After the guests completed their farewells, tens of thousands of Dragon Gate disciples entered the memorial hall in turn to pay their respects to Jiu Qiansui.
Then, Su Xiaoxiao, holding a token, walked out of the hall.
Ye Qiu, Qilin, Cao Qingcheng, Long Eyebrow, Tang Fei, Long Ye, Han Long, and Zhao Hu carried the coffin, lifting it outside and up the cliff, placing it before Cao Yuan’s bronze statue.
The statue, fifteen metres tall, clad in green robes, gazed forward — though made of bronze, it radiated majesty, lifelike and inviolable.
Before the statue stood four sturdy stone pillars, carved with dragon patterns, exuding grandeur.
At the statue’s base were three stone tablets.
The left tablet detailed Cao Yuan’s life.
The central tablet bore the words “Dragon Gate Leader Jiu Qiansui Cao Yuan.”
The right tablet was inscribed with two lines:
“Dragon hidden in sea and sky, Jiu Qiansui; crane returning to the underworld, a hundred thousand years. Ye Qiu weeps!”
Ye Qiu instructed Qilin, “Later, erect two more tablets — Elizabethan the elegies sent by Elder Tang and the War God.”
“Yes,” Qilin replied softly.
After the coffin was placed, Long Eyebrow solemnly shouted, “Fire the ceremonial cannons.”
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Forty-nine cannon shots echoed through the sky, shaking the mountains and rivers.
Long Eyebrow called out, “First bow!”
“Second bow!”
“Third bow!”
After the bows.
Ye Qiu knelt on both knees, saying, “Farewell to Jiu Qiansui.”
Thud!
Cao Qingcheng, Qilin, and the others knelt as well.
Below the cliff, over forty thousand Dragon Gate disciples knelt in unison, shouting, “Farewell to Jiu Qiansui.”
The guests stood, saying loudly, “Safe journey, Lord Cao.”
Long Eyebrow waved his robe, casting a flame talisman — instantly, the coffin and Cao Yuan’s body were engulfed in flames.
“Father…”
Su Xiaoxiao sobbed uncontrollably.
In that moment, her grief overwhelmed her, tears streaming down.
Cao Qingcheng’s beautiful face bore two trails of tears as she whispered, “Big brother, until we meet again.”
Ye Qiu, Qilin, and the others had tears in their eyes.
Boom!
Suddenly, a thunderclap roared.
The crowd looked up — the clear sky was now shrouded in dark clouds.
Minutes later, a light rain fell, as if the heavens wept for Cao Yuan.
As Cao Yuan’s body turned to ash, everyone stood motionless.
Su Xiaoxiao stepped forward, guided by Long Eyebrow, gathering Cao Yuan’s ashes into a sandalwood box, one handful at a time.
The ceremony ended.
The scene was silent.
Tens of thousands stood in the rain, reluctant to leave.
Ye Qiu stood atop the cliff, clasping his fists and bowing ninety degrees to the guests, saying, “Thank you all for attending Jiu Qiansui’s farewell today — I and all of Dragon Gate are deeply grateful.”
“If you ever need Dragon Gate’s help, just ask.”
“On behalf of Dragon Gate, I thank you all.”
Humble voices rose from the plaza below.
“No need for thanks, Sect Leader Ye.”
“It’s our honour to send off Lord Cao.”
“Indeed, no need for thanks — since Dragon Gate was founded, the underworld’s order has improved greatly — our businesses face no trouble — sending off Lord Cao is our duty.”
“…”
Ye Qiu continued, “I have an announcement to make — please share it with your martial world friends.”
“Jiu Qiansui chose me to lead Dragon Gate — I will carry out his will and complete his unfinished work.”
“From today, Dragon Gate begins to consolidate all of China’s underworld forces.”
“Within six months, Dragon Gate will unify all of China’s underworld!”
“Those who follow me will prosper — those who oppose me will perish.”
Ye Qiu’s voice thundered, reaching every ear.
The crowd was stunned.
Though Dragon Gate controlled Miaojiang, the northern fourteen provinces, and places like Jiangzhou and Suhang, many provinces’ underworld forces remained unconquered.
Ye Qiu’s words were a declaration of war on them.
The guests looked at the youthful figure atop the cliff, wondering:
Could he unify China’s underworld in six months?
Ye Qiu instructed Han Long, “Escort the guests for me.”
“Yes.”
Han Long obeyed, quickly departing.
Ye Qiu glanced at the ash box in Su Xiaoxiao’s hands and said, “Let’s go to the Nu River.”
Soon, they boarded the Underworld Palace’s helicopter and reached the Nu River.
Ye Qiu and the others disembarked, finding a scenic spot — Su Xiaoxiao opened the ash box, and she and Ye Qiu scattered Cao Yuan’s ashes into the river, handful by handful.
“A lifetime passes like grass in autumn — all turns to dust,” the War God mused.
Long Eyebrow wanted to recite a poem but held back, fearing Ye Qiu might hit him.
Watching Cao Yuan’s ashes flow east with the river, Ye Qiu’s heart swelled with emotion — he recited softly, “The Yangtze rolls east, washing away heroes.”
“Right and wrong, success and failure, vanish in a flash.”
“The green mountains remain, how many sunsets glow red.”
“White-haired fishermen on the riverbank, accustomed to autumn moons and spring breezes.”
“A cup of coarse wine, joy in meeting.”
“How many ancient and modern affairs, all laughed away!”
The War God, seeing Ye Qiu’s low spirits, comforted, “Life is long, Ye Qiu — don’t let Cao Yuan’s death cloud your heart.”
“I know,” Ye Qiu replied, aware of the many tasks ahead.
The War God added, “You killed Long Si and the others — the Forbidden City will be furious — prepare while those old monsters are still in seclusion.”
“Mm,” Ye Qiu nodded.
The ashes were scattered.
They returned to Miaojiang by helicopter — the War God flew straight to the capital without disembarking.
“Ye Qiu, everything’s handled here — I won’t stay — Underworld Palace has matters waiting — my warriors and I are leaving,” Tang Fei said.
Ye Qiu said gratefully, “Thanks for your help — next time we meet, drinks are on me.”
“Deal.”
Tang Fei and Long Ye left with the Underworld Palace warriors.
Long Eyebrow also bid farewell, “Little rascal, prepare when you’re back — I’ll come for you in a week to find that thousand-year elixir.”
“Alright,” Ye Qiu agreed.
The guests all departed.
Ye Qiu instructed Zhao Hu to have the Dragon Gate disciples return to their posts — soon, only Ye Qiu, Cao Qingcheng, Qinglong, Qilin, Han Long, Su Xiaoxiao, and Su Luoying remained.
They would guard Cao Yuan’s spirit for three days.
Three days later.
The vigil ended.
The night before leaving Miaojiang, late at night, Cao Qingcheng burst into Ye Qiu’s room, urging him to drink with her.
After a few cups.
Ye Qiu suddenly sensed something wrong, glaring at Cao Qingcheng, “You poisoned the wine? What are you planning?”
