Chapter 365: Rising Undercurrents
Emperor Xue Ye has fallen into a coma!
As he held the confidential letter in his trembling hands, Xue Beng's face paled with despair, and his gaze became unfocused.
Seeing Xue Beng's look of despair, Prince Xue Xing rushed over. Sensing the gravity of the situation, he urgently asked, "What happened?"
"Father… he… he won't last much longer…" Xue Beng stammered, his voice filled with dread.
Prince Xue Xing stood frozen, feeling as if a bolt of lightning had shattered all their last hopes. Glancing at Xue Beng—who, despite his strength, was still a child beneath his calm facade—Prince Xue Xing sighed deeply.
"Xue Beng, we can't wait any longer. We must find Tang San. Only he might be able to turn the tide in our favor!"
Xue Beng, jolted back to his senses, clutched at this lifeline with desperate resolve. "Yes! Yes, we must get to Tang San!"
"The palace is practically overrun with Xue Qinghe's people. Our meeting with Tang San must be secretive. Any slip, and we're doomed," Prince Xue Xing reminded him solemnly.
Xue Beng nodded gravely.
In another section of the palace, Tang San sat cross-legged, facing upward as he practiced. Outside the hall, blue silver grass pulsed in a rhythmic pattern, drawing energy from the air around him and funneling it into his body like a vortex. In his hand, he held a simple wooden comb.
It was the comb he once used to brush Xiao Wu's hair. Now that she was gone, with no remains left behind, this memento was all he had to remember her by. Devoting every moment to training, Tang San pushed himself to exhaustion in a relentless quest for power. Only by surpassing Dai Yao could he uncover Xiao Wu's fate.
But amid the tranquility, a disruption broke the stillness.
Tang San's brow furrowed as he opened his icy gaze, killing intent brimming. "Who's there?" he demanded.
Stepping forward, a figure revealed himself and spoke quickly, "Please don't be alarmed, Tang San. I am Prince Xue Beng."
Tang San's eyes hardened when he recognized the intruder as Xue Beng, the prince who had once humiliated him and his friends at Shrek Academy and expelled them from the Heaven Dou Royal Academy. He eyed Xue Beng and Prince Xue Xing icily, barely masking his disdain.
"How you managed to sneak past the guards doesn't concern me," Tang San said, uninterested. "Get out. You're not welcome here."
Xue Beng's desperation rose. Getting to Tang San had required a heavy favor from a titled Douluo who had used a special skill to transport them here. There would be no second chance.
Taking a steadying breath, he realized he had to keep his voice low; any loud noise could alert the guards, who were now loyal to Xue Qinghe. Calming himself, he said, "Tang San, aren't you the least bit curious as to why we've come?"
"No," Tang San replied coldly, eyes closing as he resumed his practice, dismissing the princes entirely.
Xue Beng's frustration flared, but he took a deep breath and softened his tone. "Tang San, the empire is on the brink of ruin, and only you can save it. If you don't act, all of Heaven Dou will fall into Xue Qinghe's clutches."
Tang San's eyes remained shut as he replied coolly, "Prince Xue Qinghe's rise to power has been long anticipated. You, a mere playboy, desiring the throne is sheer folly."
Xue Beng exchanged a glance with Prince Xue Xing, who took a step forward and spoke earnestly, "Tang San, there's more here than you realize. Xue Beng's behavior has been a ruse, a way to survive. If he'd shown any true talent, he would've met the same fate as his elder brothers."
Tang San's eyes shot open, fixated on Xue Beng. If Prince Xue Xing's words were true, then a sinister plot had lurked in the palace for years, one with deadly consequences. The idea left Tang San feeling as if he were peering into a fathomless abyss, its darkness threatening to swallow him whole.
"Explain yourselves," he demanded, suspicion flickering in his eyes.
Prince Xue Xing's expression turned somber as he recounted the events. "Years ago, the one expected to inherit the throne wasn't Xue Qinghe but the second prince. While his talent wasn't outstanding, he was wise and capable. Just as ministers were discussing his appointment as crown prince, he suddenly died."
"Not long after, the third prince, the most gifted among them, also died. Emperor Xue Ye asked me to investigate, and from scattered clues, I concluded that both deaths had a common cause: poison."
"A poison that only a martial soul could produce."
Tang San's gaze darkened. "Are you suggesting Xue Qinghe was responsible?"
"We have no direct proof," Prince Xue Xing replied, his tone decisive. "But the one who benefited most from their deaths was Xue Qinghe. After years of observing and waiting, we're certain it was his doing."
"What evidence do you have?" Tang San pressed.
"We were told by Dugu Bo that the poison was a mixed toxin, triggered by a specific spice. And the only one in the palace who uses that spice—"
"—is Xue Qinghe," Prince Xue Xing concluded.
Slowly, the pieces began to align in Tang San's mind. The unsettling changes he'd noticed in the palace, the peculiar atmosphere—all pointed toward a brewing storm. And then he remembered Xue Qinghe's recent coldness toward him, sending a chill through his heart.
But despite his mounting doubts, Tang San had already pledged loyalty to Xue Qinghe. A single accusation wouldn't be enough to break that bond. For that, he'd need to confirm Prince Xue Xing's claims himself.
After a moment's thought, Tang San responded, "I'll investigate the truth of your words myself. If I find them credible, I'll reconsider my position."
Xue Beng felt a spark of hope at Tang San's shift in tone and moved to speak further, but Prince Xue Xing stopped him. He turned to Tang San, his voice solemn and sincere. "Thank you, Tang San. Please, don't delay. Notify the Clear Sky Clan. Emperor Xue Ye is close to death, and Xue Qinghe will move soon. If you wait, it may be too late."
Tang San's gaze hardened. "Understood."
Prince Xue Xing nodded. Pressing a small device in his hand, he and Xue Beng disappeared, leaving Tang San's quarters eerily silent once more.
Alone again, Tang San stared down at the worn wooden comb in his hand, his heart hollow. A fierce killing intent surged within him as he considered Prince Xue Xing's words.
"If what they say is true, then Xue Qinghe's rise is undoubtedly backed by the Spirit Hall. Only one power on the continent could support such a long and secretive infiltration—only the Spirit Hall."
Tang San knew he didn't need solid evidence to suspect a link between Xue Qinghe and the Spirit Hall. All he had to do was identify the power poised to benefit most from an upheaval in Heaven Dou, and the answer would be clear.
However, Tang San's intuition, though based on mere guesses, wasn't far from the truth.
"Xiao Wu, don't worry. I won't let Spirit Hall or those who harmed you escape justice. Wait for me—I'll start my revenge with Xue Qinghe…"
In the following days, everything proceeded as planned. Emperor Xue Ye spent longer periods in a coma, and his moments of lucidity grew shorter. Gradually, imperial affairs fell under Xue Qinghe's control, as everyone awaited Emperor Xue Ye's final breath and Xue Qinghe's ascent to the throne.
Thanks to Xue Xing and Prince Xue Beng's cover, Tang San finally seized a brief opportunity to visit Emperor Xue Ye alone. Just as Prince Xue Xing had claimed, Xue Ye was indeed poisoned with a complex toxin, triggered by the spices used exclusively by Xue Qinghe. After a few targeted acupuncture treatments, Emperor Xue Ye slowly regained consciousness.
"Tang San, I've heard of your skills with poisons, but I never imagined you'd be able to suppress my condition like this," Emperor Xue Ye said weakly, yet with a smile.
Though Emperor Xue Ye had regained consciousness, Tang San had already confirmed the truth of Prince Xue Xing's words. The threat was now undeniable and extremely close. But he knew one misstep could lead to disaster for everyone involved.
Initially, he considered revealing the truth to Emperor Xue Ye, whose authority could intimidate potential dissenters. But with half the palace already under Xue Qinghe's control, any sign of resistance from Emperor Xue Ye would immediately alert his adversary. Caught in Xue Qinghe's carefully laid trap, Tang San and his allies would be left without any escape.
To truly gain the upper hand, he needed Xue Qinghe's identity as a Spirit Hall spy to be exposed. Only then could Heaven Dou's loyalists awaken to the truth and turn against Xue Qinghe.
"Your Majesty, I ask that you keep this encounter a secret. I was never here, and you never regained consciousness," Tang San murmured.
Emperor Xue Ye's expression chilled. Despite his weakened state, the force of his authority rivaled even the menace of Tang San's Killing God Domain.
"What is it that you're keeping from me?" he demanded.
Emperor Xue Ye, though gravely ill, was far from an ordinary man; his years on the throne had sharpened his instincts. He sensed something grave from the way Tang San spoke in riddles.
Tang San took a deep breath. "Your Majesty, even with my intervention, your health can only hold out for about a month. Forgive me, but I cannot tell you the truth now. Revealing it would endanger not only your life but the fate of Heaven Dou Empire itself."
"In one month's time, everything will be revealed to you," he added.
Emperor Xue Ye scrutinized Tang San, the silence between them thick with unspoken tension. Though he wanted to press for answers, his years of political insight led him to refrain.
"Very well. I'll give you one month," Emperor Xue Ye replied at last.
Tang San bowed respectfully and withdrew.
Returning to his quarters, Tang San sent a desperate message to Clear Sky Clan, knowing well that Golden Crocodile Douluo was guarding its entrance. Despite the blockade, he had to make an attempt. Should Heaven Dou fall to Spirit Hall, the continent would be unable to withstand the ensuing chaos.
If his clan wouldn't intervene, he had another contingency: turning to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. Though their strength was far inferior to Clear Sky Clan's, their support could disrupt Xue Qinghe's scheme enough to prevent a complete takeover. Even if the empire were to split between Xue Qinghe and Xue Beng, it would weaken his enemy's hold on power.
With the Golden Iron Triangle and his father, Tang Hao, he felt he had a fighting chance against Xue Qinghe.
As the days passed, Xue Qinghe noticed that Emperor Xue Ye's condition had slightly improved. But, considering the incurable toxicity of the poison, she dismissed it as the emperor's final resurgence before death.
The political arena in Heaven Dou had grown eerily quiet, with ministers no longer bickering and all eyes fixed on the impending news of Emperor Xue Ye's death. Yet, Emperor Xue Ye clung to life stubbornly. In this strange silence, the wheels of fate slowly turned.
Standing beside Xue Qinghe in the emperor's sickroom, Dai Yao noticed his own increasing sense of foreboding.
This wasn't mere paranoia. Dai Yao, highly suspicious of Tang San and Xue Beng, had been carefully observing their actions. During his time monitoring Emperor Xue Ye's bedside, he noticed subtle exchanges of glances between Tang San and Xue Beng. These exchanges were quick, almost imperceptible, yet enough to unsettle him deeply.
The sudden improvement in Emperor Xue Ye's condition only heightened Dai Yao's sense of dread.
Just recently, he had once again urged Xue Qinghe to eliminate Tang San and Xue Beng, warning that their influence should be stopped before it spread. But Xue Qinghe, ever-proud, dismissed his concerns, deeming them unnecessary.
Dai Yao, though confident that Tang San and Xue Beng could not thwart their plans, still made certain preparations. Hidden beneath his mask, a wry smile tugged at his lips.
"Tang San, you'd never guess that, like Emperor Xue Ye, both Xue Beng and Prince Xue Xing are also poisoned, would you?" he thought.
If Tang San and Xue Beng somehow managed to turn the tables on Xue Qinghe, Dai Yao was prepared to trigger the poison within Xue Beng and Prince Xue Xing at a moment's notice. Within seconds, they would fall. Without the royal bloodline of Xue Beng and Prince Xue Xing, who among Tang San's allies could rally Heaven Dou's ministers to their side?
Even if Xue Qinghe's plan failed, a divided Heaven Dou would pose a minimal threat to Spirit Hall's ambitions.
In the imperial palace, Dai Yao, Tang San, Xue Qinghe, Emperor Xue Ye, Xue Beng, and Prince Xue Xing all played their roles, each harboring hidden motives.
All of them believed they would emerge as the final victor—the proverbial mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. But in the end, who would truly hold the winning card? Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
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