Chapter 2180 - 2183: State Preceptor's Last Words

Heaven helps me?

Hearing Xiao Zhuang's words, Qin Tian froze.

If he had heard this news two months ago, Qin Tian would definitely have been just as happy as Xiao Zhuang, just as overjoyed, shouting that the Tianyuan Dynasty was finished.

But now, somehow, Qin Tian felt as if there were a fishbone stuck in his throat.

After all, he had chosen to believe Sima Tianchen's words!

This Sima Tianchen was truly a righteous man; he had clearly said he would join Qin Tian in striking against the War God and Emperor Xuan.

He hadn't expected that Sima Tianchen would actually not hesitate to die together, trading his own life for the War God's.

There was no doubt that he did this only to avenge Long Jun. Back then, when they rebelled against Long Jun, the War God had been the vanguard.

Of course, in doing this Sima Tianchen was also helping Qin Tian in another way, helping Qin Tian remove a deadly hidden threat. From here on, that mere Emperor Xuan probably no longer posed any real threat to Qin Tian!

By rights, if Sima Tianchen was planning to kill the War God, then while the War God had no guard up against him, he ought to have devised an even more perfect, foolproof plan—one that could kill the War God and still preserve his own life.

But he did not choose that kind of stratagem. Instead, he chose to trade life for life.

Having arranged everything with Tuba, did Sima Tianchen simply lose the will to live?

In the eyes of the world, the chief culprits who killed Long Jun's family were only the War God and the State Preceptor. State Preceptor Sima Tianchen was helping Qin Tian to avenge his father together?

Qin Tian's mood was very heavy.

Xiao Zhuang saw Qin Tian's expression and immediately noticed something was off. He asked, "Boss, do you have something on your mind? With something this joyous, how come you don't show the slightest hint of happiness?"

Qin Tian hesitated for a moment, then finally decided to tell Xiao Zhuang the truth. He said, "When I was in the Imperial City, I already met the State Preceptor. He told me what happened back then during the rebellion."

"At the time, I half believed and half doubted him. Now, I believe him."

Qin Tian briefly repeated to Xiao Zhuang what the State Preceptor had told him. Xiao Zhuang listened with his eyes widening.

He had just been rejoicing over the State Preceptor and the War God slaughtering each other and dying miserably together; now, after hearing Qin Tian's words, he was stunned on the spot.

"Cough, cough… So that's how it is… Boss, we… I… Ai, the ignorant should not be blamed. I didn't know the situation just now, and I was gloating a bit."

Xiao Zhuang's expression turned serious as he said, "So speaking, the State Preceptor's death is a major loss for us. We've lost a powerful ally… ai."

"What a pity. I heard that the four gates of the Imperial City are tightly shut right now, and Emperor Xuan has ordered a thorough investigation. He flew into a rage and had everyone in the National Master Mansion, top to bottom—including the gate guards, more than a hundred people—all directly beheaded!"

"Ai, who would have thought that the lofty State Preceptor would in the end choose such an unwise path, not even leaving behind a single descendant… truly a regret."

Xiao Zhuang shook his head and sighed as he spoke. At that moment, a General led a little boy over and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, this boy says he wants to see you."

"This humble General originally refused, but he produced a Token. This humble General used to serve in the Imperial City and recognized it, so I did not dare be negligent and brought the boy here."

As the General spoke, he handed the Golden Token in his hand to Qin Tian.

Qin Tian took it and glanced at it. On the Token were carved two characters—

Sima!

This was the National Master Token! One of State Preceptor Sima Tianchen's identity insignia. Back then, even the guards of the Imperial Palace did not dare stop anyone bearing this Token!

When Xiao Zhuang saw this Token, his brows instantly furrowed, and his gaze turned to the little boy.

The boy looked to be eleven or twelve, with delicate brows and clear eyes. He was dressed in a Qingyi robe. For someone so young, his gaze was unusually resolute, as if he had already weathered great storms. His whole bearing radiated a maturity far beyond his years.

"Who are you? Who sent you to the West Capital?" Xiao Zhuang asked the boy.

"My name is Sima Yi. My dad told me to come here to find Big Brother Qin Tian."

The little boy's gaze swept over Xiao Zhuang and Qin Tian, and in the end his eyes fell on Qin Tian. He recognized Qin Tian at a glance.

"Your dad? Could it be that your dad is State Preceptor Sima Tianchen?"

Xiao Zhuang took a deep breath and hurriedly asked the General, "General Zhao, who brought him here? Where are the others?"

The General said, "There was no one else. He came alone."

Swish!

Qin Tian and Xiao Zhuang both fixed their eyes on Sima Yi.

Qin Tian asked Sima Yi, "Sima Yi, did you travel here all the way from the Imperial City to the West Capital?"

"Mm."

"All by yourself?"

"Mm."

"Have you ever been to the West Capital before?"

"No."

"No? Then you dared to come all this way alone? What would you have done if you took the wrong road?"

"My dad said, if I took the wrong road, or if I couldn't find Big Brother Qin Tian's West Capital City Palace and died, then that would be what I deserved."

Sima Yi's words left Qin Tian dumbstruck on the spot.

"Your dad sent you to look for me?" he asked curiously.

"Mm."

"When did you set out?"

"About… twenty days ago."

Hearing Sima Yi's words, Qin Tian and Xiao Zhuang exchanged a look.

Everything became clear.

Sima Tianchen must have already decided at least twenty days ago to die together with the War God.

So as not to startle the snake and draw attention, he only had his son quietly leave ahead of time; everyone else in the mansion remained in place.

Without arousing the notice of the War God and Emperor Xuan, he ultimately achieved his goal.

The entire household died; only this one boy remained, whose name happened to be the same as that of a great figure in the history Qin Tian knew.

"You're Big Brother Qin Tian, right? My dad told me to bring this to you."

Sima Yi looked at Qin Tian and handed him a letter.

Qin Tian unfolded it. There were only two lines written inside:

"Back then, this minister caused Long Jun's entire family to die, leaving only a single son. Now, this minister returns it in full."

"This minister's son, Sima Yi, is naturally intelligent, with exceptionally high Cultivation Immortality Talent. I hope Your Majesty will treat him well. In future he will assist Your Majesty and surely become a great vessel."

Those two lines weighed heavily on Qin Tian's heart.

When Xiao Zhuang saw them, he also let out a long sigh.

"Return it in full… hehe, what a 'return it in full'…"

Qin Tian felt his eyes grow a bit moist and muttered, "I never asked you to return it in full, yet you insisted on being clever and left yourself with only one son as well… State Preceptor, I wronged you. You truly are a man of Zhongyi!"

Qin Tian pressed his lips together and lowered his head to look at Sima Yi, who was staring intently at him. He said, "Sima Yi, do you know why your father sent you to the West Capital?"

"Right before I left, my father only said one sentence."

Sima Yi looked at Qin Tian, then slowly said, "Once you reach the West Capital, in all things, listen to Big Brother Qin Tian."

"Oh, come on…"

Looking at Sima Yi's adorable little face and thinking how at such a young age he had lost his entire family, Xiao Zhuang couldn't help it—his eyes reddened. Afraid his tears would fall, he quickly walked off to the side to wipe them away.