Chapter Forty-Four: The Little Princess of the Jiang Dynasty

Jiang Che observed the situation; at this rate, the city gates would inevitably fall—it was only a matter of time. Now, all the citizens of the city were sheltered inside the palace. Even if their bodies were shattered, this checkpoint had to be held at all costs.

"Xing Mu, distribute these silver threads to everyone below."

"Yes, Your Highness!"

These silver threads were none other than the renowned golden silkworm silk, a specialty of Ziliu Kingdom.

A few days ago, Jiang Jiu had given some to Jiang Che for research, hoping to find a way to mass-produce them in the future. If used as a concealed weapon, they could take lives within ten paces, more than sufficient.

Moreover, last night, Erhuo mentioned that the golden silkworm silk had some effect on the walking corpses.

Though Jiang Che had no idea where Jiang Jiu had obtained these threads, at a moment of crisis like this, they could only be put to immediate use.

Each person held a strand of silver silk; from a distance, it looked as if they were grasping nothing but air.

"Erhuo!"

Jiang Ling exchanged a glance with Jiang Che from afar, nodding in silent agreement. The two brothers had grown up in the same household, their minds as one; with a single look, they knew what the other was thinking.

"One!"

All the brothers released their grip at once, and the support within the city gates began to creak and groan.

"Two!"

Everyone stepped back, and Jiang Sheng, catching Jiang Che's intention, led all the spiritual practitioners to soar into the sky, directing streams of spiritual energy to weave a giant net.

"Three!"

Three voices rang out in unison!

The city gates broke. The walking corpses surged into the city like a flood!

"Brothers! Tie the golden silkworm silk in your hands onto the walking corpses!"

With Jiang Ling's roar, the blood of every warrior ignited!

One after another, they wound their threads around the first walking corpse—one, two, three... countless walking corpses were bound together until the last one entered the encirclement.

Jiang Sheng seized the moment, leading the spiritual practitioners to cast the net!

The giant net descended, trapping all the walking corpses!

This spiritual binding net, maintained by spiritual energy, consumed enormous power and required constant replenishment with elixirs.

"Let us hope Jiu quickly devises a solution, for she is the only hope of our Jiang Kingdom..."

Jiang Che gazed at the sky shrouded in dark clouds, gray and heavy with mist.

The walking corpses had already entered the city; everything that could be done had been done, every act of resistance had been made. Was this how the glorious legend of Jiang Kingdom would end?

Just a moment ago, laughter echoed in the imperial hospital, yet the world’s fickleness and fate’s cruel twists were ever present...

A resounding clang!

The music of the zither soared to the heavens, its soul-purifying melody piercing the clouds!

Everyone looked up to the sky, where Jiang Jiu suddenly appeared, their eyelids twitching, sensing a loss that could not be named...

Nearby, Lian stowed away the Nirvana, a lotus petal swirling at her chest, enveloped by milky-white spiritual energy.

Fate? But I, Lian, have never believed in fate!

Though the time was short, barely the duration of a stick of incense, burning soul power to cast "Purification of the World" was just barely possible. But for Lian, it was enough!

"Ancient gods of the primordial wasteland, heed the command of the Six Directions! I bind with soul power, holding my true self! Purify, the world!"

With a gentle incantation, Lian sent the lotus petal spinning above the walking corpses, its pure white light dispersing all darkness and ushering in brightness!

The walking corpses battered the spiritual binding net woven by Jiang Sheng and the others, howling and wailing, until finally they knelt, slowly returning to normal.

"I've turned back! Look! I'm myself again!"

"Child's father! You're back! What about me, what about me?!"

"You've turned back, too! You've turned back as well!" The child's father caressed his wife's face—it was the familiar visage of old!

... Another middle-aged man stared at his hands repeatedly; the black nails had vanished. He could continue to watch Niuniu grow up, see her married...

...

Awakened citizens looked at the familiar faces of their loved ones, united in a reverent bow towards Jiang Ling and Jiang Che:

"Thank you, Your Highness, for saving our lives!"

"Thank you, Your Highness, for your mercy!"

"Your Highness, we have no way to repay your lifesaving grace!"

"May the three princes' names be immortalized for all ages! May your glory endure forever! Long live, long live, long, long live!"

Lian watched the scene of the people's worship. Indeed, not all people are wicked; they know gratitude. Though their abilities are limited, your name will be etched in their hearts for all eternity, will it not, Chong Lian...

At the moment she closed her eyes, Lian seemed to see Chong Lian, brows curved and a gentle smile upon her face.

"Jiu!"

"Jiu!"

"Jiu!"

"Little Highness!"

"Your Highness!"

Jiang Sheng caught Jiang Jiu as she fell, so light he wondered how these people had raised their daughters, so delicate and fragile. But Jiang Jiu showed not a trace of breath, which threw him into panic.

Jiang Ling and Jiang Che refused to believe that someone so alive moments ago could now be gone. They could not accept it!

"Jiu, wake up. Open your eyes and look at your brothers, please, I beg you, Jiu..."

"Jiu, you promised you’d find Second Brother a bride of unparalleled beauty someday. You haven’t fulfilled that promise yet. You can’t just leave your brothers behind..."

Jiang Sheng held Jiang Jiu's body, from dusk to dawn.

When King Jiang and Queen Jiang hurried from the main hall to the palace gates, the always resolute King Jiang was overcome with sobs, while the Queen’s eyes were swollen red. All the citizens knelt in silence at the palace gates, keeping vigil throughout the night.

The toxin had finally been cleansed, yet no joy remained; the entire royal city was immersed in mourning.

In their hearts, the little princess they cherished was surely gone to another world, one filled with flowers and treasures—a place where the gods resided.

Their princess had entered the mortal realm like a deity, silently dispelling the suffering of her people, and then quietly departed.

Later, every city in Jiang Kingdom erected a statue of a smiling woman, said to be the savior who had silently rescued Jiang Kingdom. Incense offerings never ceased.

Jiang Kingdom (End)

[Master, you’ve been asleep for over half a month. Little Jien-Jien is about to grow moldy. Hurry up, wake up, wake up~!]

A white ball of fluff bounced on the ethereal body of the woman, chattering incessantly.

"Little Jien, if you keep jumping, your master’s life will truly be over."

[Oh!? Master! You’re awake!]

Excited, Little Jien-Jien bounced twice more.

Lian swatted the furry bundle in front of her with a palm—so flat already, another stomp and it’d be gone! I’m anxious!

[Oh, oh, Master’s awake! The main deity says the world for this transmission has easily obtainable petals, a reward for passing the challenge. You can relax and have some fun!]

"Alright, let’s begin the transmission."

[Received!]

...