Chapter 41: Flames from Seven Orifices

Since ancient times, emperors have believed themselves to be exalted beings, sons of heaven.

Perhaps in some hyper-fantastical worlds, emperors truly are sons of heaven.

But in most worlds, emperors are merely ordinary people. It's just that these ordinary people wield immense power, causing most of them to become inflated.

Throughout history, there have been countless emperors who acted willfully.

Yet no matter how great an emperor's power, they are ultimately just ordinary people.

When people are killed, they die.

Even some who are proficient in sorcery can easily toy with these so-called sons of heaven.

Thus, these so-called sons of heaven naturally fear those skilled in sorcery; they deeply realize that they are no different from ordinary people.

If the emperor is petty, he might think... I absolutely cannot allow anyone in this world to be more formidable than me.

Driven by jealousy, the emperor would then order the extermination of all who practice sorcery.

In this world, those who practice sorcery are ultimately a minority.

Moreover, among most sorcerers, few can fight a thousand alone, and even those who can fight a hundred are rare.

Before the state apparatus, even sorcerers are just ordinary people. For this reason, even someone like Huang He holds imperial power in great awe.

Because in this world, imperial power is the state, and the state is imperial power.

If these sorcerers dared to cast spells on the Son of Heaven, even if they succeeded once and killed one emperor, the state would produce the next emperor, and the next.

If they fail even once, they would face extermination by the state.

Because the emperor, in his wrath, might order the slaughter of all proficient in sorcery, regardless of innocence—if you practice sorcery, you deserve death.

Such orders were not uncommon in ancient times.

The most famous among them is... execution of the nine familial lines!

Setting that aside, consider this time: Wang Bo used witchcraft to control Li Longji. If Huang He hadn't undone Wang Bo's spell, Li Longji would still be Wang Bo's puppet.

Faced with such eerie witchcraft, could Li Longji not be afraid?

If he weren't afraid, his reaction wouldn't be so violent, repeatedly ordering Wang Bo and Qin Liangyu killed.

It is precisely because of fear that Li Longji acts so frantically.

After this matter ends, Li Longji will surely think: since Wang Bo could control him, couldn't Huang He do the same? If Huang He could also control him, what would he do?

Even if Huang He has no such intention, Li Longji will think so. Because emperors are suspicious, and Li Longji is no exception.

Thus, for his own safety, Li Longji will order Huang He executed.

After executing Huang He, would the matter end?

No.

Li Longji would think: with Huang He dead, could there not be another Huang He? Even if there isn't one today, could there be none in the future? Who can guarantee?

So to protect imperial power, he would order the extermination of all proficient in sorcery, confiscate and burn all sorcery texts, until sorcery is eradicated and no longer threatens imperial power.

Even if Li Longji doesn't do this, would the next emperor refrain?

What about the emperor after that?

Thus, since ancient times, casting spells on the Son of Heaven has been a great taboo.

Because it arouses the emperor's suspicion, bringing deadly disaster upon that school of thought.

It was precisely because of this concern that Huang He earnestly advised Wang Bo to stop, unwilling to bring catastrophe to all sorcerers under heaven.

"General An..."

"Enough, shut up." Wang Bo waved his hand, cutting off Huang He. "I have no interest in Li Longji, no desire to kill him, and even less to control him. Put away your little schemes."

Huang He raised an eyebrow and asked, "If that's the case, then may I be so bold as to ask, what is your purpose?"

"My purpose is simple." Wang Bo pointed at Yang Guozhong. "Kill him."

"How dare you!" Li Longji roared, filled with hatred for Wang Bo. Hearing that Wang Bo wanted to kill his chancellor, his fury blazed. "Huang He, I command you to arrest this rebel at once."

Helpless, Huang He flicked out a yellow paper talisman. It landed on the ground and transformed into a fierce tiger, roaring at Wang Bo.

This illusion was lifelike; though an illusion, it could kill.

The tiger pounced at Wang Bo. Wang Bo casually flicked his hand, and a fireball appeared out of thin air, shooting like a meteor striking the moon, slamming into the tiger.

The tiger was instantly burned into paper, turning to ashes in the flames.

Seeing this, Huang He raised his hand, and a fountain appeared above his head, cascading down to douse the flames.

At the same time, he formed a sword gesture with his right hand, and several talismans flew from his sleeve, transforming into swords that stabbed at Wang Bo.

Wang Bo neither dodged nor avoided, striding forward.

With a series of clangs, the swords struck Wang Bo's body but were deflected, reverting to talismans and fluttering gently to the ground.

Several Imperial Guards saw their chance and charged at Wang Bo.

Wang Bo waved his hand, and an invisible repulsive force swept out from around him. Before the guards could reach him, they were sent flying.

Wang Bo reached out, and the weapons lying on the ground were lifted by an invisible force, their tips aimed at Huang He, shooting forth with a whoosh.

Helpless, Huang He could only dodge awkwardly.

In terms of strength, he was no match for Wang Bo.

Wang Bo raised his hand and waved, and an invisible repulsive force swept out, tearing up the stone slabs on the ground and sending the surrounding Imperial Guard soldiers tumbling.

Even Huang He himself was sent flying, landing with a thud and spitting out a mouthful of blood.

Seeing this, Li Longji shouted in terror, "Protect the emperor! Protect the emperor!!"

Gao Lishi, loyal to the core, stepped forward to shield Li Longji, using his own flesh and blood to protect him.

But Wang Bo had no interest in Li Longji. He turned to Qin Liangyu and said, "Kill Yang Guozhong."

Qin Liangyu nodded, knocked aside several Imperial Guards, and charged toward Yang Guozhong.

Yang Guozhong fled in panic.

But Qin Liangyu swung her white-tasseled spear, shattering Yang Guozhong's kneecap. Yang Guozhong fell to the ground with a thud, clutching his broken knee and wailing in agony.

Qin Liangyu remained unmoved. Just as she was about to kill Yang Guozhong, a sudden change occurred.

Aaaaaah...

Yang Guozhong let out an even more piercing scream. Flames burst from his eyes, startling Qin Liangyu.

Then, besides his eyes, flames erupted from his nostrils, mouth, ears, and other orifices.

For others, blood flows from seven orifices; for Yang Guozhong, flames burst from seven orifices.