The Wuyang Palace Master, Grand Chancellor Liu was a ruthless man. He did not even bother to show Xie Jianyu's corpse any form of respect.
"Why would I keep that unlucky corpse here?" he said haughtily when Zhang Fengxi came to inquire about Xie Jianyu's body.
"I already sent the body over to the Execution Tower!"
Zhang Fengxi's face turned pale as soon as he heard the last two words.
Execution Tower, just as the name depicted, was the cursed place where all criminals of the Heavenly Realm realm faced their retribution.
Just like he previously proclaimed, the Grand Chancellor had ordered for Xie Jianyu's body to be cut up into a thousand pieces, burned, and for his ashes to be strewn from the highest level of the tower into the Human Realm.
Zhang Fengxi paced his mount, a giant spiritual tiger, to the Execution Tower as fast as the tiger could carry him.
Unfortunately, he was too late.
By the time Zhang Fengxi arrived at the tower, the white-robed officials with pointy white hats had just finished strewing the ashes. In their hands, they held empty wooden bowls that still smelled like ash.
The only item that remained was a prayer bracelet. Xie Jianyu wore it for almost his entire life.
In his rage, Zhang Fengxi ran amok. He went into such a violent rampage that the Execution Tower almost crumbled into pieces.
Eventually, the God of Punishment, Tai Wang, came to put a stop to Zhang Fengxi.
"Supreme General!" he exclaimed while Zhang Fengxi was busy dismantling the Execution Tower.
"May this god understand what exactly displeases the Supreme General?"
Zhang Fengxi punched through a pillar, sending it crashing to the ground before he turned to look at the old god. With his reddened eyes and bloodied fists, he looked like a mad tiger who would attack just anyone.
Tai Wang clapped both hands in front of his chest and sighed.
"Supreme General, if there is something I can do to help you, I am more than willing to help. Please stop destroying the Execution Tower. I trust that the officials did not do anything wrong."
Indeed.
They did not do anything wrong.
Zhang Fengxi sucked in a deep breath.
Xie Jianyu's dying moment played in his head again and again as he dismantled the tower.
"Fengxi," he had called while caressing Zhang Fengxi's cheek.
He looked so sad at that time.
"Xie Jianyu, what did you really want to tell me?" Zhang Fengxi asked in his heart. Alas, the one who could answer was no longer alive. Even his corpse was gone.
Tai Wang finally understood what happened after a terrified official told him about what the Execution Tower did to Xie Jianyu's corpse.
Tai Wang heaved a deep sigh.
"What was done was done. Unfortunately, this old god is unable to help Supreme General Zhang out," he said.
"Is that it?" Zhang Fengxi asked with a hollow voice.
"What will happen to Xie Jianyu's soul?"
Tai Wang heaved another deep sigh.
Generally, gods and deities did not interfere with the internal feuds among the gods and immortals in heaven. He did not know Xie Jianyu personally, but he had heard good things about the crown prince. Too bad he met a tragic ending and died at such a young age.
"Because His Majesty Crown Prince's corpse was destroyed before seven days pass, unfortunately, his soul has dissipated into the air. He is gone forever."
Zhang Fengxi knew that, of course. Still, he hoped to hear another ending from the old god's mouth.
Tai Wang took the prayer bracelet and put it into Zhang Fengxi's hand.
"Buddha is merciful. Supreme General Zhang, why don't you pray for the fallen crown prince? He will be very happy to know that you grieve his passing."
Grieve his passing?
Him?
Tai Wang would be quite embarrassed if he knew who exactly ended Xie Jianyu's life.
Wordlessly, Zhang Fengxi took the prayer bracelet and dragged his feet back to his palace.
Over at Longjing Palace, Lady Song was busy with the newborn baby. Once she saw the familiar sigil on the babe's forehead, she almost jumped off her chair from joy.
Her first grandchild!
And it was a little boy, too!
Lady Song was there to welcome his son when the latter returned from the Execution Tower.
"Fengxi, where did that wonderful child come from? Oh, he is so beautiful! Where is his mother? When will you bring my daughter-in-law home? Oh, a son-in-law is fine too!" she quickly added when she saw the dark clouds hanging over her son's face.
Zhang Fengxi did not know where to start.
Should he start with the fact that he unknowingly slept with the omega crown prince of the dragon clan? Or the fact that said crown prince was an omega and not an alpha?
That Xie Jianyu became pregnant with his child and he had no idea at all?
That he killed Xie Jianyu with his own hands, shortly after Xie Jianyu gave birth to his son?
Before Zhang Fengxi managed to get the order of his story right, a maid hurried from inside the palace with a piece of ominous news.
"Your Majesty, Lady Song, the baby suddenly contracts a high fever! Please help!!!"