Chapter 472 - 427: Qingzhou’s Decision (Part 2)

Chapter 472: Chapter 427: Qingzhou’s Decision (Part 2)

Li You believed that if Li Huan were willing to renounce his claim to the throne, he would spare him, if only for Bai Yuan’s sake.

If Li Huan was willing, he could even make him a royal Uncle Wang, second in power only to one man and above tens of thousands.

All of this was simply because Bai Yuan’s value was too immense.

...

In a mountain forest, a small lake, about a hundred feet wide, was stained crimson.

Bai Yuan finished washing himself, walked ashore, and took the clean clothes from Li Huan. After changing, he exclaimed in satisfaction.

Only then did Li Huan speak. "Ah Yuan, you really are the most accomplished among us brothers."

’What he really wanted to say was that among the younger generation in Xuan Yang today, there was likely no one left who could be considered Bai Yuan’s opponent.’

Although he hadn’t managed to break through the Heart Gate himself, he knew that Mingxin Powerhouses were incredibly difficult to kill. Yet, Bai Yuan had just obliterated a Tier Eight Great Demon right before his eyes. It was clear that Bai Yuan’s current combat prowess could likely overpower even those old monsters.

’He might even become a Divinity Grandmaster!’

Li Huan grew even more excited at the thought that he might be on brotherly terms with a Divinity Grandmaster.

Bai Yuan glanced at Li Huan. "Try not to worship me."

"You asshole."

Li Huan rolled his eyes, laughing as he cursed.

Gazing at Bai Yuan, who hadn’t changed a bit from their younger days, he suddenly felt glad that he and Yang Fangyu had been such kindred spirits, and that he’d lived close enough to Ling Province.

Of their old band of brothers, besides Lu Yu, none of the others could be said to be particularly close to Bai Yuan.

Bai Yuan asked, "So, what are your plans for the future?"

Li Huan was silent.

He naturally understood the unspoken meaning in Bai Yuan’s question. With Xuan Yang in turmoil, and the possibility that the entire realm might change hands, he, the Heir of Qingzhou, could not remain uninvolved.

Bai Yuan’s implication was simple: if Li Huan desired the title of King of Qingzhou, he would help him.

He had, in fact, already indicated as much back at the Qingzhou Royal Mansion.

However...

Li Huan shook his head. "There’s really no point in being a Prince."

Bai Yuan was a bit surprised; he hadn’t expected Li Huan to have no interest in the Qingzhou throne.

His willingness to help Li Huan stemmed partly from their brotherhood, and partly because if Li Huan became the King of Qingzhou, the four continents of Shuofang would become a truly impenetrable bloc.

A bitter smile touched Li Huan’s lips. "Before my royal father left, he spoke with me in private. He said his journey would be dangerous and that he had already issued a decree to pass the throne to my older brother. But... if I was unwilling to accept that... I could take it for myself."

Bai Yuan’s eyes narrowed.

He hadn’t expected the King of Qingzhou to have made such arrangements before his departure.

Among the King of Qingzhou’s sons, Li You had always been the most suitable choice. Perhaps a more gifted heir might emerge in the future, but with Xuan Yang in chaos, the Qingzhou Royal Mansion couldn’t afford to wait.

The King of Qingzhou’s first priority was an heir who could secure the throne immediately.

Without a doubt, Li You was the best choice.

But there was one wild card in all of this: Li Huan—or more accurately, Bai Yuan.

If Li Huan were to make a move with Bai Yuan’s backing, even Li You would be powerless to resist. Li Huan would take the throne, but the King of Qingzhou—a powerful, autonomous ruler—would become one in name only, a mere vassal to Bai Yuan.

That was why the King of Qingzhou had told him he could "take it for himself."

Bai Yuan prompted, "So you..."

Li Huan’s good humor returned, and he laughed heartily. "If you’re not opposed, I could serve as a General in Ling Province."

Bai Yuan rolled his eyes.

A General wasn’t a position you could hand out like candy. He had already pulled a lot of strings to get Yang Fangyu the position of Prefect. Even if he subscribed to the philosophy of promoting the worthy, regardless of kinship, he couldn’t be too brazen about it.

"That would require you to call me ’Godfather’."

Li Huan chuckled. "Dad."

"Fuck!"

...

The demon scourge in Qingzhou was quelled by Bai Yuan and his troops in a mere ten days.

Such terrifying speed left the Qingzhou Army dumbfounded. The demon scourge that had plagued them for months was resolved just like that. Critically, the vast majority of the demons had been eliminated by the Jiedu Envoy himself.

The demons that had fallen by Bai Yuan’s hand numbered eight hundred, if not a full thousand.

Conventionally, a brilliant general was one who skillfully commanded his troops. While a few might personally lead the charge, they were the exception. As for Bai Yuan, his personal kill count was nearly enough to rival that of an entire army.

It wasn’t a question of ability, but of willingness.

"Lord Bai, Qingzhou will forever be in your debt for this."

Li You said with a sincere expression.

If Bai Yuan hadn’t intervened this time, Qingzhou would likely still be in a state of chaos.

"It was merely my duty."

Bai Yuan waved his hand dismissively. He too had gained much from this excursion.

Li You’s smile never wavered. He walked over to Li Huan’s side. "Huan, our royal father has gone to the Capital City. But since your heart is set, I won’t try to dissuade you. Just remember, we will always be brothers."

Li Huan smiled faintly. "Of course, Older Brother."

He had long since made peace with his decision after laying his heart bare to Bai Yuan by the lake.

’As for Li You’s words about wanting him to stay, they didn’t contain a shred of sincerity, of course.’

’If Li Huan were to stay in Qingzhou and compete for the throne, they wouldn’t just cease to be brothers; they couldn’t even be strangers. It would inevitably become a fight to the death.’

’For Li You, this was the best possible outcome.’

As Bai Yuan led the Demon Cavalry along the Official Road back to Ling Province, he gave Li Huan a sly look. "If you’re having regrets, I can turn us around right now."

But to his surprise, Li Huan looked completely unfazed, even a little smug. "Once you become a Divinity Grandmaster, just toss a second-grade official position my way. It won’t be any worse than being a Prince."

The corner of Bai Yuan’s mouth twitched. "You’re an average-looking kid, but your dreams are certainly beautiful."

...

「Back in Huanglong Prefecture.」

Yang Fangyu was taken aback to see Li Huan arrive with Bai Yuan.

Though the events at the Prince’s Mansion were confidential, Li Huan had still told Yang Fangyu about them.

But Yang Fangyu hadn’t called him a fool. On the contrary, he praised his foresight, saying that he couldn’t go wrong by sticking with Ah Yuan.

With Yang Fangyu’s good-natured ribbing, Li Huan was able to let go of any lingering doubts.

The position of General was of course impossible. Never mind whether Bai Yuan was willing; given the chaotic situation in the Capital City, neither Emperor Li Chengyuan nor the Ministry of Personnel would ever approve such an appointment.

So, Li Huan reinvented himself, becoming Bai Yuan’s number one Staff Officer.

Of course, the "number one" was a self-appointed title.

’Besides, when it came to officialdom, rank wasn’t the most important thing. What truly mattered was the closeness of your relationship with your superior.’

’It was like the eunuchs in the Imperial Palace. The Chief Eunuch of the Ritual Department was only a fifth-grade official, yet even a Second-Grade Official had to show him respect. Li Huan’s situation was similar to that of a eunuch. Thinking of it that way made him feel much better.’

’In any case, here in Shuofang, he was the number three man.’

’That was an even higher position than the one he’d held back in Qingzhou.’

With Yang Fangyu, Li Huan, and the General of Yu State, Ma Bing, who had already pledged his allegiance, Bai Yuan barely had to worry about matters of governance.

While the outside world descended into chaos, Bai Yuan’s life remained leisurely.

After playing with Xiaobai An for a bit, he returned to his room, and in the next instant, his figure vanished into thin air.

Bai Yuan walked straight into a side hall of the Divine Palace Immortal Realm.

"Allocate!"

[In your 513th year of cultivating the Divine Wind Technique, you finally reached the Legendary Realm. Divine Mansion Technique progress: 8%.]

...

[In your 933rd year of cultivating the Star Absorption Divine Technique, you finally reached the Legendary Realm. Divine Mansion Technique progress: 9%.]

...

Bai Yuan gazed down at his right palm.

After all this time and effort, the development of his right palm had finally reached a satisfactory level.

Turning every single cell into a Divine Mansion was too preposterous an idea, but Bai Yuan had still managed to open dozens of them within his right palm.

The power of this hand had been enhanced to an absurd degree.

But it was still far from enough.

Bai Yuan had to become stronger still!

As time went on, the effects of the world’s shattered destiny grew more and more pronounced. In the Three Shuofang Continents alone, three new Martial Artists had emerged—a feat that would have been unimaginable in the past.

If things were like this in Shuofang, the situations in the Central Plains and Jiangnan could only be more frightening.

It was possible that new Divinity Grandmasters had already emerged, merely choosing to remain hidden for now.

Bai Yuan finally understood why Mr. Yuan had told him he was too slow.

To contend for the title of Martial Saint, one had to be a Divinity Grandmaster. He was still far too lacking. No matter how powerful a Mingxin Powerhouse was, they were ultimately not a Divinity Grandmaster.

Therefore, he had to get even faster.

It was a race.

To not race was to be drowned by the raging torrent, your fate no longer your own.