Chapter 231 - Bloodstained

“Kill who? Xia Wenlin?” Xu Yuan murmured the question as he accepted the document. After giving it a cursory glance, he realized that Lou Ji had handed him a project proposal.

A proposal for murder... After reading it carefully, Xu Yuan murmured, “Earliest possible execution... one year from now.”

Lou Ji pursed her lips in a smile. “Xia Wenlin may only be a third rank Grandmaster, but killing him at a time like this would make our intentions far too obvious. What do you think, Changtian?”

“What do I think?” Xu Yuan placed the papers on the desk and shook his head. “I think it’s completely unnecessary.”

Lou Ji leaned back in her chair, twirling a lock of dark hair around one finger as she spoke in a light, airy voice. “Xia Wenlin was essentially the one overseeing everything on the Myriad Manifestations Sect’s side during this affair. You’ve already had a taste of what he can do. Don’t you think he’ll become a problem?”

Xu Yuan had represented the Chancellor's Manor, while this newly risen Xia Wenlin had represented the Myriad Manifestations Sect.

Xu Yuan leaned forward, rested his elbows on the desk, and clasped his hands together. Smiling, he asked in return, “Why would he be a problem? Personally, I think having someone intelligent inside the Myriad Manifestations Sect works more to our advantage.”

Lou Ji’s finger paused in the middle of curling his hair. “Why?”

Xu Yuan answered with a smile that never reached his eyes. “So what if Xia Wenlin saw through our plan?”

Lou Ji frowned slightly. “The scheme you devised will become much more difficult to carry out. You may find yourself unable to make any progress at all.”

Xu Yuan waved dismissively and poured himself a cup of tea. Amber-colored tea streamed from the spout beneath the sunlight and filled the porcelain cup, sending curls of steam rising into the air. He blew aside the mist, then stared into Lou Ji’s eerie emerald eyes, their color altered by her cultivation art.

“The silent shares we handed out have already been swallowed by those noble clans. No matter how capable Xia Wenlin is, can he really force them to spit those shares back out?”

Lou Ji’s chest rose and fell as she sighed. Then she revealed the intelligence gathered by the Blackscale Guard.

“Changtian, this is more complicated than you think. The Xia Clan isn’t particularly powerful. They only control a few insignificant scraps of the sect’s businesses. For Xia Wenlin to rise to his current position, someone must be supporting him from behind the scenes. And whoever supports him is most likely someone on the Sect Master’s level. He may even have the backing of several of the sect’s most important elders. Should that truly be the case, do you still think it’s impossible?”

“Impossible,” Xu Yuan replied without the slightest hesitation.

“You...” Lou Ji rubbed her brow helplessly.

“For example, look at my father and the Emperor.”

“Hmm?” Lou Ji’s eyes suddenly narrowed.

Xu Yuan slowly drained the hot tea from his cup, let out a breath, and leaned back in his chair. Tilting his head, he gazed up at the high rafters, his eyes dark and distant. “This realm does not belong to the imperial clan alone. It belongs to both the imperial clan and the sects. And naturally, a sect does not belong to its Sect Master either. It belongs to its noble clans. A peaceful reform is impossible for them.”

Surprise flickered through Lou Ji’s beautiful eyes as she stared blankly at the handsome young man in white seated across from her. Then the corners of her lips curled upward.

“But Changtian, the circumstances are completely different. There are several great clans within the Myriad Manifestations Sect. Once they join forces, the other clans won’t be able to resist them. And Xia Wenlin is already 47, yet he remains only a third rank Grandmaster. That alone means he can never become the Myriad Manifestations Sect’s Xu Yinhe. Those clans can support him without the slightest reservation.”

As she spoke, Lou Ji leaned forward and propped her chin on one hand, studying Xu Yuan with great interest. “The chances of that happening may be slim, but should it happen, how do you plan to deal with the worst-case scenario? They might turn the tables and scheme against us instead~”

Xu Yuan said nothing. His expression merely grew increasingly strange before he raised a hand and pointed at her.

Lou Ji froze for a moment. Then she hugged her stomach and began giggling. Her whole body trembled with laughter, and Xu Yuan’s gaze swayed right along with her.

The Great Flame Empire had no external force capable of driving its reform. The Myriad Manifestations Sect did.

Xu Yuan’s goal from the beginning had been to use this opportunity to weaken the sect as much as possible.

The Chancellor's Manor had already inserted itself into the sect’s internal affairs. If everything proceeded step by step, it might take a very long time. But should Xia Wenlin truly make a move, even if he merely carved away at the other clans with a blunt knife, he would only drive them straight into the Chancellor's Manor’s arms.

So long as Lou Ji handled matters properly, the Myriad Manifestations Sect would split directly into two factions. One loyal to Xia Wenlin. The other aligned with the Chancellor's Manor.

After laughing for quite some time, Lou Ji rose and swayed gracefully toward the door. Just as she reached it, she suddenly stopped. Looking sideways at Xu Yuan’s back as he continued sipping his tea without a care in the world, she said softly, “Since you’ve already said as much, Changtian, your big sister will go make the arrangements right away. As for today’s administrative work regarding the handover...”

Xu Yuan did not turn around. He simply raised a hand and waved. “I understand. I’ll leave it here and wait for you to come back and deal with it, right? Don’t worry. I won’t steal your work.”

Lou Ji’s expression stiffened. Her fist clenched, and with a cold snort, she strode away. Yet after walking only a few steps, the corners of her pursed lips rose despite herself. She glanced back at the room, her eyes brimming with laughter.

The room was empty now, but her fragrance lingered.

Xu Yuan continued leisurely sipping the medicinal tea Lou Ji had personally cultivated. According to that old auntie, this tea worked much like the spiritual liquid.He, however, had yet to feel any difference whatsoever.

“Third Brother...” A soft call came from behind one of the folding screens in the room. A moment later, the valiant-looking Xu Xinyao stepped out.

Xu Yuan glanced over, raising an eyebrow. “How long have you been here?”

Xu Xinyao walked up to him. After a brief silence, she honestly confessed, “I came to see you about something earlier, but I ran into Big Sister Lou Ji. She told me to stand behind the screen and listen.”

Xu Yuan nodded. There had been nothing in their earlier conversation that needed to be hidden from his adopted younger sister.

“What did you need me for?”

Xu Xinyao opened her mouth, then hesitated.

Seeing her reluctance, Xu Yuan looked puzzled and smiled gently. “Just say whatever it is. So long as you behave, it isn’t as though I’ll beat you the way Xu Changge does with me.”

Xu Xinyao gritted her teeth. “Third Brother, is there truly no way to change things peacefully—”

SMACK! Xu Yuan narrowed his eyes at the girl before him, so furious he nearly keeled over on the spot.

The Myriad Manifestations Sect had already revealed its rotten nature in all its glory, yet she was still clinging to that foolish hope.

Xu Xinyao covered her cheek. Her eyes were lowered, tears shimmering within them. “Third Brother... I went to see the eastern district.”

Xu Yuan drew a deep breath and sat back down. “I already ordered them to keep the casualties as low as possible.”

Xu Xinyao bit her lip and whispered, “I know, but...”

“I don’t want to hit you again.” Xu Yuan rubbed his brow and cut her off in a low voice.

“What did you originally come to see me about?” Xu Xinyao sniffled and did not press the matter any further.

“General Wang...”

A thoughtful look entered Xu Yuan’s eyes. “I understand. Have someone bring him here to see me.”

“Mhm.” Still dejected, Xu Xinyao nodded and turned to leave.

Xu Yuan tilted his head and watched her disappear through the doorway, then let out a long sigh. He had visited the eastern district as well. He had gone through it carefully and seen everything.

There were far more parents selling their sons and abandoning their daughters now. Far more people had lost their homes and been cast adrift by the war.

To a town as vast as Myriad, the effects of the war might seem insignificant. But when that suffering fell upon a single person, it weighed as heavily as Mount Tai.

Amid the silence, Xu Yuan lowered his gaze to his own hands. The lines across his palms were clear. But those hands had already begun to stain with blood.

As his thoughts drifted, a snow-white hand reached into his lowered field of vision and gently rested atop his own. It was cool to the touch.