During a lull in the conversation with Bai Jin, a maid approached and whispered something into Bai Jin’s ear. A flash of displeasure crossed Bai Jin’s eyes, and she replied coolly, “I am meeting with guests. Have them wait a moment.”
The maid bowed and left. Jiang Huai looked at Bai Jin quizzically. He heard her say softly, “It’s those three Snake Clan elders who wish to see me.”
“If it’s something urgent for the Snake Clan, Senior, you can attend to it first…”
“What could they possibly want? They only have one thing on their minds: to ask me to plead with the Dragon Clan to bestow a few drops of rain upon the Snake Clan.”
Seeing the confusion in Jiang Huai’s eyes, Bai Jin took a sip of tea and explained, “The relationship between the Monster Clan and the Dragon Clan is delicate. Throughout the years, the Monster Clan has offered tribute to the Dragon Clan. The Dragon Clan is a race blessed by the Heavenly Way. If they were to bring rain for the Snake Clan, they would not be subject to a Heavenly Way curse. A few years ago, Bai Li defied her arranged marriage and fled from the Western Region, angering the Dragon Clan. Since then, they have been unwilling to lend a hand during the great droughts affecting the Monster Clan.”
Bai Jin snorted, “The tribute the entire Monster Clan pays to the Dragon Clan each year is already astronomical. The more we try to please them, the more subservient and lowly we become. This is not Bai Li’s fault. Now that I have returned to the Snake Clan, I will no longer compromise as I did before.”
Jiang Huai gazed into Bai Jin’s eyes. Her gaze was particularly resolute, and the coldness radiating from her seemed to chill the very air. Jiang Huai nodded gently and said, “Aunt Bai, you can discuss it with them first.”
Bai Jin glanced at the maid, who then went to the door and welcomed in the three Snake Clan elders. The three elders were all clad in form-fitting black robes; two men and one woman. The two male elders sat in silence, their expressions icy, while the female elder began to recount the news that had been coming in from various Snake Clan cities recently.
These were the numbers of Snake Clan members who had died from the heat during the great drought.
“The Snake Clan is now filled with grumbling and complaints. Is this what you, Emperor Bai, wished to see?” The female elder’s voice trembled, yet her demeanor remained outwardly respectful. Bai Jin merely glanced at her coldly. In an instant, her entire aura shifted dramatically from how she had been just moments before when chatting casually with Jiang Huai.
“Then what do you expect me to do? Travel to the Dragon Clan and beg for forgiveness? Do you think I haven’t been to the Dragon Clan before? With the arrogance of those Dragon Clan members, there is no possibility of reconciliation after that break in trust.”
“But the Dragon Clan’s Third Prince sent a message last time, saying that if the Grand Princess were willing to humble herself, beg for forgiveness, and admit her mistake, he wouldn’t mind asking his father to give the Snake Clan another chance…”
Before the female elder could finish her sentence, the entire bamboo grove plunged into an abyss-like cold.
For the first time, Jiang Huai keenly felt such a potent killing intent that every hair on his body stood on end. Yet, Bai Jin had merely been sitting there, saying nothing.
After a moment, she finally spoke softly, “Having served as an elder for so many years and managed the affairs of the Snake Clan on my behalf, do you truly not understand?”
“He doesn’t just want Bai Li; he wants the attitude of the entire Snake Clan. If Bai Li is handed over, it means the Snake Clan will once again yield, remaining subservient slaves to the Dragon Clan. But now that I am in the Ninth Realm, I no longer need to depend on the Dragon Clan. If I bow my head this time, there will be no chance for recovery in the future.”
“But it has always been this way. Your Majesty, 600,000 of our kin died last month, 800,000 the month before, and this month isn’t over yet. Already, a million kin have died in the wilderness. In addition to the drought, there is also a rampant plague. If there were any other choice, who would willingly prostrate themselves at the Dragon Clan’s feet? But now, we are faced with a choice between submission or death… is there any other path?”
As the female elder spoke, her shoulders trembled more violently. Her voice grew sharp, her aged face etched with exhaustion, her eyes filled only with a plea.
Bai Jin lowered her head in silence, offering no immediate response.
This strange silence persisted for the time it takes one incense stick to burn, perhaps two. Jiang Huai held his breath. As an outsider, he had no right to participate in this conversation.
However, he heard the numbers of Snake Clan members who had died and had a general understanding of the situation. A vague sense of unease suddenly stirred within him.
Bai Li, despite her outwardly carefree nature, was actually sensitive and considerate. Did she know of their current predicament? Did she feel any guilt towards her kin? This was not her fault, yet she had to bear the consequences.
“The drought will eventually pass. Will it last for eternity?” Bai Jin raised her head. “As for the plague, the medicinal formula has just been improved. The new formula can reduce the consumption of medicinal materials by nearly seventy percent. If the formula is effective, the plague should be completely eradicated within three months.”
“Your Majesty, do you truly not understand, or are you deliberately avoiding the issue? The plague originated from this great disaster. If the disaster is not resolved, the new plague will inevitably return. At that time, it will still be an endless pit that cannot be filled.”
“For how many years now,” Bai Jin looked at the female elder before her, her voice no longer as cold as before, but soft as she spoke, “has the Snake Clan forgotten how to live with dignity? We need to remember, even if it brings pain.”
“Call it my high-handedness, call it my cold-bloodedness, I will not agree. Rather than handing over my daughter and groveling to the Dragon Clan, I would choose to leave the Snake Clan with her and forsake all responsibility for the Snake Clan, watching from the sidelines.”
At this point, the conversation had completely collapsed. The female elder’s eyes gradually lost their luster. She looked towards the scorching sunlight in the distance, perhaps the light was too harsh, causing tears to stream from her eyes.
“I understand, Your Majesty.” She slowly stood up and walked unsteadily towards the door. The moment her cultivation aura was released, Jiang Huai suddenly realized that this female elder sitting here was herself an early-stage Eighth Realm cultivator.
An Eighth Realm cultivator was an extremely noble existence, even among the Human Clan.
Bai Jin sensed her released aura and called out, “Bai Lu, what are you doing?”
“I know Your Majesty’s intentions.” Bai Lu slowly turned her head. Her face was already very aged. As a Snake Clan elder, she had lived for a very, very long time, so long that she could no longer remember her own age. Bai Jin herself was someone she had watched grow up. It was only because Bai Jin had been away for a long time and had leaped to the Ninth Realm upon her return that she had naturally become the new Emperor of the Snake Clan.
“Many members of the Snake Clan are barely hanging on this month. No one knows how long this drought will last. But Your Majesty, I am unwilling to wait any longer. Instead of leaving everything to fate, it is better to rely on ourselves and let our kin see the dew again.”
Bai Jin looked at her aged face, wanting to speak but hesitating.
“Your Majesty, you need not blame yourself.” Bai Lu gently shook her head. “If Your Majesty can truly lead the Snake Clan to re-experience the glory of a thousand years ago, that would also be excellent.”
Her body soared into the sky, leaping towards the hot heavens. Her two male elders followed behind her, their heads raised in silent observation of her.
When Jiang Huai saw the phenomenon in the sky, he suddenly understood what she intended to do… she was going to forcefully invoke a magical technique to bring a downpour to the Snake Clan’s territory in the Western Region. And since ancient times, the only price for defying the Heavenly Way Will was… death.
Bai Jin finally stood up. In an instant, she appeared in the sky opposite Bai Lu, placing her hand on Bai Lu’s forehead and forcibly interrupting her invocation. She said coldly, “The Snake Clan still requires many of your services. Go down. I will invoke the wind and rain. At most, my source will be injured, but I will not lose my life.”
Bai Lu was about to speak again, but Bai Jin’s cold gaze fell upon her, leaving only a single command, “Go!”
Her body was forcefully pushed back to the ground by Bai Jin’s pressure. Bai Jin raised her head and looked at the dark sky. As she invoked the magical technique, the phenomenon in the heavens and earth revealed itself. The once clear sky was now covered with dense black clouds, and a storm was brewing.
The Snake Clan members inside and outside the Imperial City looked up, staring dumbfounded at the dark sky. Many rejoiced, unable to contain themselves and began to dance.
High above in the sky, wind, rain, and thunder descended in an instant. Scarlet blood lightning, like a surging angry dragon, tore towards Bai Jin. Bai Jin swung her sword to block, but her body was struck by countless scarlet lightning bolts. Her face remained cold, only her brows furrowed slightly.
Gazing at the rumbling heavenly lightning, Jiang Huai felt an inexplicable powerlessness. He could only watch as Bai Jin battled the scarlet blood lightning. With every swing of her sword, the blood lightning weakened, but her body became increasingly saturated with lightning.
When the lightning was finally vanquished by her sword, her body returned to the bamboo grove. She calmly glanced at the three elders and said softly, “Go back. Do not become entangled in karma.”
The three elders left the courtyard. Bai Jin also dismissed the maids. She sat back down opposite Jiang Huai. Just as Jiang Huai was about to speak, she leaned forward slightly, and a large amount of blood spewed onto the porcelain white table, resembling a blooming blood flower.
“Aunt Bai, you…”
“It’s nothing.” Bai Jin shook her head slightly. Moments later, she adjusted her posture, wiped the blood from her lips with the back of her hand, her lips parting, her delicate pink tongue licking away the bloodstains on her hand. “It’s just a slight injury to my source.”
The downpour in the courtyard fell, soaking both their bodies. Bai Jin said softly, “This downpour will last for two days, but it can only solve the immediate crisis.”
At this moment, she was no longer as strong and cold as before, her voice revealing a hint of fragility. She reached out to Jiang Huai and softly said, “Help me to my sleeping quarters.”
Jiang Huai moved to her side and supported her arm. But after only a few steps, Bai Jin vomited another large mouthful of blood. When Jiang Huai reached out to feel her pulse, he was shocked to realize… Bai Jin’s assurance of “it’s nothing” was just to pacify a child. Her body was still filled with countless lightning bolts, continuously destroying her body, yet being repaired time and again by her spiritual energy. She was enduring the suffering of a thousand needles piercing her body, a trial even more severe than his practice of the Overlord Art.
The torrential rain fell before them. Bai Jin’s steps faltered. Her lips parted, and she panted softly, looking at Jiang Huai before her and lowering her eyelashes. “I… I can’t walk anymore… Let’s rest a moment.”
Jiang Huai picked up a thick umbrella and held it over their heads. Bai Jin’s body seemed to be losing its stability, and she leaned closer to him. Jiang Huai gently held her shoulder, allowing her to lean on him.
The rain drummed on the umbrella. The Bai Jin beside him closed her eyes, her body going soft and slumping into his embrace.
