Chapter 398

Chapter 398: The Deserted East Sea King and the Terrified Ji Yu

The East Sea King felt the crowd’s mocking stares, but he couldn’t spare attention for them now.

He knew his troubles were growing.

Soon, those troubles arrived.

It wasn’t Mu Lin attacking.

Mu Lin remained in Ronghuo City’s Yin Soil, still refining the Mountain and River Cauldron.

The East Sea King’s torment came from Ji Zheng and the grieving families of fallen Transformation warriors demanding answers.

Neither Earth Immortals like Ji Zheng nor the East Sea Kingdom’s Transformation experts and elite soldiers had appeared from thin air—they’d left behind families and loved ones.

These people had answered the East Sea King’s summons to battle, only to perish. News of their deaths now swept through Tianhai City.

The families couldn’t stay silent.

They flooded the East Sea King’s manor:

"Your Highness, where’s my son?"

"Is my husband alive?"

"Your Majesty, what happened to my father?"

Their voices clawed at the king’s nerves.

Worse yet, these weren’t commoners to be brushed aside. They held key positions across the East Sea Kingdom. Many were royal relatives—the very foundation of his power.

Now that foundation crumbled.

The losses struck at his authority’s core.

Then came greater fury.

Rumors exploded through Tianhai City: The war against Mu Lin hadn’t been for the kingdom’s sake, nor for any noble cause.

The conflict sprang from the East Sea King’s personal greed—all because his son squabbled over romantic rivals.

"He creates messes, yet our entire kingdom pays!" A bitter laugh echoed through streets. "This is our king?"

"Tens of thousands dead! Two Earth Immortals lost! Over a royal heir’s petty jealousy!"

"A fool king will drag us all to ruin!"

"Let fools follow him! I won’t die for some prince’s lover’s quarrel!"

Just causes fuel wars—they grant purpose and rally spirits. But unjust wars? Victory might let scholars spin pretty tales. Defeat brings only wrath.

The East Sea King’s war stood among the worst of unjust conflicts. Tens of thousands perished, hundreds of Transformations fell, two Earth Immortals vanished—all because a prince’s heart burned with jealousy.

Such a person would always be seen as a foolish ruler, tyrant, or even a nation-dooming king wherever they existed.

The ancient tale of King You of Zhou lighting beacon towers to amuse his concubine had been mocked across Huaxia lands for millennia.

In this world, people showed little tolerance for such behavior.

Relatives of those who underwent Transformation felt particularly aggrieved. Learning their husbands, sons, or brothers died over such absurd reasons, they burned with frustration.

Some immediately quit their posts, refusing to serve such an East Sea King. Others gathered around the East Sea King’s manor, protesting outside his gates and demanding his removal.

Of course, shouting for a prince’s downfall during feudal times required more than mere courage.

Powerful clans within the East Sea Kingdom infiltrated the crowds, aiming to crush the king’s reputation into dust.

Their motives boiled down to simple self-interest.

None wanted an overbearing ruler above them. Worse still, the East Sea King’s control now barely reached beyond Tianhai City – other regions either rebelled or fell to Mu Lin’s forces.

Undamaged, the king might reclaim lost territories. But with weakened power and damaged reputation, ownership became debatable.

These clans wouldn’t mind "helping" recover lands… though the timeline for returning control depended entirely on their convenience.

The disputed regions held valuable towns rich in resources. Controlling them would boost any clan’s power.

With such gains possible through mere agitation, temptation proved irresistible.

Mu Lin’s doppelganger joined the fray too. When truth emerged about recent events, Tianhai’s existing frustrations towards the king erupted. Using the Other Shore Flower Sea’s power, Mu Lin amplified this collective anger.

Driven by both rebels and scheming clans, the entire city seethed against their ruler.

This was the chaos Jin Haoran and Yu Ling found upon returning – their delayed arrival partly caused by clan interference.

…

Summoned immediately to the manor, they faced the perplexed East Sea King’s interrogation:

"Four Earth Immortals against one! Not only did you fail, but two died? Explain!"

Jin Haoran coughed. "Actually, we split up on Ji Zheng’s suggestion. Mu Lin’s clones ambushed us separately across various locations."

"Since when can a lone fighter kill Earth Immortals?" The king’s knuckles whitened. "Who helped him?"

The two men exchanged uneasy glances. "We don’t know," they mumbled.

"Don’t know?" The king’s voice sharpened. "You return after losing two of my Earth Immortals empty-handed?"

Yu Ling’s patience snapped first. As a free cultivator bound to none, he showed no fear. "Watch your tongue, King. My assistance was voluntary. This mess isn’t my concern anyway."

With finality, the cultivator turned and strode from the chamber.

He left so decisively partly because the East Sea King’s tone had truly angered him. Another reason was that after learning of Mu Lin’s feat in slaying Earth Immortals, Yu Ling – who bore no personal grudge – no longer wanted involvement. Thus he seized the chance to withdraw.

While Yu Ling could leave freely, Jin Haoran remained bound as Jinyin Gate’s mountain entrance stood near Tianhai City. Yet Earth Immortals possessed their pride, and Jin Haoran showed no courtesy to the East Sea King. "Your people devised the plan. Ji Zheng proposed splitting our forces. Their deaths prove their own inadequacy. Would you blame me for your frustration?"

"…Not at all." Having lost so many to Mu Lin’s hands, with public anger boiling and allies deserting, the East Sea King couldn’t risk losing Jinyin Gate’s support. Swallowing his anger, he pressed: "I seek only truth. Did other forces intervene in Ji Zheng and my clan elder’s deaths? Or was Mu Lin solely responsible?"

"I told you – I don’t know." Jin Haoran cut off further questions. "When reinforcements came, Prince Liang’s men blocked me. During our standoff, Ji Zheng and your Earth Immortal fell. Suspecting traps, I withdrew to regroup with Yu Ling rather than advance to Ronghuo City."

This retreat without even scouting struck the furious king as cowardice. Yet even in his prime, he’d shown Earth Immortals respect. Now isolated, he couldn’t rebuke Jin Haoran. Masking displeasure, he sent the master back to prepare for Mu Lin’s next attack – though Jin Haoran secretly wished to quit this war.

Returning home, the sect leader wavered. While hating Mu Lin’s assault that killed disciples, he doubted the East Sea King’s manor could eliminate the threat. As he agonized, the cowards Mu Lin spared came pleading: "Master, our true enemy isn’t Mu Lin but the East Sea King! We’d never have clashed without his meddling!"

"Had he fought for territory or East Sea Kingdom’s benefit, we’d accept defeat as part of the great way’s struggles. But this started because his son got jealous in some petty romance!"

"Nearly destroying our sect over childish rivalry? We’ll be laughingstocks!"

CRACK! That final blow shattered Jin Haoran’s resolve. Dying for resources was honorable – this world’s eternal law. But being ruined by youthful lovers’ spat? That shame burned worse than any defeat.

Thinking that it was another family’s child made Jin Haoran’s frustration grow even thicker.

“Guang’er was right. The root of this isn’t Mu Lin, but the East Sea King—especially Ji Yu from his household. While so many of us died in battle, he was still at home enjoying himself. Hah…”

His gaze turned icy as his grandson’s words shifted his thoughts. Though he still resented Mu Lin, his greater hatred now fell upon Ji Yu.

Of course, the mind of an Earth Immortal did not change so easily.

The reason he shifted so quickly was twofold: Mu Lin had not wiped out the Jinyin Gate entirely, leaving him a grandson and a sliver of hope.

But the greater cause was Mu Lin’s sheer strength.

As the saying goes, studying lets you reason calmly with others, while strong fists force stubborn fools to listen.

Now, Mu Lin’s power forced others to heed his logic—no, his version of the truth.

…

Meanwhile, Mu Lin had schemed to turn the Jinyin Gate’s leader against his allies.

Inside the East Sea King’s manor, gloom and despair hung thick.

Within those walls, one man seethed with fury and… terror.

"You bastard! How dare you! A worthless commoner—a lowly paper folder! Your filthy blood makes you unworthy of marrying Ji Ling Sha! You’ll taint the royal lineage!"

"I did nothing wrong. Killing you protects the purity of our blood!"

The one ranting was Ji Yu, the spark that ignited Mu Lin’s war with the East Sea Kingdom.

He wasn’t a complete fool. When ordering Mu Lin’s assassination, he’d weighed the risks.

Back then, he’d believed himself untouchable.

"My father rules the East Sea Kingdom. So what if I break rules to have you killed? Would you storm our lands demanding justice?"

"Come if you dare!"

"Here, this heir is the law. My word is justice!"

With that arrogance, he’d sent assassins. When they failed, his rage stemmed more from botched plans than fear of exposure.

Returning to the East Sea Kingdom, he’d felt invincible.

Then Mu Lin arrived.

Not quietly—but with earth-shaking force.

He didn’t just come. He threw the East Sea Kingdom into chaos.

This upheaval shattered Ji Yu’s confidence, leaving him trembling. When fear peaked, his shouts turned shrill.

"Damn you! Why resist? I’m a noble heir! You’re gutter trash! When I want you dead, why won’t you just die?!"