Chapter 249: Incurable Illness

It's not that I picked the wrong side; I misjudged the person. I never imagined you wouldn't treat me as a comrade! Quite right! You are the Heavenly Dao, I am the Heretical Dao—I am ultimately just your pawn!" Zhang Gonggong said coldly, "Now that I have drained Shangguan Yunyi's cultivation, your goal is achieved! Isn't that so? In the mortal realm, you merely fear him, the Sword King, alone!"

Every word Zhang Gonggong spoke was true, each striking deep into Tianming's heart.

Indeed so.

Tianming's face darkened as he said to Zhang Gonggong, "Therefore, today is the day everything ends. In the eyes of posterity, today will be the day of creation. You, Shangguan Yunyi, Chen Yi He, and so on—today one year from now will be your memorial day." Having spoken, he drew the Heaven's Mandate Blade planted in the ground.

"Don't blame me for being heartless." Tianming hung the Heaven's Mandate Blade around Zhang Gonggong's neck.

Zhang Gonggong is now a "Heart-devouring Beast," not a human; his body is that of the Heart-devouring Beast. The beast's neck is thick and short, covered with a thick layer of scales. When the Heaven's Mandate Blade struck the scales, it rang with a "Dang."

"Is there no room for choice?" Zhang Gonggong asked Tianming.

"No. You have no value left." Tianming told Zhang Gonggong.

Zhang Gonggong pointed, just as Tianming did, toward the spot near the Western Desert. The sky there remained dim and deep, "Do you really think you have victory secured?"

"It's better than keeping a threat like you nearby. My killing intent is set—if you have anything to say, take it up with King Yama!" Tianming didn't want to say more; he had to personally send Zhang Gonggong to hell, "On the road to the Yellow Springs, you won't be alone—someone will join you soon."

"Heh, I hope that person is you..." Zhang Gonggong gave a grim smile, his facial expression already horrifying beyond words—he was practically a monster!

Tianming raised his hand and the blade fell.

Zhang Gonggong's head was severed. The Heart-devouring Beast's head was severed.

Zhang Gonggong's head fell straight from the mountaintop, while the Heart-devouring Beast's body remained standing on the cliff—only its head was missing, and green blood sprayed everywhere.

Tianming's blade was truly too fast—so fast that Zhang Gonggong felt not a hint of pain; this must be the final reward for all he has done.

"Really, it's disgusting, it dirtied my blade..." Tianming looked at the green blood staining the pristine white of his Heaven's Mandate Blade, dissatisfied, "It seems next time I encounter such a situation, it's better not to draw the sword."

After putting away his Heaven's Mandate Blade, Tianming gazed toward that distant direction and discovered that two of the three hidden "Heavenly Dao Lights" in the sky had already gone out. "Heh, not bad—looks like I can't linger here… I must rush over at once… I wonder what Tianba is up to; he's probably not still in Consort Xiao's vile embrace, is he?"

……

Imperial Palace, underground.

"We can't get out either—what are we to do?" Yanshan Hai looked at the brilliant "sky" and realized there was no way out.

This underground world is completely sealed; no matter how strong your cultivation, you cannot break out.

"It must be the Royal Ancestor who foresaw this day—what a grand gesture!" Linghu Shang had, unbeknownst when, taken his place beside Yanshan Hai.

"Looks like this great battle doesn't need us after all!" Yanshan Hai sighed, shaking his head. Suddenly he bent over, covered his mouth with his hand, and his body swayed.

Had Linghu Shang not supported him in time, Yanshan Hai would surely have collapsed outright. "What's wrong with you?"

"I'm fine… I'm fine…" Yanshan Hai, his back to Linghu Shang, hastily waved his hand.

Linghu Shang had already sensed something amiss; he grabbed Yanshan Hai's other hand and discovered his palm was covered in fresh blood—a sheet of crimson! "What's going on?"

"I'm fine… I'm fine…"

"At this point, you're still telling me you're fine!" Linghu Shang grew frantic; usually calm, seeing his old companion cough up blood, how could he not panic?

Yanshan Hai steadied his swaying body, gritted his teeth against the pain to stand; he was drenched in sweat, his face ashen as if coated in white dust.

"What on earth is happening?" Linghu Shang pressed anxiously.

Yanshan Hai then replied, "An incurable illness." He found a somewhat larger rock, then with difficulty sat down, leaning against it.

"An incurable illness?"

"I have about two months left to live." Yanshan Hai said, to emphasize the truth of his words he added specifically, "The Royal Ancestor said so."

"When did you discover it?"

"Half a year ago."

"Back then, when it was discovered, there was actually a chance to cure it!"

Yanshan Hai laughed as he said, "Heh, with heaven and earth in turmoil, who has time to worry about personal safety? I could have held on a bit longer, but today the nun passed away, enraging my heart; blood surged to my heart and the disease flared up. The Ancestor once said, each flare-up of my illness shortens my life by a month; having flared up today, I estimate I can still hold on for about another month."

Linghu Shang couldn't help feeling pity—why do good people never get their due? By rights, this question shouldn't be his, or something someone his age should ponder. Linghu Shang had secluded himself in Huashan for decades seeking transcendence; who would have thought that after all these years, he hadn't transcended worldly affairs at all, but sunk deeper instead.

"The nun left in a hurry; I thought I couldn't let her go alone, the road would be lonely." Yanshan Hai said, "In my life, I don't insist on so much anymore!"

"If you follow the nun in death, what about the living? If you go, how many mysteries will you take with you?" Linghu Shang asked.

"Many things are better left unknown; I've taken them with me to the grave—that's the best answer. I just fear that, years from now, when the time comes, you'll have no one to bury you."

Linghu Shang suddenly burst into laughter, "Hahaha! How could I have no one to bury me? Chen Yi He, Hongliang, the Ancestor, and so on—who couldn't give me a burial? I'll definitely be the most glorious, the most splendid! You must hold on—if you can't, Chen Yi He, the Ancestor and the others won't even make it to your funeral; what a pity that would be!"

"What you say kinda makes sense..." Yanshan Hai, like a child, nodded thoughtfully.

"That's not the case..." Linghu Shang said, "I believe once this war ends, your illness will be cured! So no matter what, you must pull yourself together! You are the strategist of the Jianghu Grand Alliance—if you don't rally, can the brothers of the alliance still keep their fighting spirit high?"

"Hahaha! You're right, you're right!"