Little Sorcerer, Divine Doctor

The situation at that time, Yuan Bupo remembers it crystal clear even to this day.

The gentle eldest sister pulled out the Purple Jade hairpin from her head, and as if she had completely lost all sensation, she drew grotesque wounds across her face one after another.

She did not allow anyone to come close; if anyone approached, she would immediately destroy her Magic Soul.

Word by word, with hatred, she said: "Xuan Wuji, you have made Cang Lang's life worse than death, I wish I could flay and debone you. I will never play Emperor's Song with you in this lifetime, as long as I, Yuan Shahu, live a day, I will not step into Xuanyuan Emperor's Tomb."

Her mother, who dearly loved her eldest daughter, fainted on the spot.

Yet the people from the City Lord Mansion were still aggressive. Facing such a situation, Yuan Bupo felt a surge of anger in his chest. At just eight years old, he broke free from his clan's restraint and hugged Yuan Shahu tightly.

"Nobody shall force my elder sister. It's just the Emperor's Song. I, Yuan Bupo, swear here, I will enter the Xuanyuan Emperor's Tomb on behalf of my sister, and I, Yuan Bupo, will learn the Emperor Hong's Nine Chapters," declared the child, a prophecy that would come true.

With the support of the Yuan family, Yuan Shahu left Dihong City.

Since then, the originally mischievous and indolent Yuan Bupo studied the Emperor's Song fervently. His innate talent was already better than Yuan Shahu's, and with relentless effort, he finally grasped the first five chapters of the Emperor's Song at the age of thirteen.

At fifteen, he comprehended the sixth chapter of the Emperor's Song, becoming the first genius in Dihong City to understand the sixth chapter.

Even the people from the Xuan Family's City Lord Mansion could no longer look down upon Yuan Bupo, who everyone knew would definitely be the one from this generation of the Xuan Family women to enter the Xuanyuan Emperor's Tomb.

This year, having turned sixteen, Yuan Bupo finally had the chance to leave Dihong City and travel.

The first thing he did upon traveling was to find his elder sister Yuan Shahu, and he also wished to meet Yun Canglang, wanting to know what kind of man could make his sister so infatuated to the point of betraying her own family for him.

After much hardship, he finally found out that his elder sister, who left Dihong City, was living in seclusion at the Southern Border of Great Zhou.

The once beautiful and gentle elder sister, who was the admired genius girl of Dihong City and the expected future wife of the City Lord, had now become a cold, reclusive woman who was reluctant to go out every day.

Facing her brother's anger and indignation, Yuan Shahu appeared very calm.

Tuning the strings of her lute, she played a note, "Bupo, you don't have a beloved yet, do you?"

Yuan Shahu knew her brother very well; being the only son of the Yuan family, he had demonstrated a talent higher than anyone else in the city at the age of three.

His handsome appearance had earned him the admiration of the young girls of the noble families in the city from an early age, which led him to develop an arrogant demeanor, treating women like dirt, except for his sisters at home, whom he regarded in a different light.

"What's so good about women, they're like sparrows, all chirping and chattering," humphed Yuan Bupo.

"When you meet your beloved, you will understand sister's feelings. Bupo, promise me, don't trouble Yun Canglang, and don't tell him I'm here. Between him and me stands Dihong City and over a thousand lives of Yun Family Army, we are impossible in this lifetime," Yuan Shahu looked at the arrogant face of Yuan Bupo, feeling helpless yet indulgent as she shook her head.

"Sister, I promise you, but I heard that Xuan Wuji, that lad, has also brought Xuan Meimei out to travel. Just because I won't harass Yun Canglang doesn't mean he won't," Yuan Bupo said insincerely, already planning to visit Yujing at the first opportunity.

The Xuan siblings are quite domineering; I'm afraid that this time when they go out, they will definitely seek revenge on the Yun Family.

If Yun Canglang cannot even defeat Xuan Wuji, then he truly does not deserve to be with his sister.

Yuan Shahua looked at her brother who was lost in thought, and remembered when she first met Yun Canglang; she was also sixteen.

Eight years have passed... she couldn't help but touch her own face, and as her fingers traced the centipede-like scars, a trace of pain crossed her expression.

Canglang… are you well? The music of the lute in the Southern Territory, I fear we might never hear it in this lifetime.

Inside the Dazhou Imperial Palace, Yun Canglang knelt on the ground, lifting the Great Zhou General Seal high above his head, and said loudly: "Your servant, Yun Canglang, requests to resign from the position of Cavalry General of Great Zhou, earnestly begging Your Majesty's approval."

Emperor Zhou Ye Chengtian could not help but frown.

These past few days, dealing with the Crown Prince's affairs, Emperor Zhou was extremely harried.

Today, just after he and Empress Qi left the Crown Prince's bedroom, he heard from the palace guards that General Yun, Yun Canglang, requested an audience.

Earlier, he had sent people to capture the Hunter Soldier involved in the Crown Prince's escort; instead of bringing back the soldier, the long-unseen Yun Canglang appeared seeking an audience.

Before his disability, Yun Canglang held the position of Second Rank Cavalry General of Great Zhou. Considering the loyal and martyr-full history of the Yun Family, Emperor Zhou did not strip him of his military rank, but he did revoke his military authority.

Little did he know, Yun Canglang's first words were to request resignation.

Counting on, it has been exactly eight years since Yun Canglang returned to the capital defeated, with no court appearances during that time.

Upon hearing this news, Ye Chengtian's expression revealed not surprise, but a slight astonishment instead.

"Minister Yun, has your hand truly healed? If so, why then would you resign your office? You are a rare military talent of Great Zhou," Emperor Zhou and all the court eunuchs saw that Yun Canglang's hand had healed completely, and even his Combat Energy Cultivation had been restored.

"Your Majesty, indeed my hand has healed. However, I am deeply aware that I deserved death for the battle at Southern Border eight years ago. Your Majesty considered my family's ancestral merits and did not convict me. Over these eight years, I have not fulfilled my duty as a minister. According to Great Zhou Laws, as a servant of the state, not appearing before court for three years means dismissal and investigation," Yun Canglang's determination was resolute.

"Minister Yun, with the current decline of our military officers and Old General Yun advancing in age, you, in the prime of your life, should share the burdens of the state and General Yun. I do not allow your resignation," Emperor Zhou Ye Chengtian resolutely disagreed with Yun Canglang's request.

Emperor Zhou made clear his objection to Yun Canglang's resignation.

For a time, the monarch and the subject stood their ground in the Court, neither willing to give in.

It's easier to join the army than to resign; currently, within the Great Zhou Dynasty, the military is in decline, and Yun Canglang, not emerging from General Mansion for years, knows little about the current military situation of Great Zhou.

"Your Majesty, the Deputy Captain Yan Yun of the Sky Hunting Corps and the Summoner Zongren seek audience outside the hall," Ye Chengtian, hearing the name Zongren, was immediately furious.

"Did you mention that Summoner Zongren who grievously wounded the Crown Prince? What audacity Zongren has, thinking the Great Zhou Dynasty is defenseless, injuring my precious son and now daring to brazenly cause trouble in the Great Zhou Palace! Guards, by whatever means necessary, capture that old thief Zongren!"