112: Chapter 112 The Husband in the Coffin

Finally.

When her cultivation reached the peak of the Ninth Rank, it finally came to a halt.

Ye Jingjun was, after all, a cultivator born and bred in Great Ning.

She could not transcend the limits of the Great Ning World.

She felt the vast, unprecedentedly powerful cultivation within her body.

Yet, she was suddenly struck by a sense of powerlessness.

Having already severed her seven emotions and six desires, seeing Su Chen on the bed without a trace of breath...

She still shed a single tear.

Vast sword intent unconsciously took shape around her delicate frame.

Wherever it passed, withered wood met spring.

Although the Spring Festival had just passed, spring had not yet arrived in the northern capital.

But under the catalysis of her sword intent,

Flower buds of various colors had already quietly bloomed on the trees throughout the Vice Commander's Estate.

"No Meeting Spring..."

Ye Jingjun murmured.

This was the eighth and final form of the Heartless Sword.

This form had unlocked automatically.

It marked the grand completion of her Heartless Sword Technique.

"Back then, Su Chen... he told me..."

(This part is in Chapter 72 of this book.)

"That Female Sword Immortal also realized this form after losing her husband..."

"But even 'No Meeting Spring', which can bring spring back to all things, could not make her lover's body warm again."

She glanced at Su Chen.

That cold body, amidst the garden full of flowers,

Was still quietly withering away.

Ye Jingjun untied her wedding robes.

She moved close to Su Chen.

Leaning down,

She pressed a deep kiss onto Su Chen's pale lips.

"Master Su..."

"I'm sorry, Jingjun cannot come to accompany you just yet."

"There are still many remnants of the demon race in the world; some are left over from ancient times and are very troublesome."

"And Great Ning... has not yet settled down."

"Once everything is dealt with, Jingjun will go down to accompany you."

"You must..."

"Wait for me."

A block of Profound Ice appeared out of thin air, sealing Su Chen's body.

The Crimson Phoenix Sword Immortal, dressed in her bridal gown, withdrew all mortal womanly emotions from her beautiful face.

Her delicate figure flashed and vanished.

Leaving behind only a garden full of falling flowers.

Petal by petal,

They silently fell to the ground.

...

After Su Chen's death, the Great Ning Imperial Court was unexpectedly calm.

The reason was simple.

They simply did not know.

After the day of the grand wedding,

Su Chen's death was forcibly suppressed by Ye Jingjun with an iron fist.

The death was kept secret.

Actually, saying that isn't quite accurate.

Because in reality, no one knew except for her.

She announced to the outside world that the new Emperor, Su Chen, had suffered excessive depletion from the previous decisive battle.

He needed a long period of secluded meditation to recover his vitality.

State affairs would be handled entirely by her, the "Crimson Phoenix Sword Immortal" and the "Prince Regent" personally appointed by Su Chen.

No one dared to question her.

After all, the peerless sight of Su Chen slaying the Demon Emperor and destroying a hundred formations above the capital that day was still fresh in their minds.

And the terrifying strength Ye Jingjun subsequently displayed, which almost transcended the peak of the Ninth Rank,

Made all those with doubts as quiet as cicadas in winter.

Even the Old Emperor of Great Ning had been slain by this Rakshasa couple; no one else had the courage to provoke them.

She set up layer upon layer of restrictions centered around the palace where Su Chen was supposedly resting in seclusion.

She declared Su Chen was in closed-door cultivation and no one was to disturb him.

In truth, Su Chen's remains had been carefully preserved by her using ten-thousand-year Profound Ice.

Placed deep within a secret chamber, forever protected from decay.

She herself moved into the Prince Regent's residence adjacent to the palace.

Every day, after finishing the heavy affairs of state, no matter how late it was,

She would come to the secret chamber alone.

She would stand quietly before that Profound Ice coffin for a long time.

Su Chen in the ice coffin looked peaceful, as if he were merely sleeping.

Just like he used to look when he was still alive.

His grand red wedding robes were a piercingly bright crimson.

It always made the corners of her eyes damp.

Ye Jingjun would always reach out and, through the cold Profound Ice, extremely gently stroke the contours of his face.

She had cast aside her seven emotions and six desires.

Her gaze was hollow, without any glimmer of tears.

But losing her emotions did not mean she had lost her memories.

"Husband..."

She would occasionally call out softly.

Her voice was dry, without any inflection.

"Wait for me a little longer."

"Once I have purged the world and built the clear and bright realm you desired,"

"I will come to accompany you."

"It won't be long."

When she said this, a faint smile would always appear on her face.

Like thinking of Liang and Zhu turning into butterflies, happening to meet upon the sea of Lycoris flowers before the Bridge of Helplessness.

And asking each other with a smile,

"I hope you have been well since we last met."

...

In the imperial court, she was the Prince Regent with decisive methods and clear rewards and punishments.

She promulgated new policies, lightened labor and taxes,

Restored the land, and selected talent from humble families.

She quickly stabilized the turbulent post-war situation.

Under the iron fist and wisdom of this "Crimson Phoenix Sword Immortal,"

Great Ning actually began to slowly recover its vitality, showing signs of a new era.

The campaign to suppress the remaining evil demons scattered across Great Ning also began in full swing.

The process was not entirely smooth.

Many demon clans had occupied territories for a long time, committing evil deeds.

Not only did they have the advantage of the terrain, but they were also ancient races passed down from antiquity.

Ordinary warriors of the Demon-Quelling Army truly couldn't do anything to them.

Whenever a local report of demon trouble appeared, no matter how big or small, no matter how far from the capital,

This usually steady Prince Regent would always go in person.

Her methods became increasingly harsh.

It was no longer the righteous aura of slaying demons from before.

Instead, she had become accustomed to slaying demons in a way that was almost like torture.

She would skin and debone those troublesome demons alive, grinding their bones to ash, leaving not even their nests or kin behind.

Every time she killed an evil demon, she would stand by the demon's corpse and gaze towards the capital.

As if giving an account to someone.

The court and commoners whispered that the Prince Regent hated demons to the bone.

Yet some observant people noticed that her policies towards those well-behaved, even helpful, kind demons...

Could be said to be quite lenient.

"Whether demon or human."

During a court session, when an old official suggested they needed to guard against the demon race growing too powerful,

Ye Jingjun spoke indifferently.

"Those who keep order shall live; those who create chaos shall die."

"The standard of judgment in this world should be based on what one does, not what one is."

"This is also... what he wished for."

As she said this, her gaze swept across the empty dragon throne in the Golden Chime Hall.

There was not the slightest ripple in her eyes.

The officials below felt an invisible chill sweep across their backs and dared not say another word.

As time went on, the atmosphere of Great Ning truly began to change subtly.

Although the people still feared demons, they began to accept those outsiders who showed kindness.

Without anyone noticing,

A new order had been subtly established in Great Ning.

...

Three years passed in the blink of an eye.

Donglai Prefecture City.

Compared to the dilapidation of five years ago, Donglai was now a scene of prosperity.

Masts in the harbor were like a forest, and the market was bustling with noise.

A graceful blue figure walked quietly through the crowded streets.

It was Cang Mingyue.

She was still in a sky-blue dress, her face beautiful and ethereal, time having left no trace upon her.

The only flaw was a hint of melancholy in those beautiful eyes.