Everyone wanted to leave, and naturally, no one was willing to stay. But none of them were willing to back down, and the scene erupted into a chaotic argument. Those who were usually on good terms were now drawing swords, just a spark away from a full-blown fight.
"All of you, shut up and stop!"
The Mad Emperor's booming voice silenced the clamoring crowd.
"Mad Emperor, then what do you suggest we do?"
One person stepped forward and asked.
"If you ask me, we should just kill that brat, snatch his flying vehicle, and then we can all leave."
Before the Mad Emperor could speak, a man stepped out, his voice dripping with menace.
However, before he could finish his sentence, the Mad Emperor struck him with a palm, killing him instantly.
"Anyone who says that again, I'll kill them."
The Mad Emperor's face was grim as he spoke.
At this point, everyone present fell silent, remembering that the Mad Emperor was a Heavenly Venerate, and they were no one to discuss him.
"In short, there are only seven spots. I've taken one, so whether you stay or go, you decide for yourselves and let me know."
After saying this, the Mad Emperor turned and left, too weary to deal with them.
Once the Mad Emperor was gone, the scene became even more chaotic, and soon, they were fighting. Everyone who could appear here was an exiled villain; why should they yield to anyone else?
Before long, blood began to flow. Those who wanted to leave either had to kill, be killed, or give up.
Finally, seven spots were decided, and these seven spots were earned not with their own lives, but with the lives of others.
However, Ning Beichen had severely underestimated human nature. Those who didn't get a spot set their sights on Xiao Qi and his son.
In their eyes, this mother and son were merely the most wretched and lowest of people; why should they occupy two spots?
When Ning Beichen received the news and rushed over, he only saw the corpses of Xiao Qi and his son. This caused Ning Beichen to erupt like a volcano, unleashing a massacre within the city.
Let them know the consequences of a Heavenly Venerate's rage. Even the Mad Emperor dared not interfere.
Ning Beichen stood on the blood-soaked ground, a dripping bronze ancient sword in one hand, exuding a killing aura that pierced the heavens.
"You still want to leave? Rot and stink here forever!"
Ning Beichen said sternly.
This time, he was truly furious. These beasts could even bring themselves to harm a pathetic mother and son; they had no basic humanity.
Most importantly, Ning Beichen was filled with self-reproach. It was his decision that led to the deaths of Xiao Qi and his son.
If not for him, Xiao Qi and his son, despite their hard lives, would at least not have died at the hands of these people.
"Ah!!!"
Ning Beichen roared at the sky and, with a single sword strike, shattered the Mad Emperor's luxurious residence in the city center. He placed the bodies of Xiao Qi and his son inside and erected a grave for the mother and son in the heart of the city.
The Mad Emperor remained silent throughout, offering no interference. He merely bowed three times to the grave, his way of accounting for himself to Ning Beichen.
Ning Beichen, along with Liu Yilin and the others, also bowed three times to the grave.
Liu Yilin and Luo Yingying each took one of Ning Beichen's arms, comforting him.
Having been by Ning Beichen's side for so long, they had never seen him erupt in such rage.
"Beichen, don't feel guilty. It wasn't your intention. Misfortune and blessings arrive unpredictably. If Xiao Qi and the others are watching from the heavens, they won't blame you."
The women comforted him.
"I'm fine. I just can't comprehend why these people have no humanity. It's no wonder they were exiled to this place. I shouldn't have given them any hope."
Ning Beichen spoke word by word.
"Let's go. I want to leave today."
Ning Beichen said with a heavy heart.
"Mad Emperor, I promised I would take you with me. My word is my bond, but the others can forget about it."
Ning Beichen turned to the Mad Emperor and said.
The Mad Emperor nodded. Ning Beichen had vented his anger on him, and he could understand, as he also bore some responsibility for the incident.
As for the seven spots, Ning Beichen directly rescinded them. "Think about leaving here in your next life!"
With two Heavenly Venerates present, even if these seven were unwilling and resentful, there was nothing they could do.
Soon, Ning Beichen left the place with the women, and the Mad Emperor followed.
Upon boarding Ning Beichen's flying vehicle, the Mad Emperor saw Ning Xiaoling and realized that Ning Beichen had spoken the truth. Even if he killed Ning Beichen, he wouldn't be able to get the flying vehicle.
Ning Beichen's emotions gradually stabilized. Over the years, he had witnessed too much suffering, seen too many people die, and killed even more.
People like Xiao Qi, living on the fringes, were not uncommon. This was not just here, but everywhere. Ning Beichen was only angry that he had given them hope, only for it to lead to their deaths.
"Ning Beichen, the matter of Xiao Qi and his son is something I owe you. After I get my revenge, I will give you an explanation."
The Mad Emperor said to Ning Beichen.
"I have already avenged them, but the dead cannot be resurrected. Even if I kill you, Xiao Qi and his son won't come back to life. Mad Emperor, some things are beyond our control. The humanity of those people is worse than yours, you madman."
Ning Beichen told him.
The Mad Emperor sighed and said empathetically.
"Indeed, human nature is the most complex thing. Who would have believed that a woman I poured my heart into would stab me in the back?"
"Mad Emperor, why don't you tell me your story?"
Ning Beichen said to him.
"I was born in an empire, the son of the empire's king. Upon growing up, I naturally inherited the throne and fell in love with a minister's daughter. She was a perfect woman, at least in my eyes, flawless. But this woman desired more than I imagined; she not only wanted my life but also my throne..."
"She secretly controlled me with a drug for many years. On the surface, I was the emperor, but in reality, I was merely her puppet. Even so, she didn't trust me and, under her control, I committed many wrongdoings, incurring the wrath of heaven and men. Yet, they didn't know that these were all her ideas."
"After she had squeezed all the value out of me, regardless of my pleas, she conspired with many ministers and drove me from my throne, using my supposed madness as an excuse, and then exiled me to this place."
"Do you know? All these years of arduous cultivation, of feigning madness, had only one purpose: to expose the true face of this woman and reclaim what was rightfully mine."
The Mad Emperor spoke with a look of pain on his face.
"Then what are your plans when you return?"
Ning Beichen asked him.