Under One Person: The Sea Emperor Who Shattered Heaven and Earth

Lin Zhu remained slow, but she held onto Tengshan's hand tightly, unwilling to let go for a long time.

Then came the various schools and sects.

Although not all the attendees were their sect leaders in person, each invited sect sent a representative with sufficient status to represent the sect within the safest possible limits.

When Zhang Zhiwei and Tian Jinzhong arrived at Longhu Mountain, Zhang Zhiwei immediately addressed Jiang Zhen as "Brother Jiang" upon disembarking. Jiang Zhen then emphasized that Zhang Zhiwei should call him "Uncle-Master," but Zhang Zhiwei pretended not to hear.

The first thing Quanzhen Fang Dongtian said to Jiang Zhen was, "How much of the classic texts left for your uncle have you read?" Jiang Zhen replied without changing his expression, "I've been reading them all along, and the progress is steady."

Lu Jin had only been exchanging pleasantries with Shuiyun and Changqing for a short while when he suddenly saw Li Muxuan's figure and was about to rush over when the two of them pulled him back.

Wang Zizhong and Duanmu Ying hugged tightly as soon as they met. Before Wang Zizhong could react, Duanmu Ying pulled and dragged him towards the room.

……

Jiang Zhen personally stepped forward and clasped his hands in greeting to the various sects of extraordinary individuals from his hometown.

"I am deeply grateful to you all for coming from afar."

Then he waved to the welcoming guests who had been lined up behind him for a long time: "Prepare the banquet—let the feast begin!"

Chapter 124 The New Era

The grand wedding ceremony lasted for seven days.

For seven days, New World Island became a city that never sleeps. Envoys from all nations came to pay tribute and present gifts, while the strange brothers from their hometown rediscovered long-lost joy at the banquet table.

On the night of the ceremony, Jiang Zhen couldn't remember how many bowls of wine he drank. He had an excellent alcohol tolerance, but that night he drank to the point that he was unsteady on his feet. The last thing he remembered was squatting down amidst the cheers and jeers, and steadily carrying Lin Zhu, who was wearing a wedding dress, on his back.

Lin Zhu wore a bright red wedding dress, with delicate cloud patterns embroidered in gold thread on the hem. She never wore such a strong color; her usual clothes were always plain gray or white, like those in the medicine shop. Suddenly changing into this red dress, she looked as if she were enveloped in a gentle flame.

She has a very low alcohol tolerance; after taking only a small sip of fruit wine amidst the cheers of the crowd, she became unsteady and her vision blurred.

"Jiang Zhen... I feel dizzy," Lin Zhu mumbled, then leaned into Jiang Zhen's arms.

Jiang Zhen laughed and steadily carried Lin Zhu on his back. Lin Zhu was as soft as water, lying on Jiang Zhen's back, her warm breath spraying on his neck.

"Jiang Zhen... don't shake me." Lin Zhu mumbled groggily, her little hands tightly gripping his red robe collar.

Jiang Zhen's steps were extremely steady. Although he was also slightly drunk, the weight of the thousand-pound weight on his back made him more sober than ever. He chuckled and said, "I'm not swaying."

"Let's go, to the bridal chamber!" Someone shouted from the crowd, followed by a burst of laughter. Jiang Zhen, carrying Lin Zhu on his back, walked step by step back to the bridal chamber surrounded by flowers, all the noise shut out behind the red silk.

Seven days later, the guests who had come from afar began to leave this miraculous land, personally seen off by Jiang Zhen.

"Uncle Jiang, take care." Zhang Zhiwei stood at the bow of the ship and bowed.

“Uncle-Master, we’ve only looked at one-tenth of the list you left for us when you went to sea. We can’t slack off,” Fang Dongtian said earnestly.

Lu Jin remained cold towards Li Muxuan and was seen off by Changqing and Shuiyun.

……

As the crowds receded, the lively clamor was once again drowned out by the sound of the waves. The red ribbons still hung on the dock, their tassels rustling in the sea breeze. Life had finally returned to its ordinary course.

In the autumn of the second year after the wedding, a clear cry rang out on New World Island.

Lin Zhu gave birth to a son.

Jiang Zhen sifted through every book he could find, and in the end, he ignored the names the three old men had suggested and simply named his son "Jiang Ping." He said the name was simple—he didn't wish for him to conquer the plains or become famous throughout the world, but only hoped that he would be safe and sound on the sea. Lin Zhu nodded after hearing this and gently pressed the wrinkled little face in the swaddling clothes against her cheek.

Zhao Yuan said this was too casual. Bai Fu remained silent but sighed slightly, saying that while the character "Ping" was good, it lacked the proper respect. Master Feng didn't say anything. When Jiang Zhen personally handed the swaddled baby to him, looking at the little face that hadn't yet opened its eyes, he only said, "The character 'Ping' is good."

......

Three years later, Jiang Ping had a younger sister and a younger brother. Lin Zhu gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl. The older sister was named Jiang An, and the younger brother was named Jiang Shun.

As time passed swiftly, the old men who had accompanied Jiang Zhen in his battles began to pass away one by one.

No matter how skillfully Duanmu Ying employed his dual techniques, he ultimately could not overcome the five signs of decay.

That day, Fifth Master Feng sat in a rocking chair in the courtyard, his ever-present sharp knife draped across his lap. Jiang Zhen brought over a bottle of fine wine, but before he could speak, he noticed that Fifth Master Feng's pipe had fallen to the ground, the flame long since extinguished.

Jiang Zhen didn't call anyone; he just sat with Fifth Master all night and finished the bottle of wine.

Next was Zhao Yuan. Zhao Yuan passed away peacefully—when he was found, he was asleep in the old rattan chair in his study.

Bai Fu was the last to leave, and the one whose departure left Jiang Zhen most distraught. In the months leading up to his death, his health had already declined, and he had long since handed over the accounting duties to Huang Chunjie, the apprentice he had personally trained.

Before Bai Fu left, Jiang Zhen stayed by his bedside. The old butler grasped Jiang Zhen's withered hand and said with difficulty, "Sir... I can no longer serve you... I... I'll go first to find Fifth Master and Old Man Zhao..."

With Bai Fu closing his eyes, all three of the New World's butlers have passed away.

On the day Bai Fu was buried, young Jiang Shun cried the most. His beloved grandfather Bai had also passed away, and everyone around him wanted to help him up.

"Get out of the way!" Jiang Shun shouted angrily.

A subtle ripple emanated from him, sweeping across the surroundings, however faint it was.

But everyone knew what it was; the feeling was all too familiar—Conqueror's Haki!

The superior bloodline awakened the Conqueror's Haki, and for a moment everyone looked at Jiang Shun with burning eyes.

Jiang Shun, unaware of what had happened, explained to the stunned crowd, "I want to spend one last time with Grandpa Bai..."

Meanwhile, Jiang Ping stared blankly at Jiang Shun in disbelief before snapping out of it and immediately comforting him.

……

From then on, Jiang Zhen rarely left New World Island. He began to live like those reclusive masters, keeping to himself, tending to herbs with Lin Zhu, and watching his children grow up day by day.

Outside the public eye, the legend surrounding Jiang Zhen is undergoing a strange transformation.

After being terrified of the "Sea Emperor's" world-destroying power, countries around the world reached a tacit consensus: to do everything possible to minimize Jiang Zhen's personal influence.

Outside, the legend surrounding Jiang Zhen is undergoing a strange transformation. After being terrified by the maritime emperor's power to reshape the world map, nations have reached a consensus—unwritten in any official document—to weaken him. Not with gunfire, not with embargoes, but with oblivion.

All materials related to "Jiang Zhen" and the "Sea Emperor" were placed on the highest level of control list. History textbooks were altered page by page, news reports were strictly censored, and all independent researchers could no longer find that towering figure who once spanned the Pacific Ocean.

Those eyewitnesses who had personally witnessed the Poseidon's fleet's patrols have gradually passed away over the years. Their children and grandchildren have only heard some vague fragments in casual conversations at the dinner table—some say it's a myth, some say it's an exaggeration, and some people themselves are no longer so sure.

The new generation of young people only know that there is a neutral trading organization on the high seas called "New World," which has a well-trained fleet of maritime management vessels. As for who the founder of that organization is, they don't know.

In order to maintain global trade, countries established special secret agencies to connect with the New World via maritime transport, which were 100% government-owned and kept extremely secret.

The situation is similar in the world of supernatural beings.

A new cycle has begun in the maritime world. The rising stars grew up listening to tales of the "Emperor of the Sea," but most consider it a fictional legend embellished with too many anecdotes—shattering an aircraft carrier with a single punch? Overthrowing the entire old order of the high seas single-handedly? Making all nations bow down at sea? It's too far-fetched. Even storytellers wouldn't dare to make it up.

Only a few unofficial organizations of extraordinary individuals still possess genuine records about Jiang Zhen within yellowed scrolls.

In the blink of an eye, Jiang Ping's physical constitution improved to the point that he began to learn the Six Forms. Jiang An and Jiang Shun also began to practice Qi. The difference was that Jiang Shun had to learn the Overlord Color technique as well.

The relationship between the new world and the old home has also begun to re-establish itself in the open.

One afternoon, Huang Chunjie walked into Jiang Zhen's office with a telegram in his hand.

"Sir, a message has arrived from our hometown."

Jiang Zhen took the letter, glanced at it, and his normally calm eyes flickered slightly.

Back home, things have changed; a vibrant atmosphere is reviving. What interests Jiang Zhen most is a young man mentioned in the letter.

"The Shanghai Canal Gang... has produced an extraordinary young man?"

“Yes,” Huang Chunjie nodded. “His name is Wang Weiguo. This young man is very capable. He’s not an extraordinary person, just an ordinary person, but he managed to integrate all the businesses we lost by sheer grit and business acumen. Now, he has made the name of the Canal Gang famous again in his hometown.”

Does he know us?

Huang Chunjie laughed and said, "How could I not know? How could I dare not know?"

"Before he left, Master Bai arranged all the contact routes and tokens back in his hometown, and we have never lost those connections over the years. He is quite shrewd; he managed to find us step by step through those old connections. This time, it took several intermediaries to deliver his handwritten greeting letter, along with a visiting card, saying that he would like to come and pay his respects to you at a later date."

Jiang Zhen put down the letter and tapped the table lightly with his fingertips: "Let's set a time, and I'll also send him a gift. Just say that I, Jiang Zhen, have my eye on him."

"Yes." Huang Chunjie carefully put the letter into his inner bag and left.

Jiang Zhen stood up and walked to the window. Outside, the flags of the twelve fleets flew high on their respective flagpoles, the "Justice" flag still fluttering in the sea breeze. In the distance, on the training ground, a group of new recruits were practicing the most basic footwork, the instructors' shouts never ceasing.

Days passed like the tide, one wave after another pushing forward. Jiang Zhen stared at the old mobile phone on the corner of the table, feeling somewhat dazed. The pulse of the times was drawing ever closer to all the familiar moments in his life.

As the new millennium dawned, the night sky over New World Island was illuminated as bright as day by a spectacular fireworks display.

The world has changed. The tentacles of the internet have begun to extend, and satellite cameras no longer need reconnaissance aircraft to clearly capture images of any ship on the sea.

The wave of technology is sweeping away the old order at an explosive pace, and the new world is not lagging behind the wave—the research park is filled with laboratories full of researchers, which also maintains a series of technological barriers for the island, ensuring that no eye that does not belong to them can see the true face of the main island and the surrounding training waters.

To the surprise of all the younger generation, Jiang Zhen, who was nearly 100 years old, was proud of his expertise in all kinds of technological and electronic products, and would take the time to ridicule others.

"Oh dear, why don't you know how to use this?"

"I can use the keyboard with my eyes closed."

"What? You can't reinstall the system? Seriously?"

“Look at you young people, each generation is worse than the last. You’re not even as good as this old guy. I can learn it in no time.”

Until the summer of 2015.

Chapter 125 Zhang Chulan

Summer of 2015, Nankai University.

Zhang Chulan was sitting in the cafeteria, biting into a cheap popsicle, scrolling through part-time job listings on his phone. Distributing flyers, 80 yuan a day; tutoring, requires English level 6; mascot costume, high-temperature allowance extra. He seemed no different from the students around him who were anxious about grades, worried about relationships, and frantically sending out resumes for jobs.

It wasn't until Uncle Song, a policeman from his hometown, called him that he finally found out.

He pulled the popsicle out of his mouth, answered the phone, and before he could even finish saying "Uncle Song, long time no see," a single sentence from the other end blasted all the noise in his head into a blank.

"Chu Lan, your grandfather's grave has been desecrated!"

These words were like a thunderbolt, shattering the tranquility that Zhang Chulan had painstakingly cultivated for many years.

After asking my advisor for leave, I hurriedly boarded the bus.

On his way back to his hometown, Zhang Chulan's mind was in turmoil. His grandfather, Zhang Xilin, kept telling him to hide well.

From a young age, his grandfather and father took him on the run, moving from one rented room to another, from one group of strangers to another. He knew his family had many enemies. Later, his father mysteriously disappeared. Now, even the mound of earth where his grandfather was buried has been disturbed.

Tolerable or unbearable.

Back in his hometown, Uncle Song recounted the whole story. The police station had opened a case, but there were no security cameras in the remote mountains, and they hadn't captured a single suspicious person. Finally, Uncle Song suddenly added, as if remembering something, "By the way, Chu Lan, you seem to have an older sister named Feng Baobao, your half-sister. She's contacted you."

After hearing this, Zhang Chulan's mind raced for a moment, making sure he hadn't misheard. He had lived for over twenty years and had never known he had an older sister.