Love & Redemption
Chapter 260: Final Volume: I Am Liuli - 19: The Descent of the Gods (Part 6)

Chapter 260: Final Volume: I Am Liuli Chapter 19: The Descent of the Gods (Part 6)

"Stop the nonsense and attack!" Tengshe was about to release fire to burn everything when suddenly, the Heavenly Emperor’s drag force caught him and hacked him to death with a flurry of blades—a fate he preferred to being smothered to death by the blood mist. What kind of death was melting into a pool of blood? He wasn’t interested in that!

Xuanji clung to him tightly and whispered, "Let me try again!"

She didn’t want to give up just like that. Killing was such an easy thing to do—one sword swing, and flesh and blood would fly, an end to all troubles. But along the way, Zi Hu had died, Si Feng had disappeared, and Liu Yihuan had left, while the people of the Shaoyang Sect were still living happily on the mountain—all were her companions. She couldn’t, because of her own impulsiveness, push all her loved ones into a pit of fire, suffering collective punishment; one Ting Nu was enough already.

Killing was merely the simplest way to handle affairs, and it had once been her truth, but now she wanted to abandon everything from the past.

Would heaven give her a chance?

She knelt on one knee and called out loudly, "Chu Xuanji seeks an audience with the Heavenly Emperor!"

No one answered her. The blood mist slowly advanced, and was about to touch the tip of her nose. Sweat covered all three faces as they nearly suffocated, listening to the distant celestial music.

The changing tones were like a pipa with beads of jade dropping to the floor—ding, dong, the notes ascended in a line, like a wisp of faint smoke curling up into the sky. Wuzhiqi concentrated on listening, feeling the sorrowful tones like a steel needle stuck in his brain, rendering him immobile.

In an instant, chimes, bamboo flutes, zithers... all started to play as if waves reaching the end of the sky had finally fallen, with the changing tones abruptly breaking through, returning to the original pitch. Wuzhiqi cried out, as if the steel needle stuck in his brain was yanked out, giving him an inexplicable sense of relief.

The blood mist in front of Xuanji suddenly split apart, opening up a thoroughfare, and a gentle voice said at the gate, "Please come in, the Heavenly Emperor has been waiting for a long time."

Overjoyed, they collapsed to the ground all at once, feeling their sweat-soaked clothes on their backs. As they looked at each other, they saw the pallor on each face, yet filled with the joy of survival after a catastrophe. Tengshe’s voice trembled a little, "Let’s go...go in."

Xuanji nodded, supporting Wuzhiqi, they walked side by side slowly into the Kaiming Gate. They saw the orderly array of gods standing on both sides, with a white-clothed youth standing in front, handsome with a divine presence, and a golden seal between his eyebrows. He seemed to be no more than thirteen or fourteen years old, yet his gaze was piercing, filled with vitality. Xuanji dared not meet his eyes after one look, instinctively bowing her head, her eyes glancing over his clothes and noticing his left sleeve was empty—a such handsome youth, he had no left hand.

Upon seeing him, Tengshe’s face went pale and after a long pause, he knelt down and bowed his head, whispering, "Paying respects to Emperor Bai."

Wuzhiqi was better off as he had seen Emperor Bai before and was already amazed then, so he gave a salute as a form of greeting. Xuanji, however, was so shocked her jaw almost dropped; she never imagined Emperor Bai to be such a young boy. Staring at him, she had no idea what to say.

Emperor Bai didn’t mind her gaffe, only giving a slight smile like a breeze in the spring, and said, "The General has returned, this ruler is very pleased indeed."

Tengshe saw that Xuanji was too stunned to react and, frustrated, pushed her leg. Awakened as if from a dream, Xuanji quickly nodded, "Hello...hello!"

What kind of greeting was that! Tengshe was utterly exasperated to the point of vomiting blood, fearing that one burst of anger from Emperor Bai might throw them out again.

Yet Emperor Bai seemed not to care, speaking softly, "Do you still remember the events of the past, General?"

What past events was he referring to? Xuanji nodded blankly, then shook her head, and finally said, "Some I remember, some... I do not."

Emperor Bai nodded slightly but didn’t pursue further, instead turning to Wuzhiqi with a smile, "It’s been a millennium, Wuzhiqi has changed quite a bit, become much gentler."

Wuzhiqi felt goosebumps at the sound of such gentle words and could only smile wryly, "Mr. Emperor Bai, please don’t mock me. A monkey like me doesn’t understand your sophisticated ways. Speak plainly, if there’s to be fighting or execution, I am at your disposal!"

Emperor Bai with a smile responded, "You are still so suspicious, but you’ve started to speak pleasantly. Is offering yourself up for punishment sincere?

Wuzhiqi waved his hands, "Hold on! Let me speak frankly first. We came here to reason things out, and we didn’t want to fight. Those Divine Witches killed my... good friend, and I have taken my revenge for her. I did the killing, it had nothing to do with this girl, this young man. If you want to show off the might of Heaven, come at me, don’t take away the girl’s husband, don’t resort to such despicable methods."

The nearby immortals shouted down his words, feeling that after so many years, his arrogance hadn’t diminished and he even dared to speak nonsense before Emperor Bai. Wuzhiqi rolled his eyes, "What, am I wrong?"

Emperor Bai chuckled and said, "Each issue should be addressed on its own, don’t mix them together. You destroyed the mountaintop where the Divine Witches lived and, on top of that, the crimes of stealing a Divine Artifact and escaping the Netherworld on your own—it wouldn’t be difficult to execute you. The Divine Witches accidentally killing that fox demon is a separate matter. At its root, it was caused by your unauthorized intrusion into Kunlun Mountain."

Wuzhiqi glared, "What grand authority Heaven wields! Judging and condemning without giving a chance to plead innocence—are we to just be taken away and locked up without a word? Where is the justice in that!"

Emperor Bai truly possesses remarkable composure, without a hint of irritation, he said softly, "You make some sense, but there are many ways to vindicate oneself, yet you chose the most foolish one. Anyway, at this point, it no longer matters." He turned to Xuanji, bowed slightly, and said, "The Heavenly Emperor awaits in the side hall, please follow me, General."

Xuanji let out an "Oh" and was about to follow him when she noticed Tengshe and Wuzhiqi were still standing in place. She hurriedly stopped, saying, "Wait... wait a moment, I’d like to go with my friends, is that not possible?"

Without turning back, Emperor Bai said indifferently, "The Heavenly Emperor will only see you, General. Those two have conspired in treason and will be taken down and thrown into the Heavenly Prison immediately."

What?! All three were greatly shocked, and the surrounding deities swarmed up, enclosing the two in the center. Tengshe cried out, "Your Highness Emperor Bai! What is this supposed to mean!" Emperor Bai replied nonchalantly, "I have already given you an opportunity, whose fault is it for not seizing it?" Rendered speechless by Tengshe. Emperor Bai’s wide sleeve fluttered slightly, "Take them down!"

With a whoosh, the deities drew their weapons, aiming at the two in the center, ready to hack them to death right there at the slightest sign of resistance. The sudden turn of events caught even Wuzhiqi off guard, who had not expected them to strike so quickly, and he lost the initiative. He could do nothing but stand there, frozen in place. Weighed down by the heavy weapons, even the valiant Tengshe and the fierce Wuzhiqi were forced to kneel on the ground.

Wuzhiqi clenched the Sea Control Hook, using it to bear the weight so he wouldn’t be pressed flat on the ground, which would’ve been truly dreadful. He laughed, "It’s always like this! Twice in a row now, I was just about to return the item to you, and you all make a preemptive strike. Very well! Very well!"

The White Tiger wielded a Cross Halberd, and she exerted the most force. With one thrust, she knocked Wuzhiqi to the ground, the horizontal blade of the halberd deeply pierced his shoulder. She whispered, "I’ll retrieve it once I kill you!"

Xuanji could no longer care about meeting with the Heavenly Emperor, she turned around and rushed back, exclaiming, "Don’t fight!... If we are to commit treason, then let’s do it together! I won’t go to see the Heavenly Emperor anymore!" Drawing the Bengyu, she leaped into the crowd. With a single strike, she flung aside the White Tiger’s Cross Halberd, followed by a "crack" - the sound of the halberd breaking in half. The Bengyu - which is the Ding Kun Sword, is excessively sharp, and with one swipe, it had severed the halberd.

The White Tiger was stunned. The greatest force on Wuzhiqi’s shoulder was gone, giving him the chance to exert his strength and stand up despite being pressed by numerous weapons. Jiao Su shouted urgently, "Stab him! Quick, stab him!" As he said this, he directed his blade towards Wuzhiqi. The deities attacked from all sides, but amidst the chaos, as Xuanji and her companions stood together, it became difficult to strike without turning them into a hornet’s nest. The Vermilion Bird cried out, "Wait! Hold on! Don’t hurt the General!"

However, it is not easy to stop weapons mid-stroke, especially since many held both fear and hatred towards Wuzhiqi, and they had little sympathy for Xuanji, the War God General; hardly anyone truly ceased their attack. Seeing the blades and swords thrusting towards him, Wuzhiqi sneered. The Sea Control Hook, as if understanding his intentions, drew a circle in the air. Everyone saw a flash of silver light, and heard the "crack crack" of snapping sounds, suddenly feeling a lightness in their hands; Wuzhiqi had cut down all their weapons.

Wuzhiqi leaped into the air, kicking Jiao Su off balance, who then clutched his throat and fell to the ground, unable to get up. The deities, realizing they could not overpower him and knowing that once released he would be like a tiger freed from its cage, instantly scattered, not wanting to be struck by him. Wuzhiqi twirled the Sea Control Hook in his hand and aimed it straight for the Vermilion Bird’s nose. Tengshe cried out in alarm, "No!"

The Vermilion Bird felt a strong gust of wind on his face and his heart chilled. There was no way to dodge it, so he could only close his eyes and await death. To his astonishment, the Sea Control Hook stopped just under three inches away from his nose and halted there. He looked at Wuzhiqi, bewildered, only to see the audacious Monkey grinning and saying leisurely, "None of you are a match for me, not worth my effort."

Stunned and angered, the crowd had nothing to say. Wuzhiqi casually played with the Sea Control Hook in his hand, speaking with ease, "Girl, go with Emperor Bai. Don’t worry about us."

Xuanji found herself in a bit of a dilemma, and turned to glance at Tengshe, who also nodded, and said, "Go on, hurry! Stop the nonsense! Dying isn’t that easy!"

So she nodded, saying, "No matter what the outcome is, we’ll live and die together!" As soon as she finished speaking, she turned and ran off, following Emperor Bai to the side hall.

Seeing her running far away, Wuzhiqi turned back to the gods, who were looking quite ill at ease, and chuckled, "Well, how about it? Fancy joining us for some fun?"

Nobody spoke, all of them wary of the Sea Control Hook in his hand. White Tiger said grimly, "You’re only acting tough because of the Divine Artifact in your hand! I don’t believe you could last ten rounds against us without it!"

With a swish, Wuzhiqi spun the Sea Control Hook in a circle, then laughed, "There’s some logic to what Sister White Tiger has said, alright—I’ll just put away this little hook!" As he said this, he actually made a motion as if to tuck the Sea Control Hook back into his ribcage, and everyone was overjoyed. Without the Sea Control Hook, Wuzhiqi would be nothing more than a slightly fearsome demon; perhaps they could indeed take him on.

White Tiger glanced at Tengshe and said coldly, "Have you made up your mind to oppose us, your former comrades, to the bitter end?"

Tengshe looked dour, and after a long pause replied, "Do it or not, I’ve been accused of treason either way, I at least have to claim this debt back!"

White Tiger nodded and said, "Good, very good!" Before she could finish the word "good," the broken Cross Halberd was already thrust in front of Tengshe. He startled back in haste, yet suddenly heard the whoosh of wind behind him; it was Lord Wuqu swinging his axe down, launching a pincer attack. Tengshe cursed his bad luck, pushed off the ground with his right hand, and somersaulted sideways to fly out. But Jing Su and Di Su had also closed in on him, and no matter how tough he was, he could not fend off so many. Taking a hit, he immediately released his Fire Wings.

Knowing the fierce power of Tengshe’s Fire, the gods didn’t dare to clash head-on and quickly dispersed, allowing him to fan a circle with his Fire Wings. With one whoosh, the ground immediately turned to a charred black. Di Su’s blade tip had nearly touched his back, but unable to dodge in time, it was licked by the Fire Wings, burning away most of his hair and blackening his face, causing him to cry out in agony.

For a moment everyone was helpless against his Fire Wings, and here lay Tengshe’s domineering strength—unless someone here could unleash the Nine Heavens Mysterious Fire, they could only succumb to his fiery assault. Jiao Su, clutching his throat, rose from the ground and bellowed in agony, "Go call Ying Long here!"

The mention of Ying Long’s name changed Tengshe’s expression; water overcomes fire, and however great his flames, they would be quenched by water. Seeing Jing Su about to dash off to call Ying Long, Tengshe quickly tried to grab him but ended up grasping at air. A flash of silver light, and Wuzhiqi had somehow followed up; the Sea Control Hook forced Jing Su to turn back.

White Tiger, in desperation, said, "Didn’t you put away the Sea Control Hook?! A man who doesn’t keep his word!"

Wuzhiqi, clutching the Sea Control Hook and grinning, lazily picked his nose and replied casually to her, "I said I’d put it back? Well, I also said I wanted to become the Heavenly Emperor, but who’s going to let me? Sister White Tiger, don’t be so naive! Oh, right, I forgot you’re not human; you’re the pure immortals..."