Chapter 797 - Scapegoat

Zong Shou started to clear up his gains from the Qin Emperor Sub Tomb after Mingyu left.

He collected a lot more than just the Iron Balls and Pills from beside the tomb. There were also many other good things.

Looking carefully, just Mind Stones alone, there were 1,000 of them and all of them were High-Grade Xuan Mind Stones.

Apart from that, there are a few Magical Treasures which were all pretty good. One was a Jade, one was a Golden Robe, one was a Jade Crown, all of which were made for an Emperor.

There were many other random things lying around.

However, there wasn’t anything of value like the Heaven Essence Life Creation Pill.

“There is actually a Pill Recipe for it? Qin Emperor, what were your intentions?”

Zong Shou had many unanswered questions, then he frowned and sighed.

“Tough! When I die in the future, I will also have to establish a tomb. People will raid it just like I did today and wipe out all of my riches. What should I do? I remember 10,000 years in the future, all the tombs of emperors, none of them were safe.”

Thinking about this, he shook his head. What was he thinking? If he reached the pinnacle of the Sword Path, he was going to live forever.

If there was one day that he really died, he would tell his descendants not to bury him with anything.

Just as he was thinking about all these random thoughts, a talisman flew back. He retracted them all and gave out a scoffed. That fellow had already arrived.

He disembarked from the shuttle and as expected Jin Buhui was riding his horse over.

For some reason, his originally fat and round body was now much thinner, giving off a heroic spirit. He was wearing a Grade-4 Official Robe. It seemed like he was having a great time in the Great Shang Dynasty.

When he saw Zong Shou, his face was filled with surprise and joy.

Zong Shou smiled and walked over.

※※※※

A flask of wine and 2 wine cups, 7-8 plates of dishes.

At the corner of the road, within a restaurant, Zong Shou and Jin Buhui were eating and drinking, seated directly opposite one another.

The dishes were all really basic, they couldn’t be considered delicious. But, the wine was given by Leidong, Zong Shou’s treasure and was quite decent.

The restaurant was also really simple, there were holes in the walls all over.

However, to drink and eat together with a good friend, one didn’t bother worry about the decor.

“I really didn’t think that there would be a day when you greedy gold fatty could actually become a Grade-4 Official.”

Zong Shou drank his wine and looked closely at Jin Buhui, especially that robe.

“You are actually a Minister within the Censorate, how amazing!”

A Low Grade-4 Censorate Minister was one of the higher grade Officials within Great Shang.

This was different from his Great Gan which only ruled a few states of land.

Great Shang ruled dozens of states, hundreds of provinces. They ruled an area of land 70,000 miles from north to south and 100,000 from east to west.

His role involved observing and keeping in check the millions of Officials of the dynasty.

“I don’t want this role but forget it. If I had a choice, I would rather cultivate in the sect and be able to live freely.”

He sighed and then smiled, “Who knew that in just a short two years your cultivation would already reach the peak of the Spirit Realm? Unrivaled in the Cloud World. When my Junior and Senior Brothers talk about you, they are always really impressed!”

His tone then turned into a depressed one as he said, “I heard that recently you are about to leave the Cloud World? Leidong left and now you. My few Junior and Senior Brothers too. Now, I am the only one here within the Cloud World. Each time I think about it, I feel really lonely…”

“It is just for 20 years! I don’t believe that you will feel lonely.”

Zong Shou broke into a smile and then shook his head. Then, his expression turned serious.

“I heard that half a year ago, you handed up three documents. In the first you described how the Aristocratic Families were lawless and no one could restrict them. There were even some who colluded with local officials to hire troops and loyal soldiers. The second described how the Imperial Exams were controlled by the Aristocratic Families, causing the country to be sort of like a fake puppet, tough for poor people to rise up. In the third, you suggested the Imperial Court to change the rewards for people with titles. From now on to not give land, but just money. Thus, I wanted to ask you, are you crazy or do you really want to die?”

The moment he said this, the atmosphere within the restaurant instantly became cold.

“You really came for this matter!”

Jin Buhui kept silent for a moment before he mocked himself. He looked at the Grade-4 Censorate Official robe he was wearing.

“If not for these few documents, how do you think a person who barely achieved Grade-2 Jinshi in the exams could obtain such a position? The Emperor rewarded me for my efforts…”

“You are pushed to the front of the mouth of the knife!”

Zong Shou’s eyes shone a bright glow as he looked forward, “Do you know about the outcome? It is okay if the Great Shang Emperor wins, but if he compromises with them or loses, you will be thrown out to appease their anger? Even if he won, do you have the confidence to avoid the cruel murder of the Aristocratic Families? These families have managed the Central Cloud Continent for such a long time, the power structure here is really complicated with many entangling interests. Do you know how many people within Great Shang hate you to the bone?”

It wasn’t a possibility but something that would definitely happen! The Great Shang Yuancheng Emperor was an intelligent ruler, but his lifespan was about to finish. Although the battle was intense now, there would finally be a time when they had peace with the Aristocratic Families.

Based on what he knew, because of this internal battle, the power of Great Shang became really weak and the Aristocratic Families felt alienated.

Under the attacks of the outer region Alien Races, it was swiftly falling apart and giving rise to a chaotic era.

The following few decades relied on Kong Yao to support them.

However, he had already stolen that pillar, that Unparalleled Famous General that won all wars.

The Jin Buhui in his memory was really smart and didn’t look like one that would be used by others.

He should have feared such a situation and avoided it.

“These are instructions from others and not mine.”

Jin Buhui laughed bitterly, “Moreover, I really can’t stand these Aristocratic Families! If one looks back in history, one can see that if it wasn’t for these families causing problems everywhere, the Central Cloud Continent wouldn’t have had large periods of chaos every 1,000 years. Commoners were unable to live good lives while billions were wounded and killed. In the past, I didn’t like the Imperial Court for suppressing us, but only after entering the Dynasty did I realize that there was no choice. Sects and Aristocratic Families, even those factionless cultivators were huge problems for the country!”

The worry on his brow became thicker and thicker. His eyes were cold as he spoke, “If it isn’t your intentions, then did Emperor Yuancheng force you to do it?”

Jin Buhui avoided the question and didn’t reply, saying flatly, “It hadn’t reached such a state! Normal Censorates wouldn’t dare to submit such documents. Only I with Haoxuan Sect as my shield had such rights. With the sect to rely on, even if anything happens, it won’t be too bad. At most, I will be removed from my position. Isn’t that what I wanted?”

Zong Shou opened his mouth. He wanted to say that when the time came, even Haoxuan Sect might not be able to protect him!

He calmed himself down and kept silent.

Wood had already been made into a boat now. Since he had made his mind up, it would be no use to persuade him.

However, he felt really uneasy in his heart and had a bad feeling.

In the end, he could only sigh, raising up the wine flask and helping him pour a cup.

“If you have no choice, you can run over to Great Gan to hide. Within my country, no one can harm you.”

Jin Buhui laughed out loud. Haoxuan Sect was his shield so wasn’t Great Gan Zong Shou, the Blood Sword Monster Lord who suppressed a world, someone he could rely on too?

To two of them continued to speak, but they didn’t mention the Aristocratic Families as well as the matters of Great Shang.

They talked casually about everything. 40% of the time was Zong Shou advising him on cultivation to help solve his queries and things that he didn’t understand.

He had a feeling that this fellow still persisted on the cultivation path as well as money.

However, he was still a little distracted by his focus on all parts of Great Shang. If not, his progress wouldn’t have been so slow.

Based on what he said, since he was a Low-Grade-4 Official, then he needed to be fit for his identity and do things for the people.

After all, he was a Confucian Faction disciple and he couldn’t not do anything in a world where chaos was about to rise up.

The two of them talked casually for a day before Jin Buhui took his leave.

He rode the Grade-5 Mount to fly back to the Capital. He was an Official and he rushed back in time to participate in the daily assembly.

Zong Shou sat alone, looking opposite in a daze.

He knew that his friend was dropping step by step into an abyss, but there was no way he could pull him out.

Such dejection and defeat as well as anxiousness was tough to describe in words.

In the next moment, he looked to the side.

“Since you are here, why not come in and sit? You keep hiding to eavesdrop, don’t you think someone like you shouldn’t be doing such things…”

The moment he said this, two people appeared from outside of the restaurant. One of them was dressed as a Confucian while the other was an Old Taoist.

“Ruler has such sharp Spiritual Senses!”

They didn’t feel awkward at all for being found out as they walked over confidently, greeting Zong Shou, “Commoner Taoist Zhongxuan greets the Great Gan Ruler!”

The person in front of him, be it his position as Ruler or disciple of Dragon Shadow, deserved his respect.

His lips couldn’t help but curl up in disdain. What sharp Spiritual Sense?

If a God Realm Cultivator wanted to hide, how could he notice him?

The Zhongxuan was just too close or maybe he was trying to probe and test him.

“So it is Great Shang Grand Tutor Zhongxuan!”

Zong Shou asked directly, “Did you hear everything just now?”

The person probably came earlier than when he had sensed.

“Naturally, I did!”

Zhongxuan nodded slightly, “As the Ruler of a country, you are close to invincible in the Cloud World. Since you came to my Great Shang, I had to be careful. Please forgive me!”

He smiled and his eyes squinted with a dangerous glow, “It is good that you heard it! Jin Buhui is my good friend and our relationship is deep. Please tell your Emperor that no matter what, all of you are planning not to hurt him. If not, I will stop at nothing!”

“Preposterous!”