Is that a Wisp?

"Greetings, everyone! Hot news! Buy your early morning news for just five Copper Xian!" A newspaper boy ran around, peddling the morning news.

"Boy, did something happen?" One of the curious passersby, a shop owner, asked, wondering if it was worth it to spend five Copper Xian on a newspaper. Unless the news was interesting enough, he didn't have the mood to waste his money, especially since he was a small-time shopkeeper.

"Yes, the County Arms Division Director has woken up from his decade-long coma," the newspaper body replied in tune, having received the same question countless times within an hour since he began to peddle the news.

"Oh, what happened after that?" The shopkeeper was interested when he was surprised to see the newspaper boy extending his hand.

"5 Copper Xian. Read the news and find it out yourself."

"Cunning child…" The shopkeeper grumbled before buying the newspaper. Then again, the moment he read through the news, he was shocked, forgetting to walk, finally sighing after a good ten minutes had passed, gazing at the sky as he said, "So, even legends have the same end."

Sighing, he dragged his feet, losing the mood to work for the day, returning to the shop as he closed it, took up some liquor and downed it in one gulp. Sporting a somber mood, he sighed.

…

"Your Majesty, please follow me." The Liu Clan's current generation head bowed before leading the Emperor through the clan's main hall.

"I heard that he woke up., the Emperor asked, nervous, expectant.

"Yes, but his condition is…" Hesitating for a moment, the Liu Clan Head bowed before saying, "You'll know once you see him, your Majesty."

The one addressed as the Emperor was an old man in his eighties, having already passed on all responsibilities to his son. He slowly walked through the Liu Clan, noticing how affluent they had become, smiling as he walked through a corridor, arriving before a lone house in the center of the estate.

It was a moderate house with no ornaments. The Liu Clan Head showed him the way as he entered, arriving within the hall where countless scrolls were neatly rolled up in a corner. There were stacks of books, information, carvings, and inscriptions everywhere.

As the emperor looked around, he noticed a painting. It was a family of three, with their son sporting a content smile.

After staring at the son in the picture, the Emperor sighed in nostalgia before looking at the woman in the picture, cupping his hands at her. "Aunt, I hope you're blessing our Empire from the heavens."

She was Daxia Ting, having died long ago.

After lighting incense in her name, he entered the bedroom, noticing a weary old man seated on the bed, looking older than his age.

Having lost all hair, saggy skin, and a frail body, he was unlike his picture or feats of heroism. Moreover, his right hand was like leather skin, lacking anything of substance. As for his legs, they seemed to have been cut off long ago.

His mouth constantly moved up and down, muttering something, words that none around were able to utter. As for his eyes, they had been closed all along, even though he was awake.

Arriving beside the bed, the Emperor slowly took a seat, realizing that the legend before him was at the end of his life. He slowly spoke, "Director…"

Slowly, the old man's eyes opened as they gazed at the Emperor, causing the other party to feel as if all his secrets were laid bare in front of him.

'Director has grown stronger in the mental department.' The Emperor controlled his body from flinching under the gaze.

The old man was Krune, having remained behind in the world despite winning the war. He slowly opened his mouth as a raspy voice resounded, "The Seventh Prince… what do you need?"

"Director, I'm the Emperor now. And I'm officially retiring tomorrow." The Emperor smiled wryly after hearing that.

In response, Krune smiled gently. "I see, so it has already come to that."

After a moment's silence, he extended his hand, condensing his Star Hammer, holding it with his left hand that seemed to only be skin and bones.

He then activated his Star Ring, condensing all three rings when the Star Ring shattered. He then fused the three rings into the Star Hammer, causing it to hum before landing on the hands of the Liu Clan Head as he spoke…

"In times of need, a clansman would be able to wield its power. Since I never had any children, this is my final contribution to our clan, to this world."

"We are unworthy, grand elder!" The Liu Clan Head bowed, shouting at the top of his voice.

The Emperor interjected at this moment. "Director, I want to know about the truth… of what happened back then."

"The truth, huh…" Krune muttered weakly before sighing, saying, "Su Daiyu and Han had a child, the first Demon to be birthed naturally. And she… also inherited the power of Su Daiyu's Imperial Arms, Moon Flower, naturally."

…

Bam!

Su Daiyu closed her eyes, anticipating her death when the expected hammer strike never happened. She then turned around, noticing a slender hand propping up the hammer, resisting the imposing might it exuded, stopping it from killing her.

Suddenly, an innocent voice resounded, "Are you planning to kill me too, grandpa?"

"You…" Krune's tone became one of shock as he gazed at Su Daiyu and asked, "You had a child? This was possible for a Demon?"

"I'm enough proof," the girl replied as her hand trembled, profusely bleeding. Even though she had stopped the attack, the force coursed through her body, beginning to destroy her from within.

"No! Zi! Forget about me and run away!" Su Daiyu screamed in horror, intending to push her away, when she noticed Krune's hammer trembling.

He hesitated, for the child before him, even though a Demon, hadn't done anything wrong. Unlike other Demons that were the condensation of malice, she was pure. So, he hesitated, eventually retracting his hammer. "Su Zi… that's a good name. I didn't see you here. Now go."

Su Zi carried Su Daiyu, flying away, condensing two of the petals of Moon Flower as her wings, turning into a ray of light before disappearing.

Krune then announced the death of the two Demon Commanders. Among the other Demons, only four survived that turned tail and fled.

The Praire River had turned into a river of blood, a mixture of human, Demons, and Yin Beasts.

Even though they had suffered a massive hit, the Yin Beast Army still had enough numbers as they made a sound retreat. Sighing, Krune gazed at the sky and muttered, "Is this the right thing to do? Will the sufferings of this world reduce now?"

As he gazed at the sky, wishing to return to the God Realm, nothing happened.

…

"Of course." Krune smiled helplessly, gazing at the Emperor as he told him, "I was wrong."

"She might have been pure back then. However, a Demon absorbs the malice in the air naturally. Over time, she was corrupted, resulting in the constant wars that we face to date.. She hadn't publicly appeared even once, but Su Zi is the source of all chaos right now."