Chapter 450
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Chapter 450: The Mighty Skies
It was getting late, and Bai Wei began to feel the pangs of hunger. Stepping outside to search for food, he saw Yagyū Simozi sitting with Sakurai Shiru, watching TV.
Surprised, he asked, “You haven’t rested yet?”
Yagyū Simozi stood and replied, “I was waiting for my older brother to finish.”
“I told you I was going into seclusion,” Bai Wei responded.
“Seclusion doesn’t mean I can’t eat,” Yagyū Simozi said, opening the rice cooker. He scooped some rice into a bowl and set the dishes on the table. “The meal is still hot.”
Bai Wei nodded, feeling his frustration ease, and began to eat alone.
The peaceful scene in this courtyard was a stark contrast to the distant chaos of the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom, thousands of miles away. In that war-torn land, the people were suffering, fighting for survival, doing terrible things out of desperation.
Bai Wei chewed on the rice, looking at the simple meal before him—three dishes and a soup. A wave of sorrow swept over him.
The difference between his past life as an emperor and his current role as a mentor was stark. As an emperor, no matter one’s status, there were always people to take care of daily needs. Meals were always abundant and of the finest quality. But now, as a mentor leading a mercenary group, there were times when food was scarce, and they had to ration their supplies to cover costs.
For most common folk, a meal consisting of bread and jam was a luxury, while meat was rare and mostly consumed by the rich and powerful.
This stark contrast weighed heavily on him.
Each time he found himself in this situation, Bai Wei couldn’t help but feel a burning anger within, wishing to ignite a spark, to set things ablaze. In the past, he had the power to change the fate of a nation, but now, replicating that in another country seemed impossible.
He bitterly muttered, “A troubled person disturbs themselves.”
After dinner, Bai Wei spent some time with his two younger sisters, putting them to bed before retreating to his room to begin his seclusion. His focus now needed to be on the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom. There was a chance he would not have time to pay attention to Europa for a while, so he needed to inform them in advance.
Luckily, things were mostly in order.
The matter of Sakurai Shiru starting school did not require immediate attention. After spring break, he could send her to school in April.
A trip to the Ming Country in March seemed feasible. January, being the last month before the tide of ashes receded, was a crucial time. It should have been a restful month for Bai Wei, but for the Bai Ze Kingdom, it might mark the countdown to its end.
Lying in bed, Bai Wei sighed, closing his eyes, exhausted, and prepared for another night of endless work.
Qiongqi Country, a vast land covering two-fifths of the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom’s territory and home to thirty percent of its population, thrived on agriculture and trade. While the nation was known for its military prowess, its strength truly lay in its agricultural base.
Agriculture, livestock, and weaponry were crucial to Qiongqi’s prosperity. Outsiders would be surprised to learn that, internally, the country was relatively stable. As the most powerful feudal state, it frequently waged wars to annex lands and ensure its agricultural and commercial systems remained intact. Despite this, its people had largely been spared from the ravages of war.
Every household, no matter how poor, kept their belts tightened, bought government bonds, and considered themselves fortunate to live within the borders of the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom.
Lingxi, the capital of Qiongqi, was a city of order, nestled far from the sounds of war. Here, farming and study were the priorities.
An old man strolled through a vegetable field in Lingxi. The winter ground was covered in frost, and he carefully stepped through the half-frozen mud. He picked up a few shriveled eggplants, damaged by the frost, and tossed them into his basket.
Behind him, a middle-aged man walked, carrying a wooden basket filled with winter bamboo shoots, eggplants, and crucian carp. His tall figure, adorned with horns, looked imposing, yet he carried himself with calm dignity, his robes stained with dirt.
“Don’t let the appearance of these winter vegetables fool you,” the old man said. “They might look withered, but they’re delicious. The loss of moisture actually makes them taste better. I’ll cook a few dishes for you later…”
“Prime Minister, I’m not here for the food,” the middle-aged man responded.
“I barely have time to eat myself. Are you really not going to give me face?” the old man chuckled.
“The emperor is waiting for a response, but I haven’t finished eating here yet…” the middle-aged man protested.
“Why are you all in such a hurry? What’s the rush?” the old man sighed. “I’ve told you before, this matter can’t be rushed.”
Feeling impatient, the old man walked over to a bamboo shed he had set up. He sat down, poured himself a cup of hot tea, and sipped it slowly.
“Haste makes waste,” he mused. “I told you, years ago, to focus on accumulating food and resources instead of rushing to become the king. But no, all of you had insatiable appetites. You ate without thinking. I warned you about Liu State. It’s a poisonous cake, but you still swallowed it whole. Now, it’s choking you, like a fishbone stuck in your throat. The only way forward is to continue opening trade routes and reluctantly deal with Bai Ze Kingdom. They’re tough to crack, but you have no choice. You’ve forgotten everything. If you dig three feet into the ground in Liu State, you won’t find anyone useful.”
The middle-aged man smiled nervously, scratching the horn on his head, “Please don’t say such things in front of others.”
“I’ve said it before, but no one listens. A bunch of fools, thinking that reading a few books makes them military geniuses. Do they think they are Sun Bin reincarnated?” The old man spat, a few bitter tea leaves falling from his mouth.
“Please drink, please drink,” the middle-aged man urged, carefully pouring more tea into the cup, his manner deferential but sincere.
“As for me,” the old man continued, “I prefer to give a little in business. I take eight parts and give away two. It’s about harmony and profits. In the Warring States, everyone eats from each other, but the key to strategy lies in interests. You can exchange six li for ten cities, or ruin an alliance and gain nothing. It all comes down to choice. I’ve always said, tyranny has its place, but it can’t replace the royal way. Aggressive expansion, like a tiger or wolf, is not the answer. Think about it. Bi Fang’s death? Suspicious, right? Look at all the benefits Jiuyin reaped after his death, the chaos it caused.”
The old man paused, chewing on the bitter tea leaves, before adding, “There’s no absolute destiny in this world. It’s all tricks to deceive the masses. No one deserves the mysterious deaths in Liu State. And the royal court doesn’t want to lose its legitimacy. It’s just bad luck.”
Finishing his tea, the old man sighed deeply, “I know you’ve been frustrated, wondering why I intercepted Bai Ze’s military strategies through three secret letters, constantly shifting our plans. But I’m telling you, this battle shouldn’t be fought with sheer military might. We should be conserving strength this winter. If we keep fighting like this, what will we have next year? What about Bai Ze Kingdom, will it still be usable? Daylight Kingdom will cut ties with us. Even if we conquer Liu State, Xiangliu may intervene. And if they don’t, they’ll still be a nuisance. We’ll be on high alert for years. It’s impossible to guard against the enemy for a thousand days.”
The middle-aged man, troubled, asked, “But we can’t act so recklessly…”
“I have no choice,” the old man murmured to himself, “The little princess of Bai Ze Kingdom has returned.”
“…?” The middle-aged man couldn’t grasp the significance of a little princess.
“She’s a pawn everyone wants to own,” the old man spat. “Someone even spent a million dragon coins on her life. If she dies, negotiations are off. Bai Ze Kingdom will fight until the end, and we’ll be left with nothing but a dead city. I don’t want a dead city; I want a trade route.”
The middle-aged man was stunned. “Who bought her life?”
“Wang Ran, that ruthless boy,” the old man sneered. “He never changes. That’s why I’m paying to keep her alive.”
“Do you still have money?”
“I have a little secret stash,” the old man grinned. “I still have billions. Three buildings in Ming Country’s capital, to be exact.”
The middle-aged man was shocked. “How much did it cost?”
“I didn’t spend a penny,” the old man replied with a smile. “Someone else spent 20 million to buy her life.”
“So, if the risk is hedged, what keeps her alive can also make her die? And vice versa?” the middle-aged man asked, confused.
“Whether she’s the cat in the box doesn’t matter. What matters is who’s buying her life,” the old man said slowly, peeling a winter bamboo shoot. “Few can play this game. Wang Ran is a rising star, but there are fewer of my generation left. Some have retired, some disappeared. Only a few can compete with me. My goal is to remain steady. Steady wins the game. This fortune didn’t come easily, and I won’t let fools ruin it. Understand?”
The middle-aged man nodded and bowed, “I understand. I’ve learned.”
“You’re a good student, but you’ve only learned seventy percent from me. The other thirty percent? Guiguzi’s teachings can’t be taught. If you had mastered them, I’d rest easy…” The old man sniffed the bamboo shoot’s fragrance, his eyes narrowing as he gazed at the darkening sky.
“Tell those old tortoises, hundreds of years older than me, that my body’s still strong. If they send five armies, I’ll stain the walls of Lingxi with their blood. I’ve been preparing for a battle with Xiangliu for years. What is a small country like Bai Ze to me?”
The middle-aged man bowed low and, in an instant, wings sprouted from his back as he soared into the sky.
Yuan Tianjian, watching the scene, muttered, “Ah… The Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom. If only I had been born two thousand years earlier. This place is not my home.”
A young man in the nearby field, removing his straw hat, asked, “Sir, what are your orders?”
“Besides the court, the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom also has the rivers and lakes. Leave this red herring to the rivers and lakes. I usually avoid things that just add excitement, but today… I’ll make an exception and fan the flames,” the old man said casually, pulling chess pieces from a nearby box and scattering them on the ground. “If there’s any sign of Princess Bai Ze, summon these people.”
“Is it for rescue?”
“No… to kill!” Yuan Tianjian replied coldly, his tone emotionless. “I want to see the bodies.”
The young man picked up the chess pieces and left. Yuan Tianjian chuckled softly, “Probably many martial arts experts and strange monsters will die… Good riddance!”
Known as a skilled adventurer, Yuan Tianjian was celebrated for single-handedly supporting the prosperity of the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom. Among his peers, he was considered closest to attaining the title of “Ghost Valley Master,” unrivaled by any other.
