Chapter 106 The Events of That Year (Part 3)

Yan Zhan's pupils constricted. "Father, you mean..."

Yan Yun'an nodded, "That's right, Dongyue is indeed in danger now, but your father is old and even if he comes out of the mountains, he can't turn the tide."

Su Li, incredulous, stepped forward and looked at Yan Yun'an, "General, even if it were you, could you truly not save Dongyue from this dire situation?"

Yan Yun'an nodded. Su Li felt the flames burning in his heart gradually being extinguished by the rain. The icy feeling made him feel utterly disheartened.

Su Li suddenly remembered what his father had told him: that General Yan's son was even more capable than the general himself...

Since that's the case, then why doesn't he...

He turned to face Yan Zhan, feeling the pain in his shoulder, and gradually began to trust his father's words a little more.

"Brother Yan Zhan, if General Yan is not capable, actually..."

Yan Yun'an suddenly spoke up: "Ninth Prince, I just instructed Zhan'er, and he said he is willing to come out of seclusion."

So that's what my father meant? Yan Zhan suddenly felt like he had been sold out.

But if the outside world is really as wonderful as his father described, he is willing to try it.

Su Li frowned deeply.

He knew Yan Zhan had said he was willing to come out of seclusion, but...

Seeing Su Li's troubled expression, Yan Yun'an knew what his concerns were. "Ninth Prince, are you wondering why Zhan'er, a mere youth, could save Dongyue from its dire straits?"

It turned out that General Yan knew what his concerns were... He was surprised for a moment, but seeing the knowing look in Yan Yun'an's eyes, he knew that perhaps this was the reward of leaving the world.

He nodded. "General Yan is right. I do find it hard to believe. After all... Brother Yan Zhan looks so young."

Although his father had told him that General Yan's son was even more capable than General Yan, he was still reluctant to believe it.

Although that slap really hurt.

To everyone's surprise, Yan Yun'an didn't play by the rules. "Ninth Prince, do you have any other ideas now?"

Su Li was taken aback. "Well, there really isn't."

Yan Yun'an understood. "Then you might as well trust Zhan'er for once. However, I have a request."

He really had no other choice. Since General Yan refused to enter the world, he would choose the second option his father had suggested: to build a good relationship with General Yan's son and then ask him for help.

Although Yan Zhan had agreed to General Yan's request to be born into the world, being born into the world did not necessarily mean that he would help him or Dongyue.

He said, "General Yan, please speak."

“That is it.” Yan Yun’an looked at Yan Zhan standing beside him, reached out and grabbed his raincoat, making him lean forward. “Zhan’er, come here.”

Yan Zhan looked at the Ninth Prince with a sense of disgust, but since his father had given him orders, he had no choice but to obey and walk forward.

Yan Yun'an looked solemnly at the two people in front of him. The old man stroked his white beard with his large hand. "Then it is so. The two of you must become sworn brothers. Ninth Prince, if Zhan'er successfully helps you quell this internal and external turmoil, you cannot immediately take control of the government... You must make Zhan'er the regent."

Almost incredulously, Su Li frowned. He was unwilling to be an emperor whose power was merely nominal.

"General Yan, can you tell me the reason?"

Yan Yun'an smiled and said, "The reason I chose to live in seclusion in Nanling Mountain back then was because I knew that the Emperor was a suspicious person. I could endure the Emperor's suspicion for the sake of Dongyue, but not for my child. Zhan'er is my lifeblood. To me, Zhan'er is more important than Dongyue."

Su Li was taken aback. It turned out that General Yan had not retired voluntarily as his father had said, but rather to protect himself.

He asked, "What if I assure you, General, that if this disaster is quelled, I will definitely not lay a hand on Brother Yan Zhan?"

Yan Yun'an smiled and said, "Ninth Prince, you may think this way now, but you may not think this way later."

Su Li was taken aback. Indeed, people always change.

In truth, from a selfish perspective, if he were only to be an emperor whose power was hollowed out, he would rather not ask Yan Yun'an for help.

But what stands before him is never just himself, but the entire Dongyue region and its people, as well as his grand ambitions.

Yan Yun'an knew he would agree, so he smiled and said, "Ninth Prince, Zhan'er has only become the Regent. At the beginning, he is just stepping aside your power to stabilize the court for you. Once the disaster is over, I will tell Zhan'er what to do. The power will be yours again then."

"This..." Su Li didn't understand what Yan Yun'an meant for a moment.

"Zhan'er, since you have agreed to be born, then I will give you my instructions."

Yan Yun'an's voice sounded somewhat aged amidst the sound of rain. "After you entered the mortal world, you followed the Ninth Prince and used the techniques I taught you to fight off the Southern Barbarians and those princes who disregarded the safety of the people. Your purpose in entering the mortal world has always been the same: to help the Ninth Prince quell the disasters, stabilize the court, and have the Emperor personally appoint you as Regent."

Yan Zhan grew up in Nanling Mountain and knew nothing about princes or calamities. He simply nodded like a naive young man, looking at Yan Yun'an's serious expression.

Seeing that Yan Zhan nodded, Yan Yun'an knew that the boy must have taken it to heart.

Yan Yun'an looked at Su Li, "Ninth Prince, what do you think of this?"

Su Li gave a bitter smile. What other options did he have? A gentleman's word is as good as his bond. As long as Dongyue was peaceful and the people lived in peace and prosperity, and Yan Zhan wouldn't do anything foolish, he would be at ease.

He agreed: "General Yan, I agree."

Yan Yun'an stroked his pale beard. "Alright, you two, come with me."

The shoes stepped on the bluestone slabs, and the withered leaves were knocked to the ground by raindrops. The shoes stepped on them and splashed ripples.

Yan Yun'an led the two to the Nanling Temple on Nanling Mountain.

The Buddha statue sits atop the temple, incense burns, and the temple is filled with a pleasant aroma of incense.

Yan Yun'an stared at the Buddha statue in a daze, as if he had thought of something. He turned around and looked at Yan Zhan.

"Zhan'er, you must change your name before entering the mortal world."

Yan Zhan stared devoutly at the Buddha statue, when he suddenly heard that he was to change his name. His expression changed drastically. "Father, I don't want to!"

Yan Yun'an was taken aback. "You're not listening to your father anymore?"

The young man, who was full of bravado, was most afraid of his own father. He was stunned by Yan Yun'an's expression and replied in a low voice, "Alright, Father, I'll change it."

Yan Yun'an nodded in satisfaction, "This is the real Zhan'er. I named you Zhan because I wanted you to slay all the evil spirits in the world, but the name is too impetuous. I'm afraid you won't be able to control your sharpness. So, from now on, you will be called Yan Jue."

Yan Yun'an stared at the Buddha statue, "It means that you can restrain your sharpness, be ruthless and decisive in doing things, and more importantly, be able to forget everything in Nanling Mountain after entering the world."