Chapter 116: Little Mirror Lake – A Zhu (Combined)

A few days later, late at night, in a certain inn in Suzhou, Jiangnan.

“Your Majesty, Little Mirror Lake lies just three miles south. If you set out from here tomorrow, you can reach it in less than an hour.”

At dusk, Zhu Yu and his companions settled in at this inn. After dining and arranging their rooms, while Jiang Yuyan was bathing, Cao Zhengchun approached to report the itinerary.

“Hm, understood...”

Boom!

Just as Zhu Yu began to respond, a muffled rumble echoed from outside.

Thunder? This... feels so familiar. Did I forget something?

Triggered by the thunder, Zhu Yu fell into deep thought.

Seeing his expression, Cao Zhengchun assumed he was worried about the weather and tried to reassure him.

“Master, please rest assured. I observed earlier: the clouds outside are thin. If it rains, it will only be a light rain lasting until dawn. This thunder will at most last for two hours.”

“Alright, got it.”

Zhu Yu responded absentmindedly. Suddenly, a flash of lightning illuminated the sky, bright as day.

The sudden flash instantly brought to Zhu Yu’s mind the scenes of Ah Zhu’s death from various versions of the “Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils” in his previous life.

Remembering this, Zhu Yu sprang to his feet urgently.

“It’s too late! We have to leave now. You come with me to Little Mirror Lake.”

Startled, Cao Zhengchun tried to dissuade him.

“Master, a heavy rain is about to fall. Perhaps... please wait a moment. I will make arrangements... please wait for me...”

Cao Zhengchun’s words were cut off as Zhu Yu ignored him, grabbed a coat, and put it on, then strode out.

This decisive action silenced Cao Zhengchun’s protests. Watching Zhu Yu’s retreating figure, he hurried after him.

The gentle night breeze gradually grew into a howling wind, and lightning intermittently lit up the dark road ahead.

If anyone stood by the roadside at that moment, when the lightning flashed, they would see two figures moving swiftly along the deserted avenue.

Cao Zhengchun’s heart was uneasy. Although he knew His Majesty practiced martial arts, in his mind, the emperor only did so to improve health, prolong life, or for nocturnal pleasures.

But he never expected, after such a short time, His Majesty’s skill had already risen to a first-rate superior realm!

An unparalleled genius indeed. At this rate, the emperor’s promotion to Grandmaster was imminent, and even the highest master rank was within reach.

With these thoughts, Cao Zhengchun silently adjusted the future path of the Eastern Depot in his mind.

Under their full exertion, it wasn’t long before they arrived at Little Mirror Lake.

Looking at the wind-whipped waves on the lake’s surface, Zhu Yu glanced upstream and downstream. Due to the darkness, he could not see the bridge from his memories.

“Cao Zhengchun, you go downstream, I’ll go upstream. If you see Qiao Feng, no matter what he intends, stop him and bring him to me. If you don’t see him within five miles, return to find me.”

Though the bridge was missing, Zhu Yu had already made up his mind and issued his orders.

“Master, this is no time for rash action. I have yet to dispatch scouts here. Though your martial skills are superb, you are still precious to us—no harm must come to you!”

For the first time, Cao Zhengchun refused outright without making excuses.

Though Zhu Yu knew his intentions were good, there was no time for further explanation.

The rain had not yet fallen, but Zhu Yu faintly recalled that after Ah Zhu’s death, the rain began. Every second counted.

“I know your concern, but if you truly care for my safety, complete your task quickly and come find me.”

Before he finished speaking, Zhu Yu rose and moved upstream.

Watching his back, Cao Zhengchun gritted his teeth and dashed downstream like a phantom, his lifelong Grandmaster skills now fully displayed.

As for Zhu Yu, some might say that as emperor, he should not take such risks, or that Ah Zhu was merely a maidservant, and so on.

But to Zhu Yu, it was different. Since childhood, whether in books or dramas, every time he saw Ah Zhu’s death, he wept bitterly.

Though he found it embarrassing now, it remained a deep regret in his heart.

Fortunate by fate to be reborn in this world, Zhu Yu possessed the power to change that regret. Who, given such a chance, would not do everything to seize it?

At this moment, what mattered little was status or rank.

In other words, since his transmigration, Zhu Yu had enjoyed the blessings of this world—people and things unimaginable in his past life—but subconsciously, he still felt a thin veil separating him from this world.

He was like an outsider, enjoying all it offered yet watching its unfolding as if a spectator, only stirring the existing plot along.

Though he appeared magnanimous, on reflection, when had he ever truly acted from the heart?

Even he did not know. His subconscious told him that saving Ah Zhu was not merely to amend regret but the first step toward fully embracing this world.

Speaking of which, have you ever been controlled by emotion? Zhu Yu was like that now—overwhelmed.

His mind obsessed with saving Ah Zhu and stopping Qiao Feng from acting...

This thought trapped him in a dead end. Qiao Feng—Grandmaster and prodigy! Even Flower Without Defect had said he was no match for Qiao Feng. How could he possibly stop him?

When one is emotionally charged, reason fades—like browsing online shopping, knowing the item is expendable, but the impulse compels purchase. Afterwards, regret follows.

Zhu Yu could not afford such thoughts now; his mind focused on one thing: having lingered too long at the first-class superior realm, it was time to break through.

Thoughts aligned with will in an instant, and the system interface displayed as follows:

Host: Zhu Yu
Identity: Emperor of Jing State, Leader of the Black Stone Sect
Status: Healthy
Martial Arts: Northern Darkness Divine Skill (modestly accomplished), Nine Yin Manual (insight gained), Ramo Divine Skill (beginner)
Imperial Dynasty Fortune Points: 607

Feeling the surging waves of true qi within, far different from before, a smile curved Zhu Yu’s lips.

Master rank achieved!

Moreover, though he hadn’t upgraded Northern Darkness Divine Skill, he sensed he could absorb others’ internal energy (true qi) again.

Intuitively, Zhu Yu felt that without upgrading this skill, relying on its current level, the conversion efficiency of absorbing true qi would be pitiful.

His muddled emotions slowly dissipated. Reflecting on his actions, a big question arose in his mind.

Did I just waste all the fortune points I painstakingly saved for emergencies? Damn...

Zhu Yu swallowed his endless complaints, knowing this was no time to dwell.

Though his inner world was tumultuous and he had just ascended to Grandmaster, his pace never faltered as he continued upstream.

When he regained focus, the faint silhouette of the bridge from his memory appeared over the lake.

Startled and pleased, Zhu Yu quickened his steps.

After a few breaths, as he neared, the bridge and all upon it came into clear view.

Two men stood facing each other on the bridge.

One had a pale face and long beard, appearing about forty or fifty years old, yet remarkably handsome—indicating he must have been a dashing gentleman in youth.

Seeing him, Zhu Yu knew immediately: this was Dali’s Southern Pacification King, Duan Zhengchun, though this person was likely Ah Zhu in disguise.

The other needed no introduction — it was Qiao Feng, one of Zhu Yu’s objectives to save.

Relieved at their stillness, Zhu Yu relaxed briefly. But before he could call out, the scene shifted to what he most dreaded.

Qiao Feng took an imposing stance, fierce true qi surging from his body, shaking the lake water into heights over thirty feet, as if the water defied gravity and rushed to the heavens.

As the water’s momentum waned, Qiao Feng’s hands moved fluidly, channeling his true qi repeatedly through his meridians, releasing it outward.

This extraordinary qi outside his body transformed into the renowned martial art of the Jianghu—the Peerless Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms!

The leaping lake water gradually fell, crashing onto the invisible qi before Qiao Feng, creating a stunning sight.

The water condensed and did not disperse, forming a terrifying water dragon before him!

The already fierce Dragon Subduing Palms, bolstered by the water’s force, gained even greater power.

Qiao Feng, aware of this, silently thanked heaven. True qi erupted as he struck forward at his foe on the bridge—Duan Zhengchun!

Zhu Yu, of course, could not remain idle but had no time to speak.

He summoned his true qi and dashed swiftly onto the bridge. Seeing time was short, he leapt into the air to meet the two men’s level.

Channeling true qi through his meridians into his arms, his hands instinctively curled into claw shapes.

Without conscious effort, his meridians responded to the qi, shaping his hands into claws.

At the critical moment, Zhu Yu reached out midair to grasp the water dragon rushing toward Ah Zhu.

He unleashed the Nine Yin Manual’s pinnacle lethal technique—the Nine Yin Divine Claw!

Though only a moment had passed, the water curtain above remained, and Zhu Yu’s claw strike was visually spectacular.

The scattered water droplets fell from above—some returning to the lake, some striking the bridge, others merging into the dragon to bolster it.

Zhu Yu’s claw cut through the water curtain, shocking everyone present, including himself.

The water dragon soared within the dense curtain, but at its head, a vacuum claw-shaped silhouette appeared.

Like a great hand, it gripped the struggling dragon tightly!

In this contest between the Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms and the Nine Yin Divine Claw, Zhu Yu held the absolute advantage.

But his excitement lasted barely two seconds before his nearly exhausted true qi warned him: just promoted to Grandmaster and already trying to match Qiao Feng? Dream on!

No time to hesitate, Zhu Yu gathered his remaining true qi, directing the energy of the Dragon Subduing Palms into the lake.

The combined force of palm energy and claw strike stirred towering waves.

Though forced, this move, combined with the visual spectacle, appeared deliberate rather than desperate.

Onlookers saw Zhu Yu skillfully deflecting energy, appearing graceful and effortless, exuding an ethereal aura.

If Zhu Yu knew this, he would be furious. Having lived two lives, if he were truly acting, no one could imagine it.

If he had the ability, a single claw would shatter the palm energy—that’s true style... or rather, true presence.

All this unfolded in mere moments.

Because of the water curtain, Zhu Yu and Qiao Feng could see each other but not clearly.

After landing, Zhu Yu faintly saw Qiao Feng rising for another strike—this time targeting him!

Frightened, Zhu Yu shuddered, unable to ready a stance, he shouted, “Qiao Feng, stop!”

The moment his words fell, Qiao Feng’s gathered true qi dispersed.

Hearing the voice, Qiao Feng frowned, astonished by its familiarity.

Could it be... no, impossible. What place is this? That person shouldn’t be here—he should be in the palace.

His mind conflicted; he doubted yet questioned himself.

Qiao Feng knew that even if the emperor wanted to leave the palace, he would not come here, such a remote place.

But as the water curtain parted, revealing Zhu Yu’s face, Qiao Feng’s eyes widened in disbelief.

Stammering, he muttered, “This... how can it be? Impossible!”

“Why? Have you forgotten me so soon? We met in the capital,” Zhu Yu said, stepping onto the bridge, calming his racing heart, feigning composure.

Hearing this, Qiao Feng’s unlikely suspicion was confirmed, yet he still hesitated to believe it.

“Your Majesty, how could you come here? At this hour? Alone?”

“I came for you, to prevent a grave mistake,” Zhu Yu said with a hint of irritation.

“I understand. Rest assured, though I never expected the former leader to be Dali’s Southern Pacification King, each must bear the consequences of their actions.

Once this is resolved, I will personally visit the Duan family of Dali to ensure no trouble befalls the Jing Dynasty.”

“Bull! Look carefully—do you really think that man across from you is Duan Zhengchun?”

—End of excerpt—