ticulous teaching, care, and nurturing are deeds of kindness.
However, bringing him into this world as a natural disgrace and eunuch is a source of resentnt.
Yet, after that battle by the East Sea, the image of the elder "sitting upright in a grand chair, gazing evenly at natural disasters" was deeply imprinted in his mind, providing him with a spiritual inspiration.
At the mont he departed, he thought his father had died.
Thus, at that mont, the resentnt in his heart was also dispelled.
Now, although his father returned alive, that dispelled resentnt did not resurface.
At the very least, he is a father worthy of respect, a Pri Minister worthy of respect.
He soon found Li Xuan.
Because Li Xuan knew he was returning and had been waiting for him all along.
As soon as they got on the carriage, Yan Fangbai recounted the matters over in Cyan Wood Province.
After a brief exchange, they arrived at the Pri Minister’s residence.
Li Xuan entered to find the Pri Minister sitting in the pavilion.
A child brewed tea; the Pri Minister had aged significantly, with his brows tightly furrowed.
"Prince Qing is here." The Pri Minister said.
Li Xuan quickly stepped forward, lowered his head, and sighed, "It’s good that my adoptive father and adoptive brother have returned safely."
The Pri Minister laughed, "Why sigh? You shouldn’t have co.
If you ca, I’d only be infuriated by you.
Because that would an you’re just an impatient, reckless man acting on impulse.
When has my residence ever lacked n who brandish a knife in anger?
Proving oneself with a drawn sword is no more than hot-blooded bravery; carrying the burden and surviving with courage is the true prowess of a Divine Soul.
You didn’t co, and I am very comforted."
Li Xuan remained silent.
The Pri Minister said, "Now, I need your advice.
The Headless Buddha wants to preside here, what will you do?"
Li Xuan responded sternly, "Not of our kind; his heart must be punished. The Headless Buddha is a demon; even sitting in the temple, he only deceives the people."
The Pri Minister stroked his beard, "What you said, I know full well.
But the Headless Buddha claid it might be just a test from the East Sea demons. Future invasions are imminent.
Once invaded, with their ability to summon storms and move mountains, how can we resist?"
Li Xuan was silent.
The Pri Minister said, "A Demon Buddha planning to sit in the temple and a demon intent on slaughtering the Great Yin in a catastrophe, between the two, the lesser evil is the Demon Buddha."
He glanced at the man opposite.
Li Xuan wore a python robe, his fists clenched tightly within the sleeves.
The Pri Minister gently said, "One always needs ti to grow, and before growing, must endure certain things.
I know bowing to the Demon Buddha is a disgrace and self-confirmation of incompetence.
While those in the court might think I’m over-exaggerating, even using it to gain montum, claiming I’ve lost my courage and am no longer the daring Pri Minister of Great Yin.
Therefore now, my enemy is not the Demon Buddha, but the General faction in the royal city.
I’m already planning on how to handle this."
Li Xuan asked, "What plan?"
The Pri Minister said, "I have information indicating the source of the past Yunng Province drought.
And that source is continuing north.
I can exert so influence, divert it towards the vicinity of the capital.
Once that demon appears near the capital, the Grand General will naturally intervene.
Let him handle it first.
Once he suffers a great defeat, I’ll personally invite the Demon Buddha into the capital to help solve the issue."
Li Xuan: ...
Ruthless.
So ruthless it doesn’t resemble the previous Pri Minister who sat at the frontline, ready to die heroically.
This demon’s detour is bound to lead to the deaths of many innocents. But if not done this way, the Pri Minister’s power is fated to be suppressed, and the Demon Buddha won’t have an opportunity to peacefully preside in Cyan Wood Province.
At that ti, the Sovereign will surely reprimand the Pri Minister for colluding with the Demon Buddha, and the Grand General will undoubtedly ride south with cavalry to annihilate the Demon Buddha, and as war ensues, countless will die, and the aftermath will be far more grievous than the "demon’s detour."
Crucially, this is entirely an internal conflict.
The Pri Minister’s ans are despicable, yet the result might be beneficial.
Indeed, kind-hearted individuals cannot wield power.
Countless thoughts flashed through, and Li Xuan asked, "The source of the drought?"
"Indeed, I have researched this demon tirelessly for a long ti, losing countless people in the process, however... from this, I’ve learned so of its characteristics, enabling to slightly control its patterns."
The Pri Minister eloquently narrated and, full of emotion, continued, "Decades ago, during my initial exams, I snubbed the supernatural stories, yet after witnessing the mysterious market in Bronze Plain, I believed sowhat, and later on, as demons erged frequently, I believed more and more.
It wasn’t until this drought-inducing demon confronted the legend-bound demon in ancient texts that I realized how laughable I was back then."
Yan Fujing solemnly said, "Drought Demon.
That drought-inducing spirit is called the Drought Demon.
I assure you, the Drought Demon is definitely not weaker than that demon crocodile was."
Li Xuan: ...
He really wanted to ask, ’Then how are you sure the Demon Buddha will win?’
Yet before he could, Yan Fangbai already asked, "What if the Demon Buddha can’t win?"
Yan Fujing said, "The Demon Buddha can repel the demon crocodile, facing the Drought Demon, even if unable to win, it won’t lose too badly.
And if... if both are evenly matched and mutually hard, wouldn’t that be even better?
Hahahahahaha."
The Pri Minister seemingly envisioned the "fisherman reaping the benefits" scenario, unable to hold back his laughter.
Li Xuan: ...
He praised, "Adoptive father’s superb thods."
Yan Fujing ceased laughing and shook his head, "The weak use tactics, the strong... can simply use fists."
Li Xuan nodded, "The son is enlightened."
Yan Fujing pondered again and earnestly advised, "You are a prominent figure in Cyan Wood Province, the Xinci Temple prior was also under your protection.
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