Chapter 175: 130
As the guards entered the Golden Throne Hall, Fang Cheng saw Zhao Qin, towering at two meters tall, seated upon the throne.
He lay sideways atop it, his clothes coarse and full of patches, with one large foot placed directly upon the Dragon Throne. He looked like an old farmer who had returned from tilling the fields and was resting at home, not at all like a eunuch with power over the entire imperial court.
A five-year-old little emperor sat on his lap, his face pale and his whole body trembling, yet he didn’t even have the strength to cry.
The guards who brought Fang Cheng in then took their leave, and Fang Cheng curiously surveyed his surroundings before noticing an object hanging from the ceiling.
The thing could barely be recognized as human; its body was as black as charcoal and dangled from the ceiling, continuously trembling slightly and emitting a cicada-like moan.
That was the once “The World’s Best Fortune Teller,” who, due to a mistake when clashing with Fang Cheng, had been backfired upon and turned into this unrecognizable form, neither human nor ghost.
“That was my former fortune teller,” said Zhao Qin while caressing the young emperor’s head, as if playing with a kitten, “He once told me that The Way of Divination is extremely dangerous. If he were to fail and transform, he should be killed immediately to prevent calamity. What do you think?”
Unlike a typical eunuch’s voice, Zhao Qin’s voice had a magnetic quality. If one listened with their eyes closed, it would seem as though a learned scholar was giving a lecture, possessing a uniquely refined charm.
Looking at him, Fang Cheng felt that the creator of the world also showed favoritism towards Zhao Qin.
Every “First Under Heaven” was a favorite child of the world’s creator. They possessed more spirituality than ordinary people and seemed more alive.
And Zhao Qin, with his many titles, was undoubtedly a puppet carefully crafted by the creator, which made him appear even more vivid.
After hearing Zhao Qin’s question, Fang Cheng replied directly, “It’s no big deal, just that it might bring about some karma, nothing serious.”
“What kind of karma?” Zhao Qin asked with a smile.
“If it were you, probably the annihilation of your entire clan.”
Upon hearing Fang Cheng’s answer, the young emperor in Zhao Qin’s arms immediately burst into tears, desperately signaling Fang Cheng with his eyes not to talk recklessly and attract trouble.
The floor of the great hall, where they stood, was stained with blood. Some belonged to those who held different opinions from Zhao Qin, while others were assassins summoned by various powers.
Although he was very young, the little emperor had already witnessed too much bloodshed. The dying gazes of those people remained etched in his heart, unforgettable.
Gently wiping away the tears of the little emperor, Zhao Qin drank the tears and said cheerfully, “I’m speaking with my guest. Why are you crying? Afraid I’ll kill someone? Don’t worry, this man is even more formidable than that fortune teller, I have yet to invite him to serve me, so why would I be willing to kill him?”
Squeezing the little emperor’s chin, Zhao Qin spread his arms and embraced the emperor like a ghostly figure, then looked down at Fang Cheng and said, “Alien, I like your answer, you’re very honest. That fatty knew his end was coming, so he constantly thought about how to release himself. Unfortunately, how could I not know his thoughts? Let him enjoy that karma slowly by himself.”
The object on the ceiling started shaking violently, the wretched buzzing filled the hall, but then abruptly stopped.
A copper coin pierced through his throat, and in a flicker of clarity before dying, the once “The World’s Best Fortune Teller” regained his senses and uttered a difficult “thank you” before passing on.
Seeing this, Zhao Qin’s smiling face slowly became solemn, and he asked, “Why?”
“I wanted to do it, so I did it. There’s no why.”
“That karma… never mind, if you dare to do it, you must be someone who disregards karma. Then let me ask you, do you want to work with me?”
“Not interested.”
“What a pity…”
With a heavy sigh, Zhao Qin lamented for a moment, then he said, “Then, sir, please leave. I won’t see you out.”
“I shall take my leave.”
Fang Cheng turned and left.
Now that he had seen Zhao Qin, he became even more interested in the structure of the world and even more curious about the secrets hidden beneath it.
Zhao Qin, meanwhile, watched Fang Cheng’s retreating figure, deep in thought.
For a moment, he had considered killing him.
The title of “The World’s Best Fortune Teller” was such a resounding one.
The ability to divine the future was endlessly tempting.
If he could have such a person’s assistance, sure enough, he, Zhao Qin, would be able to firmly sit upon the throne of power until death.
But if he couldn’t have him, he must destroy him, to prevent the fortune teller from falling into others’ hands and becoming a dire threat to himself.
But…
He was scared.
Even though he was above ten thousand people and the Emperor had become his puppet, and all the realm was in his grasp, he still felt boundless fear.
The man didn’t seem human, but rather some unfathomable, unpredictable entity.
“These aliens… they’re really strange indeed.”
Alien was the term they used for outsiders.
They were numerous, seemed to have inexplicable powers, and enthusiastically sought to challenge each of the “First Under Heaven.”
Zhao Qin didn’t know the true purpose of these aliens, but as long as they didn’t interfere with his realm, he didn’t care.
Gently stroking the head of the little emperor, he closed his eyes and said softly, “Emperor, your servant is tired. Sing a little song for me, let your servant rest awhile.”
Immense humiliation surged in the small emperor’s heart, but fear of the old man made him obediently open his mouth and begin to sing the popular court song slowly, “The wind blows the fairy sleeves up high, as if it’s the dance of the Rainbow Feathered Dress…”