"Ahem, let's get back to the main topic," Lucifer massaged Bai Cha's neck, which felt a bit itchy, bringing Bai Cha back to her senses and refocusing her attention on Xiang Nan.
"Your proposal, based on my absolute authority, is indeed a good plan. However, have you considered how awkward our current situation has become?" Bai Cha said.
"You are more radical and aggressive than they are, but you also rely on me somewhat," Bai Cha sighed softly. "In your subconscious, I can handle everything. My overwhelming strength has created a disconnect with you all."
In truth, it wasn't entirely the fault of the Shadow members for not working hard. When Ye Feng had his accident, it was also a disaster for the Shadow faction. In that catastrophe, Shadow suffered heavy losses, not only in terms of age but also in terms of strength.
Bai Cha's parents' generation was almost wiped out. The Lang Mo family was an anomaly; his parents were both average, getting lost on the way to the battlefield. Fewer than five members of other families were fortunate enough to survive.
The rest were the younger generation. Those over twenty-five were few and far between; most were newly promoted youths with shallow strength and little experience. If it weren't for this, Bai Cha wouldn't have become so dominant on her own.
Xiang Nan fell silent.
Sometimes he did think that Bai Cha was too powerful. Everyone had too much faith in her, to the point where Bai Cha had even become a belief.
For the neutral faction, the word "belief" was perhaps too strong, but calling her "Mom" wouldn't be an exaggeration. Xiang Nan sometimes felt that the neutral faction members were like spoiled brats, always with their mouths open waiting to be fed by their mothers.
"By my estimation, more than half of the neutral faction no longer fully supports us. This has to do with the Light faction and the benefits they can reap. Even if they are wary of me, it's ultimately futile for the overall direction," Bai Cha said, tapping the table. "The internal situation of country Z is unstable. Even if I try every means to break through, without the full support of the decision-makers, it will be difficult for us to turn things around."
The decision-makers were not just the big shots but the entire neutral faction. The big shots were the most influential among the decision-makers, but none could dominate alone.
During the two years Ye Feng sacrificed himself, the neutral faction had indeed given Bai Cha their full support; otherwise, Bai Cha wouldn't have been able to establish herself so quickly. But now, the tide had clearly shifted.
"Externally, the situation is unstable. The closer the crisis gets, the more people want to take advantage and seize benefits that don't belong to them," Bai Cha said. "Furthermore, within our ranks, Li Rong and Su Qing are doing relatively well. Their relationship has been stable. Unfortunately, my chosen successor, Meng Qinghuan, has had a change of heart, which is why I had to promote you."
Bai Cha looked into Xiang Nan's eyes and said directly, "Most people in Shadow no longer wish to be involved in the struggle. As for you, Xiang Nan, you are not yet suitable to lead Shadow. I wouldn't have promoted you if it weren't absolutely necessary."
Xiang Nan remained silent for a long time, then rubbed his hair. In many ways, Xiang Nan was very well-behaved for Bai Cha. It was just that occasionally he would show his sharp edges. Having sharp edges was a good thing, but for the current situation, it was fatal.
"Many of your unconventional ideas are actually quite sound, but they are all based on me as your fallback. This is a very bad habit," Bai Cha softened her tone. "To become a true leader, you must have the ability to coordinate all forces. Your grasp of the overall picture is strong, and if everyone were under your control, it would be fine. But now, the hearts of the people in Shadow are already divided."
"Moreover, many of your plans are not well-thought-out and would sacrifice many innocent people. The people are paramount; no matter what, we must minimize losses, mustn't we?" Bai Cha said. "The current situation is no longer suitable for your attempts."
In terms of battlefield arrangements, Bai Cha had praised Xiang Nan early on, even surpassing Meng Qinghuan. However, Xiang Nan was not as smooth as Meng Qinghuan, had less influence, and lacked cohesion. He was always brooding alone. Therefore, Bai Cha's intended role for him was that of a behind-the-scenes strategist.
But now, a fatal problem had arisen: most of the Shadow members refused, or rather, were trying to evade the worldly schemes and struggles. At least, they had lost the desire to fight.
Those who resisted had given up their resistance due to improvements in their lives, forgetting the past and their original intentions.
"Your abilities and comprehension are not lacking. In fact, there is little more I can teach you," Bai Cha stood up and patted Lucifer's hand, signaling him to stop massaging her.
Bai Cha walked to the window, looking at the sparkling seaweed and the occasional schools of fish outside the glass, lost in thought.
Not far away, Cang Liu sat on a shell, with Gu Mingze by his side. Bai Cha said nothing, merely quietly admiring the beautiful underwater scenery and enjoying this rare moment of relaxation.
"Brother, aren't we leaving yet?" Gu Mingze held a handful of shells and pearls. His fingers were a bit red; he had been pinched by a crab earlier, and it still hurt.
Because of the鲛珠 (Jiao Zhu - likely a magical pearl), he couldn't stray too far from Cang Liu, so he continued to follow him. However, there were so many novel things here, and Gu Mingze was quite enjoying himself.
"As expected, the same expression," Cang Liu's sudden, sigh-like statement left Gu Mingze somewhat bewildered. Gu Mingze curiously followed Cang Liu's gaze and saw Bai Cha leaning against the glass, her expression unreadable.
"Expression?" Gu Mingze scratched his head. "She does look quite beautiful."
He couldn't decipher any particular expression, only sensing that Bai Cha was calmly contemplating, likely thinking about some problem.
Sometimes Gu Mingze marveled at why there was such a perfect person as Bai Cha in the world. Although a bit disappointed, he still understood Cang Liu's feelings for Bai Cha very well.
So capable, beautiful, and cool – a dream lover, wasn't she? If he had been beaten half to death, and then a curvaceous beauty in a dazzling Ferrari had come to save him, he would have fallen for her too.
"It's happening again, that look of resolved sacrifice," Cang Liu habitually raised his hand, then suddenly realized he was underwater and not wearing his cloak like on land, so he stopped.
"Huh? Resolved sacrifice?" Gu Mingze was a bit confused. He genuinely couldn't tell if that expression was one of resolved sacrifice. "Besides, what do you mean 'again'? Has it happened before?"
Gu Mingze was very curious, but Cang Liu didn't want to elaborate. He jumped off the shell and walked back to his dwelling.
Gu Mingze quickly followed. In the sea, Cang Liu was his most reliable and sturdy support. Without Cang Liu, he was just a landlubber who would truly drown.
"Is it worth it?"
This was the second time Xiang Nan had said this to her.
The last time, while playing chess in the quiet room, when Bai Cha told him that if it came to it, she could sacrifice herself to preserve the larger picture, he had said the same thing.
"Bai, I don't even know what we're doing anymore. The world is too vast, and we can't protect it all. We're just moths flying into a flame," Xiang Nan said, a little agitated, his face flushed with urgency. "Although I'm fortunate to have served the country without regret for a lifetime, those bastards in the neutral faction no longer trust us!"
He actually knew they didn't have much fighting power left, but he still held onto a sliver of hope, which Bai Cha had now unceremoniously shattered. After a brief moment of panic came a tidal wave of unwillingness.
Xiang Nan lowered his head, irritably scratching the ferocious scar on his lips. He felt it was all in vain. What he had defended by abandoning his hatred was suddenly collapsing. Until his hand was grasped by a pair of even colder, smaller hands, and a clear voice, more melodious than flowing water, seemed to offer solace.
"Why do you think I've persevered until now because of the neutral faction?"
Xiang Nan looked up, stunned. He saw the woman in front of him smiling at him, her tone gentle. "I can see the situation clearly, and I still refuse to yield. Ultimately, it's all to carve out a path for you all."
That was why she had tried every means to turn the situation around, rather than giving up or leaving directly.
"I don't need to be a moth flying into the flame, because I am the flame itself," Bai Cha smiled faintly. "I ignite everything simply hoping that you all in the future can live like true youths, don't make the same choice I did."
These words sounded familiar; Ye Feng had said them before.
Xiang Nan clearly remembered watching the video recording of Ye Feng's last mobilization rally, his final audio message.
"I will burn hope to create a future for everyone, so you must keep moving forward, and don't make the same choice I did."
At that time, Ye Feng had said the same thing.
"What are you saying?" Xiang Nan let Bai Cha hold his hand, placing Bai Cha's hand on his forehead, his voice muffled, with a hint of grievance. "You're also a youth; you're clearly younger than all of us."
Bai Cha smiled. She was indeed young, but sometimes even she forgot her true age.
Bai Cha: "Don't learn from me, Xiang Nan. You all will definitely become very promising individuals."
"You are also very promising, Bai. You and us, you can't give up either." Xiang Nan's heart sank halfway, but he stepped forward, put his arm around Bai Cha's shoulders, and rested his chin on her shoulder. "Bai, you are the most clear-headed person, rational and powerful. You will definitely succeed."
Xiang Nan was a very reserved person. This was the first time he had boldly and impulsively embraced Bai Cha.
He was a bit short, about the same height as Bai Cha. His build, like Bai Cha's, was somewhat narrow, making the two appear similarly tall and lean. Xiang Nan hugged her tightly, as if to conceal his fear, wishing he could melt her into his embrace.
At that moment, Lucifer felt that Xiang Nan and Bai Cha were very similar, both in their physique and their faces, they actually looked somewhat alike.
"Pfft... What do you mean clear-headed?" Bai Cha, struggling to breathe from the embrace, gently patted Xiang Nan's back and shook her head helplessly. "I've drawn boundaries for myself, trapped myself between reality and expectations. I've clearly fallen, stubbornly pursuing an outcome. Can this be considered clear-headed?"
After an unknown period, Xiang Nan finally calmed down. Seeing the dejected Xiang Nan, Bai Cha didn't say much more, merely asking him to go back and compose himself.
"Master," Xiang Nan left, and Lucifer closed the door, speaking softly, "I will not let you die."
Bai Cha was startled and didn't respond.
"I will protect you. I am as powerful as you, and I can turn the tide in your stead. Just give the word," Lucifer walked in front of Bai Cha and suddenly knelt on one knee, which made Bai Cha a bit flustered.
"As your dragon, I should protect you. You said you wanted to change the world into what we desire. You must not rush to your death," Lucifer looked at Bai Cha, his expression resolute, as if he would truly lay down his life if Bai Cha gave the command.
Bai Cha was speechless. She remembered how she had sworn an oath to the national flag when she became a true member of Shadow.
"As I hold this position, I am a guardian. I swear by honor, at the cost of my life, to purify all directions and offer my heart to country Z."
But now, all she felt was powerlessness.
She was wrong. Not long ago, Bai Cha suddenly realized her exceptionally talented father's only failure in his entire life.
Ye Feng paid with his death and blood, yet he couldn't even awaken his own daughter.
He had failed.
That was why Shadow was repeating its mistakes.
"I will consider it."
Bai Cha lay on the coral bed. The soft seaweed and coral were even more comfortable than a Simmons mattress, but Bai Cha couldn't sleep.
She thought of many things – the past, the present, and their future.