The next day.
In front of the gates of the Imperial Capital, countless citizens gathered on both sides of the street without any organization from the authorities. The Imperial Guard held back the fervent crowd.
They repeatedly chanted Meng Qin’s honorific title:
“Space-Time Sword Saint, you are my faith. Oh my god, how will I live without you?”
“The current Empress’ Husband is just a decorative vase. How can he compare to the handsome and valiant Minister? I agree with the Sea Prince’s proposal to make the Minister the Empress’ Husband!”
“The Sword Saint is coming out! So handsome! As expected of my husband!”
“Wow… I’m having a nosebleed. The Minister’s looks are making it hard for me to keep my legs together.”
Amidst the waves of exclamations, the crowd’s attention focused on a towering, intricately carved Imperial Carriage.
Meng Qingzhou stood tall, waving to the crowd, but the smile on his lips was somewhat stiff.
“Wife, your husband is a Sword Saint. There’s no need to ride the Emperor’s carriage. I can take you flying through the wind and return to Present Village in an instant.”
“This is too high-profile.”
Meng Qingzhou was extremely uncomfortable being treated as a national idol. He couldn’t deny he was happy, but it was his first time experiencing such a situation, and he felt a bit awkward.
The carriage was spacious enough to accommodate more than ten people.
At this moment, Dongfang Liuli, Su Qingqiu, Wu Die, and a Big Yellow Dog were all gathered in the carriage.
The Sunlight Lord, looking like a donkey, carried large bags of luggage, his dog face full of helplessness.
‘You two are playing roles, why drag me into this? I’m just a dog, why make it hard for a puppy?’
Wu Die and Su Qingqiu were wrapped tightly, looking like two mummies.
One was a famous cold Sword Immortal, the other had once served a rebel king, neither dared to show their faces in public.
“So many people! The Empress’ Husband’s prestige is almost catching up with Her Majesty’s.” Su Qingqiu’s big eyes rolled around, excitedly looking at the citizens on both sides of the street, transmitting her voice.
Wu Die, looking as if it was only natural, transmitted her voice: “Nothing strange about it. This is the proper standard for the Sword Saint’s travels.”
Dongfang Liuli sat gracefully on the couch, embodying the image of a virtuous wife. Hearing Meng Qingzhou’s soft complaints, she smiled and said:
“Oh?”
“Are you saying, husband, that you want to fly three thousand miles with your sword sense leading the way, returning to the village under the gaze of over three hundred people, looking majestic?”
“That works too. It’s time to let those foolish villagers see how the former live-in son-in-law has transformed into the Space-Time Sword Saint.”
Upon hearing this, Meng Qingzhou immediately shut his mouth.
Fine!
He had wanted to lay low for a while, but returning to the village so high-profile might scare the village chief Jiang Dahai to death.
Dongfang Liuli’s lips curled up in a smile.
‘Ha, easily handled this little salt fish.’
‘Do you even know the way back to the village? Do you know where Present Village is? Talking about flying back with your sword, even if you’re a Sword Saint, you’re still adorably silly.’
The entire city wept, reluctant to see Minister Meng resign and retire.
But who had the right to keep him?
Everyone knew in their hearts that the one who had contributed the most to Great Jin overcoming its crises was none other than him.
As the carriage left the gates of the Imperial Capital, Meng Qingzhou spoke loudly:
“Thank you for your love. Meng Qin is deeply humbled, but all good things must come to an end. Everyone, please stay.”
Hidden in the crowd, the Sea Prince, dragging his wounded body, gritted his teeth in extreme unwillingness and couldn’t help but ask:
“Minister Meng… no, I should call you the Space-Time Sword Saint. You once made a pact with the seven major forces to fight for a future for the Wilderness!”
“It was for this reason that the Old Ancestors of the seven major forces willingly handed over their power to help unify Great Jin.”
“But now, you want to resign and retire. If one day, the Old Ancestors of the seven major forces come back to reclaim their gifts, what will you do then?”
Meng Qingzhou’s face remained unchanged, his mind already prepared.
He was very familiar with the plot, even though the storyline had completely collapsed, it didn’t affect the world’s structure and some hidden matters.
The conflict between Sky State and the Wilderness boiled down to four words: the path to unification.
Whoever could unify Sky State and the Wilderness would unify the entire world. The emperor who accomplished this would receive the “Human Emperor’s Authority.”
The “Human Emperor’s Authority” was a supreme law of heaven and earth, allowing one to break through the barrier of a major realm beyond the Heaven Supporting Realm.
In history, only one emperor had achieved this. He was the first Human Emperor, who rose when humanity was at its weakest, shepherded the gods, destroyed the calamity of darkness, ended the era of gods, and began a new chapter for humanity.
Even in the novel, the first Human Emperor was just a background character, never appearing in the main plot until the very end.
Sky State was already at the tail end of its wars, about to crown a single hegemonic force.
In such circumstances, the forces of Sky State naturally didn’t want to see the Wilderness unified, but they were mired in their own internal conflicts, resorting to schemes and plots.
But soon, Sky State would produce a single dominant force!
‘About a year until Sky State is unified.’
‘The chaotic times are coming…’
Meng Qingzhou shook his head, ready to explain.
Suddenly, Dongfang Liuli stood up, walked to Meng Qingzhou’s side, her face veiled, and said with a faint smile:
“Rest assured, even if my husband leaves the court, he will continue to uphold the mission of saving the world. I can guarantee that.”
After all, Present Village was within the palace grounds. No matter how much her salt fish husband messed around, it would ultimately benefit Great Jin.
The Sea Prince glared at her, almost blurting out, “Who do you think you are to guarantee for the Sword Saint?” but held back out of respect for Meng Qin.
Meng Qingzhou was surprised.
He didn’t expect his wife to lie, and so confidently at that.
In truth, what he really wanted to say was—”My path to saving the world is different from Her Majesty’s, but when the sky falls, I will be there.”
“Goodbye, Imperial Capital.”
“Goodbye, Empress.”
Meng Qingzhou murmured silently, gradually relaxing.
Just then.
A majestic voice came from the front: “Minister Meng, I haven’t personally seen you off yet. Are you in such a hurry to go home and be intimate with your wife?”
A figure in red blocked the carriage. It was the Empress!
Dongfang Liuli: ?
Suddenly, Dongfang Liuli’s breath stopped, her eyes widened.
Qiong had disguised herself as her again! And she seemed to have ill intentions.
“What do you want?!” Dongfang Liuli asked in a mix of surprise and anger, transmitting her voice.
Qiong glanced at the Empress, her gaze cold, and transmitted her voice:
“He is my Sword Saint Grandfather. What do you think I want, fox spirit?”
……………………..
[The next chapter will be a bit late. Read it tomorrow, don’t stay up late.]
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