National Guardian's Gone and We're Done

”Eat... You eat people?”

Ji Shengyue asked, utterly shocked.

’Wasn’t this Great Celestial Dog supposed to be a deity from the White-Red Empire?’

’Why would a deity eat people?’

’Aren’t deities supposed to protect humanity?’

This completely shattered Ji Shengyue’s perception of deities.

”What? You disagree? As Her Majesty the Queen of this Empire, don’t you believe all your subjects should obey you? Just get rid of the disobedient ones. Besides, you see your current situation perfectly well. If I’m not provided with enough food, I can’t restore my power to its peak, much less break through to the next level.”

the Great Celestial Dog demanded coldly.

”Alright, I’ll make the arrangements. You should go and rest. When everything is ready, someone will notify you.”

Ji Shengyue gritted her teeth and finally agreed.

’Besides, plenty of people in the Great Jing Empire curse my name day in and day out anyway. If sacrificing a few people as food for the Great Celestial Dog can increase his power and ensure my own safety and the stability of the Great Jing Empire, it seems like a decent option.’

”Then be quick about it.”

Having suffered a humiliation today, the Great Celestial Dog was in no mood to dally with Ji Shengyue. After her agreement, he strode out of the reception hall.

Only after the Great Celestial Dog was long gone did Zong Yajuan dare to step forward and ask, ”Her Majesty the Queen, are we really going to feed those innocent citizens to this Great Celestial Dog?

Besides, we don’t even know if what the Great Celestial Dog says is true.

What if he devours a large number of humans and his power doesn’t increase?

Or what if his power does increase, but he’s still no match for those Vampires? What then?

Chu He, all the way in the Great Xia Empire, once said that he doesn’t believe for a second that these so-called Deities awakening around the world are genuine.

And now, I’m starting to agree with him.

How could a deity use humans as food? How could their power be gained by devouring people?”

”My decision is made. If you disagree, you can go explain it to the Great Celestial Dog yourself.”

Ji Shengyue said decisively, flicking her sleeve.

”Her Majesty the Queen, I have found Xiao Cangqing’s younger brother and sister.

I originally intended to have them executed,

but I discovered that both of them possess incredible talent in Martial Arts.

Both have already reached the Emperor Realm.

Therefore, I took the liberty of sparing them and the rest of Xiao Cangqing’s family.

I did not have them all killed. Instead, I informed them that Her Majesty the Queen is benevolent and has been trying to find any trace of Xiao Cangqing.

Should he be found, you will spare no effort to rescue him.

I told them that Your Majesty believes Xiao Cangqing was framed,

and that it was likely a conspiracy by Chu He of the Great Xia Empire, designed to pull Xiao Cangqing into their camp.”

Seeing Ji Shengyue so resolute, Zong Yajuan had no choice but to change the topic.

”Really? Excellent, excellent.”

Ji Shengyue’s gloomy expression instantly brightened.

However, she completely failed to notice the disappointment Zong Yajuan was desperately trying to conceal in her eyes.

Zong Yajuan truly felt a disappointment in Ji Shengyue unlike any she had felt before.

In fact, that disappointment was steadily turning into despair.

’Under Ji Shengyue’s leadership, the Great Jing Empire had fallen into ever-greater disarray.’

Now, Zong Yajuan was starting to believe the rumors circulating among the common folk:

that the entire Great Jing Empire, under Ji Shengyue’s continued leadership, would likely be wiped from the face of Blue Star.

’The beginning of the end had been the scheme to slander Chu He, forcing him to leave the Great Jing Empire.’

’It was a shame that Ji Shengyue remained so obstinate, even straying further down this outrageous path.’

”The siblings have arrived; they’re just outside. Should I have them come in?”

Zong Yajuan asked.

”Have them come in at once.”

Ji Shengyue said impatiently. She wanted to personally confirm if what Zong Yajuan said was true.

Soon, Zong Yajuan went out and brought in a young man and a young girl.

”The young man on the left is Xiao Cangqing’s brother, Xiao Xicheng. The young woman on the right is his sister, Xiao Jin’Er.”

Zong Yajuan introduced.

Xiao Xicheng and Xiao Jin’Er both wore expressions of fear and apprehension.

They had no idea why they had been brought here, or why Ji Shengyue wanted to see them.

After all, Xiao Xicheng and Xiao Jin’Er were well aware of what their brother, Xiao Cangqing, had done.

In the Great Jing Empire, they had become outcasts because of him—targets for anyone to bully and abuse.

Fortunately, the siblings possessed extraordinary talent.

They had simply hidden themselves away deep in the mountains and forests, training diligently every day until they finally broke into the Emperor Realm.

They never expected to be found by people from the Great Jing Empire anyway.

At the time, Xiao Xicheng and Xiao Jin’Er had debated whether to kill the Empire’s men and flee for good.

But then Zong Yajuan herself had come to them, telling them there was more to Xiao Cangqing’s story than they knew.

She told them that Her Majesty the Queen of the Great Jing Empire, Ji Shengyue, had never given up on Xiao Cangqing,

and was constantly searching for him. Once he was found, she would use all her power to bring him back safely.

Xiao Xicheng and Xiao Jin’Er were skeptical, but in the end, they held back from attacking the people from the Great Jing Empire.

”You have both endured much. Public opinion within the Great Jing Empire has been quite poor lately, and you have both suffered greatly for it. But I can tell you this: your brother, Xiao Cangqing, is not dead. We simply haven’t been able to find his exact whereabouts yet. It is highly likely that his disappearance is connected in some way to that traitor, Chu He, from the Great Xia Empire. Coincidentally, the Great Jing Empire is in dire need of talented individuals. Are the two of you willing to serve me? If we can find Xiao Cangqing’s exact location, I guarantee I will bring him back.”

Ji Shengyue sat upon her chair, the very picture of the majestic Queen of the Great Jing Empire.

”We are.”

Xiao Xicheng nodded without hesitation.

Xiao Jin’Er, standing just behind her brother, saw his response and nodded as well.

”Excellent. You must both be exhausted from your long journey. Go and rest for now. Should you need anything, simply contact Zong Yajuan. She will arrange everything for you.”

Ji Shengyue, quite pleased with their attitudes, said with a smile.

Ji Shengyue didn’t say much more to Xiao Xicheng and Xiao Jin’Er. Saying too much would only seem strange; after all, she was the revered Queen of the Great Jing Empire. To over-explain the situation with Xiao Cangqing would appear unnatural.

”Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Xiao Xicheng and Xiao Jin’Er bowed deeply. Then, led by someone Zong Yajuan had arranged, they left the reception hall.

”Her Majesty the Queen, is it really settled that simply?” Zong Yajuan asked, puzzled.

”Winning the loyalty of two Emperor Realm geniuses like Xiao Xicheng and Xiao Jin’Er must be done slowly. Otherwise, we risk being counterproductive. Fortunately, Xiao Xicheng and Xiao Jin’Er are younger than Xiao Cangqing was,” Ji Shengyue said confidently. ”Winning their hearts is paramount. For now, we must give Xiao Xicheng, Xiao Jin’Er, and Xiao Cangqing’s parents the absolute best treatment and care.”

[A big thank you to our patron, Yan Lulu, for the generous gift of 1,176 Book Coins! May you be blessed with great wealth and fortune!!!]