Let Me Explain, Fairy
Chapter 244 - 189: Bloodstained

Chapter 244: Chapter 189: Bloodstained

"Kill whom? Xia Wenlin?"

Xu Yuan murmured as he took the document and glanced through it briefly, realizing that Lou Ji had handed him a project "plan."

A plan to kill someone.

After reading it thoroughly, Xu Yuan whispered to himself:

"To be implemented in no sooner than one year..."

Lou Ji pursed her lips and smiled:

"Although Xia Wenlin has only Third Grade cultivation, acting now would be too obvious. What do you think, Changtian?"

"What do I think?"

Xu Yuan placed the paper on the desk and shook his head: "I think there is absolutely no need for that."

Lou Ji leaned back in her chair, twirling a lock of hair with her fingertip, her voice light and airy:

"This time, Myriad Manifestation Sect is mainly managed by that Xia Wenlin. You must have experienced his tactics before. Don’t you think he’s a problem?"

The one in charge of the Prime Minister’s Mansion this time was Xu Yuan, while for the Myriad Manifestation Sect it was the newly appeared Xia Wenlin.

Xu Yuan leaned forward, elbow propped on the table, hands clasped together, and asked with a smile:

"Why would he be a problem? I actually find that having such a clever person in Myriad Manifestation Sect is more advantageous for us."

Lou Ji paused slightly in curling her finger around her hair and asked:

"Why?"

Xu Yuan echoed with a sardonic smile:

"What can Xia Wenlin do, even if he sees through our plans?"

Lou Ji’s brows frowned slightly:

"The strategy you drafted before will be troublesome, even extremely difficult to progress."

Xu Yuan waved his hand dismissively and poured himself some tea.

The amber-colored fragrant tea flowed from the spout of the pot under the sunlight, filling the porcelain cup, with steam rising.

Dispelling the hot mist, Xu Yuan stared at Lou Ji’s green pupils, which had changed due to her Cultivation Technique:

"The dry shares we issued have already been swallowed up by those Sect families. Even if Xia Wenlin has the ability, could he make those people spit them out?"

Lou Ji’s chest rose and fell as she sighed and revealed the intelligence gathered by the Black Scale Guards:

"Changtian, this is a very complicated matter. The influence of the Myriad Manifestation Xia family isn’t big; they only control some minor industries. There must be someone backing Xia Wenlin’s rise, and it’s likely that someone at the level of Sect Master of Myriad Manifestation Sect, or even several key Elders, support him. If that’s really the case, do you still think it’s impossible?"

"Impossible." Xu Yuan answered decisively.

"..." Lou Ji rubbed her brow in resignation.

"Father, Emperor."

"....."

At these words, Lou Ji’s eyes suddenly sharpened.

Xu Yuan slowly drained the hot tea from his cup, let out a breath, and then leaned back in his chair, tilting his head back to look at the high ceiling beams, his eyes deep and distant:

"Sister, the world doesn’t belong to the Imperial Family alone; it belongs to both the Imperial Family and the Sects. And the Sects don’t belong to the Sect Master alone; they belong to the Sect families. They think peaceful reform is impossible..."

Lou Ji’s beautiful eyes widened in surprise, staring blankly at the young man in white across from her.

A few moments later,

Lou Ji’s lips curled into a smile:

"But Changtian, the specifics of these two situations are not at all the same.

"Myriad Manifestation Sect has several major Sect families. Once they unite, the other Sect families won’t be able to resist, and Xia Wenlin, with his mere Third Grade cultivation at the age of forty-seven, is doomed not to become the Xu Yin He of Myriad Manifestation Sect, which means these Sect families can support him unreservedly."

As she spoke,

Lou Ji leaned forward, propping her chin with her hand, staring eagerly at Xu Yuan:

"Although this scenario is unlikely, if it does occur, how are you prepared to deal with this worst-case scenario? We could end up being outmaneuvered, you know~"

"....."

Xu Yuan did not reply, but his expression became increasingly peculiar as he pointed at Lou Ji.

"....."

Silence.

Lou Ji was startled for a moment, then "hoho" she began to laugh softly, her laughter causing her to shake, the laughter making Xu Yuan’s gaze waver with hers.

Dayan could not undergo change without outside forces, but Myriad Manifestation Sect could.

Xu Yuan’s initial aim was to weaken Myriad Manifestation Sect as much as possible by taking this opportunity.

Now that the Prime Minister’s Mansion had got involved in the affairs of Myriad Manifestation Sect, the process could take a very long time if things proceeded methodically. However, if Xia Wenlin dared to make a move, even just a blunt knife hacking at flesh, it would be pushing the people from other Sect families towards their side.

As long as Lou Ji handled it properly, Myriad Manifestation Sect would immediately be divided into two factions.

One loyal to Xia Wenlin, the other to the Prime Minister’s Mansion.

After a long moment,

having finished laughing, she rose to her feet, hips swaying as she walked to the doorway of the side room. Lou Ji suddenly paused, side-glancing at the still contented figure sipping tea, and said softly,

"Since you, Changtian, have already put it that way, I, your sister, will go make arrangements now for the handover of today’s official duties...."

Xu Yuan didn’t turn around, just waved his hand,

"I understand, you’re waiting for your sister to come back and deal with it, right? Don’t worry; I won’t steal your thunder."

"....."

Lou Ji’s expression froze, her fists clenched tightly, she huffed coldly and walked away quickly.

But after she had taken a few steps away, the corners of her pursed lips couldn’t help but curve up again, she turned back to take one more glance at the side room, her eyes brimming with laughter......

With her departure, the building was empty but the fragrance lingered; Xu Yuan leisurely sipped the medicinal tea that Lou Ji had personally cultivated.

It was said by the old lady that this thing had an effect akin to the Spiritual Liquid, but Xu Yuan hadn’t felt any change.

Just as he was pondering,

"Third Brother...."

A soft call came from behind a screen in the side room, and immediately afterward, the imposing figure of Xu Xinyao stepped forward.

Upon hearing this, Xu Yuan glanced sideways, his eyes slightly raised:

"How long have you been here?"

Xu Xinyao stepped closer to Xu Yuan, silent for a moment, then honestly confessed,

"I had something to ask you, but then I ran into Sister Lou Ji, and she made me stand behind there and listen."

Xu Yuan nodded at her words, as there was nothing in the recent event that his foster sister couldn’t know:

"What did you want to talk to me about?"

Xu Xinyao opened her mouth, hesitating to speak.

Seeing this, Xu Yuan looked puzzled and said with a gentle smile,

"Just say what you have to say; as long as you’re obedient, I won’t beat you like Xu Changge does."

Xu Xinyao gritted her teeth:

"Third Brother, is there really no peaceful way to change...."

"Snap—"

"....."

Silence.

Xu Yuan narrowed his eyes at his foster sister in front of him, almost suffocated with irritation.

The true nature of the Myriad Manifestation Sect had been fully exposed, yet she still harbored such thoughts.

Xu Xinyao covered her face but looked down with tears in her eyes:

"Third Brother... I went to see what was happening in East City."

Xu Yuan took a deep breath and sat back down on the chair:

"I already made them minimize the casualties."

Xu Xinyao bit her lip and said in a low voice,

"I know, but...."

"I don’t want to hit you again."

Xu Yuan rubbed his brow and interrupted her, speaking softly,

"What did you originally come to find me for?"

Xu Xinyao sniffled and without dwelling on the subject, she replied softly,

"Colonel Wang...."

"..."

Having heard this, a contemplative look crossed Xu Yuan’s eyes, "I see now. Have someone bring him to see me."

"Mhm..." Xu Xinyao nodded her head, her mood low, and she turned to walk out.

Xu Yuan watched her silhouette disappear through the doorway, then sighed deeply.

He too had gone to see East City, looked at it very carefully.

There were many more people selling their children, and many more displaced by the war.

To say the war’s impact wasn’t significant referred to the vastness of Wanxiang City, but when it fell on an individual, it was a burden as heavy as Mount Tai....

In silence, Xu Yuan gazed down at his own hand.

The lines across his palm were clear, but they were starting to stain with blood...

Lost in thought,

a snow-white jade hand reached out from the side of his drooping line of sight and gently laid upon his hand, cool to the touch.