117: Chapter 117 The greatest credit for suppressing the rebellion was given to those who discarded their shoes; a sword carried him ten thousand miles to accompany the young You.

The cleanup work for the suppression of the rebellion in the Northwest was even more tedious than imagined.

After the three hundred thousand-strong army disarmed and returned to their camps, and over a dozen Northwest Grandmasters handed over their Natal Divine Souls.

They were rounded up by Right Protector Xue Biane like herding ducks into the Heavenly Demon Sect's Vanguard Death Squad Camp.

The bloodstains and mess all over the ground were naturally left for the trembling army captains to clean up.

Inside the dilapidated meeting hall of the Prince of Zhenbei's Manor.

Imperial Preceptor Jiang Baigui sat before a barely intact long desk, holding a purple rabbit-hair brush, drafting the victory report for the Old Emperor.

“The chief culprit has been executed, and the remaining factions have surrendered.

Military power over the three hundred thousand troops in the Northwest has been fully consolidated.”

Jiang Baigui finished the last stroke and properly folded the victory report, which was enough to shake the entire Yankang Kingdom's court and public.

He looked up at Ye Xiu, who was sitting on a high crossbeam in the hall, swinging his legs and drinking wine.

“Cult Leader Ye, in the victory report, I have truthfully reported your Divine Might in breaking the formation single-handedly and confiscating the weapons of the three hundred thousand-strong army.”

Jiang Baigui stood up, his green robe fluttering slightly in the wind, his tone carrying a rare gravity:

“His Majesty gave a verbal decree before my departure: rewards will be bestowed based on merit for this rebellion suppression.

Cult Leader Ye has achieved the greatest merit of all!

As long as you return to the capital with me, His Majesty will surely confer upon you the title of Prince of a Different Surname, and may even grant a royal marriage, formally marrying the Seventh Princess to you.”

“Prince of a Different Surname? Royal marriage?”

Hearing this, Ye Xiu showed no joy; instead, he let out a sneer.

He leaped down from the crossbeam and landed steadily in front of Jiang Baigui.

He casually pulled out the golden tiger military tally, which represented the supreme command over the three hundred thousand Northwest troops, from his robe.

Like throwing away a worthless stone, he tossed it into Jiang Baigui's arms.

“Old Jiang, you're good in every way, but you're just obsessed with officialdom. You always think everyone in the world covets that scrap metal of your imperial court.”

Jiang Baigui scrambled to catch the golden tiger military tally, an object that would make regional lords fight to the death, his face filled with bewilderment:

“Cult Leader Ye, what is the meaning of this? This is immense wealth and power!”

“Power my foot.

Getting up early every day for court, kneeling in the Golden Chimes Hall to listen to that Old Emperor's rambling, and having to deal with the impeachments of those pedantic civil officials.

This kind of suffering-disguised-as-wealth, you, Jiang Baigui, can keep it for yourself to enjoy.”

Ye Xiu waved his hand impatiently and turned to walk out of the hall.

“Then what about the Seventh Princess?”

Jiang Baigui frowned slightly and pressed further.

“Her Highness the Princess is deeply devoted to you, even going so far as to lead the Golden Dragon Guards into the Eastern Palace to save you. If you don't return to the capital, how will you account to her?”

Ye Xiu's footsteps paused.

He looked back, a rare flash of gentleness appearing in his gold and silver heterochromatic eyes, though his tone remained wild:

“Yuxiu is a good girl, and she is the woman I, Ye Xiu, have acknowledged.

If she misses me, she can come find me. But my sword, Ye Xiu's sword, will never be tied down by those few red walls and green tiles of the Imperial City.”

At this point, Ye Xiu looked up, his gaze crossing the yellow sands filling the Northwest sky, looking toward the distant south.

“Moreover, I once made a promise to someone.

On the day I open the Heavenly Gate with my sword and reshape my Physical Body, I will return to The Great Ruins to see her.

Killing these few rebels has already delayed me for too much time.”

Jiang Baigui stood stunned on the spot.

Looking at this man in snow-white clothes, he suddenly realized.

The heights of the imperial court and the great righteousness of the world that he took pride in were, in this man's eyes, truly not worth a jar of strong wine or a single promise.

The greatest merit in suppressing the rebellion? A title of Prince of a Different Surname?

All were like discarded shoes!

“Cowherd Boy, Right Protector, Saintess!”

Ye Xiu ignored Jiang Baigui and gave a loud shout.

Qin Mu, Si Yunxiang, and the others immediately stepped forward for orders.

“Take these newly recruited pups and head back to the Sacred Demon Abyss headquarters first.

Tell Yin Jiuyou to keep a good eye on my home base. If anyone dares to slack off, when I return, I'll skin them alive!”

“Sect Leader, you're not returning to headquarters with us?” A hint of surprise flashed in Si Yunxiang's beautiful eyes.

“This Sect Leader is taking a family visit leave. Without my summons, no one is allowed to disturb me.”

Ye Xiu waved his wide sleeve, giving no time for anyone to react.

“Clang—!”

A three-foot green blade unsheathed out of thin air, hovering beneath Ye Xiu's feet.

This was not the massive, ostentatious Pure Yang Great Sword from before, but a Flying Sword of Spiritual Qi that had shed all its flashiness and was restrained to the extreme.

“Old Jiang, return to the capital and tell the Old Emperor that I, Ye Xiu, am used to being a free spirit and cannot accept rewards.

Just have him save the best century-old vintages in the national treasury for me!”

Accompanied by a clear, long whistle.

Ye Xiu, in his white robes with a wine gourd hanging from his waist, rose into the air on his sword.

Turning into a shooting star, he instantly pierced through the vast sea of clouds in the Northwest, heading straight for the misty south.

Holding the golden tiger military tally, Jiang Baigui looked up at the sword light disappearing into the clouds, remaining silent for a long time.

After a long while, this elegant Imperial Preceptor shook his head helplessly, a bitter smile touching the corners of his mouth:

“Viewing royal power as weeds and discarding the greatest merit like worn-out shoes. Such peerless elegance... I am not his equal.”

...

Three days later, Yankang Capital, Taihe Hall.

Above the hall, the Old Emperor sat on the dragon throne.

Below, the civil and military officials were lined up on both sides; the entire court, dressed in vermilion and purple, was eagerly awaiting the triumphant return of the rebel-suppressing army.

The Seventh Princess, Ling Yuxiu, was even more elaborately dressed in a magnificent Nine-Tailed Phoenix Skirt, her exquisite face filled with a young girl's anticipation and pride.

She had even finished thinking about how to decorate the wedding chamber.

However, when the threshold of the hall was crossed.

Only Imperial Preceptor Jiang Baigui appeared, holding a wooden box containing Prince Zhenbei's head and the golden tiger military tally with both hands, walking up the hall alone.

“Your servant Jiang Baigui has fortunately fulfilled the mission.

Prince Zhenbei has been executed, and the three hundred thousand Northwest troops have surrendered. I have come to return the decree.”

The Old Emperor nodded with satisfaction, his gaze scanning behind Jiang Baigui, his brows twitching slightly:

“The Imperial Preceptor has worked hard and achieved great things. But where is my peerlessly brave Guest Elder Ye?

He achieved the greatest merit in suppressing the rebellion; I am still waiting to reward him properly before all the civil and military officials.”

Ling Yuxiu also grew anxious, holding her skirt as she ran down the steps: “Imperial Preceptor, where is my husband? Is he injured?”

Jiang Baigui looked embarrassed and could only brace himself to report truthfully:

“To Your Majesty, to the Princess. Cult Leader Ye... did not return to the capital.”

“Did not return? Where did he go?”

The Old Emperor was stunned.

“Cult Leader Ye said he doesn't want the court's rewards, nor will he be a Prince of a Different Surname.

He felt that attending court was too tiring and there were too many rules. After throwing the tally to me, he...”

Jiang Baigui paused, his voice lowering slightly.

“He flew on his sword to The Great Ruins.

He said... he promised to accompany a girl to see the scenery.”

Silence.

The Taihe Hall instantly fell into a deathly silence.

The civil and military officials stared at each other in shock.

For the sake of accompanying a woman to see the scenery, he wouldn't even be a Prince of a Different Surname?

He wouldn't even take the Emperor's rewards?

This was simply treating imperial power as nothing!

Sitting on the dragon throne, the expression on the Old Emperor's face was extremely vivid.

He was so angry his beard twitched, and he slammed his hand on the dragon desk, about to explode.

But at the thought of Ye Xiu's terrifying combat power that could disarm three hundred thousand troops in an instant, he forced that anger back down.

“Good! What a Wine Sword Immortal! What a peerless madman who loves beauty more than the empire!”

The Old Emperor laughed in extreme anger, pointing outside the hall and cursing:

“In this world, the only one who dares to stand me up is Ye Xiu!”

As for Ling Yuxiu standing below the steps, when she heard the phrase 'to accompany a girl,' she was first slightly taken aback.

Then, instead of getting angry, a flash of realization and heartache appeared in her beautiful phoenix eyes.

“So he went to see Sister Youyou.”

Ling Yuxiu bit her red lip and murmured softly.

As the person with the deepest bond with Ye Xiu, she naturally knew that fragile yet resilient name hidden in the deepest part of his heart.

“Someone, this Princess is also going back to The Great Ruins! Wherever my husband is, I shall be!”