Chapter 988: Chapter 140: Dying in Her Place
Yun Sheng did not turn back. Behind her, the Golden Qilin glanced back at Ye Beicheng under the scorching sun. In its eyes, there was a hint of relief. It swayed its tail and followed Yun Sheng.
Empress Dowager Wenren felt a bit worried when she learned that Yun Sheng was going alone to Penglai.
"Empress Dowager, you donât need to worry. The little emperor is now capable of handling matters on his own. I have also left Rich Man Gold to ensure his safety. As for other matters, you can instruct Brother Cheng and Senior Brother Bu. If another difficulty arises, you can contact my second uncle," only Yun Sheng understood that this trip to Penglai was a journey she could not avoid.
Several years ago, when Yun Sheng found out that her mother Hu Jiushengâs amnesia was related to Penglai, she secretly vowed that one day, she would personally go to Penglai to find the cause of her motherâs amnesia.
Initially, she did not go to Penglai herself because she wasnât strong enough.
But over the years, she recuperated and especially after witnessing the divine countenance of Emperor Jiu Yan, her personal enlightenment had greatly improved, as well as her magic and summoning technique.
Furthermore, with the accompaniment of the Golden Qilin and other demon beasts, using her "Regent Kingâs" identity as cover, going to Penglai was most fitting.
Seeing that her persuasion was ineffective, Empress Dowager Wenren could do nothing but let Yun Sheng go.
One day after Yun Sheng left Yujing, a letter arrived at the Regent King Mansion.
However, since Yun Sheng wasnât there, the letter was eventually handed to Yun Canglang.
The letter had no signature. As Yun Canglang opened it, his brow furrowed deeply.
"You must get to Penglai!"
Beside him, Yuan Shahu found it very strange, "Canglang, who sent this letter? Shengâer already left for Penglai yesterday afternoon."
"Itâs from my elder brother. He expressly stated in the letter that Yun Sheng must arrive in Penglai by the fifteenth of this month," although it was unsigned, Yun Canglang recognized the handwriting as his elder brother Yun Canghaiâs.
Yun Canghai had been out of touch for years, and who would have thought he had been hiding in Penglai all this time.
This time, he even exposed his whereabouts to write this letter, insisting Yun Sheng go to Penglai, something must have happened. Could it be that his brother discovered something at Penglai?
Yun Canglang was somewhat anxious, knowing Yun Sheng had already departed, he needed to find a way to get the message to her.
Within the Penglai Summoning Court, in a dark and damp water prison, a woman submerged in the water prison kept her eyes shut. Her skin was pale, lacking any blood color.
Yet her face was unbelievably beautiful.
"She still refuses to say anything?" The Red Robe Summoning Emperor stepped into the water prison, followed by several summoners including the Ninth Summoner.
"Reporting to the Pope, this womanâs lips are sealed. She refuses to reveal the way to the Eight Desolates Continent," said a summoner responsible for interrogation.
The Red Robe Summoning Emperor stepped forward, lifted the womanâs chin.
"Yun Sheng, do you still refuse to speak? If so, the fifteenth of this month will be your death sacrifice," as he spoke, the Red Robe Summoning Emperorâs side glance swept over Hu Jiusheng, but her expression didnât change.
The Red Robe Summoning Emperorâs expression softened slightly, he pressed a few more questions, yet the woman remained silent as if she were mute.
Seeing that nothing could be extracted, the Red Robe Summoning Emperor led the ones beside him out.
After everybody had cleared out, Hu Jiusheng looked down from above at the girl who appeared lifeless.
She spoke coldly: "Why donât you explain?"
This was the question Hu Jiusheng had wanted to ask three years ago.
Everyone, including the Red Robe Summoning Emperor, believed the captive was Da Zhou Yunsheng, the Yun Sheng with half Heavenly Fox bloodline.
But Hu Jiusheng knew, she wasnât Yun Sheng.
She was merely a Heavenly Fox Clan woman who looked like Yun Sheng.
This woman, timid in nature, yet not knowing magic, was surprisingly strong-willed.
Over the past three years, the Red Robe Summoning Emperor tried various methods to make his men force her to reveal the entrance to the Eight Desolates Continent.
The Red Robe Summoning Emperor was an ambitious man, unlike other forces on Wuji Continent who merely wanted to expel the Descendants of Eight Desolates. He thought that to eradicate the Eight Desolate Beast Clan, he needed to root them out entirely, he even deludedly dreamed of counterattacking the Eight Desolates Continent before their next invasion.
Yet, the woman, delicate as porcelain, endured torture repeatedly, refusing to utter a word.
Perhaps the womanâs protection of Yun Sheng surprised Hu Jiusheng, or maybe she admired her resilience; Hu Jiusheng didnât dislike her.
If it wasnât that the woman must die, Hu Jiusheng might have saved her.
"In the end, someone has to die. If itâs me, itâs better than her dying," Hu Sheng coughed a few times, feeling a dull ache in her chest.
Yes, whether Hu Sheng lives or dies, no one would care.
Father... wouldnât care.
Qi wouldnât care either.
But if Yun Sheng died, many people would be sad.
Her friends, her lover, and her parents.
Yun Sheng had everything that Hu Sheng did not. She was like a sun, smart, capable of powerful magic, and even had a miracle medical skill that could bring people back to life.
In comparison to Yun Sheng, she was just an insignificant black spot within the sun.
Her existence seemed to highlight Yun Shengâs goodness.
But even so, she still liked Yun Sheng very much.
To die in Yun Shengâs place, to be killed instead, was a kind of happiness too.
"Do you have any last wishes?" Hu Jiusheng asked.
"I... want to return to my hometown, but I probably canât go back. So, could you, after I die, take my ashes to Da Zhou and give them to a man named Qi?" Hu Sheng finished speaking and smiled slightly.
Her smile was particularly poignant.
Even if Qi didnât love her, she still loved him very much.
Qi was the first man to treat her so kindly.
Hu Jiusheng agreed to Hu Shengâs wish, though she didnât know with what feeling she left the water prison.
As she exited the cell, a cold voice reached Hu Jiushengâs ears.
"Why not save her? She doesnât deserve to die." Disguised as a summoning court summoner, Yun Canghai stood not far away.
"You didnât save her either, itâs not just me whoâs selfish." The only thing Hu Jiusheng cared about was as long as Yun Sheng did not die, it didnât matter who did.
Hu Jiusheng didnât speak further, leaving coldly.
Yun Canghai sighed, looking at the water prison.
Indeed, Hu Jiusheng was right, he was selfish too.
But he still couldnât bear to watch an innocent girl die in place of Yun Sheng.
He had already written to Yun Sheng, asking her to come to Penglai as soon as possible.
Presumably, by now, she should be on her way to Penglai.
If she makes it in time, maybe the girl in the water prison might be spared from death.