Return of the Immortal Emperor Daddy

Rui’er looked mockingly at these people. She was terrified, knowing her fate would be tragic, yet she couldn’t help but laugh tauntingly. "You fools! To be so foolish and still not admit it?"

"What did you say?"

"You dare insult me?"

"Even if you are a child, this King will not let you go for saying such things."

They were furious, refusing to admit their foolishness. After all, how had they responded when Wu Tian spoke earlier? If they were known for being deceived by a child, they might as well bash their heads against a wall and die. Thus, they would never admit it, no matter what.

"A bunch of fools, so clearly foolish, yet utterly unaware?" Rui’er laughed, her mockery chilling. "Your sons, your daughters... I had them all killed. You never imagined that, did you? Of course, you never suspected me. You pack of fools, you know nothing. You were merely pawns in my game."

"You... what nonsense are you spouting?"

"Yes, you must be talking nonsense!"

The Kings and Sect Masters had already determined that Wu Tian was not the killer, but they couldn’t admit it. No matter what, they could not face this truth. To think that they, the dignified rulers of kingdoms and masters of sects, were being played for fools by a mere child. Heavens, the disgrace was enough to make them die of shame.

Rui’er’s laughter grew more frantic. "You clearly know the truth, yet you pretend you don’t? If you aren’t fools, what are you? Being a fool isn’t scary. What’s scary is being a fool who refuses to admit it!"

The Kings and Sect Masters gritted their teeth, veins bulging at their temples.

Wu Tian and the little one, however, found this quite amusing.

"Now the truth is out," Wu Tian said coldly as he took a step forward, his presence unmatched. "The truth of the matter is clear to everyone, is it not? This has nothing to do with me, yet you came to question me, even wanting to hold a public trial. Heh. So, what do you think you should do now?"

The Kings and Sect Masters furrowed their brows, unsure of what Wu Tian wanted from them.

Si’er didn’t want her Sect Leader to kill too many people. She reminded them, "You need to apologize. And remember, it must be a public apology so that everyone in the Three Realms knows you are sorry."

This was tantamount to issuing a self-indicting edict. If they apologized publicly, those within their countries and sects with ulterior motives would certainly seize the opportunity. The brows of the Kings and Sect Masters knitted together like tight ropes.

"No, impossible! Such a thing is absolutely impossible!"

"Right, an apology is just an apology. It doesn’t matter where. We can just apologize right here."

"Indeed, a public apology? Isn’t that too severe?"

They would rather die than issue a self-indictment or a public apology. They still wanted to keep their positions secure. As for wrongly accusing Wu Tian, questioning him, and even wanting to put him on public trial? In their eyes, it was indeed an insult to Wu Tian, but not a major one. A private apology would suffice.

Wu Tian saw through their intentions and gave a cold laugh. "Fine. Just fine. You come here in full force, making a spectacle for the whole world to see as you casually accuse me, question me, and call for my trial. But when it’s time for your apology, you want it kept quiet. What is the meaning of this?"

Wu Tian chuckled. "Your reputations are so precious, but mine is worthless?"

"Wu Tian, we were wrong about this matter," one of the Kings said softly, clearly not wanting the onlookers from Xiuyuan Country to overhear. It was obvious this group cared deeply about saving face. I thought you were the killer, but it turns out I wrongly accused you. Still, I can’t apologize publicly. Otherwise, where would I hide my face?

"But to ask us to apologize publicly is going a bit too far."

"Yes, that’s asking too much."

The other Kings and Sect Masters agreed. They had arrived in a grand procession, and all the common folk along the way knew they were coming to find Wu Tian and make him confess his crimes. And now? It turned out they had been manipulated with ease by a child. They were wrong, but they could only apologize in secret. They could not publicly announce that they were in error. Otherwise, what about our prestige? If our admission led to turmoil, what would we do then?

"Nonsense!" the little one couldn’t help but shout. "You were clearly wrong, yet you refuse to admit it publicly! If you apologize in private, who will know? Everyone else will just think my father was at fault and you were magnanimous enough not to pursue it!"

Wu Tian nodded. If even his daughter could see through the true intentions of these Kings and Sect Masters, how could he not?

Wu Tian chuckled. "Your choice is simple. One, apologize publicly and clear my name. Two, die."

"Wu Tian, you can’t do this!"

"We were wrong, but we cannot apologize publicly! We’re not thinking of ourselves, but of the common people!"

"Indeed! As a king, if I were to issue a decree admitting my guilt, those with ambitions within my country would certainly seize the opportunity to cause trouble. Then, the peace of the realm would be disturbed. I am not doing this for myself, but for my kingdom, for the world, and for the people."

"That’s right. As Monarchs, we feel terrible for not apologizing publicly, but we must think of the world and its people."

"As Sect Masters, we are not kings, but our positions are not trivial. If we were to publicly admit our mistake, our sects would descend into chaos."

"I cannot allow the foundation built by my ancestors to be destroyed in my hands. I am truly sorry, Mr. Wu Tian."

No matter what they said, it all boiled down to their own pride. They simply could not apologize publicly.

Wu Tian sneered, "Then choose death."

"Wu Tian, we misjudged you, but with your attitude toward us now, let’s just call it even."

"Yes, how can you be like this?"

"You want us to die? Wu Tian, now you are the one in the wrong."

The Kings and Sect Masters knew Wu Tian was powerful, but they refused to believe he would actually kill all of them. If he did, and the Three Realms fell into chaos, the fault would lie with Wu Tian.

An old story told by the Wutian Celestial Emperor has been passed down through the ages. He spoke of a time in the Late Warring States Period, a chaotic era of frequent battles and rising warlords. Among the seven dominant powers of the time, only the Qin Country was hegemonic. The King of Qin, seeking to unify all under heaven, launched wars of conquest against the Zhao Country and the other five states.

The King of Qin’s ambition aroused intense dissatisfaction among the righteous warriors of the various states, who repeatedly sought opportunities to assassinate him. The assassins the King of Qin feared most were Chang Kong from the Zhao Country and the assassin couple, Can Jian and Fei Xue.

The King of Qin issued a decree: anyone who captured the assassin Chang Kong would be allowed to approach within twenty steps of the king; anyone who killed Can Jian and Fei Xue would be allowed within ten steps and be granted an official title and riches.

Ultimately, a man named Wu Ming earned this opportunity. He had come to assassinate the King of Qin and had won the highest honor: the right to approach within ten steps. Seizing the chance, he lunged at the king. But at the critical moment, Wu Ming gave up. Citing the good of the nation and its people, he instead implored the King of Qin to unify the lands, thereby ending the years of war and deep-seated historical grievances.

The other Kings and Monarchs all looked at Wu Tian. He couldn’t possibly kill them all. Just like that Wu Ming, he would have to set aside his personal grievances for the sake of the world and the common people.