Chapter 984: What Exactly Is the Tower Lord Waiting For

In the days that followed, Chen Changsheng stayed in Nanyuan.

When Manyue saw the tiny figures, she found them rather amusing.

The miniature figures sat cross-legged in the courtyard, perfectly aligned in a neat square formation.

Whenever Chen Changsheng decided they were an eyesore, he shooed them up to the roof, where they sat cross-legged in a single row.

It was a highly comical sight.

Manyue took a particular interest in the tiny figures.

"Do you rely on these kinds of Arts and Techniques to aid your Immortal Cultivation?" she asked.

Chen Changsheng was dozing. The one who answered was one of the little figures sitting cross-legged in Immortal Cultivation. It spoke up, "What does Miss Manyue think?"

"Magical Power is Magical Power, but when it comes down to it, there are no shortcuts in Immortal Cultivation," Manyue replied.

"True, but with this method, one can yield twice the result for half the effort."

"I suppose so. It's not like you are in desperate need of further Immortal Cultivation right now anyway."

Manyue didn't dwell on the matter, merely offering a brief word of caution.

In the days that followed, the usually quiet Nanyuan grew a bit livelier thanks to the amusing little figures. Chen Changsheng, on the other hand, had become a quiet recluse; sometimes he would fall asleep and remain out cold all day without making a single sound.

That was until one day, Manyue suddenly sensed that something was missing from her surroundings.

When she opened her eyes, Chen Changsheng was nowhere to be seen.

The cultivating little figures had also gone entirely still. When Manyue approached them, their features gradually faded away, and they reverted into red beans, one after another.

Pure Magical Power was contained within these red beans, each one gleaming with a unique luster.

Manyue picked up the red beans one by one. After inspecting them for a moment, she found a place to store them away.

"It's quiet again..."

Manyue let out a breath and closed her eyes.

She was long accustomed to this.

...

Ning Bufan took the flying vessel back to the Mortal World.

Relying on the Divine Abilities taught to him by Mister, he arrived at the shores of the Mortal World.

He had gained much from this journey. Having witnessed the vastness of the wider world, he was, truthfully, quite excited. Yet, he also felt a sense of regret. He hadn't reached that level yet; the boundless Cultivation World was not a place he could navigate alone in his current state.

Standing on the shore, however, he found himself entirely at a loss.

Now that he was back in the Mortal World, where was he supposed to go? What was he supposed to do?

These questions weighed heavily on his mind.

Ning Bufan sighed. With no other choice, he did what he had done in years past—wandering aimlessly through the Mortal World.

It was the second month of the following year.

Heavy snow began to fall across the lands north of the Tongtian River.

The conflict between the Imperial Court and the two princes settled down slightly beneath the crushing weight of the snow.

The heavy snowfall blanketed all of Shangjing City.

Although the Imperial Court immediately issued disaster relief, the results were negligible. The severe winter storm caused countless casualties among the common folk, and the number of collapsed homes was simply incalculable.

The same dire situation unfolded across Yan Land and Jindi.

The blizzard swept across the realm like a divine punishment. Only Yan Land fared slightly better, with just a fraction of its territory suffering such extremes, but the situation in those affected areas remained grim.

Nanbeilou sat at the crossroads of these three territories.

Clad in a thick padded coat, Ping'an stared outside and murmured, "This snow came at a terrible time..."

"Alliance Leader."

A voice called out from behind. A subordinate stepped forward and reported, "Prince Jin has sent someone again."

Ping'an paused briefly, then nodded.

Over the past two years, Prince Jin had sent envoys to seek him out quite frequently.

The intent was clearly to win his allegiance, but Ping'an had repeatedly refused Prince Jin's overtures. Including this visit, it was already the fifth attempt.

"Has Alliance Leader Wang made his decision?" the envoy from Jindi asked.

"Nanbeilou stated long ago that we will not participate in this war for the realm," Ping'an replied. "No matter what you say, our answer remains the same. Please return."

"The times have changed," the Jindi envoy countered. "The northern lands are smothered in snow, bringing suffering to countless people. My Lord possesses the resolve to make a final, decisive strike upon Shangjing. Are you certain you have thought this through, Tower Lord?"

Ping'an was slightly taken aback, but quickly replied, "The Prince is truly decisive. However, Nanbeilou's answer remains unchanged. We will not be getting involved. You may see yourself out, Envoy."

The envoy from Jindi didn't press further. "Then I won't impose any longer. But I must add one thing: no matter what, this jianghu is inextricably tied to the conflicts of the realm. You claim you won't get involved, but in truth, you are already caught in the vortex. That is all I have to say. I bid the Tower Lord good luck."

Ping'an offered no further comment and simply gestured for his men to see the guest out.

As he headed upstairs, another person approached from behind.

"Tower Lord, are we truly not going to intervene?"

Ping'an paused at the question and asked in return, "What do you think?"

Tang Zheng smiled. "You're asking me? As an outsider, how would I dare speak out of turn?"

"Aren't you already asking?" Ping'an pointed out.

The smile remained on Tang Zheng's face as he continued, "But now really is a prime opportunity. After all, regardless of who ultimately claims the throne, Nanbeilou's position will be perilous. At best, we'll be forced to accept amnesty and integrate into their ranks. At worst, we'll likely be branded as rebels and eradicated."

"However, if we back the right ruler now, we will be heavily rewarded for supporting the new emperor. The men below are already complaining about our inaction. As they see it, throwing in their lot with Prince Jin guarantees a bright future. Some have even put their words into action, leaving Nanbeilou to defect to Prince Jin."

Tang Zheng continued, "You know as well as anyone, Tower Lord. Most of the people in Nanbeilou are either heavily wanted criminals of the Imperial Court or men fleeing bitter vendettas. With such an opportunity before them, they naturally refuse to miss it. Compared to living quietly in Nanbeilou, these people desire wealth and power far more."

"Furthermore, Nanbeilou has grown incredibly powerful. Many have joined our ranks over the years. Including those who don't reside permanently within our walls, we must have over ten thousand men. With that many martial artists gathered in one place, neither the Imperial Court nor the two princes will ever rest easy."

Ping'an closed his eyes and let out a soft sigh. "The time is not right."

Tang Zheng looked puzzled. "The time is not right?"

Nanbeilou commanded a massive force of martial artists and even had the support of White Night. Why should they wait? The balance of power in the realm was already clear—a straightforward conflict between three factions. Intervening now was the perfect opportunity.

He truly couldn't fathom what the Tower Lord was waiting for.

Ping'an patted his shoulder. "The undercurrents of this realm have yet to fully surface. Do not jump to conclusions before you can see the whole picture. Nanbeilou's decision determines the survival of nearly ten thousand people. A single misstep will lead to heads rolling everywhere—countless families shattered, wives separated from husbands, and children left orphaned. Such a thing cannot be treated lightly."

With that said, Ping'an walked past him.

Tang Zheng stood there in a daze, still struggling to comprehend.

It wasn't until The Blind Man appeared that Tang Zheng finally asked, "Senior Blind Man, what do you think the Tower Lord is actually waiting for?"

The Blind Man paused, but offered no answer to the question.