Fighting to the death — that was the most principled position.
The Red Cauldron Emperor nearly spat blood from rage. Had it not been for the dire situation at hand, he might well have struck the old servant dead on the spot.
"Your Majesty, this old servant's loyalty to Your Majesty is unwavering. If Your Majesty is thinking of the common people, then choose the first option. If Your Majesty wishes to gamble, then choose the second. If Your Majesty wishes to preserve your life, then choose the third. If Your Majesty wishes to maintain some dignity, then fighting to the death is the only path."
Steward Guo kowtowed heavily, crying until blood mingled with his tears. "This old servant has served Your Majesty for so many years. Now old and frail, even if I die, it matters little. But this old servant's sincere heart compels me to offer this loyal counsel. The methods Jiang Chen used against the Undying Heavenly Capital all those years ago already proved what kind of man he is. Your Majesty, hoping he will let this matter pass — that is unrealistic. This blow will land sooner or later. It is merely a question of timing."
Steward Guo's words cut like a blade, leaving the Red Cauldron Emperor with no room to dodge.
The Red Cauldron Emperor knew that Steward Guo's words made perfect sense. Steward Guo was loyal, straightforward, and would never be like those sycophantic ministers who only said what the emperor wanted to hear.
"Your Majesty, representatives of the three great sects — the Chili Sect, the Myriad Buddha Sect, and the Sky Eagle Sect — have arrived together outside the palace and request an audience." A palace guard stepped in to deliver the report.
The three great sects, arriving together?
A glimmer of joy sparked in the Red Cauldron Emperor's heart. At this critical juncture, these three sects were the pillars of the empire after all. All three were third-rank sects. If they could rally tightly around the Red Cauldron royal family, even if they still couldn't match the Crystal Royal City, they could at least stabilize the situation.
And if that Young Master Zhen couldn't fully command the allegiance of the other great emperors within the Crystal Royal City, sending only the forces of the Peacock Sacred Mountain to deal with the Red Cauldron Central Domain — perhaps they could still put up a fight?
A flicker of hope suddenly ignited in the heart of the Red Cauldron Central Domain.
"Quick — summon them in at once. No, wait. At a time like this, these three sects have shown their loyalty by not deserting. I shall go greet them in person." The Red Cauldron Emperor was delighted.
But Steward Guo said, "Your Majesty, you are the supreme ruler of the empire. Going to greet them personally — what of protocol? It would be better to invite them in and hear what they have to say."
The Red Cauldron Emperor had momentarily been swept up in emotion, but he quickly calmed down and nodded. "Steward Guo, you go greet them on my behalf."
Moments later, Steward Guo led the representatives of the three great sects inside.
"We pay our respects to Your Majesty." The representatives sent by the three sects this time were, remarkably, each sect's own Sect Master. These three Sect Masters held exalted status, and upon meeting the Red Cauldron Emperor, they did not perform the full kowtow. Instead, they clasped their fists and offered only a slight bow.
Such a simple gesture of greeting, yet it made the Red Cauldron Emperor's heart clench with a vague, unpleasant premonition — a nagging sense that something was deeply wrong.
Because he noticed that all three Sect Masters wore grave expressions, and their salute was unmistakably tinged with perfunctory indifference.
"My three esteemed ministers, arriving together today — you must have heard those rumors and come specially to share my burden?" The Red Cauldron Emperor forced a smile.
The Sect Master of the Chili Sect spoke first. "Your Majesty, after the incident at the Collapsing Cloud Mountain Range last time, our Chili Sect's vitality was gravely damaged. Now, amid these turbulent times, our sect senses crisis lurking on every side and our fortunes hanging by a thread. We therefore intend to seal our gates and close the sect for one hundred years. I have come specifically to inform Your Majesty."
"What? Close the sect for a hundred years?" The words struck the Red Cauldron Emperor like a hammer blow to the chest, draining the color from his face.
"Indeed." The Chili Sect Master's expression remained utterly placid. Even faced with the Red Cauldron Emperor's murderous glare, he showed not the slightest fear.
"Your Majesty, our Sky Eagle Sect is in the same position. The upheaval at the Collapsing Cloud Mountain Range last time gravely damaged our vitality as well. We therefore also intend to seal our gates for one hundred years, withdrawing from worldly affairs to rest and recover."
"Our Myriad Buddha Sect has always been content to remain apart from worldly strife. Now, with the winds of change sweeping the land, we — a mere third-rank sect — lack the power to involve ourselves in such turbulent currents. We therefore intend to seal our gates for two hundred years, remaining apart from worldly affairs." The Myriad Buddha Sect's representative was even more extreme — two hundred years.
The Red Cauldron Emperor nearly coughed up a mouthful of blood.
He had believed these three sects had come to share his burden and help resolve the crisis. He never imagined that these three had actually come to tender their withdrawals.
Put plainly, this was severing ties.
In other words, these three sects had already perceived the subtlety of the situation and were planning to abandon the Red Cauldron royal family, leaving them to fend for themselves.
"You three — you had already coordinated this, hadn't you? None of you dared come alone, so the three of you banded together to deliver a show of force?" The Red Cauldron Emperor's tone was laced with undisguised displeasure.
"We would not dare. We are all subjects of Your Majesty — how could we presume to deliver a show of force?" The Chili Sect Master's manner was neither servile nor overbearing.
"Indeed, Your Majesty, please do not read too much into this."
"Hmph! Fine subjects you are — abandoning your sovereign in the very hour of tempest and peril! Is the bond between the Red Cauldron royal house and your three sects so fragile that it cannot withstand a few rumors?" The Red Cauldron Emperor flew into a rage. "The three of you consume the finest resources of the Red Cauldron Central Domain and enjoy the most privileged treatment. And now, at the critical moment, this is how you repay us? Are you worthy of the common people of the Red Cauldron Central Domain? Are you worthy of those supporters who elevated you to the status of the empire's pillars? Are you worthy of the royal house's patronage?"
Standing to one side, Steward Guo listened to these words and silently shook his head. The Red Cauldron Emperor — talking about the common people and the masses at a time like this?