Chapter 1273: One Battle Secures the Southwest (Part 10) [Happy National Day]
"That was close." Lin Su looked at the wanted posters posted at the city gate, saying he was still scared, but his face was full of sly and smug smiles. It was clear that he hadn't held back at all.
The phantom of the Taoist robe raised his hand to his forehead.
I just can't understand why I'd still worry about these things even though I'm dead.
“Anzhi, he’s a notorious villain. You’ve managed to escape this time, but if you fall into his hands again, you’ll definitely be in big trouble. It’s enough that we know from him that the ‘resurrection’ was just a hoax. Why create more trouble?”
If it were just about escaping, Lin Su had plenty of ways to get her life back from Qi Shan. A scholar with a literary heart doesn't have the same formidable martial prowess as a warrior with a martial spirit! But Lin Su chose the most offensive method—using that clumsy illusion to desecrate the other party's only two sore spots.
“How can it be ‘creating trouble’?” Lin Su lowered the brim of his hat, letting the light veil fall to cover his face, making his voice sound more dreamy and indistinct. “This is called ‘preparing for a rainy day,’ so that he won’t be caught off guard if he runs into something like this one day.”
The Taoist-robed phantom chuckled, "Shouldn't he thank you?"
Lin Su ignored the resentment in the other person's words: "Didn't you notice? When Zhen Qishan appeared, this Qizhu Society was completely defenseless. If a phantom formed from his memories was like this, then tell me, what would he do if the real person appeared?"
The illusory figure in the Taoist robe paused, then asked, "The person is still alive?"
No, shouldn't it be completely dead by now?
Lin Su gazed at the receding capital city of Fengluo behind her, a mocking smile curving her lips: "The person is definitely dead, but the world is vast and full of wonders. What kind of place is the Sacred Land of Mountains and Seas? It's the source of all the spiritual power in the world. That corpse has been left there for so many years, it's possible that other spirits have possessed it, or that another soul has been born from it."
The phantom in the Taoist robe trembled, clutching his shoulders.
"Stop talking, it sounds creepy."
"What's so scary about that?"
The phantom of the Taoist robe: "..."
Indeed, Anzhi is far more terrifying than a vengeful ghost.
“Anzhi, I still think you did something wrong.” The phantom of the Taoist robe floated along, following Lin Su’s steps. “The truth cannot be hidden, and the falsehood cannot be made true. If someone like me came up to you right now, trying to trick you out of what you have, would you believe it?”
Lin Su didn't believe it, so how could the Qizhu Society believe it?
Ordinary scholars might fall for it, but those who have achieved mastery of the art of literature are unlikely to, so Lin Su had absolutely no need to go to such lengths! Even if a "Qishan" were to appear before the Qizhu Society one day, given the other party's behavior in the illusion, they would probably be more annoyed than pleased. The true self is just the true self, while the true self beautified by memories is a completely different existence.
Lin Su sneered through the thin veil.
"The point is never whether you believe it or not."
The phantom in the Taoist robe, even as a ghost, was weary: "Isn't it?"
"My goal is the states of Kang and Qu."
"ah?"
Lin Su ran her fingers along the patterns on the sword hilt as she spoke slowly and deliberately: "Anyone from the Yun clan who isn't too stupid should have guessed that it's Yu Hai in the southeast. As far as I know, Zhai Le of Qu Kingdom and Shen Tang of Kang Kingdom have a past relationship. Qu Kingdom has been making too many moves lately, but according to Qu Kingdom's previous plans, they should be restoring production within their borders. Zhai Le changes his mind frequently and suddenly wants to wage war against the central region. Don't you think there's something fishy about this? Joining at this time won't do Zhai Le any good."
However, it can greatly alleviate the pressure on Kangguo.
"This could very well be Kangguo's strategy of befriending distant states while attacking nearby ones."
The phantom in the Taoist robe: "So?"
"Therefore, Kangguo really cannot continue to grow stronger. As the main person in charge of Kangguo, Qi Zhushe's attitude is crucial." At this point, Lin Su calmed down and recalled the details of the illusion. "Tsk, actually, I have always had doubts about this judgment. The internal information of the Gods' Association said that Qi Yuanliang had sidelined Shen Youli, and that all the policies of Kangguo were secretly instructed and arranged by him. Shen Youli was a puppet under his control. But judging from the details of the previous illusion, Qi Yuanliang treated her as a subject."
Shen Youli is truly a puppet in Qi Shan's hands. No matter how much a puppeteer cherishes their puppet, their every move exudes the air of a superior, not one of looking up from below. Only those arrogant fools in the Gods' Guild would believe this rumor that has been circulating for over a decade. Why don't they verify it themselves?
The phantom in the Taoist robe: "So?"
“Shen is the ruler, Qi is the minister.”
The illusory figure in the Taoist robe clicked its tongue in astonishment: "That's quite rare."
He had met with many members of the Gods Society alongside Lin Su and had helped Lin Su investigate numerous shady dealings, so he knew all too well how unscrupulous this group was. Not to mention ordinary people, even the ruler of a nation was merely a pawn in their power struggles.
The lives and deaths of ordinary people are none of their concern.
How could such people submit to the pawns they see?
So what if the world is in chaos? It won't affect them anyway.
Compared to them, Anzhi seemed innocent and kind.
Lin Su murmured, "And I suspect..."
"What do you suspect?"
"I suspect that Qi Shan truly wants to assist Shen Tang in unifying the world."
After saying that, Lin Su laughed first; those who weren't members of the Gods Society would hardly notice his amusement. The Gods Society had played a crucial role in sustaining this chaotic era for so long. If Qi Yuanliang, as the head of the society, were to actually do it, wouldn't that be tantamount to him making a decision against the ancestors?
Lin Su shook her head and said, "If the Northwest and Southeast successfully join forces, wouldn't the Central Continent become a fish on their chopping block?"
The phantom in the Taoist robe said, "That's true, but..."
"But what?"
"When did Anzhi start caring about the survival of the central region?"
He had always wanted to ask, but never had the chance to.
Lin Su's elder brother belonged to the central forces. After all, the whole family was here; they shared the same fate. An Zhi, on the other hand, had broken with his brother and also had grievances against the central forces. He didn't understand why, after only being unconscious for a short time, the other party had suddenly become a pawn for the central forces, going to great lengths to travel thousands of miles to persuade Lin Feng and visit Qi Shan as a member of the organization.
Although Anzhi messed up both things.
Lin Su said, "You've misunderstood."
He didn't care about anything, or rather, he hated everything.
Driven by lustful pleasure, men and women force innocent blank slates into the world, leaving them to be worn down by the hardships of life, experiencing birth, aging, sickness, and death. The greed of the powerful is insatiable; how many blank slates would it take to satisfy one person's desires? And who granted the privileges of those who use all living beings as pawns for their amusement, acting with impunity? Lin Su abhorred this extreme imbalance.
If only it could be fair.
And in this world, what is more equitable than death?
He couldn't kill everyone by himself, but he knew someone else could, and his job was to delay those who were in his way, like Shen Tang. Lin Su didn't disrespect Shen Youli's reckless courage, but he was even more convinced of the inherent evil in human nature. Even if he could truly unify the world, would division cease to exist? Would internal strife cease to exist? Would the mutual harm between people cease to exist?
Rather than letting those who come after us repeat the same torment.
It would be better to end it all.
Lin Su raised his hand to shield his eyes, letting the light and shadow slip through his fingers. He stared intently at his wrist, where there was once a scar that had almost severed his wrist bone. He had seen too many people with the desire to die, wanting to die but lacking the courage: "If there were no one in the world, all things would rejoice."
Two flowers bloom, each representing a different branch.
Shen Tang could not tolerate Lin Su's theft of secrets at the front lines. He immediately ordered people to investigate Lin Su's background.
It was called an investigation, but it was actually conducted through the channels of the Pantheon.
Under Qi Shan's management over the years, the Northwest Branch has been mostly staffed with Kang Guo's own people, making it easy for Shen Tang to use them.
only--
The intelligence that was presented was quite strange.
There were two intelligence reports, with completely different contents.
One document seemed plausible, merely outlining Lin Sugan's major achievements, network of connections, and personality. The other, however, stated that Lin Sugan had committed suicide seven or eight years prior. Wait, if she committed suicide, who was the person who persuaded Lin Feng? A ghost, perhaps?
The key point is that even after committing suicide, there were still activity records.
The intelligence network of the Pantheon should not be entirely trusted.
Qin Li looked at it and said, "It might not be fake."
Shen Tang: "???"
"Your Majesty might as well consider this for a moment," Qin Li reminded her, adding that many things in this world cannot be judged by common sense.
Given Gong Shuwu's condition, who can say he's still alive?
If half a step is acceptable, what about others?
In particular, Lin Su's way of being a scholar was quite unique.
Shen Tang rubbed her temples: "It's a pity that Gongyi is still on his way. Otherwise, if we let him see, we could expose Lin Su's true colors. But there's no rush. Since he was sent by the central forces, we can eventually defeat him if we keep fighting."
She put the matter aside.
They summoned Qin Li for another, more important matter.
"The winds are about to shift; it's time for the Allies to make their move."
(ω<)(ω≦)
Happy National Day! Where were you all stuck in traffic on the first day?
P.S.: I need to take a break. I'm quite tired today, so this chapter will be shorter.
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