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Chapter 117: The Ambition of Flying Wolf
After Xi Zu left, the clan leader pondered why Xi Zu had arranged for her to have a bodyguard. Was it possible that someone else had instructed him to do so? The clan leader thought of one person—her husband, Xi Yuanming. Perhaps Xi Zu was acting on Yuanming's orders. She decided she needed to see Yuanming. He was the Former Clan Leader, and when his wife began to rely on Kai Zhou Shen and Flying Wolf, Yuanming had already left the village.
Yuanming had made a Grass Hut deep in Spring Valley. It wasn't far from the village; one could make the round trip in half an hour. Yuanming was not being held captive here; he simply chose to live in this secluded place. The arrangement for a bodyguard was indeed Yuanming's idea, which he had mentioned to Xi Zu, but whether it would be implemented was up to Xi Zu. By assigning his own people as bodyguards instead of those from Flying Wolf, it would be easier to manipulate and switch out.
Flying Wolf held too much power in the village. Even if they could control some aspects of authority, it would still weaken Flying Wolf's influence.
Outside the Grass Hut, there was a pavilion where Yuanming sat sipping tea and gazing at the spring. The clan leader took a seat across from him. "The bodyguard was your arrangement, wasn't it? I can't think of anyone else who could persuade Xier to do such a thing."
Yuanming smiled slightly but did not deny it. "Gui Zhi, it's been five years since we last met, and you haven't changed at all."
The clan leader's real name was Yang Guizhi, but due to her status, few in the village called her by her given name. It had been a long time since anyone had mentioned her name, and hearing it from Yuanming now felt strangely unfamiliar—as if it belonged to someone else.
Yang Guizhi looked at him intently, her eyes filled with joy. "You haven't called me by my name in ages."
Yuanming reluctantly shifted his gaze away from Yang Guizhi. "Are you here regarding the bodyguard or just to see me?"
Yang Guizhi's longing gaze slightly retracted as she asked, "Do you want me to come see you?"
Yuanming couldn't help but glance into Yang Guizhi's eyes. "We are husband and wife; if you wish to come, how could I refuse?"
Yang Guizhi blushed and looked at Yuanming seriously. "What is your intention in having Xier arrange things this way?"
Yuanming replied, "Isn't it obvious? You have given too much power to Flying Wolf."
Yang Guizhi fell silent for a moment before saying, "If Flying Wolf won't help me, who else has the ability? Why not come back?"
Yuanming's expression darkened as he said, "I have already passed through that phase. You can believe in Kai Zhou Shen, but don't get too deep into it. Just promise me you won't worship it, and I'll go back."
Yuanming's words stirred Yang Guizhi's resentment. She replied, "Yuanming, why are you so opposed to Kai Zhou Shen?"
"I'm not opposed," Yuanming countered. "It's just that believing too much in Kai Zhou Shen is meaningless. We are just ordinary people; what do we need that foresight for? Knowing what will happen next—does that make life interesting?"
Yang Guizhi didn't want to argue with Yuanming any further; they had already had too many disputes over this matter. "As for the guards, I understand your point. I've already arranged for them. Since you don't want to come back, you should refrain from interfering with village matters from now on. This is the last time."
The two locked eyes deeply. Suddenly, Yang Guizhi noticed a strange calmness in Yuanming's gaze. She felt that compared to before, his eyes had become much more tranquil. Yang Guizhi also observed that despite their conflicting words, Yuanming's temper had improved significantly—no, it was much better than before. In the past, mentioning Kai Zhou Shen would surely provoke his fury, but now he appeared remarkably composed.
Yang Guizhi speculated, "Could it be that living in Spring Valley for so many years has changed his temperament?"
Unaware of Yang Guizhi's thoughts, Yuanming said, "I'm not trying to meddle in village affairs; I'm doing this for Xier."
Yang Guizhi stood up and asked, "Do you have anything else to say?"
With a familiar smile that Yang Guizhi knew well, Yuanming replied, "You’re still the same as before; even when angry, you’re still so beautiful. Gui Zhi, I'm not trying to teach you about village matters. Xier has already spoken with me. I want to take her to meet the Great Palace King, and I hope you'll come with us."
Yang Guizhi was shocked and confused at the same time. "You want Xier to meet the Great Palace King? Why?"
Yuanming explained, "The Evil God has resurrected. Our village will surely struggle to survive. I think we should coexist with the Great Palace King."
Yang Guizhi could not agree with Yuanming's perspective. "The Opening of the Zhou Wasteland may be a desolate place; even if the Evil God resurrects, he would have no interest here."
Initially fearful for the village's survival, Yang Guizhi believed that the Opening of the Zhou Wasteland was not a prosperous land that anyone would find appealing—even the Evil God would likely feel the same way. Yuanming's current worries mirrored her previous thoughts; she had once feared and worried about this idea but now felt she might have been overthinking.
"I used to think like that too," Yuanming said quietly. "But there are too many Demon Beasts here; the Evil God will surely find a way to exploit them." His voice dropped low. "But now you are the clan leader; you should consider the villagers more. Even if things don't escalate as I anticipate, forming an alliance with the Great Palace King is still for the future of our village."
"Yuanming's perspective isn't entirely wrong," Yang Guizhi pondered for a moment before asking, "Do you trust the Great Palace King?"
Yuanming's gaze met Yang Guizhi's, and he replied with conviction, "I believe that in this world, sincerity can still be exchanged for sincerity."
Yang Guizhi remained silent for a moment. After some time, she said, "I haven't met the Great Palace King, so I don't know if I can trust him. But I trust you. If you think we should do this, then I'm willing to meet the Great Palace King."
Yuanming smiled gently and said, "I'm not asking you to immediately agree to unite with the Great Palace King and his people. You can decide after meeting him."
Yang Guizhi nodded. "After meeting the Great Palace King, I'll decide whether to unite or not."
She felt as though she and Yuanming had returned to their previous closeness. They used to discuss things intimately like this, but this 'he' was no longer the same as before. With their differing views on Kai Zhou Shen, they had drifted apart. Yang Guizhi hoped that time could change Yuanming's perception of Kai Zhou Shen, but such views couldn't be altered in a short period.
Yang Guizhi cast one last deep glance at Yuanming before leaving the pavilion.
Just as Yang Guizhi stepped out of the pavilion, she suddenly felt lightheaded and weak. As she was about to fall, Yuanming's strong arms gently enveloped her.
Holding her in his embrace, Yang Guizhi felt Yuanming's long-missed warmth, causing her cheeks to flush.
Yuanming looked at her tenderly and asked, "What's wrong?"
Yang Guizhi felt dizzy but knew the cause of her symptoms. "I'm fine; it's just because I've been entering the Travel Path frequently lately."
Yuanming sighed. "You should go into the Travel Path less often. But I know you won't listen to me anyway."
Yang Guizhi bit her lip and didn't respond.
Yuanming gazed at her with concern. "Isn't it better for us to be like before? Without Kai Zhou Shen and without the monthly rituals, we could support each other."
Yuanming returned to the pavilion and sat down. Yang Guizhi had regained some of her strength and began to reconsider his words. She certainly wished they could return to how things were before; those had been the happiest days of her life. However, Kai Zhou Shen had indeed opened her eyes; no one could resist the allure of seeing the future.
Seeing that Yang Guizhi remained silent for a long time, Yuanming couldn't help but smile bitterly in his heart. He didn't press her for an answer.
Feeling Yuanming's gaze upon her, Yang Guizhi's tone turned serious. "You've seen it too. Kai Zhou Shen is not as useless as you think. He has helped the village avoid many attacks from Demon Beasts."
Yuanming agreed with this point. "I know, I don't oppose Kai Zhou Shen. I just..."
Yang Guizhi interrupted him, cutting him off. "This is my choice; you knew it from the beginning."
Yuanming sighed and said, "I respect your choice, but your Kai Zhou Shen can see a long-term future. What about the present?"
"The present?" Yang Guizhi pondered for a moment. "What do you mean?"
Yuanming hinted, "Sometimes when you look too far ahead, you easily overlook the stones at your feet. I just don't want you to trip over them. I know your Skyhowl Wolf has its reasons, but if you indulge it too much, it might just replace you."
Yang Guizhi's expression grew serious. "Flying Wolf is not as..."
Yuanming interrupted her at this moment. "Words alone won't convince you; I know that you won't believe me, but I have evidence."
Yang Guizhi frowned deeply. "Evidence? What evidence?"
Yuanming gritted his teeth and said, "I have evidence that Flying Wolf has been secretly nurturing Azure Blaze Lizards!"
Knowing that Yang Guizhi wouldn't believe him, Yuanming led her to a creek cave on the southern side of Spring Valley.
The cave was damp and humid, but deep inside, Yang Guizhi saw many eggs of Azure Blaze Lizards.
Yang Guizhi walked uncertainly to the edge of the eggs and stopped, her eyes wide as she asked, "Are these eggs cultivated by the Flying Wolf?"
Yuanming replied, "I saw it with my own eyes, but I believe if he can cultivate them in one place, there must be other locations as well."
Yang Guizhi was greatly shocked. "There are others? What does the Flying Wolf need so many Azure Blaze Lizard eggs for?"
Yuanming chose not to answer, leaving her in silence. This silence weighed heavily on Yang Guizhi, making it hard for her to breathe as she carefully examined the Azure Blaze Lizard eggs.
Yuanming's opinion of Kai Zhou Shen differed from hers, but Yang Guizhi understood Yuanming's nature well enough.
Yuanming would certainly not casually accuse the Flying Wolf.
At that moment, Yang Guizhi felt a chill run through her. Although Yuanming did not specify what the Flying Wolf intended to do with so many eggs, even without his input, Yang Guizhi could guess.
If these eggs were to hatch, they would undoubtedly form a terrifying army of Azure Blaze Lizards. Yang Guizhi could not imagine what the Flying Wolf would do with hundreds or even thousands of Azure Blaze Lizards; it could lead to an even greater disaster.
In a state of panic, Yang Guizhi exclaimed, "What should we do now? Should we destroy these eggs?"
Yuanming shook his head. "That would alert the enemy. We don't even know how many the Flying Wolf has cultivated. Do you understand now why I wanted you to ally with the Great Palace King?"
Yang Guizhi finally realized the gravity of the situation.
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