Chapter 724: Awakening

Things got very rowdy below Book Mountain as many from the Eastern Barren Territory showed up.

Following the news of Ye Futian’s wedding, which he released himself, there was other news saying it was not only Ye Futian who would be getting married three days later; Yu Sheng and Ye Wuchen were also going to hold their wedding the same day as Ye Futian.

While Yu Sheng and Ye Wuchen had been overshadowed by Ye Futian somewhat, they were still extremely renowned figures of the younger generations in the Eastern Barren Territory. Furthermore, they were hardly considered to be of the ‘younger generation’ anymore. Ye Wuchen, who had not even reached 30, carved his way through the old royalties of the Liu Kingdom like a hot knife slicing through butter, killing Grade One nobles without breaking a sweat. His fearsome talents were apparent.

People of the Eastern Barren Territory also heard that there would be many throughout the Barren State showing up at the wedding. It was indeed a very noteworthy event.

Despite his wedding being right around the corner, Ye Futian was found training in silence at the peak of Book Mountain instead. Winds blew and there was no noise in his surroundings. It was a place where he was not bothered by anyone else.

Quiet, light footsteps were heard behind him, prompting his eyelashes to twitch, yet his eyes remained closed. The figure who came from behind walked up to Ye Futian and sat beside him, casting his gaze at the sea of clouds far away.

Ye Futian opened his eyes and turned to look at the old man beside him. The old man looked just as he had always been, slouching somewhat and completely plain; the kind of person who would draw anyone’s attention on the streets.

Ye Futian turned his eyes forward shortly after, gazing at the vista faraway.

There was nothing but silence. The air was stiflingly quiet.

Ye Futian lost track of how much he wanted to say to and ask the old man. However, he was calm and tranquil at the moment, not knowing what to say. He did not even know if he should respect or hate the old man.

“Futian, I guess you have seen through it all,” the old man said softly.

His Eldest Brother was in possession of the demonic blade, Jieyu was possessed by a saint, and both of them were people closest to him. They were people who would give their lives to fight for him. The trail of thought then led to the demonic arts that Yu Sheng was practicing. There was just no way Ye Futian would not have seen through it all.

“That was you in Donghai City, wasn’t it?” Ye Futian then asked softly, “Why did you let grandpa die? Why did you let Jieyu go through all that?” His voice sounded rather dejected. He had the ability to prevent all those tragedies from happening easily, yet he did not.

“In your impression, what am I like as a person?” the old man asked softly.

Ye Futian’s thoughts went back to more than a decade ago, and they went even further back after that. He and Yu Sheng both grew up under that old man’s tutelage.

“Kind, firm, even cold,” Ye Futian said. The old man was kind and gentle when dealing with him, yet he was harsh and cold when dealing with Yu Sheng.

“Which one of those do you think is the real me?” the old man asked again.

“The latter,” Ye Futian said, thinking the old man to be definitely a cold person.

The old man smiled and said, “Kid, what you saw were simply facets. I’m colder and more brutal than you could have imagined. My hands are stained with the blood of countless people. I’ve killed more than I bothered to count. All of the slaughter I did was not something you could have ever imagined.”

The old man’s voice was calm all the same as he said those words, yet one would be able to feel the grand battlefields he had been through, the battlefields which he had carried out his slaughter. He was one cold, brutal machine who had made his mark killing everywhere under the heavens.

Ye Futian lowered his head and clenched his fists. He then asked, “Why did you treat me like you did then?”

“That’s because you’re their child.” The old man looked at Ye Futian with eyes filled with warmth and gentleness. Ye Futian felt as if he was looking at the eyes that belonged to both the Snow Ape and Emperor Ye Qing all those years ago when they looked at him.

“Who?” Untold sorrow was heard from Ye Futian’s voice as he sounded extremely dejected. Who is the person you’re talking about?

The old man shook his head.

Ye Futian felt very disappointed and asked again, “You had Yu Sheng practice the demonic arts, you let Eldest Brother take hold of the demonic blade, and even the person who possessed Jieyu seemed to one who practiced demonic arts as well. Why won’t you teach me the demonic methods then?”

“You are born as the emperor, and as such, you cannot train in the demonic arts.” The old man shook his head and continued, “The one who possessed Jieyu was one I deliberately prepared for her. That person was a Divine Spiritual Sorcerer. I hadn’t thought of handing her to Jieyu so soon, but the events happening at Taihang Mountain at the time prompted me to do so earlier than expected. So, I went having Jieyu possessed with that spirit in Zhaixing House. While Jieyu had a hard time with things before, she would have had a powerful Divine Spiritual Sorcerer to guide her in her training in the future.”

“But they’re all people I hold dearest to me. Don’t you think you’re going too far with all that?” Ye Futian felt his heart aching. Yu Sheng, his Eldest Brother, and Jieyu all had different arrangements assigned to them; all of them would suffer further.

“It was their honor,” the old man said with a neutral look.

“To hell with that kind of bullsh*t honor. How are you any different from Liu Chan?” Ye Futian howled with a low voice.

Is this even honor at all?

All of them were closest to him. All of them suffered just to let him succeed.

The old man cast his gaze far away and went silent for a while, before saying, “I did not push them to do so. They were all willing to do what they did for your sake. If you feel guilty, if you hate me, then get stronger.”

Ye Futian lowered his head.

“Nothing matters. The blood of the common soldiers was what won the general fame and glory. If you don’t get any stronger, more will die in the future. Rest assured, even if more were to die for you, I won’t bat an eye. Hate me with all you’ve got, and it still won’t change a thing.” The old man stood up and said slowly, “I need to see to one particular matter and you won’t see me by your side from here on out. Take care of yourself.”

A gale swept by and the shriveled old man remained standing tall where he was, before disappearing like a mirage shortly after. It was as if he had never been there in the first place.

Ye Futian felt incredibly painful inside as he watched the old man disappear. He then said, “I will get stronger, godfather.”

Do I hate him? How could I possibly hate him? He was the person I respected the most growing up.

…

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The wedding was quickly approaching, and there was a day left before the big day. Book Mountain was in an uproar, with preparation work done right from the bottom of the mountain. More guests showed up at Book Mountain: Long Ling’er, Gu Yunxi, Mu Zhiqiu, and the others all came to celebrate. They even brought Shen Yu, the servant girl who was with Ye Futian at the Celestial Pavilion. Other than that, Wang Yurou, who was studying at Starry School, came as well. Her family, the people of Wang family, would also join in the festivities. As they were acquaintances of Ye Futian, the members of the Wang family saw it fit to show up. While people of the Eastern Barren Territory knew little of Ye Futian’s current status in the Barren State, that was something made clear to all in the Barren State a long time ago.

The youth who had once fought for the Wang family was now someone who could take the seat of Palace Lord of the Holy Zhi Palace if he so wished. It was elegiac that it felt like a dream indeed.

“Brother Futian, can I be your bridesmaid?” Long Ling’er asked playfully.

Ye Futian went to pat her head and said, “Just what is going on in that head of yours all day?”

“Futian.” A voice was heard. Ye Futian turned his eyes at the direction of the voice and found his teacher, Sage Douzhan, walking in his direction alongside the Sword Demon and Sage Daozang.

“Teacher.” Ye Futian went up and greeted them, “Seniors.”

“Ye Futian, this wedding is more than just about you alone. Douzhan is both your and Yu Sheng’s teacher, the Sword Demon is Wuchen’s teacher, while I’m Hua Jieyu’s teacher. I assume you don’t have anything against all three of us serving as witnesses?” Sage Daozang said as if he was joking.

“That’s great.” Ye Futian nodded with a smile. “All of you teachers will have front seats to serve as witnesses for us.”

They nodded and Sage Daozang asked, “How is Jieyu doing now?”

“She has yet to wake up,” Ye Futian said softly.

“Don’t worry about it so much. I’ve heard from Phoenix that she is just in a coma for the time being. She will wake in due time,” Sage Daozang said to console him.

“Haven’t you made up your mind yet?” The Sword Demon asked, “The entire Barren State is waiting for your answer.”

“I want to wait until Jieyu wakes up,” Ye Futian replied.

“Fine. No rush,” the Sword Demon quipped while smiling with a nod.

“Go take care of things. There seems to be quite a number of guests here today.” The Sword Demon smiled and Ye Futian nodded.

“Loulan, take care of teacher and the lords for me,” Ye Futian said.

“Will do.” Loulan nodded.

Ye Futian left the scene and went to the compound where Hua Fengliu took up residence, which was filled with people. The emperor of Nandou Nation, Nandou Wenshan, the emperor of Cangye Kingdom, and Ye Lingxi were all there. Yi Xiang was naturally there as well, giving instructions to Yi Qingxuan and Yu Sheng.

Ye Wuchen’s parents were there as well and they were very pleased. They had not seen their son much since Ye Wuchen embarked on his journey of cultivation and left the Eastern Barren Territory.

There was another guest whom Ye Futian found rather surprising. Her looks were incredibly stunning. She looked at Ye Futian and asked, “What, you don’t know me anymore?”

“The number one beauty of Cangye Kingdom. How would I dare not know such a person?” Ye Futian replied with a smile. That woman was the number one beauty in the Cangye Kingdom before—Lin Yueyao.

“Ye Futian, you’re such a dog. You have all that success and you go about forgetting old friends, eh? Not inviting me to your wedding and all that.” Lin Yueyao then continued in a sassy manner, “Well, consider me crashing the party today. I assume you’re not going to kick me out?”

“I wouldn’t dare. You alone?” Ye Futian shook his head with a bitter smile. He had no time nor was in the mood to invite guests. Everyone who showed up came on their own, but he was still feeling happy to see so many old friends around. It would have been better if Jieyu woke up.

“What do you think?” Lin Yueyao said jokingly, “Should I bring a guy with me? I’d love to, but I’d lose face if the guy wasn’t as good-looking as you are.”

“You have a point.” Ye Futian nodded approvingly. “I’m quite an exceptional being, after all. No guy would stand a chance compared to me.”

“…” Lin Yueyao was dumbfounded.

“Make yourself at home. I’ll go check on Jieyu.” Ye Futian smiled and left. Lin Yueyao glared at him and walked up to Emperor Ye, asking, “Your Highness, what is Ye Futian’s plane now?”

“I don’t know.” Emperor Ye shrugged.

“With things being so rowdy at Book Mountain, I guess that fellow would really be something,” Lin Yueyao murmured to herself.

Ye Futian came to Hua Jieyu’s room. Nandou Wenyin was there looking after her.

“Masteress, allow me,” Ye Futian said softly.

“Right.” Nandou Wenyin nodded and left. Ye Futian sat at the side of the bed and held Hua Jieyu’s hands. Things were still rowdy outside, but it was uncannily quiet in the room instead.

“Jieyu, we’re getting married tomorrow. Do you really want me to carry you all the way up there?” Ye Futian asked softly.

“You’ve been sleeping for quite a long time. Time to get up. When we get married tomorrow, I’ll sleep with you as much as you want every day.”

Hua Jieyu was still lying still on the bed, but her eyelashes twitched.

Ye Futian’s eyes were still on her hands. He held them close with both of his hands and said with a smile, “If you’re haven’t woken up by tomorrow, don’t say that I’m bullying you in the days to come.”

Ye Futian smiled and continued, “It’s been more than ten years. Time really does fly. You’ll be my girl tomorrow, and I’m not going to go easy on you.”

“I dare you.”

A soft voice was heard. Ye Futian shuddered for a bit. He lifted his head and looked at Hua Jieyu’s eyes. He saw her open her eyes with tears at the corners, which fell down the side of her face. She was, however, smiling. Her smile was beaming and it looked as pretty as ever.

Ye Futian smiled as well. He took Hua Jieyu’s hand and kissed it gently, before looking at Hua Jieyu’s eyes and saying, “You’ll know if I dare tomorrow!”