When Yu Zhenghai alighted from the flying chariot, the disciples of the Nether Sect who welcomed them did not recognize him. Perhaps, he looked too young. Similarly, he did not remember the Nether Sect as well. He thought it was normal for them to welcome the Evil Sky Pavilion.
The group of people from the Evil Sky Pavilion who had just arrived made their way to Lu Zhou’s courtyard before meeting with the other disciples.
“Go in!” Mingshi Yin kicked the two captives into the hall.
The two captives kneeled down in the center of the hall. When they looked up, they saw a stately Lu Zhou before them, causing them to tremble in fear. They had been on board the flying chariot for a long time before they reached Liang Province from Lou Lan. However, the old mister flew back in such a short time! Based on what they had seen when they traveled here, the allied forces of the seven Other Tribes had been utterly crushed. With a Nine-leaf cultivator in Liang Province, it was clearly very safe here.
“Old Mister… Angui came to atone for his sins!”
“Lan… Lanhai…”
Before Lanhai could finish speaking, Lu Zhou waved his arm and said, “Drag him out.”
“Huh?” Lanhai’s mind went blank.
Mingshi Yin was stunned. When he regained his senses, he hastily said, “I understand, master. This Two-faced fiend has no right to speak to you. I’ll drag him out and behead him now!” He did not forget to emphasize the word ‘behead’ when he spoke.
Thud!
Lanhai fainted. However, this did not stop Mingshi Yin from dragging him outside.
Angui was left kneeling in the hall.
Leng Luo produced a brocade box from his sleeve and slowly walked toward Lu Zhou. He presented the box with both hands. “This is the memory crystal we obtained from the Bonar Family… According to them, Jiang Wenxu has been studying it, but he did not obtain any substantial information from it.”
Lu Zhou received the brocade box and placed it on the table beside himself. His gaze fell on Angui before he said, “How long has Jiang Wenxu been staying in Lou Lan?”
Angui answered truthfully, “Only for a few decades… The royal tutor… I mean, that despicable and cunning traitor, keeps moving around. I only recently found out that he’s the Royal Tutors of the other nations as well. I didn’t think he was such a petty man.”
“Let’s leave the matter of Jiang Wenxu at that. If you’re thinking about atoning for your sins, tell that to the Emperor of Great Yan. I want no part of it,” Lu Zhou said. His words clearly indicated his lack of interest in becoming Great Yan’s emperor.
The conflicts between nations should be left to the experts to resolve. Whether they would pay by lands, tithe, or submission, it was up to Great Yan’s Emperor.
Sweat dripped down Angui’s face as he said, “As you wish, old mister!” However, the problem was… who was the Emperor of Great Yan?
At this moment, Ye Tianxin hurried into the hall. She bowed at her master and said, “Master, nothing extraordinary happened in the Divine Capital lately… The officials are doing a great job as well. The Nether Sect disciples have also been assigned tasks. However, as for the Emperor… There’s some difficulty in selecting the proper successor to the throne.”
If the court officials had their way, they would elect someone with the correct bloodline to ascend the throne. The individuals who fulfilled this criterion were the Third, the Fourth, and the Fifth Prince.
Jiang Aijian had no interest in the throne, the Fourth Prince was missing, and the Fifth Prince was slightly meek. Even if they agreed to take the throne, they would still need approval from Yu Zhenghai, the Sect Master of the Nether Sect Master. After all, he had successfully conquered this land, Yu Zhenghai.
Lu Zhou looked at Yu Zhenghai before he said, “Let’s leave it for now.”
“Understood.”
“Lock him up for now.” Lu Zhou waved his sleeve.
Angui was sent away.
Everyone understood Lu Zhou’s intention. He was giving Yu Zhenghai the due respect since Yu Zhenghai still had not recovered his memories.
Lu Zhou looked at Yu Zhenghai, who seemed at a loss, before he waved his hand and said, “If there’s nothing else, you can all take your leave.”
The others bowed and left the room.
Yu Zhenghai’s mind felt heavy when he walked. When he exited the room, his footsteps seemed laborious.
When Mingshi Yin saw this, he supported Yu Zhenghai. “Eldest Senior Brother, are you ok?”
“I… I’m alright. Help me back.”
“You shouldn’t strain yourself too much. Let’s return and get some rest.” Mingshi Yin helped Yu Zhenghai toward the other courtyard.
At this moment, Zhu Honggong walked toward them.
Mingshi Yin beckoned Zhu Honggong over and said, “Old Eighth, help Eldest Senior Brother return to his room. I have something else to attend to.”
An aggrieved expression appeared on Zhu Honggong’s face as he said, “I have something to attend to as well!”
“No, you don’t. Hurry up.”
“Oh.” Zhu Honggong had no choice but to support Yu Zhenghai.
Mingshi Yin turned around and left.
Yu Zhenghai felt embarrassed from being supported so he hastily said, “I’ll manage.”
“Eldest Senior Brother, don’t you remember anything?” Zhu Honggong asked tentatively.
Yu Zhenghai nodded honestly. “Mhm.”
Zhu Honggong’s eyes darted around his surroundings before he said, “Eldest Senior Brother, among all the other disciples, we have the closest relationship.”
During his time Lou Lan, Yu Zhenghai confirmed he was the Eldest Senior Brother. He wanted to regain his memories as soon as he could as well. He asked, “Was I fierce in the past?”
“No. You’ve always been polite and gentle, especially toward me. You took great care of me!” Zhu Honggong said. “When I was the leader of a gang on Tigerridge Mountain, you frequently sent treasures my way. You’re closer to me than a biological brother.”
Yu Zhenghai nodded as he listened. He said, “Did I treat the others the same way?”
Zhu Honggong said, “Of course not… You were especially nice to me.”
Yu Zhenghai nodded again. He patted Zhu Honggong’s shoulder. “Looks like we’re the closest among the disciples.”
“Please care of me, Eldest Senior Brother.”
“Alright.”
When Yu Zhenghai finally lay on the bed, he was extremely drowsy. It did not take long before he fell asleep.
…
Meanwhile, Lu Zhou opened the brocaded box, revealing a shining crystal that glowed dazzlingly with a bluish light in the box. It was the size of an egg.
“Is this the memory crystal?” Lu Zhou picked the crystal up. He noticed the lower half had been cut off.
The function of a memory crystal was to store memories. With Jiang Wenxu’s powers, why was he not able to decipher the memories in the crystal?
Yun Tianluo sealed the recording of his own breakthrough in the chessboard. The method to unlock it was to offer it 20 years of one’s life.
In the end, Lu Zhou decided not to make wild guesses. He would know the truth if he personally gave it a try.
He placed the half crystal on his pal before he circulated his Primal Qi. When his Primal Qi entered the crystal, he felt a refreshing and palpable sensation. He felt as though he had been transported into a completely white world at this moment.
“Is this… the stored memories?” Lu Zhou was perplexed as he continued to push the crystal.
After a while, he was still alone in the white and vast world. He could neither see nor touch anything.
Lu Zhou continued walking forward… The coolness of the crystal was growing stronger as well. He hastened his footsteps in the white world.
“A wall?” Lu Zhou saw a wall blocking his path at this moment.
There were many boxes along the wall, and there was an assortment of unintelligible runes inside the boxes.
“What a way to seal your memories!” Lu Zhou said with praise.
