Stranger Danger

“Yes, this is quite the serious matter. Is it possible for us to have an audience with His Imperial Majesty before any decision is made?”

For once, Cui Qingshan did not refute Li Chengzhong. In this regard, they were on the same side.

Eunuch Li smiled. “His Imperial Highness’ plan is foolproof, so you do not have nothing to worry about, General Li, Director Cui.”

“But—”

Li Chengzhong wanted to say something more, but Eunuch Li cut him off. “His Imperial Majesty has already made his decision, so please, return. I have to go and serve His Imperial Majesty, so I bid you all goodbye.”

Eunuch Li took his leave after saying that.

A short silence settled inside the Qian Yuan Palace after Eunuch Li was gone. A moment later, Li Chengzhong looked at Wan Bainian. “What do you think of His Imperial Majesty’s decision, Elder Wan?”

Wan Bainian remained silent for a moment before letting out a sigh. “If he succeeds, the people suffer. If he fails, the people still suffer.”

“If that’s true, why didn’t you stop him, Elder Wan?” Li Chengzhong asked.

“His Imperial Majesty desires to accomplish something that will be remembered for all eternity. That is why no one can stop him. Not you, not even me.”

Wan Bainian sighed. “Besides, is there a better solution considering what happened? His Imperial Majesty must do this if he desires to rescue Chu’s reputation and dignity.”

Li Chengzhong and Cui Qingshan both fell silent at that.

“Since His Imperial Majesty has made up his mind, all we can do, his subjects, is to fulfill our responsibilities to the utmost degree.”

Wan Bainian suggested, “While there is still time, you should warn all the prefectures to be on their guard, just in case something unexpected happens.”

“You are right, Elder Wan.” Li Chengzhong and Cui Qingshan nodded.

“Sigh. Time really is a merciless thing. My back is hurting after standing just a bit. I’ll be taking my leave. Please, continue your discussion.”

Wan Bainian waved his hand and sauntered out of the Qian Yuan Palace. “See you all next time…”

“Have a good day, Elder Wan.”

Li Chengzhong, Cui Qingshan and everyone in the court saluted Wan Bainian. After he was gone, the two men split up without a word.

……

In Chu, there was no one who didn’t know about the Heavens’ Eye. However, those who had witnessed its true body were few and far between.

It was because the Heavens’ Eye’s true body was kept within the Heavens’ Eye Tower. It was heavily guarded as a matter of course, and no one was even allowed to get close to the tower without an imperial edict.

The Heavens’ Eye Tower was over three hundred meters tall, seemingly tall enough for one to pluck the stars from the sky. It was the highest building in the Chu capital and almost tall enough for one to overlook the entire city[1].

Right now, the most powerful person in Chu was standing at the top of the building and looking down on the beautiful capital city and its people.

Emperor Jing Run was in his forties. He boasted a refined appearance and a cultured personality. Just like almost all the scholars in Chu, he sported a kind of modesty and tenderness that was unique to a scholar.

Unlike most scholars though, Emperor Jing Run had a pair of brilliant, bright eyes that resembled the celestial bodies. They seemed sharp enough to pierce the sky and expose humanity’s nature down to the very last fabric.

For most people, possessing both characteristics at once made them look incongruous at best or disturbing at worst. However, Emperor Jing Run’s appearance was just right that they co-existed in harmony. They made him look noble, esteemed and enigmatic.

It was at this moment Emperor Jing Run looked up into the distant sky. A sun was slowly rising from the horizon, piercing through the sky and spilling its endless rays across the world.

Floating at the center of the endless rays was an ancient, unfathomably mysterious mirror that looked as big as the sky itself. It floated over the capital city as a blurry, semi-transparent silhouette.

The ancient mirror was none other than the Heavens’ Eye.

Except those in the know, no one would believe that the renowned Heavens’ Eye was not, in fact, stored inside the Heavens’ Eye Tower. In fact, it had been floating above the capital city this entire time. One simply needed to look up to see it.

The Heavens’ Eye Tower wasn’t the place where the Heavens’ Eye Mirror was stored. It was the eye of the array called the Great Heavens' Eye Array.

And what was the Great Heavens' Eye Array? As its name implied, it was the base that supported the functions of the Heavens’ Eye. The Great Heavens' Eye Array was spread across the entire capital city. The Heavens’ Eye Tower acted as a conduit that absorbed earthly qi and the Will of the Empire from all sides and channeled them into the Heavens’ Eye, supporting its operations to suppress evil and oversee the entire realm.

Although the Heavens’ Eye was unimaginably massive and floating above the capital city of Chu, it was as mysterious as it was powerful. Naturally, it could not be seen or even perceived by the ordinary.

Emperor Jing Run watched the Strange Artifact floating freely in the sea of white clouds for a bit before his yang god left his body. He grew bigger and bigger until he towered over the entire capital city, and even the Heavens’ Eye looked like a normal-sized mirror compared to him.

Emperor Jing Run reached out and caressed Heavens’ Eye’s surface, wiping away the sea of clouds and the sunrays. It immediately turned as clear as a lake and as brilliant as morning stars.

Then, Emperor Jing Run made all sorts of hand seals and unleashed all sorts of spells into its surface, causing it to ripple like water. Invisible waves then rippled out of the Heavens’ Eye and spread toward the horizon and beyond.

At the same time, every Heavens’ Eye imitation placed everywhere in the realm of Chu lit up at once and fired their light into the sky.

For a time, the winds and clouds of the entire realm stirred violently, and countless pillars of pure, white light illuminated the sky. It was a magnificent spectacle that one might not be able to see even once in a lifetime.

A dozen or so breaths later, the imitations’ light grew dim, and the pillars of light slowly faded into nothingness as well. All that remained was the windstorm and the spreading light.

The next moment, as if drawn by some sort of invisible yet irresistible force, the wind, the clouds, and the light all surged toward the capital city and into the Heavens’ Eye.

As the flow of power continued, Heavens’ Eye grew brighter and more brilliant. It eventually got to the point where it looked like a second sun had appeared in the sky.

“What is that?”

“The sun?”

“Why are there two suns in the sky?”

“It must be a natural wonder!”

Everyone in the capital city saw the magnificent phenomenon happening above their heads. Everyone was stunned by the forces emanating from the sky.

In the sky, Emperor Jing Run looked in the direction of Nanjiang. His gaze seemingly covered countless kilometers of mountains and rivers in a short time and finally landed at that ancient, mysterious place called the One Hundred Thousand Mountains.

“Go.”

As soon as he gave the command, the Heavens’ Eye transformed into a beam of colorful light and flew south.

It was like the sun had physically flew toward the south, illuminating everything in its wake.

It was a magnificent spectacle witnessed by millions and millions of people in all of Chu; one they would not soon forget for the rest of their lives.

It took the Heavens’ Eye to fly countless kilometers and appear in the sky of the One Hundred Mountains of Nanjiang in just a few breaths.

“Heavens’ Eye…”

The next moment, Emperor Jing Run’s grand, imposing voice resounded throughout the sky, and countless rays of light shot out of Heavens’ Eye, illuminating the entire One Hundred Mountains.

The One Hundred Mountains of Nanjiang was mountainous and full of jungles. It was raining all year long and covered in fog. Right now though, the clouds were evaporating into nothingness, and both the rain and the fog were washed away in an instant. The chill, the cold, the darkness, it was all gone.

All Strangers and evils—powerful or weak, hiding or not hiding—were completely exposed by the mirror’s light. They were all shivering in fear and wondering what on earth was happening.

When the Heavens’ Eye inspected the earth, no evil no matter, how well hidden, could hide from its gaze. That was why it was called the Heavens’ Eye.

“What is that?”

At the Nanjiang Royal Court, Ye Qing was half-lying down on the rooftop of the Peaceful Nanjiang Palace and drinking wine when suddenly, he felt something and looked into the sky.

As if on cue, rays of white light chased away the darkness and illuminated the night sky.

1. I won’t lie I thought this was a mistranslation, but it wasn’t. If you guys think this tower is way too short as well I can amend it to three thousand meters or something. ☜

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