Chapter Nineteen: Scorned

Zhu Yu looked at the three who were deep in thought, his face expressionless. He knew that this was the moment upon which success or failure hinged.

The three masters of the Colorful Troupe exchanged glances and nodded subtly to each other.

“Well, young man, you speak well. Lead the way, then. I want to see just how strong your confidence truly is,” the Colorful Troupe Master said.

Zhu Yu signaled Xiyu with his eyes to follow, then led the three out.

After some time, when they were a few hundred meters from the imperial city gates, the Colorful Troupe Master grabbed Zhu Yu, speaking menacingly, “Brat, what tricks are you playing? Why are you taking us to the palace? Don’t think I won’t kill you right now!”

“Calm down, calm down. If I wanted to play tricks, wouldn’t it be easier to take you to the headquarters of the Six Gates or Dragon Guard Manor? Trust me, just follow me and you’ll see,” Zhu Yu replied, entirely unfazed by being held captive, and even tried to reassure the master.

Fatty Chen wanted to speak up, but Xiyu interrupted him, “I advise you to listen to him. What’s about to happen, you’ll see for yourselves.”

The three masters exchanged another glance, looked at Xiyu, then at Zhu Yu, finally fixing their gaze on the palace walls. At the same time, they thought of Zhuge Zhengwo's Heavenly Thunder technique, and a startling speculation arose in their minds.

All along, the Colorful Troupe Master held tightly to Zhu Yu’s hand, but now he slowly released it.

Zhu Yu sensed his freedom, stretched his shoulders, then pulled several strips of black cloth from his robe, saying to the group, “Cover your faces. I don’t want others to know of your existence.”

Xiyu swiftly covered her face, and after some hesitation, the three masters did the same.

Zhu Yu checked each of them and nodded in satisfaction, then led them toward the palace without a backward glance.

As they approached the palace gates, the three masters gathered their inner energy, ready to kill and flee at the slightest sign of trouble.

But what happened next dissolved their energy, leaving even these top-tier experts weak-kneed, and confirming their unbelievable suspicion.

When they neared the palace gate, the guards naturally saw the group coming. As Zhu Yu approached, the guards all knelt and shouted in unison, “Long live the Emperor! Long live! Long live! Long—”

“Enough, enough, enough! Why do your greetings get longer every time? Wasn't it just four words at first? Forget it, I can’t be bothered with you,” Zhu Yu grumbled at the guards, venting his nerves.

Despite his calm demeanor earlier, Zhu Yu was actually tense to the extreme. If not for his deliberate efforts to steel himself since ascending the throne, he would have been unable to take another step.

But there was no choice. Blackstone, this ready-made force of the martial world, was something Zhu Yu had to bring under his control—and the fewer who knew, the better.

He also knew that he couldn't keep this from those in the palace for long, but his main aim was to conceal it from the martial world. Sending East Chamber agents to subdue Blackstone would have been easy, but it would also broadcast to the world that Blackstone was now an imperial force.

A short while later, in the Imperial Study, Zhu Yu sat in the principal seat, looking at the three below him, who were at a loss for what to do. He smiled, “Well? Is my confidence enough? Can I be the leader of Blackstone?”

Zhu Yu had thought that, now in the palace, his plan to subdue Blackstone was as good as done, but he hadn’t expected there were still obstacles.

“Earlier, we commoners may have offended you; please forgive us, Your Majesty. We know that to destroy Blackstone would take but a word from you, and our lives are in your hands. But if you wish to lead Blackstone, I regret to say we cannot agree,” Fatty Chen said, bowing respectfully.

Lei Bin and the Colorful Troupe Master said nothing, but their faces showed signs of tension.

“Why? Give me a reason. I am truly curious. I’ve heard countless tales: people from the martial world, most of you cling to life, yet when faced with the court, there’s always a stubborn streak. What has the imperial court ever done to wrong you? Don’t forget, you are all subjects of Jing Kingdom!” Zhu Yu forced himself to suppress his anger, voicing his doubts. Was all the risk he’d just taken for nothing?

He wanted to tear them apart, but for the sake of his own efforts, he held back.

Hearing Zhu Yu’s question, Fatty Chen took a moment before speaking, “What Your Majesty says is true; we commoners are subjects of Jing Kingdom, but at the same time, we are people of the martial world.

Since ancient times, the court and the martial world have been separate. I do not wish to break this rule in Blackstone, not in our hands. That is the first reason.

Moreover, in my opinion, Your Majesty is not a wise ruler. Sooner or later, you will lead Blackstone to ruin. Whether it perishes sooner or later, in your hands or others’, what difference does it make? That is the second reason.

Furthermore, although the Wheel King wasn’t the best, he was the founder of Blackstone. He built it from the ground up over decades, step by step. Now, with a single word, you wish to take the leader’s seat. Even if we agreed, would you trust us—subordinates who could rebel at any moment? If we are doomed anyway, why should we consent? That is the third reason. I am finished.”

Lei Bin and the Colorful Troupe Master stared at Fatty Chen in astonishment, gripping their blades, thinking, If you wish to die, that’s your choice—don’t drag us down with you.

Interesting. Zhu Yu pondered Fatty Chen’s words and found little to refute, except for the second point.

“You claim I am not a wise ruler? Explain yourself. Give me your reasons, or you won’t even have the privilege of dying,” Zhu Yu threatened, his face dark.

Fatty Chen seemed unconcerned with life or death, bowed slightly, and spoke loudly, “Some days ago, after Chancellor Cai was executed, Jing Kingdom’s power grew daily. At that time, I believed Your Majesty to be a wise ruler. But today, you’ve changed my mind.

You are the emperor, yet possess no martial skills, and dared to walk alone into the midst of Blackstone’s leaders’ battle—utterly unwise!

If you were just a newcomer to the martial world, I would admire you and praise your courage. But you are not; you bear the weight of Jing Kingdom!

Your actions, whatever they mean to you, I cannot say. But to me, you are gambling—and not alone. You are gambling with the entire Jing Kingdom. That is folly!

If you treat Jing Kingdom so lightly, what is Blackstone to you? Even if you subdue Blackstone today, and it is destroyed tomorrow, I fear your sorrow would be brief—not for our lives, but for your wasted effort, your risk gone in vain.”