Let Me Explain, Fairy
Chapter 238 - 184: That year, the dreams of a group of people_2

Chapter 238: Chapter 184: That year, the dreams of a group of people_2

"Young Master, military affairs..."

"I already said, I have something to ask you."

"....." Yuan Hao fell silent.

Xu Yuan pointed towards the cleared road ahead and said in a low voice:

"Let’s walk and talk."

Yuan Hao and Xu Xinyao silently followed.

The bodies had been removed, but there were still some fresh bloodstains on the road; Xu Yuan looked at these vivid red marks and asked in a low voice:

"Is Bai Zhao dead?"

"Ah?"

Yuan Hao was taken aback for a moment.

With military affairs so pressing, he kept him at his side just for this?

Thinking this, Yuan Hao sighed inwardly as he looked at the figure ahead.

It seems the Third Young Master also knows he likes the saying, ’A general does not rule, an order from afar is ignored.’

Most likely, there will be no fight.

He responded truthfully in a low voice:

"He was preparing to commit suicide, but I saved him. He’s currently placed just two blocks away."

"Have someone bring him here," Xu Yuan ordered.

Yuan Hao silently left to arrange for people to do so, yet remained within Xu Yuan’s line of sight.

And seeing this,

Xu Xinyao quietly asked:

"Third Brother, are you planning to silence him?"

Xu Yuan shook his head but didn’t answer her, instead, he softly called out:

"Sister?"

"What is it?"

A voice of mild reproach immediately arose beside Xu Yuan, and Lou Ji, wrapped in a large coat, appeared at his side.

Seeing this, Xu Yuan smiled faintly. He had seen this technique of hiding presence on Sizi Yu before:

"Do you have a human skin mask on you?"

Upon hearing this, Lou Ji frowned:

"You want to give it to that person named Bai Zhao?"

Xu Yuan nodded:

"Yes."

"Sigh~"

Lou Ji let out a coquettish sigh, seemingly reluctant, but still agreed, "Changtian, you really are wasteful, but who told you to call me sister~"

As she spoke, Lou Ji pulled out an iron box from her Sumeru Ring.

Xu Yuan took it, and at this moment, Lou Ji casually reminded:

"Changtian, the world is vast, you don’t need to leave a risk alive."

Xu Yuan fell silent for a moment before smiling and shaking his head:

"I know, but right now, I can’t be that cold-blooded. He and Zhou Xiaohe are not the same; they have merits for us."

Xu Xinyao followed silently behind Xu Yuan, biting her lip and looking at his back with a complex gaze.

Soon,

Bai Zhao was brought over by several soldiers.

Yuan Hao stood at a distance wisely, gazing quietly at the bustling Wanxiang City.

At the sight of Xu Yuan, Bai Zhao, a middle-aged man with half-grey hair, subconsciously wanted to kneel but held back, saying softly:

"You called for me?"

He didn’t kneel, didn’t address him directly as Third Young Master, and maintained proper decorum as always.

Xu Yuan didn’t speak, and casually handed the box to him.

Watching this scene, Lou Ji pursed her lips feeling distressed and softly muttered to herself:

"Really, you don’t appreciate the cost of things until you’re in charge..."

"..."

Xu Yuan cast a fleeting glance at this old lady, and Lou Ji huffed and turned her face away.

Investing such valuable resources in an insignificant person was a bad deal for her, and she was not pleased.

Turning his gaze back, Xu Yuan looked at the somewhat perturbed Bai Zhao and said softly:

"You should have seen what’s inside this box."

Bai Zhao had seen the box and had heard what the stunningly beautiful woman beside the Third Young Master said. His voice trembled slightly:

"A... a mask."

Xu Yuan smiled faintly and asked:

"So, what is your choice?"

Bai Zhao finally knelt down, trembling as he knelt before Xu Yuan:

"What merit or capability does Bai have to... to make you..."

Xu Yuan looked down at him, his tone calm:

"Bai Zhao, you’re a smart man. Wearing this mask, you should know what it represents."

"I know...."

"So your choice?"

"....."

Bai Zhao didn’t speak, and lowered his head to formally bow to Xu Yuan.

Xu Yuan smiled slightly:

"Bai Zhao has died today; think of a new name for yourself, and go. In time, someone will arrange a new job for you."

Having said this,

Xu Yuan waved his hand, and with Yuan Hao and Xu Xinyao accompanying him, walked straight ahead.

Lou Ji didn’t leave, but stood beside the kneeling middle-aged man and said softly:

""

"Are you the one called Bai Zhao?"

"Bai Zhao is already dead, sir."

Bai Zhao’s head was pressed to the ground, he didn’t dare to lift it; he had probably guessed the identity of the woman accompanying the Third Young Master.

"It seems like you might have guessed who I am?" Lou Ji asked with interest.

"Lou Ji, sir," Bai Zhao said softly.

Lou Ji crossed her arms in front of her chest and slowly said, "Quite clever, since you know who I am, then I won’t say much. Do your job well, and don’t disappoint Changtian."

With that, the voice disappeared.

For a long time,

Bai Zhao slowly stood up and looked at the figure at the center of the crowd, his fists clenched tightly until the person gradually walked away, then he bowed deeply once more...

...

...

...

Having walked a certain distance,

Xu Yuan glanced at the Lou Ji beside him and said with a smile, "Sister, don’t look at me like that. Taking over a business means needing a local snake to show the way, right?"

Lou Ji let out a light sigh, "What does a gang leader know about business?"

Xu Yuan, somewhat surprised, said, "Haven’t you looked at Bai Zhao’s information?"

Lou Ji shrugged her shoulders with a wicked shake, "Sister, I’m very busy. These things are taken care of by my subordinates."

Upon hearing this, Xu Yuan chuckled and said, "He is indeed just a gang leader, but he’s hidden a gang of over three thousand without any noise. He’s definitely taken care of a few important county cities nearby. He’s familiar with the local conditions and, moreover, Bai Zhao operated a trading guild fifteen years ago. It was no small scale, but unfortunately, he overreached and was directly swallowed by others. Later, he obediently stuck to his underground gang."

Without cultivation or background, the more wealth one possesses, the more like a lush patch of leeks they are to the Sects.

Hearing this, Lou Ji laughed lightly and asked, "Are you planning to have him be responsible for the trading guilds we’re taking over?"

Xu Yuan shook his head, "Of course not, at most I’ll give him a deputy position to start and watch how he does. How could I give him so much authority right off the bat? With this local snake here, the people sent over by Elder Hua should have a smoother time."

Lou Ji, smiling, said, "You handle things like your father did in his time."

Xu Yuan laughed, "Thanks for the compliment, although it feels a bit unsettling."

"Oh?"

Lou Ji smiled even more at this, hooking his arm, "It seems our Changtian has no small ambitions~"

Xu Yuan shrugged and then asked, "Sister, I’m very curious—why would someone with your personality work under my father all this time?"

In Cang Yuan, several of the lines within depict Lou Ji severing her own life after the death of Xu Yin He.

Of course, she wasn’t the only one.

Hua Hong.

Zong Qingsheng.

Bai Dai.

These high-ranking members of Cang Yuan had all chosen to end their lives upon learning of Xu Yin He’s death.

In memory, his father was most of the time just a silent, smiling figure.

Lou Ji thought seriously for a moment, her eyes lowered, and in a soft whisper, she said, "There were many reasons. Respect for your father’s personality, admiration for his methods, desire for his talent, and of course, most importantly, he carried our ideals."

Xu Yuan was silent for a moment, "Ideals... a peaceful and prosperous age?"

"Mm."

Lou Ji let go of Xu Yuan, stretched elegantly in front of him, and looked up to the sky, "At first, it was like that, but now maybe it’s just to see how far he can take us. After all, people change."

Upon hearing this, Xu Yuan suddenly fell silent.

Lou Ji tilted her head and moved closer, laughing teasingly, "Feeling the pressure?"

Xu Yuan rolled his eyes jokingly and said, "There’s definitely pressure. If I could, I really wouldn’t want to take over this mess. It’s too tiring."

"...."

Lou Ji fell silent at this joking remark.

Seeing her expression, Xu Yuan’s eyes narrowed slightly.

He suddenly realized that as the number one person in the Black Scale Guards, Lou Ji might have subtly guessed that something was wrong with Xu Yin He’s body, and his recent joke may have inadvertently confirmed her suspicion.

Without a word,

neither of them acknowledged it,

Lou Ji knocked softly on his head, nonchalantly adding, "You did well this time. As an examiner, I’m very satisfied~"

After saying that,

she looked up at the direction of the Wanxiang Sect gates and turned a gentle gaze toward Xu Yuan, "Changtian, you’ve succeeded."

As her words fell,

an elderly voice wafted from inside the city, "Young Master, I have come as agreed."