Imperial Palace
The New Human Emperor had sat on the throne. Hong Longqing had taken over the Imperial power after the former emperor had abdicated. Wen Hong didn't pass the throne to the crown prince right away. It only happened after he had cleaned up all the rebelling noble families that wanted to harm Chun Hongyun-Jun after learning his origins as the son of the Devil King.
After training their successors, Wen Hong and his sworn brother the former Prime minister and Sect Leader of the Hou Feng Sect had disappeared from the stage of power. Some say they had left for a journey while others say they've died. No one truly knew what happened to them. All the civilians, officials, and soldiers knew is that the new Emperor was the former Crown Prince and is backed up by a huge Black Dragon as his guardian.
Because of the powerful presence and strength of the Black dragon behind the new emperor, no one dares to poke fun at the young king. But who would have thought that his black dragon just used to be a demonic snake who successfully passed his tribulation and became a real dragon?
Heilan who used to be a demonic serpent thanks to the enriching aura left behind by Chun Hongyun-Jun and Lord Hei had successfully become a dragon. The divinity Hei Anjing emitted for a short while was enough to baptize him and purity his bloodline. With the help of the resources Hong Longqing had given him, he reached the goal of his dreams. But in the end, he chooses not to ascend and stay in the mortal realm protecting his Emperor, his A'Qing.
In the throne room, Emperor Hou Longqing had just dismissed his subordinates and allowed Heilan to appear in his human form. Heilan just comes from outside of the capital and checks the events beyond the gates of their own territory.
Emperor Longqing asked, "How was it outside Lan-ge? Is it worse than we expected? There are no more refugees coming from the outside. Does this mean they all died?"
"A'Qing tighten the guards around the city. The North, East, and South are no more. Both the North and East seems to have survived for a few months and must have been saved by the people from the West. As for the South..." The black dragon, Heilan, hesitates whether to tell the child that the South was damned to ruins and obviously got completely destroyed with less probability of survivors.
Seeing his partner suddenly stop speaking, the new human emperor felt things in the south had gone bad.
Hou Longqing asked, "What happened to the south, Lan-ge?"
"No more. The Southern Territories no longer exist. There aren't any signs of survival nor signs of confrontation. They were overwhelmed. Maybe... no one survives..." Heilan said.
As expected Human Emperor Hou Longqing felt distressed by such news. The complete fall of the South means that one of the Ancient Sects of cultivators had fallen. The Lu Weifeng Sect is no more. Seeing him like this Heilan felt bad for the young emperor. Among all the leaders in the human race, his A'Qing is the youngest and the most sentimental. This child had obviously treated the Lu Brothers as seniors he got along with. Now that they both suddenly perished, it wouldn't be surprising for the young emperor to be depressed.
The black dragon approached Hou Longqing and comforted him. "Don't be sad. No matter what happened in the end. If I had to bring only you with me, I would never let you die, A'Qing." Heilan declared.
The young human emperor said, "Thank you, Lan-ge. But I want to stay here and protect the human race. As the Human Emperor, it is my duty to protect humankind."
Sigh~
"Very well then... This Heilan shall accompany you until the end."
"Un. Should we contact someone from the west and ask what happened? Maybe Senior Lu Wang and Lu Tian had survived. If there is a place they would run to after leaving their home it can only be where the Venerable Lord Hei resides."
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇt"Hm~ that's indeed the right choice. Under the wing of someone like Lord Hei, it is safer than anywhere."
---
Western Territory
At the Lan Zhuayun Sect
After a month outside their territory, Yun Huaxia and the rest returned to the Sect with solemn expressions on their faces. They only saved a small group from the South and there was no need to waste resources to build a teleportation array. Moreover, they were near the borders of the western territories. They choose to fly home instead.
Everyone in the city understood the moment they saw the entourage led by Sect Master Yun. There aren't many new faces in their group. Only Lu Er and his small group weren't there when they first left the city. Yun Huaxia arranges a new peak for Lu Er and his people to leave. The designated region within the city cannot be used as their group was even smaller than a small clan.
Yun Huaxia asked Lu Er, "Erdi, what would you like to do next?"
"I want to give my elder brother a funeral first. Then go and see Brother Wuan afterward." Lu Er answered.
Yun Huaxia sighed and said, "I will help you with preparations..."
Whooshed!
When suddenly Xia Jieye appeared beside them. He directly teleported here when he and Jing'er noticed they had returned. It wasn't only Yun Huaxia who didn't expect Chun Hongyun-Jun to suddenly appear here.
"Chun Hongyun-Jun!?" The remnant elders of the Jin Tiangui Sect pay their respect.
Xia Jieye accepted their salutes with a nod and looked at his elder brother and Lu Er.
"Jing'er says to come over right away. After contacting the underworld he learned that Lu Wang had died and immediately made preparations to summon his soul back." Xia Jieye said as he looked at the dirty figures of the men before him and his eyes slightly narrowed.
"Clean yourself up first before coming over. There are children at home." Xia Jieye said before once again disappearing in thin air.
Lu Er mumbled, "How did he... know about... what happened to big brother...?"
"That's right? Gege is the God of Punishment. The Underworld where ghosts and sinners go under his jurisdiction!" said Bai Qiyin.
After learning that they can meet Lu Yi once more, the three of them flew immediately towards the Crimson Cloud Peak bringing a young disciple called Lu Yier with them.
---
An hour later...
As soon as they arrived at the mountain peak, they were welcomed by Hei Anjing speaking with someone's familiar figure. This man's figure is translucent yet they could still see his features and that familiar dark green robe and huge saber leaning beside him. Xia Jieye was joining them on the table with a cup of tea in his hands.
Among the newly arrived visitors, Lu Er and Yun Huaxia were the ones delighted to see Lu Yi even in just his soul state. Lu Er had even forgotten that his big brother is just a soul right now when he tried to jump on him for a hug. His whole body had passed through Lu Yi's soul and he almost hit his face on the patio of the Ye Family's house.
"B-Big Brother?"
Lu Er was at first confused knowing that he can't touch his elder brother. His tears couldn't help but start falling thinking that his big brother is no longer alive.
Lu Yi frowned and reprimanded his younger brother, "What are you doing? This is just my soul. I don't have a physical vessel for you to touch. Sit up properly!"
"D-Dage... Why... Why... Is it like this?" grumbled Lu Er as he looked at Hei Anjing. He was about to jump on him but Lu Er's body froze in the air.
Xia Jieye's unfriendly voice was heard, "Don't hug someone's wife."
Yun Huaxia seeing his younger brother's possessiveness and murderous intent had no other choice but to pull back Lu Er away from Hei Anjing.
Hei Anjing spoke, "I know what you wish to say. When I first heard about Brother Wang's death, I summoned his soul immediately to resurrect him. But it seems that Brother Wang had another plan for himself. It was his own choice not to get resurrected and not because I don't want to help with it. You, brothers, should talk. Go inside the house and no one can hear you from the outside."
Lu Yi sighed and glanced at his sworn brother who dragged Lu Er inside the house. The three of them went inside and it was unknown what they wanted to talk about.
Bai Qiyin approached his elder brother and whispered, "Is that alright, Gege?"
"It's okay. I understand what Brother Wang is trying to achieve and it's not like we would next see each other again. For immortals, a few years of a mortal's life is just a short interlude of their long lives." Hei Anjing said.
"Gege, the Heavenly Soldiers from the Upper Realm was enough to push back the devil race. There is no need for you to get involved. You can leave the rest to us." Bai Qiyin said.
Hei Anjing says, "If that devil in the white hood had never appeared I wouldn't have gotten involved. But since he appears, I had no choice but to get implicated if not... I might lose what is important to me."
"What do you mean, Ge..."
Sect Master Bai's words were cut off as Lu Er suddenly ran out of the house in tears.
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmLu Er even shouted on his way out, "I don't understand! I don't want to understand!"
"Erdi! Wait for a... Sigh~ you shouldn't have said that Dage." Yun Huaxia said to Lu Yi in his soul form who followed him out of the house.
Lu Yi says, "We need to separate for a while, or else he would never group up and reach the apex of his strength. Xiao Qi, I'll leave him to you."
"I will follow him for you, Big Brother Wang." Bai Qiyin said. "Gege, please excuse me for now. I shall take my leave."
"Okay~ I will prevent someone from leaving the city as the brat might think of going out in anger. Better grab him before he does." Hei Anjing said.
"I will!"
After Bai Qiyin left, Hei Anjing turned around and looked at Lu Yi and asked, "Are you sure about this? Entering reincarnation to break the blood relationship with your brother. Tsk! In the end, my prediction is right. I told you, you would end up with your younger brother in the end."
"Haha~ keep your promise, my friend. Even after reincarnation, I wanted to keep my past life's feelings for him," said Lu Yi.
Hei Anjing said, "I will mention it to Hua-ge. You will most likely get reincarnated after the war where there is a new beginning. If you are going to wait that long then stay here and try to convince that brat. As a ghost, there is nothing much that can harm me. You within this sect."
"I shall take on that offer." Lu Yi said. "Can you make it so I can at least drink? I want some wine."
"Ask Hei or Bai for that!" said Hei Anjing.
Meanwhile, Xia Jieye had kicked them out of the peak. With a single snap of his fingers, they were directly teleported to the foot of the Crimson Cloud Mountain. Only Chun Hongyun-Jun's voice lingers in their ears.
"Your business is done. Leave!" said Xia Jieye.
Lu Yi complained to his sworn brother, "A'Hua, your younger brother is a rude ass as always. How possessive is he that he doesn't even allow visitors in his home unless it's a serious business."
"Sigh~ get used to it. Xiao Jie had always been like that. Though lately, it has become worse ever since they had children." Yun Huaxia said.
"That twin looks adorable. They are like clones of the two of them. He is quite a winner in life. Hahaha~"
"Let's go, you wanted to drink some wine, right? Can you drink right now?"
"Oh,~ Zero moved fast. I think I can. Let's go. I will accompany you all night. Drink with me."
"You want me to be scolded by my missus."
"Tsk. You dog couples. Damn!"
"I'm joking. Come on. I will accompany you to drink!"
Yun Huaxia and Lu Yi went to the peak owned by the Sect Master and ordered all kinds of wine. They had truly drunk themselves all night and fainted from drunkenness. The next day the two of them were scolded by Bai Qiyin and Lu Er.