Page 43

The painting was exquisite, rendered in the style of detailed brushwork, which raised yet another thread of doubt in Chen Qing’s heart.

Since arriving in this world, he had encountered some inconsistencies that he couldn’t quite explain; it was as if some of the things he had originally planned to use to make a fortune had already existed.

For instance, printing, as well as salt and sugar refining—these conventional schemes for time-traveling in ancient times had crossed the mind of the science student who wanted to improve his family’s circumstances, but it turned out these things already existed.

The game world he had designed was naturally centered around fantasy, so minutiae about people’s livelihoods were not comprehensively considered.

The existence of these things could only be attributed to the ancients of this world being quite intelligent.

But he had never expected that even detailed brush paintings already existed…

And they were really well done!

As Chen Qing flipped through them, he felt a sense of nostalgia, reminiscent of his childhood days reading comic strips…

“What are these?” Wang Ye paused, “Record of Unusual Tales?

No, that’s not right…” Wang Ye looked carefully through a few pages, and then shook his head, “The Record of Unusual Tales isn’t this clear.

Master actually recorded the habits and special abilities of these demons so meticulously?

When did you start doing this?”

Chen Qing was also curious; many of the records here were incredibly detailed, and as the designer, he had to commend the work—the other’s deductions about the ghosts and monsters were very accurate.

It seemed that Duke of Song had put a great deal of effort into observing these demons.

The most recent page with fresher ink detailed the Thousand-Faced Fox and the Mountain Ghost; there wasn’t much about the Mountain Ghost as it had been suppressed shortly after it appeared.

The Thousand-Faced Fox, however, due to its particularly striking performance, was recorded very clearly by Liu Yu.

It was indeed a nice item, but it was useless to him; moreover, what did giving this to him imply?

While he was thinking, Chen Qing turned to the last page and saw a letter addressed to him.

He blinked in surprise, then without further ado, he picked up the envelope, opened it, and began to read, while Wang Ye, standing beside him, took the initiative to withdraw, deeming it inappropriate to look any further.

“You’re really not going to look?” Chen Qing asked with a chuckle, observing the other, who had turned into a wooden figure, upholding his principles steadfastly.

“I shouldn’t look at the letter…” Wang Ye shook his head, “But I am very interested in the master’s album recorded with depictions of ghosts and demons.

If you don’t mind, may I take a closer look?

After I have taken note of it, I plan to copy it when I return.”

“Take it…” Chen Qing said with a smile, handing over the album to him, then turned his attention to the letter.

The format of the letter was not complicated, and the language used was very simple, starting with a colloquial message.

To my young friend Chen Qing, by the time you receive this letter, I, Liu Yu, will likely have passed away.

Not being able to find the time to get to know you better is my greatest regret.

However, the Emperor has already taken notice of you, and if I were to see you before my death, it would not be beneficial to you.

Thus, I could only choose this method to leave behind some words I wanted to say to you.

From the moment I saw you, young friend, you reminded me of a person I once greatly admired.

You must have heard of his name—the very King of Qin that everyone now fears to mention.

I mastered the power of the Dusk at the age of seven, and before I was sixteen, I could traverse the world with techniques.

There was a time when Liu Yu believed he was the freest person in this world, but the more I uncovered the secrets of this world, the more my conceited thought sank into the abyss.

This world is much bigger than I imagined.

I have traveled across the earth, gathering many historical documents.

However, the more I learned, the more horrific I found this world to be.

Some secrets were so despairing that simply knowing about them was enough to break one’s spirit.

I even started to doubt whether the continuation of the Human Race until today was a deliberate setup by someone, as if an invisible hand was manipulating our fates…

I heard all of your conversation with Mister Bai in the great hall; the Emperor does not know what the previous generation meant, but Liu Yu happens to know.

The secret of the Demon Race’s reincarnation was told to me by the King of Qin.

I once believed that no second person in this world would bear this secret, yet, to my surprise, you spoke of it casually.

Since you are aware of this secret, then you naturally understand just how unfair this world is to the Human Race!

Demons are born with frightfully exceptional talents, while the Human Race is inherently frail and weak.

A demon, no matter how careless or reckless, always has the chance to start anew, while the Human Race is different—if we lose just once, there is no future.

And this is but one of many despairing truths about the world.

The more you know, the more hopeless the future of the Human Race seems to be…

But the King of Qin was different.

It seemed that he truly wanted to change the world, and he had the confidence to do so.

Those who followed him were swayed by his conviction.

You give me the same feeling as the King of Qin.

Although you have not yet grown to that stature, the essence of you both is the same.

No matter how humbly you behave before His Majesty, I can see, deep in your eyes, that you look down upon this world.

I am truly curious about what you will do in the future, whether you’ll make the same bold conception as the King of Qin once did.

If possible, Liu Yu dearly wished to see through to the end alongside him, but alas…

the King of Qin could deal with many formidable demons but could not handle the dreadful human heart.

You must learn from this, young friend…

If you, like the King of Qin, harbor grand ideas, remember to be even more cautious…

Lastly…

I hope you can look after my disciple for me.

I know he is no longer my disciple, but he considers himself to be, and in his own view, he is Wang Ye, the disciple of Liu Yu, me!

His existence very much aligns with some of the thoughts of the former King of Qin.

What would it be like if a demon chose to view himself as human?

I am eager to know the answer, but I must follow the King of Qin in death first.

The King of Qin said that humans should also have reincarnation.

I choose to believe this.

If there truly is a next life, I eagerly anticipate seeing the world you have changed, and I also look forward to seeing what my current disciple will become…

Though my words are brief, my thoughts are vast.

Please do not laugh at them, Liu Yu sends his regards!

The letter also contained techniques, and as Chen Qing read each word, it was eradicated by the distorted Spatial Technique.

Chen Qing even wondered whether if it weren’t for him reading this letter, its contents would be directly erased.

When he finished reading all the content, the entire letter disappeared from Chen Qing’s hand as if it had never existed in the first place.

This sudden void in his heart caught Chen Qing off guard.

He didn’t know how Liu Yu had become aware of him.

Perhaps if the other had still been alive, he would have been very wary, but now that the other was dead, seeing the letter made him feel a sense of losing a confidant.

After all, in this world…

there might never again be someone like Liu Yu who understood him so well.

Thinking of this, Chen Qing once again performed a deep bow in the direction of the Duke of Qin’s residence.

“What’s the matter?” Wang Ye was puzzled by Chen Qing’s sudden action, and asked curiously.

“It’s nothing…” Chen Qing smiled, “It’s just that after reading the letter, I feel that your master…

is truly a formidable person…”

Wang Ye showed a proud expression: “My master is naturally formidable.

There is no magician in this world more powerful than him.

If he were not so rigid in his thinking, not even the Emperor could do anything to my master!”

Chen Qing looked at him blankly for a moment, then shook his head with a smile.

This Wang Ye, usually so clever, could sometimes be such a blockhead…

Liu Yu had no children, and as the most powerful spatial sorcerer, the Emperor had never been able to control him.

To speak of blind loyalty, perhaps outsiders were unaware, but Chen Qing, the designer, knew that the inheritors of the Evening Symbol were the least likely to be bound by power.

So what could the Emperor do to make him die?

Chen Qing looked at Wang Ye, who seemed a bit foolish at the moment, shook his head slightly, and thought it’s all because of you…

fool.

————————————-

“How is it?”

Inside the Imperial Palace, the Emperor looked at the twisted crack in his hand with a gloomy face, asking the black-clothed sorcerer beside him who was observing the technique.

The black-clothed sorcerer, after a long look at the runes flickering on the Emperor’s body, finally shook his head: “The technique set up by Liu Yu is incredibly intricate; forcibly dismantling it could harm Your Majesty’s dragon body.”

“Hmph!” The Emperor’s eyes flickered with flames.

If he had been certain, he wouldn’t have allowed Liu Yu to make any demands!

After all, the power of Liu Yu’s Evening Symbol was too elusive to capture, and he was also an extremely clever man.

Practically the moment the Emperor had promised the Thousand-Faced Fox, Liu Yu had guessed that the Emperor would try to have him killed.

Liu Yu’s condition was simple: let the Emperor bind his technique with his own essence blood and promise, under no circumstances, to harm Wang Ye.

The death of a junior like Wang Ye would be insignificant, but as an Emperor, how could he accept such restrictions?

“There’s no other way?”

“Only when Your Majesty undergoes a rebirth through blood cleansing next time!” The sorcerer looked up and smiled, “Then there will be a chance to break free from the technique left by Liu Yu.”

At these words, the Emperor nodded slightly, then asked, “What about Chen Qing, has he already set off?”

“Yes, after Liu Yu’s seat was dispersed, he hit the road overnight.

Oh, and Wang Ye saw him off a distance.”

“Do you know what was said?”

“It’s not good to get too close…” The sorcerer shook his head: “Nowadays, Your Majesty cannot spare the manpower to keep an eye on such younglings.”

At this, the Emperor immediately frowned.

After Mister Bai’s betrayal, he indeed no longer had enough manpower to monitor the officials.

Sorcerers were rare, and the limited manpower had to be used to watch those troublesome few.

“So, Your Majesty…” The black-clothed sorcerer said, “We also can’t spare anyone to watch over Chen Qing.

He may be a mortal, but if we only send two apprentices, I don’t think they can keep an eye on him.”

“Chen Qing, hmm…” The Emperor rarely showed hesitation.

The man was a mortal, and sending a grand sorcerer to monitor him would be too extravagant given the current shortage of manpower.

But if left alone, he always felt that Chen Qing would cause serious trouble.

As for the Thousand-Faced Fox, he was not concerned.

The Golden Crow Blood Curse, forged with his own blood by Mister Five Poison, could not be undone by anyone in this world.

This had already been personally tested by the former King of Qin!

“Send an imperial decree to the Jiangnan Academic Governor Mu Hongqing!”

“Are we really going to use him?” The black-clothed sorcerer was surprised.

After Mu Hongqing had changed his surname and defected from the Lu Family, he was still of the Duke of Qin’s bloodline.

The Emperor had cultivated him for many years but had never given him any significant assignments.

“We have to try.” The Emperor smiled, “It’s time to see if he truly serves me wholeheartedly!”

“And…” The Emperor looked towards the great hall’s exterior, his eyes, burning with golden flames, as if he could see through the palace walls to where Chen Qing was at the South Gate, and spoke in a quiet tone, “I also want to see what kind of stir that youngster named Chen Qing can create after being sent to Lyuzhou!”