Emperor’s Domination

She counted eight caves and eight coffins containing the same beauty during the trip. If it wasn’t for Li Qiye’s reminder with the rings, she wouldn’t have realized they were different people with the same hole on their forehead.

The pattern gave her goosebumps since they died the same way.

“What is going on here?” She shuddered after looking at the eighth beauty.

“Are they twins?” She asked.

“No, all the same person.” Li Qiye shook his head.

“B-but didn’t you say otherwise…?” She stammered.

“Not the same, yet the same.” He said.

“This doesn’t make any sense, it’s like a ghost story.” She murmured.

“To explain it in a way you can understand, she lived eight lives.” He said.

“Eight lives? So eight reincarnations?” She blurted: “That’s something only immortals can do.”

She understood the significance of reincarnation. Emperors and even primal ancestors couldn’t do this. Only a certain legendary immortal was famous for this feat.

“Not quite in this case because you’re right, someone with eight reincarnations would be an immortal.” He smiled.

“So what is her story?” She asked.

“She discarded her body after certain lengthy intervals.” He said.

“I see.” She knew about it but couldn’t do so. However, emperors could rebuild their body from scratch.

“But why?” She asked: “Ah, was she trying to escape the parasite?”

“Close enough.” He nodded.

“What a horrible life then.” She said. This woman must have been immensely powerful but still had to go through this because of a parasite. It seemed to be a complete failure too.

Whatever this thing was, it haunted her no matter what, perhaps even down to hell and back.

“Did she get away?” She sympathized with the corpse.

“Hard to say.” Li Qiye said before leaving.

This time, they came out of the path on the other side of the nine peaks. This gave her a clearer picture of the terrain.

“So there is one ice coffin beneath each peak?” She asked for clarification.

“Sounds about right.” Li Qiye smiled.

“Is there nothing beneath the ninth peak?” She asked.

“No.” He said and unexpectedly didn’t go to the central area.

“We’re not going inside?” She gave chase and asked.

“No rush, I’m looking for someone.” Li Qiye told her.

They returned to World City; their destination being a small lake. It looked normal with villages nearby, forming a town.

He observed an old woman catching crabs in the lake. She wore simple, patched clothes – a sign of poverty. Nevertheless, the clothes were clean, albeit faded to white from repeated washing.

She carried a bamboo basket on her back, tossing the caught crabs inside. It appeared this was her livelihood due to her precise movements, catching a plump crab with each reach.

Upon closer inspection, one would find flashing silvery light with each hand extension. It came from a silver ring on her finger. She worked fast as if wanting to just catch a few and go home.

“Her?” Teng Sujian wondered why they were here and whispered.

Li Qiye smiled but didn’t respond. However, the old woman somehow heard her and looked over.

She froze as if suppressed by an unimaginable force. However, the old woman gazed at Li Qiye next. The moment she had a good look, she stiffened as if struck by lightning. The hand holding the crab went limp, letting the crab fall to the ground and scuttle away.

Li Qiye caught the crab and said: “I still want a bowl of crab roe noodles.”