FWF Chapter 838 - Royal Family Gossip
Chapter 838 - Royal Family Gossip
Moving through the city, Zhan Yuwen rode at the front on a tall horse, talking and laughing in Zhan Fanyin’s direction.
Zhan Fanyin maintained a blank expression. He had already seen through Zhan Yuwen’s facade, but he still couldn’t understand why Zhan Yuwen wanted him dead.
The throne? Zhan Fanyin had never cared about it. If Zhan Yuwen had spoken honestly, Zhan Fanyin would have handed it over without hesitation.
Before long, the group arrived at the palace gates. Everyone was required to dismount and surrender their equipment before entering. Han Wu and the other three were stopped and asked to hand over their gear.
Han Wu only smiled. Did the people from the Battleborn Civilization truly believe they could search for a Major God’s equipment?
To avoid suspicion, He Xu and Qin Shuang casually produced a few items and handed them over. Han Wu followed suit. He reached into his inventory, pulled out several hundred Small Locust Blades, and stacked them onto the inspector’s tray.
The inspector nearly buckled under the weight. He couldn’t understand where Han Wu had been hiding several hundred blades, nor how he had carried such weight without showing the slightest burden.
They continued onward until they reached the chamber of the Battlecraze Empire’s old king. Two Microcosm generals stood guard outside. They allowed the two princes to enter, but stopped Han Wu and the others.
Han Wu and the others had no intention of accepting that arrangement. Their mission was to protect Zhan Fanyin’s safety. If he stepped into that room and Zhan Yuwen stabbed him in the back, who would take responsibility? Until Zhan Fanyin ascended the throne, their mission remained incomplete.
Han Wu unleashed his power and knocked both generals to the ground within moments. The disturbance immediately triggered a wave of guards, who raised their totems and prepared to cut Han Wu down.
Zhan Fanyin stepped in at the right moment and stopped them. He explained to Zhan Yuwen that the three were his escorts from the Divine Civilization. Their sole purpose was to protect him. They weren’t assassins.
Zhan Yuwen understood the Divine Civilization’s reputation well. If a real fight broke out, the Battleborn Civilization’s powerhouses would be unable to stop them. He studied Han Wu and the others for a moment before reluctantly agreeing to let them enter the chamber as well. At that point, he finally understood how Zhan Fanyin had managed to return to Battle City safely.
Inside the chamber, the trio stayed quietly behind Zhan Fanyin. The latter moved like a child, rushing to the old king’s bedside and burying himself there.
“Father!” His voice cracked with grievance he could no longer suppress.
The old king slowly opened his eyes. The illness had left him frail, and death was clearly near. Still, before the end came, he had at least lived long enough to see his youngest son return safely. One final wish had been fulfilled.
“You’re back. You’re back...” the old king said warmly as he stroked Zhan Fanyin’s head.
Then he glanced up and noticed Han Wu and the others. Although he was on the verge of death, the weight of his authority remained. A single glance from him placed brief pressure on Han Wu and the others. It wasn’t the kind of pressure that could harm the body or soul. It came from years of occupying the highest seat of power and the commanding presence that position had cultivated.
Even so, Han Wu and the others immediately realized that the old king wasn’t someone to be trifled with. Unfortunately, he was already nearing the end. Even a miracle couldn’t keep him alive at this point.
“You must be the envoys from the Divine Civilization,” the old king said slowly.
He Xu stepped forward. “Yes. We came under the Wisdom God King’s orders to escort Prince Fanyin home.”
“You’ve worked hard.” The old king’s voice was hollow, as if he could pass away at any moment. “Might I ask you to do one more thing for me?”
He Xu didn’t refuse immediately. Instead, he asked the old king to elaborate.
The old king raised a hand and signaled for everyone else to leave, keeping only Zhan Fanyin beside him.
“I’ll be honest with you. My eldest son, Zhan Yuwen, has coveted the throne for many years. As long as he lives, Fanyin will never have a smooth path to the throne. So my request is this: Help me kill Zhan Yuwen.”
Han Wu and the others fell silent. Even Han Wu felt surprised by the old king’s ruthlessness. The man was already with one foot in the grave, yet he still wanted to drag a son down with him to secure another’s future. He was brutal to the very end.
Faced with the old king’s request, the trio exchanged glances and chose to decline.
“We apologize. The mission we accepted was to escort Prince Fanyin back to the Battleborn Civilization and help him ascend the throne. It doesn’t include eliminating rivals. We cannot comply with your request,” He Xu said.
The old king showed no disappointment. He merely let out a long, slow breath.
“I actually have a question,” Han Wu said, “Zhan Yuwen and Zhan Fanyin are both your sons, yet in terms of character and temperament, Zhan Yuwen seems more suited to rule. Why not name him your heir?”
He Xu shot Han Wu a sideways glance and silently cursed his bluntness. A question like that was hardly appropriate. Nevertheless, He Xu was also curious about the answer. Gossip was human nature, and even Gods were no exception.
The old king was silent for a moment before answering, “Because Zhan Yuwen’s royal bloodline is impure.”
“Oh?” Han Wu found the story growing more interesting by the second.
He Xu and Qin Shuang showed no outward reaction, but their attention sharpened as they listened carefully to every word that followed.
Zhan Fanyin was the most astonished of all. He had called this man his older brother for over twenty years. Was the old king saying that Zhan Yuwen wasn’t his son, but another man’s?
The old king explained, “Zhan Yuwen is my son. That is beyond question. But his mother came from a branch family of the Underlaw Empire’s royal family, so he carries their royal blood. The clove flower mark at the corner of his eye is the royal mark of the Underlaw Empire.”
Han Wu was slightly disappointed. The gossip wasn’t nearly as dramatic as he had hoped.
He Xu could not help interjecting, “That still doesn’t mean he needs to die.”
The old king’s gaze deepened. “If he were willing to stand by Fanyin’s side and serve him faithfully, I would spare him. But Yuwen’s ambitions are too great. He will not stay in his place. If he inherits the throne, the Underlaw Empire’s royal blood will enter the Zhans’ royal lineage.
“Once that happens, the future kings of the Battlecraze Empire will no longer be able to inherit the Iron Throne Totem. That is a disgrace that no member of the Zhan family could ever wash away.
“So before I die, I must have him removed. Otherwise, the royal bloodline will be tainted.” As the old king spoke, he suddenly coughed violently and spat out a mouthful of blood.
The sight made everyone present realize just how little time he had left.
Once he dies, how many people will truly support the inexperienced Zhan Fanyin’s claim to the throne? He Xu frowned. This was a real problem. After all, they couldn’t personally assassinate Zhan Yuwen.