The Human Emperor

In terms of influence, no minister, or even Emperor Li Heng, could compare to Wang Chong’s power.

Most importantly, even though he had accomplished so many miracles and defeated so many foes, Wang Chong was still only twenty and yet to be married.

The marriage of such a mighty hero was certain to draw everyone’s attention.

Countless maidens of the Great Tang had once dreamed about being the wife of the King of Foreign Lands, but in the end, Wang Chong had chosen the precious Xu Qiqin of the Xu Clan.

Though this had shattered the dream of countless maidens, those in the know within the empire were unsurprised.

Xu Qiqin might not have come from some particularly prestigious family, and she was no imperial descendant, but the Xu Clan was still a clan that had developed some fame over several dynasties.

Moreover, besides the ‘Queen of Logistics’, Xu Qiqin was also known as the number one beauty of the capital.

From this standpoint, the two were undoubtedly a match made in heaven.

As more information got out, those women in the capital, though still envious of Xu Qiqin, lost most of their hostility.

While Wang Chong was campaigning across the land, Xu Qiqin had been quietly giving him support, constantly sacrificing for his sake. When Xu Qiqin was participating in a war, Wang Chong never had to worry about his supply line.

And for Wang Chong’s sake, Xu Qiqin had even quarreled with her own clan. How could anyone stand to be envious of a woman like this?

But what truly raised the level of this marriage was Emperor Li Heng’s intervention.

Not long after he learned that Wang Chong was going to marry Xu Qiqin, not only did Li Heng feel happy for Wang Chong, he also issued a decree offering to serve as a witness to their marriage. In addition, he also offered to propose for Wang Chong and serve as a go-between for the two clans.

This news caused an even greater uproar, making this a marriage for the ages.

Putting aside the outside reaction, the Wang Family Residence was festooned with lanterns and bustling with activity.

Wang Chong’s mother had personally come out to hang up large red lanterns around the estate, and the maids and servants of the estate were also in high spirits as they worked.

Their young master had finally understood and was going to marry the lady of the Xu Clan, and they were all ecstatic.

They didn’t know what exactly had finally opened his mind, but this was what they had all hoped for.

Their young master had done so much for the empire, so he naturally needed to embrace his beloved. Most importantly, he needed to continue the line of the Wang Clan and pass on its traditions and influence.

This was a major event for the Wang Clan, and though the wedding was still two months away, the Wang Clan was jubilant.

“Third Brother, Third Brother…”

In the rear hall of the Wang Family Residence, amidst flickering candles, Wang Chong was enjoying tea and pastries with his older brothers, Wang Fu and Wang Bei, in a rare moment of leisure. But before the brothers could exchange a few words, Wang Xiaoyao, the little sister of the Wang family, rushed inside holding two drumsticks.

“I’ve met the big sister from the Xu Clan. Mother said that she’ll be part of our family in the future. The big sister of the Xu Clan is truly very pretty. Since she’s going to be our sister-in-law, can’t we just invite her to live with us now?” Wang Xiaoyao impatiently said, her face innocent and bright.

The three brothers all smiled at Wang Xiaoyao’s words.

Wang Xiaoyao was ten-some years old, but she still knew nothing about these matters.

She was more excited than anyone about Wang Chong’s marriage, running off to the Xu Clan almost every day and talking about her sister-in-law every day.

“Yao-er, don’t make trouble. Miss Xu has yet to cross the threshold, so how can she just randomly start living with us?”

Second Brother Wang Bei casually glanced at Wang Xiaoyao and coldly said, “Little Sister, if you continue to make trouble, your second brother will have to take back those golden drumsticks he had made for you.”

Wang Xiaoyao turned ghastly pale and quickly hid the drumsticks behind her, a wary look on her face.

“What you gave me is mine! Second Brother, I’m going to tell Mother that you’re bullying me!”

Wang Xiaoyao glared angrily at Wang Bei. Cradling the drumsticks like they were babies, she ran out. Even from a distance, it was possible to hear her fuming.

“Mother, Second Brother is bullying meee!”

The three brothers couldn’t help but shake their heads and smile.

The Wang family had only this one daughter, so all of its members let her off easy and pampered her. Thus, even though Wang Xiaoyao had grown much stronger over the years, her personality hadn’t changed at all.

Once Wang Xiaoyao had stormed out, the room fell quiet. Wang Fu put down his tea cup and sincerely said to Wang Chong, “Third Brother, you’ve truly matured. Your big brother is proud of you.

“This is a platinum bracelet I happened to come across while in the north. It is exquisitely made and is said to have been the remnant of some ancient civilization. Consider this a little consideration from your big brother, a marriage gift.”

As Wang Fu spoke, he took a platinum bracelet out of a silk bag and gave it to Wang Chong.

The eldest brother was like a father. The larger a family was, the stricter the hierarchy. In normal circumstances, Wang Fu should have been the first to form a family, and then it would be Wang Bei, followed by Wang Chong.

But Wang Fu had yet to get married, and Wang Chong was already marrying the lady of the Xu Clan.

However, Wang Fu did not feel any envy, only sincere happiness.

Wang Chong had far surpassed him now, and it was exactly because of Wang Chong that the Wang Clan’s influence had far surpassed its influence during their grandfather’s era rather than declining.

The stronger Wang Chong was, the more the Wang Clan would flourish. They would thrive together and die together.

Wang Fu had an earnest personality, and he would never imitate the children of other clans and envy his own brother.

“Third Brother, congratulations!”

Compared to his older brother, Wang Bei was much more concise.

“Thank you, Big Brother, Second Brother.”

Wang Chong felt a surge of warmth. Wang Chong truly treasured his friendly relationship with his brothers.

“Big Brother, Second Brother, I also have a gift for you.”

After a few moments of silence, Wang Chong took out several items.

“Big Brother, during the Youzhou war, when I defeated An Lushan, I got this suit of World Armor from his body. The armor was damaged, but after some effort, I managed to repair it. Once you refine it, you should be able reach the next level.”

Wang Chong opened his right hand, and a small suit of black armor that was about six or seven inches long appeared in his palm.

This suit of armor was identical to the World Armor, though it was much smaller. Wang Chong had used his power of space to shrink it.

The people of the Wang Clan would thrive and fall together. All of its members understood this. At his current level of strength, Wang Chong feared few foes. His only concern was his brothers.

By giving the World Armor to Wang Fu, he hoped that he could provide his older brother an additional layer of protection.

“Second Brother, you’re different from Big Brother and favor aggression. I obtained this White Tiger Icon from the Celestial God Organization. It is an extremely powerful ritual tool from an ancient era. The White Tiger emphasizes slaughter and is a perfect match for Second Brother’s personality. In addition, at the chest of the icon is a Buddhist relic that can suppress Second Brother’s blood. It will be a great boon to Second Brother’s cultivation.”

As Wang Chong spoke, he waved his sleeve, allowing a fist-sized ritual tool carved into the shape of a lifelike tiger to slide out.

He had seized this from one of the half-step Grotto Heaven experts he had encountered in the journey to the north. When the cold wave origin collapsed, those constantly reviving men in black had lost their souls and were basically lambs to the slaughter.

As Wang Chong was leaving, he noticed that there was something odd about one of those Divine Lords. At the final moment, he used his spacetime energy to extract this ritual tool from his body.

Bong!

Wang Chong flicked his finger, upon which a bell rang out. A metallic buzzing came from the White Tiger Icon, and a few seconds later, the image of a Buddha appeared from the back of the tiger.

The moment this golden Buddha image appeared, a serene and indescribably peaceful calm filled the room.

A strange look appeared on Wang Bei’s face.

Wang Bei had also made some progress over the years, though it had not been as obvious as Wang Chong’s.

Wang Bei wasn’t lacking in talent. The problem was that he had been fighting with his Berserker Syndrome this entire time.

But when that Buddha appeared from the back of the White Tiger Icon, Wang Bei felt unprecedented peace. It was as if the Berserker Syndrome was being suppressed.

Wang Chong swiftly noticed this, and he knew that the ritual tool was proving effective.

He flicked his wrist, sending the World Armor and the White Tiger Icon to his brothers.

Wang Fu and Wang Bei glanced at each other, but they were not modest. They quickly took the items and began to refine them.

Rumble! A few moments later, Wang Fu’s body began to roar.

Wang Bei’s energy also began to swell.

A few moments later, the two of them opened their eyes and solemnly said, “Third Brother, many thanks.”

A gratified smile appeared on Wang Chong’s face.

There was still a long time until the marriage, so Wang Chong devoted this rare moment of peace to increasing the strength of his big brother, second brother, little sister, the Demonic Emperor Old Man, and the Wushang Village Chief.

Wang Chong was now far stronger than the Demonic Emperor Old Man and the Village Chief. In peace, one should think about times of danger and do all one could to increase the strength of one’s own side. Only then could one confidently deal with future crises.