Chapter 142

Chapter 142: Execution Without Mercy, No Room for Compassion (Part 3)

"You madman!"

The violent shaking beneath her feet, the collapsing mountainside, made Qiang Chouci realize in an instant that 

this person had planned everything, waiting for her to step into this deadly trap, using himself as bait to perish 

together. She was truly destined to be shattered to pieces!

"I curse you, may you die a gruesome death, shattered to pieces!"

The childish voice from years ago suddenly echoed in her ears, playing over and over again. Qiang Chouci 

screamed hysterically, "I won't die like this!" She raised her arms and roared to the sky, "I will be the master of 

this world!"

The mountain shook, and Qiang Chouci was thrown out.

Just as Si Cang Qing steadied himself on the old pine tree and was about to climb the mountain, he felt a sudden, 

earth-shattering force. Startled, he leaped onto a boulder, gathering his strength to fly to the summit. Before he 

could even land properly, the entire mountain seemed to collapse, boulders flying in all directions.

He saw the man who had been laughing wildly standing still, now blasted away by the force of the impact. 

Si Cang Qing dodged the falling rocks, and once again flicked the silver thread on his wrist, pulling the man close.

The matter of Qiang Chouci was still unresolved; this man still had value. In a flash, Si Cang Qing didn't think 

twice about what had happened!

He crashed into a solid chest, Mo Qingjue felt dizzy, and then felt as if he were flying, his body floating lightly 

up and down in the air. The whistling mountain wind blew between his legs, and he felt as if he were soaring 

through the clouds.

In an instant, Mo Qingjue reacted, looking up to see Si Cang Qing's cold, stern face as the latter rapidly descended 

the mountain. He scoffed, "Tsk, Emperor Canghuan is really idle. I told you, you definitely wouldn't believe what 

Wen said. He's like a fool, afraid you'll misunderstand!"

Si Cang Qing ignored him, focusing solely on dodging the falling rocks while searching for a possible escape 

route. This Mo Qingjue is truly insane; he planted gunpowder on this mountain, intending to perish together with 

Qiang Chouci!

Fortunately, the gunpowder wasn't buried throughout the entire mountain, only at the summit; otherwise, they 

would have long since perished amidst the rubble!

"Si Cang Qing, didn't you always want to kill me? Why are you so kind as to save me now?" Mo Qingjue ignored 

Si Cang Qing's thoughts and pressed on aggressively, "Heh, this is a good deal. With you, the emperor, buried with 

me, I won't be lonely on the road to the Yellow Springs!"

Seeing Si Cang Qing ignore him, he curled his lip, knowing perfectly well why the other had intervened. Mo 

Qingjue relaxed completely, leaning against Si Cang Qing's chest, watching the rocks explode in the sky, listening 

to the deafening roar, he laughed, "Si Cang Qing, Si Cang Qing, Qiang Chouci is already dead! You've wasted 

your life! Hahaha, she died without a complete corpse, shattered to pieces!"

With this maniacal laughter, the mountain collapsed even more violently. Another earth-shattering explosion was 

heard, and Si Cang Qing coughed up blood, his arms still holding Mo Qingjue, as the two plummeted downwards 

together.

In the instant his consciousness faded, a faint sigh seemed to whisper in his ear, "Since you saved me, don't even 

think about getting rid of me..."

"Master!" Feng Xiang cried out in alarm. From afar, he saw the right peak of Chaotian Mountain suddenly 

collapse, sending countless rocks flying. He immediately channeled his inner energy, frantically trying to rush over.

But a voice stopped him in his tracks, "Feng Xiang, where is Qingdi?"

Feng Xiang trembled, turning back with difficulty to look at the gentle man with a smile. His eyes instantly welled 

up with tears, and he collapsed to his knees, staring blankly at the rapidly collapsing mountain peak. Even the 

ground seemed to shake.

Qiu Ping Tian also noticed something was wrong. Slightly hesitant, he followed Feng Xiang's gaze to a distant, 

shattered mountain peak. His face turned deathly pale, his lips trembling as he gritted his teeth and demanded, 

"Feng Xiang, I'm asking you, where is Qingdi?!"

Feng Xiang seemed to awaken with a start, immediately scrambling to his feet and flying towards the scene.

The worst premonition came true instantly. Qiu Ping Tian bit her lip, struggling to remain calm, and coldly said, 

"Mo, take me to catch up with Feng Xiang!"

Feng Mo, who had been unable to bear it any longer in the shadows, immediately appeared, crouched down, 

carried Qiu Ping Tian on his back, and used his lightness skill to catch up with the already departing Feng Xiang.

The explosions lasted for nearly a quarter of an hour before completely stopping. Most of the right peak of 

Chaotian Mountain had collapsed, and boulders lay scattered haphazardly at the foot of the mountain.

Several men, seemingly frantic, searched among the rubble. Soon after, thousands of soldiers arrived, carrying 

stones and meticulously searching from the half-collapsed mountain to the foot.

"Feng Xiang!" Qiu Ping Tian called out coldly, his hands, hanging at his sides, already bloodied and mangled 

from the rubble, but he seemed oblivious, only asking, word by word, "What exactly happened?! Explain yourself 

to me!"

No one had ever seen Qiu Ping Tian so cold. But who has the mind to care about such things now?

Feng Xiang, his eyes filled with despair, recounted the entire story, "...Master harbored doubts, and then 

instructed me to stay and guard the camp, while he returned alone to Chaotian Mountain. And then..."

Unable to continue, he knelt down, the sound echoing heavily, "I failed in my duty to protect my master, I should 

atone with my death!" He drew his sword to commit suicide, but Feng Mo stopped him in time.

Qiu Ping Tian coldly glared at Feng Xiang, "Is someone like you still Qingdi's shadow guard?" He suddenly 

turned, gazing at the devastation, "Qingdi's whereabouts are unknown, and you're already in such a hurry to die?"

Yes, Qingdi's whereabouts are unknown, not that he's dead so easily! Thinking this, Qiu Ping Tian strode away.

"Mo Qingjue, one day, I will personally tear you apart!"

The vow was a vow born of boundless hatred!

◇Cang◇Huan◇Seven◇Palaces◇

Shuixi Township is in Luyang, some distance from the Chao River. It was four or five days later when Feng Lan 

and Cheng Tian Bi arrived at Qingdu Township.

Upon stepping into the camp, the two immediately sensed an extremely oppressive heaviness permeating the air, 

tinged with an undeniable sorrow.

Cheng Tian Bi's expression changed drastically; a sense of foreboding washed over her. She abruptly turned to 

look at Feng Lan, only to see the same terror in his eyes. After walking a few steps, An Ping ran up from afar.

"This humble general greets Your Majesty the East Empress and Your Highness Consort Bi!"

"An Ping," Feng Lan forced back her unease, asking in a low voice, "What happened? Where is the Emperor now?"

A flash of grief crossed An Ping's eyes. He suppressed his voice and replied with difficulty, "Reporting to Your 

Highness, the Emperor, he, he..."

His stammering manner made the two even more uneasy.

"An Ping, step back!" Just then, Qiu Ping Tian suddenly emerged from a nearby shed, coldly staring at An Ping, 

and added, "You, a great general, are you really that useless? I told you long ago, your master is no ordinary 

person. What are you still thinking about!"

"This humble general knows his fault!" An Ping immediately replied and quickly left.

"Pingtian, you," Feng Lan tightly gripped the cord of the jade pendant at her waist, asking with difficulty, 

"What's wrong with the master?" The words this man had just spoken to An Ping were very strange…

Looking back at the worried expressions on Feng Lan and Cheng Tian Bi's faces, Qiu Ping Tian's heart clenched 

suddenly. He slowly turned around, his voice faint, "My brother Qing…"

"His whereabouts unknown."

His whereabouts unknown! Those four words made Feng Lan and Cheng Tian Bi instantly realize, like a bucket 

of ice-cold water being poured over their heads in the dead of winter… Cold, their bodies stiffened, unable to 

move an inch!

Far away in the palace, the person was lazily reclining in Si Cang Qing's usual spot, occasionally flipping through 

memorials. He couldn't quite explain the unease in his heart.

Irritated, Cheng Tian Yang rose, pulled his white cloak tighter around himself, and walked out of Huan'ao Hall, 

staring blankly at the falling snowflakes.

"Your subordinate greets you..."

"Speak quickly!" Cheng Tian Yang impatiently interrupted him.

"The prince… they have sent word..." The man swallowed hard, "...that the Emperor has gone missing!"

"What did you say?" The previously nonchalant Cheng Tian Yang suddenly radiated coldness. "Tell me everything 

without hesitation!"

Inside the Imperial Study, Supreme Emperor Si Cangjue Tian frequently glanced at the dazed Cheng Tian Yang 

beside him. Finally, unable to contain himself any longer, he asked, "Tianyang, you don't look well today. Have 

you been too tired these past few days? Why don't you go and rest? I can handle this small matter."

Cheng Tian Yang was startled and quickly smiled, "Father, I'm fine. But you, your health is paramount. Let me 

review these memorials!"

Si Cangjue Tian scrutinized him again, finding nothing amiss, then smiled, "It's nothing. I've been idle for a while; 

I should get some exercise."

The two of them, as they had for the past few months, divided the tasks of handling court affairs.

Staring down at the memorial in his hands, Cheng Tian Yang slowly placed a hand on his neck. The scene before 

their last parting seemed to replay itself; he could almost feel that person's warm lips lingering on his neck.

—Wood, if you don't want me to leave again, come back right now!

He picked up his brush and began to annotate the memorial. Don't worry, I will take good care of this country… 

just come back soon!

On New Year's Day, snow fell in Qingdu Township.

The soldiers searched with all their might, but to no avail. Si Cang Qing seemed to have vanished into thin air, 

neither alive nor dead… The search area was gradually expanded, and Feng Lan and the others gathered more 

men from elsewhere to continue the search.

Inside the house, the stove emitted a faint warmth, but the chill seeped into one's bones. Cheng Tian Bi sat 

motionless to one side, holding a cup of hot tea, but just staring blankly, not taking a sip.

On the other side, Qiu Ping Tian seemed unperturbed, rapidly manipulating the abacus. However, if someone 

observed carefully, they would notice that he hadn't turned a single page of the account book in front of him for 

most of the day.

Feng Lan stood expressionless by the window, looking at the kneeling men before him. After a long while, he 

slowly spoke, "An Ping, do as I instruct." Seeing the man retreat to the doorway, he suddenly added, "Don't forget 

my instructions. If even the slightest word leaks out, all those suspected will be executed!"

An Ping trembled and replied, "This subordinate will remember Your Highness's orders."

Standing for a long time, Feng Lan stared blankly at the snowflakes dancing outside the window, a flood of 

memories rushing back. Master…where have you been? It's already the New Year; have you forgotten that I've 

been waiting for you?

Inside the room, three men, each with their own distinct air, were lost in their own thoughts. However, their 

expressions were all very grim.

"Snap!"

The hand that was calculating on the abacus abruptly stopped. Qiu Ping Tian seemed to smile, but there was no 

smile in his eyes. He said, "Let's go back to the capital!"

Si Cang Qing had been out of contact for so long without reason. If the Emperor knew the truth, he would 

probably be devastated! And in the court, with only Cheng Tian Yang and Liu Yi holding things together, things 

must be incredibly difficult. This country has just experienced war and internal strife; if there's even the slightest 

mishap, it will surely fall apart.

This is the empire that Si Cang Qing painstakingly built, the empire he poured his heart and soul into. They must 

protect it with all their might, and when he returns, they will restore a intact empire to him!

Yes, they all firmly believed that Si Cang Qing would return… He definitely would!
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