Li Tiannan gazed at Li Buyan.
He wondered if Li Buyan was speaking from the heart or trying to deceive him.
Li Buyan, oblivious to Li Tiannan's scrutiny, continued, "You indeed carry a shadow of my youth. On the surface, you seem honest and simple, but inwardly, you harbor ambition! I advise you not to tread this path, or you will regret it."
Li Tiannan faltered.
Uncertain if he was assuring Li Buyan or himself, he murmured, "I will not regret it."
Li Buyan's smile turned more sorrowful.
In his youth, hadn't he thought the same?
"Since you are determined to do this, I am powerless to stop you. Otherwise, given your temperament, you might very well kill me," Li Buyan said with self-mockery.
Li Tiannan did not deny it.
If it came to that, Li Tiannan would not hesitate.
"Then—"
Li Buyan spoke eloquently, then shifted his tone, "Let me offer you one more piece of advice: never kill Chen Jin Chao."
"Mark my words. Mark my words."
This contradicted Li Tiannan's own plans.
Only by killing Chen Jin Chao could Li Tiannan maximize his gains.
Why would Li Buyan say such a thing?
"Why?" Li Tiannan countered.
Li Buyan's voice was sincere, "Just listen to me, and I will not harm you."
No matter how Li Tiannan pressed him afterwards, Li Buyan remained silent, stirring a peculiar feeling within Li Tiannan.
What was the old man trying to achieve?
Li Tiannan glanced at the time. He had no more time to waste with Li Buyan, so he beckoned Bai Zhen inside.
"Bai Zhen, come in," Li Tiannan said.
Bai Zhen respectfully approached Li Tiannan. Li Tiannan feigned seriousness, "I am going to deal with the traitor Li Tian Ce. From now on, you are responsible for the old man's safety. No unauthorized personnel are to approach him. If the old man suffers even the slightest harm, I will hold you accountable."
"Understood!" Bai Zhen replied.
Li Tiannan grunted.
Then, under Bai Zhen's respectful gaze, he left the hall and headed towards the medical room where Li Tian Ce was located.
Bai Zhen turned and looked at Li Buyan.
He lacked Li Tiannan's authority. Although Li Buyan was under house arrest, he was still Li Tiannan's grandfather, and Bai Zhen could not afford to offend him.
So, Bai Zhen chuckled, "Old Master, you should just stay put. Please don't make things difficult for us juniors."
Li Buyan remained silent.
Bai Zhen, unfazed, then withdrew from the hall.
Inside the hall.
Li Buyan was contemplating a question: would Li Tiannan kill Chen Jin Chao?
In the past, Li Buyan had always wanted to get rid of Chen Jin Chao to pave a smooth path for Li Tian Ce. But now, he hoped Chen Jin Chao would survive. After Li Tiannan's rebellion, Li Buyan seemed to have seen through worldly matters, no longer clinging to the importance of noble families.
This was because Li Buyan had witnessed Li Tiannan's fate—
When Li Tiannan grew old, he would surely see his own grandchildren fighting for the position of patriarch, thus perpetuating a bloody cycle.
Li Buyan was tired.
He wanted Chen Jin Chao to end it all.
"So, what he did back then was not wrong. Future generations smeared his name because they didn't want the power of noble families to be overthrown. It's no wonder he became a lonely figure, betrayed by his comrades and unjustly vilified," Li Buyan murmured to himself.
As for the "old man" he spoke of, only Li Buyan himself likely knew.
Li Buyan even felt a hint of anticipation.
Would Chen Jin Chao become the next dragon slayer?
If he succeeded in slaying the dragon, would Chen Jin Chao be cast down from his pedestal or become a dragon himself?
Li Buyan wished to know the outcome.
Yet, he also knew clearly that his life was drawing to a close and he would not live to see that day.
"Alas, what a pity,"
Li Buyan sighed heavily.
At that time.
Li Tiannan arrived outside the medical room.
Inside, Li Tian Ce's face was pale. Not long ago, he had learned the outcome of the battle outside the medical room—a crushing defeat for his side.
Li Tian Ce's trusted subordinates were either dead or wounded.
Lou Yue Sheng stood by Li Tian Ce's side. Li Tian Ce looked at Lou Yue Sheng with a dazed expression, "Aren't you afraid of death? Why didn't you surrender?"
"Mr. Li, why should I surrender?" Lou Yue Sheng retorted.
Li Tian Ce hesitated for a moment before saying, "You are the head of my think tank and a key figure among my old troops. If Li Tiannan intends to gather the remnants, you are indispensable. If you pledge allegiance to Li Tiannan, he will surely spare you."
He paused, as if recalling that just ten minutes ago he had considered killing Lou Yue Sheng, which struck Li Tian Ce as somewhat amusing.
He continued, "By staying by my side, you are certain to die."
Lou Yue Sheng, however, was remarkably composed and said with a carefree smile, "Mr. Li, if not for your recognition back then, I would likely still be a leisurely office clerk, spending my life in that office in mediocrity with no end in sight. The moment you valued me, I knew my fate would be to be crushed to pieces."
"It's either now or in the future."
Li Tian Ce was speechless.
He asked, "If I fail, we might all die together. But if I succeed, why would you be crushed to pieces?"
"Because I represent Mr. Li's darker side. A person who wishes to become a king cannot afford to harbor a dark side. Therefore, when Mr. Li ascends the throne, it will be my time to be crushed," Lou Yue Sheng stated his thoughts calmly.
Even if Li Tian Ce did not act, Lou Yue Sheng would have done it himself.
"Sigh…"
"Failing to help Mr. Li ascend the throne is my greatest regret. Now, to die for Mr. Li can be considered a fitting end." Lou Yue Sheng's words filled Li Tian Ce with shame. He couldn't help but give a bitter smile, "Xiao Lou, I have ultimately let you down."
"Go now, don't die for me. Live," Li Tian Ce added.
Lou Yue Sheng shook his head and chuckled.
The next moment.
Li Tiannan's men filed in, surrounding Lou Yue Sheng and Li Tian Ce.
Lou Yue Sheng, a scholar, showed no fear on his face; only determination shone in his eyes. Upon seeing Li Tiannan step into the medical room, Lou Yue Sheng suddenly shouted, "Li Tiannan, you have defied authority and slaughtered your kin! You are an abomination in the eyes of heaven! I urge you to turn back and desist from your madness."
Li Tiannan lunged forward and backhanded Lou Yue Sheng, sending him flying.
Then, from a condescending posture, he looked down at Lou Yue Sheng, "Who do you think you are? Do you have a right to speak in the Li family?"
Lou Yue Sheng's cheek was nearly split, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.
It was evident that Li Tiannan's blow was extremely vicious, nearly killing Lou Yue Sheng, a man of letters.
Even so.
Lou Yue Sheng's eyes were still filled with disdain as he laughed heartily, "Base and shameless! You are nothing more than a villain."
"Aren't you afraid I'll kill you?" Li Tiannan frowned.
Lou Yue Sheng laughed even more wildly, more brazenly, and more defiantly!
"Hahaha!"
"Jade may be shattered but its whiteness cannot be altered; bamboo may be burned but its integrity cannot be destroyed! Though the body perishes, its name can be etched in history!"