Poison God's Heritage Chapter 863 The Emperor's Return.

Chapter 863 The Emperor's Return.

Shen Bao flew steadily toward the imperial palace of the Sea of Demons, his figure slicing through the air with practiced ease. Yet, as he approached the city, a sense of unfamiliarity began to creep in. The Sea of Demons, a place once defined by chaos, ruin, and fear, now pulsed with a vibrancy that was almost alien to him. It was as though the very soul of the place had s.h.i.+fted in his absence.

As he drew closer, he noticed the streets below teeming with activity. Crowds moved with purpose, decorating their homes, stringing up colorful lanterns, and hanging banners that fluttered in the breeze. The entire city had been transformed into a hub of celebration, and Shen Bao's frown deepened.

The Sea of Demons had once been a place where laughter and joy were scarce commodities, buried beneath the weight of suffering. Yet here, now, there was something different—something festive in the air.

He descended onto a side street, pulling his cloak tighter around him as he landed. There was no need for grand entrances today. As he landed, Shen Bao tapped into his skill with poisons, allowing the subtle s.h.i.+ft in his facial features to go unnoticed.

He altered the lines of his face, softening his angular features and dulling his piercing gaze, using poison in a way that few could—blending with the crowd, his presence entirely hidden beneath the veil of ordinary.

As he walked among the townspeople, Shen Bao couldn't help but observe their excitement. What in the world is going on here? He thought to himself as he pa.s.sed group after group, all immersed in the preparations for what seemed to be a grand event.

Eventually, he made his way toward the heart of the city, where a man stood on a ladder, hanging a row of bright red lanterns across an archway. His movements were quick and practiced, but the lines of sweat on his brow revealed the intensity of the day's work.

"Excuse me," Shen Bao said as he approached, his voice neutral and una.s.suming. "What's all this? Some kind of festival?"

The man paused, glancing down at Shen Bao from his perch on the ladder. He wiped his brow with the back of his hand before responding, his tone lighthearted. "New around here, huh?" he asked with a chuckle, his voice carrying the ease of someone content with their work.

Shen Bao nodded, keeping his expression neutral. "Yeah, something like that. So, what's going on?"

The man grinned, a gleam of pride in his eyes. "We're celebrating the Victory Festival, of course! The Lord of the Sea of Demons crushed the Rakshasa, didn't you hear? It's a city-wide celebration!" He gestured grandly to the decorated streets as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

Shen Bao blinked. A festival? He hadn't expected his victory over the Rakshasa to stir such a public display of celebration. For so long, the people of the Sea of Demons had lived in fear, and he had expected their loyalty to come slowly, reluctantly even. But this? This was something else entirely.

"And the lord knows about all this?" Shen Bao asked, still maintaining his neutral tone.

The man laughed heartily, climbing down the ladder with ease. "Knows about it? His two wives funded the whole thing! They were the ones who set this all up." The man beamed proudly as if he had personally overseen the arrangements.

Shen Bao nearly lost his composure. Wives? His mind immediately jumped to YuYu and Liang Yu, the only two women who could've been behind such a scheme. Of course they would take the opportunity to stir up the city with something like this. Shen Bao chuckled internally. The thought of them spreading rumors about their status as his wives was amusing, if not entirely unexpected.

"I see," Shen Bao said slowly, nodding thoughtfully. He eyed the man up and down, noticing the faint lines of fatigue on his face and the strain in his posture. There was something more going on here. Shen Bao's eyes narrowed slightly, and he spoke again, his voice lowering. "You've been working in the mines, haven't you?"

The man's smile faltered, and he glanced nervously at Shen Bao. "Yeah, what of it?"

"Your Qi flow is off," Shen Bao said matter-of-factly. "The fumes from the mines affect circulation. It's not uncommon for people who've been overexposed to struggle with health issues."

The man frowned, his expression darkening with uncertainty. "How would you know about that?" His voice was more guarded now, cautious.

Shen Bao smirked beneath his hood. He reached into his robes and pulled out a small, s.h.i.+ning pill, its golden glow radiating a faint warmth. The pill's herbal scent drifted upward, sweet and potent.

"This will cleanse your system," Shen Bao said, tossing the pill to the man with a casual flick of his wrist. "It will restore your body's vitality. Take it."

The man caught the pill instinctively, staring at it with wide eyes. "How do I know this isn't some trick?" he asked, his voice still tinged with suspicion.

Shen Bao chuckled. With a quick motion, he tapped the side of his face, allowing his disguise to melt away, revealing his true form. The man's eyes widened in shock as realization dawned.

"Does this help you trust me more?" Shen Bao asked, his voice laced with amus.e.m.e.nt.

The man's mouth hung open, his body rigid with surprise. "Lord Shen Bao..." he whispered, barely able to speak.

Shen Bao gave him a rea.s.suring nod. "Don't worry. Keep up the good work, and I'll see to it that the conditions in the mines are improved. No one should suffer for their labor. Tell the others—change is coming."

The man stood frozen, pill in hand, as Shen Bao turned away, ascending into the air once more. He flew toward the palace, his mind racing with thoughts.

As Shen Bao soared over the city, he couldn't help but marvel at the transformation. It wasn't just the buildings or the decorations—it was the people. They were no longer prisoners of their fear or suffering. Under his reign, the Sea of Demons had changed in ways he hadn't antic.i.p.ated. And now, they were celebrating him. It was surreal, almost unnerving.

Yet, there was a quiet sense of pride blooming within him.