Chapter 1463: There are three in total (Part 2) [Requesting monthly votes]
"I will remind Zhai Xiaofang to be careful."
How could I not remind you?
Shen Tang and Zhai Le are still allies.
Even if they aren't allies, they're comrades on the same front. Faced with a crisis affecting the very survival of their entire species, how could they possibly have selfish motives?
Shen Tang wants to unify the entire continent, and what she wants is not just the land beneath her feet, but also the population. It's unknown how many lucky survivors will remain after this landmine, left behind thousands of years ago, detonates. Population recovery is no easy task; once the population declines to a certain level, there may be no chance of recovery. Wei Lou neither approves nor disapprove of her choice, but his admiration for her grows stronger.
Everyone knows the big principles, but very few can restrain their desires and choose the bigger picture: "I will do my best to help you."
As he spoke, he reminded Shen Tang, "If an epidemic breaks out in the southeast and other places, Shen Jun can have his avatar focus on the foundation."
There's no need to rush to the front lines and wipe out your forces.
Shen Tang: "???"
I can't believe Wei Lou would say something like that.
Wei Lou explained, "My nephew is not afraid of those things."
Wei Cheng and Gong Shuwu are the only two beings in the world with natural immunity to pathogens. While scholars and warriors can be infected by enhanced versions of the pathogen, these two are immune. Not only are they immune, but their martial energy can also summon nearby undead to assist in battle.
Letting them be at the forefront will maximize their benefits.
There's no need to let other flesh and blood take the lead.
Shen Tang: "..."
They're really uncle and nephew. Does Wei Cheng know that his uncle made him a human shield?
"You've reminded me..." Gong Shu and Wu are beings that go a step further than zombies. Zombies still have flesh and blood, but these two are just skeletons; ultimately, they're all "living dead." I wonder if they could try to control the infected zombies.
If possible...
Isn't that the legendary "Zombie King"?
After a moment's thought, he decisively ordered Gong Shuwu to be recalled to the country to take charge. If a "zombie crisis" were to break out in various places and spiral out of control into a zombie horde, Gong Shuwu, with his advantages in this area, could build a defensive line to resist for a while and buy as much time as possible for the medical practitioners.
Wei Lou disagreed with her arrangement.
"Gong Shuwu can play a greater role on the front line."
“That makes sense, but the common people, powerless and vulnerable, need protection even more. The foundation of Kangguo has never been its capable generals, but its millions of citizens. Without its people, Kangguo loses its meaning and becomes a mere shell. What use is an empty title?” This is why Shen Tang prioritizes medical resources domestically rather than focusing on military strength. Ordinary people are far less resilient to natural disasters and man-made calamities than the elite army she leads.
Wei Lou lowered his eyes: "Whatever you say."
Bad news kept coming, and everyone was shrouded in a low mood.
Shen Tang rummaged through every nook and cranny to find the so-called "Investiture of the Gods." He would open it and look at it whenever he rested, but then he would start to stare blankly, lost in thought. Qi Shan and the others wanted to comfort him but didn't know where to begin—they could talk at length about attacking a country, establishing policy guidelines, or eliminating some unlucky fool, offering four, five, six, or even seven different solutions.
Of those who pray for goodness, which one is truly resigned to fate?
Unfortunately, this crisis went beyond expectations.
A group of scholars and warriors were at a loss.
Arrange everything within your capabilities, and leave the rest to fate.
This feeling of powerlessness, of being unable to control one's fate and forced to drift along with the current, is truly disgusting and frustrating. They can only place their hopes on Gu Chi, this understanding and confidant. Hasn't this guy been nagging about having three wives for over ten years? Why isn't he stepping up when it's time to act?
Gu Chi: "...The master is just spacing out."
He also wanted to know what his lord was thinking so he could prescribe the right remedy.
Most people's mental activity is chaotic and disordered most of the time, and only when they are thinking do they have some logic.
Qi Shan said, "Then go and ask directly."
Gu Chi laughed angrily: "You're ordering me around? By what right?"
He has a temper too!
Perhaps due to the low-pressure atmosphere, both of them have been a bit short-tempered lately, and their words have escalated to physical altercations in the blink of an eye.
No, I mean, use your feet.
Qin Li, who was feeling frustrated and wanted to smoke to calm down, was speechless.
Silently turning away from his two colleagues who were stepping on each other's feet, Qin Li thought, "With ministers like these, the future of Kang Kingdom is bleak even without the plague crisis." He put away his pipe, sighed, lit the incense he carried with him, and only went to see Shen Tang after the scent had dissipated.
"Why is Gong Su here? Has something changed in the country?"
Qin Li accompanied the army on its expedition but kept a close eye on domestic weather changes. He also still had the work of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau on his shoulders, compiling a record every few days and distributing it to various prefectures and counties of Kang State to guide spring planting and autumn harvest. His workload was greater and more tedious than others.
"I've heard that His Majesty has recently lost his appetite."
I eat about 30-40% less than usual.
"Tsk, which gossip told you this? You're bothering Gong Su with such a trivial matter. Do you think you don't have enough work to do?" Appetite is linked to health. For other lords, this might be a serious crime of spying on their bodies, but it's nothing to Shen Tang.
She casually pulled out a small stool for Qin Li to sit down.
Qin Li then looked at the "Investiture of the Gods" that she had set aside.
Shen Tang noticed his gaze: "What's wrong?"
Qin Li carefully considered his words before speaking directly: "My lord has been looking at it lately... which worries us. What kind of evil thing is this?"
Shen Tang was momentarily dazed before realizing Qin Lilai's purpose.
"No, it's not entirely because of it." Shen Tang's smile faded slightly as she looked up to meet Qin Li's concerned gaze. She then drifted off into thought again in front of him. When she came to her senses, her hand was almost on Qin Li's neck, but he didn't flinch.
Shen Tang awkwardly withdrew her hand: "How could you..."
Qin Li was incredibly clever; he vaguely guessed Shen Tang's true thoughts.
"Did Your Majesty intend to kill me just now?"
These words sent a chill down Shen Tang's spine: "It's a misunderstanding, I..."
Qin Li asked again: "Send me to be listed on the list?"
Seeing that Qin Li had guessed, Shen Tang scratched her ponytail in frustration: "I do have that idea, at least it's a way to survive, isn't it?"
I've been spacing out a few times lately, mostly thinking about this possibility.
If we really do end up heading towards the abyss, could I personally kill Qin Li and the others before they turn into zombies and send them to the list?
Am I not a god?
If God could return to His rightful place and protect them, wouldn't that be easy?
Whether it's resurrection or sending someone to live somewhere through special connections, it's all possible, right? God, can't you even do that?
Such thoughts clung to her like vines, impossible to shake off.
The more she thought about it, the more excited she became, and the more excited she became, the more her heart beat erratically. An invisible force was pulling her in and out of control, so much so that Shen Tang couldn't spare any attention to think about anything else. To outsiders, it looked like she was daydreaming. Shen Tang knew that her thoughts were dangerous. From the few words Ji Moqiu had revealed and from her several dreams, she, as a "god," had also paid the price for similar behavior.
The price was very high.
She will have to pay the same price if she repeats the same mistake.
Shen Tang did not believe that she could not afford it.
At this moment, Qin Li's voice pulled her back to reality: "I am not clear about these things, but I know that at this point, defeat is inevitable, so whether we are on the list or not is meaningless. What kind of 'living' would we have after being on the list? As long as we are not alive, it is meaningless."
What's the point of staying on the list when the world is desolate and lifeless?
"Perhaps I can take you away? The High Priest also said that there are countless worlds, big and small, so we might as well start over!"
"The Qin Gongsu here is the Qin Gongsu that Your Majesty knows. Is the one elsewhere still the same? There is no such thing as starting over. A person's life, from birth to death, is a cycle." Qin Li knew far less of the inside story than Gu Chi, but he could still sense the danger in Shen Tang's words. He was persistent and determined, "Your Majesty, do not become obsessed."
"As the saying goes, the moon wanes when it is full, and water overflows when it is full," Qin Li said. "I only ask for a perfect ending. May the ruler and his subjects be of one mind, and go together and return together."
The more you ask for, the more you will lose.
According to what Ji Moqiu previously revealed, whether he survives to be listed on the list or dies, he can still be listed if the unification is successful. He doesn't object to this outcome, but he doesn't want his lord to exploit this loophole and force him to stay. He fears that all his efforts will be in vain.
I don't care about myself, but I'm afraid that my lord will suffer a backlash.
Qin Li bent down, picked up the "Investiture of the Gods" scroll, and rolled it up.
“It is precisely because life is short that every moment is precious. If the Lord told me that there are still hundreds or thousands of years to go before me, I might lose the motivation to live, and at least I wouldn’t cherish every moment as much as I do now.” Qin Li placed the “Investiture of the Gods” scroll in Shen Tang’s hands and said in a seemingly relaxed manner, “Actually, I’m quite tired right now and want to finish this quickly.”
"Is Gong Su feeling tired?"
Qin Li said, "Doesn't Your Majesty think there's too much work?"
Nobody in this world likes working, right?
He also wanted to wait until the world was at peace and the rising stars grew up to take over his team. After fighting a lifetime of war, couldn't he enjoy a few years of rest? He was a human being, not those wooden blocks in the Imperial Workshop, who could operate every day without eating or drinking until their parts broke down.
Shen Tang: "..."
Qin Li said with a hint of resentment, "There are quite a few complaints about this within the court."
During the years of peace and development, things were alright; there were many holidays. But during the years of war, life was worse than death, and we didn't even know what a holiday was.
Qin Li held multiple positions, and he was always on the go.
Other officials who had long since settled down and started families were fine; they worked tirelessly for the sake of their descendants. When they returned home and saw their husbands/wives' faces, their children who were not yet secure in their positions, their parents who needed their support, and the family genealogy that still hoped for their promotion and wealth… they were like they had been injected with adrenaline, and the next day, even if they wanted to stay in bed, they would force themselves to open their eyes and get up. However, he was a bachelor.
He had no father, no mother, no wife, and no children.
Whether it was his early years as a wanderer or his time assisting Wu Xian, he persevered for the sake of his old subordinates like Zhao Feng. Later, after joining his lord's ranks, Zhao Feng and the others established themselves, and Qin Li no longer needed to exhaust himself protecting them. His only source of strength was his lord and the work assigned to him. No one is born liking to work, and Qin Li was no exception. He only remained at his post because of Shen Tang and his unfulfilled ideals. If he could, he would like to retire gracefully after achieving success and rest for a few years.
Shen Tang: "..."
Qin Li added, "Wu Hui has also been wanting to get away for a long time."
Who doesn't dream of unifying Kangguo, serving for another twenty or thirty years, and then retiring to wander the world? Power is indeed a good thing, but no matter how alluring power is, when paired with endless, arduous work, it can become stale. Qin Li was in this situation.
Shen Tang said resentfully, "You mean Wu Hui?"
Qin Li said enviously, "He also has Lin Feng."
Chu Yao has hope for the future.
Qin Li didn't even know where his successor was.
If no one can replace him, even setting aside whether the emperor will release the person, he himself won't abandon the matter. The Bureau of Astronomy is crucial to people's livelihood and plays a vital role; how can he be at ease? The thought alone fills him with despair.
Shen Tang: "...I don't have a successor yet."
Qin Li is right—
Which worker doesn't look forward to the day they retire and receive their pension?
Shen Tang was feeling down, and Qin Li didn't know where to begin comforting her.
In comparison, he himself seemed to be in a worse situation.
If the lord ever becomes enlightened, he can take on male concubines. He only needs one heir; finding a successor is like finding a needle in a haystack.
As the two men talked, they started to sound emo.
But at least, Shen Tang had abandoned the idea of slaughtering all his ministers and putting them on the Investiture of the Gods list. When Qin Li took his leave, he saw Ji Moqiu standing in the distance. The latter bowed respectfully upon seeing him. This solemnity puzzled Qin Li.
What are you doing?
"Thank you, Junior Tutor Qin, for persuading Your Highness to let go of your obsession."
Qin Li asked, puzzled, "Since you knew, why didn't you try to persuade them?"
Ji Moqiu pointed to his throat.
There are some things he cannot say, and even if he could, he couldn't persuade them. The emperor's current obsession is with ministers like Qin Li, and he is not among them, so persuasion would not be of much use and might even backfire.
Qin Li sensed a deep sense of helplessness emanating from him.
After exchanging pleasantries, the two parted ways.
Before leaving, he heard Ji Moqiu ask a question.
"Is immortality and eternal life truly not tempting, Junior Tutor Qin?"
The latter remained silent for a moment.
His voice was hoarse: "Stop when you've hit the mark; too much is as bad as too little."
How could I not be tempted?
But he had to control his feelings.
"If there were truly no taboos, how could she have suffered this calamity?"
Calamity – you can tell from the word that it's not a good one.
If the human world were such a wonderful place, the gods in those folk tales wouldn't be banished to earth so easily. Coming to earth is to suffer, and suffering is a constant companion on earth. Gods should return to heaven, sitting atop the clouds and observing all living beings.
Why risk everything for a drop in the ocean?
The goddess in the clouds, a fleeting glimpse, was insignificant to her, but to him, it was a fulfilling experience that could fill his entire life.
Qin Li snapped out of his reverie and composed himself, saying, "Farewell."
Because he had an avatar operating outside, it wasn't difficult for Shen Tang to pass the message to Zhai Xiaofang. He only needed to have the avatar, Zixu, gather the intelligence and then deliver it to Zhai Xiaofang; the whole process would take at most two days.
When Zhai Le received the secret report, she thought she was doing something abstract.
"Is she making fun of me?"
This kind of epidemic is unheard of.
Zhai Le often sought Yu Hai's advice when he was unsure about something: "Guilong, do you think it's true? Does the Pantheon really have such a thing? If it is, how many people would die?"
The Pantheon may be crazy, but they still have brains.
They shouldn't do something as despicable as killing a thousand enemies while losing eight hundred of their own.
"Guilong? Guilong? Why are you spacing out?" Having finally managed to get Yu Hai's attention back, Zhai Le said somewhat embarrassedly, "This sounds bizarre and outlandish, but Shen Youli wouldn't make things up without reason. It's better to be safe than sorry. We'll still need Guilong to put in some effort to investigate and see if such a thing even exists..."
Yu Hai's smile was somewhat forced: "Yes."
Zhai Le's voice abruptly stopped: "Huh?"
Yu Hai: "I've seen him before."
Zhai Le subconsciously swore.
It actually exists?!
"And where is it now?"
"I used it..."
"ah?"
Zhai Le didn't quite hear clearly.
Yu Hai: "It... was half used..."
He didn't say who used it.
＿|￣|●
Thinking about the short videos I've been seeing a lot these past few days about twin brothers, the older brother dies unexpectedly, the younger brother takes his brother's identity and gets together with the female supporting character, then says he wants to inherit both wives' lines, and the whole family schemes to make the female lead (who is now nominally his sister-in-law) a concubine in her past life...
There were so many things to complain about that I didn't know where to begin.
Taking on a secondary lineage doesn't mean you have to sleep with your widowed sister-in-law. An elder sister-in-law is like a mother; what's the difference between that and sleeping with your own mother and committing incest?
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