Chapter 300: The Human Sovereign’s Past
“Your Majesty, it’s been so long. What brings you to me today?”
From her rocking chair, the elderly woman, frail and weathered, rose with a soft smile and bowed to Jiang Li.
Jiang Li quickly reached out to support her. “Senior Yu Jue, please don’t be so formal. I’ve only come as a junior to visit an old acquaintance.”
Five hundred years ago, when Jiang Li summoned the old Human Sovereign to teach the South Flood Dragon Clan a lesson, the then-leader of the Mermen Tribe had been this very woman—Yu Jue.
Jiang Li still remembered how charming and graceful Senior Yu Jue once was—elegant and stunning, every smile and glance could stir the hearts of men. She had once been the unrivaled beauty of the South Sea.
He hadn’t expected that five centuries later, she would have aged so drastically.
Jiang Li could tell—Yu Jue was still in the Nascent Soul stage and should have a few hundred years of life left. In theory, her appearance should still be that of a mature beauty or even a youthful maiden.
A cultivator’s appearance reflects their state of mind. It seemed Yu Jue had suffered some emotional blow.
“Who would’ve thought that the young brat who always ran to the old Human Sovereign has now become the guardian of the Nine Provinces. Time spares no one,” Senior Yu Jue sighed, clearly reminiscing upon seeing Jiang Li.
Jiang Li also sighed. “And I never imagined that the solitary old Human Sovereign would leave behind descendants.”
Senior Yu Jue’s expression stiffened.
Jiang Li continued, “Senior Yu Jue, if I’m not mistaken, the current clan leader is the daughter of the old Human Sovereign, and Yu Xiaomeng is his granddaughter.”
Yu Jue, sensing Jiang Li’s immense cultivation, quickly relaxed and gently shook her head. “There’s no hiding anything from you. Yes, the old Human Sovereign and I did have a daughter.”
The previous Human Sovereign’s surname was Lu.
“So it’s true.”
Jiang Li wasn’t surprised. With his divine sense, he had already discovered that both Yu Xiaomeng and her mother carried not only Mermen Tribe blood, but also that of the old Human Sovereign.
They were his descendants.
Jiang Li had initially doubted himself. After all, in his memory, the old Human Sovereign was distant from women and rarely smiled—he didn’t seem like someone who had ever been in love.
Now, it seemed he had only seen one side of the old man.
“Five hundred years ago, I fell for the old Human Sovereign. Especially when he helped our Mermen Tribe clear away enemies and establish our place. From then on, I was truly and deeply in love with him.”
“The old Human Sovereign felt the same. The feelings were mutual. One night, we…”
“Afterwards, he said he wanted to marry me, but I refused.”
“Why?” Jiang Li didn’t understand. There was no rule forbidding the Human Sovereign from marrying.
Yu Jue chuckled bitterly. “Because the old Human Sovereign was too sentimental. Or perhaps, he loved me too much.”
“He once whispered in my ear that he didn’t want to fight the Outer Demons anymore—that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me.”
“If he stayed with me, then who would protect the Nine Provinces?”
“You were just a Nascent Soul kid back then—not yet the invincible Ascension-stage cultivator you are now.”
Jiang Li fell silent.
History had recorded a Human Sovereign who, unwilling to part with his wife and children, held back during battle. That hesitation nearly led to a catastrophe—Outer Demons almost overran the Nine Provinces.
It had taken two other Tribulation-stage cultivators sacrificing their lives to slay the demon.
At the time, no one noticed anything wrong. Everyone thought that Human Sovereign had done his best. But only he knew—his cowardice and hesitation had killed two comrades.
Had he fought with all his strength, the three of them might’ve only ended up seriously injured, not dead.
That Human Sovereign lived the rest of his life in remorse. Eventually, he resigned and ended his own life, letting the Nine Provinces’ leyline select a new Human Sovereign.
Very few people knew this story. Jiang Li had only learned of it after becoming the Human Sovereign—Commander Liu had told him.
“I told the old Human Sovereign that what happened between us was just a way to repay him for helping us with the South Flood Dragon Clan—that I had no feelings for him, and that he shouldn’t use gratitude to pressure me.”
“After that, he never returned to the Mermen Tribe. He never knew he had a child.”
“Did Commander Liu know about this?”
“He knew. He often sent us supplies and looked after us. He also knew that the old Human Sovereign had a child. It was I who begged him not to tell anyone—including the old Human Sovereign.”
“Later, Commander Liu told me he finally confessed everything to the old Human Sovereign before he died. The old man passed with a smile.”
When the old Human Sovereign’s hidden wounds from battling Outer Demons resurfaced over three centuries ago, he died swiftly. Jiang Li hadn’t seen him in his final moments—it was Commander Liu who had sent him off.
Jiang Li looked at the once-radiant Yu Jue, now haggard and fragile. Her condition was likely due to the heartbreak from hearing about the old Human Sovereign’s death.
“Does your daughter know about her lineage?”
Yu Jue gently shook her head. “I only told her that her father was a great hero—a peerless cultivator. There’s no one else like him in all the Nine Provinces. Maybe she’s already figured it out.”
Jiang Li thought that perhaps even Yu Jue couldn’t distinguish whether what she felt for the old Human Sovereign was love—or admiration.
After all, she still called him ‘Old Human Sovereign Lu’ rather than something more intimate.
“These are matters of the past. No need to dwell on them. And don’t worry—you won’t face the same situation. Even if someone falls in love with you and fears affecting your duty, with your strength, protecting the Nine Provinces is more than within reach.”
“Thank you for the wisdom.”
Jiang Li bowed to the old woman. He hadn’t expected the Mermen Tribe to have such a deep connection with him.
Had he never summoned the old Human Sovereign back then, perhaps none of this would have happened.
Fate is full of twists—everything comes down to destiny.
After Jiang Li left, the old woman leaned back in her rocking chair, slowly swaying, a faint smile playing on her lips as she recalled something distant.
“Human Sovereign.”
The current Mermen Tribe Leader approached Jiang Li.
“What is it?” Jiang Li asked gently. He had always refused her formalities, suspecting that she was the old Human Sovereign’s only daughter.
“I have a rather impolite request. I hope Your Majesty can help.”
“Speak freely. If I can help, I certainly will.”
“It’s like this. Two thousand years ago, Immortal Elder Changcun borrowed a book from our clan. It was left behind by an ancestor who ascended to the Immortal Realm.”
Although the Mermen Tribe didn’t have strong natural aptitude for cultivation, they did have a few once-in-a-lifetime geniuses who broke their bloodline limits and ascended.
“Immortal Elder Changcun has never returned it. Perhaps he simply forgot.”
“I’d like to ask if Your Majesty could kindly remind him. Of course, if he hasn’t finished reading, he may keep it a while longer.”
“I’ll talk to the Elder,” Jiang Li readily agreed. It was a trivial matter.
Jiang Li then went to check on Seven Kill Daozi, gave him a few encouraging words, and reminded him—especially—to treat Yu Xiaomeng well.
Though Daozi didn’t fully understand, he nodded.
What Jiang Li reminded him of was exactly what he himself intended to do.
Jiang Li also gave Yu Xiaomeng a few pointers, noting some flaws in her cultivation and advising her not to rely too heavily on her bloodline. Demon cultivation wasn’t only about inherited power—there were other paths too.
Receiving guidance from the Human Sovereign, Yu Xiaomeng was deeply motivated.
She believed Jiang Li had instructed her because of Seven Kill Daozi.