143. The Snake Clan
.
Zhurong Tianlong, Sky Emperor and ruler of two realms, was well aware of the wolves surrounding him.
Thousands of years on the throne had taught him much, and he could recognise slander, especially since these same wolves had also slandered him when he first ascended the throne.
And so, when rumours began circulating, accusing Bailong of trying to usurp the throne, Tianlong easily dismissed them.
It was surely a ploy to weaken Bailong's power and popularity, so he wouldn't be so helpful to Tianlong!
However, certain discussions began to flow right within Sky Palace...
"Hmph. This friendship is really one for the ages! Sky Realm nearly died and our Emperor still favours his 'friend'!"
"But is High Grand Immortal Yin (Bailong) a friend or a wolf?"
"When you think of it, what was his reason for latching on to the Crown Prince Back then?"
"Right! He was so powerful, but chose to attach himself to the then weak and useless Crown Prince, worming his way into his heart and the heart of the late Sky Emperor!"
"What a way to foster blind trust!"
"Such ambition!"
"I hear he is taking care of the Snake Clan these days... Weren't they part of the traitors who began the civil war??"
"And led to the death of the late Emperor?!"
"Everyone knows the snakes are strong in combat... Isn't this tantamount to raising his own private army?!"
"Hmph. He even invited them to live on Mount Caoyang!"
"Ei? But didn't his own wife defeat the snake King?"
"Defeat, you say... Then why is he still alive? I hear he is hidden beneath a Sea of Lava on Mount Caoyang!"
"Wasn't he the previous Plague deity?!"
"And now there was a recent plague... traced right to Mount Caoyang-!"
"CAN THE EMPEROR NOT SEE THE PATTERN HERE?!!!"
All these sowed a small seed of doubt within Tianlong, and he quietly investigated Mount Caoyang.
Which led to utter dismay when he found that the Snake Clan indeed thrived there, close to Bailong's Palace.
He summoned Bailong to explain the matter.
"Ei?" Bailong was a bit surprised, but he truthfully admitted. "Yes... I'm indeed caring for the snakes."
Tianlong's eyes narrowed. "Then, is the Snake King, the previous Plague deity, also kept by you?" His voice was calm, but there was no way Bailong would miss the angry undercurrent.
There was also the fact that the Sky Empress, Feng Yuexia was present, and a barely concealed smirk sat on her face.
Fei Yun stood to one side, looking as worried and uncomfortable as ever.
But Bailong linked his thumbs and bowed. "A-Tian, I'm not sure what is troubling you, but I'll clarify.
"High Immortal HeiShe is indeed sealed beneath Caoyang's Lava Sea, but I wouldn't use the word 'kept'..."
The enormous Black Serpent within the Lava Sea was indeed Heishe, Snake King and previous plague deity.
During the war, Yan Liwei had fought with him for days on end, eventually bringing him to a wounded and desperate state.
"Listen Child!" HeiShe had hissed as he performed a few hand seals, transforming into his massive snake form. "I've just activated the deadliest snake venom to create a plague disaster! Kill me, and my core will explode, unleashing my black wind throughout Sky Realm and Mortal Realm!
"Let me tell you," the massive snake coiled, its frills fanning outward, "...my black wind can instantly kill every living being beneath the Universal Tier! I don't mind dragging all mortals and most of Sky Realm to accompany me in Hell!"
"Oh? I'd have given you a swift and easy death, but since you insist on living, then spend an eternity atoning for those you've killed!" Liwei had moved swiftly, expending years off her cultivation to cast a seal and bind his core.
The single move sliced several hundred thousands of years off his cultivation, making his powers regress. The move also prevented him from ever transforming back to his human form, and it wouldn't let him self-destruct.
"You!" HeiShe hissed in frustration, realizing his new sorry state. "Kill me now! Kill me now or I'll kill you one day! I don't care what I have to do-! I'll kill you no matter what!!!"
But Liwei had no intention of killing Heishe... His earlier threat about a plague might have been a desperate bluff, but she couldn't risk it till Bailong studied him.
Afterwards, Bailong indeed confirmed that something was wrong with Heishe's core ...
"Whether we kill him or not, his core might explode at anytime! The only way is to seal him away for now!"
And so, with the Sky Emperor's permission, Bailong had sealed Heishe away in the Lava Sea.
"The Snake Clan surrendered afterwards." Bailong explained to Tianlong. "They had long been suppressed by Heishe and his cronies, leading to thousands of years in suffering.
"They were innocent, yet offered to atone for the actions of their leaders, and now they constantly feed the lava sea with snake qi, constantly suppressing Heishe.
"As for their settlement on Caoyang, I also needed to study their cores, in case I ever have to kill Heishe someday, so I gave them land. This also places them near Heishe, and they can carry out their duties a little better...."
"High Grand Immortal Yin! You really went too for this time!" Feng Yuexia took Tianlong's hand. "Even if there's a valid reason, shouldn't you consider A-Tian's feelings! The Snakes caused so much during the war-! A-Tian lost his father directly to one of them!"
One of the High Grand Immortals who had attacked Sky Palace was a rogue snake.
Bailong shook his head. "Sky Empress, the move I used to eliminate that rogue snake was mastered from studying the other snakes... From your words, I still don't know what you're trying to insinuate."
She floundered for a second, her mouth opening and closing, but she instantly doubled down.
"You're so strong, and yet you've not managed to kill Immortal Heishe after so many years?! One must wonder why... And you never told A-Tian all this before now! Instead you insisted on secretly raising trained combatants by your side! The same people who harmed A-Tian! Hmph!
I even hear the Snake Princess, Heishe's daughter, is under your roof!"
"Sky Empress," Bailong calmly began. "....it was never a 'secret' affair. If I didn't want anyone to know the snakes were on Caoyang, no one would ever know." He sighed.
"Also, the last time I checked, the Snakes on Caoyang had only about a thousand who were ever in their military, more than a third of whom are younger generation, since we eliminated most of the older ones during the war.
"The rest are innocent civilians who simply want to live in peace. Even if we include the civilians, the Snake population has been dying out, so there are presently under four thousand of them in total... a mere drop in the ocean of Sky Realm's Hundreds of Thousands of military.
"And as for the Snake Princess, you're terribly misinformed... Heishe never had any children, for fear that they'd inherit his unique core and eventually overthrow him. The current Snake Princess is Heishe's niece and has never entered my house. Nor were her family ever loyal to Heishe...
"In fact, her father personally leads the yearly expedition to feed endless snake qi into the Lava Sea, suppressing his own brother. Sky Empress... Are you suggesting we kill the innoce-?"
"A-Tian, I'm sorry!" Yuexia suddenly burst out, cutting him off. "It appears I've spoken out of turn! High Grand Immortal Yin might misunderstand me, but I simply feel for you!" A pretty tear ran down her face.
"I often see you wander your father's garden, so I know you're not reconciled with his death! I'm only seeking some justice for you -! I'm merely trying to explain to High Grand Immortal Yin that we mustn't protect or nurture those with the heavy crime of killing a Sky Emperor!"
Tianlong patted her hand and reached up to wipe her tear away, but Bailong scoffed.
"Sky Empress, there's no need for such High-sounding words. One must clearly understand their own desires, so state yours clearly."
He raised a brow at her. "Are you suggesting we eliminate the entire Snake Clan, regardless of whether they are innocent or not?"
A silence hung in the air as a bitter scowl crossed the Empress's face.
'He's not a genius for nothing!' She internally raged, realizing Bailong had cornered her.
If she pushed the matter any further, she might be perceived as heartless, which would shatter her soft and innocent image through the years. And if she simply let it go, then people would say she raised a fuss for nothing
She bit her lower lip in anger, staring at Bailong's bowed head, but they all glanced up in shock when Tianlong himself said,
"That might not be a bad idea..."
.