Chapter 132

Chapter 132: Compassion for the Suffering of the People (Part 5)

The clear, sparkling river rippled among clusters of willow trees.

Si Cang Qing suddenly halted his steps, gazing toward the young man standing amidst the green foliage, head 

tilted upward. Clad in a pale blue scholar's robe, he stood there with hands clasped behind his back, seemingly 

immersed in the beauty of the scene.

His pallid face bore intricate, eerie totems that coiled across half his cheek, evoking a bone-chilling aura from the 

depths of one's soul. The man abruptly turned his head toward Si Cang Qing, a faint glimmer of joy in his eyes. 

He murmured softly, “Your Majesty...”

Si Cang Qing's eyes flashed with coldness as he instantly appeared before the man, his voice sharp and icy: 

“Mo Qingjue!”

Mo Qingjue smiled softly, his eyes bright. "Your Majesty still recognizes me! " His tone carried a hint of delight, 

but before he could say more, he shot backward several paces. Where he had stood moments before, a willow tree 

snapped clean in two under the force of a palm strike.

In an instant, his expression shifted, his demeanor shifting from gentle to haughty. “If you have no desire to save 

those people, then kill me!”

After a pause, Si Cang Qing ceased his movements, merely gazing coldly at the man. “What do you intend to do?”

The man's expression wavered briefly before breaking into a radiant smile. “Are you so certain the plague was my 

doing?”

Si Cang Qing offered no reply.

Mo Qingjue turned to face the river once more, murmuring as if to himself, “If not for ‘him,’ I'd never have come 

here looking for trouble...” His eyes narrowed slightly, a look of scorn on his face. “If I told you I had no idea this 

living gu was used to create the plague toxin, would you believe me?”

Si Cang Qing merely returned his gaze coldly. He couldn't care less whether this man knew the purpose of 

the living bug. Had he not been determined to uncover the antidote, he would have killed him on the spot. 

Tian Yang had been right back then—why bother uncovering this man’s intentions? Kill him, and Yuwen Fengchun,

who sought to use him to restore his kingdom, would be powerless! Besides, if this man truly was, as his master 

had said, a source of endless trouble and even mortal peril whenever they crossed paths...

He never bowed to fate. Since this man was his fatal calamity, killing him would settle it.

Sensing the killing intent, Mo Qingjue merely chuckled darkly. “I finally believe that old hag when she said I’d be 

your fatal calamity... It seems you know it too.” He tilted his head, studying Si Cang Qing closely. “But how could 

I possibly be your fatal calamity?”

Before a reply came, Mo Qingjue seemed to realize further words might truly cost him his life. He flung 

something from his hand, sending it hurtling straight toward Si Cang Qing's face.

Swiftly dodging aside, Si Cang Qing flicked out a silver thread to snatch the object. By the time he regained his 

footing, the figure had vanished without a trace, leaving only a sentence drifting on the wind: “That diagram... 

it's the Phoenix Temple's mechanism...”

Standing silently beneath the embankment, Si Cang Qing lowered his gaze to the blue porcelain vial in his hand. 

Judging by the man's words, it must be the antidote to the plague poison! Turning it over, the small porcelain 

surface was covered in dense, intricate lines...

A mechanism diagram?

Gazing toward where the figure had vanished, Si Cang Qing felt a wave of confusion wash over him. What was 

this person scheming? The living poison he had devised had been used against both himself and Qi Shuangran 

when they seized the Heaven Beyond Heaven. Now, suddenly, this same person offered him the antidote to the 

plague poison—if indeed it was an antidote. The most bizarre part was that this person had actually given him 

the Phoenix Temple's mechanism diagram…

If it were a trap, would that person need to make it so obvious? Moreover, only a few close associates knew 

about his impending doom—perhaps joined by the master of Wuyaya Temple... Why would Mo Qingjue know? 

And who was this “old hag” he mentioned?

Countless questions churned in his mind, and even Si Cang Qing couldn't untangle them.

Lowering his gaze to the porcelain vial in his hand, Si Cang Qing abandoned further inquiry—the immediate 

priority was confirming whether this was truly the antidote. As for that man's motives, he would wait and see.

“Qing!”

Cheng Tian Bi rushed joyfully to Si Cang Qing, gripping his hand tightly as he gasped for breath. 

“The antidote... it's finally complete!”

Si Cang Qing patted his back lightly, his voice calm. “No need to be so tense.”

Cheng Tian Bi couldn't care less, grinning widely. “I always felt something was missing in the formula, but I just 

couldn't pinpoint it... Then I realized it when you gave me that vial...”

Listening to the man's enthusiastic ramble, Si Cang Qing's eyes deepened with thought. It seemed Mo Qingjue 

hadn't lied.

Suddenly pulling away from Si Cang Qing's embrace, Cheng Tian Bi beamed with excitement. “Qing, I'll lead 

the physicians immediately to treat the poisoned villagers...”

Watching him hurry away, Si Cang Qing called softly, “Take care.”

“Qing, don't worry.”

Listening to Cheng Tian Bi's voice fade into the distance, Si Cang Qing withdrew his gaze. He sat silently in his 

chair, eyes lowered as he studied the blue porcelain medicine bottle, carefully examining the intricate mechanism 

diagram. If this truly was the layout of the Phoenix Temple's mechanisms on Mount Chaotian, it was undoubtedly 

extremely dangerous.

But...

Slowly clenching his hand, Si Cang Qing slipped the porcelain bottle into his sleeve before rising and walking 

out. Whether genuine or not, how could he truly believe this was the Phoenix Temple's layout diagram?

◇Cang◇Huan◇Seven◇Palaces◇

Since the antidote was developed, deaths had nearly ceased. After roughly ten days, some less severely poisoned 

individuals had been cured. As a precaution, those recovered were temporarily relocated away from populated 

areas.

Upon hearing the news, the villagers rejoiced. Even those who had harbored doubts about the imperial court now 

felt completely reassured.

Luyang Village gradually regained its vitality. Though unable to fully escape the pain of losing loved ones, 

everyone rallied their spirits. Villagers who hadn't yet been relocated worked even more diligently to assist.

Standing beside the embankment, Si Cang Qing silently watched several children playing by the distant water's 

edge. The sight of the half-broken willow tree brought back memories of Mo Qingjue's appearance that day.

Some mysteries seemed to be unraveling, and he felt he had grasped a few clues. He had mentioned to 

Cheng Tian Bi that Mo Qingjue had been here. Pressed by Cheng Tian Bi's questions, he had described the man's 

appearance, especially the dark purple totem on his face...

At that moment, Cheng Tian Bi had been profoundly shocked. For he had seen such a dark purple totem in 

the secret records of the Mulian tribe—it was the mark of a ‘gu curse’. However, only half of the Mulian tribe's 

secret records remained, and the detailed descriptions of the gu curse were incomplete. Moreover, the methods for 

casting the curse had been lost to time. The Mulian people, including their last Holy Son, no longer understood 

the gu curse.

According to the records, a gu curse was a profoundly sinister form of witchcraft, a hybrid of both gu and curse. 

Depending on the curse's potency, the victim would manifest a totem on their body. The closer the totem appeared 

to the forehead, the more powerful the curse. The deeper the totem's color, the greater its controlling influence.

Casually watching several children suddenly start roughhousing, Si Cang Qing absentmindedly rubbed the 

porcelain bottle in his hand... A curse? He had always believed that everything was orchestrated by Mo Qingjue. 

Yet now, it seemed Mo Qingjue was merely a puppet too.

Then, who had truly intended to give him the antidote—the real mastermind, or Mo Qingjue? At least in his eyes, 

Mo Qingjue didn't seem like the type to willingly play a puppet. Even his past self, who had been without desire 

or ambition, wouldn't have accepted a lifetime as someone else's pawn. That's why, after years of preparation, 

he had struck back the moment opportunity arose.

Perhaps Mo Qingjue was using him as a tool to eliminate those controlling him.

Then... there was only one possibility: Mo Qingjue, like Qiang Renzi back then, was being manipulated by 

the Qiang clan. Qiu Ping Tiang's spy had reported that Mo Qingjue's father, Mo Qu, hailed from the South Sea. 

Therefore, the Qiang clan must be hiding there.

How deeply had the Qiang clan infiltrated this continent?

“Master...” Feng Xiang appeared silently behind him. “Prince Qiu's spies report that...”

“Mo Qu died suddenly of illness a few days ago!”

Si Cang Qing gave a casual hum. Feng Xiang vanished back into the shadows.

“Brother...” The child arrived breathlessly before Si Cang Qing, smiling shyly. “We picked some more water 

chestnuts...” He raised his small hand, adding with a touch of embarrassment, “It's getting cold, so many have 

fallen off. There aren't many big ones left.”

“Thank you!” Si Cang Qing offered his usual cold acknowledgment before taking them. The child merely shook 

his head hastily and darted away.

Glancing at the water chestnuts in his hand, Si Cang Qing turned and strolled along the embankment. Ahead, 

Liu Yi was smiling as he bid farewell to several people before walking toward him.

Spotting Si Cang Qing, Liu Yi paused slightly before murmuring softly, “Your Majesty...”

Nodding casually, Si Cang Qing walked past him, about to leave, when he heard the other speak in an even 

quieter voice, “I'm sorry...”

A hint of confusion crossed his face as Si Cang Qing halted, turning his head to look. He saw a faint blush tinge 

the other's usually cool expression.

“Your servant shouldn't have pressed you so that day... putting you in such a difficult position,” Liu Yi 

murmured, head bowed slightly. His heart fluttered with unease, and before he knew it, the words of apology 

had slipped out. Now, he had no choice but to press on, his voice firming: “As your subject, I should have eased 

your burdens. Yet at the critical moment, I only knew how to pressure you...”

Si Cang Qing calmly cut off his self-reproach. “You did nothing wrong.” They merely approached matters from 

different perspectives and stood on opposing stances. Liu Yi genuinely cared for the people, while he... if not for 

being the Emperor of Canghuan—a position that demanded he shoulder responsibility—he wouldn't have given a 

damn about anyone's life or death!

Still, though perilous, Liu Yi's persistence back then had proven fortunate. Now, the plague was contained, and 

the stalemate broken. Only the Phoenix Temple, inciting the rabble, remained a concern—though not an 

overwhelming one.

The court's actions were witnessed by all under heaven, and the outcome had undeniably won the people's hearts.

“Still,” Liu Yi sighed softly, “I shouldn't have resorted to such drastic measures...”

Even he couldn't explain why he'd felt such despair and anguish back then—more intense than witnessing 

the common folk suffer from the plague. He'd always disdained ministers risking their lives to offer counsel, 

yet the outcome...

Glancing at him indifferently, Si Cang Qing simply said, "Regret won't solve the problem."

Liu Yi's expression grew solemn as he immediately declared, “Your servant will never repeat this mistake. 

Should I face such a predicament again, I shall devise a solution that satisfies both sides!”

Seeing the earnestness and determination in his eyes, Si Cang Qing felt a slight stir of interest. He replied, 

“In this world, nothing can be perfectly balanced. One must weigh choices, for wavering or suffering brings no 

resolution.”

Hearing this, Liu Yi gave a bitter smile. He understood perfectly well, but... he was only human. Those feelings 

of defeat were impossible to avoid!

But then Si Cang Qing said, “No one is perfect. You are just a scholar; don’t take on everything yourself. Besides, 

you are not only the official in charge of ten thousand people, but also the Prime Minister of the entire realm!”

The usually taciturn emperor had spoken so much at once. Though tinged with displeasure, Liu Yi couldn't help 

but be moved. Unable to contain the impulse welling up inside him, he asked, “Your Majesty, might I tell you a 

story?”

Slightly puzzled, Si Cang Qing gave a noncommittal nod. Then, in a low voice, the man began to narrate.

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