Chapter 128 – The Great Zhou Treasury Ignites Chaos, Tang Qiu’s Farewell, and Living Life Chronicle - Part 1
A few days later.
A steward from the Red Ant Guild quietly arrived in Gemhill County with a fresh list of goods for the Blood Blade Sect. This time, five people gathered around the table—Steward Wei of the Red Ant Guild, Li Yuan, Tie Sha, Old Ding, and Yu Chaojin.
Unlike their previous meetings, the atmosphere felt different. While Li Yuan and the others flipped through the catalog, Tie Sha remained still. Suddenly, he turned to Steward Wei and said, “We’ve known each other for years. I have a favor to ask. If you can help, I’d be most grateful.”
Steward Wei frowned slightly. “I’m just a steward of the Red Ant Guild,” he replied. “If it’s within my power, I’ll do what I can.”
Tie Sha hesitated a moment before clasping his hands respectfully and smiling. “I’m wondering if your guild has any dealings with the Sacred Fire Palace or if you happen to pass by Blackwood in Ocean Province?”
Steward Wei immediately understood. His expression eased, and he replied, “Ah, so that’s what this is about. Well, the news isn’t really a secret in the Central Plains, so I don’t mind sharing it with you, Sect Master Tie.”
He began his explanation, “Two years ago, the Red Lotus Prince proclaimed himself emperor, changed the name of the Great Zhou to Great Qi, and has been indulging in debauchery at the Jade Capital ever since. Meanwhile, the former emperor fled west, managed to regain his footing, and has now called upon the major powers to exterminate the Red Lotus Prince.
“The Sacred Fire Palace, too, answered that call and is currently locked in a bitter struggle with the Red Lotus Cult. If you head there now, you’ll be dragged straight into that war. Blades and spears show no mercy, you might not come back. Because of the fighting, our Red Ant Guild no longer travels through the Oceanstate Province; we simply go around it.
Tie Sha looked surprised. “Why would the Sacred Fire Palace obey the emperor’s order?”
“Why, you ask? It’s not that they’re obeying blindly. Rather, the emperor has promised that if they succeed, he’ll open the Great Zhou Treasury and allow each major faction to take three items as a reward.
“The Great Zhou Treasury is said to hold all the precious artifacts amassed by the dynasty over countless generations. In the past, the imperial family hoarded them; few were ever allowed inside, and they refused to use those treasures to strengthen outsiders. That stubbornness was part of how the Red Lotus Prince seized his chance in the first place.
“Back In the Great Zhou’s glory days, the imperial vault was revered as a sacred place. Even showing too much curiosity about it could get you arrested. And now, that same vault is being offered as a reward. It’s quite ironic, really.