Song Kaijiang paused upon hearing this, a possibility flashing through his mind.
However, this possibility was fleeting, as he deemed it absolutely impossible.
"Grandpa, didn't you understand what I meant?"
Seeing that his grandfather wasn't showing much shock, Song Anguo was utterly perplexed.
"I understood,"
Song Kaijiang said calmly, "After that brat surnamed Chen killed Anbang, knowing he was in the wrong, he must have gone to the Bear Country overnight, exerted himself to the utmost, killed that Lusyev, took his head, and then rushed back to the Northern Territory to curry favor with the Chief.
"I admit it's impressive that he could do this, but what does it prove? Some top assassins can do what he can do!
"If you judge from this that Chen Xiao can defeat the Nine Thousand Year Old, you are gravely mistaken!"
Song Kaijiang looked at his useless grandson with utter disdain in his eyes.
It was as if he were mocking his grandson for being ignorant.
"Alas."
Song Anguo sighed, "Grandpa, you still haven't understood my meaning. The key is the twenty minutes Chen Xiao was out... I admit that with sufficient preparation, many assassins can assassinate a general of the country. But who else besides Chen Xiao can so casually infiltrate a foreign military base and take the head of their general?"
"You mean that brat surnamed Chen killed Lusyev in those twenty-odd minutes?"
Song Kaijiang asked incredulously.
"What else do you think I'm talking about?"
Song Anguo rolled his eyes.
"Impossible, this is absolutely impossible!"
Song Kaijiang vehemently refuted.
To take an enemy general's head from thousands of miles away as if plucking something from one's pocket was a divine ability. How could a mere mortal accomplish this?
But a moment later, Song Kaijiang, having calmed down, felt his spirit wane.
Because he knew that what he considered 'absolutely impossible' had actually happened.
And this was the key to the Chief's change in attitude.
For a moment, Song Kaijiang slumped onto his chair, his mind in turmoil.
Seeing his grandfather in this state, Song Anguo knew he had realized what kind of existence Chen Xiao was.
He seized the opportunity to push further, "Grandpa, now you know how terrifying Chen Xiao is, right? Frankly, if the country had to choose between the Song family and Chen Xiao, the Song family wouldn't even have a ten percent chance of winning.
"As for the Nine Thousand Year Old, of course, I don't know the Nine Thousand Year Old's strength, and I can't guarantee that Chen Xiao can definitely defeat the Nine Thousand Year Old.
"If, and I mean if, the Nine Thousand Year Old loses, then there will be no room for reconciliation between our Song family and Chen Xiao, and the Song family will be plunged into eternal damnation!
"So, do you still want to avenge this grudge?"
After saying the last sentence, Song Anguo curled his lips, showing a hint of smugness.
"No more."
Song Kaijiang shook his head blankly.
He understood that this was a gamble. If they won, apart from venting their anger, the Song family would gain nothing.
But if they lost, the Song family... would cease to exist.
"Grandpa, I think not only should we not avenge this grudge, but we should also try our best to befriend Chen Xiao. Now, there is a golden opportunity right before you."
Song Anguo said.
"What are you plotting now?"
Song Kaijiang suddenly felt that this useless grandson wasn't as useless as he thought.
"Didn't you want me to deliver a message to Chen Xiao? You can use this opportunity to go and beg for forgiveness!"
Song Anguo said.
"Beg for forgiveness? Why? That brat killed my grandson, and I haven't done anything to him!"
Song Kaijiang's eyes widened again.
"Grandpa, I didn't ask you to beg Chen Xiao for forgiveness. I'm referring to our grievances with the Li family. As far as I know, Li Ziqing and An Ran are good friends. She won't make things difficult for you out of respect for An Ran."
Song Anguo said with certainty.
"Li Ziqing and An Ran are good friends? But didn't you just say that An Ran and Chen Xiao..."
The relationships between young people were too complicated, and Grandpa Song couldn't understand them.
"Grandpa, don't dwell on these details. Let them resolve their relationships. Now, there is an opportunity for our Song family to prosper before us!"
Seeing his grandfather following his plan step by step, Song Anguo was excited.
"What do you mean by prosper?"
Song Kaijiang felt that he was truly getting old, unable to keep up with Song Anguo's train of thought.
"Grandpa, think about it. The banquet tomorrow remains unchanged, but our Song family's stance has changed. If Chen Xiao defeats the Nine Thousand Year Old, the other four major families will surely not fare well. Then, won't our Song family be the sole dominant power in the imperial city!"
Song Anguo began to indulge in his daydreams!
"And if Chen Xiao loses?"
"If he loses, he loses. We are not allied with Chen Xiao, so what does his loss have to do with us?"
Song Anguo said matter-of-factly.
"You want me to go and beg Li Ziqing for forgiveness, and then if I go to Baxian Tower, everything will be exposed!"
Song Kaijiang sneered. In his opinion, Song Anguo was still too naive and hadn't thought things through thoroughly!
However, he didn't expect Song Anguo to be prepared for this. "Why don't you just say you caught a cold when you went out last night and are bedridden? The other old fellows won't find fault with that!"
"..."
Song Kaijiang's mouth twitched, and he couldn't speak for a long time.
"Grandpa, what's wrong?"
Song Anguo asked with concern. Seeing his grandfather's twitching mouth, he thought the old man was having a stroke.
"Alas!"
Song Kaijiang sighed, "I, Song Kaijiang, have lived a life of integrity and uprightness. How did I end up with such a cunning and sly grandson!"
Song Anguo chuckled, because he could tell that his grandfather wasn't actually scolding him.
"Hehehe, Grandpa, this isn't cunning and sly. This is called being a wise person who knows the times, and a good bird choosing a tree to perch on. The most important thing in life is to make the right choices. As long as you make two or three key choices correctly, you can be worry-free for a lifetime!"
Hearing this 'twisted logic', Song Kaijiang shook his head helplessly.
In his heart, he still preferred his domineering grandson.
But he had to admit that Song Anguo's words today had made him look at him with new respect.
"You can go out now. Grandpa is tired and needs to rest."
Song Kaijiang waved his hand, signaling Song Anguo to leave.
"Then tomorrow..."
Song Anguo looked at his grandfather expectantly.
"We'll do as you say."
Song Kaijiang made the final decision.