The desire
Xiao Yu asked herself, if she were to also strive for power and wealth, it would be so that the people of the Hidden World Sect could live better, be more free and unhindered in the world; not the other way around, treating these calculations and schemes as the most important things in her life.
This was also the first time she saw Li Wujiu, dressed in tattered clothes, standing leisurely in the dust at the foot of Luoyang city wall, tall and elegant, with a refined and otherworldly air. This sparked a strong curiosity in her and the reason for her desire to follow him.
She had never imagined that someone could be so carefree and at ease, like a king, without servants or possessions, treating everyone and everything equally, with only the purest curiosity and no fear of life or death.
What kind of state of being is this?
As the eldest daughter of the Xiao family, she had met countless people in her life, but only Li Wujiu possessed a kind of spirituality that was independent of the outside world and detached from it, which she could not forget even after many years.
Therefore, when she happened to hear about Li Wujiu's reputation as a "divine strategist" and his appearance, she naturally thought of the young master at the foot of the Luoyang city wall five years ago, and was moved to follow him at all costs.
Whether it was due to the fatigue of traveling for days or the comforting incense in the room, Xiao Yu slept soundly until the sun was high in the sky.
The moment she woke up in bed, her expression changed immediately.
A man sat by the window, turning around leisurely, and in his hand was the letter that Gu Yi had written to Li Wujiu.
He looked at her and said calmly, "Elder sister, you've been working hard these past few days. Did you sleep well last night?"
The newcomer was none other than Xiao Chang'an, who had visited the Hidden Sect half a year ago, made a bet with Li Wujiu, and forced Li Wujiu to enter the forbidden area for seclusion.
Xiao Yu immediately tried to get up, but felt weak and unable to move. She knew she must have been drugged, and seeing Xiao Chang'an playing with Gu Yi's letter in his hand, she was filled with anger and shouted, "What did you put in the incense?"
Xiao Chang'an shrugged and smiled nonchalantly, saying, "Elder sister, there's no need to be angry. This incense is the 'Bihua Chun' that you used to love most at home. I only added a little bit of medicine to it to prevent your internal energy from circulating. You are a member of our Xiao family, how could I dare to really harm you?"
Xiao Yu knew he wouldn't lie to him about this, so he calmed down and said, "You sent people to follow me and then intercepted me here. What is your intention?"
Xiao Chang'an was still smiling as he picked up Gu Yi's letter with one hand and examined it against the sunlight. He praised, "Young Master, you truly have excellent handwriting. Your 'Jade Tablet Script' is well-deserved. However, few people in the world have ever seen it. If I were to bring this book to Your Majesty, Your Majesty would surely cherish it and study it carefully as if it were a model of calligraphy."
Xiao Yu's expression changed again, realizing that he was powerless to fight back at this moment.
Strictly speaking, if the person opposite her were not Xiao Chang'an but some other enemy, she certainly wouldn't be able to lie there and talk to him so easily right now. Because she is his elder sister, Xiao Chang'an has already shown her mercy.
Xiao Chang'an smiled and said, "Elder sister, how about we make a deal?"
When the other party is completely powerless to fight back and holds an overwhelming advantage, being able to negotiate a deal with her in a gentle and courteous manner is what is known as subduing the enemy without fighting.
This is also the consistent style of the Lanling Xiao family. They do not pursue ruthless elimination, but rather maximize their interests, regardless of whether the other party is a relative, enemy, or friend.
Xiao Yu remained silent for a moment, then said, "Young Master, please speak."
She knew perfectly well that Xiao Chang'an was never a fool and would never ask for an exorbitant price and then try to bargain. Once he made a request, it would be a condition she couldn't refuse, and struggling would be a waste of effort.
And her relationship with him, that sibling relationship, should also come to an end.
A hint of melancholy crossed Xiao Chang'an's face, but he quickly concealed it and smiled, "I will go to Jianzhang in place of my elder sister and serve as her Flying Phoenix Guard; then my elder sister can stay by the side of Sect Master Li of the Hidden World Sect and bring glory to the family. Wouldn't that be the best of both worlds?"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yu was shocked and laughed, "The Flying Phoenix Guard has never had a man before, so your idea will be very difficult to put into practice. Even if I agree with you, you will definitely not be able to hide it from the Junior Tutor, not to mention there are so many experts in the Southern Dynasty Palace."
Xiao Chang'an looked at Gu Yi's handwriting again, and after a moment smiled and said, "Young Master will believe me."
Xiao Yu was surprised by his confidence and asked, "Why are you so sure?"
Xiao Chang'an said deeply, "Because he trusts Li Wujiu."
He added, "I've met Li Wujiu and know what kind of person he is. In the end, as long as someone he sends doesn't have the word 'assassin' written on their forehead, even I would be tempted to believe them."
As he spoke, a strand of hair fell across his face, obscuring most of his features, making it difficult even for Xiao Yu to see his expression.
The highest good is like water, which benefits all things without striving. Li Wujiu was such a clear-headed, serene, and carefree person, someone people longed to be close to. No one could refuse his envoy.
Xiao Yu wouldn't let him talk to himself, and said coldly with anger, "I absolutely disagree!"
As soon as she said it, she realized that she had no right to decide whether the other person agreed or disagreed.
If Xiao Chang'an truly considered her an enemy, he would have killed her right here and now, then taken Gu Yi's letter to Jianzhang City. What could she do then?
Or they could tie her up with a soft leather rope and have her taken back to the Xiao family, and she wouldn't even utter a single word of dissent.
Xiao Chang'an, of course, wouldn't be so rude. As if he had expected this, he put his hands behind his head and said with a smile, "What reason could elder sister possibly have to disagree? Do you think I'm not good enough for the arduous job of the Flying Phoenix Guard?"
Xiao Yu looked at him for a moment, his face showing determination, and said, "Although I don't know why you infiltrated the Southern Dynasty palace, I don't trust a single member of the Xiao family."
Xiao Chang'an's expression immediately darkened, and he said in a deep voice, "That includes yourself."
Xiao Yu said with a bitter expression, "That's right. Just look at how I look now, and you'll know that my master misjudged me."
However, to be fair, a disciple like Xiao Yu, who is skilled both internally and externally, and whose martial arts and interpersonal relationships are impeccable, is truly an outstanding individual. The reason she stumbled here is because she encountered a genius like Xiao Chang'an, whose talent and cunning are unparalleled.
Xiao Chang'an said coldly, "The Xiao family members will not trust anyone for no reason, nor do they need others to trust them. Compared to interests, trust is an empty and fragile thing."
Xiao Yu felt a bitter taste in her mouth. What he said was indeed the Xiao family's creed, and that was precisely why she had left the Xiao family without hesitation.
Before Xiao Yu could answer, he smiled brightly again, as if the previous seriousness had never happened, and said, "Elder sister, the reason you don't want me to enter the Southern Dynasty Palace is simply because you are worried that I will go against your master's wishes and harm Master Gu Yi. But rest assured, since I have entered the palace as a disciple of the Hidden World Sect, I will do what a disciple should do. I promise that I will never do anything that you, sister, would not do."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Yu's eyes widened in astonishment.
Xiao Chang'an said with exceptional patience, "As you should know, the Xiao family has always been hedging its bets. Now that Master Gu Yi has revitalized the Southern Dynasty, Jiangdong is experiencing a period of great prosperity. After learning from Sect Master Li about the prophecy that the Mandate of Heaven belongs to the Southern Dynasty, the family decided to make preparations in advance to ensure that our family members have a place in the Southern Dynasty."
He looked up at Xiao Yu and said softly, "It's not that the family doesn't think highly of my sister, but we feel that she would be more useful if she stayed in the Hidden World Sect."
What touched Xiao Yu's heart the most was his next sentence: "Besides, sister has always liked a life with boundless horizons. Wouldn't it be better for you to stay in the Hidden World Sect and be your senior sister? Entering the palace requires scheming and hard work, and it's a job for a servant. Let me do it."
Xiao Yu was not easily convinced, and she knew that Xiao Chang'an's words were meant to persuade her. However, the reason why Xiao Chang'an's last sentence touched her heart was because she suddenly realized that over the years, there was still someone in the Xiao family who had silently paid attention to her, understood her, and could see into her heart.
Her voice softened slightly as she sighed, “Even if you want to become an official in the Southern Dynasty, why go through my channels? The Xiao family and the Southern Dynasty are not enemies. With the reputation of the Lanling Xiao family, you could openly ask other powerful families in the Southern Dynasty for introductions and be recommended for official positions. Why bother claiming the identity of a disciple of the Hidden World Sect?”
A strange light flashed in Xiao Chang'an's eyes, and he smiled and said, "There's no need to claim it falsely; it's genuine."
Xiao Yu was immediately stunned, completely baffled by what he said.
Xiao Chang'an smiled and said, "Isn't Sister now the head of the Hidden World Sect? Since Sect Master Li has gone into seclusion, Sister should be able to take on disciples and pass on her skills on his behalf."
Xiao Yu's eyes flashed with wariness as he asked, "Chang'an, what exactly are your intentions?"
Xiao Chang'an picked up Gu Yi's letter again and examined it carefully against the light and shadow. He said softly, "I have met Sect Master Li and was sincerely impressed by his extraordinary mind and realm. I sincerely wanted to become a disciple of the Hidden Sect, but unfortunately, we were not destined to be together. He has already entered seclusion and I cannot receive his personal instruction. I am very sorry about this."
Xiao Yu couldn't help but scoff, "Little brother, you can fool others with these words, but you can't fool me. Although my master's cultivation is superb, it's useless to you because you've had the interest and ambition to hold the power of the world since you were a child. Even if you can't become a ruler or emperor in this life, you still want to be a high-ranking official and manipulate the power of the world. Our Hidden World Sect's cultivation is detached from the mortal world and outside of it, which you will never be interested in."
Xiao Chang'an's eyes flashed like an owl, and he said meaningfully, "Is that so? But look at the current situation in the world, who is really in control?"
He said, word by word, "A detached and inactive Li Wujiu can predict the general trend of the world ten years in advance; a young master Gu Yi, whose background is unknown to anyone, can single-handedly determine the pattern of half of the country, bringing order from chaos and creating a new dynasty."
He said spontaneously, "Therefore, I am convinced that the knowledge these two possess is exactly what I need to learn. In that case, what is wrong with becoming their disciple and serving by their side?"
Xiao Yu then understood Xiao Chang'an's true intentions, and his expression darkened.
She said, "You only learn their techniques, not their principles. Without their magnanimity and compassion, even if you master the art of slaying dragons, you will only become a treacherous villain in a chaotic world."
Xiao Chang'an's expression finally changed. He stared fiercely at Xiao Yu and said, word by word, "Sister, you are my own sister, is this how you see me? So in your heart, even if one day I have the extraordinary talent of Gu Yi, I will still be nothing more than a power-hungry and treacherous villain?"
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