Chapter 1177: Forward Together

Drip~

The earth shook and water dripped inside a dark prison. A weary middle-aged man sat on a filthy bed, bleak and forlorn.

Crack!

Noise came from just outside, with a man bowing, "Greetings, Your Majesty!"

"Open the cell!"

"Yes!"

A man in royal garb stepped in, looking at the prisoner in ruined clothes, "Imperial brother, did you hear? That's the sound of old friends leaving. But even as the ruler of a nation, I still had no suitable parting gift."

"Who is leaving?"

The prisoner looked up, staring at Tianyu's emperor, Yuwen Cong.

Yuwen Cong sighed, "My sworn brothers, of course, Zhuo Fan and the Luo clan. They're going to a bigger world and reaching new heights we could never even dream of. I can only stay here and wish them safe travels."

"Ha-ha-ha, for Your Majesty to come see a traitor in person, is it just to show off?"

Yuwen Yong mocked, "I sided with the Sword Star Empire, the greatest power, only for Zhuo Fan to later destroy it. Now you have caught me and must be mighty pleased. Now there's no chance of me fighting back. I am at your whim, to kill, to maim!"

Yuwen Cong looked saddened, "Second brother, to be honest, I'd have truly removed you if this happened a hundred years ago. But now, everything changed. I've felt my power waining with the Luo Alliance hanging overhead. I've been depressed and forlorn. But then, Luo Yunhai, returned to me my full authority. I thought I'd be happy, but all I found within me was an endless void."

"Void?"

"Yes."

Yuwen Cong sighed, "What's so great about imperial power, when all is so futile? For this power I killed my elder brother, harmed my father, and then became a puppet just so that someone would throw me back out like trash. The moment the power returned to me, I cried. What the hell is this? Kings and officials, fathers and sons, tear at each other and for what, so that one man can stand alone, in the cold harsh emptiness?"

Yuwen Cong teared up, leaving Yuwen Yong in shock, "Yes, just what is authority, to make me, the foolish and chubby third brother, so ruthless to kill our father and first brother, then hunt you down as well?"

Second brother, I am confessing here, but you shouldn't pin everything on me either. It was in fact the Crown Prince who killed our father then. I only joined later and killed the Crown Prince, on the charge of patricide."

"The Crown Prince killed our imperial father? Don't spout nonsense! Why did I hear then that you killed them, teaming up with the Luo clan to take power?"

"That's the truth. You're my prisoner, so why would I bother making everything up?

Yuwen Cong sighed, "Imperial father drew outsiders to fight the Luo clan and set the stage for the Crown Prince's death, all so he could leave the lands to me. In the end, the Crown Prince struck first, the Luo clan had shockingly won, and with them in the shadows, I became their puppet emperor. If it weren't for the Luo clan, it still would've been me who inherited it. For imperial father never planned on giving power to the Crown Prince."

Yuwen Yong's face shook, "How can that be? I thought you killed them and I've always sought revenge..."

"When the imperial members vie for power, who doesn't seek revenge?"

Yuwen Cong sighed, "Everyone went insane, trying to cull everyone outside of their control. Be it our imperial father or the Crown Prince who won, neither would've let you, the imprisoned second brother, free. I as well was a threat to the throne and removed."

Yuwen Yong squinted in a daze, then he slumped powerlessly, "What have I been doing this last century then? Helping those trying to kill me for revenge? Ha-ha-ha..."

"Guard, release Yuwen Yong."

Yuwen Cong shouted and a soldier obeyed. Yuwen Cong gave him a long look, then smiled, "I had a drink with Zhuo Fan a few days ago and realized a problem. He never cared for power, but winning against the world. We fought hard and bitterly, but won the rights to a life of solitude.

"Second brother, the other lands condemn their traitors, with Shangguan Feiyun, Bu Xingyun and the others having a sordid end, you are still my second brother, my only remaining brother. Zhuo Fan had been a true friend to give you to me and none other cared much either. Now, Yuwen clan has another member left alive."

Yuwen Yong could finally move and doubted, "Aren't you afraid I'll come back to fight you?"

"Fight me? I'm but the lord of a third-rate empire while you climbed to be a valued minister in the Sword Star Empire? Why would you come after me?"

Yuwen Cong mocked, turning to leave, "Zhuo Fan left, Luo clan left, all old friends left. I have no brothers and I'm going to live a life of solitude. And with your crimes, even if I secede the throne to you, would the Double Dragon Manor agree? If you can take down the Double Dragon Manor, why come for my throne then? Funny, isn't it? Ha-ha-ha..."

Yuwen Yong's eye twitched as he watched the emperor leave.

[Nothing mattered in the end. It's all nothing but pure bias. Why even fight anymore? Ha-ha.]

Yuwen Yong walked out with a hunched back, feeling like centuries caught up with him...

Meanwhile, Zhuo Fan finished the signs and regarded the light pillar. He turned to the others, "This is the path to the upper world, follow me. Once we arrive, you have to listen to all I say, lest you get on someone's bad side and never see the light of day again."

"Yes!" Everyone shouted.

Ye Lin took the first step to Zhuo Fan, "Big brother, isn't it a recoil array to break open the mortal domain? Why did it change into a path of ascension? What about master and others..."

"They'll wait for a bit."

Zhuo Fan squinted, "Ye Lin, do you have that much trust in those old bones' words?"

"Er..."

"All we got from what happened is from their mouths. Who can prove it's real?"

Zhuo Fan's eyes shone, emphasizing every word, "You saw every aspect of humanity in the five lands war and can tell. Central area defeating the four lands did not mean their destruction. Four lands defeating the empire didn't mean central area's fortune. Each power fights for itself. There's no morality involved, no good, no evil. By letting those old monsters go, can you guarantee it won't blow up in our faces?"

Ugh!

Ye Lin frowned in hesitation.

Pa!

Zhuo Fan had a grave look, putting a hand on his shoulder, "We'll go first to see the situation in the Sacred Domain. If it's like those guys said, I'll give Wu Randong the signal and he'll activate the recoiling array to free them. But if it's a lie, painting themselves as victims, for their sake and that of world peace, they'll be locked up for the rest of their lives!"

"Uhm..."

"Don't give me that and get a move on!"

Zhuo Fan pushed and threw Ye Lin into the pillar, gone before he could scream.

Zhuo Fan turned to the rest, beaming, "Who's next?"

"Me!"

A roar of anger came as a girl flashed in his view.

Zhuo Fan started, "Y-young miss, what..."

"You foul cretin, you're taking off again and leaving us behind?"

"N-no, it's just that there isn't suited for you..."

"Big brother Zhuo, no matter what you say, we agreed to stay together. You have no right to slip away." Luo Yunhai smiled, "Look, I've brought the whole clan to fight alongside you!"

Li Jingtian's venerables appeared, Li Jingtian and the power couple, as well as thousands of Genesis Stage veteran soldiers. Even Luo Sifan and the brats came.

Zhuo Fan shook his head, "Aren't you afraid of leaving the Luo Alliance's core empty?"

"No, out with the old and in with the new!"

Luo Yunhai waved, "We built the Luo Alliance here then we can do it again there. Big brother Zhuo, I'm still young and have ambition. I fear nothing. Let us do this together!"

"Yeah, Steward Zhuo, let us follow you!"

The others shouted their agreements.

Zhuo Fan sighed, yet he felt gratified inside. Just as he was about to speak, someone pushed him into the pillar.

"No more talking. Let's all go!"

Someone held Zhuo Fan and dragged him inside the pillar with a sweet smile...