Rivers of the Night

Chapter 329: Implications (1)

The Emperor’s gaze flickered.

A man who was used to wielding so much power was obviously not used to being threatened. Facing off against the likes of someone he saw as nothing more than a child—and yet so calmly answering all of his questions like this… only a fool wouldn’t see the issue with that.

Of course, that wasn’t something that Theron would fall into.

As much as he wanted the answers to these questions, and as easily as someone else would be blinded by finally getting what they wanted, Theron wasn’t so easily swayed…

Especially since he knew that no Emperor was a fool. The odds that this Emperor likely knew Theron might be related to his youngest son’s death were quite high. Even if he didn’t know exactly what the Sangun that came to the Nightingale Empire faced, he certainly knew enough to make inferences.

So the question was… why would a man who had just lost an elite squad of 50—and not long ago had lost a son—be so forthcoming with Theron?

The obvious answer seemed to be that his wife was in Theron’s hand, but Theron didn’t believe the answer was so simple—not even remotely.

“Can’t a man want revenge?” the Emperor answered calmly.

Theron finally took his eyes off of the Empress, gazing at the Emperor deeply for a long while.

There was no hint of helplessness on the Emperor’s face. He was dignified; he stood tall. His red eyes were piercing, and the outline of his jaw was firm. There was a pride there that matched the oppression that hung in the air.

Theron pulled back his blade.

“I hope it’s worth it. If your son stands in my way, I will kill him.”

“You probably won’t,” the Emperor replied.

Theron didn’t say anything as he flashed away. Soon, the heavy breathing of the Empress was the only thing left in the hall.

“… I would have preferred to die… than let him go…” she eventually said.

“This is the world of cultivation. The cycle of violence is endless. If he didn’t kill our son, our son would have killed him.”

“Is that something a father should say?” The glare of the Empress was all the more piercing as blood drizzled down her neck, pooling into her dress and likewise painting it red.

“It’s what an Emperor would say.”

“An Emperor’s goal is to be heirless?”

Emperor Sangun looked to where Theron had vanished. “… That child’s mind doesn’t work like a child’s should. He is almost a decade younger than our Morelle, but his thoughts are far more meticulous. He won’t kill Morelle because it doesn’t suit his goals. That is the end of it.”

The Empress fell into silence.

To allow a child to dictate the political landscape of the Black Clan’s Territory for the next decade… was that really their only way out?

They had thoroughly offended the Black Clan. They weren’t foolish enough to believe the Seijin would go out on a limb to protect them, and now this was all they were left with…

A hope that Theron would sow enough chaos that they could find a thin line of survival to thread.

**

Silence hung between three robed figures. They stood in the very same sky box that Elder Black had been in, not moving an inch. There was a dullness in their eyes as though their thoughts were elsewhere, but it was clear that they were far more serious now than before.

The death of Chopra was a problem—not because they cared about him so much, but because their Young Master would not be happy.

Each one of them represented a decent number of resources and investments. But what was most important was that they represented a Karmic Tie that their Young Master had gone out of his way to make, and every time one of those was severed, it wasn’t exactly simple to just forge another.

Playing around with Karma was a very dangerous matter, even if the Seijin seemed to make it look like child’s play.

Of course, all things considered, their Young Master found them to be disposable, which was why they were sent so casually across the continent to play around with a little boy. Until they successfully broke into Gold Mancy—something especially difficult for talents as great as them—they would likely continue to be disposable.

However… even a casual flare of annoyance from their Young Master could mean life and death. Even if it wasn’t their fault Chopra got himself killed, even if they weren’t directly involved, even if—

Chi.

A pulse of Mana took shape in the air and they all tensed. But when they saw their Young Master’s face take shape in the air, the burden in their hearts didn’t know whether to be released or tighten further.

There was a bright smile on his face, as beaming as the moon.

“So Chopra died? Well, well, well. How unexpected. My little mouse actually has such claws, huh? Fascinating, fascinating, fascinating. I’m suddenly regretting not sending more of you. You all might be too weak. It would be a shame if he killed all of you.”

Despite saying this, judging by his expression, it hardly seemed like he would find that to be a problem.

It was only then that they released the burden in their chests. He wasn’t upset. He truly wasn’t upset.

“Hm, I think I’ve changed my mind. His recent breakthrough is very interesting. I’ve never seen anything like it. There’s something quite special about him that I want to poke and prod at some more.

“Ignore my previous orders. Assume I want you to bring back his head.”

Just like that, the burden in their hearts returned.

The implication in the words was as obvious as it could be. They weren’t allowed to return without Theron’s head.

It was either Theron die, or they die trying to kill him.

But not only was there no telling how their Young Master would react if they actually did kill him…

The implication in his words was that they might not have a chance to succeed anymore.