Chapter 938

Better dead than do it!

He didn't mention his own injuries, only that the sea maze was beyond his ability to break.

If he returned to that side and ran into the corpse-evil Buddha Ren Guang again, would he even survive?

In a flash of thought, just as Cao Zhengchun was about to order the Great Ming experts to force him back.

He suddenly pulled something from his bosom and raised it high above his head,

"Your Majesty, I have retrieved a Tian Xiang Doukou from that side."

"I have returned solely to submit my report."

"Ah?"

The young Emperor, who had been distracted, leapt up from his chair in delight.

He rubbed his eyes, stared at the Tian Xiang Doukou, and his face lit up with ecstatic joy.

"Yes, that really does appear to be a Tian Xiang Doukou."

"Quick, bring it to me at once!"

The Great Ming's mission was to obtain three Tian Xiang Doukou.

Now, the first one had been secured in just two hours.

How could the young Emperor not be delighted?

The Xiaohuang Sect attendant beside him immediately prepared to go fetch the Tian Xiang Doukou.

But Cao Zhengchun simply reached out with a palm-sweep, and the Tian Xiang Doukou rose steadily into the air, landing squarely in his palm.

Then Cao Zhengchun also examined the Tian Xiang Doukou with visible delight before raising it high and offering it before the young Emperor's eyes,

"Congratulations, Your Majesty. Joy to Your Majesty."

The young Emperor immediately took the Tian Xiang Doukou and examined it closely.

Then he said happily,

"One is secured, two remain.

Once all three are in my hands, I shall receive the treasure reward from the Deqinglong Society."

This speech lacked even the faintest air of imperial dignity.

Yet everyone present, including Cao Zhengchun, nodded in agreement.

After carefully examining it, the young Emperor ordered the Tian Xiang Doukou placed in a brocade box for safekeeping.

Then he turned to General Chilaowen and said,

"Excellent! Old man, you are loyal and capable.

If you wish, after receiving the Deqinglong Society's reward, I shall grant you and your Zong Sect additional honors."

"Thank Your Majesty for your boundless grace!"

General Chilaowen immediately put on a performance of tearful gratitude.

Then he added,

"But this old man currently bears grave injuries and humbly begs Your Majesty's permission to retire briefly for rest."

The greatest purpose of presenting this Tian Xiang Doukou was to escape from here.

"Mm! So the old master is injured."

"Cao Zhengchun, bring two hundred-year spiritual herbs immediately, to treat the old master's wounds."

The young Emperor acted as if he had just learned of General Chilaowen's injuries, and immediately ordered Cao Zhengchun,

"Also send the Imperial Medical Bureau's chief physician personally, with attendants, to examine the old master."

General Chilaowen naturally did not want his "injuries" known to too many.

Yet he found no excuse to refuse, and could only thank the Emperor again.

Cao Zhengchun was overjoyed and immediately dispatched men to carry out the young Emperor's orders.

Now that General Chilaowen had earned merit, no one would force him back to that side.

Moreover, Embroidered Uniform Guards escorted General Chilaowen to a secluded, quiet, and elegant courtyard within the Jixian Academy.

They said it was an imperial gift, meant for the old master to rest in peace.

General Chilaowen humored the Embroidered Uniform Guards further, bribed them with silver, and then

Finally, alone, slipped into a room in the courtyard.

Then, while the Embroidered Uniform Guards were distracted, he immediately used his lightness skill and fled.

He was a Heaven's Path Golden List-level expert; if he truly wished to slip away, especially under such unnoticed circumstances, it was as easy as picking fruit.

After escaping the Jixian Academy, he pondered briefly, then resolutely returned to Great Yuan.

In the imperial study of the Great Yuan court.

General Chilaowen droned on, deliberately muddling the sequence of events, recounting his journey.

He mentioned neither the Tian Xiang Doukou nor the humiliation by the You Dongying corpse-evil Buddha.

He only said the Great Ming had mobilized fully, preparing for war against that other world.

He briefly described some of his observations there.

He omitted entirely his rescue by Mo Shenggu.

Instead, he claimed he had expended tremendous effort, draining two-tenths of his cultivation, to defeat the enemy.

After returning to the Nine Provinces, he worried that Great Yuan knew nothing of his ordeal.

He thought: alive, he was Great Yuan's man; dead, he would be Great Yuan's ghost.

Even if the Yuan court and the former Great Khan Tie Muzhen had treated him unjustly,

Still, General Chilaowen's heart remained loyal to Great Yuan, unto death.

He had travelled a thousand li, insisting on returning to the Great Yuan to make his report.

At this point, recalling the grievances and humiliations he had suffered, General Chilaowen could not help bursting into tears,

"Great Khan! Whether it should be said or not, General Chilaowen has said it all.

The previous betrayal was truly not from General Chilaowen's own heart.

Today, having returned, whether you wish to kill me or flay me, I leave entirely to your discretion."

Saying so, General Chilaowen prostrated himself on the ground.

In truth, on this return of his, how could he possibly have harboured no schemes at all?

It was precisely upon hearing that Tie Muzhen had died, and that Wokuotai had ascended to become the new Great Khan.

He had further ascertained clearly that, for the sake of the Khan's seat, Wokuotai had even purged several of his own elder brothers.

Only after thinking it all through did he risk his life to return.

Within the imperial city, he happened to run into General Zhebie.

General Zhebie had repeatedly assured him that he would absolutely not be called to account for the matter of his previous betrayal.

Therefore, General Chilaowen's present display was nothing more than a performance.

Of those present, apart from Aodu, which of them was not a shrewd old hand?

After hearing General Chilaowen's account, Wokuotai had already vaguely understood in his heart.

Since even a second-tier dynasty like the Great Ming had received a mission from the Qinglong Society,

This time, the Qinglong Society was said to have summoned the great majority of the world's forces, those who could ascend the Qinglong Summit!

If that were so, then Chahetai…

Just as he was thinking this, General Chilaowen happened to begin his tearful plea.

At this moment, Wokuotai had only wished to discuss the matter of Chahetai with Yelu Chu, Mu Huali, and the others.

As for General Chilaowen, he had originally been somewhat impatient with him.

Yet General Chilaowen was, after all, one of the Great Yuan's Thirteen Wings, a master of the Heavenly Dao Golden Ranking tier.

An indispensable existence among the Great Yuan's ranks of masters.

After some deliberation, Wokuotai actually left the throne and came in person to stand before General Chilaowen.

Bending down and reaching out, he supported General Chilaowen and gently comforted him,

"Grand General, you speak too gravely.

In truth, the matter of that day was all a misunderstanding.

The late Great Khan, knowing your heart was set on the Imperial Consort Temuer, had long since resolved to betroth Temuer to you.