Chapter 2658: May You Pity Me

“Life is like climbing a building; each floor offers a different perspective.”

“What the Building Master wants to do, I can’t imagine, and I wouldn’t dare to.”

Ye Lan’er casually stirred the bonfire in front of her, as if stroking a gentle dog. “But my sister is managing this San Dian Xiang Lou, looking at this small patch of land, yet she doesn’t know what to do. You are my confidante… can you teach me?”

Dark Moon half-squatted, reaching out as if to touch Ye Lan’er’s hand, but then her fingers curled inward, only to rest near the fire.

The firelight pushed her shadow, making it dance on the dim, cold stone wall, as if providing the final halo for a mysterious painting.

She looked up, obediently meeting Ye Lan’er’s gaze. “Although the San Dian Xiang Lou lost Chu, it has already stabilized in Qi and is now developing rapidly in the Central Domain… I see a great situation, so I wonder, what is my sister worried about?”

Looking at this face, which grew brighter in the firelight, Ye Lan’er knew perfectly well that this was no obedient little pet, and that there was a constant danger of being bitten. Yet, her vigilance dropped, bit by bit.

How dangerous… Fortunately, she could manipulate her heart and adjust it repeatedly.

Otherwise, how could she resist the impulse to fight for her life and death?

If Jiang Wang hadn’t crossed into Mengdu, this woman alone would have been enough to cause chaos in Yong.

“The Building Master seeks the Disaster Fruit, which is bound to give rise to taboos in the world. Afterward, where will the San Dian Xiang Lou have a place to stand? The branches on the border of Yong being banned is the worst omen. Yan Sheng’s declaration in Mengdu keeps me awake at night.”

Ye Lan’er had reached such a position in the San Dian Xiang Lou that its losses were her losses. She looked into Dark Moon’s eyes. “In a few more years, it might become my heart’s affliction.”

“When did the Building Master seek the Disaster Fruit?”

Dark Moon feigned surprise, her captivating eyes widening, actually showing a hint of naive charm. “I’ve never heard of it. Where did my sister hear this?”

Ye Lan’er suddenly caught the scent of something, but her face still feigned doubt.

“Our San Dian Xiang Lou upholds the concept of harmonious wealth. We have been established for many years, comforting people’s bodies and minds, and paying heavy taxes… For the stability of social order and the prosperity of the local economy, we have made visible and outstanding contributions. And we have never been involved in politics, never provoked local ruling powers, and always respected and guarded the law!”

“The so-called Rakshasa Disaster Fruit is just a rumor.”

Dark Moon spoke with increasing seriousness and sternness.

She counter-questioned, “Have we perhaps done anything that harms the heavens or reasons?”

The San Dian Xiang Lou indeed hadn’t done anything, and their branches in every location operated honestly. Occasionally, due to different people, some mistakes occurred, but they were always handled with extreme sincerity and promptness.

If their high-level executives were included, each person could also withstand scrutiny. The Confucian school daily preached about benevolence and righteousness, the Legalist school always carried whips and rulers, the Medical school’s doctors hung out their shingle, the Jian Ge pursued justice… Each school had its share of internal squabbles. Only the cultivators of their San Dian Xiang Lou were either collecting money or giving gifts.

They really hadn’t committed any great evil deeds that heaven would not tolerate (regardless of whether they had the time to).

The only possible leak was the matter of the Bei Dou Hall initially.

But Chu swallowed Bei Dou, and it has already consumed all the consequences and borne all the responsibility. In fact, the Bei Dou secret realm is still sealed to this day. Even though the Chang Sheng Monarch has surrendered and escaped, this seal has not been lifted—the long rule of the Bei Dou Hall requires time to adjust.

Simply put—

As long as Chu does not disclose the relevant information, no one will have evidence of exactly what the San Dian Xiang Lou has done!

Disaster Fruit or disaster country, aren’t they all just rumors?

Rakshasa Ming Yue Jing killed Gao Zheng purely, but she gave a reason: it was Gao Zheng’s suppression of the Yue border San Dian Xiang Lou and his unreasonable detention of their cultivators.

One could disbelieve it, or like Yan Sheng, pursue it over thousands of miles and demand an explanation.

But the suspicion spreading from this is only at the level of suspicion.

Why is the talk of a disaster country everywhere, yet among the state systems that are the mainstream of the current era, no one has truly raised an army to punish them?

Because it was never a certain fact from the beginning.

Also because Rakshasa Ming Yue Jing has never truly ‘disastered a country’!

It’s just because core high-level members of the San Dian Xiang Lou like Ye Lan’er, being within this mountain, naturally understand that this is a fact.

But whether a fact is a fact… depends on who says it, and who has the authority to say it.

Except for Chu, the only one in the world who can confirm the Disaster Country ability is Li. During the early cooperation, to show sincerity, the Building Master herself communicated with Hong Jun Yan, and each side showed trust.

Now, although the cooperation with Li cannot proceed, Hong Jun Yan will not stand out and ‘expose’ without reason—that would also expose Li’s malice towards Jing.

“I want to plot against Jing” and “I have already started planning to overthrow Jing,” are two completely different things in nature.

The former is Hong Jun Yan’s grand plan, or in Jing’s eyes, “overestimating oneself” and “a snake trying to swallow an elephant.” The latter would surely attract Jing’s thunder.

“Although the words are so—” Ye Lan’er’s face showed hesitation. “But Zhen Jiang Zhen Jun has already declared against us…”

With Jiang Wang’s current reputation in the world, even if he fabricated a lie casually, it could still deal a fatal blow to the San Dian Xiang Lou. What’s more, what he said was fact…

“What Jiang Wang said in Mengdu was a declaration against the San Dian Xiang Lou, and he only told Xiang Ling’er. It wasn’t widely spread in the Yong border.” Mentioning this name again, Dark Moon’s voice was calm. “This indicates that what he wants to do is ‘stop evil,’ not yet reach the level of ‘eliminating trouble before it happens,’ not to eliminate us with his own hands when we haven’t even taken action.”

Ye Lan’er noticed that she said “eliminate us” very naturally, as if Jiang Wang could really kill her with his own hands.

Regarding this point, she could only say to think more about Xiang Ling’er—

Xiang Ling’er, who just happened to provoke a sentence, was almost strangled to death. Dark Moon, who truly came into contact with Jiang An’an, was fiercely driven away after a conversation that no one else knew about…

Beautiful women playing with words are like playing with rouge; they can always make up beautiful lies.

Don’t not believe, and don’t fully believe.

Dark Moon continued to analyze, “Because he also has no evidence, only deductions. He has reached this position today and needs to be responsible for his words. It’s possible that because of his relationship with the Zuo family, he knows something about the Disaster Country, but it’s impossible to produce decisive evidence.”

“Moreover, after this matter, the Building Master will absolutely not open the Disaster Country plan again in a short period. The past cause and effect are settled, and the future hidden troubles will temporarily not occur. Where is there an excuse for them to grasp?”

She wasn’t sure if Jiang Wang went to the “Not Live Together” to make a final confirmation, or if he knew about the Disaster Country through Chu’s channels, but no matter which way, Jiang Wang would absolutely not betray his source.

“As for Yan Sheng… he’s just angry and defeated, resorting to slander. He is the Building Master’s enemy. If even the public court doesn’t take evidence from an enemy, how can the world believe the slanderous words spat out by the Building Master’s great enemy?”

She lightly turned her hands in front of the firelight, feeling that tiny warmth, but her voice gradually gained momentum. “I want to say, Yan Sheng is plotting to destroy Yong and restore Yang. His body is in Mengdu, but his heart is set on the old land. What he says is bright, what he seeks is extreme evil!”

“My sister is absolutely right, you have cleared the clouds and let me see the moon!” Ye Lan’er’s eyes were full of conviction, and she clapped her hands in praise, then raised her eyebrows. “It seems I need to send a letter to the Yong court and ask them why they are treating our sect in this way!”

“We haven’t done anything. Perhaps just because of a word from that old fellow Yan Sheng, disaster is spreading widely, and the entire country is pulling down buildings?”

“If they seal the San Dian Xiang Lou within the border, they must provide convincing evidence. Otherwise, moving and sealing them into the state treasury to enrich the court’s funds, I instead think it is a means of Yong’s development! Which school in the world would still dare to go to the Yong border?”

For Ye Lan’er, the most important information was only two things—first, there was no need to consider Jiang Wang. Second, Rakshasa Ming Yue Jing’s sense of existence might further fade.

The former meant the greatest danger was removed, the latter meant… she would gain a larger space for her rights and more time for development.

As for pouring dirty water on each other with Yan Sheng, those were all secondary matters.

“Sister is truly in high spirits!” Dark Moon gave a thumbs-up and shook it. “A strong wind reveals the sturdy grass, and chaos reveals loyal ministers! At this time of danger for our sect, we can see who that person is who will save the great building from collapsing. I see Xiang Ling’er is old, Bian Qiao is frivolous, Zhi Rui Madam is just left with flirtatiousness! Little sister is even younger and doesn’t understand. The Building Master will transcend to supremacy in the future, this share of eternal foundation should still be handed to you.”

Ye Lan’er giggled. “Does my sister really see it this way?”

Dark Moon sighed softly. “Facing my sister, I truly cannot say a single false word.”

Ye Lan’er reached out and lightly grasped the air, laughing. “I’ve already grasped this sentence just now. I’ll let them hear it later. Good sister, we have seven Heavenly Fragrances and eleven Heart Fragrances in our building, and you can only evaluate three!”

“The rest are not worth mentioning,” Dark Moon said with a calm face. “I will say the same when facing them. Who can compare with my sister?”

“I know many people say that sister only has beauty, saying ‘she’s not just the world’s first beauty, what’s so great about that.’ Some also envy your wisdom, saying ‘she looks so good, her brain must be fake’… and so on, I’ve heard it until my ears are calloused.”

“But I deeply know that those people are all very one-sided. Sister is the aggregation of worldly beauty, she is the multi-faceted body of the word ‘perfect.’ People in the world often only see the sky light refracted from one side and then think that is all of your brilliance. Truly superficial!”

She leaned forward slightly, closer to the bonfire, as if roasting her own true heart with it. “The Building Master has been in seclusion year after year. These years, the San Dian Xiang Lou has been maintained by sister. I know, in this world, no one cares about the San Dian Xiang Lou more than my sister.”

“Initially, sister deeply gained the trust of the Chu Emperor and could even represent Chu to attend the Yellow River meeting. How could you not compare with today’s Dou Zhao and Liu? But with one word from the Building Master to leave, you then followed the San Dian Xiang Lou.”

“After that, rushing east and west, finally opening up a situation, and then in order to pave the way for the Building Master’s transcendence, you almost buried all the efforts of these few years… Others don’t know sister’s sadness, how could I not know?”

Ye Lan’er’s shadow was not cast on the stone wall behind her.

The firelight could not shine out her true color.

Only her perfect voice line was still so pleasant. “Sister, be careful with your words! Whatever decision the Building Master makes, she must have her deep meaning. Whatever she does for the Building Master, I am all willing.”

“I of course know sister’s loyalty, sister’s willingness!” Dark Moon sighed sadly. “I just… feel a little unfair for sister!”

Ye Lan’er suddenly laughed. “My sister has already said things to this extent. It seems sending a letter is not enough.”

She stirred the firelight, making her beautiful eyes shine extremely brightly for an instant. “I want to personally go to Mengdu and ask that Han Xu face to face. Ask him, does Yong, which widely accepts the world, only aim to gain wealth and destroy homes?”

“Xiong Yi Zhen’s courage that year, ‘only south not minister,’ was not even more than my sister’s!” Dark Moon suddenly stood up and praised loudly. “Your single step into Mengdu fully shows our sect’s style, fully reveals the clear conscience of my San Dian Xiang Lou, and is a slap on the faces of the Yong monarch and his ministers!”

“For those innocent disciples trapped in Yong…” She bowed slightly. “Please allow me to express my respect to my sister.”

The San Dian Xiang Lou turning to plot against Yong was originally something Ye Lan’er did not agree with. Because this Disaster Fruit had almost no possibility of boosting the Building Master’s transcendence.

And once the essence of the Disaster Fruit was determined, and the Building Master did not transcend… the San Dian Xiang Lou would inevitably collapse.

Her many years of painstaking efforts would also go to waste.

Plotting against Jing was different. The resources from overthrowing Jing were enough for the Building Master to transcend.

A Building Master who transcends can completely preserve the doctrine of the San Dian Xiang Lou. Even after the Building Master transcends, the San Dian Xiang Lou will return to its harmless state.

At that time, as the First Heavenly Fragrance, she could finally show off her skills.

This was her reason for supporting the overthrow of Jing while not supporting plotting against Yong.

But no matter which route she supported, with Rakshasa Ming Yue Jing’s single order, she would only execute it.

Now it has almost come full circle, back to the original point, and the preparations made in Jing and Yong during this period are all considered as not having happened. This is beneficial for the entire San Dian Xiang Lou.

That is also the best choice for her.

After all, not everyone is willing to sacrifice everything for the Building Master’s great plan of transcendence…

Loyalty should be a conditional thing from the beginning!

“That just leaves one problem…”

Ye Lan’er walked away from the bonfire, only her voice remaining in this place. “How do you want the Building Master to accept this result?”

Dark Moon understood that her transaction with Ye Lan’er was complete. This woman, whose early life path was almost completely blank, who suddenly appeared and gained the trust of the Chu Emperor as the First Heavenly Fragrance, was truly someone who wouldn’t do anything without seeing a benefit.

She slowly walked back, leaning gently against the stone wall. In that damp, cold hardness, she finally found a little support. She raised her head, her captivating eyes like hooks. “But I hope she is a woman who pities fragrance and cherishes jade!”

“Big Brother Hong, what are you saying? How dare this little brother block your path?”

Zhen Jiang Zhen Jun did not regain his domineering attitude from Mengdu, nor was he as sincere as he was at Hu Xue Feng. He looked very gently at the ice mirror in front of him—occupying more than half of the mirror’s surface was Hong Jun Yan’s majestic face.

“In Mengdu, I also emphasized that the conquest of the columned countries is a trace of the era, and I will absolutely not intervene in matters between countries.”

“Initially, I accepted Gu Shi Yi’s entrustment to take care of the Zheng people a little and wrote a letter… to this day, Zuo Gong Ye still scolds me.”

“This time, I just purely couldn’t get along with Rakshasa Ming Yue Jing—Old Mister Yan has been kind to me.”

Since exchanging immortal techniques on the grassland, Hong Jun Yan had insisted on calling him brother.

The personal charm of this kind of founding hero is absolutely at the peak level.

Jiang Wang felt that calling him big brother was not a loss, after all, he was several thousand years older than himself, so it should be fine.

Who would have thought at that time that this big brother would raise an army to question his crime so directly?

As the Emperor of Li, if he was dissatisfied with little Jiang Wang, shouldn’t he first send several rounds of envoys to Star Moon Plain to take turns admonishing him?

How could he just bombard him with a magic technique, crossing ten thousand miles, and scold him face to face?

At that time on the grassland, it was still literary, “Alas, why are you not noble enough?” This time it was just, “What the hell do you mean?”

“Yan Sheng has been kind to you, what did you do early on!” Hong Jun Yan held the mirror with one hand, spitting and spraying the mirror surface until it was covered. “I want to use it up, you think about it! What, you also feel that Hong is too old and can’t keep up with the times? Or is it that you bastard son are just like this, addicted to blocking your big brother?”

He pointed at the ice mirror as if tapping Jiang Wang’s forehead, making a clanging sound. “Last time in Mu, I just gave you face. I didn’t send face, I can’t give face every day!”