Song of Adolescence

Wuxin looked at Xiao Yu, whose expression had darkened, as well as Luo Qingyang and Jin Xuan, who were terrifying even before they even made a single move. Then, he looked at the people next to him who were lying down, kneeling or even standing, yet looking all begraddled, their clothes in tatters. He couldn't help but release a long sigh.

"Why is this little monk appearing once again at the most critical moment to save people from the midst of a crisis?" f𝔯ee𝘸𝘦𝚋𝒏oѵ𝐞l.c𝒐𝓂

"Could this really be what legends call fate? This monk's fate is really to be the coming of Buddha, an existence shining with boundless radiance. This monk did not seek to become Buddha but I can't help if Buddha wants to be me."

Wuxin sighed woefully, looking extremely aggrieved.

Xie Xuan laughed. "Sect Leader Ye's words sound very familiar. You said the same thing last time."

Wuxin turned to Xie Xuan and bowed his head. "Mister Xie, it's been a long time since we last met."

Lei Wujie scolded with a laugh, "We just saved you from eternal damnation and here you are, bragging away. Your skin is thicker than the city walls."

Wuxin clasped his palms together and shook his head slowly. "Not so, not so. If this monk doesn't enter hell, who will enter hell? If I enter hell, then I must have a way to escape from hell. Demon Enthrallment and Grand Arhat Secret Divine Skill. Not bad."

"It's Grand Arhat Demon Subjugation Invincible Vajra Divine Skill," Lei Wujie corrected.

Wuxin blinked twice and laughed. "I just made something up. How could I remember it clearly?"

Xiao Se frowned and asked, "Hey monk, how did you end up becoming someone's tool and got yourself reduced to this state?"

Wuxin didn't look back but turned his head to face the people on the other side. "Life is a grand dream, death is the great awakening. This sudden flash of a dream… how long has it been?"

Nobody answered him, because nobody knew the answer. When did he enter his dream?

Wuxin didn't seem to need an answer either. He spread his hands and slowly said, "These people behind this monk are my friends. You may not kill them."

"You must have been asleep for too long so you don't know who these people are," Lei Wujie said wryly. "That one in grey is Luo Qingyang, the Solitary Sword Immortal among the five great sword immortals. A few hours ago, he just entered the Spirit Wandering Profound Realm and is ranked number one on the martial ranking lists. That one in the purple python robe is the head of the Five Grand Eunuchs. They say he's on par with the State Preceptor and one of the two top martial experts in the Beili imperial court."

"They're both very powerful, then. Even if I was in my previous medicine man state without consciousness, I don't think I'm a match for them," Wuxin remarked calmly.

"And there's one more." Lei Wujie looked at that gorgeous woman and hesitated for a moment.

"That's my mum," Wuxin interjected.

"Right, that's your mum," Lei Wujie said wryly.

Wuxin looked at Lady Consort Xuan, and Lady Consort Xuan returned his look.

"When I was little, I once thought about this hundreds and thousands of times, about what I would say when I saw you again. Later, when I grew up, I decided that if I should meet you again, I would turn around and walk away, the same way you turned and walked away back then. Then later, I thought again that you probably wouldn't even care. So, I think I might as well speak the truth. Mother, I missed you a lot." Wuxin exhaled a long sigh.

Lady Consort Xuan's eyes welled up with tears. "Shi'er."

Xiao Yu held up his sword and stood between the two of them. "Consort Mother, are you going to recognise this man as your son?"

Lady Consort Xuan slapped his face. "I am not recognising this man as my son. Rather, he has always been my son!"

"Back then, you abandoned Father and followed after Ye Dingzhi. Later, you also abandoned Ye Dingzhi and followed Father. And now, you're going to leave with Luo Qingyang. Your Highness, Great Mother, I really want to ask you." Xiao Yu laughed bitterly. "What the hell are you thinking?"

Lady Consort Xuan sighed. "I've never loved Xiao Ruojin. I was only following my master's orders and for the sake of our sect, I had to marry him as arranged by Tai'an Emperor. Later, I met Ye Dingzhi and he said he was willing to take me away from this city which was like a prison. I had never in my life met anyone who lived life as brazenly as he did, and I easily fell in love with him. But, after I left, I couldn't bear to leave you behind. That year, I only wanted to come back secretly just to see you and then take you away. But, Ye Dingzhi misunderstood my intentions and I wanted to clear the misunderstanding with him, but I couldn't find him again. By the time we met again, he was already the Sect Leader of the Demonic Cult on his way to conquer all under Heaven… Yu'er, give up all this. Come with me and leave this place…"

"Shut up." Xiao Yu interrupted her. "You wish to leave Heavenly Revelations City, but I don't. To me, this city is not a prison. Very soon, it'll all be mine. I will be lord of this city. I will be lord of all under Heaven!"

Wuxin's expression was a little dazed. He chuckled bitterly and murmured, "I never thought it would be like this… it was actually just…"

"A lot of things in this world are actually not that complicated but sometimes, we overthink them and make them complicated." Xie Xuan patted Wuxin's shoulder. "But the year when Ye Dingzhi led the Demonic Cult's Eastern Incursion, it wasn't entirely My Lady's fault. There were other complex issues involved and it's not easy to explain.”

Xiao Se was frowning as he thought about the situation. It seemed as if Lady Consort Xuan may not necessarily be on Xiao Yu's side. Luo Qingyang made his position even more obvious and the only one who was really supporting Xiao Yu was Grand Eunuch Jin Xuan. However, Grand Eunuch Jin Xuan maintained a pensive expression on his face. There was no trace of unease nor did he seem interested in listening to their conversation.

"Shixiong, knock Xiao Yu out and take him with us." Lady Consort Xuan stepped back.

Luo Qingyang glanced at Grand Eunuch Jin Xuan, who had his hands tucked in his sleeves. He shot a non committal smile at Luo Qingyang.

Xiao Se suddenly stepped forward and said solemnly, "My Lady, it's not going to be that simple anymore. The wrongs that lao-Qi has committed are unforgivable. He wants to kill me, wants to seize the throne, that doesn't bother me. But, he wants to kill my friends and he wants to destroy the whole of Heavenly Revelations. That, I can't overlook."

Lady Consort Xuan stiffened. "You want to kill Yu'er?"

"This isn't up to me in the first place. The country has its own laws, but My Lady, just look over there. The Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, Shen Xiduo, is dead. So, I'm sorry, but I have to carry out the sentence on their behalf." Xiao Se took another three steps closer, his sword in his hand.

Grand Eunuch Jin Xuan was still looking into the distance with his chin raised, seeming a little absent-minded.

Luo Qingyang rested his hand on the hilt of his sword. His injuries weren't light, but Xiao Se was not faring much better either. He was certain that Xiao Se in his current condition, would not be a match for him.

Xie Xuan calculated the strengths of both sides in his heart. On his side, the only ones still able to fight were himself and Wuxin. The others were barely hanging in there to stay upright. On the other side, there was only Jin Xuan and Luo Qingyang. He had the confidence he wouldn't lose to Jin Xuan, so the rest was actually up to Luo Qingyang.

Luo Qingyang's injuries were not the key point. The key point was his intent. If he was determined to kill everyone, then very few of them were going to survive.

They were on the verge of drawing their swords and bursting into action when Xiao Yu suddenly laughed. "Even if you kill me, the poison parasite craft will not end and Heavenly Revelations City will still be destroyed. So, don't talk as if you've already won. Xiao Se, this game isn't over yet."