The Endless Promise

141. Whispers...

.

Zhurong Haotian had not been the greatest Sky Emperor in Sky Realm's history, but he had been amongst the most powerful ones.

And he was now gone.

Leaving behind a young Crown Prince who had only recently risen amongst his peers.

Sky Realm worried about its fate, but Bailong simply stood as a support beside Tianlong, as they all grieved the loss.

After a few days, Bailong briefly returned to the East Sea, simply laying his forehead against the battered stone steps of the old East Sea Palace.

Yin Zhi had erected a new Palace elsewhere and sat on its throne as the new East Sea King.

He had painted black as white by now, stating the enemies had struck with demons which killed his father and brother, and that only he had managed to escape.

The Sky Emperor, still alive at the time, had investigated, but everyone on Yin Luyue or Yin Shuilong's side had perished, their memories destroyed completely.

Yin Zhi himself somehow withstood all attempts to read his mind, and without clear evidence, the Sky Emperor couldn't subject him to the cruel Soul-Searching technique, especially since thousands of Mermen had rallied behind him, promising retribution if their king was unjustly hurt.

The sole witness, Bailong, had been locked away in cultivation, and even then, Yin Zhi had sensed his presence and anger that day, so he had taken steps to counter any possible accusation.

Yin Zhi had tearfully admitted before the deities that he once killed his little sister by mistake, expressing deep regret, and making sure to point out that Bailong eternally hated and blamed him for it.

This way, if Bailong ever accused him, he would claim it was malice.

And even if Bailong shared his own memories, Bailong was so powerful that Yin Zhi would accuse him of altering those memories to frame him...!

At present, Bailong rammed his fist into a pillar.

He had never hated anyone as much as he hated Yin Zhi right now, and briefly blinded by a new wave of rage and grief, he vanished, determined to at least destroy Yin Zhi and his new throne and palace!

With his powers heightened, he mapped out the entire East Sea and easily found the place, landing before it with a massive wave.

This new palace was nothing like the beautiful crystalline and elegant affair of the old one, and it looked void and cold... exactly like Yin Zhi's heart.

... Or the way Bailong felt now.

"Yin Zhi!" Bailong's voice was raw and it rang across the ocean like thunder.

Thousands of Mermen suddenly appeared, flinching when they realized who it was.

But Yin Zhi's calm figure appeared at the palace gates, leaving the thousands of soldiers between them.

"So my good little brother returns..." Yin Zhi called back with a smirk. "And already barking so loudly too."

Bailong's fisted hands shook with the savage urge to destroy everything standing in front of him.

"You murderer... How easy was it to kill your own father and brother?!!"

"Umh. It was easy." Yin Zhi shrugged casually.  "Father had lived long enough, and Shuilong was weak-willed... The East Sea can no longer bear space for weaklings!"

Bailong raised a hand and the sea floor rumbled.

But the thousands of Mermen, though clearly afraid, instantly rushed into determined formations, forming a solid defence around Yin Zhi.