Let Me Explain, Fairy
Chapter 203 - One Hundred and Sixty-One: Recruitment

Chapter 203: Chapter One Hundred and Sixty-One: Recruitment

"Indeed."

Xu Yuan replied softly, his eyes carrying a bit of admiration, "In life, there are things one does and things one does not do. There are always things in this world that need to be done by someone."

Upon hearing this, Colonel Wang cracked a smile, but the next moment, he heard the other’s calm voice gently coming through:

"But utterly meaningless."

"....."

The air froze.

At these words, Colonel Wang didn’t know how to respond.

Xu Yuan flipped to the last page of the book in his hands and looked at the sharp characters written in fresh ink:

"The handwriting is decent, Wang Jiadian; this must be your courtesy name, right? You come from a well-to-do family?"

"...."

Colonel Wang hesitated for a moment but still followed the other’s lead and said,

"It’s a long story. My father was once an official in Daze Continent, and twenty-eight years ago, he was exiled to serve in the army here."

"I see. Was it political strife, a set-up, or backing the wrong team?" Xu Yuan asked.

"......" Colonel Wang’s eyes showed hesitation, but considering the favor he owed the other man, he still spoke honestly, "My father was once corrupt."

Xu Yuan was somewhat surprised that the other man would speak the truth so frankly, and even though his background was not entirely unblemished, he soon shook his head lightly and said,

"You’ve written your name on this, planning to ascend to the Myriad Manifestation Sect alone?"

"Yes."

"You practice the cultivation technique of the military. Facing any fourth-grade Integration Body alone, you would not be their match. Have you thought about the consequences for yourself?"

"I have."

"And you still intend to go?"

"Yes."

"Does this have any meaning?"

"...."

Silence.

Xu Yuan looked at the silent and stalwart man, gently shaking his head,

"Colonel Wang, you’re not the first, nor will you be the last person with ideas like yours. There are many, many people, from the Primordial down to the commoners, who do utterly meaningless things just for a bit of pride."

As he spoke, Xu Yuan glanced outside the main hall:

"It’s not completely meaningless, though. Your comrades are quite likely to record your deeds. If within the next hundred years someone succeeds in eradicating the Sects, and you are fortunate enough, maybe you’ll become a small part of history, celebrated for your integrity. But if not, you will disappear without a trace just like those before you."

"At least I will have a clear conscience," Colonel Wang stated resoundingly.

"Having a clear conscience for oneself is also the greatest display of impotence."

Xu Yuan looked at him and said in a low voice, "Dying oneself, leaving the rest to others..."

"Mr. Zhou."

Colonel Wang interrupted him solemnly, asking straightforwardly, "You can speak your mind."

Xu Yuan smiled slightly, "Do you seek revenge?"

"Revenge?" Colonel Wang’s brown eyes flashed and his fists clenched subconsciously, but he quickly released them, "Of course, I do..."

"Then survive," Xu Yuan interrupted. "Only by living do you stand a chance at revenge."

At these words, Colonel Wang’s eyes softened, and he laughed heartily, giving Xu Yuan a deep bow of thanks:

"I appreciate Mr. Zhou’s kindness. I have considered everything, and I cannot repay this debt in my lifetime. I would serve you as an ox or a horse at your disposal."

Xu Yuan sighed and held up two fingers:

"Two decades. Once this affair is concluded, I also have matters to attend to at the Myriad Manifestation Sect. Colonel Wang, you may accompany me."

Colonel Wang looked up slightly, his eyes showing a hint of confusion, but then he said,

"To have Mr. Zhou’s company for the last part of the journey would leave me with no regrets in this life."

"No."

Xu Yuan waved his hand and smiled, "I’m not going there to seek death."

...

...

...

Colonel Wang escorted Xu Yuan and the two women standing at the door all the way to a guest courtyard within the county office, performed a respectful ceremony, and without returning to the main hall to rest, he headed straight for the inner city.

The city was too chaotic, and it needed him, an Integration Body expert, to personally oversee and coordinate the affairs.

Watching him disappear outside the courtyard gate,

Xu Xinyao suddenly asked in a low voice:

"Big brother, are you thinking of recruiting him?"

Xu Yuan glanced at her and smiled:

"Of course."

He paused for a moment, looked at Xu Xinyao, and spoke with a smile:

"If you truly want to follow your own path, don’t make too many friends with those second-generation types. Instead, befriend more people like... um... like Qin Mo, who come from grassroots origins."

"...."

Having been to Jingjiang Prefecture, Xu Xinyao was aware of the past "friend" conflict with her big brother and quietly said:

"Big brother... I’m sorry."

"I haven’t blamed you, what’s there to apologize for?"

Xu Yuan raised his hand and pinched her cheek, feeling its softness: "Of course, the people you associate with shouldn’t be too much like Qin Mo. Someone like him has too strong a conviction and may lead you astray."

"...." Following behind, Ran Qingmo lifted her gaze to look at Xu Yuan’s gesture, then lowered it again.

Xu Yuan did not notice but asked softly:

"Do you know why I want to recruit this Colonel Wang?"

Xu Xinyao shook her head, freeing herself from his hand, leaving a red mark on her face, but she wasn’t angry. She thought for a moment and said softly:

"Is it because of his abilities?"

"Why else would I recruit him if he had no abilities?"

Xu Yuan smiled softly and said, "His character is good, and he has the most important qualities as a leader: decision-making ability, coordinating skills, and a ruthless heart when necessary. Don’t be fooled by Colonel Wang’s refusal to take tens of thousands of Demon Cores in exchange for burning the city down to save the people. When it comes down to it, he can be merciless. During the previous refugee riot, he ordered a massacre until the mob finally calmed down before he ordered a stop."

With that, Xu Yuan looked at Xu Xinyao and asked:

"But that’s not the most important thing. Can you guess what is?"

Xu Xinyao pondered for a moment, her beautiful eyes cast down, and said softly:

"A clean background?"

Xu Yuan flicked her forehead and smiled:

"That’s right. Colonel Wang has been stuck in this godforsaken place, Shengshan County, for decades, and managing to reach Fourth Grade Integration Body with such limited resources shows his talent and ability. If he had any background, he would have likely been transferred out long ago. It’s this rarity that is hard to come by."

Xu Xinyao covered her head, looking at Xu Yuan:

"Big brother, do you mean I should make friends with those geniuses from the Sects who come from regular families?"

"Actually, it’s all the same, because the path you want to pursue is basically impractical."

Xu Yuan shrugged somewhat helplessly: "It’s just that, compared to your current friends from the spoiled Sects, the grassroots face fewer entanglements of interest and have less sense of belonging to the Sects, which makes it easier to maintain their original purity."

Xu Xinyao pursed her lips:

"Big brother... is there really no chance?"

Xu Yuan nodded without hesitation:

"The path you’ve chosen is really too difficult. Even if you were to luckily succeed, at best it could only maintain peace for a generation or two. For lasting peace, it has to be maintained by a strong central government."

"....." Xu Xinyao fell silent.

Xu Yuan patted the brocade robe on her shoulder:

"Honestly, if you really want to find out where the way out is, you should honestly go back to the Imperial Capital’s Geometry Institute. That’s the best place for you. Compared to what father is doing now, Formations are what can truly change the world."