Let Me Explain, Fairy
Chapter 708 - 441 The List

Chapter 708: Chapter 441 The List

"Whether my Prime Minister’s Mansion has this leeway or not, State Preceptor Ran, is none of your concern."

Xu Yinhè smiled faintly, his voice carrying a hint of ghastliness, "You only need to know that Heaven’s Watchtower’s emergence will threaten the status of your Tianyuan Sword Sect, and my Prime Minister’s Mansion is willing to be the knife."

"Hahahaha...."

Upon hearing this response, Ran Jianli laughed heartily, his laughter echoing across the silent lake.

As the laughter died down, Ran Jianli stared at Xu, the Prime Minister, with an insincere smile and said softly,

"Although Heaven’s Watchtower has emerged, their current stance is still unclear. It’s uncertain whether they will threaten the Tianyuan Sword Sect, but if they were to join forces with you, then they will definitely pose a threat to our sect."

As he spoke, Ran Jianli seemed to suddenly remember something and chuckled,

"Let me give you a little inside information; many ancient sects within our Sect Alliance actually reject Heaven’s Watchtower. As for the reason, I don’t need to spell it out—you surely understand."

Because of Heaven’s Watchtower’s operations in the shadows over millennia, most information about them had been destroyed, turning into secrets known by very few.

Those who knew the Heaven’s Watchtower Master had the ability to predict the future were even fewer, but after all, it had once been a dominant power unparalleled in the world of sects.

No matter how much Heaven’s Watchtower destroyed that information, these ancient sects would still have some records in their hands.

Therefore, rejecting Heaven’s Watchtower needed no justification.

After all, no one wished to have an overlord emerging above their head again.

And this overlord was different from those in Di’an City, because they could predict your every future move accurately.

As the two men spoke, they had quietly arrived at a boardwalk leading to a pavilion in the middle of the lake.

Xu Yinhè silently turned and walked towards the center of the wetland lake.

Ran Jianli followed behind, and seeing Xu Yinhè not speaking, he asked cheerily,

"What’s the matter, Prime Minister Xu, lost for words?"

Xu Yinhè let out a soft breath and asked indifferently,

"It’s indeed so now, but what about later?"

"...."

Ran Jianli’s eyes suddenly froze.

Some things didn’t need to be spelled out too explicitly between the two.

Their positions, the information they understood, and the intelligence they held were all telling them that the current Dayan Empire was like a Source Crystal reaching its load limit.

Even the smallest wisp of Origin Qi could cause it to burst open directly.

Although the newspapers in various parts of Dayan were saying that the Barbarian Tribes had been exterminated and the wars at the Northern Frontier had ended, in reality, it was just the beginning.

The first war between the Imperial Court and the Sects had already ignited there.

For now, it was only the sects at the Northern Frontier that were suffering. Naturally, the unaffected sects would reject Heaven’s Watchtower, but if it really came to that point...

If Heaven’s Watchtower were willing to lend a hand, then those leading the charge against it might have to kneel in "joyous welcome" to the king’s teachers.

Ran Jianli followed Xu Yinhè’s steps out for a dozen yards, then suddenly sighed softly,

"Although that’s what’s said, Xu Yinhè, we have known each other for decades, and I’m all too clear about what kind of person you are. The number of people you’ve tricked to death that I know of can be counted on two hands."

The people Ran Jianli mentioned were naturally not insignificant; each had been a prominent figure wielding immense power.

Among those, the most notable was the father of the current sovereign, seated in the golden throne room.

Xu Yinhè pondered for a moment and asked,

"What do you want to know?"

Ran Jianli’s grin widened,

"If you want to cooperate, you’ve got to give something definite, right? At the very least, you owe me a clear picture."

"A clear picture?"

Xu Yinhè shook his head and replied, "As you just said, you know very well what kind of person I am, so you must be even surer that I wouldn’t act without certainty. Moreover, you should already have the answer in your heart."

Ran Jianli scratched his cheek with his hand, and a look of realization flashed through his spirited eyes,

"It seems that during the hour I waited for you, you’ve already discussed this matter with Li Yaoxuan..."

But as he said this,

his words suddenly took a sharp turn, "Xu Yinhè, you wouldn’t be deceiving both sides, would you? Promising me to Li Yaoxuan first, then promising Li Yaoxuan to me...heh."

Xu Yinhè’s steps halted abruptly, and as he turned back, his eyes carried a faint, ambiguous smile,

"Does that matter?"

Ran Jianli’s eyes also took on a hint of amusement as he uttered three words,

"Not important."

Footsteps resumed, and the two men entered the pavilion built in the center of the wetland lake without another word.

As they seated themselves, Xu Yinhè casually gestured, and a set of exquisite teaware instantly appeared on the table.

Seeing the teaware, Ran Jianli frowned slightly, showing some displeasure,

"Do you have any wine? You know I don’t drink tea,"

"I’m well aware."

Xu Yinhè paid no heed to the other’s displeasure, igniting a small flame to boil water for tea with an air of casual leisure, "This is for myself."

"....." Ran Jianli.

Smacking his lips, Ran Jianli chuckled and with a "thud," he took out a jar of fine wine from the Sumeru Ring and placed it on the table. Despite the force he used, none of the tea utensils on the table moved.

Upon seeing this, Ran Jianli felt a tad bored. He picked up the jar and gulped down several mouthfuls directly from the opening, the strong liquor burning his throat. He gave a light "hah" and asked again:

"What’s the specific plan?"

Xu Yinhè watched the flame rising beneath the fine porcelain pot, speaking in a gentle tone:

"I’m planning to assassinate all the top-tier members of Heaven’s Watchtower."

Ran Jianli was stunned for a moment, and then frowned:

"Are you joking with me?"

Xu Yinhè slightly lifted his gaze:

"Do I look like someone who jokes?"

Ran Jianli’s frown deepened, the rough fingertip of his index finger rubbing the smooth edge of the jar as he said four words:

"You’re breaking the rules."

"The one who broke the rules first wasn’t me."

"...."

Silence.

Ran Jianli was reminded of some past memories by Xu Yinhè’s words, the subtle killing intent emanating from him, and his current decision. He asked softly:

"Which one of yours... Who from your family was assassinated?"

Xu Yinhè did not respond, the calm in his eyes like a dried-up well.

Time passed in this eerie silence second by second until the mountain spring water in the fine porcelain pot began to boil. It was then that Ran Jianli ventured to ask:

"It wasn’t Xu Changtian, that bastard, was it?"

"....."

Xu Yinhè still did not reply but simply picked up the teaware in front of him and began to warm the utensils, placing tea, and steeping it with skilled and serene movements.

After pouring a cup of fragrant tea, Xu Yinhè brought it to his lips and blew gently:

"Hmm."

Hearing this, Ran Jianli subconsciously glanced towards where Qingmo was, his eyes growing slightly complex.

The sound of boiling water continued for several moments before Ran Jianli spoke up gravely:

"To be honest, Xu Yinhè, after hearing your plan I really don’t want to get involved, but with Qingmo’s temperament, if she learns about this, she might just show up at your doorstep ..."

"So, what do you want me to do?"

Xu Yinhè finished his cup of tea in one gulp and said:

"There are some Sects in your Sect Alliance that are affiliated with Heaven’s Watchtower. I need a list."

Ran Jianli pondered for a moment:

"I am also investigating this; it will take some time."

"The sooner, the better."

"I know." Ran Jianli asked, "Do you have any other conditions?"

Xu Yinhè shook his head, his tone soft but frosty, "No, you just need to provide me with a list and their possible locations."

Ran Jianli nodded slightly, saying quietly:

"In that case, let me state my conditions."

"Go ahead," Xu Yinhè nodded.

"For now, don’t tell my disciple about this, how you’re going to hide it from her is up to you."

"Hmm."

"Also, ensure her safety in Di’an City."

"Hmm."

"Once everything is over, have Feng Jiuxuan personally escort her back to Tianyuan Mountain."

"Hmm."

With that,

Ran Jianli looked towards the north with a sigh,

"So even Feng Jiuxuan himself couldn’t save Xu Yuan...."