Chapter 202 Chapter 202 "Enter me and see everything clearly...

The sun rises at noon.

The morning meeting was over, and Jiu Zhao was buried in his papers, dealing with the matters submitted by the immortal ministers.

He had barely written two words on the blank space of the memorial with his red brush when he suddenly heard footsteps outside the hall.

The attendant quickly walked to the main hall, knelt down, and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty, the Phoenix Clan leader is requesting an audience."

Jiu Zhao's fingers holding the pen paused, and his slightly raised eyebrows showed a hint of surprise.

Wujiu, why are you here?

Although hindered by her status as the leader of immortals and demons, the Burning Sea and the Three Pure Heavens have established a delicate relationship, and they do not interfere with each other.

But unless necessary, the two worlds will never cross the line.

After the Immortal Clan's meeting ends in the morning and lunch is over, she will head to the Burning Sea to summon all the demon ministers.

What was so important that she had to report it when she was in Ziwei Palace?

Jiu Zhao gathered his thoughts and said calmly, "Announce—lead the Phoenix Clan leader to the side hall."

…

The side hall located in the southeast is not as majestic and solemn as the main Ziwei Hall.

There is a tea table and chairs by the window, which are often used for meeting guests and drinking.

When Jiuzhao arrived, Wujiu was already waiting in the corridor, looking at an ancient plum tree in the courtyard that bloomed all year round.

Hearing footsteps, he turned around, his eyes meeting Jiu Zhao's and then separated. He then bowed slightly awkwardly, "Throne, Emperor."

"No need to be so polite, Phoenix Patriarch. Please take a seat."

Seeing the young man's somewhat uncomfortable expression, Jiu Zhao pointed to the chair opposite the long table.

The maidservant at hand brought two cups of tea at the right moment. "What brings you to see me today?"

Wu Jiu didn't speak immediately. He rubbed the edge of the teacup carved with landscape patterns with his fingertips, waiting for the palace door to close and all irrelevant people to leave before saying, "The land of Nanling has been restored by the divine power of the Emperor. Vitality has returned. My people have returned and are doing well... I thank the Emperor."

There was no fluctuation in the tone of his thanks.

Talking about these unimportant gossips sounded dry and boring, as if he was reciting scriptures.

Jiu Zhao listened quietly without interrupting. She knew that this was definitely not the purpose of his visit.

Sure enough, after a few words, Wujiu suddenly changed the subject.

He raised his head, his gaze blazing as he looked at her. "Are you truly determined to use your body as a vessel to absorb the resentful energy raging within the Burning Sea?"

"You are not joking."

Be concise, clear and firm.

Coupled with Jiu Zhao's calm gaze, it makes people want to follow him and entrust their trust and life to him.

Wujiu was struck by this brief answer in an instant, and his left hand on his knee clenched silently.

He lowered his eyelashes and looked from Jiuzhao's perspective. Only his tense jaw seemed to be subtly declaring that the master was hesitant to speak.

After a long time, he seemed to have made up his mind. A flash of light appeared between his fingers, and a radiant phoenix feather suddenly appeared in his palm.

Jiu Zhao recognized at a glance that it was the natal feather that every phoenix had, but for some reason, it was several times larger than the usual size.

Wu Jiu handed it over with one hand, his movements still stiff, and he turned his eyes away, continuing to look elsewhere:

"The resentment that has lingered in the Burning Sea for eons is not so easily resolved. This journey is destined to be difficult, but it is ultimately a good thing. If it can be accomplished, our Phoenix Clan will also benefit greatly. Therefore, to avoid owing favors, all adult phoenixes in the clan have voluntarily plucked their life feathers and gathered here, hoping to—hoping to protect the Imperial Throne as it absorbs resentment, and to do our bit."

Such a gift is truly precious.

Jiu Zhao is also a phoenix, and he knows that each life feather symbolizes a life.

She sensed the rich, pure vitality contained within the phoenix feathers, concentrating for a long time before asking again, "Is yours among them, too?"

As soon as the words left his mouth, Wu Jiu felt as if his tail had been stepped on. He turned his head sharply and raised his voice unconsciously:

"Of course! My Phoenix Clan is united and we share the joys and sorrows together—"

"As the clan leader, how can I remain indifferent?"

The young man widened his narrow eyes and pursed his thin lips, which truly conveyed the anger of being questioned.

But what he didn't say was that the one Jiu Zhao was holding in his hand at this moment was his.

There are at least hundreds of adult phoenixes in the clan. The natal feathers they plucked are like a small mountain. How can they carry them easily?

He used his own natal feather as a container to carry and integrate the power of the entire clan—

This also means that the consumption he endures is far beyond that of others, and the core of maintaining this power always lies in him.

No sentimental language.

Nor did he kneel down and swear allegiance.

Wujiu's words were still even more offensive.

But this heavy heart, and the symbol behind it, is the Phoenix Clan's true support and obedience to Jiu Zhao, the Lord of Immortals and Demons—

It has been transmitted silently.

Jiu Zhao felt a slight warmth in his heart. He raised his hand and put the natal feather into the storage ring. He said sincerely, "This is exactly what I need. In this way, I thank the Phoenix Clan for their kindness."

Seeing that she accepted it without saying anything cheesy, Wujiu secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

God knows, he has never been good at dealing with situations that require talking.

But no matter how relieved he was, he came here for another thing to accomplish.

Then, it comes down to opening your mouth and speaking.

The shoulders that had finally relaxed tensed up again, and the young man's eyes flickered in distress.

Just as the atmosphere in the hall was about to fall into silence again, he suddenly spoke, his eyes wandering:

“…Is there any wine?”

Jiu Zhao was stunned for a moment, then he understood.

Some knots in the heart and past may really need the spiciness of wine to wash away before taking that step.

She nodded and instructed the attendant in a secret voice, "Bring me my treasured thousand-year-old wine."

The rich aroma of wine quickly replaced the scent of tea and filled the side hall.

The two sat opposite each other and raised their glasses.

The jade cups touched each other in the air, and all the unspoken words and past grievances seemed to melt and dissipate in this cup of wine.

After drinking it all in one gulp, the wine rolled into the throat and intestines, soothing every limb and bone.

As if he had found an outlet for his emotions, Wujiu drank one cup after another, as if he would not go home until he was drunk.

Jiu Zhao, however, was preoccupied with subsequent government affairs. While drinking with him, he quietly channeled his magical powers, expelling the drunkenness that had invaded his body, his eyes remaining clear.

Not long after, Wujiu got drunk.

The alcohol took over his body, destroying his usual arrogance.

He leaned over the table, his cheeks flushed, his eyes blurred, and began to mumble incoherently:

"Jiu Zhao... I, I just don't like you...

"Who told you to overturn my table when we first met... and, and, and stepped on my sleeve..."

He spoke rambling and incoherently.

Sometimes he complained about her decisiveness, and sometimes he accidentally revealed his true feelings:

"But...I just can't help but obey you...

"You cruel woman...how could you, how could you..."

Listening to his drunken nonsense, Jiu Zhao was at a loss whether to laugh or cry. He felt a headache and waved his hand to call the attendant:

"The Phoenix Clan leader is drunk. Send him back to Nanling properly and ensure his safety."

The attendant took the order and carefully helped Wujiu, who was drunk and still mumbling, to his feet and left.

The palace door opened and closed, letting in a cool breeze, but it couldn't blow away the strong smell of alcohol.

Jiu Zhao sat alone at the desk, looking at the remaining wine in the cup, then he produced his natal feather and examined it carefully over and over again.

The lingering smell of alcohol made her chest feel tight.

Or perhaps, the bigger the stakes, the more unacceptable the risk of losing.

She slowly stood up and decided to go out for a walk.

When the palace door was opened, the servants serving on both sides disappeared, leaving only Fuxu in a yellow robe standing there silently.

The sunlight poured down on him, and he seemed to become one with it.

In the hazy warmth, only a pair of eyes filled with complex emotions stood out clearly.

Jiu Zhao's eyebrows jumped.

Judging from his expression, he must have heard what she and Wujiu had just said.

Since we've run into each other, that's fine.

Jiu Zhao thought that some things needed to be explained after all.

She walked up to him and asked, "Did you hear everything?"

Fu Xu didn't nod or shake his head. His gaze was fixed on the natal feather in her hand. His voice was low, "Emperor... is this the only way?"

"Um."

Jiu Zhao responded calmly and went on, "This is a good opportunity to inform you that since I've gone to the Burning Sea to absorb resentment, I'm destined not to return alive. The decree ordering you to succeed the throne is placed behind the plaque in the main hall of Ziwei Palace. I won't give it to you in advance to keep it, so as not to arouse suspicion and cause complications.

"After I leave, the immortal officials serving me will read out my handwritten letter, and then take out the decree in front of all the ministers, and everything will fall into place."

Her arrangements were calm and thorough, as if she wasn't making arrangements for her after death.

Instead, he was giving instructions for an ordinary government handover.

Fu Xu remained silent until this moment, and finally spoke, asking the question that had been lingering in his mind:

"If you know you will die if you go, why do you still want to go?"

Jiu Zhao smiled slightly when he heard this.

There was a hint of surprise in that smile, as if she hadn't expected him to ask such a question.

"These words don't sound like something that would come from the Fuxu Supreme God I know, who is always selfless and dedicated to the public good, always prioritizing the greater good."

After the joke, her joking tone turned into a meaningless indifference. "Sacrificing me in exchange for world peace is a very cost-effective deal. What's more, no one forced me to do this. This is my own choice, and I am willing to do it."

She thought Fuxu would understand.

Like countless times in the past, he will put his, his own, and everyone else's likes and dislikes behind the current situation.

However, a crack suddenly appeared on the young man's normally stern face, revealing clear and intense anger.

He took a step forward, pressing himself against her, and practically growled, "Don't you care about your own life?! It was like this back then, and it's still like this now! Time and time again! You make me feel... make me feel like everything I did in the past has become a complete joke!"

Jiu Zhao was stunned by this sudden intense emotion, his eyes full of confusion: "Fuxu, you..."

She doesn't understand, the person who should understand her the most -

Why is the current reaction so abnormal?

Fu Xu stared at her intently, his chest heaving up and down.

Unable to bear it any longer, he suddenly reached out and grabbed Jiuzhao's wrist with such force that she felt pain.

"Come into me and see everything clearly!"

After saying this with gritted teeth, he used his divine power to open the sea of ​​consciousness in his mind to Jiu Zhao.

The truth that had been kept secret for more than three thousand years was revealed before Jiu Zhao's eyes.

She passively broke into the depths of the young man's consciousness.

Caught off guard...saw the past.