50: Chapter 50 Fourth Life, All-in Failure? Watch Me Turn the Tide (Twenty-Seven)

Despite Heir Xiao Heng's repeated attempts to persuade him, Wang Shi remained unwilling to accept any extra guards or treasures.

He only handed over the intelligence insights he had compiled over the years and the secret operational manuals of the Yanling Guard to Heir Xiao Heng, instructing him to pass them on to someone trustworthy to continue the cultivation.

After doing all this, he turned around and returned to the Yanling Guard office as usual.

He reviewed every word of the official documents that needed approval.

He finalized every detail of the defense arrangements one by one.

He even personally led his men to inspect the key checkpoints at the four gates of Tianhuang City, verifying the security details for the succession ceremony at every single post.

It was as if he had already accepted his fate, quietly waiting and calmly facing the funeral bell that would eventually toll.

In secret, Wang Shi sighed again and again; ending like this was, in the end, difficult to reconcile with.

It was a pity; in this life, he had originally wanted to return to Heishi Village, whose appearance he could no longer clearly recall...

Now, it seemed that would not be possible.

As for the plan he had originally made to try and bury some resources to be used in future lives.

Heh, there were no telling how many eyes watching him now; that probably wouldn't work either.

Oh well, these were just external things after all.

I, Wang Shi, was able to reach this day step by step entirely through my own efforts.

Even without these external things, relying on the waves he had stirred up in this life.

It would be enough to harvest a substantial amount of points, and in the next life, he would certainly be able to obtain a higher starting point and reach new heights!

Now that everything that needed to be done was done, let me complete this final dance.

In the blink of an eye, the day of the succession ceremony arrived.

The ten-mile main street of Tianhuang City was decorated with lanterns and streamers, red silk filled the sky, and the whole city was full of joy.

The common people crowded on both sides of the street, waiting to see the procession of The New King, with smiles on everyone's faces.

Only in the main hall of the Yanling Guard office was the atmosphere incomparably heavy.

Heir Xiao Heng was dressed in black ceremonial robes, embroidered with the tiger pattern of the Tianhuang Princes Mansion in gold trim, and his crown was already worn, yet he stood before Wang Shi with his brows tightly furrowed, about to say something.

The ceremonial official outside the door suddenly ran in, his tone full of anxiety:

"Your Highness, the auspicious time is almost here. The Clan Court has already urged us three times; we cannot delay any longer."

Heir Xiao Heng sighed slightly upon hearing this.

According to the ancestral regulations of the Tianhuang Princes Mansion, when The New King succeeds to the throne, he must enter the Ancestral Temple three hours in advance to wash his hands, burn incense, recite sacrificial texts, and pay respects to the past kings.

This was not his personal affair; it was the dignity of the entire mansion and the legitimacy of the succession, allowing for not even the slightest mishap.

But his feet seemed to have taken root, as if he hadn't heard the ceremonial official's words, his gaze locked firmly on Wang Shi.

His tone was extremely low, carrying an almost pleading tone: "Grand Attendant Wang, listen to me; do not go to the ceremony today.

I have already made arrangements; I have set up three layers of defensive formations in the deepest secret chamber of the mansion.

You go in and hide. After the ceremony ends and the overall situation is settled, you can come out. Alright?"

"By then, I will have officially succeeded to the throne, and I will be able to mobilize more forces to protect you."

Wang Shi was dressed in the flying fish robe of the Commander of the Yanling Guard, with a standard long saber at his waist, his hair combed meticulously, just as usual.

He only smiled faintly upon hearing this and shook his head: "Your Highness is joking.

I am the Commander of the Yanling Guard and the head of security for today's ceremony. With thousands of brothers in the office watching me, if I hide, the morale of the army will definitely be in chaos.

By then, the entire city defense will have loopholes. If any treacherous villains cause trouble, it will definitely affect your coronation ceremony. Please forgive this subject for being unable to agree."

"It doesn't matter!" Heir Xiao Heng blurted out, his voice hoarse with urgency.

"If the sky falls, I will bear it! I just want you to live!"

"Your Highness cannot bear it." Wang Shi's tone remained calm, yet carried incomparable firmness.

"For this throne, you have endured for so many years, and we have risked countless lives to succeed.

There cannot be the slightest error because of me.

You are the king of the billions of living beings in Huangyan Prefecture; you cannot break ancestral regulations and disturb the hearts of the people for the sake of one subject."

Heir Xiao Heng's chest heaved violently. Watching his stubbornness, he was both anxious and angry, his eyes turning red again: "Then I will leave my entire personal guard battalion with you!

Twelve Copper Bone Realm death warriors, following you every step of the way! That should be enough, right?"

"Your Highness, your personal guard battalion is there to protect you through the ceremony. They are your face and your final trump card; not a single one can be moved."

Wang Shi raised his hand and bowed solemnly to him, "By this subject's side, there are already two Copper Bone late-stage guards accompanying me; that is enough."

"Enough my ass!" Heir Xiao Heng lost his composure in front of him for the first time and cursed.

"The other side dares to make a move at this time; they must have made full preparations! How can two people be enough?"

"Your Highness, whether it is enough or not has never been about numbers." Wang Shi raised his eyes, his gaze filled with calm.

"What is meant to come will always come.

If one can hide today, one cannot hide tomorrow. This subject has already made preparations."

"You!"

Heir Xiao Heng was trembling with anger, yet he had absolutely no way to deal with him.

He knew Wang Shi too well; this person looked gentle, but was more stubborn than anyone in his bones. Once something was decided, not even ten cows could pull him back.

Outside the door, the ceremonial official's voice came again, with panicked urging: "Your Highness! The auspicious time is approaching; the Ancestral Temple really cannot wait any longer!"

Heir Xiao Heng gritted his teeth tightly, his fingernails digging into his palms, and blood slowly flowed down his hands.

He looked at Wang Shi and finally could only let out a heavy sigh, his voice carrying a suppressed sobbing tone: "You must live!

Do you hear me! I will be waiting for you at the Ancestral Temple! You must come over alive!"

"This subject respectfully sees off Your Highness." Wang Shi bowed deeply, not replying, only giving him a bow that was solemn to the extreme.

Heir Xiao Heng took one last look at him; in the end, he could not miss the auspicious time at the Ancestral Temple, so he turned around and rushed out with his men. The sound of rapid hoofbeats soon disappeared at the end of the long street.

Wang Shi straightened up, listening quietly until the sound of the hoofbeats completely faded away, before slowly raising his eyes to look at the red silk filling the sky outside the window, exhaling lightly.

After another two and a half hours, he raised his hand to check the sundial; the time was about right.

"Prepare the sedan chair." He spoke faintly, his voice steady without a ripple, "Go to the Ancestral Temple."

"My Lord!" The personal guard beside him stepped forward, his expression grave.

"There are too many people and eyes in the city today. Why don't we take the dark alleys and call another team to accompany us?"

"No need."

Wang Shi stepped out of the office and waved his hand: "Take the main street, following the procession of the Commander of the Yanling Guard.

Walk as it should be walked. Today is a good day for His Highness; we cannot disturb the rules."

The eight-bearer sedan chair was lifted steadily, followed by the procession of the Yanling Guard. Two Copper Bone late-stage guards protected the left and right sides of the sedan chair, moving slowly along the red-carpeted main street toward the Ancestral Temple.

The street was bustling and full of joy.

However, Wang Shi in the sedan chair could clearly feel that the sense of crisis, following like a shadow, was surging toward him like a tide.

The hairs on the back of his neck stood up, as if a cold blade was already pressed against his throat, ready to fall at any moment.

He closed his eyes and leaned against the sedan wall, his fingertips gently stroking the saber at his waist. There was not a shred of fear in his heart, only a state of absolute calm.

He had long been prepared.