131: A false alarm

Shen Jianhong left the study and headed straight for the temple.

He hadn't offered incense to Lord Chuping today; since he was already here, there was no reason to leave empty-handed.

Though Shen Jianhong had answered fluently in the study earlier, in reality, his back was soaked with cold sweat.

For Your Majesty to actually try and threaten Lord Chuping was simply audacious.

He must be seriously ill.

Regardless of whether it was Lord Chuping or his attendant speaking with His Majesty in the temple, he should go and explain the situation.

The Shen Family would never dare to threaten Lord Chuping.

***

When Shen Jianhong stepped into the temple, silence enveloped him, broken only by the faint flickering of candlelight.

He slowly walked forward, lit three sticks of incense, and reverently placed them into the incense burner. Then, he stepped back two paces, knelt on both knees, and touched his forehead to the ground, performing a standard grand bow.

"Lord Chuping above, your humble devotee Shen Jianhong has a matter to report today."

"Your Majesty came earlier today. Although he did not receive a clear answer, he has received your guidance and will return tomorrow with offerings. Jianhong knows that whether it is you or your immortal attendant, we hope you will take pity on the suffering of Great Yan's people and bestow guidance or assistance."

At this point, Shen Jianhong paused, seemingly choosing his words carefully, fearing to offend that eccentric existence.

"Your humble devotee dares to ask a question. If Great Yan truly faces peril, would Lord Chuping be willing to extend a helping hand to protect this land and its people?"

"Of course, we also know that the actions of deities have their own reasons. All we Mortals can do is try our best and not fail in our entrusted duties. However, if we could conspire with Lord Chuping on a great matter, it would truly be Great Yan's fortune."

Shen Jianhong finished speaking and waited quietly for a response, though he did not hold much hope.

Shen Jianhong didn't have to wait long before a snarky voice spoke up.

"Yo, Shen Jianhong, you little rascal, you're buttering me up. But you speak quite smoothly, much better than your little Your Majesty."

Lin Chuping, who had just woken up: "..."

It was the System's voice, but why did it make one's skin crawl the moment one heard it?

Not sure, listen again.

As soon as Shen Jianhong heard that voice, his heart sank, and he quickly kowtowed again.

"System, please calm your anger. Every word spoken by your humble devotee comes from the bottom of his heart, without a single falsehood. Your Majesty is young and impetuous. If he has offended you, I hope you, with your magnanimity, will not hold it against him."

"Stop playing the pity card with me here... You humans are just black-hearted..."

***

"Cough cough."

Lin Chuping directly contacted the System in his Sea of Consciousness.

"Tong Ge, I just slept. What's this?"

Why did it feel like the System had gone out to bicker with someone?

System: "Host, you're awake? What I said about humans doesn't include you; you're not human now."

"Hm?"

The more it explained, the worse it sounded.

"What I mean is, you are a God, not a human."

After the System finished speaking, it felt like something was off and immediately changed the subject.

"Oh, right, the Great Yan Emperor has arrived. He's eagerly waiting for your help."

Lin Chuping retorted unhappily: "Tong Ge, since he's so sincere, let's just help him a little. Do you have to be so sarcastic?"

The System chuckled, trying to be ingratiating.

"I'm just reminding you, don't be muddled from sleep. A mere Mortal emperor asking for our help, and he doesn't even perform a grand sacrifice."

"This System advises you, don't get too involved in matters of imperial power succession. There are pitfalls everywhere. Be careful not to get entangled in Karma and have others hold a handle over you."

"Hmm, I understand that principle."

Lin Chuping frowned; the System's meaning coincided with his own thoughts.

Matters within the imperial court were overly complex.

Power succession, behind it lay countless entanglements of interests and factional struggles.

If he easily got involved, it would be difficult to extricate himself later.

As the saying goes, there are no eternal enemies, only eternal interests.

But interests are not immutable. Currently, Lin Chuping and Li Shun's interests align. What if one day Li Shun had greater ambitions? The best approach is to stick to one's principles and only punish evil.

"Tong Ge, you have to believe me. You chose your own Host, don't you know him well enough? We are a God of some standing, how could we be threatened by a mere Mortal emperor?"

[Host, look how good Shen Jianhong's attitude is, calling you Lord Chuping every other word, even flattering you...]

***

Shen Jianhong's forehead rested against the blue bricks, listening to the System's sudden silence, the hairs on the back of his neck practically standing on end.

He dared not look up, only staring at the flickering incense ash in the censer, a bitter taste in his throat.

The scene of His Majesty slamming the table and threatening the "divine being" in the study earlier was still vivid in his mind. The divine being was all-seeing and all-knowing.

Every moment of silence now felt like a blunt knife slowly cutting flesh, fearing that the System would bring up old scores in the next second.

"System..."

His throat tightened, and he almost squeezed out half a sentence in a whisper, then, fearing to interrupt the "divine being's" thoughts, he quickly bit his tongue.

It wasn't until he heard the System's lazy scoff that he realized his held breath had almost consumed his consciousness.

His chest heaved violently, and he belatedly felt his knees numb, yet he didn't even dare to change his posture.

Just as Shen Jianhong's fingernails were almost digging into the flesh of his palms, he suddenly heard a clear, gentle sigh from above the divine statue.

That voice was completely different from the earlier sharp and sarcastic tone; it was like spring snow melting into a stream, carrying a hint of gentle helplessness.

"Minister Shen need not be so alarmed."

He trembled violently, his forehead hitting the blue bricks, but he forgot the pain—it was Lord Chuping's voice!

A sourness welled up in his throat, and he then realized he had been steeped in despair for too long, even his fingertips were trembling uncontrollably.

"His Majesty is young and impetuous, and his eagerness for success is also for the sake of the common people."

Lin Chuping's voice, mixed with the blue smoke from the incense burner, inexplicably carried a hint of worldly aura.

"But there is a distinction between gods and mortals; one cannot force it. You may go back and tell His Majesty that I have no intention of interfering in court affairs, but I will never tolerate evil-doers."

Shen Jianhong suddenly looked up.

"Thank, thank you for your compassion, Lord Chuping!"

"Jianhong will surely convey your divine will and will not fail your painstaking efforts..."

***

After Shen Jianhong left, the System shrunk itself into a small ball of light, trying to minimize its presence, wishing Lin Chuping couldn't see it at all.

"System, you explain yourself!"

"I only rested for a day, and you've done quite a few big things."

"Host, how can this be called doing big things!"

The System's light ball suddenly bounced twice, its voice rising with a hint of guilt, "I was helping you test humanity's sincerity! Look at that emperor, he dared to threaten a divine being right off the bat. If this System hadn't curbed his arrogance, who knows, he might have ridden roughshod over you in the future!"

Lin Chuping raised an eyebrow, looking at the light ball rolling around on the meditation cushion. He lightly flicked a finger, and a golden light instantly pinned the System to the wall.

"Testing sincerity requires slicing beef? Did you need to scare Shen Jianhong almost to the point of fainting?"

"Ow, ow, ow, it hurts!"

The System's light ball instantly shrunk to the size of a sesame seed, "This isn't a negotiation... Besides, didn't Shen Jianhong end up being quite grateful? Humans just need a little pressure to learn reverence!"

It suddenly shot "whoosh" onto Lin Chuping's shoulder, then suddenly realized something was wrong.

The System's light ball suddenly burst into dazzling white light, spinning wildly in mid-air.

"Wait! What's wrong with your Spiritual Qi fluctuations?! God Cultivation Art's second layer?!"

"Host, you actually secretly advanced while on vacation?!"