Translator: CinderTL
Three months later.
In less than half a year, discontent had spread across the Sui Dynasty. The people were clothed in rags and starving, and in some places, rebels had already emerged.
All of this could be attributed to Xu Sanyan. Since he ascended the throne, he had neglected state affairs and ignored the suffering of the people, focusing solely on hoarding precious medicine.
As the emperor set the example, officials at all levels followed suit, becoming even more corrupt. High-ranking officials colluded internally and externally, amassing wealth through unscrupulous means. These factors combined to create the current dire situation.
Now, out of the seven provinces of the Sui Dynasty, four had raised the banner of rebellion. In just three months, the signs of the dynasty's collapse had become evident.
Inside the gauze-draped chamber, Xu Sanyan lay comfortably on the dragon bed, embracing the Empress. He leisurely savored the grapes fed to him by his side, where a row of women stood, completely naked, shielding him from the cold.
This was the infamous "Flesh Screen."
Of course, he wasn't afraid of the cold, but he reveled in the opulent, decadent atmosphere of luxury and indulgence.
Xu Sanyan's eyes slightly opened as he glanced toward the palace entrance. There, Zhao Zhongyang hurried in with a look of urgency, exclaiming, "Your Majesty, disaster has struck! Prince Zhao has led his army to capture Tiannan City and is now approaching the Imperial Capital!"
Xu Sanyan chuckled softly, sitting up leisurely without a hint of panic.
He had enjoyed himself enough during this time; it was time to leave.
These beautiful concubines and ladies had truly eroded his will. Even with Xu Sanyan's determination to seek immortality, he now felt a tinge of reluctance to part with them.
"Heh… how slow."
Xu Sanyan had long been prepared. If they dared to come, he was ready to hand over the empire.
During this time, the "Vitality" accumulated on his panel had reached over 500 points, and the precious medicine he had plundered from various regions had been continuously transported to the capital.
Later, as rebel forces rose up and roads were blocked, the flow of medicine slowed, but it was still sufficient.
Xu Sanyan pointed at Zhao Shengwu and said, "You have served me diligently, working hard and achieving much. I have decided to abdicate the throne to you. From now on, you will be the emperor of the Great Sui."
Zhao Shengwu was stunned, instinctively blurting out, "What?"
Beside him, the Empress, her chest exposed, was equally dumbfounded, her mind blank except for one thought:
Have I become a three-dynasty veteran?
Xu Sanyan paid no heed to their reactions. He dressed himself and walked out.
Only then did Zhao Shengwu snap out of his daze, his face turning pale with shock. "Your Majesty, this cannot be! I am but a mere warrior, unfit to rule. Moreover, the rebels are already at our doorstep. I fear I cannot prevail."
Xu Sanyan naturally understood his concerns—the rebels were at the gates, and Zhao Shengwu doubted his ability to win. But what did that have to do with Xu Sanyan?
The Empress, hastily draping a light veil over herself, tearfully pleaded, "Your Majesty, are you abandoning me?"
Xu Sanyan turned and gently caressed her cheek, speaking softly, "What are you saying? We were never married. It's a good thing we weren't, or I would have held you back for life. From now on, you'll be without me. Be happy!"
The Empress covered her face, sobbing, her voluptuous figure trembling slightly, a sight that would have been alluring. But Xu Sanyan no longer felt any interest.
He had grown tired of it all.
With that, he no longer paid them any mind. With a wave of his hand, the Azure Crimson Twin Swords and the Dust-Whisk on the distant table flew into his grasp. In a flash, he vanished, leaving behind a mess for others to deal with.
Zhao Shengwu was on the verge of tears, filled with regret. Given the misdeeds he had committed, he knew the rebels would kill him first upon entering the city…
But all of this had nothing to do with Xu Sanyan anymore; his goal had already been achieved.
As long as he secured the benefits, he cared not for the chaos left behind.
Outside the capital,
Xu Sanyan, dressed in a green robe, led his horse, carried twin swords on his back, and held a dust-whisk in his hand, leisurely walking towards the southeast.
Behind him followed a figure entirely cloaked in black, the Ferocious Demon he had recreated using the corpses of the Red Sea Twin Immortals, Emperor Qi, Lan Yue, and three other bodies.
Its strength was indeed far greater than before, but it still fell short of the Blood Demon.
Xu Sanyan took out a gilded token from his pocket, infused it with spiritual power, and immediately a layer of mist appeared in the air, slowly condensing into a simple map.
After carefully comparing it, he confirmed the direction was correct, then mounted his horse and galloped away.
...
Over a month later.
Xu Sanyan passed through the forest and looked into the distance. He no longer knew where he was, but he must have left the Great Sui Empire.
Under the evening glow, a mountain village faintly appeared, with wisps of smoke rising. The sounds of children playing occasionally echoed from the village, accompanied by the occasional bark of a dog.
What a peaceful and serene scene.
Xu Sanyan led his horse towards the village, deciding to rest there for the night.
The children by the roadside, seeing someone approaching from afar, widened their eyes in curiosity, wanting to get closer but not daring to.
Xu Sanyan smiled kindly and waved at them, "Little friends, where is this place?"
An older child turned his head and shouted, "Dad, there's a stranger here!"
The village quickly became lively, and in no time, a group of burly men armed with weapons surrounded Xu Sanyan. In the distance, he even saw someone with a bow and arrow ready for action.
An elderly man stepped forward, first glancing at the Ferocious Demon cloaked in black, then said with a wary expression, "What brings you two here?"
Xu Sanyan raised an eyebrow, feeling curious. Why did they seem so... tense?
"I'm just passing through and would like to stay the night and have some food. Don't worry, I won't take it for free; I'll pay." As he spoke, he took out a gold ingot from his pocket.
He didn't carry much money with him. When he left the palace, he had casually taken some gold. As for silver notes, they were useless; other countries didn't recognize them.
The old man looked at the gold and shook his head seriously, "I'm sorry, our village doesn't take in outsiders. Please look elsewhere."
The villagers surrounding Xu Sanyan also saw the gold, but there was not a trace of greed in their eyes. They looked at it as calmly as if it were a lump of dirt.
Xu Sanyan found this even more intriguing. After all, what he held was a gold ingot. For ordinary people, this amount of gold could cover their village's expenses for a year. Yet, they showed no interest?
"Can't I even stay for one night?" Xu Sanyan asked with a friendly smile.
"No!" The old man refused firmly.
Seeing that he was reluctant to leave, the villagers' expressions turned fiercer, and they began to inch closer to him.
"Heh..."
Xu Sanyan shook his head and chuckled. The more ignorant, the braver they were. Did they really dare to raise weapons against him?
He could tell that these villagers had some martial skills, but at most, they were only at the Initial Stage of Qi Refinement. They might have learned a few rural techniques, which were barely enough to deal with ordinary people.
"What if I insist on staying?" Xu Sanyan slowly asked.
The old man saw that Xu Sanyan remained fearless even when surrounded by so many people, realizing that he had encountered a formidable figure. Thus, he softened his tone and said with a bitter smile,
"Young hero, it's not that we don't want to let you stay, but the village has too many rules. If an outsider accidentally violates a taboo, not only would your own life be in danger, but it could also easily implicate us..."
"Taboos?"
Xu Sanyan raised an eyebrow, "Explain in detail."
(End of the Chapter)
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