Under One Person: My Inner Realm Connects to All Worlds!

Chapter 282 Yuan Tiangang: Your Majesty, may I ask, where has my good-for-nothing prince gone?

After hearing Yuan Tiangang's words, which sounded like a verdict, Yelü Zhiwu swayed and almost fell to the ground, feeling only despair in her heart.

She could almost see her mother, Shuliduo, meet a tragic end, her blood splattered everywhere.

"Is it really beyond repair?"

However, Yuan Tiangang's tone subtly shifted at this moment, and his low, hoarse voice seemed to carry a hint of something unfathomable:

"but……"

Yelü Zhiwu suddenly looked up, a faint flame of hope rekindling in her ashen eyes. She stared intently at the Senluo mask, afraid of missing a single word.

"This commander can also give her a chance."

Yuan Tiangang spoke slowly, his gaze fixed on Yelü Zhiwu as if it were a tangible object.

"And the key to this opportunity lies with you."

"I?"

Yelü Zhiwu was stunned for a moment, then, as if grasping at a lifeline, she desperately banged her head on the ground, making a dull thud: "I'm willing! As long as Mother can live, Zhiwu is willing to do anything! Even if it means dying a thousand deaths!"

Yuan Tiangang nodded slightly, seemingly unsurprised by her reaction. He took a step back, his hands behind his back, and gazed at the palace eaves faintly visible outside the hall.
"Now that the new dynasty has been established, everything is renewed. However, His Majesty is so wise and capable, with the ambition to revitalize the Tang Dynasty, bring peace to the world, and expand the territory."

"Although the world is at peace, undercurrents have not subsided; although the northern frontier is pacified, the western border is not secure. In the near future, the Tang army will surely point its spearhead elsewhere again."

"At that time, someone will be needed to walk in the shadows, spy on military intelligence, clear obstacles, and do things that cannot be done in the open."

"These things require the sharpest knife, the most secretive blade, and the person most capable of enduring darkness and bloodshed."

Yuan Tiangang turned around, his gaze icy and sharp, piercing straight at Yelü Zhiwu: "What you can do is gather those among the former Khitan troops who are still manageable, and have them join the Bad People as spies and assassins."

"Use your lives to clear the thorns from the path of the Great Tang, and exchange endless killing and merit for the mere survival of Shuliduo."

He paused, a hint of weariness, a weariness he himself was unaware of, revealed in his voice:

"You will face endless killings, infiltrate the most dangerous enemy territories, and have your hands stained with the blood of the innocent or the guilty."

"This period of time may be ten, twenty, or even several decades, until you become numb from killing, until you forget why you are killing, and only instinct remains."

Before Yuan Tiangang's eyes, it seemed as if certain fragments of his long life flashed by.

During Wu Zetian's reign, he became weary of witnessing too much treachery and deceit, and of having too much blood on his hands that could not be washed away. He chose to resign from his official post and leave the Bad People.

At that time, Yuan Tiangang also felt a deep-seated weariness.

Finally, it was because of Fan Qiao'er's eyes, yearning for a peaceful and prosperous era, and because of the Tang Dynasty she longed for, that he once again donned his official robes and mask, continuing his journey on this thorny and dark path.

He knew all too well what it felt like to be "numb to death"—a feeling of humanity being gradually worn away, leaving only the emptiness of tasks and responsibilities.

Yelü Zhiwu trembled slightly as she listened to Yuan Tiangang's description.

But then she remembered the occasional hint of ambition and expectation that her mother, Queen Shurido, had when she looked at her, an ambition that went beyond maternal love.

I thought of the relief my father felt when he learned he could live; I thought of the tribes and peoples on the grasslands who depended on the Khitan court…

Finally, she took a deep breath, suppressing all her fear and hesitation, and with a resolute determination that seemed to have severed all her escape routes, she kowtowed again, her forehead touching the cold ground, her voice trembling slightly:

"Zhiwu, I agree! As long as my mother's life can be saved, Zhiwu is willing to join the Bad People, to be a blade in His Majesty's and the Commander's hands, even if it means dying a hundred times without regret! Even if I am condemned to eternal damnation, I will have no complaints!"

Yuan Tiangang looked at her quietly, and after a moment, nodded.

He moved with lightning speed, his fingertips carrying concentrated energy, striking several vital points on Yelü Zhiwu's body.

With a few soft hissing sounds, the golden needles that had sealed her cultivation were forced out by a clever force and fell into Yuan Tiangang's palm.

Yelü Zhiwu felt a sense of relief throughout her body, and her blocked internal energy finally began to flow slowly again. Although her injuries were still severe, she had at least regained her mobility and abilities.

Yuan Tiangang put away the golden needles, put his hands behind his back, and stopped looking at her. He simply said, "Come on."

He then turned and walked out of the hall.

Yelü Zhiwu struggled to get up from the ground, pressing her still throbbing shoulder. Looking at that figure, she hesitated for a moment, but finally gritted her teeth and followed him with slightly unsteady steps.

She followed Yuan Tiangang through several winding corridors within the Bad People's Office, arriving at a more secluded courtyard.

The gate to the courtyard looked ordinary, even somewhat dilapidated.

However, the moment Yuan Tiangang pushed open the door, a lively atmosphere that was completely out of place with the overall gloomy and solemn atmosphere of the Bad Guys rushed out, almost like "chickens flying and dogs barking".

Inside the courtyard, the four Corpse Ancestors were present, sitting around a bubbling copper pot, clearly enjoying hot pot.

The older sister was standing on tiptoe, trying to snatch the last plump-looking meatball from the giant hand of the welding demon, shouting, "My dear! This is my dear!"

The welding demon carefully protected the meatballs, its massive body struggling to dodge its sister's "attacks." Its honest face was full of helplessness as it said in a muffled voice, "I pounded the meatballs, I put them in the pot, I did all the work, so this first bite should be mine."

Hou Qing, on the other hand, appeared elegant and composed, gently fanning himself with a small jade fan, trying to dispel the steam from the hot pot that was drifting towards him. His brows were slightly furrowed, as if he felt that the smoky atmosphere tainted his "refinement".

There was also a booklet that looked like sheet music next to him.

The surrendered official was the most outrageous. She somehow got hold of a mismatched set of female official attire and wore it, but she sat improperly, with one foot on the stool, tapping the rim of her bowl with her chopsticks, making an off-key rhythm.

He was humming a nonsensical tune, his eyes glazed over, clearly having drunk a few glasses of wine and was slightly tipsy.

Yuan Tiangang's sudden appearance instantly froze the lively atmosphere in the courtyard.

The four Corpse Ancestors stopped moving in unison.

The next moment, the four of them tidied themselves up with astonishing speed. Hanba put down the meatball, Houqing closed his jade fan and stood up, Jiangchen quickly put his feet down and tried to smooth out the wrinkles on his clothes, and Ajie also jumped back to her original position.

The four men moved in perfect unison, facing Yuan Tiangang, cupping their hands and bowing deeply, speaking in unison with obvious respect in their tone:

"Commander!"

Yuan Tiangang seemed to be used to the scene before him, and his eyes did not even flicker. He simply nodded slightly.

His gaze swept past the four men and landed on the leader of the surrendered officials. He spoke in his distinctively deep voice:

"A surrendered subject."

The surrendered official immediately replied, "Your subordinate is here!"

The slight flush on her face faded considerably in an instant.

Yuan Tiangang stepped aside, making way for Yelü Zhiwu behind him: "From now on, she will be under your command." Upon hearing this, the surrendered official's charming yet somewhat wicked eyes immediately lit up as he curiously looked Yelü Zhiwu up and down.

His gaze lingered for a moment, particularly on the snow-white skin and gruesome wounds exposed beneath her tattered clothes. A look of interest, like discovering a new toy, flashed in his eyes, and a playful smile curled at the corner of his lips.

"Oh? A new little sister? Or a princess of the Khitan? Interesting. Don't worry, you'll be well taken care of if you follow me."

The brief silence in the courtyard was instantly broken after Yuan Tiangang left.

The surrendered official seemed completely oblivious to Yelü Zhiwu's injuries and disheveled state. He enthusiastically pressed her down onto an empty seat next to the table, his movements so swift that she had no time to react.

"Come on, little sister, don't just stand there!"

The surrendered official magically produced a clean bowl and chopsticks and stuffed them into Yelü Zhiwu's hands, his fox-like eyes curving upwards and gleaming with cunning.

"Look how pale your face is, you must be starving! Come and try my cooking, this broth is my special recipe, it's super nourishing!"

Without saying a word, she picked up a few slices of cooked meat and some mushrooms that were hard to identify but had a rather peculiar color, piling them into the bowl in front of Yelü Zhiwu.

With a simple and honest smile, Hanba silently pushed a plate of freshly cooked, seemingly normal, tender mutton to Yelü Zhiwu's side.

Hou Qing maintained his elegant aloofness, but his eyes kept glancing at her, as if observing her reaction.

The older sister leaned right in, practically pressing her face against Yelü Zhiwu's, her big eyes blinking expectantly: "Eat it quickly! It smells so good!"

Staring at by four pairs of eyes, each with a distinct style but equally eerie and expectant, Yelü Zhiwu felt a chill run down her spine, a pressure greater than facing a thousand troops.

She looked at the suspiciously colored food in the bowl, her throat bobbed, but thinking of her current situation and her mother's life, she finally gritted her teeth, picked up her chopsticks, took a piece of meat, closed her eyes, and stuffed it into her mouth.

The strange taste I expected didn't appear. Instead, an indescribable, rich and savory aroma, a blend of various spices and herbs, exploded in my mouth. Surprisingly, it was quite good.

She opened her eyes in surprise.

"How is it? Did I not lie to you?"

The surrendered official proudly raised his chin and casually poured himself another glass of wine.

Yelü Zhiwu didn't answer, but silently quickened her eating pace. She was indeed hungry, and this might be the last bit of human warmth she could feel before stepping into the unknown darkness.

Of course, I won't mention the incident of seeing a villain after the meal.

-----

On the other side, Yuan Tiangang left the Bad People's Office and, with a few leaps, found himself inside the imperial city.

Walking among the newly renovated palace corridors, one's eyes are drawn to the majestic halls, soaring eaves, vermilion pillars, and well-trained, solemnly standing palace guards.

Although it cannot compare to the extreme luxury of the Kaiyuan era, the solemn and majestic atmosphere of that prosperous age, which commanded respect throughout the land, has been recreated.

The faint sounds of craftsmen hammering could be heard from afar, indicating that the follow-up construction was still underway, and everything exuded vitality.

Looking at the familiar Tang Dynasty palace scene and feeling the hard-won stability, Yuan Tiangang's eyes behind his mask revealed an undisguised sense of relief and satisfaction.

Three hundred years of dedication, countless efforts and sacrifices, all seemed to have paid off at this moment. This was exactly the scene he had dreamed of seeing.

However, beneath this sense of relief and relief lingered a persistent heaviness, like an inescapable shadow in a corner of the palace.

He arrived at the side hall where the emperor usually handled state affairs, and after being announced by the eunuch, he slowly walked in.

Inside the palace, Li Xingyun was bent over his desk, reviewing a mountain of memorials.

He was not wearing a crown robe, but only a simple black casual dress, yet his brows naturally exuded an aura of authority that commanded the world.

Hearing footsteps, he didn't even raise his head; his vermilion brush continued to move across the paper. He simply asked indifferently:

"Is the matter done?"

"Your Majesty, the arrangements have been made in accordance with the decree."

Yuan Tiangang cupped his hands in greeting, his voice steady.

He stood respectfully beneath the steps, his posture upright like a pine tree, but unusually, he did not immediately disappear into the shadows or stand silently awaiting orders as he usually did.

The hall fell silent, with only the faint sounds of papers turning and red ink brushstrokes.

After a long silence, Yuan Tiangang seemed to have made up his mind and spoke again, his voice carrying a barely perceptible hesitation: "Your Majesty, I... have something that has been on my mind for a long time, and I must say it."

Li Xingyun paused slightly in his work of reviewing memorials, finally raising his head and looking at Yuan Tiangang with a hint of inquiry: "Oh? Does Minister Yuan have any questions?"

Yuan Tiangang raised his eyelids and glanced at the palace maids and eunuchs standing on his left and right.

Li Xingyun understood, waved his hand, and said calmly, "All of you, step back."

"Yes."

The servants inside bowed in response and filed out, gently closing the palace door behind them.

The vast palace was now empty except for the emperor and his minister.

Yuan Tiangang took a deep breath, stepped forward, and ascended the white marble steps, standing three steps away from the imperial desk.

After hesitating several times, he finally lifted his robe, knelt down directly in front of Li Xingyun behind the imperial desk, and prostrated himself on the ground.

This gesture was more solemn than his usual bow, even carrying a hint of indescribable panic and earnestness.

It's hard to imagine that Yuan Tiangang, who has lived through three hundred years, would have such an expression; his heart is already in turmoil.

In fact, he had already thought of his crimes: deceiving the emperor, doubting the imperial artifact, and being extremely disrespectful!

He raised his head, his gaze behind the mask fixed on Li Xingyun with a complex expression. His usually deep and steady voice now carried a barely perceptible tremor:

"Your Majesty... Your Majesty, you may not answer my question..."

He paused, as if using all his strength, before finally uttering the question that had lingered in his heart for so long:
"May I ask... where has my good-for-nothing prince gone...?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the hall fell into a deathly silence. It was as if the air itself had frozen, with only Yuan Tiangang's slightly heavy breathing breaking the silence.

The wind blew through the palace bells on the eaves, making them tinkle like Yuan Tiangang's mood at that moment.

Li Xingyun stared intently at Yuan Tiangang, and after what seemed like an eternity, he suddenly chuckled softly: "Heh!"

"Minister Yuan, I thought you would keep these words in your heart forever!"

(End of this chapter)