Author: 易修罗 / Yi Xiu Luo

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 111

The only remaining royal member of Tianxiu, Prince Yue Ying, had been asleep for a full ten years. For the Tianxiu people, who had a short average lifespan, ten years was a sufficiently long period during which many things could happen. The cabinet had undergone changes from old to new, and the generation of Lone Stars had been renewed. Today’s rulers no longer feel indebted to Cang Yun for sacrificing himself to save the country; they only maintain certain courtesies on the surface.

Cang Yun, serving as the marshal of the military, had led the troops year after year to expand the territory, enlarging Tianxiu’s map several times over. This would have been a good thing for Tianxiu, but due to the death of Cang Yun’s Qizhu from old age and illness, the royal family was left vacant, and he alone led the entire army, not directly subject to anyone’s control, causing panic within the cabinet.

This spring, Cang Yun, returning dusty from the expedition, first went to report his military exploits to the cabinet. As he approached the conference hall, he heard intense discussions from inside.

“Cang Yun has no Qizhu now, and the little prince who could directly order him is asleep. He alone has control over the heavy troops, and all the Lone Stars obey his orders. Such a person is undoubtedly a huge hidden danger to Tianxiu and the royal family.”

“But according to the ancestral instructions, he has made contributions to Tianxiu, and we cannot treat him like other Lone Star warriors, to destroy and reshape him. This is indeed a thorny issue.”

The ministers discussed fervently. Cang Yun, in neat military attire, pushed the door and entered, and the previously somewhat noisy conference hall immediately fell silent.

“Ah, Cang Yun, you’re back.” The quickest-reacting minister broke the awkwardness, greeting his return.

Cang Yun, as if deaf to the previous conversation, walked in with steady steps. Others, thinking he hadn’t heard, all breathed sighs of relief.

“Esteemed ministers, this eastern campaign took ninety days. Our army has successively taken down the states of Chang’an, Yangzhou, and Luoyang, incorporating the entire region into our territory. Chengdu also declared surrender on its own initiative. Except for the domain of the Hongyi Sect, the rest of the Qiantang continent is now ours.”

Such military achievements were extremely fruitful. Although the ministers were wary of him, they could not fault his military prowess.

“You have worked hard. Your performance is excellent, truly the pride of Tianxiu.”

After completing his report, Cang Yun paused before continuing, “I have an unsolicited request. After years of campaigns to the east and west, I have grown weary of them and wish the cabinet would allow me to resign from my military position so that I may stay in the palace to guard His Highness.”

The crowd was surprised. “But His Highness, he…?”

Cang Yun interrupted them, “I was originally an attendant by the prince’s side. Protecting the prince is my duty. Although Prince Yue Ying is asleep, I still wish to be by his side at all times, until he awakens.”

His voluntary request for discharge actually relieved the cabinet.

“Although it’s a pity, if this is your decision, we will certainly respect it. Who do you plan to nominate as your successor?”

“I have a suitable candidate in mind. This person has outstanding personal strength and excellent leadership skills, has performed outstandingly in recent years with notable military achievements, and enjoys a very high reputation in the military.”

“Who is it?”

Cang Yun stated firmly, “Jun Lin.”

Under the implicit urging of the cabinet, the military handover ceremony was convened almost immediately, and Cang Yun personally handed over the baton symbolizing military power to Jun Lin.

“I officially hand over military authority to you and bestow upon you the rank of Marshal. I hope you will not disappoint my expectations, lead the military, serve Tianxiu faithfully, and always remember the first rule of the Lone Star—loyalty to the royal family, defense of the country.”

Jun Lin didn’t speak but saluted him solemnly.

After his resignation, Cang Yun did as he promised, staying close to the sleeping quarters of Prince Yue Ying, indifferent to military and political affairs, not even stepping half out of the palace gates, which completely eased the minds of many ministers who suspected he was only nominally retired but still secretly wielding power.

The newly appointed Jun Lin performed excellently indeed. Within a short year, he gained the recognition of all cabinet members. Under his leadership, the army gradually disintegrated and assimilated the last enemy on the continent, the force of the Hongyi Sect, and finally completed the great task of unification.

After eradicating the Hongyi Sect, Jun Lin and his army triumphantly returned, and the people of Tianxiu held a grand welcoming ceremony for them. Amidst applause and flowers, the Lone Star warriors walked in step, eyes straight ahead, embodying the ideal image cherished by the people of Tianxiu—loyalty, wisdom, strength, and ruthlessness.

Jun Lin led his confidants to the cabinet, where the ministers had also assembled in formation to greet them. For the Lone Stars, who required no material rewards, this was the highest honor the people of Tianxiu could bestow.

“Welcome back, my heroes!” The leading minister extended his arms enthusiastically towards Jun Lin.

Jun Lin stopped just a step away, where he could have been touched, slightly parted his lips, and commanded:

“Do it.”

With the order, the minister was instantly beheaded by Jun Lin’s right-hand man. The minister was Jun Lin’s Qizhu.

The person who could directly control Jun Lin was no more, and he slowly drew his weapon. The other ministers were terrified at the sight. “You, you…”

The leading minister couldn’t finish his sentence before he was pierced through the heart by the person in front of him. Even in his last moments, he stared with terror, unable to believe that the always loyal Lone Stars would rebel.

The ministers began to flee in all directions, but these frail people were no match for the engineered soldiers they created and were slaughtered helplessly. Even the defenseless maids met with a cruel fate.

“You, you cold-blooded monsters…” the person on the ground painfully pointed at Jun Lin’s retreating figure.

Jun Lin slightly turned his face, the blood on it making him look even more terrifying. “Our feelings, weren’t they stripped away by you?”

The person on the ground received a fatal blow from elsewhere; his body shuddered, and he fell for the last time, killed by his own “product”, dying with his eyes wide open in disbelief.

Jun Lin ignored the chaos around him and strode out.

In the Royal Academy of Science, Tian Zhu was also frantically writing a program. News of the Lone Star’s rebellion had already spread, and his colleagues at the Academy had long since fled. Only he remained.

He cursed silently in his heart for being foolish. If the Lone Stars wanted to exterminate them, escaping to the ends of the earth would be futile.

Fortunately, aware of his limited lifespan, he had been covertly plotting this plan for a long time. If successful, he could inhabit his Qizi’s body, not as a modified human like Cang Yun, but completely abandoning his shell, achieving immortality through soul reincarnation.

As his plan neared completion, he hadn’t anticipated the Lone Star rebelling at this moment. His code wasn’t yet mature, but if he did not act, he would die. Out of desperation, Tian Zhu had no choice but to take the risk.

Enduring the excruciating pain, he placed the soul transference devices on both his and his Qizi’s heads. His Qizi, long controlled by him, wore a numb expression and allowed him to proceed.

Seemingly seeing Jun Lin’s approaching figure, Tian Zhu gritted his teeth, pulled the lever, and the progress bar started moving from 0. Success meant eternal life; failure meant death. Tian Zhu stared intently at the progress bar that decided his fate, wishing it could move faster.

The machine hit 100% and lit up green, and both individuals in the room drooped their heads.

Jun Lin entered and saw Tian Zhu’s Qizi calmly removing the strange device from his head, turning around, and facing himself.

“Where is Tian Zhu?” he asked.

His Qizi calmly pointed to the body on the ground. “He knew of the Lone Star’s rebellion and has committed suicide out of fear of punishment.”

Jun Lin did not suspect anything, feeling only regret.

“To let him die so easily, it’s too lenient for him.”

This was the man who made loving brethren kill each other, who made losing loved ones the price of adulthood, who eradicated love and compassion from the hearts of the Lone Stars, leaving only hatred and killing. He must have known the fate that awaited him at the hands of the Lone Stars and thus chose to end his life beforehand.

But since the man was dead, there was no point in further retribution. Jun Lin turned and left, not noticing the sinister smile that Tian Zhu’s Qizi revealed behind him.

The palace was eerily quiet; those Tianxiu people who swore loyalty to the royal house had fled at the sign of danger. Jun Lin arrived unimpeded at the prince’s chamber, and as expected, only one person remained.

“You have greatly disappointed me,” Cang Yun approached step by step. “I trusted you, valued you, and entrusted you with military power, yet you violated the Lone Star’s code and betrayed this nation.”

“I have not violated any rules,” Jun Lin declared with resounding clarity. “The people of Tianxiu today are arrogant and lawless, having long discarded any regard for imperial authority in their hearts. Just because the Lone Stars are not truly living beings, they think they can play with our emotions at will, forcing us to fight amongst ourselves and demanding our loyalty while taking pleasure in our struggles. These people are the true parasites of the nation, and only by eradicating them can one truly claim to protect the country. Their current state is entirely of their own making. As for His Highness Yue Ying, rest assured. He will forever sleep in peace, without worries, far from strife.”

“What a sophistry,” Cang Yun sneered coldly, “but that doesn’t change the fact that you are a traitor. As long as I breathe, I will not let it happen.”

Jun Lin drew his dagger, the very one Cang Yun had handed to him that morning—the dagger that was a fusion of his own and Ling Yi’s. Today, he would use it to sever the source of the Lone Star once and for all.

“Then come.”

The two charged at each other, their convictions shining resolutely in their eyes. The commotion of their clash startled the birds resting in the imperial garden, causing them to flap their wings and fly away, a feather drifting down silently to the ground.

Cang Yun felt a pain in his chest and looked down to see the dagger’s handle protruding from his body. His body grew light, and blue light spots began to dance around him. Jun Lin stood close by, his resolute face void of emotion, showing no sorrow even after having killed the leader he once followed—a true Lone Star warrior indeed.

“You were once one of them, but now you are one of us.” Jun Lin’s voice was a low whisper in his ear. “After your rebirth, there will be true companions waiting for you.”

Cang Yun slowly fell. “As long as the soul does not perish…”

What would happen if the soul didn’t perish? No one would know anymore. The latter half of his sentence, which he didn’t manage to voice, flew with his soul towards the vast blue sky, away from this land that was once vulnerable but now thriving.

On this very land, a horrific massacre unfolded, with cries of agony piercing the skies. They had survived the bullying of foreign tribes, only to meet their demise in their time of prosperity. This time, there was no one left to stand up and voluntarily say: I am willing.

Cang Yun would return and have a new life, but he would no longer be the same, nor would Tianxiu remain the same. The royal house he served would forever become history, and future generations would remember him in a different identity.

Jun Lin silently sheathed his dagger and walked out, accidentally stepping on something. He stepped back, looked down, and saw a blood-stained, six-pointed star badge lying there, signifying the fall of imperial power. He stepped over it, walking step by step out of the palace. He had founded a new dynasty for one person, yet this dynasty would no longer bear that person’s presence.

Leaving the palace, he was met with rivers of blood and fields of corpses. The magnificent architecture contrasted with the mournful screams, which grew fainter until they disappeared completely from this world.

His subordinate approached and asked, “Marshal, a portion of the Lone Star still remains loyal to the Tianxiu people, stubbornly opposing us. What shall we do with these people?”

Jun Lin’s voice was slow yet forceful. “Kill them all, send them for reincarnation, and start their training anew from the beginning. If they still remain the same, then kill them again, until they completely forget.”

The subordinate lowered his eyes. “Understood.”

Jun Lin looked up. “From now on, there will be no more Tianxiu Empire, no more Lone Star warriors. We are citizens of the Republic, masters of this land. From today on, our name will be—”

“—the Tianxiu people.”

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