Chapter 1

"It's nothing." The young man waved his hand and asked, "Where is my royal uncle?"

Not far away, a stone tablet stood by the roadside, over a zhang in height, with a line of blood-red characters written in a flamboyant style, exuding a menacing aura: "Chiyuan, living beings halt, those who trespass shall be ground to dust and ashes"

In front of the stone tablet, a middle-aged general, accompanied by a row of imperial guards, awaited their arrival. The guards, clad in armor and wielding weapons, stood in a straight line. Upon seeing the visitors, they knelt in unison, saying: "Your Highness, the Crown Prince"

Having seen off the Crown Prince and others, the night had already descended. The Imperial Guards had all been dismissed, leaving only one attendant behind. This attendant knelt down behind Sheng Xiao, curling his body. His armor fell away from him, and his robe dropped to the ground, revealing a small bird the size of a palm that quietly nestled beside its master.

He paused for a moment, as if recalling whether he had overlooked anything. The Crown Prince suddenly knelt down with a thud: "Uncle, you are in the prime of your life..."

The prince was taken aback, faintly sensing a different meaning in his words

The one who spoke was a man dressed in dark robes, standing alone with his back to the crowd at the boundary marker. The young prince glanced at the blood characters on the boundary stone and, undaunted like a newborn calf, boldly approached. He jogged to the dark-robed man and knelt before him, saying: "Your humble son..."

Sheng Xiao stood up and sighed, "You no longer need to monitor me; we are both free now"

I, your humble servant, dare not forget for even a single day

In the future, you can come to visit every year. If I am not mistaken, this sword should be able to push forward five miles each year. In less than ten years, the fire of Chiyuan should be completely extinguished. By then, you can send people from the 'Qingping Division' to be stationed here. As for that intimidating boundary stone, just smash it.

Complex inscriptions flowed over the golden thread, as if they were growing on its neck. Sheng Xiao gently reached out and pressed, and the golden thread suddenly shattered at his fingertips

Before his words had faded, he heard someone in the distance calling his nickname: "Xiao Tong'er, come over here"

Crown Prince Dao: "I, your humble son, am not afraid. When Your Highness was young, you pacified the Red Abyss, quelled the evil spirits, and defeated a hundred thousand ghost soldiers, restoring our mountains and rivers. Even if I am but one or two hundredths of Your Highness's prowess, I would not dare to speak lightly of fear, lest I tarnish your esteemed reputation"

As the two crossed the boundary marker by more than a mile, Sheng Xiao stopped in his tracks, surrounded by the pungent smell of sulfur. The young prince was already struggling to catch his breath, yet he stubbornly refused to show any signs of it.

This doubt flashed by in an instant, and soon, more questions surfaced with his awakening consciousness: "Why shouldn't there be anyone here? What is this place? I... I am..."

From deep within the earth, indistinct and unsettling murmurs arise, growing increasingly clamorous and drawing nearer.

this year

human voice

However, when the day finally arrived, the young crown prince was still in a state of panic, unsure of what to do

The man in the dark robe extended his hand and effortlessly lifted the Crown Prince up: "No need."

They say that Emperor Qizheng is iron-blooded and ruthless, a madman with unpredictable moods, born amidst the blood of his father and brothers, and is thus considered inauspicious. They also say that he killed his mother, murdered his teacher, burned books, prohibited speech, surrounded himself with sycophants, engaged in reckless military aggression, and harmed loyal subjects

Finally, it is coming to an end

So noisy

Emperor Qizheng smiled and said: "Yes, there is nothing left."

Emperor Qizheng patted the young prince on the shoulder and said gently, "Walk with me for a while, are you afraid?"

At this moment, the surroundings were extremely quiet, and he strolled peacefully within the boundary marker, hearing nothing except for his own footsteps and those of his uncle.

"Good." The man smiled, raised his hand to remove his crown, and the long hair that had been tied up on his head suddenly fell down. He waved his hand and turned to walk towards the direction of Chiyuan

The Crown Prince's mind was slightly settled, but he soon recalled something and frowned, saying: "However, the area near Chiyuan is very desolate, and there are no temporary palaces..."

A group of knights galloped wildly along the official road, both man and horse utterly exhausted. Suddenly, the leading young knight shouted, "The boundary marker has arrived!"

The prince listened intently, his ears perked up in confusion. After a moment, he couldn't help but mutter, "Listening... listening to what? There is nothing at all."

He has sword-like eyebrows, with the peaks not prominent, slanting gracefully into his temples. The corners of his eyes, however, are slightly drooping, giving him an air of tenderness and affection. His demeanor is spirited and very approachable, presenting a handsome and well-proportioned appearance.

A mortal's life is but a fleeting moment, enduring suffering for decades and joy for decades; the physical body can only experience a limited amount of pain, and often, before one even feels the hurt, one has already attained liberation

The mask of gentle calmness on his face cracked, faintly revealing a sense of pleasure and madness.

Emperor Ping was harmed by the demon clan and died in battle at Chiyuan. After his death, Xiao Dai was established as emperor. In his youth, he faced many hardships and at the age of twenty-three, he beheaded the Demon King at the foot of Yong'an City, changing the era name to Qizheng. He restored the nation and pacified the borders, achieving merits comparable to the Five Emperors, while also committing atrocities and reversing moral order. He reigned for twenty-one years before taking his own life in the fire of Chiyuan, leaving no trace of his remains

Who am I

It is better to be an ordinary person

Buzz

In the heart of the young prince, this is his only relative

I have made arrangements" Sheng Xiao interrupted him, pulling him up and giving him a gentle push, urging, "Let's go, there is an old friend of mine in Chiyuan, I will accompany him for a chat, you are too noisy.

The primeval forest of Chiyuan Grand Canyon has become a scenic area

And you?

The Crown Prince was momentarily taken aback, suddenly recalling a legend he had heard in his youth— it is said that within the Crimson Abyss Fire Sea are sealed the vengeful souls of a million warriors who perished in battle, their resentment soaring to the heavens. As a result, fierce winds blow year-round on both sides of the canyon, wailing incessantly. Standing outside the boundary marker, one can hear the daily cries and wails emanating from that place.

He felt his body, tentatively moving a bit, when a crisp sound of "crack" reached his ears. The wind brushed past his forehead, and he suddenly opened his eyes, tears streaming down as he was dazzled by the long-lost sunlight. ... Then he realized he was lying in the debris of a coffin ... .

Suddenly, he felt that this thought was inexplicable. The Emperor, being far-sighted and strategic, must have already built a temporary palace nearby since he mentioned that "there are arrangements." He should be diligent in the future, striving to ensure that his uncle has no worries. During festivals and holidays, he should be more attentive in paying his respects, as this would be a form of filial piety.

If a person could truly experience the agony of being ground to dust, then all the so-called "deeply etched memories" in this world would merely become ashes floating on stone

The Crown Prince hurriedly followed, feeling somewhat puzzled, unable to comprehend his fear, nor understanding why he chose to use the term "return": "Uncle Emperor..."

The little bird emitted a deep roar from its throat, and then, its body suddenly grew more than ten times larger, its wings swiftly spread wide, raising fierce flames. It raised its neck and let out a long cry, stirring the nebulae in the southern night sky—this was actually a young Bifang!

"That's enough for this year," Sheng Xiao said as he turned around, drawing the prince's sword and plunging it into the ground. "If you take another step forward, you will not be able to bear it."

Bifang stepped forward and gently grasped the corner of his garment

The young knight at the forefront jumped down from his horse, running too hastily, and stumbled slightly. The general quickly stepped forward to support him, saying, "Your Highness, be careful."

Indeed, Sheng Xiao pinched his fingers and scratched his neck, pulling out a very fine golden thread from the little bird's neck, "I forgot you."

At this point, he is still not dead

This man's appearance is excessively youthful; standing next to the young man, he resembles more of an elder brother than an uncle. No one would expect that he is actually Sheng Xiao, the Qizheng Emperor, who has been in power for twenty-one years.

"The capital is quite suffocating, I do not wish to return," Sheng Xiao said, "I... um, I will keep watch over Chiyuan for you. When you have time in the future, you can come and see me."

Emperor Wu of Qi, Sheng Xiao, the son of Emperor Ping

Through the passage of time, the vast ocean has turned into mulberry fields; after a thousand autumns, a boundless forest has grown over the ashes of Chiyuan

Under such repeated torment, the entirety of his life—its origins and outcomes, joys and sorrows—was gradually consumed and refined by the great fire, until... He gradually forgot who he was, and only when the agitated magma finally calmed down did his endlessly burning remnants slowly sink.

The Crown Prince thought to himself: "Is it true that folklore cannot be fully trusted?"

Another ten years, the earth's fire extinguished, the Red Abyss pacified, Emperor Wen carved the boundary stele, and the tomb of Emperor Wu was established

The prince's eyes are red

He wondered, "How could there be anyone here?"

The red abyss splits the land for a thousand miles, with violent underground magma rolling beneath, leaving both banks barren of vegetation. As he reaches the edge of the cliff, the man's robe sleeves and long boots have already been scorched and charred.

The scorching wind rushed in like fire, quickly charring the flesh it swept over, burning layer by layer from the skin down to the bone. The blood began to boil, the blood vessels bursting within the body, tearing through the charred flesh. All the meridians in his body were severed, and he coughed up a mouthful of ash, unable to discern whether it was from his heart or his lungs

Sheng Xiao stood at the edge of the cliff, thinking to himself: "I might have to endure some suffering."

Sigh

Sheng Xiao glanced down at it, and Bi Fang instinctively flinched at the sight of his gaze, slowly relaxed his jaw, and cautiously sat down.

Oh," he pondered for a moment in the coffin dust, calmly concluding, "I might have come back from the dead.

I have already taught you everything you need to know," Sheng Xiao said淡淡地. "Zhang Bo and Kong Yu are available, Zhao Kuan is still in prison, and he is innocent. Remember to release him when you go back and clear the Zhao family's name. A son should not speak ill of his father; in the future, it will be inconvenient for you to speak badly of me. Just push Yang Dong out; that kid is not a good person. He has been living well these years, and it is time for him to be sent off. I have raised him as your New Year's goods.

The prince dared not defy the imperial decree, turning back with every few steps, and when he reached the boundary marker, he could no longer resist glancing back at the man, who was seated on the ground before his sword.

In that moment, the Crown Prince suddenly felt an inexplicable premonition in his heart—this would be the last time he saw that figure.

No matter what happens, this man is always gentle and calm, never seen him speak harshly or appear disheveled. The Crown Prince has looked up to this uncle since childhood, and now as an adult, he is capable of drawing the heaviest bow and governing the country with competence, yet he still follows in his footsteps

Immediately after, he crashed into the magma of the earth's fire. The surface of the magma had a hard shell, but his body was simply too solid. Falling from a great height, he surprisingly did not shatter into pieces. His broken spine bent at an angle, flames surged high like banners, and the molten gold and jade of the earth's fire opened its mouth, swallowing him whole, and then exploded, spitting him back into the air.

Sheng Xiao smiled: "What, do you intend for me to work until I am old and gray, or to be buried in peace? Your uncle has worried for half his life, so have some compassion for me—I've kept a copy of the imperial edict for Zen position with both Zhang Bo and Feng Chun. Old Feng will escort you back to the capital with a contingent of the Imperial Guard; he was your father's close friend in his lifetime and will protect you, so do not be afraid"

"What a fearsome reputation, a notorious name indeed." Emperor Qizheng smiled and slowly walked forward, "You are not afraid, but I am quite afraid; I haven't dared to return for twenty years."

In the twenty-first year of the reign of Da Qi, the Frost Descent occurred

Emperor Qizheng had already hinted at his intention to abdicate a year ago. During his two inspections, he entrusted the regency to the Crown Prince while simultaneously suppressing dissent from all quarters, methodically paving the way for his successors.

Sheng Xiao stood with his hands behind his back, gazing in the direction of Chiyuan, and gently touched his forehead: "Do you still remember your biological parents"

His consciousness was forcibly awakened by the noisy clamor, his perception betraying his will. The senses, which had been silent for a thousand years, greedily extended their tentacles, frantically absorbing every vibrant detail around him. The entire cacophonous world surged towards him unbidden, flowing into his sea of consciousness— the texture of mud, the metallic scent of earth, the sound of the wind, the rustling of fallen leaves, the sound of footsteps, and human voices

With this thought in mind, the Crown Prince knelt before the boundary stone, meticulously performing the three kneels and nine kowtows to the back of the man in the dark robe, before rushing towards his own fate

The Bifang, standing beside the sword, let out a piercing shriek as the man leaped into the sea of fire below the abyss

What sound is that

"Shh—" Emperor Qizheng raised a finger to his lips, "Listen."

Upon entering the boundary marker, after walking no more than one hundred meters, one can already feel the heat waves rushing towards them. At this time, according to the solar terms, it is already late autumn. The prince is only wearing a thin jacket, yet beads of sweat continue to layer out from his forehead. He secretly glanced at his uncle, holding back the urge to wipe it away.

That is good. Sheng Xiao nodded slightly, "You have grown up and know how to walk your own path. Go ahead, staying here for too long is harmful to your health."