The Empress was indeed beyond cure. In fact, if not for Leisha continuously supplying vitality with healing holy words, the moment the red chains were removed, she might have instantly dissipated, soul and all.
Ye Chui squinted uncomfortably. Though meeting the Empress for the first time, she had suffered Church persecution to this state. Moreover, she was Fiorre’s sister. This filled Ye Chui with regret and sorrow.
Looking at the pale, emaciated Empress, Ye Chui said, “If you have any wishes, tell me. I can fulfil them.”
“Fiorre…” The Empress’s dry lips emitted a muffled sound.
She worried for her younger brother. The witch clan had few descendants. Only she and her brother carried the bloodline. She did not want him to suffer the same persecution after her death.
Ye Chui said firmly, “I will always treat her as my own sister. Rest assured.”
“…!!!”
The Empress’s lifeless eyes suddenly widened. Her breath ceased.
The room fell silent for seconds.
Seeing her wide-open eyes, they instinctively thought of the tragic phrase “die with unresolved grievances”…
“Brother! I meant brother…” Ye Chui hurriedly corrected. He still could not accept that such a beautiful little loli was actually a boy… But it was too late.
Leisha, breathing heavily, stopped the healing holy words. She approached the Empress, gently closing her eyes. Then she turned strangely to Ye Chui. “Little brother…”
“Slip of the tongue! Just a slip!” Ye Chui said quickly. But now, nothing seemed to help. Seeing his companions’ suspicious looks, Ye Chui immediately changed topic, storming menacingly to the Emperor.
The Emperor’s power fully seized by Jarvis. Plus summoning [Puppet Battle Armour] had greatly impacted him. Already injured by Ye Chui’s bomb, now wounds on wounds. He huddled miserably in the corner, pitiful. Seeing Ye Chui approach, he immediately begged fearfully. “What do you want? I am the Tidal Empire’s Emperor. I am the Emperor. Do not kill me… If I die, the Tidal Empire will forever enmity the Star Empire. I, I will agree to anything. You fight the Church. I can mobilise all Tidal Empire forces to aid you…”
“I do not plan to kill you.” Ye Chui looked at the Emperor’s state, face full of contempt, sneering.
Hope brightened in the Emperor’s eyes.
Then Ye Chui transformed into Bishop Xis’s appearance, bending to grab the Emperor’s collar. In hoarse voice, “The one killing you is Bishop Xis. And I will do it publicly on the street.”
“No, no…” The Emperor wailed.
…
Half an hour later.
A utterly wretched, miserable figure appeared on the capital’s Puppet Statue Street. Dishevelled hair, bloodstained clothes, like the most filthy beggar. People avoided him along the way, casting most disdainful glances.
This was the Tidal Empire’s most famous puppet statue selling street, usually most crowded. The beggar-like man seemed greatly traumatised, stumbling, shouting, “Do not kill me. I am the Emperor. I am the Emperor…”
He grabbed a woman’s shoulder, shaking forcefully. “Save me. I am your beloved Emperor…”
“Stinking beggar, stay away. If you are the Emperor, I am the Empress.” The woman fiercely kicked him away.
The beggar man scrambled up, fearfully glancing back, continuing to shout and run forward.
Suddenly, several sturdy men rushed from sides, seizing his arms, trying to drag him off the street. But he struggled constantly, even kicking them. “What are you doing? I am the Emperor. Your Emperor! You fools, fools!”
“I am the ancestral god then, stinking beggar!” One kicked man angrily approached, grabbing the Emperor’s hair and slamming him to the ground. Others, furious. They originally kindly wanted to remove this mad beggar. But he ungratefully fought and cursed. How endure?
“Dead beggar, beat him to death!”
“Impersonating the Emperor. Look at yourself!”
“No holding back. Hit him!”
Cheers erupted around.
Ye Chui’s group hiding in a street corner: “…”
What the hell. Though the Emperor held high prestige in the Tidal Empire, one issue overlooked—he always resided in the Zenith Palace, never meeting outsiders. Residents here fundamentally did not know his appearance. Even those seeing portraits—the current dishevelled beggar Emperor differed vastly from the majestic portraits…
“If the Emperor gets beaten to death by his own subjects like this, the joke would be huge…” Ye Chui said, sweating.
“Someone weighty must identify him as the Emperor.” Leisha also sweated.
Ye Chui immediately thought of Zask’s trio. Let them identify. Unknown if they found the organisation. Their proof would be perfect.
…
Zask, Meidu, and Neil indeed found Ye Chui’s so-called River God.
But the River God’s true form shocked them: an incredibly beautiful head. The head not only lived but happily ate, chatted, conned people into believing her…
After explaining to the River God—Celty—they came on Ye Chui’s behalf, Celty happily trusted them. The three, originally prepared to explain, felt depressed.
This big sister too trusting. Not afraid they were Church agents?
They overthought. Celty’s identity too sensitive. Though just a useless head, she was a gods clan god. If Church discovered her true identity, they would spare no effort to hunt her—more important than the Tidal Empire to them.
Her name Celty unknown outside. In gods era, more known as Headless Knight, Undead Ferryman. Zask’s trio naming Celty proved their identity sufficiently.
Then per Ye Chui’s request, the three directed Celty’s conned followers, preparing to spread rumours of Church killing the Emperor, awaiting Ye Chui’s chance to publicly execute him on street.
Neil summoned Falcon Beast, carrying Celty high. From sky, overlooking capital, seeking Ye Chui’s group.
“Ptoo ptoo—” Wind blew hair into Celty’s mouth. She constantly spat it out.
Neil holding her tidied the hair, saying, “Our Falcon Beast clan keeps short hair regardless of gender, to prevent hair blocking sight.”
“I will cut short too later. Too troublesome. Ah, still best with own body. Pity mine exploded…” Headless sister grumbled, then suddenly serious. “You are Neil, right? I am older than you (…) . From meeting, wanted to say—your outfit? Tidal Empire girls seem conservative. Yours bolder than Leisha, Celty’s. Not proper. Girls should be reserved. No more such clothes. So embarrassing.”
Miss Neil tearfully: You think I want this? Blame your president…
Suddenly she saw something. Falcon Beast clan ability not just summoning Falcon Beast, controlling birds. Powerful vision too. She spotted chaos on Puppet Statue Street, urgently saying, “There! The Emperor… getting beaten by a crowd!?”
Last words full of shock.
Even more surprising, she soon saw more. “Hm? Capital guards rushing over. And… Lord Xelas!”
Mad Dragon clan leader Xelas, responsible for capital security. Chaos on Puppet Statue Street, mad beggar claiming Emperor causing outrage. He nearby, naturally investigated!
…
“His Majesty the Emperor!?”
From afar, Xelas recognised the Emperor. The beggar kicked and punched was him. His shout deafening, numbing countless civilians’ eardrums.
Then Xelas charged like a fierce dragon, knocking many aside. Even a building grazed by his body collapsed!
The men handling the Emperor froze momentarily, then flung away by terrifying force.
This shocked onlookers on the street.
“The Emperor… Majesty!?”
“This beggar really the Emperor?”
“But… how did His Majesty become like this!?”
“I, I just spat on him…”
Xelas helped the beggar up, voice trembling. “Your Majesty, what happened… How did you become this?”
“Xelas, Xelas it is you. Quick, save me. Someone wants to kill me!” The Emperor, seeing Xelas, clung to his arm, crying snot and tears, eyes fearfully scanning around.
“Kill you? Who dares!” Xelas thundered.
“It, it is…” The Emperor prepared to answer.
“It is I!” Ye Chui overjoyed at this moment. Unexpected Xelas appearance identified the Emperor. His proof most authoritative. Though Xelas powerful, at most Xeral level. Ye Chui disregarded. Could still kill the Emperor.
“He is Ye…” The Emperor urgently shouted.
But next moment, cold frost descended on him. Body trembled. Face instantly paled. Could speak no more. An ice chill spell Ye Chui stole from Bosley’s magic guide book, latent in the Emperor, triggerable by Ye Chui.
“Your Majesty? Your Majesty, what is wrong?” Xelas horrified, shaking the Emperor’s shoulders constantly. The Emperor merely chilled, speechless. Violently shaken by Xelas, head lolled. He fainted.
Ye Chui and companions, disguised as Church members, emerged from crowd.
Ye Chui face cold. “The divine has tired of the Emperor’s service. So remove him!”
Onlookers shocked, unclear why Church kill their Emperor. Xelas disbelieving. “What are you doing? This, impossible!”
Even to control Tidal Empire, best hold Emperor hostage, use his prestige to manipulate. How possibly directly kill? Incite public wrath?
“The divine is greatest existence. It kills whom it wishes. Who dares stop me—kill!” Ye Chui coldly drew hatred for the Church.
Xelas gritted teeth in hate. Mad Dragon phantom beast emerged on him.
Then someone urgently pulled Xelas’s arm. “Father, calm…” His son, worriedly whispering. “Best not oppose Lord Xis. His decisions represent Church will!”
Xelas angrily turned, shoving him. “Shut up, Enlas!”
“Father, my name is Dalas…”
“You are my son. I say Enlas, so Enlas. Change name from today!” Xelas angrily declared. He glared at Ye Chui ferociously. “Xis, I promised non-interference. But ensure Emperor and Tidal Empire safety. Now you clearly breach agreement. Then no courtesy. To kill the Emperor today, step over my body…”
As voice grew louder, his Mad Dragon phantom beast condensed more terrifyingly, revealing ferocity.
But at his momentum peak, puff. Behind him, Dalas suddenly held a dagger, stabbing Xelas’s back.
Mad Dragon phantom vanished.
“You, you…” Xelas stunned, turning to his son.
“What father constantly misnames his son…” Dalas complexly looked at father. “Sorry, Father. I truly do not want to oppose the Church!”
Ye Chui’s group, prepared for battle but ultimately unnecessary: “…”
Ye Chui suddenly realised this Dalas was the “unwilling to reveal name Mad Dragon eldest son” detected in his magic guide book. He long harboured resentment towards father Xelas.
Now seeing father attack disguised Xis, he ruthlessly backstabbed Xelas.
