Chapter 764: The Emperor's Wrath

Where had Supreme Cloud gone to?

This was the question posed by the emperor himself.

Although he was fuming mad, and although they were situated within a private, sealed-off space — the royal study, for that matter — the emperor dare not refer to Yun Yang as 'that little brat', 'that insolent child', 'that bastard', 'that little shit' or names that were equally derogatory.

He had to address him as Supreme Cloud!

This was the highest form of respect one could obtain by accomplishing the greatest deeds in the world!

Even the emperor himself was not exempted from it!

The emperor of Yutang still remained as the most esteemed individual in Yutang, but Supreme Cloud was legendary — this was the difference between a man and a god!

Pondering upon such thoughts, the emperor's stare grew even more fearsome as he bore his gaze into Yun Xiaoyao — it was a hatred as deep and unforgivable as the act of murdering one's father.

"Well, the nation has been quite chaotic lately, how could he be mulling at home? He did mention to me that he would be going to the western front lines two days ago..."

Yun Xiaoyao's head shrunk into his shoulders as he huddled into his chair obediently, attempting to minimize his presence before his brother. Although the emperor of Yutang's cultivation base was rather low-leveled, and he might not even stand a chance against a breath by Yun Xiaoyao, the overbearing presence of royalty and his elder brother's imposing stature kept Yun Xiaoyao as silent as a mouse.

"Oh, so he has gone to the frontlines... Lord Supreme Cloud is truly loyal towards his nation and his people, always being at the frontlines, barely lamenting about how tough it is..." Qiu Jianhan coughed while, at the same time, attempting to break down the icy atmosphere before him.

"Ah, y-yes," Leng Daoyin and Fang Qingtian echoed, their mouths running dry.

Usually, or in most cases, the three greatest hoodlums in the capital would sort out any conflicts for each other. Moreover, the person of interest this time was the little brother of the emperor of Yutang himself. All the more that this matter should be resolved in no time — there was no need to even teach him a lesson!

However, this was a special situation — one that was different from the usual circumstances!

The emperor neither spoke nor moved — his posture seemed to remain constant for the longest time. Like an enraged lion, he sat upon his throne, his gaze boring into Yun Xiaoyao with a deep-rooted hatred, his eyes never even blinking once.

Naturally, Yun Xiaoyao felt incredibly uneasy at the moment. He might not have purposefully averted his gaze to avoid eye contact, yet the feeling of the burning, dagger-like stare on his back was very apparent, making direct eye contact a better option. He could not help but return the gaze, facing the emperor's shimmering, hawk-like glare. As he was about to speak, an unexpected chill crept up into his spine as he parted his lips, yet he steeled his voice and asked, "Why... are you looking at me like that?"

"Why am I looking at you like that — you dare to ask? You have the temerity to ask?" The emperor replied icily, his voice emitting between gritted teeth. "Why— simply because you're so good-looking, of course! I enjoy looking at you — am I not permitted to?"

These words were meant to tease, yet under the circumstances, it only came across as simply terrifying.

Yun Xiaoyao choked out some dry laughter, and waved it off humorlessly, "Ah, my noble brother, you favor me too much! Your humble brother's looks are merely passable..."

The emperor clenched his jaw as his face twisted into a multitude of expressions. "Oh, come on now— besides your looks, you have something else to be proud of, are you not? A great son for a hero that had saved the entire Yutang."

The conversation had been promptly steered into perilous tides. Suddenly, the atmosphere took a hostile turn — the turn of events began to seem extremely unfavorable.

Qiu Jianhan, Leng Daoyin, and Fang Qingtian knowingly buried themselves into their chairs without making the slightest move, trying their very best to minimize their presence—

—and innocently watched the exchange between the two brothers.

If I had a choice... I really wouldn't want to sit in for this — I'd rather resign and return to my hometown to live out my years quietly instead...

You can't blame me for being a coward, for this is blatantly a minefield — it's too dangerous to be here!

Yun Xiaoyao felt like he was sitting on pins and needles as he laughed, wryly, "Well, he's your nephew after all... there's no need to mention such deeds... whatever has been done was still far from what has to be accomplished. That's too much of a praise, noble brother — too much!"

The emperor did not even bother to give the slightest hint of a smile. He replied, icily, "How is this too much of a praise? How can such accomplishments be deemed enough? There is simply too much worth mentioning... Well, I did ask — a few days ago — I did ask you if you knew who Supreme Cloud was. Do recall how you answered me..."

Yun Xiaoyao choked and lowered his gaze, remaining speechless.

"Look up!" The emperor roared, loud as thunder, causing the imperial study to tremble slightly.

The four of their heads snapped up immediately.

Almost instantly, they lowered their gaze meekly.

Cough, I didn't hear anything...

Yun Xiaoyao was sweating profusely. "Noble Brother... t-this— this..."

"This! That!" The emperor released his rage. "I've asked you eight-hundred times about this, haven't I? Your son, Yun Yang — is he Supreme Cloud?! You made guarantees, you confided to me with absolute sincerity, you vouched for your words, and you even swore on our dear father's name..."

He huffed and puffed, slamming a fist onto the table. "Yet from the looks of it today, you don't sound at all surprised, do you?"

Yun Xiaoyao's expression quickly switched into that of a troubled soul. "That time, I truly—"

"—truly feel that you've lived long enough?" The emperor cut him off, biting off each word with disgust. "You have balls — you no longer respect me as your elder, do you? Having a strong cultivation base and a good son... fooling and conspiring against me as you wish—"

Yun Xiaoyao's hands trembled slightly. "Noble Brother, listen to me, I can explain. Things happened for a reason, and the had the circumstances allowed—"

"To hell with your explanation! Like I'd listen to your sorry excuse of a reason!" The emperor cut him off mercilessly as his wrath bounced off the walls of the palace. "Yun Xiaoyao! Y-you... you lawless, unfilial bastard! You mutinous, treacherous thing! You—"

A thunderous roar lashed out suddenly, "Who the hell permitted you to be seated? Stand up— you! F*cking bastard, you son-of-a-b*tch! You've really grown a pair of horns now, haven't you..."

Yun Xiaoyao snapped his head up, protesting strongly, "You can berate me for all you like. You are my big brother after all, but you mustn't curse on our fathers' name! You shouldn't call me a son-of-a-b*tch or a bastard; just think about what you're saying—"

"You bet I'm cursing our father alright! You are a sorry d*ck of a son as well!" The emperor's wrath knew no bounds as he spat out whatever that came to mind. "Shut up! You've no right to speak in my presence!"

"You really mustn't curse my father... cursing at my father is equivalent to cursing at your own! Y-you... you are the exalted one, the reigning sovereign — you mustn't say such things!" Yun Xiaoyao's voice grew smaller and smaller, his head shrinking further into his body as he squatted above his chair.

The emperor grew even more incensed by the second. He started to stand, striding towards Yun Xiaoyao with a condescending gaze, like a proud lion towering over his prey, pressing his forefinger against the latter's forehead as he hurled out a torrent of insults. He raged as he pointed, and Yun Xiaoyao would raise his head, backing away at every one directed at him...

Eventually, the fun in waving his finger around seemed to have died down, no longer satisfying the emperor's impulsive lust for violence. He lashed out a few kicks, and King Xiaoyao was sent rolling like a gourd.

"Calm down, Your Grace... cough... calm down..." Qiu Jianhan braced himself and came to the rescue after catching Yun Xiaoyao's helpless, pleading gaze.

However, just as the words left his lips, the old marshal knew that he had fallen into a trap.

Yun Xiaoyao was not pleading for help — he was blatantly shifting the blame to him!