Liu Xuan Ran's rare kindness was rejected but he was not angry, still smiling with a radiant demeanor.
"I knew you were stubborn. I didn't really plan to insert anyone by your side."
He shifted his gaze to Si Feng Wu, "San Sheng Lou and Han Xiao Dian are not entirely filled with the fools you've seen before.
The hidden aristocratic clans that have been passed down for thousands of years still have some foundation, and you are also aware of their original purpose.
Instead of expending great effort to destroy them, have you considered taking them for yourselves?"
How could Lu Qing Wan and Si Feng Wu not be tempted by the prospect of having two powerful forces like San Sheng Lou and Han Xiao Dian at their disposal?
However, as Liu Xuan Ran had said, Lu Qing Wan and Si Feng Wu clearly knew that the foundation of San Sheng Lou and Han Xiao Dian was not to be underestimated, so they had never intended to confront them head-on from the beginning.
It would have been easy to unleash powerful artillery fire and completely raze the mysterious island to the ground.
But to claim San Sheng Lou and Han Xiao Dian for themselves right now, Lu Qing Wan and Si Feng Wu were self-aware enough to know that they couldn't do it, at least not yet.
Therefore, Lu Qing Wan pointed to herself and Si Feng Wu and asked Liu Xuan Ran frankly, "We, take San Sheng Lou and Han Xiao Dian for ourselves?
Are you insulting our intelligence, or yours and your two old buddies'?"
Earlier, hearing Liu Xuan Ran advise them against a head-on confrontation and suggest artillery bombardment, they thought he had some grasp of the situation, but now he was talking nonsense.
Lu Qing Wan was truly speechless.
However, these blunt and clear-headed words amused Liu Xuan Ran, and even Master Liao Kong, who was beside them with a complicated mood, couldn't help but twitch his lips.
Liu Xuan Ran then stroked his beard and said, "You do have self-awareness.
Since you are so intelligent, how do you know I'm not asking you to take back the entire San Sheng Lou and Lian Hua Tai?
Can't you take back only what you can manage within your capabilities?
Even a mosquito's leg is still meat. I heard you've always been a miser, why are you so generous today?"
As soon as these words, neither soft nor hard, but directly hitting Lu Qing Wan's miserly nature, were spoken, it was Si Feng Wu and Lian Yu's turn to chuckle.
Even though Lu Qing Wan had always considered herself strong-willed, she blushed at this moment.
She nudged Si Feng Wu's arm with her little finger, pinching the soft flesh on the inside of his arm. He naturally clasped her troublesome hand in his and solemnly bowed to Liu Xuan Ran, "Please, Palace Master, enlighten us."
This ability to bend and stretch made Lu Qing Wan raise an eyebrow.
Liu Xuan Ran also showed a hint of surprise, but soon turned his head towards the bamboo mat with a rosewood tea set laid out, "Why don't we sit down and talk?"
After receiving a response from Lu Qing Wan and Si Feng Wu, he looked at Master Liao Kong.
"It is rumored that the vegetarian cuisine at Xiang Guo Temple is the best in Xin Du. This is everyone's first visit since the temple relocated. Master, you won't be stingy with a meal, will you?"
The latter bowed and recited a Buddhist mantra, then signaled a young monk to arrange the vegetarian meal.
Liu Xuan Ran didn't need anyone to ask further. He sat there, brewing tea, and offering advice to Lu Qing Wan and Si Feng Wu.
"You already know the original intentions behind the establishment of San Sheng Lou and Han Xiao Dian, so I won't elaborate.
Indeed, many unworthy descendants have emerged from these two sects over the years, and their actions are contrary to the teachings left by Empress Qing Huang and National Master Nan Xuan.
But you must understand that in this era, many young people are still willing to join these two major sects because San Sheng Lou and Han Xiao Dian are more humane than various imperial courts and can better serve the common people.
Therefore, the hearts of this part of the people are still pure.
Moreover, the threshold to enter these two major sects is not low. If you can win over these people, the stabilization and maturity period of the new dynasty will surely be greatly shortened.
Not to mention the future war with the northern kingdoms, at least you won't be inferior."
As he spoke, he placed two booklets on the table, "Of course, this is merely a suggestion from an elder's perspective.
If you do not trust these people, you can choose not to adopt this suggestion.
You can proceed with San Sheng Lou and Han Xiao Dian according to your original plan, and I will not interfere."
Lu Qing Wan and Si Feng Wu did not rush to speak. They patiently took the booklets and saw that they were personnel rosters.
They indicated the time of entry for some disciples of San Sheng Lou, their social status within San Sheng Lou and in the outside world, and the resume of the individual.
The booklets were not thick, and considering the depth of the individuals' information, there were only a few hundred people in total across the two books.
Lu Qing Wan glanced at the booklet in Si Feng Wu's hand, and indeed, it was the roster for Han Xiao Dian.
The two rosters were not identical, but one thing was consistent: most of the people on the rosters were mid-to-high-level management of San Sheng Lou and Han Xiao Dian, which Lu Qing Wan found quite interesting.
She looked at Liu Xuan Ran in surprise, "All information about the mid-to-high-level management personnel of San Sheng Lou and Han Xiao Dian.
Has the function of the Reincarnation Hall become so powerful?"
It was not that she doubted whether the Reincarnation Hall should be able to find such information, but this intelligence was too detailed.
Liu Xuan Ran took a sip of tea and savored it, his expression somewhat helpless upon hearing this.
"Actually, before that old scoundrel Meng Fu Yuan entered the power center of Han Xiao Dian, Han Xiao Dian was not what it is today.
San Sheng Lou, like the Reincarnation Hall, was clean, occasionally practiced medicine and helped the people, and did not violate the遗训 of Empress Qing Huang.
But after that old thing Meng Fu Yuan became the Grand Elder of Han Xiao Dian, he first made Han Xiao Dian a mess, and then he messed up San Sheng Lou.
These materials were not investigated by me, but were entrusted to me by the old members of San Sheng Lou and Han Xiao Dian.
Their original intention was for me to take in these two groups of people, to at least leave a clean seed for San Sheng Lou and Han Xiao Dian.
But as things stand today, in my opinion, San Sheng Lou and Han Xiao Dian, which have rotted to this extent, are no longer necessary."
Liu Xuan Ran's expression did not change much as he spoke, but his tone was full of pain.
"How glorious were Empress Qing Huang and National Master Nan Xuan.
When they handed over San Sheng Lou and Han Xiao Dian, they probably never imagined that the sects they painstakingly created to save the world would become what they are today.
Instead of letting them rot to the core and ruin the noble reputation of Empress Qing Huang and National Master Nan Xuan, it would be better to destroy them before they become infamous.
At least, their esteemed reputation can be preserved."
Thus, Lu Qing Wan and Si Feng Wu understood Liu Xuan Ran's painstaking efforts.
She roughly flipped through the roster, "Judging by the status of these people, they haven't entered the headquarters yet, have they?"
Liu Xuan Ran understood her meaning from her words and said, "No.
Rest assured, these people will not interfere with your plan to bombard and destroy the island.
Moreover, San Sheng Lou and Han Xiao Dian recruit orphans with extraordinary talents. Most of these people are not yet married. Once cultivated, you will not have to worry about their loyalty to you at all."