Return of the Immortal Emperor Daddy

Chapter 430 - 432 The Blood of the Descendants of Yan and Huang [4/5]

Of the two men who arrived, one was Tao Qianyang, the village chief of Peach Blossom Spring. The other was a white-haired man in a Taoist robe. However, not a single person in the Underground World was ignorant of this old man. It was not because he was exceptionally powerful, but because he was from the Heavenly Khan Palace. His surname was Yuan, and he was a descendant of Yuan Tiangang. Skilled in physiognomy and divination, he was one of the most mystical figures in the Underground World.

"I didn’t expect even Mr. Yuan to come," Toyotomi Hidekata said with a faint smile, his tone flat. "Hehe, can’t you see that Peach Blossom Spring shows signs of changing masters today? From now on, this place belongs to my Shogunate!"

Now that the leaders of the Shogunate had arrived, their power was an insurmountable force that no single faction could resist. Yuan Beizheng? So what? He’s merely skilled in divination, not some peerless master. What’s there to fear?

Yuan Beizheng sighed as he looked at Toyotomi Hidekata. "Fusang... although your nation has fallen, at least some of you survived, preserving a single breath of your people. But with your reckless actions, it seems that final breath is about to be extinguished as well."

The architecture in the Underground World was similar to the film sets of the Surface World, but far more vivid, and the Spiritual Energy here was more abundant. The sky was a perpetual white, a blanket of mist that resembled clouds. Spiritual Energy, like a visible wind, danced in mid-air, illuminating this subterranean realm. Of course, there were also places in the Underground World that were unbearably dark and chillingly cold.

Through his finger calculations, Yuan Beizheng had foreseen many things. He had predicted that Toyotomi Hidekata and his men, who should have lived for several hundred more years, would offend someone. This would lead to a twist in their fate and put them in danger of an untimely death.

"Nonsense! I’m telling you, the breath of Fusang will only grow stronger until we are ultimately revived!" Toyotomi Hidekata and the others refused to believe Yuan Beizheng’s words. With a wave of his hand, the Immortal Seekers behind him continued their advance, their eyes as ferocious as a wolf pack’s. "What good are the two of you alone? Do you really think you can resist the mighty army of my Shogunate?"

The leaders of the Shogunate, including Toyotomi Hidekata, all burst into laughter.

Yuan Beizheng shook his head, his voice tinged with sorrow. "Every time I make an auspicious prediction, people praise my accuracy. But the moment I speak of misfortune, not a single person believes me... Ah, the pity of human nature!"

Tao Qianyang stepped forward, shielding Yuan Beizheng. The men, women, and children of Peach Blossom Spring retreated behind their middle-aged chief. Tao Qianyang, a descendant of the great Mr. Tao Yuanming, was a literary genius who enjoyed attending scholarly gatherings. His appearance, however, betrayed none of this. To look at him was to see a simple farmer, a perfect embodiment of the saying that great wisdom often appears foolish.

"We would rather burn Peach Blossom Spring to the ground than surrender it to you Fusangs!" Tao Qianyang had been enjoying a literary gathering when Yuan Beizheng suddenly had a premonition and urged him to hurry back. On the way, Yuan Beizheng told him about the deep-seated hatred between Fusang and the Dragon Country, enraging the reclusive leader. To think that our Yan Huang people had to endure such a catastrophe! Thankfully, we survived it!

Tao Qianyang knew he was no match for the Shogunate’s forces, but he would sooner destroy Peach Blossom Spring than hand it over to the Fusangs!

"Burn it!"

At Tao Qianyang’s command, the people of Peach Blossom Spring stared, stunned and hesitant.

"Chief, this is the life’s work of generations of our people!"

"Yes, our ancestors came here to escape the wars of the Qin dynasty. Peach Blossom Spring has been our home for generation after generation. How can we burn it?"

The men, women, and children were all reluctant. Every blade of grass, every tree in Peach Blossom Spring was like family to them. Tao Qianyang telling them to burn it was like asking them to kill their own kin.

"If we don’t burn it, do you want these Fusang devils to have it? Who knows what they’ll do with it once they get their hands on it?" Tao Qianyang roared. "Better to destroy it with our own hands than to let it be exploited by them! My heart aches too, but for the great cause of Yan Huang, forget burning Peach Blossom Spring—I would even grit my teeth and... and strangle my own child if I had to! Where righteousness leads, the spirit of Yan Huang answers!"

Tao Qianyang’s voice was tragic and fierce, striking a chord with the people of Peach Blossom Spring. They clenched their jaws. The elderly, the women, and even the children’s eyes began to burn with an unyielding determination, a willingness for mutual destruction.

"We’d rather burn it ourselves than let you Fusang devils have it!"

Someone produced a fire striker. Most goods sold in the Underground World were made with ancient craftsmanship not found on the Surface World. Conversely, modern conveniences from the surface, like air conditioning, were absent here. Few in the Underground World desired such items anyway, for Immortal Seekers pursued the path of the "Immortal" and did not covet material comforts.

The flames from the fire striker leaped to life. The surrounding fields of medicinal herbs were quickly engulfed in fire.

Better to be a shattered jade than an intact tile!

This was the indomitable spirit of the people of Peach Blossom Spring, and the spirit of most of the People of Dragon Country.

"Damn you!" The lords of the Shogunate, including Toyotomi Hidekata, looked on in shock. They gritted their teeth as they watched the fields burn. They couldn’t understand why these People of Dragon Country were so stubborn, so inflexible. Yes, the noble spirit of the People of Dragon Country was incomprehensible to them, appearing as nothing more than foolishness.

"Why? Why are you doing this?" Toyotomi Hidekata shrieked as if his tail had been stepped on, pointing at Tao Qianyang in utter disbelief. "There are better ways to resolve this, aren’t there?"

"Submit to our Shogunate! Or, if you’re unwilling, you can cooperate with us! We are willing to pay for your herbs, as long as you cultivate them specifically for our Shogunate. You grow these herbs for your own use and make no money! Cooperating with us is a win-win situation, so why not? Why would you burn the fields? Why?!"

The Shogunate lords simply could not fathom the mindset of the People of Dragon Country.

"One cannot speak of ice to a summer insect!" Tao Qianyang retorted, looking at the Shogunate lords with derision. "How could you Fusang devils ever understand the integrity of the descendants of Yan Huang? You want these herbs, but not for healing. Who knows what nefarious purpose you intend for them? Only traitors would cooperate with you, and we are not traitors! You Fusang dogs will never understand the spirit of our people! You can kill our bodies, but you cannot extinguish our spirit!"

What? Tao Qianyang’s words made the faces of Toyotomi Hidekata and the other Shogunate lords turn ugly. They didn’t understand these People of Dragon Country at all. They were just as stubborn now as they were during their fierce resistance in the past!

"Fine. Fine! Very well then!" Toyotomi Hidekata commanded. "In that case, you can all die!"

But as soon as his voice fell...

CLANG!

The cry of a phoenix echoed throughout Peach Blossom Spring.