Chapter 463

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Chapter 463: Mentor, Accompany Me Once More

Has Nalan Jinghuai already died?

Bai Wei looked up and down at Nalan Qingshu, who appeared no older than twelve or thirteen. His surprise was evident, his thoughts swirling.

“You…” His gaze fell to 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 revealed.

“No wonder you have confidence in restoring the country,” Bai Wei observed, his gaze resting on the last living Bi Fang. With her, the feudal lords still had a chance.

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

Despite her small size, her face held an air of maturity and seriousness far beyond her age. She had experienced the pain of losing her country and loved ones at a young age, and had endured hardships even more severe than Chao Lu.

In modern society, fairness is celebrated, where the strong are restrained, and the weak are protected. This is the ideal that ZZ believes in. But in savage lands, there is no such moral restraint. The weaker one is, the more they must hide themselves, or they will invite disaster.

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

Nalan Qingshu had borrowed the name and identity of Nalan Jinghuai, pretending to be a master strategist to conceal her true self. Now, by revealing it directly, she made Bai Wei feel her sincerity and resolve.

“If it were Mr. Nalan, he might not have truly placed everything on a stranger like this,” Bai Wei observed. “Young people are fearless in taking risks, but relying solely on oneself can sometimes 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 lose all meaning.”

Bai Wei asked, “Have you considered relying on other powers?”

“When there is deep hatred and the grudge of losing loved ones, how can one let it go?” Nalan Qingshu’s tone was light, but the underlying hatred was unmistakable. “At least I can’t, my mother can’t, and none of my compatriots who support me in restoring our country can.”

In Liu State, many lives had been lost over the years. The people’s lives were difficult, with bones scattered everywhere. The once prosperous land was now a graveyard of ruins. This wasn’t just a matter of hate; revenge was necessary to restore 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 by the old scholar’s words.

However, Nalan Qingshu saw through it immediately and asked, “Is it because I am Bi Fang?”

“Yes,” Bai Wei replied. “I am a person from the Ming Country. I’ve made countless strategies, but 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 cannot be with the Ming Country. So Wang Yu’s affectionate words won’t work. We can only treat this as business. Is that clear enough?”

The conversation was blunt, revealing a deep truth. People from different backgrounds and perspectives could never be treated equally. Even if they trusted strategists, they couldn’t trust the Ghost Valley Master. Their differing positions made equality impossible.

Liu Tingyun understood this and bowed, apologizing for any offense caused earlier.

Nalan Qingshu was somewhat disappointed, saying, “I originally thought Young Master Bai helped Bai Ze for nobler reasons, but now it seems not.”

Bai Wei smiled, neither confirming nor denying it.

He had once been noble, still had nobility, and could be noble again—but not right now.

Nalan Qingshu said, “If Young Master Bai wants to talk business, then he can. But I hope, during our negotiations, you can draw a line.”

Bai Wei replied, “You don’t need to pressure me with moral boundaries. I understand your situation, and there’s no better trade partner for you. You can only take a gamble on me, hoping that I won’t play both sides. I’m not interested in you or Bi Fang. I only care about Bai Ze Kingdom’s survival. As for the internal strife and fate of the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom, I can’t control it now. Don’t see me as a scapegoat, but don’t undermine my character either. Though I’m not a saint, I’m no villain who takes advantage of others.”

Liu Tingyun nodded. “Young Master Bai is indeed a gentleman.”

Nalan Qingshu said, “Maybe I’m not questioning you, 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 two heirs left: the Third Princess and the young prince. The feudal lords are fighting for power and profit because the Third Princess can’t control the situation, and the young prince is too young and naive.”

“To suppress the Third Princess and further weaken the imperial power, the feudal lords separated the siblings. They imprisoned the young prince while allowing the Third Princess to appear in control. In reality, they held the young prince hostage, using him to control the Third Princess and the feudal lords in the future.”

“Various strategists and tacticians have made plans to protect the young prince, causing the situation to spiral into chaos. Wang Ran attempted to poison the young prince to force the Third Princess onto the throne, further unraveling the last hope for the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom. Fortunately, his plan failed. The young prince didn’t die—only a body double was killed, and the real prince was secretly moved. No one knows where he is.”

“My mother and I have speculated on this situation many times, searching for a decisive move like Yuan Tianjian’s. It’s like the old man losing his horse, Bi Fang losing the kingdom. As players on the chessboard diminish, Yuan Tianjian’s grand plans become clearer. Clues we couldn’t see before are surfacing. Through this, we discovered the location of the Demon Emperor’s son.”

Nalan Qingshu continued, “If we find the Demon Emperor’s son, we will have leverage in negotiations with the Third Princess. She doesn’t want to be a puppet for the feudal lords. By reclaiming the young prince and pressuring Qiongqi Ba Xia, Bi Fang can seize the opportunity to restore the kingdom, and the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom will once again find a delicate balance. This could even resolve the crisis in Bai Ze Kingdom.”

The battle in the Ten Thousand Demon Kingdom revolves around a conflict between the royal court and the nobility. After the Demon Emperor’s fall, the Third Princess struggled to hold on, leading to her separation from her younger brother. Now, various factions have positioned themselves, with the Third Princess barely maintaining control over the royal court, but constrained by the nobles, especially the young prince.

Bai Wei said, “Are you asking me to rescue the young prince and bring him to the royal court?”

“The young prince must remain hidden from the nobles for the Third Princess to shift from a passive to an active position.”

“But you also mentioned disrupting Ba Xia. Is that your meaning?”

“The young prince is in Ba Xia’s territory, and even Ba Xia may not know this.” Nalan Qingshu said, somewhat impressed. “Yuan Tianjian’s strategies may seem unpredictable, but he is actually experienced in military affairs, governance, and strategy. The only thing he despises is political struggles. Now, he may appear to be keeping a low profile, but in reality, his influence runs deep. He and King Ran are like opposites.”

“He’s your enemy, but you admire him?”

“He’s not exactly an enemy. After our kingdom fell, my mother met with him three times, and they deduced everything together. My mother said the fall of Bi Fang wasn’t his doing.” Nalan Qingshu still remembered how that old man had appeared—aged but strong, with a kind demeanor, like a friendly uncle. The way he interacted with her mother was like family. The strategies in the world are always ruthless, but sometimes, in the shadows, mercy is shown, leaving a route of escape for the defeated. It’s a contradiction.

Nalan Qingshu remembered her mother’s expressions when reminiscing about the past—a nostalgic smile lingering between her brows. There was no hatred, only reverence.

It was only right to show respect to one’s ancestors.

Bai Wei didn’t know much about Yuan Tianjian; they only had a superficial understanding of each other. Wang Yu spoke confidently, “Don’t worry about him. He might try to deceive you, but you don’t need to trick him in return. Just be honest, take the hits, and he won’t kill you after all the trouble. If you admit defeat, he will let you go. That’s the only 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!”

Bai Wei asked seriously, “What specific plans do you have? Are you suggesting that I should rescue this young prince alone? It would be too audacious to charge in by myself. Though I do enjoy the idea of recklessly starting a fight with everyone.”

“Don’t worry, Young Master Bai. It won’t be just one person. We will work together as a team. How could one person accomplish such a feat alone?”

Nalan Qingshu stepped over the threshold, her tone gentle but firm. “I will go too.”

“…You?”

“Young Master Bai, please don’t treat me as a pampered rich girl,” Bi Fang said, raising her head proudly. “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 replied pragmatically.

Nalan Qingshu immediately lost some of her confidence, her defenses crumbling. She tugged at the corner of her mouth and said, “Young Master Bai, you really know how to converse…”

Shaking off the momentary slip, she continued, “I’m not a strong fighter, so I won’t cause trouble. I’m going to Ba Xia as a poison pill. The Tiger General is dead, and the governor of Longyao City needs to explain himself to Qiongqi. I’m being sent as the main culprit—fair and reasonable.”

“Indeed, it is reasonable. Bi Fang is of high importance and will definitely attract attention. What happens next?”

“The soldiers escorting us are our people. It seems like an escort, but it’s actually an assassination attempt. But that alone isn’t enough to create chaos.” 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 isn’t enough, we add another. Princess Chao Lu is of great significance, and Ba Xia cannot refuse such a generous gift. This will create an opportunity to incite the martial world and stir even greater chaos. Killing two birds with one stone.”

Bai Wei complimented, “Wow… you are truly cunning.”

Nalan Qingshu responded, “…”

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, saying, “Young Master Bai, you are truly mischievous.”

“Give me more compliments, I love to hear them.”