Peace Order

Chapter 1709 - 58: Heavy Bet!

Tap, tap, tap, tap, tap, tap.

The crisp sound, chess pieces lightly tapping the chessboard, caused the nearby ornaments to tremble subtly. The old man, with white hair and beard, wore loose clothing and sat serenely in the small courtyard of the Xue Family.

Opposite him was the grown Li Guanyi.

Wind Listening Pavilion.

Xue Daoyong’s own little courtyard residence, where the wind rises and whispers, is also the place from which the fearless tiger listens to the world. In his youth, Li Guanyi saw the Divine Weapon Breaking Cloud Sky-shattering Bow here.

It was also here that, in a short span of time, Xue Daoyong saw the world-changing spirit in the thirteen-year-old Li Guanyi, who now appears to tap the chessboard, seemingly considering the game, but in truth examining Li Guanyi.

It’s been several days since the unprecedented coming-of-age ceremony, and the world situation seems calm, yet it remains subtly turbulent beneath. The four corners seem swept by a storm.

And there is no doubt that the one causing this upheaval and surging waves in the world is none other than this newly crowned individual before him. Li Guanyi pinches a chess piece, his gaze calm, thoughtfully observing the chess game, his sleeve caught in the wind, stirring a touch in the world.

Empress Xue and Chen Tianyi have already been brought back to the Xue Family.

Chen Dingye’s actions were indeed fierce; Chen Tianyi’s Primordial Spirit was impacted to some extent, and thus the memory of Chen Dingye was completely erased through the most direct method—physically erased, more direct and colder than many Secret Techniques pertaining to Primordial Spirit.

However, for Chen Tianyi, such cruelty might hide the last shred of warmth in Chen Dingye’s heart.

Otherwise, Chen Tianyi and Noble Consort Xue would find it extremely difficult to handle themselves before Li Guanyi.

Xue Daoyong pondered for a long time, placing a piece, saying, "Your accomplishments, and the relationship with Shuangtao, many in the family actually know of it. Even if they don’t, they can guess."

"And now, whether those who once had goodwill towards you or those dissatisfied due to Chen Dingye’s methods, wanting me, Xue Family, to bet on Tian Yi, regarding your arrival..."

"They are very pleased."

Li Guan placed a piece, saying, "Pleased?"

Xue Daoyong smiled faintly, "The world has been in chaos for over three hundred years, and in these three hundred years, across vast lands and thousands of miles, numerous heroes have fought endlessly. Now we finally see the possibility of unifying the world."

"With your relationship and the Xue Family, they must be dreaming by now."

"Perhaps in their dreams, gold, silver, power, official positions, and nobility are all within reach."

Xue Daoyong calmly placed another piece, saying, "However, I didn’t expect that in this chaotic world, where I roamed all around, continually placing bets, ultimately, what stands before me is the offspring of the Xue Family, which I painstakingly built over the past hundred years."

"Guan Yi, just do what you should."

"Leave the Xue Family to me."

Li Guanyi looked at the elderly man before him. Compared to seven years ago, Xue Daoyong seemed much older, yet still retained the majestic aura like a tiger ready to pounce, and the unfaltering demeanor was exactly as it was seven years ago.

"Is Elder Xue planning to take action against the Xue Family’s descendants?"

Xue Daoyong laughed heartily, "Wrong."

"I am protecting the true Xue Family descendants."

"In chaotic times, when people’s hearts are prone to change, even though the Xue Family has always followed the teachings of the ancestors, with many descendants, there are many who can’t restrain themselves in such a changing situation. What I’ve built is already enough for their wealth."

"The relationship between you and me is also sufficient to allow them to live in peace."

"Greed is the root of inviting disaster; sudden ambition is the fundamental cause for calamity. I am the master of the Xue Family; to avoid a future where the knife falls, exterminating my entire Xue Family and implicating nine generations, it’s better to resolve this trouble in advance."

The wind seemed to rise, causing the ripples in the pond outside the Wind Listening Pavilion, and even the four-sided curtains hanging on the pavilion seemed to sway slightly in the wind. Xue Daoyong smiled and said, "I speak plainly, if this group does not restrain their hearts, Guan Yi, you might still be able to tolerate them for some time."

"Yet history wears away kindness foremost."

"As days pass, there is always the fear that their ambition grows larger by the day, eventually reaching a truly untouchable bottom line, and once the Qilin’s blade falls, the Xue Family may suffer heavy casualties, and you, inevitably, will leave a record of harshness and callousness in the long-lasting historical legacy."

"I did not value you years ago for this kind of outcome."

Li Guanyi placed a piece, reflecting on past discussions with the old man, his voice unfaltering, saying, "Speaking of commerce in terms of profit."

"Great Shang plans the nation."

"And Elder Xue plans an eternal peace."

Xue Daoyong laughed heartily, "Hahaha, eternal peace, the weight of those words is truly too heavy, truly impossible to imagine."

His voice paused slightly, then sighed, muttering with a clenched fist, "But in the affairs of the world, is it not worth striving for just because it seems unattainable? In times of chaos, with rapidly changing situations, everyone is afraid."

"I say otherwise; one must have courage, with such daring, taking bold steps alone, placing heavy bets."

"Now the times are harmonious, the winds are settling, the situation is excellent."

"Others say, it is time for bold progress, but I say no."