CMWKSD -Chapter 170 Hell Is Empty, Devils Are in the Dark Moon

Emperor Fengyuan sat upright above, gazing down upon the world with arrogance and dominance. His eyes sharpened.

The pressure emanating from him was so heavy it made people struggle to breathe.

All sound ceased instantly.

“Kill!”

With those words, Emperor Fengyuan rose to his feet, and a circle of people followed him in a rush.

The Rong family stood below. At the forefront lay sheets of paper—evidence of their crimes.

That single, weighty command of “kill” somehow felt almost weightless, deciding the life and death of an entire family in an instant.

It was as if the Rong family, a giant once thought unshakable, now had no power to resist imperial authority.

Jiu Yue watched the fleeting sadness in Emperor Fengyuan’s eyes.

Even one so exalted, like Emperor Fengyuan, while executing so many Rongs—some who participated actively, some passively, some unaware—his gaze was not filled with the bloodthirsty satisfaction that Jiu Yue would feel.

Instead, it was sorrow. A sorrow that a superior feels for the inferior.

It was the Emperor’s grief for his people.

After all, among them were many infants and the majority of the Rong household servants—innocent souls, while the truly culpable were few.

Yet, killing was unavoidable!

So, Emperor Fengyuan felt pity for the innocents, a slight sorrow for their passing. But that was all.

Jiu Yue felt that Emperor Fengyuan truly was a good, good emperor.

Power brings ambition and greed, but it also bears a tremendous responsibility—millions of lives.

Ji Yiqing’s hand, hidden in his sleeve, clenched tightly.

The Rong family…

Was gone.

In the Great Qi, no one stands a chance against imperial power.

Jiu Yue followed Ji Yiqing back to the tent, but concerning the Rong family’s affairs, investigation had to shift from open scrutiny to covert observation.

The mastermind who had spent a hundred years plotting against the Chu family must be found. How could the Chu family find peace otherwise?

However, the recent insect attack was not entirely without benefit.

At least it didn’t reveal that the Second Prince was not Emperor Fengyuan’s biological son.

A man in the highest position of power, being cuckolded—if that were exposed, someone would certainly mock him secretly.

Jiu Yue only muttered a few words in her heart:

You have so many concubines, yet your own cucumber is rotten. Everyone is the same; no one can judge anyone else.

Although, she couldn’t speak it too openly—after all, he was the Emperor.

He controlled everyone’s life and death. In this world, only he may betray others; no one is allowed to betray him!

The remaining time left Emperor Fengyuan little chance to hunt.

It wasn’t just him—Ji Yiqing and Ji Chaomian also grew busy.

The Rong family affair was too vast and intricate. That branch of the Rong family was truly sprawling and tangled.

There were too many matters, so Emperor Fengyuan waved his hand: Return to the city!

Jiu Yue exhaled deeply. A golden palace or a silver palace is not as good as one’s own doghouse.

She had longed to go home.

Everyone packed their things with care but not in haste, and after finishing, they set off.

Jiu Yue saw Ying Yi and the others pushing a cage covered with black cloth.

The remaining assassins who had participated in the plot—within just two short days, dozens had either committed suicide or broken under the pressure.

Jiu Yue stepped forward. Ying Yi cupped his hands and bowed to her, handing her a wooden box: “These two hands have already been dealt with. There won’t be any problems.”

“Mm.” Jiu Yue took Hua Nu’s hands. Previously, Ying Yi had promised to clean up her dirty, grimy hands.

Naturally, Jiu Yue didn’t want to get involved.

She looked at the black cloth covering the cage. “What is this?”

Ying Yi patted the cage. “It’s Hua Nu.”

Jiu Yue made an “oh” sound. “Should I lift it and take a look?”

Ying Yi nodded. After all, this was the person Jiu Yue had caught; if she wanted to look, she could.

When the black cloth was lifted, a disheveled Hua Nu raised her hand—missing a palm—to shield her eyes from the sunlight.

But when she lifted it, she only felt emptiness and pain.

A pained groan escaped her throat.

Blood-tinged foam spilled from the corner of her mouth.

Looking at Hua Nu, Jiu Yue saw none of the lively, coquettish demeanor from two days ago.

Her hair and eyebrows had been completely shaved off.

To be precise, it seemed all the fine hair on her body had been scraped clean. Her body, already lacking flesh, was smeared with fresh blood, looking pitiful and wretched.

Jiu Yue looked at her coldly.

Squinting, Hua Nu finally adjusted to the sudden bright light.

Her gaze fixed on Jiu Yue standing outside the cage, and in that gaze was…

Hua Nu couldn’t describe what she felt.

It wasn’t excitement, it wasn’t disdain—there was nothing.

It was as if Jiu Yue was merely looking.

She didn’t care what was inside the cage—whether it was human or ghost.

Yes, looking at Jiu Yue, Hua Nu saw the indifference in her eyes.

Why!!!

Struggling and screaming, Hua Nu lunged at the edge of the cage, trying to grab Jiu Yue.

Ying Yi furrowed his brow, but Jiu Yue only slightly curled her lips as she looked at Hua Nu’s outstretched, palm-less limb.

It was as if Jiu Yue had known all along; Hua Nu’s fury was just impotent rage.

“May you die an evil death! You shall not die well! I curse you in the name of Changshengtian! I curse you to die miserably! I curse you to a lifetime of loneliness and abandonment! I curse you to the eighteen layers of hell, to suffer all the torments of this world…”

Behind her, one of Ying Yi’s men raised a whip. Hua Nu was struck and flipped over.

Yet those dark, sunken eyes didn’t even glance away from Jiu Yue.

It was as if she wanted to carve Jiu Yue into the deepest part of her soul.

Muttering curse after curse, every word aimed at Jiu Yue.

As if by cursing, she could really make Jiu Yue die a miserable death!

Propping herself up on the bottom of the cage with her palm-less limb, she bled profusely.

Her eyes were bloodshot, seeming to ooze more blood…

Her hair gone, skin cracked, utterly wretched…

Her throat continuously muttered incantations.

She looked exactly like a demon from a storybook.

A few palace servants watching from a distance felt their scalps go numb.

Jiu Yue smiled and walked gently toward the cage. Ying Yi reached out to block her. “Doctor Jiu Yue, don’t get too close. Be careful, she might lash out at you.”

Jiu Yue waved her hand. “It’s fine.”

Saying that, she pressed against the cage, staring into Hua Nu’s near-catatonic screams.

One, a bloodied fiend seemingly crawled out from hell.

The other, clean and beautiful, like a celestial being fallen into the mortal world.

Jiu Yue smiled brilliantly. “Why do you think I’ll have a good ending? Your curses have no effect on me, because I’ve already experienced everything you’ve cursed me with. In the future, I will also meet the end you wish for me—a miserable death.”

Her smile was bright, yet there was no warmth in her eyes.

It made Hua Nu involuntarily shiver.

Jiu Yue was speaking the truth.

She seemed indifferent to her ultimate fate.

She embraced, with full force, everything she had in the present.

The future? She didn’t care. Her hands were soaked in blood; even if she truly went to the underworld, she would wander the eighteen layers of hell every day.

What does it matter?

It doesn’t. It’s all what she deserves to bear.

Ying Yi disapproved and stopped Jiu Yue’s near self-destructive analysis. “Doctor Jiu Yue, don’t speak recklessly.”

In ancient times, people still held deep reverence for the Changshengtian and such.

Besides, who would speak this way about themselves?

But Jiu Yue didn’t. She was a person without faith.

And what eighteen layers of hell?

Hah!

She had spent decades in the eighteen layers of hell. What could be more hellish than the Dark Moon base?

Hell is empty; the demons are in the Dark Moon!

Living or dead, she was already in the eighteen layers of hell.

Someone like her—how could there be any happy ending?

So when she smelled others like Hua Nu, she knew—they would not have good ends either.

Ying Yi frowned, forbidding Jiu Yue from speaking further.

“Jiu Yue!”

Ying Yi turned and saw Ji Yiqing approaching quickly, bowing. “Young Master Ji.”

Ji Yiqing nodded in return.

Jiu Yue suddenly pulled herself away from the emotions of moments ago.

It was as if that person had never been her.

“You came?”

Ji Yiqing glanced at the cage, goosebumps rising.

“Everything’s packed. His Majesty said we’re to depart, so I came to find you.”

Jiu Yue responded with a hum.

Ji Yiqing reached out, disregarding whether Ying Yi was still present, determined to take Jiu Yue’s hand.

Jiu Yue, helpless, looked at Ji Yiqing’s outstretched hand.

She didn’t know what had come over him today—why he had suddenly become so persistent.

Still, she smiled lightly and placed her hand in his. “What is it?”

“Nothing.”

Ji Yiqing nodded politely to Ying Yi before turning to Jiu Yue. “Let’s go home!”