Calamity Messenger

Chapter 154 - 123: The Emperor’s Heart Is Unfathomable (Part 2)

"Are you teaching me how to do things?" Ying Le’s voice echoed from above, devoid of sorrow or joy.

Ying Rushi didn’t retreat nor shy away, maintaining the posture even as the scorching longsword almost pierced her eyeball. She spoke earnestly, "I have no intention of overstepping, every word comes from the heart. I lost my composure in a moment of agitation before Your Majesty, please forgive me!"

It was unknown how much time passed when Ying Rushi felt her inner clothes were soaked through; only then did the Heaven-Swaying Sword slightly lower, pointing at her lower eyelid.

"Even without this useless sword, not a single clan would dare defy me, Baibao will still be my troops, and my will remains the will of heaven!"

As Ying Le spoke, the Heaven-Swaying Sword drew a line of blood across Ying Rushi’s lower eyelid. Due to the scorching heat, the wound cauterized instantly, leaving a cruel mark on her otherwise peach blossom-like face, as if branded by a hot iron.

Ying Rushi was expressionless, her voice unchanged, as if the wounded person wasn’t her, she cupped her hands and replied, "Rushi admits her mistake, I was presumptuous!"

Clang! Ying Le sheathed the Heaven-Swaying Sword again, seeming both physically and mentally exhausted, then lazily lay back, murmuring, "Take back the Heaven-Swaying Sword, I don’t need this thing, nor do I wish to waste time on these trivial matters."

She paused: "Since you have so many ideas, then go ahead and implement them. If they don’t work, you are solely to be held accountable."

"Yes!"

"Scram." Ying Le waved her hand, disinterestedly: "Tell those outside not to come in, I’m going to sleep."

Ying Rushi respectfully saluted, retreated step by step facing Ying Le, even as Ying Le had closed her eyes, she dared not turn her back to the Empress. She silently closed the hall doors, instructed the Evil Ghost Warrior standing night guard outside not to disturb the Emperor, and swiftly exited with small steps.

Only after the palace gates closed behind her did Ying Rushi look at the still-night-time sky, her legs suddenly gave way as she nearly fell to her knees.

She touched the branded mark of charred flesh beneath her right eye, her whole body trembling, her eyes full of fear, as if she had survived a great death-like terror, so much so that only now could she again feel pain and horror.

She was in no doubt, had she revealed even a hint of hatred or fear just now, she would’ve likely ended up as a charred corpse in the Changsheng Hall. She had witnessed countless charred bodies so alike before, each one like a sinner dragged up from the Eternal Purgatory, suffering through torment before finally dying; hence, she could remain so calm, she didn’t even consider herself human at this moment... Only a monster can survive alongside other monsters.

She first realized the terror of Ying Le during their journey to the Land of Concealment within the Third-Turn Secret Realm, marking her sole venture into such a realm.

The Black Wolf asked about her capabilities before entering the Third-Turn Secret Realm, but she didn’t answer; not to conceal, but because she had no capabilities — she was only eleven, not yet grown, not even having reached the First Turn.

Together with her entering the Third-Turn Secret Realm were other scions of major clans, she was the youngest, others being older brothers and sisters who had long transitioned into other classes along with senior figures.

Ying Le suggested taking them to witness the Third-Turn Secret Realm, and everyone had little doubt, having Foundation Establishment Messengers made conquering the Third-Turn Secret Realm a breeze.

Indeed, Ying Le occasionally intervened along the journey, allowing everyone to enjoy a relaxed expedition as though on a mere outdoor picnic; young Rushi even picked a flower for Ying Le. Over these years, Ying Rushi often wondered if it was because of that flower that Ying Le spared her life.

The story afterwards was as Ying Rushi recounted to Pharmacist’s Wish — when faced with the Third-Turn Demon King, Ying Le didn’t intervene, watching as the demon king massacred everyone.

Little Ying Rushi, hiding on the outer periphery, narrowly escaped the demon king’s wide-range assault; she watched in horror as it tore apart the brothers, sisters, uncles, and grandfathers she knew, one by one, before turning towards her. She had become numb with fear, sitting dumbstruck and waiting for death.

Yet, Ying Le finally intervened, the young Empress effortlessly crushed the Third-Turn Demon King, then crouched before little Ying Rushi, gently rubbing her head and smiling, "You are of the Daqi Royal Family, a descendant of the Ying Clan. In the face of an enemy, you must at least muster the courage to resist, never surrender without a fight, understood?"

Little Ying Rushi nodded, Ying Le took her hand and led her out of the Third-Turn Secret Realm, spent the afternoon flying kites with her, and slept next to her that night, as if nothing had ever happened.

However, as an adult, Ying Rushi often awakened drenched in cold sweat as those midnight nightmares returned — each one had the same contents — finding herself back in the Land of Concealment, witnessing that bloody event over and over, but this time, Ying Le wasn’t her savior; she was the cold, merciless bystander.

Ying Rushi once speculated if Ying Le’s actions were a means to curb the noble clans, deliberately sending their offspring to death, yet she could never convince herself... nor deceive herself.

Within the Changsheng Hall, every brazier was snuffed out, and Ying Le was about to drift into slumber. But then, she suddenly heard a conversation in her ear:

"Isn’t that little girl about to die soon? Such a pity."

"What’s pity-worthy about failing to see Ying Le’s true nature by now, still fantasizing about this monster — serves her right to die! Good riddance!"

"Death suits her; given her potential, she’ll surely join us after. Then, I could have a girlfriend to chat with, instead of all you stinky men."

Ying Le abruptly opened her eyes and yelled at her arm, "What’s the ruckus at night?!"

Her fair, jade-like arm was now covered in distorted human faces, eyes, mouths, and noses squished together, wandering along her arm like boats made of human faces. They faced the angry Ying Le with no fear, instead laughing heartily:

"Ying Le, you want to kill again!"

"Demon, when you created the Demonic Daoist Foundation, did you foresee today?"

"Clearly it’s your bloodlust surfacing, yet you blame us? True beast."

"You’re doomed, no one can save you, your Immortal Foundation will gradually grind away your divine soul... but this is the punishment you deserve! You deserve it, you deserve it!"

Ying Le turned livid, bellowing, "I will not die!"

Her right hand erupted into flames with a crack, charring her skin to coal-like blackness. Staring into the flames at the twisted faces, she gritted her teeth: "I will not die... as long as I lure out and kill that bitch from the Divine Marquis Mansion, my heart will have no flaw, I can then complete the Immortal Foundation! I will not die!"

"Impossible." The faces burrowed into the right half of Ying Le’s face, mocking, "You could never defeat a Divine Hunter, couldn’t before, much less now with fear in your heart! You are a vile monster, demon, beast, while the Divine Hunter embodies justice — evil cannot triumph over good!"

"I have established my foundation for years, how could I fail! As long as I win, I am justice!"

"A Foundation Establishment that can’t control killing intent? A hindering foundation with a broken divine soul? You’re just a defective product, a failure of foundation establishment!"

"Noisy!"

Ying Le swiped her right hand over her face, instantly igniting the right half of her face too, the searing pain piercing deep into her nerves, causing her left hand to grip the armrest tight.

She suddenly called out: "Enter."

The Evil Ghost Warrior pushed open the hall doors and entered.

"Kill them."

The Evil Ghost Warrior departed, and soon after, a wretched wail echoed from another palace area, as flames gradually subsided from Ying Le’s arm and face, revealing charred bones. Yet she sighed in relief, her expression relaxed as she lay down, diving into a heavy slumber. However, her eyebrows twitched restlessly, like those of a newly born infant.