Chapter Sixty-Five: Utter Chaos

The city of Flames was now in utter chaos. It began when the city guard discovered several corpses of the Imperial Guards within the walls—those were the very soldiers tasked with protecting Zhu Xinyue. News traveled swiftly to Zhu Yan, and before long, the entire city was in a frenzy.

At the Hu Mansion, Hu Yihu wore a grim expression as well. Hu Mo had vanished inexplicably from the residence and had yet to return. With such turmoil unfolding in the city, how could he possibly be at ease?

Thus, both the royal family and the Hu clan dispatched a great number of people to search within and beyond the city walls. The two incidents, taken together, quickly gave rise to a multitude of rumors. The most widely spread was that the little princess and the infamous young master of the Hu family had eloped!

Zhu Yan and Hu Yihu almost wished it were so—at least then there would be no mortal danger. But the facts at hand were far from simple. Not to mention the antagonism between Hu Mo and Zhu Xinyue; the notion of elopement was completely at odds with their relationship. More importantly, there had been deaths. With such a premise, the rumor of elopement was nothing short of a joke.

In the imperial study, Zhu Yan's face was so dark it seemed water could drip from it. Upon learning of Hu Mo’s disappearance, he immediately summoned Hu Yihu to the study.

“Old Marshal, do you truly know nothing? Where is that child Hu Mo now? The rumors outside are deafening, and my head is about to split! Old Marshal, you must have some advice for me!” Zhu Yan was sweating profusely with anxiety, his mind overwhelmed by these vexing troubles.

Hu Yihu sighed lightly, shaking his head in helplessness. When it came to worry, he was no less burdened than Zhu Yan. But there was no question that Zhu Yan was under tremendous pressure—the princess missing was one thing, but what truly infuriated him was how the incident had become the subject of idle gossip among the common folk, only stoking his anger further.

“Your Majesty, please remain calm. I have already dispatched three battalions of the Fire God Army to search, and the Imperial Guard has sent out many as well. I am confident we will have news soon. Moreover, I can assure you this matter is absolutely unrelated to Mo’er. His relationship with Princess Xinyue has always been poor; the two together is simply impossible.” Hu Yihu spoke thus, but his heart was heavy with bitterness. His own grandson’s life or death was uncertain—what time had he to care for another’s daughter?

At that moment, a sharp voice sounded from outside the door; clearly, it was a eunuch.

“Your Majesty, envoys from the Fire God Valley have arrived and wish for an audience,” a young eunuch said timidly, aware of Zhu Yan’s foul mood and fearing the consequences of his abrupt intrusion.

Zhu Yan’s expression shifted, while Hu Yihu’s face instantly darkened. He could not abide the mention of Fire God Valley—the very name made his temper flare.

“Your Majesty, allow me to handle the search for the princess. You are busy, I will take my leave,” Hu Yihu said, saluted, and exited the study with a stormy face.

Watching the old marshal’s changing expression, Zhu Yan sighed inwardly, murmuring, “Still the same temper, old friend… ah…”

“Do you know which elders from Fire God Valley have come?” Zhu Yan suddenly asked. The young eunuch trembled, for Hu Yihu’s mood just now had left the atmosphere in the room tense, and with the emperor’s abrupt question, he was utterly flustered.

“Your servant deserves death, your servant deserves death…” The young eunuch fell to his knees, knocking his head repeatedly, thinking this time he was truly done for.

Zhu Yan frowned and waved his hand. “Stand up. Even if you deserve death, answer my question first.”

The emperor’s words brought the eunuch to tears. Hearing from Zhu Yan himself that he would die after answering was no different from a death sentence.

He slowly got up, wiped his tears and said, “Your Majesty, the chief steward said it was the Second and Third Elders who have come, claiming urgent matters.”

His voice trembled, and in just a few words, cold sweat soaked his back, leaving him weak and drained.

Zhu Yan frowned, pondered for a while, and waved his hand. “Very well, you may go.”

As soon as he spoke, the eunuch’s heart went cold. He fell to his knees again and cried, “Your Majesty, spare me! Spare me!”

“Spare you? Spare you for what? Get out, before I’m in the mood for killing,” Zhu Yan snapped, and the eunuch, as if granted a pardon, knocked his head a few more times before fleeing the study.

Zhu Yan’s brow furrowed tightly. At this moment, he truly did not wish to receive the envoys from Fire God Valley. His mind was already full of troubles; how could he spare the energy for those men?

Yet he had no choice. The standing of Fire God Valley in the Heavenly Fire Empire was too great; offending them brought no benefit whatsoever.

Before long, two elders appeared in the imperial study—the very ones who had been in green and black robes earlier. Both fixed Zhu Yan with cold, stern gazes, their gravity making him deeply uncomfortable.

“For what reason have you two elders come?” Zhu Yan asked calmly, suppressing his displeasure.

The elder in green stepped forward, bowing slightly. “Your Majesty, this matter is of great importance and must be brought to your attention.”

“Oh? What could trouble the elders so? Speak, I am listening,” Zhu Yan forced himself to keep his tone even; otherwise, given his temper and his current agitation, he would hardly be capable of pleasantries.

The green-robed elder remained impassive. “Your Majesty, today my brothers and I discovered signs of fierce battle forty miles west of the city. Upon investigation, we detected the presence of foreign, non-human energy among the combatants. We have come to inform Your Majesty and to discuss Fire God Valley’s concerns.”

“What? Foreigners? How is this possible? Isn’t there a barrier to prevent them? How did those creatures make it here?” Zhu Yan grew restless—why did misfortune come in waves, giving him no respite?

His first instinct was to link these incidents together, arriving at a terrifying conclusion: had Zhu Xinyue fallen into the hands of these outsiders?

“We do not yet know the details. We expect the Heavenly Sacred Palace will send envoys to investigate. We are merely notifying you, so you may prepare. Though you are king of the mortal realm, matters concerning the outsiders affect the entire continent of War; you must not be careless.” The elder’s tone was grave, his eyes flashing with a sharp, intimidating light.

Zhu Yan nodded, his irritation slowly fading. The elder was right; this was indeed a matter of utmost importance. If mishandled, he would become a criminal to the entire continent.

“Rest assured, Elder. I will handle this matter with the utmost care,” Zhu Yan replied solemnly.

“By the way, while we searched the site, we found this item. Perhaps you recognize it.” The black-faced elder produced a finely carved hairpin and handed it to Zhu Yan.

One glance was all it took for Zhu Yan’s face to fall. “This belongs to Yue’er! How could it be…” His voice trembled; his greatest fear had come to pass.

“We know little of what happened. The battle was too sudden, too swift; by the time we arrived, there was no one left. Your Majesty, please maintain your composure. Panic is not befitting of an emperor—”

“Damn your nonsense! She’s not your daughter; of course you don’t care!” Zhu Yan suddenly roared, his emotions boiling over.

The black-faced elder’s expression darkened. “Zhu Yan, what are you doing? Insulting elders of Fire God Valley—do you wish to lose your throne?”

Outside, many guards rushed in, alarmed by the commotion. The status of those present was so lofty that none of them knew what to do.

“All of you, get out!” Zhu Yan bellowed, and the guards hastily retreated.

His face flushed and then paled as rage made his aura unstable. The two elders glared at him, as though ready to tear him apart. When had men of their standing ever been treated so?

Facing them, Zhu Yan sneered coldly. “Yan Fen Tian, Chi Xiuping, your cultivation is indeed formidable, but do not forget—the Master of your valley bears the surname Zhu, and you are but the servants of those named Zhu! If you dare so much as lay a finger on me, I swear—even if your Master does nothing, my million-strong army will march on Fire God Valley. We’ll perish together, if need be. How about that?”

Flames flickered over Zhu Yan’s body; at last, he vented a portion of his pent-up fury. As Emperor of the Divine Fire Empire, how could he endure such indignity?

“Zhu Yan, you—”

“Third Brother, enough!” the green-robed elder cut him off, face dark as thunder.

“Your Majesty, remember my words. We are leaving.”

“I shall not see you out!”