What a masterful persuasion for surrender.
First, there are repeated inquiries about one’s na to show importance; then, a sudden sharp critique follows, ending with a perfectly-tid exit under the guise of righteousness. The entire process is like preparing a holy al, full of the sizzle of cooking, that appeals to the masses, providing the weary traveler with a place of belonging.
Any normal person would be persuaded by her, but unfortunately, the one lying on the ground is Yan Shiyi, controlled by Yan Qing. Having journeyed six days and nights to get here, justice and hope no longer suffice to quell his hunger.
"So what you’re saying is, only by surrendering and joining the Qi Kingdom, turning over a new leaf and benefiting mankind, can I be a true hero?" Yan Qing laughed.
"That’s not what I an, that’s the view of the world." Ying Rushi said slowly, "All I know is, destroying Secret Realms, breaking through armies, dying in the land of torrential rain and madness, is definitely not being a hero."
"Everything you say is based on the assumption that I haven’t killed Ying Le," Yan Qing said, "If I can slay Ying Le, then would I be a hero?"
Before Ying Rushi could answer, Ying Le chuckled like a bell, "Of course! If you can kill , you’re a great hero, a great hero, the savior of Qi Kingdom! Countless maidens would vie to lay flowers at your feet!"
"But the problem is," Ying Le’s smile faded, "You can’t kill ."
"Shut up." Although pinned down and unable to move, Yan Qing’s tone was cold as if he were the high and mighty emperor, "I’m not talking to you; my reasoning is not worthy of your ears."
Ying Rushi instantly tensed up, body tight and slightly turned, trying her best to block Ying Le’s line of sight. However, Ying Le wasn’t angry; instead, she playfully stuck out her tongue like a mischievous girl, "Hmph, no talk ans no talk, I don’t want to chat with you either."
"Because I didn’t kill Ying Le, everything I’ve done is wrong?" Yan Qing ignored her and continued, "Because it bore no fruit, it shouldn’t have sprouted in the first place?"
"Your thods were wrong." Ying Rushi avoided the topic of Ying Le, calmly said, "You shouldn’t drag so many people into your sense of justice."
"What justice are you expecting, Prince of Lanling?" Yan Qing found it sowhat amusing, "Is it the elegant knight who rushes to the Imperial Palace of Nocturnal Heaven City, decapitates Ying Le with a swift sword and then walks away with a flick of the sleeves? Or is it the high and mighty Commander-in-Chief summoning the Thirty-six Military Towns to clear the court, forcing Ying Le to abdicate peacefully? Or, as you said, serve at the whims of this tyrant Ying Le, hoping that when she’s tired and weary, there might be a chance to uphold justice?"
"What you’re hoping for is less justice and more charity. You’re waiting for a savior to fall from the sky to solve all your troubles, this person could be anyone, even Ying Le. Because you know you can’t contend with Ying Le’s Foundation Establishnt Power, you’ve never considered defiance... In your view, if you can’t resist, you should choose to comply and bide your ti, right? Justice must prevail, and if it doesn’t, as you said—it’s just the infamous guilt of the condemned."
"This is indeed the justice of winners, very suitable for you, Prince of Lanling."
Ying Rushi’s lips turned bloodless, her body wobbled slightly, yet her hands still clenched tightly to her weapon. Yan Qing noticed her face was extrely haggard as if she hadn’t slept well in days and nights, but it was this very woman who in mid-air seized the decisive mont and defeated the soaring ’Yan Shiyi.’
"Isn’t that right?" After a long silence, she softly countered, her tone even sowhat frail, and the mont she spoke, Ying Rushi regretted it; she shouldn’t have taken the bait of the other party... or displayed such weakness.
"Yes." But Yan Qing’s answer surprised her, "Indeed, that’s a correct path. In the face of an unbeatable strongman, compliance is the only correct choice. Insisting on resistance is just squandering life; survival offers infinite possibilities. After all, even without oneself, others will submit to the tyrant. But if one holds a position of power, perhaps so good can be done, surely better than handing the world over to one’s hated demons."
"You did nothing wrong."
Ying Rushi stared blankly at the Yaksha Mask pinned by her, and suddenly her haggard face radiated imnse brilliance, as if golden mandala flowers were blooming in her eyes. A huge sadness and sourness surged up her nose. She tried hard to suppress this ineffable stirring, but her eyes were still overwheld by this tumultuous emotion, as if a thin mist covered the green hills.
Silently, she lifted the defensive barrier, letting the cold rain soak her completely, as if only then could she cool the fire in her heart.
But she couldn’t say a word, not display a single expression.
She clearly sensed Ying Le watching her, feeling as if whole body was targeted by countless sharp swords upon her vital points, almost like a phantom licking at her soul with a ghostly tongue.
This was her reality, a world of raging storms and ghastly apparitions on the journey, with overwhelming pressure suffocating her, standing alone between heaven and earth, advancing on thorns and under torrential downpours, stumbling yet cautiously moving forward without knowing what awaits at the end of the road.
Except for rare days back at Thief’s House, most of the ti she felt like living in the deep sea, where even breathing was a difficult task, lying in bed sleepy but unable to sleep, waking each ti with a faint sense of loss, as if never waking again would be more reassuring than seeing the sky above Nocturnal Heaven City.
Yet she ultimately chose to face this cruel world, to shoulder her rightful responsibilities.
Because she is of the Ying Family’s Royal lineage, of the Qi Kingdom’s royal family, Prince of Lanling Ying Rushi!
However, at this mont, a flicker of hope rose in her dead heart, like a sun lighting up a grave.
She finally t soone who understood her, soone who could journey alongside her.
"Nonsense." Ying Rushi took a deep breath, "In the Qi Court, there’s only evergreen daylight without demons and monsters?"
"If you say so."
"Hand over the token, abandon darkness for light, submit to Your Majesty, it’s your only way to life," Ying Rushi said, "His Majesty appreciates talented people; Qi Kingdom offers many platforms for you to showcase your abilities. Even if you want to destroy Secret Realms for power, it’s not impossible. The world is vast, beyond Qi Kingdom, there’s Zhou and Liang, with Qi behind you, you will surely go further."
"You have the potential for Foundation Establishnt; you may ascend to peaks unattainable for ordinary mortals. At the Third Transformation, you can only act recklessly, but if you achieve Foundation Establishnt, your words and deeds could influence millions or even the entire nation, even the Central Plains may change because of you... Would you willingly die such a death?"
"Would you willingly hand the world over to others?"
Towards the end, Ying Rushi couldn’t restrain her pulsating feelings. Rather than a question, it was a rhetorical one. Every night as she drifted off, every morning as she woke, every atrocious sight, she asked herself—are you willing?
I’m not willing.
The world shouldn’t be like this, Qi Kingdom shouldn’t be like this, I shouldn’t be like this; therefore, I have to live on... live until I gain the power to change it all, live until I can change it all!
Even if it ans dirtying my hands with blood, even if it ans living every day in uncertainty and despair, I have no regrets.
To do every bit of good within my power, this is my path as Ying Rushi.
"Yan Shiyi, if you destroyed Secret Realms and then found refuge in the mountains, you could hide anywhere in the Central Plains with your abilities; even if you wanted to assassinate , you could sneak around Nocturnal Heaven, I have a penchant for tours, ambushing wouldn’t be hard." It was at this mont that Ying Le suddenly spoke, "But you deliberately make a grand approach towards Nocturnal Heaven City, intentionally distracting Qi’s forces. If Zhou and Liang Kingdoms took this opportunity for a massive incursion, even the border towns would be troubled."
"Little kitty, you did this to draw my attention, right?" She picked her nails, her face holding a faint smirk, "You must have felt, by becoming a target, I wouldn’t have the heart to massacre the Thirty-eight Noble Families, right?"
Yan Qing remained silent, having said he wouldn’t converse with Ying Le.
"Actually, there’s no need to complicate things; I can agree to your terms." Ying Le smiled, "As long as you are willing to submit, this purge can imdiately cease, all ongoing orders can be called off. For , it’s an insignificant matter."
Ying Rushi turned back in surprise, only to see Ying Le resting her chin on her hand, her face full of a doting elder’s affection.
"Little Ruishi has never asked of anything in this life," Ying Le said, "Since she so desires your surrender, I hope she can have her wish fulfilled."
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