Chapter 463

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Chapter 463: Mentor, Accompany Me Once More

Nalan Jinghuai has already died?

Bai Wei looked up and down at Nalan Qingshu, who seemed to be only twelve or thirteen years old, and couldn’t help but be surprised and deeply thoughtful.

"You…" His gaze fell on the top of her head. "Bi Fang?"

"Young Master Bai has sharp eyes. I am the daughter of Bi Fang, and perhaps the last remaining Bi Fang in the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom," Nalan Qingshu admitted.

"No wonder you have confidence in restoring the country," Bai Wei stared at the last living Bi Fang in the world. With her, the feudal lords still existed.

"Not out of confidence, but out of necessity. This is my mission and the duty I must fulfill," Nalan Qingshu said earnestly.

Despite her small size, she had a mature and serious look on her face that didn’t match her age. She had experienced the pain of losing her country and loved ones at a young age, and had been through countless hardships, even more than Chao Lu.

In modern society, the consensus is to advocate for fairness, where the strong are restrained and the weak are taken care of. This is what ZZ believes is right. But in savage places, there is no such social consensus or moral restraint. The weaker one is, the more they must hide themselves, otherwise they will undoubtedly attract disasters.

This is the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom, where the weak are not worthy of sympathy, but instead become the oppressed.

Nalan Qingshu borrowed the name and identity of Nalan Jinghuai, pretending to be a master of strategy, which served as a cover for her true identity. Now, by revealing it straightforwardly, it made Bai Wei feel her sincerity and assurance.

"If it were Mr. Nalan, he might not truly bet everything on a stranger like this." Bai Wei spoke from the perspective of an outsider, saying, "Young people don’t lack the courage to take risks, but relying solely on oneself can occasionally lead to a dead end."

Nalan Qingshu smiled bitterly, "We have no choice, it can only be this way… The Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom is not like the Spring and Autumn period. If we don’t regain our country within ten years, the banner of Bi Fang will truly lose its effect."

Bai Wei asked, "Have you not considered relying on other powers?"

"When there is deep hatred and the grudge of killing loved ones, how can one let it go?" Nalan Qingshu spoke lightly, but it revealed an indelible hatred. "At least I cannot do it; my mother cannot do it; and all my compatriots who support me in regaining our country cannot do it."

In Liu State, many people have died over the years. Life has become difficult for the people, with bones scattered everywhere. The once prosperous land is now full of ruins. It’s not just a matter of hating, but seeking revenge is necessary for restoring the country.

"Alright then," Bai Wei stopped trying to persuade or test and asked directly, "How do you plan to negotiate with me? If it was Nalan Jinghuai here, I wouldn’t mind being used as a pawn, following her orders. But with you, I would have to consider my worth."

Liu Tingyun frowned, displeased with the old scholar’s words.

However, Nalan Qingshu saw through it and asked, "Is it because I am Bi Fang [A mythical creature]?"

"Yes," Bai Wei replied, "I am a person from the Ming Country. I have made countless strategies and plans. Ultimately, it’s not just for my own benefit. Even if such people exist, they won’t survive till the end… As you are Bi Fang, your priority is not with the Ming Country. So Wang Yu’s affectionate words also have no effect. We can only treat this as business. Is that clear enough?"

This straightforward conversation reveals profound meaning. People from different backgrounds and perspectives cannot be treated equally, even if they trust strategists, they can’t trust the Ghost Valley Master. With their different positions, it’s impossible to treat them equally.

Liu Tingyun understood this and bowed to apologize for any offense caused earlier.

Nalan Qingshu was a bit disappointed, saying, "I originally thought Young Master Bai helped Bai Ze for more noble reasons, but now it seems not."

Bai Wei responded with a smile, neither confirming nor denying.

He was noble once, he is still noble, he can be noble, but not right now.

Nalan Qingshu said, "Young Master Bai wants to talk business, naturally he can… but when negotiating, I hope you can draw a line."

Bai Wei said, "You don’t have to use moral bottom line to pressure me. I know your situation and there’s no better choice for a trade partner. You can only take a gamble on me, hoping that I won’t take advantage of both sides. I’m not interested in you or Bi Fang. I only ask that Bai Ze Kingdom can continue. As for the internal strife and fate of the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom, I can’t control it now. It’s best not to see me as a scapegoat, but also don’t undermine my character too much. Although I’m not a saint, I’m not a villain who takes advantage of others."

Liu Tingyun nodded, "Young Master Bai is indeed a gentleman."

Bi Fang said, "Maybe I’m not questioning Young Master Bai, but I’m not mentally prepared… Forget it! If Young Master Bai wants to negotiate with the royal court, the method is simple. The Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom has left two heirs behind, the Third Princess and the young prince. The feudal lords compete for power and profit because the Third Princess can’t control the situation and the young prince is young and naive."

"In order to suppress the Third Princess and further weaken the imperial power, the feudal lords made a decision to separate the siblings. They imprisoned the young prince alone, while allowing the Third Princess to appear to have power and control the situation. In reality, they held the young prince hostage, making the Third Princess fear and also making it convenient to use the young prince to control the feudal lords in the future."

"In order to protect the young prince, various strategists and calculators made plans, causing the situation to become chaotic. Wang Ran attempted to use a poisoned plot to kill the young prince and force the Third Princess to take the throne, further tearing off the last fig leaf of the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom. Fortunately, his plan failed. The young prince didn’t die, only a body double was killed, while the real young prince was secretly moved, but no one knows where he went."

"My mother and I have speculated on this situation many times, trying to find a decisive move like Yuan Tianjian’s. It’s like the story of the old man losing his horse, Bi Fang losing the kingdom. With the decrease in players on the chessboard, Yuan Tianjian’s previous grand plans become clearer. Clues that were not found before have also surfaced. Through this, we have also discovered the location of the Demon Emperor’s son."

Nalan Qingshu said, "If you can find the Demon Emperor’s son, then we will have material for negotiation with the Third Princess. The Third Princess doesn’t want to be a vase manipulated by the feudal lords. By reclaiming the young prince and pressuring Qiongqi Ba Xia, Bi Fang can seize the opportunity to restore the kingdom and establish connections with the royal court, displaying support for the rightful royal family. The Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom will once again restore a delicate balance, and the crisis in Bai Ze Kingdom will resolve itself."

The battle in the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom revolves around the fight between the royal court and the nobles. When the Demon Emperor fell, the Third Princess was left to fend for herself, causing her and her younger brother to be separated. The various factions are now strategically positioned, with the Third Princess being able to maintain control over the royal court but being constrained by the nobles. The most important constraint comes from the young prince.

Bai Wei said, "Are you asking me to rescue the young prince and escort him to the royal court?"

"The young prince must be kept out of sight from the nobles for the Third Princess to turn the tables from a passive to an active position."

"But you also said for me to disrupt Ba Xia. Is that what you mean?"

"The young prince is in Ba Xia’s territory, and even Ba Xia may not be aware of this fact." Nalan Qingshu said, somewhat impressed. "Yuan Tianjian’s strategies may seem unpredictable, but he is actually very experienced in military affairs, internal governance, and strategic planning. The only thing he dislikes is political struggles. Now, he seems to have stepped back and kept a low profile, but in reality, he has a far-reaching influence without needing to be at the forefront. He and the openly ambitious King Ran are like two extremes."

"He’s the enemy, yet you admire him?"

"He’s not exactly an enemy. After our country fell, my mother met with him three times, and they deduced back and forth. My mother said that the demise of Bi Fang was not his doing." Nalan Qingshu still remembered the appearance of that old man – old but strong, with a kind demeanor like a friendly uncle. His manner when talking to her mother was also like that of a family member. The strategies and plotting among the various factions are always ruthless, like a fight to the death, but they also show mercy in the shadows, leaving an escape route for the defeated. It’s a contradictory situation.

Nalan Qingshu remembers her mother’s expressions when reminiscing about the past – a hint of nostalgic smile between her eyebrows. There was no hatred, only nostalgia and reverence.

It is only right for her to show respect to her ancestors.

Bai Wei didn’t know much about Yuan Tianjian, they only had superficial knowledge of each other. Wang Yu confidently said, holding his head, "You don’t have to worry about this person. He may try to trick you, but you don’t have to trick him back. Just be honest and take the hits. He won’t kill you after all the trouble. If you admit defeat, he will let you go. That’s the only bit of mercy he has, as a strategist."

Hmph, do you think I, as a mentor, will be fooled by this? I’ll show you how capable I am!

"What specific plans do you have?" Bai Wei asked persistently, focusing on the key point. "Are you suggesting that I, alone, should save this monster prince? It would be too audacious to charge in alone. Although I do enjoy the notion of being reckless and starting a fight with everyone."

"Please rest assured, Young Master Bai. It won’t be just one person relying on their strength. We will work together as a team. How can one person’s strength alone achieve anything?"

Nalan Qingshu stepped over the threshold, her tone gentle yet firm. "I will go too."

"…You?"

"Young Master Bai, please don’t treat me as a pampered rich girl," Bi Fang said proudly, raising her head. "I’m not afraid to shed blood either."

"You’ve misunderstood. I’m just worried that your slender arms and legs might slow us down," Bai Wei said pragmatically.

Nalan Qingshu immediately lost a lot of her confidence, her defenses crumbling. She tugged at the corner of her mouth and said, "Young Master Bai, you really know how to make conversation…"

Adjusting her mood, she continued, "I am not a very strong fighter, so I won’t cause any trouble for Young Master Bai. I am going to Ba Xia as a poison pill. The Tiger General has died, and the governor of Longyao City needs to give an explanation to Qiongqi. So, I am being sent as the main culprit, which is fair and reasonable."

"Indeed, it is reasonable. Bi Fang is of high importance and will definitely receive significant attention. What happens next?"

"The soldiers escorting us are our people. It seems like an escort, but it’s actually an assassination attempt. But this situation alone is not chaotic enough." Nalan Qingshu looked at Bai Wei and asked, "Can you introduce Princess Chao Lu to Young Master Bai?"

"What do you mean?"

"If one poison pill is not enough, then we’ll add another one. Princess Chao Lu is of great significance, and Ba Xia cannot refuse such generous gifts. It will also create an opportunity to incite the martial world and cause even greater chaos. Killing two birds with one stone."

Bai Wei complimented, "Wow… you are truly cunning."

Nalan Qingshu, "…"

Bai Wei said, "Your idea is good, but let me suggest a modification… I suggest you spread the news that Longyao City’s governor found an Ocean Dragon Pearl and intends to present it as tribute to Lord Ba Xia."

Nalan Qingshu was startled, "You’re even scheming against the Dragon clan?"

"No?"

"Yes, of course." Nalan Qingshu looked at Bai Wei again and said, "Young Master Bai is really mischievous."

"Give me more compliments, I love to hear them."

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