One did not need to be sad. If one were sad, wouldn't that play right into their hands? They had gone to great lengths to find actors for this play, all to make one unhappy.
Therefore, one must be happy.
As long as one was happy, her objective would not be met.
And the Holy Emperor would surely recover and rise again.
Just you wait and see, she would surely regret this.
If she did not regret it, then I would be the one regretting.
But I would never let her have her way.
Seeing Gu Hong seemingly "troubled by love," Sun Qian could not bear to watch her sink deeper. She took flight and chased after her, calling out as she pursued, "Ah Hong, stop chasing, wake up! He doesn't care about you at all."
In Gu Hong's eyes, however, such an action was undoubtedly a deep mockery.
Gu Hong, filled with shame and rage, turned to attack Sun Qian.
Sun Qian, seeing Gu Hong stop, thought she had a change of heart and, overjoyed, sped up to catch up.
But Gu Hong's eyes overflowed with ferocity, and thunder seemed to rumble in her hands.
Sun Qian, completely unaware, smiled brightly, "Ah Hong, don't go."
At this moment, Mo Qi suddenly appeared behind her and grabbed her arm, "Don't go, it's dangerous."
Seeing Mo Qi appear, Gu Hong knew she couldn't kill Sun Qian. She dared not linger for another moment and turned to flee.
Sun Qian struggled fiercely but could not break free from Mo Qi's grasp, becoming somewhat annoyed, "Let go of me! Ah Hong is getting away! I can't just stand by and watch her fall deeper, I have to save her."
Mo Qi, instead, embraced her, causing her delicate body to tremble, "What are you doing? So many people are watching."
"So what if they're watching? I won't do anything out of line."
Sun Qian's face immediately flushed red, "Let me go."
"I won't let go, because you want to save her, and I want to save you."
Sun Qian turned back, confused, "I don't understand. You said it's dangerous, what danger could I be in?"
Mo Qi said solemnly, "I saw killing intent in her eyes, and spiritual energy flowing in her hands. She truly intended to kill you."
Sun Qian found it inexplicable, "We grew up together, inseparable, sharing everything. Why would she want to kill me?"
"Hearts are like faces, you can't see them. Growing up together doesn't mean your understanding of things grows together. Perhaps at some moment, your perspectives diverged, and the gap widened."
"I don't understand what you're saying."
"It's better to be a little foolish, lest you be greatly disappointed when you learn the truth."
"You... who are you calling foolish?"
"I'm calling Gu Hong foolish. This child is too foolish, jumping into a fire pit knowingly."
"Aren't you the same? Ever since we met, you've been setting traps for me, all sorts of traps, making it impossible for me to escape."
"Yes, the first moment I saw you, I knew. You are my captive. Do you admit it?"
"I do not!"
"Then, I am your captive."
"I don't want that!"
The people below the clouds watched the two embrace and found it distasteful, so they all walked away.
Yao Shuang was shrouded in a faint black aura, her eyes holding a trace of venom. After a glance, she snorted coldly and turned away.
Sun Qian felt that this was indeed inappropriate and struggled fiercely, "Let go of me! You're an Emperor, be mindful of your image."
Seeing that Gu Hong and her group had gone far, Mo Qi gently released her and smiled, "What do you think of being an Emperor? If you're not satisfied, I'll ascend to the heavens and become the Heavenly Emperor of the Iron Tree World. If you're still not satisfied, I'll break out of the Iron Tree World and become the Holy Emperor of all realms."
Sun Qian's face instantly lost all color, "No, please don't! I think things are fine as they are. If only we could return to the Black Water Tribe... Of course, it's impossible to return to the Black Water Tribe now. You've gone through so many bloody battles to reach your current position, you wouldn't give it up easily."
"Oh?" Mo Qi looked somewhat disappointed, "You don't like our current life?"
Sun Qian shook her head repeatedly, almost in tears, "No, no, it's just that... we stand so high now, and everyone around us has ulterior motives, coveting us. Danger lurks everywhere, and I can't help you. I feel so guilty."
"Alas," Mo Qi sighed, then slowly stepped forward and gently stroked her face, "I feel guilty too, making you feel like I've been tricking you all along."
"No, no, I was just talking nonsense."
Deep within the starry sky, Gong Gong had conquered the Tong Tree Empire and the An Tree Empire. Next, he would face the Qin Emperor.
As he was in high spirits, people kept reporting to him that Ye Yun of the Iron Tree World was developing at an astonishing pace. If allowed to continue, he would become a serious threat to him.
But he paid it no mind, "Hahaha, the Iron Tree World. Since I left, I will never return. Let him be arrogant, what does it have to do with me?"
Hong Jun also came to find him and told him that this Ye Yun was the former third prince of the Red Leaf Kingdom and that he would come to seek revenge. He wasn't very powerful yet, but if left unchecked and allowed to grow wildly, Gong Gong might not be able to suppress him in the future.
Gong Gong remained indifferent, "Heh heh, I'm not going back anyway. If he wants to deal with me, he'll have to catch up to me first. Hey? Ancestor Hong Jun, why are you so nervous? Are you afraid of him?"
"Ridiculous! Would I be afraid of him? Just a clown. Would I be afraid of him? Forget it, I can't be bothered to argue with you. Don't blame me for being nosy. If your city is besieged one day, remember that I warned you today." Hong Jun said indignantly.
With that, Hong Jun strode away.
Gong Gong let out a loud laugh, treating his words as a joke, and cast them aside, preparing to attack the Qin Emperor.
Mo Qi made thorough preparations, setting up various formations in the capital and leaving Zhan Zhan and Zhu Yan behind. Only then did he take Yao Shuang towards the Chi Domain.
At this time, the Chi Domain was expanding its territory year by year, now occupying one-third of the Iron Tree World.
Gong Gong had once attempted to destroy the Chi Domain, but not only did he fail, he almost couldn't retreat unscathed.
He gradually realized the formidable power of the Chi Mei. At this time, they had not yet fully revealed their fangs. Once their fangs emerged, ordinary people would be unable to resist.
This was one of the reasons he was eager to break out of the Iron Tree World without any hesitation.
He even worried about being trapped if he moved too slowly.
Before leaving, Mo Qi paid a visit to Ye Xingchen.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, they spoke of Ye Qingqing. Mo Qi also relayed Zi Luo's account, asking Ye Xingchen to help judge the reliability of Zi Luo's words.
Ye Xingchen stammered out a few words, which shocked Mo Qi, "Actually... there's something I've been meaning to tell you. Actually, your mother is also from that world. Later, when the Red Leaf Kingdom fell, her whereabouts became unknown. It's estimated she returned. If you're going to look for Qingqing, you can look for her as well."
Mo Qi was silent for a long time before finally saying, "It's not too late to tell me now."
Afterward, Mo Qi secretly resolved that once the Earth Star World was unsealed, he would go in search of his mother and Qingqing.
In the border region of the Red Leaf Empire, there was a Ruo Shui tribe. Previously, it was remote and secluded, living in peace. However, as the Chi Mei continuously expanded their territory, this place was engulfed in smoke. The Chi Mei invaded relentlessly, and the Ruo Shui tribe could not resist, constantly migrating. The Chi Mei pursued them relentlessly, simultaneously pushing their territorial expansion.
The Ruo Shui Chieftain, Wang Zhongcheng, watched helplessly as the Red Leaf Empire's territory was constantly encroached upon. Heartbroken, he decided not to flee any longer and to lead the tribe's elite in a decisive battle against the Chi Mei.
However, after carefully selecting from his tribe, he could only pick out ten warriors. The others either dared not fight or lacked the strength.
He knew that these ten warriors, along with himself, would be walking to their deaths. But they had to go, to show their stance to the Chi Mei and the world.
Wang Zhongcheng led the ten warriors in a mobilization ceremony in the square. Everyone felt the bleak wind and rain, and dark clouds churned.
The mood of the people was heavy.
Wang Zhongcheng said tragically, "The Chi Mei have come, leaving nothing but devastation in their wake. They are here to destroy this world. We are unfortunate enough to be in the front line. We are no match for them, nor can we stop their iron hooves. But we cannot retreat further. If we retreat, everyone will retreat with us, and eventually, with nowhere left to go, we will still face death. Therefore, we must stand up and fight them to the death. At worst, we die. If we manage to injure them, it will be easier for those who come after us to deal with them. If those who come after us win, then our deaths will be worthwhile."
"What if we can't even injure them?" cried Wang Congmu, one of the ten warriors.
"Then at least we will have shown future generations that we tried, and let them know that retreating is not the only option," Wang Zhongcheng said decisively.
Listening to this conversation, the emotions of the people erupted.
Everyone felt incredibly stifled. If everyone was going to die, why did they have to die first?
Some even began to curse the Red Leaf Emperor, "What kind of Emperor is he? He completely disregards the lives of his subjects! He has no right to be called Emperor! He is the one who deserves to die the most."
Thus, everyone began to curse Mo Qi.
Wang Zhongcheng waved his arms, trying to stop them, but the crowd was too agitated, and no one paid him any heed.
At this moment, someone shouted, "The Chi army is here! Run!"
The crowd immediately scattered like birds and beasts, fleeing in panic.
In a moment, only Wang Zhongcheng and the ten warriors remained in the square.
Although Wang Congmu was crying, he did not leave.
Wang Zhongcheng was deeply gratified.
At this moment, the Chi army arrived, a vast black mass. Looking into the distance, they saw black figures darting through the air like arrows, a chilling atmosphere extending infinitely. The sight made their scalps tingle, and they quickened their pace to escape.
The ten warriors were terrified, almost fleeing for their lives, but a strong sense of duty washed over them, preventing them from moving.
Watching the tide-like Chi army surge forward, the ten warriors and the chieftain felt that their resistance was utterly insignificant.