Chapter 981 - Untitled

Zhao Shuangdian looked at Li Huowang and said calmly, “What should we have done? Go down and fight him to the death?

“And then what? If we destroy each other, other elephants will come after us. We’d just be waiting to die together.”

Zhao Shuangdian glanced at Wu Qi, who was on the phone. “Relay a message to Qing Wanglai for me. Regardless of his past actions, we can still sit down and talk. The previous cooperation agreement between us is still valid.

“My only condition is that he tells me everything he knows. I need more parameters for my calculations.”

Wu Qi felt rather annoyed at the moment. She turned away and casually waved her hand in Zhao Shuangdian’s direction.

Noticing Li Huowang’s incredulous expression, Zhao Shuangdian stood and patted his shoulder. “I dislike Qing Wanglai too. I understand how you feel, but I hope you understand that the overall situation is more important.”

“No! You don’t understand! You haven’t lost a daughter because of him! How could you possibly understand my feelings?” Li Huowang’s voice rose, his veins bulging on his forehead.

“And what will killing Qing Wanglai accomplish? Will your daughter come back? Qing Wanglai’s death will not bring your daughter back. In fact, not having his help could lead to us being wiped out when the other elephants attack.”

“No, Qing Wanglai isn’t the real focus,” Yang Na said. “We should be focusing on the Heavenly Daos he controls. We don’t need him—just his power. If we kill him, we can absorb his Heavenly Daos, just like he did with the other Simings.”

Despite their peculiar explanations, Zhao Shuangdian kept a serious expression. “You don’t get it. Do you think I value Qing Wanglai for his power? No, it’s his intelligence I value!

“He knows things we don’t, and he can even manipulate the aspects of other elephants. These are vital parameters, ones that might rebuild the whole model. This is crucial!”

“I can’t even build a logical mathematical model of our enemy because we know too little about these other elephants.”

Yang Na’s face showed a hint of conflict. She didn’t know what to do next. She turned to Li Huowang. “What do you think, Huowang?”

Li Huowang was lost in thought and remained silent.. After a long pause, he buried his face in his hands and let out a bitter, silent laugh.

“Li Huowang, I’m telling you, this is the optimal solution. It’s the only way we can maximize our chances of winning.”

Li Huowang heard Zhao Shuangdian’s words and lowered his hands. “I’m fine, Zhijian, don’t worry. Have the others fall back.

“Hmm, I was just dealing with some things. For now, divide one of the Dragon Veins between the Tianchen Kingdom and the Great Qi. Keep the rest for later, as I might need them.

“I have other matters to handle. I’ll be going,” Li Huowang said.

He brushed off Yang Na, who was holding onto him. Then, he started pacing aimlessly around the hall.

After a few laps, he stopped before a potted money tree. He stared blankly at it. “There’s no one around now. Zhao Shuangdian, I’m speaking to you.

“Qing Wanglai’s matter is not done. It’s not just about the fact that he stole a part of my name. He killed my daughter. If not for that button forcing me back from the seventh stage to the sixth, I would have killed him already. My daughter didn’t have to sacrifice herself to summon Jiang Xiangshou!”

Li Huowang paused, then spoke to the money tree before him again, saying, “We don’t need to worry about what happens after the Three Pure Ones die. When he’s gone, his Heavenly Daos will become ours. Our strength will actually increase. At most, there might be a brief period of Natural Disasters.”

His words echoed Yang Na’s earlier sentiment.

“At the end of the day, I can take over his duties. Besides, with all that’s happened, he hasn’t contributed much.”

“No, that’s not the point. What I mean is—” Zhao Shuangdian started to respond but stopped herself, realizing Li Huowang wouldn’t listen to her in his current state. She felt rather troubled.

Li Huowang said, “Negotiating with you like this is inconvenient. Next time I come back, I’ll go to Yi Donglai for treatment to get rid of this bothersome situation.

“During this time, keep a close eye on Yi Donglai. Don’t let him run away. He’s the only one who can treat me. Thanks.”

Ba Nanxu grabbed a cold beer from the fridge as she observed from the sidelines. She took a sip and scoffed. “Idiot.”

***

In Cowheart Village, the day’s work was done, and a few villagers began to gather under the big tree at the village entrance. Some had their dinner bowls in hand.

This was Cowheart Village’s social spot for chatting and cooling off. People boasted and gossiped here.

Those with hearty meals proudly displayed them, while others with simpler meals tried to hide theirs.

Close friends would even taste each other’s food and comment on the cooking skills of one another’s wives.

Puppy rolled up his sleeves, holding a bowl piled high with braised pork over rice. He squatted between the tree roots and asked, “Why isn’t Xiaohai here?”

“He doesn’t even cook now. He’s too busy with his pregnant wife. It’s probably a boy, judging by the pointed belly. He’s been treating her really well lately.”

Since his wife was about to give birth, he didn’t have time to cook for the village anymore. Cowheart Village had returned to a system where each person cooked for themselves.

“What’s the big deal? I’m telling you, boys aren’t as good as girls! When they grow up, boys are not as sensible as girls.” Puppy didn’t even touch his pork. Instead, he smeared his lips with oil as he spoke.

“Things have been peaceful these past few years. No wars, no Natural Disasters,” added a teacher, sipping his cornmeal porridge with preserved meat.

“That’s true,” others chimed in. Life had been easier since the fall of the Dharma Sect.

“Well, naturally! That’s all thanks to my Senior! You know who he is?” Puppy grinned, waiting for a response.

“Here we go again.”

“Exactly, who asked him?”

“We know, we know! He’s the Emperor of the Great Liang! Will you be miserable if you don’t say it every day?”

“Are you going to brag about this your whole life?”

Puppy kissed a piece of braised pork before setting it down and scooping up a spoonful of rice. “What? Can’t I speak the truth? Since he’s my senior, I’m practically royalty!

“Back then, he insisted I become the prime minister because of our bond, but I refused.”