"But you must not think that he has no way to take it."
"Nor should you believe that by giving sothing away, you are bestowing a favor upon Prince Qin."
"You must not pride yourself on this, nor be complacent because of it."
"Moreover... Within the Heavenly Strategy Mansion, it is not just Guan Yi alone. In this world where the wind is rising and clouds are gathering, Prince Qin and Ying Country are faintly like swords clashing, and it is uncertain when a great war might erupt. Guan Yi will not force us to give up our belongings."
"But in the eyes of those fierce and courageous subordinates under his command, we have gold and silver in our hands, while Prince Qin lacks these. As the four sides remain in a deadlock and soldiers march to die, we remain seated high in the pavilion, silent and withholding even a single piece of gold."
"What do you think Wen Qingyu, Yan Daiqing, Breaking Army, and Wen Lingjun would think?"
The Shadow Guard broke into a cold sweat, remained silent for a long ti, then said:
"Prince Qin cherishes old ties."
Xue Daoyong laughed heartily: "At this ti, are you talking to about old ties again?"
"I have already said, no matter how deep the sentints, how many tis can they be used?!"
"Do you still plan to use these favors to trade for three hundred years of prosperity for the Xue Family? How is it that in broad daylight, you have started dreaming?"
"You’re correct, you’re not wrong at all, Guan Yi cherishes old ties, he probably won’t mind these things, but there are too many people in the Xue Family. Even though I, the old man, strive to oversee them, there will inevitably be the unruly ones who boast of the family’s prestige."
"The mont any issue arises, those who look upon the Xue Family unfavorably would seize upon it. At that ti, what then?"
The Shadow Guard was lost in thought.
In a trance, it seed he had already foreseen that scene.
Maintaining peaceful days all along, even soone like him who walks in the shadows instinctively believed that the power of money could rival swords, neglecting the turbulent tis at present.
Xue Daoyong casually released his hand, and the two chess pieces fell onto the board with a crisp clang, saying: "Guan Yi is a good child, the old man will surely die a natural death, but after the old man is gone, how long can these younger generations survive?"
"In chaotic tis, gold and silver without capacity or protection by swords are nothing but the death chains of King Yama. If compounded by royal relatives, arrogant wastrels, violating laws, the situation of this founding year leads to calamity of family extinction, do not forget..."
Xue Daoyong turned his eyes towards his old companion, eyes clear like a hunting tiger: "The Xue Family."
"Also a several-hundred-year-old family."
Boom!!!
Almost like thunder, the Shadow Guard’s mind went blank, raising his head to gaze at the elderly figure before him. Xue Daoyong lightly said: "Even the Murong Family itself has already disbanded, their mansion becoming the work site of the Qilin Army’s operations."
"The Xue Family’s assets are vast, even though we control them, in over a hundred years, we have been true to our conscience, but different places, can they really be as clean as autumn frost covering the snow of the world?"
"You might as well say Chen Dingye is an upright and loyal good man."
"Rather than offending the Heavenly Strategy Mansion’s army and commanders on the eve of battle."
"Rather than having past dirty accounts reckoned in the ti of peace when investigated by all sides."
"After the old man passes, let the Xue Family face collective punishnt."
"Let Guan Yi and Shuangtao, with faded affections, complete break, it would be better for the old man himself to handle this matter."
"Hand everything over completely, make a strategic retreat, the Xue Family won’t fare worse."
Xue Daoyong’s deanor was composed, the Shadow Guard remained silent for a long ti, dazed for a long ti, then said:
"I finally understand what the Family Head ant when he said that when everyone desires to move forward, it is essential to take a step back, even if the Xue Family could possibly beco royal relatives truly uniting the world, even if the Xue Family could truly beco a thousand-year-old family."
"Even when the Family Head can retreat intact, still to step further back?"
Xue Daoyong leaned against the pavilion drapery of Wind Listening Pavilion, then said:
"What is it that we seek?"
"Seeking fa, could it be that my actions now cannot leave the slightest trace in historical records? Seeking wealth, even if the Xue Family gives away all of this, the remaining wealth is still enough to ensure the family descendants have no worries about food and clothing."
"Or seeking power, to compete with those unprecedented contemporary heroes who have gained the kingdom, or want to provoke the Qilin’s whiskers?"
"Since none are sought, then what further value is there in wealth that rivals kingdoms?"
"Moreover, Guan Yi has occupied thousands of miles, his recuperation speed is actually very fast, my gamble this ti rely allows him to save three to five years."
"Wealth that rivals kingdoms is rely a comrcial association, can it withstand several years of spring and autumn?"
The Shadow Guard replied: "Then, this ti the Family Head gambles, gambling on what?"
Xue Daoyong said: "Gamble?"
"I gamble that the Xue Family will not face extinction, gamble that this world can be truly stabilized."
"I gamble for the beginning of a millennium of peace."
"Gamble on a——"
Xue Daoyong’s voice halted, then his lips curled up with composure and a smile like a tiger: "An unparalleled king who unifies the world before the age of thirty!"
"By that ti, when he rides a Qilin, roaming the world and peace prevails in all directions."
"I, in this Wind Listening Pavilion, will raise a cup in distant blessing."
"It can be said to be worthy of my entire life."
...
The Xue Family’s business procedure docunts were all temporarily transported to Jiangzhou State City, to the gentle and harmless Mr. Wen He. Mr. Wen He looked for a long ti, with an indescribable expression upon his harmless and sincere face.
"...Remarkable."
In the end, Wen He rely exclaid in admiration.
When the Shadow Guard delivered the items, he was about to leave, but was called by Mr. Wen He, saying: "Sir, please stay."
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