Chapter 34: An uprising is imminent? No, it's a nightmare restarted!
Time flies, like sand slipping through one's fingers. Yun Zhan counted on his fingers and was surprised to find that he had been in this fictional ancient world for a full nine months! And in Hejian Prefecture, he had been staying by Yan Linye's side for more than half a year.
In the past six months, he has transformed from a timid transmigrated coward who was only focused on killing the "chosen one" to save his skull into the person he is now... indulging in Yan Linye's gentle embrace, almost forgetting his own name and future fate... a love-struck fool?
Yun Zhan lay on a comfortable recliner in the villa, gazing at the blue sky and white clouds, feeling somewhat dazed.
This transformation was unbelievable even to himself. Yan Linye's gentleness was like an incredibly fine net, enveloping him layer by layer. Those meticulous cares, those deep and tender gazes, those solemn vows had long since corroded his initial faint killing intent and strong will to live, leaving him riddled with holes.
He was like a frog in lukewarm water, knowing full well that the fire at the bottom of the pot was still burning, yet he craved the warmth of the water and deceived himself into not jumping out.
"System... Xiao Qi? Are you still there?" He subconsciously called out in his mind, with a hint of panic that he himself didn't even realize. "This life has been too comfortable. I always feel uneasy... Historically, Yan Linye started preparing to raise an army around this time, right?"
My mind was completely silent. The system remained dormant, offering no response.
"Tsk, really on strike? Failing at the crucial moment!" Yun Zhan muttered, blaming it on his own overthinking. He rolled over, deciding to stop thinking about those troublesome things and continue enjoying his wonderful life as a "tyrant" (in love).
However, the wheels of fate do not stop turning because of one's own indulgence. What was destined to happen, eventually did.
That evening, Yan Linye returned home, his brows furrowed with an undisguised mix of excitement and seriousness. He dismissed his attendants, took Yun Zhan's hand, and sat down in the courtyard. The moonlight, like water, bathed the two of them.
“Yun Zhan,” Yan Linye gripped his hand, his gaze appearing exceptionally deep and bright in the moonlight, “the time is approaching.”
Yun Zhan's heart skipped a beat, and an ominous premonition instantly gripped him: "What...timing?"
"Raise an army and overthrow the Great Chen!" Yan Linye's voice was deep and firm, carrying a do-or-die determination. "Coordination with all regions is in place, and provisions and military supplies have been secretly prepared. Hejian Prefecture is now a stable and prosperous place, with abundant grain production, making it the perfect base. Soon, I will lead the army to war!"
boom--!
Yun Zhan felt as if something had exploded in his head! His blood seemed to freeze instantly!
Raise an army! Overthrow the Great Chen! Swear an oath and march forth!
These words were like poisoned ice picks, piercing his heart! The cruel reality he had been deliberately avoiding and trying to forget was now being laid bare before him by Yan Linye in the most direct and irreversible way!
History... history is really repeating itself! Moreover, because of the "inventions" he brought, Hejian Prefecture possessed the resources to raise an army much earlier than in history! Yun Zhan actually accelerated the production process of his "skull artwork"?!
A wave of overwhelming fear washed over him like an icy tide. His face turned deathly pale, his lips trembled, and he grabbed Yan Linye's arm tightly, his voice sharp and pleading, a tone he himself didn't realize was grating:
"No...we can't start a war! Brother Yan, isn't it good enough for us to just stay like this? Look at the people of Hejian Prefecture, they live in peace and prosperity now, everyone has clothes to wear and food to eat! Why must we fight a war? War will kill many people! It will make many people displaced and their families destroyed! We can protect Hejian Prefecture, govern it well, and let other places see, isn't that enough?"
He was almost incoherent, desperate to grasp at the last straw and stop the torrent that was destined to crush him.
Yan Linye was slightly taken aback when he saw Yun Zhan's agitated state, but then his eyes revealed understanding and heartache. He thought that Yun Zhan was kind-hearted and couldn't bear to see the suffering of the people, and was also... worried about his safety.
He softened his voice, trying to soothe them: "Yun Zhan, I know you are kind-hearted and can't bear to see the people suffer. But that's precisely why I must raise an army."
His gaze drifted into the distance, carrying a breadth of vision and responsibility befitting a true hero that Yun Zhan could not comprehend: "The peace of Hejian Prefecture is not the foundation of a unified empire. The Great Yin Dynasty is corrupt, its oppressive policies more ferocious than tigers. Counties and prefectures are littered with the dead, and the people are living in misery. I, Yan Linye, as a member of the former imperial family, have received the Mandate of Heaven and your assistance, and now possess this foundation in Hejian. I cannot be concerned only with my own comfort. The suffering people of this world are my responsibility! What I desire is not the peace of a single prefecture or county, but that every person in this world has food to eat and clothes to wear!"
His words were powerful and resonant, echoing in the quiet night, carrying a compassionate spirit and an unwavering conviction.
Normally, Yun Zhan might have been moved by his ambition to serve the world. But at this moment, these words sounded like a death knell to him!
Responsibility? The people of the world? What about my life?! I just want to live! Yun Zhan screamed frantically in his heart.
Seeing that Yun Zhan's face was still pale and his eyes were filled with panic, Yan Linye assumed that he was still afraid, so he gently embraced him and comforted him softly, "Don't be afraid, Yun Zhan. When I achieve my great goal, I will definitely give you a peaceful and prosperous world. Just stay in the rear and wait for my triumphant return. I promise you, I will end the war as soon as possible and minimize casualties."
His embrace remains warm, and his promise remains touching.
But Yun Zhan felt no warmth whatsoever, only bone-chilling cold.
He shoved Yan Linye away abruptly, his body trembling slightly with agitation and fear: "Reduce casualties? How can there be no casualties when war breaks out?! You keep talking about the people of the world, but aren't the soldiers and civilians who died because of the war also lives?! Yan Linye, wake up! Why must we resort to war to solve everything?! Isn't what we're doing now better?!"
He practically yelled it out, tears welling up in his eyes, a mixture of anger and fear.
Yan Linye was startled by the push, and looking at Yun Zhan's red-rimmed eyes and the sharp edges standing on his body, his brows gradually furrowed. He understood Yun Zhan's kindness, but he didn't understand why he was reacting so strongly to this matter, even... somewhat irrationally?
“Yun Zhan,” his voice deepened, carrying a hint of barely perceptible weariness and confusion, “I thought… you understood me. This isn’t for personal gain, but to end this chaotic world, so that more people can live in peace and prosperity like the people of Hejian Prefecture! Some roads must be walked! Some battles must be fought!”
"I don't understand! I don't want to understand!" Yun Zhan shook his head, backing away step by step, tears finally streaming down his face. "I only know that war kills people! It destroys many homes! Why do you have to be this hero?! Why can't you just stay and protect our Hejian Prefecture?!"
“Our Hejian Prefecture?” Yan Linye caught the word in his words, looking at him with a complicated expression. “Yun Zhan, when did your vision become so… narrow?”
These words were like a needle, piercing Yun Zhan's most sensitive and vulnerable spot.
Narrow-minded? Yes, in the eyes of someone like Yan Linye who has the world in his heart, his thoughts of only thinking about his own little plot of land and only thinking about protecting his own life are naturally narrow-minded and selfish!
But what could he do? Tell him, "Don't rebel, because you'll succeed soon and make a wine vessel from my skull"? Who would believe that? And even if they did, would Yan Linye give up his ambition to conquer the world for him? Impossible!
A profound sense of powerlessness and despair overwhelmed Yun Zhan. Looking at Yan Linye's still handsome face, now etched with unwavering resolve, he felt an unprecedented sense of alienation and…fear.
"Yes! I'm narrow-minded! I'm selfish! I just want to live! I don't care about the people of the world! I don't want to understand your ambitions!" Yun Zhan cried out these words, turned around and ran away, escaping from this suffocating place.
Yan Linye watched his staggering figure disappear into the distance, reached out his hand, but ultimately let it fall limply to his side. In the moonlight, his figure appeared somewhat lonely and...deeply confused.
He couldn't understand why Yun Zhan, who was usually so insightful and intelligent, was so stubborn and so... resistant on this matter.
Yun Zhan ran back to his room, threw himself onto the bed, buried his face in the blankets, and cried silently.
Fear, like a wild beast breaking free of its cage, once again tightly bound him.
The land of gentle pleasures is a hero's grave, but isn't it also Yun Zhan's anesthetic?
Now that the medication has worn off, the harsh reality is laid bare before him.
This might be a breakup letter
After a month of getting to know each other, becoming friends, and staying together, we've finally arrived at this day. We're so grateful for the support of all of you. Thank you everyone.
Starting today, this novel is officially available for purchase. I know that going public is a hurdle, and once I decide to go public, I cannot prevent the coming of a low point. If some of you leave, I thank you for having been here and for witnessing the love between the little tyrant and the little rebel. It's my fault for not being good enough to keep you with me until the end.
Of course, I am even more grateful to the readers who are willing to stay. Your continued support is my biggest motivation to keep writing. I hope we can stay together until the end.
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