Chapter 88

“Father, this…”

“Enough, I made this trade with the emperor of Great Chu. Even if the world knows, what can they do to me!”

The old man’s voice was firm and resolute.

Another voice fell silent, no longer speaking.

In the dark prison cell, aside from the sound of blood gushing, there were no other sounds.

……

All these scenes, buried deep in memory, were being awakened once again, swirling in Cheng Guang’s dreams.

Eventually.

These fragments of memories merged together, gradually forming the figure of a young man with the appearance of a coachman.

He seemed carefree yet full of sorrow.

As if seeing such scenes for the first time.

Tears streamed down his face, turning him into a figure of tears.

“I was already dead, and shouldn’t cling to this body.”

“Now that my elder brother has awakened my memories, I will no longer hide.”

“I leave it to my brother to live a good life on my behalf.”

“My mother’s hope was simply for me to be safe and sound.”

“As for the schemes to take my bloodline, although I am furious, it was a decision made by my parents, trading it to the Duke of the State for my safety; it’s hard to blame others.”

“But… why has my Great Chu fallen, losing both kingdom and family…”

“How did Great Chu perish…”

“Why are my father and mother no longer here…”

Towards the end, the young man broke down into heart-wrenching sobs.

Tears slipped uncontrollably from the corners of his eyes.

From a Crown Prince of a nation to a lowly coachman, he had never shed tears.

It was only upon witnessing the demise of his Great Chu…

When the capital was trampled by Iron Cavalry, the mountains and rivers shattered,

Did he finally lose himself to weeping.

Weeping for his Great Chu.

And for his parents who, having seldom seen him grow, perished in their plea to the conquerors, trading their lives for his security.

The young man wept and wept.

His form slowly shifted, and in a sudden burst, transformed into a stream of light that shot into Cheng Guang’s brow.

Perhaps it was because this body was inherently compatible with that young man.

Perhaps Cheng Guang never truly possessed this body.

At the moment when the radiance entered his body.

Cheng Guang felt all weariness swept away, his mind became strikingly sharp, and his Primordial Spirit inexplicably strengthened a great deal.

His mind, too, gradually clarified, thoughts arranging in orderly clarity.

Until the young man’s figure disappeared.

Cheng Guang had yet to come to his senses.

Year after year of peace, year after year of safety, a lifetime of peace.

This…

Is not easy to come by at all…

Cheng Guang’s face revealed a complex expression.

In this world, without strength, without backing…

Mere survival is already a luxury for the common man.

Cheng Guang sat on the bed, letting out a sigh.

Supressing all the emotional influence brought by those awakened memories.

His mind regaining its calmness.

In Cheng Guang’s mind, the young man’s crying voice still echoed.

“How did Great Chu fall…”

Great Chu fell.

Leaving no home.

For him, with no home, the vast world had no place for him to stay.

It was so for him.

How could it not be the same for Cheng Guang?

Cheng Guang took a deep breath, standing tall as if murmuring to himself, yet also as if speaking to someone.

“Living well is not only your wish, but also mine.”

“It’s just that I can’t help you with your obsession with Great Chu. I currently lack the means to revive the nation, to establish a new dynasty with heaven-reaching power.”

After a while.

Cheng Guang settled back into stillness.

By now, he had a general understanding of his predecessor’s background.

It was not simply being a prince of a dynasty.

But a prince from a perished dynasty.

With the nation destroyed, the family lost.

The entire Great Chu royal lineage was traditionally passed down in a single line.

The contemporary emperor of Great Chu adored one woman, built a three thousand miles peach garden, presented three thousand layers of fragrance, and married the divine maiden of Great Chu.

During their wedding, the Four Directions Mortal World celebrated together.

At the birth of their child, a prodigy marked by heavenly anomalies shook heavens and earth.

Great Chu had always been among the top dynasties of the Four Directions Mortal World; in terms of comprehensive strength, it ranked second among all the dynasties.

Back then, the Great Zhou Dynasty was barely fourth.

A trivial Great Zhou Dynasty, no matter how strong, could not possibly breach the defenses of Great Chu.

Why, then, did such a powerful Great Chu…

Fall to Great Zhou.

Why did such a powerful Great Chu…

Perish.

Cheng Guang pondered lightly, “Indeed, how did Great Chu just fall like that…”

“Certainly, Great Chu would not have fallen so easily; could there be secrets I am unaware of?”

Cheng Guang muttered to himself.

The fall of Great Chu shook the Four Directions Mortal World.

With the fall of Great Chu, the comprehensive strength of the Four Directions Mortal World was directly reduced by thirty to forty percent.

It practically constituted half of the Human Race’s strength in the entire Four Directions Mortal World.

If Great Chu were still present, Devil Beasts wouldn’t even dream of touching the Mortal World, let alone dare to peer inside even with wide-open gates.

This was the confidence Great Chu Dynasty brought.

Yet…

Such a powerful Great Chu…

Always guarding the Four Directions Mortal World, a kingdom with no power struggles…

Not destroyed by Demon Beasts…

Not destroyed by internal strife…

But instead, brought down by fellow humans of the Human Race…

Almost too fantastical to believe.

Cheng Guang carefully mulled over in his mind, his gaze becoming increasingly complex.

Many mysteries surfaced in his mind.

But he couldn’t find the answers immediately.

His head pounded with pain.

In a way, Cheng Guang himself was also stubborn.

Prone to obsessing over details.

If he couldn’t understand something, he would ponder continually, until he figured it out.

Night fell.

Cheng Guang lay in bed, unable to sleep.

His mood inexplicably turned restless.

He was too weak.