Chapter 246: Forbidden Art, Life for Life
The emperor’s sleeping quarters were some distance from Mo Ran Hall. Given Gong Moran’s exalted status, he could have taken a sedan chair straight to the emperor’s chambers, yet this State Preceptor always seemed to give the emperor ample respect—rarely riding in a sedan along this particular route.
The two walked at an unhurried pace. Most of the time, Nan Xun chatted endlessly, while Gong Moran responded only now and then.
From afar, at certain moments, the man and woman looked as though they were leaning close, whispering intimately, their behavior exceedingly affectionate. Yet their conduct was open and graceful; even the closest gestures appeared merely as a pleasing, beautiful scene.
Princess Yao, who happened to glimpse this sight, snapped off her neatly manicured fingernails in fury. She could no longer maintain her dignified, virtuous posture, and her exquisitely made-up face twisted with anger.
The chief maid beside her was terrified by what she saw and immediately suggested, “Princess, why don’t we just deal with that cheap slut who’s seducing the State Preceptor—”
Princess Yao let out a cold laugh. “There’s plenty of time. I’ll have more than enough chances to teach that shameless bitch a lesson!”
When they reached the old emperor of Southern Yun’s sleeping quarters, Nan Xun stopped at the entrance and did not follow inside.
The ruler of Southern Yun was already past fifty. He had ascended the throne at twenty-five, and during more than twenty years of reign, the country had enjoyed favorable weather and prosperous people. He was a wise ruler—but even wise rulers fear death one day. The aging monarch was unwilling to enter the coffin just yet; he felt he still wanted to live another twenty years.
When the man in white, looking like a deity, entered, the old emperor struggled to sit up.
The head eunuch serving at the side was startled and hurried to support him.
“My beloved minister, my beloved minister, you’ve finally come,” the old emperor said. “These past few days without seeing you, my heart has been restless. Come, State Preceptor, sit by my side.” He stretched out his thin, bony hand, trying to grasp the newcomer.
Gong Moran inclined his head slightly in salute, then stepped forward and sat by the bedside. “Your subject was examining the progress of my eighteen disciples recently, which left little time to visit Your Majesty. How has Your Majesty’s health been these past few days?”
The gray-haired old emperor coughed into his fist several times, his voice weak. “Without the State Preceptor by my side, how could I possibly be well?”
Gong Moran replied calmly, “Your Majesty is the true Dragon Son of Heaven, protected by the heavens. Your health will gradually improve.”
Hearing this, the old emperor let out a bitter smile. “I know my own body better than anyone. State Preceptor, there’s no need to comfort me.”
As he spoke, he glanced at the elderly eunuch in attendance. “You may withdraw. I have matters to discuss privately with the State Preceptor.”
The eunuch acknowledged the order and bowed himself out.
Once only the ruler and Gong Moran remained in the hall, the emperor suddenly grabbed Gong Moran’s hand, gripping it tightly. In his eyes surged an intense desire to live.
“State Preceptor, I don’t want to die. I truly don’t want to die. I want to live a few more years. You must have a way, don’t you? When I first met you in my youth, you already looked as you do now. You must know some secret art of immortality. If you’re willing to give it to me, I’m willing to give you half of Southern Yun!”
With a light flick of his sleeve, Gong Moran freed his hand from the emperor’s grasp.
His eyes were calm and rippless, yet the gaze he turned on the old emperor suddenly carried a strange, profound depth. Then, his rosy thin lips curved slightly upward.
“Your Majesty, do you truly wish to live a few more years?” he asked.
Hearing that there really was a way, the old emperor’s eyes burst forth with dazzling light. “I do!”
Gong Moran rose and paced gracefully beside the bed. After pondering for a moment, he said, “Does Your Majesty know why your subject has been able to retain a youthful appearance and live for so long?”
“Naturally, because the State Preceptor understands the ways of longevity and preserving youth!”
“It has nothing to do with longevity or preserving youth,” Gong Moran said coldly. “It is life extended with life.”
The old emperor froze. “Life… extended with life?”
When Gong Moran spoke of this, his expression was exceptionally icy. “Back when the Great Zhou still unified the world, my entire clan—nearly a thousand people—died unnatural deaths. I used a secret method to take the lives that should not have ended and continued them upon myself.”
The old emperor’s eyes flew wide open. “If one person still had a year to live, and you took all their lives onto yourself, wouldn’t you be able to live at least… a thousand years?”
That was calculating at the bare minimum. If those lives were not meant to end, they would have had at least ten or twenty years each. With over a thousand lives continued onto one person, wouldn’t the State Preceptor have a lifespan of tens of thousands of years?
Heaven above!
“State Preceptor, help me! I don’t need much—just let me live ten more years! No, even five years would do!”
Gong Moran’s lips lifted faintly, and a trace of mockery flashed through his usually indifferent eyes.
“Your Majesty truly understands what I’ve just said? Extending life is possible, but it can only be taken from Your Majesty’s blood relatives. You may take one year from each prince, or take ten or twenty years from a single one. However, your subject must remind Your Majesty that because you are the true Dragon Son of Heaven, other lives are not as noble as yours. The life extended will be greatly discounted. For someone with an ordinary fate, it may take ten years of their lifespan to add only one or two years to Yours.”
The old emperor was stunned, falling into inner struggle.
Gong Moran added casually, “They are all children Your Majesty raised with your own eyes. If they knew they could help extend Your Majesty’s life, they would likely compete to do so.”
Hearing this, the old emperor’s gaze instantly became resolute.
That’s right. His five princes had all been raised by him personally and were very filial. If they knew they could save him, they would surely rush to offer their lives.
Thinking this way, the old emperor immediately felt justified.
“State Preceptor, I’ve decided. My princes are all strong and healthy. Take one year from each of them.”
Gong Moran shook his head. “Your subject has already examined their fate charts. The Second Prince and Fifth Prince both carry dragon qi, with the Fifth Prince possessing the strongest. Your Majesty may as well take six years from the Fifth Prince—that would extend Your Majesty’s life by three years. Taking six years from the Second Prince would extend it by two years. As for the other three princes, take three years from each as a token gesture. They possess no true dragon qi, so those nine years together may only extend Your Majesty’s life by one year. In this way, Your Majesty may live another six years.”
The old emperor swallowed hard, his voice hoarse. “Taking six years of lifespan… isn’t that too much?”
“Your subject merely offers a suggestion. The final decision naturally lies with Your Majesty,” Gong Moran replied calmly.
The old emperor hesitated only briefly before hardening his heart. “Do as the State Preceptor says.”
Standing at the doorway, Nan Xun learned of the conversation between the big boss and the emperor through Little Eight.
Nan Xun was shocked.
A life-extension technique? This was a forbidden art that defied fate itself!
Was Gong Moran really not afraid of suffering backlash from using such a taboo technique?
