Free The Red Plains (The Forbidden List Book 3) by G R Matthews Page B

and had them battle the universe,” Yángwū explained.
    “Then he has done nothing for many years. Again I say, we do not need him.” Zhou said, intrigued despite himself.
    “Not for many years, you are correct, but soon he will. Soon it will be the meeting of the immortals, the princes he created to rule the planes in-between. They will meet upon the Three Peak Mountain to discuss the planes, to make plans, to reaffirm alliances and to protect the realms. If there is discord in their number then a thousand years of pain will be inflicted upon the world. I intend to be at that meeting.” Yángwū spoke with a fire in his voice, an anger and rage that Zhou had not heard from the man during any session of questions or discussion.
    “You want to disrupt the meeting. You want to cause a thousand years of pain,” Zhou said, incredulous. “I will not, cannot allow that. I will kill you first.”
    “Disrupt it? A little, but not for that purpose. And note, Zhou, how quick you change from disbelief to acceptance and righteous anger. Is that anger yours or does its home lay elsewhere? You are a puzzle still. No, I do not want to disrupt it. I have bigger dreams than that. I want to be the Jade Emperor, to take over his mantle.”
    “You just said he is immortal and that he battled the universe, there is no way you could, anyone could, defeat such a being,” Zhou said. “You’re mad.”
    “Immortal is just a word we use to mean long-lived, it does not mean ‘cannot be killed’. The Wu are long-lived, but they eventually die. I have seen the Prince of the Spirit Realm die. I tried to take his power, his strength and spirit, but it went to someone else. It would be impossible to deny that I also want some measure of revenge and when I become the Jade Emperor that will be an easy task to accomplish,” Yángwū said.
    “You are just a Wu , like me,” Zhou said.
    “I am Wu no longer. The spirit cast me out, denied me, and still denies me entrance to the realm. I had to search for new power, for a new way. It took hundreds of years, but in the far north, amongst ice and volcanoes I found the power I desired. I studied for another hundred years to become like my new master, and then I killed him and took his power. I am the Prince of the Fire Realm, and my seat at the council is assured.”
    Zhou looked at the small man. His mind was telling him the old Wu had been driven mad by the years away from the spirit realm, but his heart trembled and his stomach was queasy. There was no evidence for the man’s words, no aura of incredible power, no heat radiating off of him, nothing to suggest he was anything but a bitter man who had lived too many years with revenge in his heart. Zhou swallowed, bringing moisture to his dry mouth.
    “If that is true, why do you have need of the Mongols and the invasion of the Empire?” Zhou asked. “It seems a petty waste of an immortal life and power.”
    “The other immortals are on their way to the mountain. We travel as all men do, by land and sea. The war will hold them up, delay their journey, put some of them in peril, distract them. The fewer who make it to the meeting, the better chance I have. The war is nothing but that,” Yángwū said.
    “You are mad,” Zhou said.
    “We shall see, little Wu. We shall see.”

Chapter 10
     
    “I don’t care whether or not we are upsetting the merchants,” Haung snapped, stabbing a finger at the administrator in front of him. “I want those houses down and the rubble available for my engineers. If they have a problem then tell them to come and talk to me. I’ll explain the realities of the situation to them, or put them on the wall so they can see it for themselves.”
    “Honoured General,” the administrator began, “the Mayor of Liulimiao wishes you to know that he will be making a formal complaint to the Emperor for the destruction you and your men have caused this town.”
    “Good,” Haung stepped forward, invading the prim