Chapter 1094: Southwest Strategy (Part 1) [Qingming Ankang]
Wei Lou, with his sharp tongue, sneered, "Before King Shen, I am but a mere mortal. How could I be worthy of the words 'spreading heresy and misleading the public'? Whether you believe it or not is entirely up to you."
Like thick thunderclouds obscuring the sky and sun, it greedily devoured the remaining relaxed smile on Shen Tang's face, leaving only an imposing aura.
"How many have returned from ancient battles?" Wei Lou remained unmoved, even daring to respond with a smirk, trying to provoke Shen Tang's rationality. He said softly, "Regardless of whether they are civil or military, young or old, dying on the way to war is all too normal. From my childhood, my family members have fallen one by one on this road. They were either killing or being killed, losing their fathers, mothers, wives, children, or even their entire clans. After a good cry, they still had to keep living. Compared to those buried underground, at least they are still alive."
What are you trying to say?
You should learn to accept it.
"You're talking nonsense!"
Wei Lou ignored her rage: "Your Majesty, how many soldiers have died fighting for your cause to reach this point? Do you care so much about the death of each of them? It seems that in Your Majesty's eyes, human life has different values. You can accept the death of dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of soldiers you've never even met, so why can't you accept the death of your subordinates for your sake?"
Wei Cheng instinctively stepped between Wei Lou and Shen Tang.
This was the first time Shen Tang had felt murderous intent since meeting Wei Lou. Before, she would only think about it in her heart, but now she wouldn't pretend anymore.
The conflict that Wei Cheng feared did not occur.
In fact, there was really no need for either side to fight another match.
With the war between Kang and Gao settled and Wei Cheng and his nephew trapped, the biggest conflict between the two sides had disappeared. It would be somewhat foolish to fight to the death over a mere quarrel. Shen Tang and Wei Lou stared at each other for a long time before Shen Tang finally led his men away.
Only Wei Cheng and his nephew remained in the original location.
When Shen Tang and the other two were still around, things were fine. Wei Cheng didn't have much energy to think about the previous conflict between the uncle and nephew. But now that only the two of them were left, he had to face a reality—his uncle had cooperated with the Gods and personally pushed the First Lord to his doom.
Even if there are extenuating circumstances, even if Shen Tang approves of it.
Wei Cheng still harbored resentment. If he were still a young man in his twenties or thirties, he would definitely sever ties with his uncle and never want to see him again for months, years, or even his entire life. But now he was two hundred years old, his mindset was different, and his choices were different.
Why provoke them on purpose?
That behavior was very unusual.
My uncle is not the type to invite trouble.
"You can't stand her?" The blunt answer almost left Wei Cheng speechless. Just because he couldn't stand her, he deliberately provoked her and harbored murderous intent? Listen to that ridiculous reason—did Wei Lou even believe it himself?
Wei Lou naturally didn't believe it either.
So, the reason is something else.
"Didn't the woman surnamed Jimo say that she is now a human, not a god? I'm just testing whether that's true or not; I have no other motive."
Wei Cheng's mind was blank, as if it were tied in knots.
"What can you possibly find out by testing me like this?"
"Life and death are insurmountable hurdles for mortals. Birth is birth, and death is death. One only has one life. But for gods? Life and death are but a thought away! One thought for life, one thought for death! Even if she can't do it now, what about when she returns to her position? A cheap life is naturally not worth regretting! Nor is it worth getting angry about. The fact that she can get angry at least proves that this life is still valuable, and that she is indeed a mortal with emotions and desires." Wei Lou slowly revealed his intention.
Wei Cheng said, "She wants to kill you."
Wei Lou scoffed, "Too many people want me dead."
One more of her makes no difference, one less of her makes no difference either.
When Wei Cheng first learned the truth, he also had thoughts of killing.
"...Do you think she will succeed?"
Wei Cheng changed the subject, his eyes gleaming with confusion. Those years in the Wu Kingdom seemed to have drained his life's passion, impulsiveness, and courage. Now, though he still possessed the strength to "hold off ten thousand men single-handedly," he felt inexplicably lethargic and weary.
It seems even the gaps in my bones are protesting, and I don't want to move anymore.
Wei Lou said, "We'll see in twelve years."
Wei Cheng shook off his dejection and turned his head in annoyance: "Speaking of which, what exactly have you and that scoundrel Yun Da been doing for the past twelve years?"
"I merely revealed some information about the inner workings of the Pantheon to Yunda, as well as the locations of a few of their underground cities. Who knows what he discovered? He only said that his dream would come true in twelve years. You know, his mind is quite different from ordinary people."
Wei Cheng is single-minded, while Yun Da is confused.
To put it bluntly, he's a madman.
I used to be able to control myself, but now I've let myself go.
Based on Wei Lou's understanding of him, he'd probably kill everyone.
That old man always keeps his word.
Wei Cheng looked worriedly in the direction where Shen Tang and the others had left, but Wei Lou refused before he could speak: "Impossible, I'm not one of her kind, it's disgusting! Whether she succeeds or fails, I don't care. If she succeeds, all the better, then I can see more of the world my old buddies envision—a unified empire, can it really eliminate endless chaos from the root?"
"If we fail..."
Wei Lou said grimly, "I've lived long enough."
Living an endless cycle can indeed easily lead to a loss of motivation.
He committed suicide; he refused to be a coward.
Living in such a corrupt world disgusted him.
These two emotions have been intertwined for over a hundred years.
Isn't it normal for him to be a little psychologically abnormal?
Wei Cheng sighed inwardly. In truth, he was only asking; Shen Youli was definitely not his type. Regardless of her true identity, in his heart, she was not even one ten-thousandth as good as the late Lord.
Wei Cheng was going to get something to eat.
He doesn't need to eat, but his uncle, who is in prison, does.
"Uncle, I'll go get it for you..."
Before he could finish speaking, the tree roots that formed the prison seemed to come alive, moving and unraveling. This scene shocked not only Wei Cheng but also Wei Lou. The uncle and nephew stared at the withered branches lying on the ground, speechless for a long time. They both knew that this giant tree was the incarnation of a god, and the sudden opening of the prison could only be either the will of the "god" or Shen Youli's instruction to Ji Moqiu to release Wei Lou.
Wei Lou's lips twitched, his facial features contorted.
Wei Cheng felt uneasy.
Given his uncle's temperament, allowing him to be pardoned by the victors would be more painful than killing him; it would be a humiliation for him.
Until a bluebird arrogantly landed on Wei Cheng's head.
The bluebird brought Shen Tang's words.
The uncle and nephew were puzzled, and Gong Xichou was also puzzled.
"Isn't Mama afraid these two will cause more trouble?"
"They have a sense of shame." The more powerful a person is, the more they care about their image. "I don't want to see those two again, with the stench of excrement everywhere."
Shen Tang rushed back to the camp and searched for the battle report from Shangnan.
Wu Xian, a prisoner, suddenly felt a chill on his neck.
A while later, today's intelligence report arrived. When Chu Yao arrived, he saw Shen Tang hunched over, searching for something. The documents and scrolls were piled up haphazardly, making it almost impossible to find a place to step.
"What is my lord looking for?"
"Shangnan, news from Shangnan."
She could sense that Qi Shan was alright, but she couldn't guarantee the others' safety. She also couldn't carve a message for herself to ask how the fighting was going; her communication with Qi Shan was one-way. Chu Yao had seen the intelligence reports earlier than Shen Tang, scanned them, and picked one out.
“Here, there is no obstruction to the south.”
The fight was quite fierce, but fortunately the result was good.
Shen Tang, suppressing her nervousness, opened the app: "Justice is no obstacle?"
|ω`)
Today's update is only half complete. The Qingming Festival, with its tomb-sweeping and ancestor worship, has been exhausting, with all the ups and downs of the mountains. My body can't take it anymore.
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