Volume 8: The Jianghu Chapter 382: From the Jianghu, Returning to the Jianghu
The words were so light, but each word was as heavy as a thousand pounds, making people feel breathless.
Dugu Yihe's face turned pale, and his body trembled violently when he heard the words, not daring to breathe.
The attendant was even more unbearable. He shuddered and actually fell to the ground.
The emperor on the dragon throne seemed to have lost his strength and energy in an instant. He closed his eyes in despair and powerlessness, pursed his lips and teeth, and said nothing.
Of course he heard it too.
Li Muchan said that he would be allowed to be emperor.
But this sentence is so ironic.
As the supreme ruler of the world, he still needs permission from others?
It seemed as if this person could decide life and death in the world with just a word, and create the world with a flip of his hand.
The most terrifying thing is that this person not only said it, but also had the confidence to do it.
So the emperor closed his eyes. He knew that his situation was hopeless and he was just a fish on the chopping board. He couldn't even control his life or death. He could only wait quietly for his future fate.
But in fact, everyone present, including Wu Ming, believed almost without a doubt that Li Muchan was bound to take over the world and ascend to the throne.
Because that position is what many people dream of.
For thousands of years throughout history, countless aristocratic families, countless heroes, all of them vying to become emperor.
Now, Li Muchan was only half a step away from becoming the ruler of the world. He could even change dynasties with a single word. With his current status and prestige, he could turn the world upside down if he wanted, and he could easily control the thirteen provinces with a single command.
This half step represents the ultimate desire and the pinnacle of everything.
The imperial guards outside the palace were all motionless at this time. They neither listened to Wu Ming nor the emperor, so they could only wait for Li Muchan's words.
The attendant looked at the soldiers and asked in disbelief, "How could this happen? How is this possible?"
He had clearly won over and recruited many of them, but now he was shocked to find that all of these people actually obeyed Li Muchan's orders.
Li Muchan patiently explained, "Because there are too many corrupt officials in the court. Salaries, food, and taxes all depend on me. Even the balance of the national treasury and the food, clothing, and expenses of the imperial harem and inner court are known to the Tianxia Alliance."
"What is the Tianxia Alliance? Under heaven, wherever there are people, there is the Tianxia Alliance." Li Muchan ignored their reactions, simply stood with his hands folded, and said softly, "In other words, this vast Jianghu is the Tianxia Alliance."
Alliances are everywhere in the world.
Wu Ming was shocked and breathed a sigh of relief, then smiled and said, "So what are you going to do next?"
The man glanced at the imperial guards outside the palace, then looked at the emperor on the dragon throne, and finally looked at Li Muchan.
Wu Ming seemed to be looking forward to what was about to happen. He was even very excited inside. A wild smile gradually appeared on his face, and he completely forgot his current situation.
Wu Ming once had an endless desire for this Big Brother Li, Alliance Leader Li. He longed to become such a person, longed to be recognized by the other party, and longed to walk with him.
Even today, a part of him deep down still longs to become someone like Li Muchan.
Who in the world doesn’t dream of becoming Li Muchan and taking his place?
Just like people are greedy for money, lustful, and strive for fame and fortune, their entire lives are driven by desires.
It is like a moth flying into a flame. Even though you know it is the path to destruction, you cannot resist.
Wu Ming is no exception.
This desire had already been deeply rooted in his heart and turned into an obsession.
At the same time, Wu Ming also sighed secretly.
Because his heart is contradictory, the yearning is only part of it, and more of it is about surpassing the other person.
The higher Wu Ming's realm, the more he knows, and naturally he can see more.
Therefore, from his current perspective, Li Muchan, who was once omnipotent and invincible, is ultimately just a mortal body of flesh and blood, and is no longer as divine as he was in the past.
And once Li Muchan makes the same choice as him, changes the world and ascends to the throne, then the figure and obsession that this person has imprinted in his heart will completely collapse.
This person, after all, is no different from the people of the past and present, and no different from him, Wu Ming.
Suddenly, another person walked out from the open space outside the hall.
Yang Shen.
Yang Shen held up the farewell hook, staring intently at everyone in the arena, then knelt on one knee facing the emperor, "Yang Shen pays homage to the emperor. Long live the emperor!"
This was a loyal minister who neither obeyed Wu Ming nor was recruited by Li Muchan. He always remained loyal to the emperor.
Yang Shen had a blank expression on his face, as if he had already prepared himself for a bloody battle and defeat.
But Li Muchan smiled and said, "Don't be nervous."
After that, Li Muchan casually turned to Wu Ming and said, "It seems you still don't understand what I mean. What I mean is that the Jianghu is the Tianxia Alliance, and the Tianxia Alliance is the Jianghu. So, whether there is the Tianxia Alliance in this world is not important. As long as the Jianghu exists, that's enough."
As soon as he said this, the smile on Wu Ming's face froze in an instant.
The emperor also suddenly opened his eyes.
Huo Tianying was shocked.
Yang Shen was stunned.
The attendant was dumbfounded.
Dugu Yihe was also stunned.
The Tianxia Alliance is gone, the Tianxia Alliance is really gone.
Wu Ming's eyes widened and turned bloodshot. "You actually did this?"
Li Muchan looked at the other person and answered the question irrelevantly and said very seriously: "I only defeated myself."
Upon hearing this answer, Wu Ming's face instantly lost all color, and he even swayed and took half a step back.
Because Wu Ming knew what this answer meant.
Old Man Tianji did not take this step, nor did Shangguan Jinhong. Together with Zhu Si, Zhu Da, Gongzi Yu, and Tan Wushuang, all of them stopped here.
Winning over others is nothing, winning over yourself is the real invincibility.
Faced with the ultimate desire, Li Muchan actually stopped and cut it off.
Wu Ming was distraught at first, and then he looked at Li Muchan with a ferocious expression, because he knew that he would never be able to surpass this person in his entire life.
A person who climbs up, especially one who starts from the bottom, goes through hardships step by step, and is determined to reach the top; such a person will most likely just want to keep climbing up. The more he gets, the more he wants. The greater his ambition, the deeper his desire will be, and it will be difficult for him to extricate himself.
In the sea of desire, everyone is deeply trapped in it, competing for fame and fortune on the horns of a snail.
But now, Li Muchan has come out.
Wu Ming asked hoarsely, "Are you really willing to give it up?"
At this moment, Li Muchan stood under the lamp, like a jade statue. His crystal-clear flesh and blood seemed to have taken away all the brilliance between heaven and earth. He looked exceptionally calm, elegant, and otherworldly, without a trace of worldly air.
Between heaven and earth, it seemed as if a terrifying murderous intent was sweeping through the Fengtian Palace.
But this murderous intent did not come from Li Muchan, but from Wu Ming, Huo Tianying, Dugu Yihe, Yang Shen, and even the emperor.
They all looked at Li Muchan.
"Ahem, hold on." Li Muchan coughed twice, signaling everyone to calm down. "Since I entered this martial world, I've encountered countless powerful enemies, endured countless dangers and hardships, and witnessed the treacherous nature of human nature. This is how I got to where I am today. But it's easy to gain wealth, but it's hard to keep one's heart. Looking back at my past, I initially struggled to survive in the cracks, then gave in to desire, causing numerous disasters, braved bloody storms, and finally reached the pinnacle."
Wu Ming said woodenly, "It seems you regret it."
"No, I've never regretted it." Li Muchan shook his head. "I didn't regret it then, and I don't regret it today... I just saw the view from the top, and now I'm going down the mountain."
Li Muchan paused for a moment before continuing lightly, "I've been to this world before, witnessed the rise of great men and women, and the emergence of countless geniuses. I've left the most splendid mark on it, and also painted the most stunning stroke... But that doesn't mean it will always belong to me alone."
The whole place was dead silent.
Li Muchan continued gently, "Is the Jianghu what it is because of the flashing swords and bloody fights? Or because of the treacherous hearts and deceitful schemes? Of course not, none of that. It's because it's exciting and thrilling enough. Although there are countless waves, each one is different, with its own shape. No one knows which wave will rise with the wind, transcend thousands of difficulties and dangers, unleash a tremendous momentum, and reach the summit."
"It is precisely because of this," Li Muchan said softly, his eyes calm, "that this Jianghu can bring such a sense of exhilaration. Despite its hidden dangers, it possesses enough allure to draw newcomers in, one after another, seeking only the thrill, regardless of success or failure, without regrets... And I am willing to leave this Jianghu to you, and to those who come after me."
Huo Tianying's lips moved, as if he wanted to speak but stopped. However, when the words came to his lips, his cheeks moved and he could not speak. But his eyes suddenly lost their fighting spirit and murderous intent, leaving only deep admiration and silent loneliness.
At this point, even the emperor was speechless.
What a broad mind and amazing courage.
"I don't believe it." Wu Ming said sternly.
Li Muchan pondered for a moment before sighing, "When the Tianxia Alliance was first established, it was fate that brought them together in the martial arts world because of the behemoth Azure Dragon Society. Anyone in the martial arts world can be a member of the Tianxia Alliance, sharing life and death, and adversity. Now, thirteen years have passed, and all sects have recovered their strength. The Tianxia Alliance is rising again... Since it originated in the martial arts world, it's time for it to return to it."
"But," Li Muchan suddenly turned to look at the emperor and said with a smile, "The Tianxia Alliance can disappear or reunite. It all depends on your future actions."
With just one sentence, the murderous intent that had been gradually subsiding suddenly surged again.
However, as Li Muchan stretched out his hands from his sleeves, the chilling murderous intent in the hall instantly disappeared like spring snow melting away.
Huo Tianying was horrified to find that Li Muchan in front of him seemed to have suddenly disappeared, and became high and vast, as if breathing with the heaven and earth, and sharing the same veins with the sun and the moon. There was no trace to be found, no moves to be pursued, and no force to be applied.
Yang Shen was filled with horror. Back then, when he faced this man, he could still fight back for a while, but now he didn't dare to move, and couldn't move.
This person is not without flaws, but more like a fairy or Buddha in a dream, or like flowers in the mirror and the moon in the water, which does not seem real.
Faced with an existence that is the embodiment of nothingness, who can fight against it?
The emperor looked at Li Muchan deeply, and after a long silence, he said in a deep voice, "I remember."
The servant suddenly crawled to the bottom of the jade steps, crying and begging for mercy, "Master, I know I was wrong!"
But just as this man took advantage of the situation to get closer, his eyes suddenly flashed with ferocity, and he suddenly attacked, rushing straight towards the emperor sitting on the dragon throne.
In the hall, water vapor suddenly overflowed and torrents burst out. What was used was actually the Divine Water Power.
Wu Ming had a blank expression on his face, as if what this person did had nothing to do with him, and there was only Li Muchan in his eyes.
Huo Tianying also did not take action. He even took a few steps back and showed unprecedented respect and reverence towards Li Muchan.
"Haha," Wu Ming suddenly burst into laughter, changing from his solemn and steady self to a wild and unrestrained one. "Brother Li, Li Muchan, what a great Li Muchan! You really didn't let me down."
All the hard work he had put in could not withstand a few words from Li Muchan.
Wu Ming's eyes flashed red as he spoke, each word emphasized, "Only now do I truly admire you. You're truly remarkable."
If this person really became the emperor, he might be shocked and afraid, but he would never accept it.
Unexpectedly, this person chose the exact opposite.
Li Muchan said softly, "Is there any need to fight?"
Wu Ming smiled and said, "Yes, of course I do. Just like you said, life is like chess, and once you make a move, there's no regret. If I win, I'll surpass you and break your undefeated legend. If I lose, losing to someone like you, then my life will be worthwhile, and I'll die without regrets."
Wu Ming paced back and "Hahaha, back when I became Master Zhu's disciple in that cave, I almost foresaw this outcome. But, in life, how can one retreat? If one doesn't even have the courage to attempt a peak, what's the difference between one and the walking corpse? So, why not give it a try? Losing is just a fall, but winning will allow one to reach the pinnacle."
Li Muchan nodded slightly and walked out.
But what was strange was that in just a short while, all the imperial guards disappeared, as if they had never appeared.
The two of them walked out of Fengtian Hall and down the long jade steps. When they reached the open space, they heard Li Muchan ask, "Where is your mother?"
Wu Ming grinned and said, "He's dead. I killed him."
The man laughed non-stop, sounding like crying, howling, and laughing.
Li Muchan frowned and sighed, "Why?"
Wu Ming laughed strangely, "Why? Because you're too strong. So strong that even if I racked my brains, I couldn't figure out how to surpass you or catch up with you. If I had returned to the Central Plains, I would have seen the rest of my life. I could have used the Tianxia Alliance to settle down, then married, had children, started a family, and then practiced a few decent martial arts to rebuild the Wu family. Haha, but I don't want to live my life in a muddle, neither high nor low."
"Having seen what it means to be the best, I can no longer tolerate mediocrity," Wu Ming took a deep breath. "If I were born stupid and foolish, it would be fine, but I happen to be incredibly intelligent. Even more ironic is that when I stumbled upon Zhu Da's treasure on that island, I devoured all the martial arts manuals in it in less than half a day, and even memorized them by heart."
The two of them stopped in the empty field. Wu Ming looked at Li Muchan, narrowed his eyes and smiled, "Brother Li, I also want to be like you, but things in this world are beyond our control. Since I can't be you, I can only be your enemy!"
Killing intent, murderous intention, murderous aura...
A sudden murderous atmosphere arose between heaven and earth.
But Li Muchan paused for a moment, then continued on his way, "Would you dare to walk with me?"
