C21 The Five Kings Gathered Together and a Shocking Secret Was Revealed

Upon hearing this, the masked man raised his voice in a sharp rebuke:

"Stop spouting nonsense; our master is certainly not the esteemed Dragonwing King!"

Yim Wuxie chuckled and shook his head dismissively.

"It's irrelevant. Whoever it may be, since you've interrupted my enjoyment, you're all staying put!"

No sooner had he spoken than Yim Wuxie left a trail of afterimages among the crowd, with the crimson divine fire fluttering within them.

Screams echoed almost simultaneously as the dozen masked assailants were instantly incinerated by the divine fire.

The skirmish was over as quickly as it began. Yim Wuxie casually dusted off his hands and inquired,

"Qiushui, I didn't frighten you, did I?"

Chiang Qiushui shook her head in response.

Yim Wuxie, renowned as the Great Emperor, was known for his decisive action in battle, a fact well-known across the continent.

Moreover, eradicating the problem at its root was a fundamental tenet of this land.

"Are they truly Dragonwing King's men?" Chiang Qiushui queried.

Yim Wuxie shook his head and explained,

"The siege crossbows and hidden weapons they wielded are indeed from the Dragonwing King's arsenal, but they are certainly not his men. Take a guess at whose followers they might be? I'll give you three tries!"

Chiang Qiushui offered a wry smile and retorted,

"There are only five great princes. Excluding your Inferno Lord clan and the already discounted Dragonwing King's line, that leaves just three. Would I be so foolish as to need three guesses?"

Chiang Qiushui mused, her head bowed in thought,

"Their weapons hail from the Dragonwing King's family, and they deliberately invoked his name. It seems they aim to misdirect suspicion and frame him, likely the work of someone at odds with the Dragonwing King's household."

Yim Wuxie grinned and encouraged,

"Clever! Do go on!"

"Among the five kings, there's the Inferno Lord, the Dragonwing King, the Shadow Usurper, the Giant King, and the Starlord."

Chiang Qiushui continued to ponder,

"Shadow Usurper Yim Daoji and Dragonwing King Yim Daoxiu have always been allies, and Starlord Yim Daozhen shares a life-and-death bond with Uncle Yim Daohan. It stands to reason that those masked individuals are under the command of the Giant King Yim Daogui!"

Hearing this, Yim Wuxie applauded in agreement.

"Truly worthy of the Chiang family's gifted daughter; your analysis is crystal clear."

"Even before the Great Emperor's Mausoleum event has started, the scheming and rivalry have begun. Once the secret realm opens, it will be just a few of us inside. If we perish there, no one would ever know..."

Chiang Qiushui's frown deepened, her concern unmistakable.

Yim Wuxie reached out, gently smoothing the stray locks of hair at her temple, and reassured her with a smile,

"Don't worry, I've got your back!"

In the midst of their conversation, a squadron of Underworld Guards soared in. Upon seeing Yim Wuxie, they announced,

"Your Highness, we have been ordered by the Inferno Lord to escort you and Ms. Chiang back to the estate."

"Lead the way," Yim Wuxie commanded, gathering her black-golden hair.

Conventional wisdom suggests that the Imperial Capital should be strategically placed for defense, yet the Imperial Capital defies this logic.

Situated at the heart of the continent, it is encircled only by a moat a few yards wide, with no formidable natural barriers.

Still, it's common knowledge across the land that the Imperial Capital is the most secure stronghold.

This is because the 16th Emperor of Chaos, a sovereign of second-grade prowess and the closest in might to the original Emperor of Chaos, protects it.

No foe would dare to stir trouble under the watchful eye of the Great Emperor.

Under the vigilant escort of the Underworld Guard, Yim Wuxie and Chiang Qiushui made haste to the Inferno Lord's Palace, with no leisure to savor the Imperial Capital's culture and ambiance.

Upon their arrival, the Underworld Guard swiftly took up positions, securing the perimeter of the palace with rigorous vigilance. Even Chiang Qiushui could sense, beyond the visible guards, the presence of numerous masters concealed around the estate.

The display was so formidable that even Yim Wuxie couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

Had something significant indeed occurred?

As they entered the courtyard, a booming, authoritative voice reached them:

"Is this the niece from the Chiang family?"

Hearing this, Chiang Qiushui promptly directed a formal bow towards the main hall.

"Chiang Qiushui pays her respects to Uncle Yim!"

"Why are you still calling me 'uncle'?"

A figure strode out of the main hall, clad in a black and gold robe intricately embroidered with the unique patterns of Black Hell. His features were sharply defined as if chiseled from stone. If not for the touch of grey at his temples and his beard, one would never guess he was past fifty.

This man was none other than Yim Daohan, the ruler of Black Hell, the Inferno Lord.

"And don't you address her as your niece?"

Yim Wuxie quipped with a grin.

"You rascal, you finally come home and you can't even properly address your father!"

Yim Daohan scolded, his face stern.

Yim Wuxie pinched his nose and turned to Chiang Qiushui.

"Come on, I'll show you to your room."

"Rascal, do I no longer exist to you as your father?"

Yim Daohan's voice carried a mix of annoyance and affection as he reached out to grab the back of Yim Wuxie's collar.

With a nimble step, Yim Wuxie effortlessly dodged, creating distance between them.

His father, taken aback by the subtle maneuver, remarked with a hint of pride, "You've improved your skills again? Let's spar and see how much!"

Yim Daohan flung a chain towards him, its dark links gleaming, a manifestation of pure strength.

Unperturbed, Yim Wuxie, still holding onto Chiang Qiushui, deflected the chain with a series of swift movements, channeling the power of the Hell Scripture without once looking back.

"Good lad!" Yim Daohan bellowed with laughter, impressed. "Well done, but can you handle this?"

He conjured a sinister black gate in the air with a flick of his wrist.

Just then, a pale purple energy soared from a distance, morphing into a key that obliterated the menacing gate in an instant.

"Using the Dark Asura Gate against your own son in a spar? Have you lost your sense of restraint? If a single hair on my son's head is harmed, you'll find yourself back in Black Hell!"

A woman emerged from the main hall, her voice ringing with authority.

The woman was clad in a delicate muslin dress, her features strikingly beautiful. She appeared to be just over thirty, and her light makeup only enhanced her elegant allure. It was clear that in her youth, she must have been a radiant beauty.

She was none other than Chiang Yiyu, the wife of Yim Daohan, the Inferno Lord.

"Mom!" Yim Wuxie called out cheerfully.

Having inherited the memories of his original self, Yim Wuxie felt a deep affection for this woman who was now his mother. She was a member of the Chiang family, just like Chiang Qiushui.

In the family hierarchy, Chiang Qiushui was actually junior to Chiang Yiyu and would respectfully address her as "aunt."

After exchanging pleasantries, Chiang Yiyu took Chiang Qiushui by the hand and suggested, "Qiushui, come have a chat with your aunt, and let's leave the two of them to discuss their matters."

With that, Chiang Yiyu led Chiang Qiushui into the house.

Meanwhile, Yim Daohan turned and headed for his study, beckoning, "Follow me!"

Yim Wuxie trailed behind Yim Daohan into the study. There, Yim Daohan conjured a soundproof barrier with a wave of his hand and spoke gravely, "You must exercise extreme caution in the Great Emperor's Mausoleum this time."

"Why?" Yim Wuxie inquired, a hint of confusion in his voice.

Yim Daohan's response came in a somber tone, "Because the Great Emperor is on his deathbed."