Chapter 131
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Chu Hechao’s physical condition was much stronger than that of an average person. Fortunately, the rain did not cause his wound to become infected, and a few days later, the wound began to itch.
Itching meant that the injury was healing, and Yuan Li also breathed a sigh of relief.
During Chu Hechao’s recovery period, Yuan Li didn’t forget to attend to official matters. He was constantly finding ways to openly provoke Chen Wang. Besides that, Yuan Li visited the Emperor in the palace every day, and in just a few days, he had won the Emperor’s favor.
This undoubtedly sent a message to Chen Wang: Yuan Li also wanted to take the Emperor back to Youzhou, but the Emperor had not agreed yet.
Though the Emperor hadn’t agreed, it was difficult to say that he wouldn’t be swayed by Yuan Li in the long run. Chen Wang didn’t want to drag this situation out, but in order to take the Emperor away, he needed Yuan Li and Chu Hechao to let them pass.
However, the momentum of the Youzhou soldiers stationed in Luoyang indicated that they had no intention of leaving.
Other vassals, like Lu He, were already in dire need of food supplies and had asked the Emperor for rewards in advance before leaving.
Chen Wang felt that it wasn’t going well.
If the eighty thousand Youzhou soldiers blocked their way in Luoyang and didn’t let them take the Emperor back to Yangzhou, the situation would only lead to a deadlock, with both sides suffering. Furthermore, Yuan Li’s increasingly provocative behavior made Chen Wang frown.
When he heard that Chu Hechao had come to the capital, Chen Wang suddenly understood.
No wonder Yuan Le Jun had become increasingly audacious; it turned out that Chu Hechao’s return had given him confidence. After some consideration, Chen Wang sent people to invite Chu Hechao and Yuan Li to a banquet at his residence.
Chen Wang saw through it all.
Wu Shanshi had gone mad and accepted Li Li’s bribes. He was no longer a threat, and the only ones who could oppose Chen Wang here were Chu Hechao and Yuan Li. Chen Wang’s only advantage was the Emperor’s favor. Instead of dragging it out until both sides suffered, or the Emperor was misled by Yuan Li into changing his mind, it was better to make a decisive move and negotiate with Youzhou early on. He could offer some wealth and food supplies, allowing Yuan Li and Chu Hechao to take a step back.
Chen Wang believed that Yuan Li and Chu Hechao were not foolish people. He understood that Yuan Li’s recent pressure might have led him to consider extracting some benefits from Chen Wang. The thought of making Chen Wang suffer some losses had likely crossed his mind.
After receiving the message from Chen Wang’s envoy, Yuan Li raised his eyebrows and said calmly, “Luoyang is currently under construction, and the common people are living in hardship, unable to eat their fill. Does Chen Wang have the leisure to host guests at this time? Even if he wants to host a banquet, we are not interested in joining. If there is anything Chen Wang wants to discuss, let’s just be direct.”
Chen Wang’s attendant had a bad feeling from the moment Yuan Li spoke the first sentence. After Yuan Li finished speaking, he wiped the sweat from his forehead and returned to inform Chen Wang with a bitter expression.
Chen Wang laughed heartily upon hearing it. “Exactly. Yuan Le Jun is obviously hinting that I should offer some wealth and goods.”
Chen Xi didn’t understand and asked, “How did Father figure that out?”
“He displayed an attitude as if we were in a bitter feud before, but now that I mentioned the banquet, he immediately talks about food and provisions. Not only did he not chase away my people, he even says, ‘Let’s just be direct’,” Chen Wang stroked his beard and said, “This is another way of telling me that there’s no need for a banquet. If I want to take the Emperor away, I just need to give them enough to make way for us.”
“How much does Father plan to give them?” Chen Xi sighed, “I just hope they won’t ask for an exorbitant amount.”
“Don’t worry,” Chen Wang said calmly, “Yangzhou is wealthy; they won’t ask for something we can’t afford. Yuan Le Jun is a smart person. If he doesn’t want both sides to suffer, he will only make demands within my bottom line.”
The next day, when Chen Wang was preparing to send someone to Chu Wang’s residence again, he learned that Chu Hechao, Yuan Li, and the others had gone to pay their respects to their deceased parents.
Outside the city of Luoyang.
Yuan Li and Chu Hechao found the burial place of Chu Wang and his wife.
Chu Hechao was dressed in thick clothes, his face slightly pale, but his expression was cold and stern. He stood tall, still appearing as if he could conquer all battles.
His injury hadn’t fully healed, but he had to come out in front of everyone.
Yuan Li had Li Li kneeling before the grave. He pressed down on Li Li’s back with one foot, making him feel as if thousands of pounds were bearing down on him, forcing his head to the ground and rendering him unable to struggle.
Li Li had been locked up for this period, living in worse conditions than a pig or a dog. He had thought that his stab would kill Chu Hechao, but who would have thought that after several days, Chu Hechao seemed to be acting as if nothing had happened. Li Li was incredulous, filled with hatred and grief.
He understood the principle of the victor and the vanquished, and he didn’t want to beg his enemy for mercy. He shouted loudly, “Chu Hechao, if you have the guts, just kill me with one stroke! Rest assured, if I become a ghost after death, I will haunt you day and night, watching you, the executioner, suffer endlessly!”
Chu Hechao’s expression remained calm as he waited for Yuan Li to finish offering incense to Chu Wang and his wife.
Li Li burst into laughter, constantly trying to provoke Chu Hechao. “Why did your parents end up caught between me and the eunuchs from the Imperial Court? It’s all because of your wild behavior, Chu Hechao. If you hadn’t treated the eunuchs that way during your brother’s funeral, they wouldn’t have soaked your army’s food and feared your retaliation, leading them to threaten your parents. Chu Hechao, oh Chu Hechao, you’re truly doomed. Your parents’ death is all your doing!”
Yuan Li’s face changed suddenly, and he stepped forward to grip Li Li’s neck, his expression dark and terrifying. “You’re still spouting nonsense at the last moment.”
He used all his strength, and Li Li’s bones seemed as if they were about to be crushed. Li Li’s face turned red, then a sickly shade of pale blue, and he rolled his eyes, about to break into a smile of relief.
But at the last moment, Yuan Li let him go. Li Li coughed violently several times, as if his lungs were about to be coughed out.
Yuan Li looked at Li Li coldly, as if he were looking at a dead man, and even smiled a little. “Lord Li wants to die so easily? Rest assured, we won’t grant you that wish.”
Li Li’s expression was ugly, and his voice was hoarse from being choked. “I advise you to hurry up and kill me. Chu Hechao, do you know how miserable you were after your parents’ death? If it weren’t for your…”
Yuan Li’s expression turned completely cold as he clenched his fist tightly. Chu Hechao, on the other hand, remained unfazed and turned to Yuan Li. “Don’t mind him. Let’s see what other nonsense he can spew.”
Li Li’s words cut to the bone, “If it weren’t for you joining the army in the borderlands, how could your family have suffered such consequences? If you weren’t the renowned and highly ranked General-in-Chief, how would the late Emperor be on guard against Chu Mingfeng? If it weren’t for being on guard against Chu Mingfeng, how would the eunuchs from the Imperial Court go and harm him? If your brother hadn’t died, how would your parents have ended up in this situation—it’s not because of me or the eunuchs from the Imperial Court pressuring them, it’s clearly because you forced your parents to death, you forced your brother Chu Mingfeng to death—hahahaha, Chu Hechao, it’s you who forced them to death!”
Chu Hechao remained still, his breathing calm and steady, as if one could hear the sound of his breath.
Li Li’s laughter rang in his mind, and as he listened, a smile appeared on Chu Hechao’s face. “Li Li, you’re truly twisting the truth. You’ve said both good and bad things. If I don’t use you as an offering to my parents, it wouldn’t be justified.”
After saying that, he restrained his smile and said, “Bring the knife.”
Yang Zhongfa handed him a freshly sharpened large knife.
Li Li calmly waited for death, but Chu Hechao didn’t move to cut his neck. Instead, he kicked Li Li to the side of the grave.
Li Li rolled over and was about to be caught up by Chu Hechao, who stomped on his abdomen. Chu Hechao lifted the knife and swung it a few times, causing four wounds on Li Li’s hands and feet, from which blood flowed, soaking the grave.
“Since you want to die,” Chu Hechao looked down at Li Li and said calmly, “then die by bleeding.”
Death by bleeding was a painful and desperate way to die. During the process, one would remain conscious, watching their blood flow out of their body, seeing their life force gradually fade away, from consciousness to unconsciousness.
This kind of feeling, of watching oneself die little by little, could drive someone to madness. Li Li’s face changed dramatically as he cursed Chu Hechao in agony. He wished Chu Hechao would just put him out of his misery with one stroke, but Chu Hechao didn’t do anything to him until he died.
The blood was absorbed by the soil.
Chu Hechao let go of Li Li’s lifeless body. “Take his corpse and hang it on the city wall of Luoyang to let the people vent their anger.”
The body was immediately taken away by his guards.
One person’s blood was much more than one could imagine, and most of the grave was soaked in it. Chu Hechao watched silently, then lowered his eyes, “Everyone else, step back.”
After they left, Chu Hechao turned slightly to Yuan Li and said, “Le Jun, stay and accompany me.”
Yuan Li replied, “Alright.”
The crowd retreated and stood outside. Chu Hechao was still looking down at the red soil and sand when he suddenly said, “Did I disturb their peace with what I did?”
Yuan Li’s heart tightened, and he immediately shook his head, saying, “How could that be? If Chu Wang and the lady could see you take revenge for them with their own eyes, they would surely be very happy.”
Chu Hechao shook his head, “They never liked me killing people.”
He sighed softly, “They always felt that my sins were too heavy. If they knew that I used Li Li’s blood to soil their grave, I’m afraid they would be restless even in death.”
Yuan Li opened his mouth, feeling aching in his heart, but for a moment, he couldn’t find the words to say.
Chu Hechao smiled casually, but it didn’t look like a smile. “But if I didn’t kill Li Li at their grave, I would never find peace. Consider it a way for this unfilial son to atone for his sins. If they are reincarnated, I hope they won’t give birth to a child as sinful as me.”
Having said that, Chu Hechao placed the large knife in the ground, holding the handle as he slowly knelt down and kowtowed to the grave.
He had to do it slowly because he had to be careful of the wound on his abdomen.
As Yuan Li listened to Chu Hechao’s words, he knew that Chu Hechao was still affected by what Li Li had said.
Those words that cut to the heart were like cold arrows and icy knives, repeatedly wounding Chu Hechao’s already wounded heart.
The deaths of Chu Wang and his wife and Chu Mingfeng were all pinned on Chu Hechao’s shoulders, again and again. This thorn was not pulled out with Li Li’s death, but instead, it sank deeper.
Yuan Li tightly pursed his lips, torn between heartache and anger. Just then, he suddenly remembered the reward given by the system: a one-minute AR special effect.
He was taken aback.
Could he split the one-minute special effect time?
Could he determine the content of the special effect himself?
Yuan Li tentatively asked, “System, I want to use the AR special effect.”
The system replied in a timely manner.
[Emperor Cultivation System has been activated.]
[Please answer the following two questions.]
[One: Special effect duration; Two: Special effect content.]
Yuan Li immediately said, “Twenty seconds of the presence of Chu Wang and his wife, is that possible?”
Afraid that the system would refuse, Yuan Li added, “I’m not wasting the reward, I’m just testing what kind of effect this AR special effect can achieve, whether only I can see it or if everyone can, how realistic it is, and how broad its range is. I have to conduct an experiment in advance; if I don’t know the specific data, it will be too late when I actually need to use the AR special effect. This is understandable, and you can’t refuse.”
Yuan Li wasn’t making excuses; what he said was the truth.
He had to conduct an experiment in advance with the reward given by the system to know the specifics and have a clear understanding. It was an indispensable step.
The system didn’t care about his lengthy explanation and replied coldly. [Twenty seconds of AR special effect has been activated.]
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