, it seems the Lord’s letter wasn’t clear enough. Nezha dares to advise, if the prince ventures to Zhaoge, you may lose both life and wealth, facing threats of being hacked to pieces.

The Lord is your father, and acting against your father’s will is unfilial.

All the ministers here, knowing the prince is in mortal danger yet still allowing him to go his own way, are being disloyal."

"Bold!"

Someone in the hall rebuked, but Bo Yikao immediately raised his hand to dismiss them.

Bo Yikao only looked at Nezha in the hall, observing the youth carefully, realizing his slender build looked like a javelin standing there.

Looking again, he seemed like a mountain, as if no one could bow him down, and nothing could make him retreat.

Bo Yikao secretly marveled, thinking indeed there are exceptional people in this world.

He pondered for a long time before finally saying softly, "Since Father ordered and the hero delivered the letter, as the ministers said, let’s leave the matter for now."

After the court adjourned, when Nezha went to the Wei River bank with a fishing rod to accompany Jiang Ziya in fishing, and watched the shimmering river in a daze, he still felt an unreal sense.

To him, this matter concerned the Zhou legacy, even involving stakes not lighter than his past assassination attempt on King Zhou. How could it be resolved so easily?

Hearing him say this, Jiang Ziya beside him was indifferent.

The old man stretched lazily, yawning, and said, "Waste of effort, Heavenly Dao, Heavenly Dao, all things under heaven act within it. Besides, this isn’t just a matter of Heavenly Dao but also a significant affair jointly determined by the Three Teachings. Chengtang has merged and perished, Xiqi has birthed the Holy Master. Do you really think this is empty words?"

This 𝓬ontent is taken from f(r)eeweb(n)ovel.𝒄𝒐𝙢