Let Me Explain, Fairy
Chapter 497 - Three Hundred and Twenty-Four: Knocking_2

Chapter 497: Chapter Three Hundred and Twenty-Four: Knocking_2

However, the young master in front of her seemed to have guessed her thoughts, his voice very calm:

"You should be able to tell with your intelligence, Mu Xi, that there is discord between myself and the forces behind Qingyan, our current cooperation can be described as a compromise under a shared goal."

Bai Muxi’s delicate body trembled slightly, her skirt falling to the ground as she knelt, head hanging low:

"It is Mu Xi who was too anxious."

"Heh....."

Xu Yuan chuckled lightly, seeing clearly what Bai Muxi was thinking.

She wanted to make use of the Northern Border Army that was annihilating the Barbarian Tribes to save the four hundred thousand citizens of the Underground Palace.

But the issue was, if the Northern Border Army were to rescue them, would those promising seeds trained in military array within the Underground Palace belong to the Xu or the Li?

It was a very realistic question.

Lost in thought, Xu Yuan looked up at the Great Grandmaster kneeling before him, a Soul Condensation expert, his voice very soft:

"Lift your head."

Bai Muxi slowly raised her head, her jade-like skin untarnished by dust, yet carrying a trace of unease:

"Young master...."

Xu Yuan leaned forward slightly, bracing his knee, hands together, his smile more polite than warm:

"I am very satisfied that you came to me first with this matter."

Xu Yuan was fully aware of one thing due to the privileges his father gave him to access the confidential reports of the Prime Minister’s Mansion: in this world, the production capacity for resources for Cultivators was greater than the demand—the reason being the top echelons of power controlled the number of Cultivators to maintain the stability of their rule.

Of course, part of the reason also lay in the scarcity of those able to cultivate.

In the Dayan Empire, the ratio of those who could cultivate to the total population was approximately several hundred or even a thousand to one.

This sharp pyramidal structure resulted in the various powers not actively expending substantial manpower and resources to scout and recruit disciples.

The Underground Palace was different,

Within the three hundred and seventy thousand citizens of the Underground Palace, there were seven thousand ready-made Cultivators, and nearly all of them were at the Seventh Grade of Bone Tempering.

This was a terrifying number, not to mention that most of the Origin Qi in the palace had been transformed into Life Origin by the strange ghosts’ Black Death Mycelial Mat. In such a place where materials and Origin Qi were scarce to the extreme, reaching the Seventh Grade in cultivation meant that with sufficient resources and the necessary training, they could quickly become an army capable of combat.

Moreover,

According to Bai Muxi, a quarter of the citizens of the Underground Palace had the aptitude for cultivation. Even if this ratio was exaggerated to hide the truth, that still amounted to nearly one hundred thousand troops ready for battle.

And what truly moved Xu Yuan was another point.

The citizens of the Underground Palace had developed an almost blind theocracy because of the limited information they received from childhood.

Theocratic worship is flawed but also signifies absolute loyalty, even more fanatical than the systematically brainwashed Black Scale Army.

With the support of a major force with a complete closed-loop system, in just a few years, these people could be transformed into an army of devout believers.

With the strange ghosts now eliminated, such immense benefits would be hard for anyone in this world to resist.

Given the Wrapped Chest Princess’s disposition, she would not intervene actively, but if Bai Muxi went directly to Marquis Wucheng...

Faced with such a low investment, high return opportunity,

That Marquis would likely first offer thanks for nature’s gift, before thoroughly plundering everything within the deserted Underground Palace.

Considering this,

A stronger bloodlust surged from the depths of Xu Yuan’s eyes, his gaze upon Bai Muxi turning a shade colder as he softly laughed and said:

"I am not someone unkind, if you are truly concerned about your citizens, I can offer you another choice.

Would you like to hear this option?"

"...."

Upon hearing this, Bai Muxi shrank her neck.

Though this Blood-robed Young Master was only at the realm of Soul Condensation, throughout their journey in the Underground Palace, and after witnessing his methods in seriously injuring a Saint, she understood clearly.

The unpredictability of his methods, the breadth of his vision, and that seemingly omnipresent source of information.

If she said she wanted to listen...

At this thought, Xiao Bai shook her head like a rattle-drum:

"No... I don’t want to."

Seeing her reaction, Xu Yuan let out a carefree laugh, stood up, and cheerfully walked over to Xiao Bai, extending his hand to pull her up, his voice soft yet reproachful:

"What are you doing kneeling there? I’ve already said I don’t need such formalities."

As he spoke, Xu Yuan helped Bai Muxi to her feet, his narrow eyes smiling:

"You could also listen, although I severely dislike betrayal. But after all, we’ve been through hardship together."

As he spoke, he held her delicate, seemingly boneless fingers and gently caressed them:

"Mu Xi, you know me. I am not some devil, and even if you betrayed me, like sending someone to slaughter the Underground Palace or something, I simply couldn’t do it."

"...."

Bai Mu Xi’s delicate body shivered slightly, her jade legs under her skirt went weak, and she was about to kneel down again.

Xu Yuan wanted to hold her up, but couldn’t.

The strength of a Great Grandmaster was not something a Soul Condensation practitioner could compare to, and he almost stumbled and fell to the ground with her.

Bai Mu Xi knelt on the ground, her fair forehead hitting the floor with a "thud," her voice trembling but swift:

"Young Master... Mu Xi and the people of the Underground Palace owe you a debt of gratitude and have accepted gifts from you, and we shall never harbor second thoughts in this life."

Xu Yuan stood in place, looking down at the quail-like Xiao Bai.

After she came up to the surface, Bai Mu Xi’s options naturally increased, especially when almost all the ghosts of the Underground Palace had been wiped out; he needed to warn her.

"Sigh..."

A faint sigh rose in Xu Yuan’s heart as Luo Xiran watched everything from within the Blood Divine Stone, "Kid, if this woman from the Underground Palace really betrays you, will you actually send someone to slaughter them?"

Xu Yuan’s gaze flickered slightly, and after a moment of thought, he replied softly in his heart:

"No, I... can’t yet bring myself to give orders to slaughter others for personal gain."

But after a pause, he added in a low voice, "But I will pass this intelligence to my father and the others."

He would inform the higher-ups of the Prime Minister’s Mansion like Lou Ji, those wolves.

What that old auntie Lou Ji would do....

People like Li Erzhu, who always followed Zhou Xiaohe, and those innocent ones who knew his identity, had already made it very clear.

Going in circles, the result was the same, only the order would come directly from Lou Ji, Zong Qingsheng, or his own father.

The wolves at the top of the Prime Minister’s Mansion would not allow betrayal, nor would they allow such immense benefits to aid the enemy.

Luo Xiran fell silent for a while, her voice carrying a trace of lament:

"You kid are really sentimental."

"Self-deception is shameful, but at least it serves as self-comfort."

Xu Yuan snorted with laughter and said:

"Yet you, Xiran, with your personality, do not object to such actions?"

"Object?"

Luo Xiran murmured softly, her tone complex, "In the great calamity of the ghosts ten thousand years ago, such things happened too often. My naivety back then caused the death of many, so although I don’t approve of this method, I can understand it.

"Those who can’t be used by me, those with ulterior motives, the traitors, death is the best outcome for them."

Xu Yuan heard some hidden stories in his older sworn sister’s voice and said softly:

"It seems, Xiran, that you were bitterly beaten by reality back then?"

"Hmph, those who wield great power should protect the weak," Luo Xiran said matter-of-factly, then her tone became reluctant, "It’s just a pity... most who hold great power later turn their blades on the weak, and I don’t have the ability to change that."

Xu Yuan’s eyes twinkled slightly as he shook his head softly to himself:

"Good idea, but it’s basically impossible to fully realize it... oh no, it’s absolutely impossible, at best one can only achieve it relatively."

Luo Xiran gave a cold huff:

"I know that much, of course. I don’t need you, a kid, to remind me."

Xu Yuan sighed leisurely:

"That’s not what I mean. I have a sworn sister..."

"Tsk, you kid..."

"I’m not talking about you, don’t be vain."

"......" Luo Xiran.

Xu Yuan carefully chose his words:

"I have a sworn sister who’s as naive as you were back then. When we return to the Capital City, maybe you could follow her for a while and teach her?"

Luo Xiran felt like this kid was insulting her and replied briskly:

"I don’t take disciples."

Xu Yuan pictured his sworn sister’s "doraemon" attributes in his mind and said with a hint of mockery:

"You? If you took her as your disciple, wouldn’t that mess up our seniority?"

"....." Luo Xiran.