He said, and then suddenly rose to his feet, walking behind Mister Tao, he drew out a handkerchief, and meticulously wiped away the rheum from the corners of his eyes and the saliva at the edges of his mouth.

Mister Tao cooperated by lifting his chin, baring his throat before this formidable enemy, utterly indifferent and allowing him to do as he pleased.

"Truly, I'm flattered."

An indistinct voice lamented, "I thought it was just some spy or secret agent, but who would have thought that the Sacrificial Master Saint of the Evil Cult, would care for me like a nanny, always by my side, for nine years?"

He said, "Such determination and perseverance is admirable."

"Likewise."

Lu Changsheng sighed lightly, "For the past nine years, Mister Tao has tirelessly campaigned day after day, for Spring City, for a city that has long ceased to exist and been forgotten by others, investing so much. As devious and wicked as I am, I cannot help but sincerely admire you."

"Ancient people said, 'To emerge from the mud unsoiled.' But I fear that even a white lotus, if sentient, would despise the mud, wouldn't it?"

He folded the handkerchief neatly, placing it on the table in front of Mister Tao, fulfilling his duties as a secretary and assistant for the last time, then returned to the opposite side of the table, sat up straight, and asked solemnly, "Why can't you come to my side?"

Mister Tao sneered, laughing in disdain, "The filth of a single house might be swept clean. But if one were to act like an old turtle, wallowing in the mud and finding delight in it, that would be truly incurable."

"But you know all of this, don't you?"

Lu Changsheng shook his head, "You should have always known… not just that there was a problem with the identity of your secretary beside you."

"The perfunctory attitude of Central City, the scorn of the council. The Federation has long been determined to expand westward. Decades ago Spring City had already been abandoned. Otherwise, how could they have allowed you to stand alone for so long?"

"Exhausting all your strength, overextending every ounce of credit, wagering the future and yourself to take over such a mess as the steward of Hai Province, yet everyone by your side are like me, contemptible and vile, each harboring their own Ghost Fetuses."

"The Governor of Cliff City, who feigns death daily after exile; the lackey in Ship City who defected to Central City and only scrapes money for his master; the incompetent in Tide City, who clings to power and authority and refuses to let go; the ruthless military, eager to seize this opportunity for a mass slaughter…"

"And the so-called directors of the Security Bureau, those who scrape by doing the bare minimum, those who take advantage of situations to pull strings, the insincere responders, even that Lv Yingyue you most trust is an opportunist, one who won't release the hawk until she sees the rabbit, waiting for others to wade through the blood first, then calmly harvesting the fruits for herself… Ambitious to this degree, perhaps she has long coveted your position as the steward of Hai Province."

Lu Changsheng questioned, "Is this the Tian Yuan you follow? With this bunch of people, how can you accomplish anything?"

Mister Tao didn't speak.

Just looked at him.

Not discouraged or displeased, but rather like looking at a fool.

"…Isn't this exactly what Tian Yuan is?" he retorted as a matter of course.

This caused Lu Changsheng's expression to waver slightly.

"That's right, this is Tian Yuan, Lu Changsheng."

Mister Tao shook his head with pity, "Don't you understand? Even if they are contemptible and vile, even if they are a bunch of people each harboring their own devious plots, now that they've Aggregated together, don't they still cause concern and unease among you rats?"

Disputes, internal strife, ambition, hatred, scheming, compassion, courage, greed…

None of these actually matter; they are all trifling details of no great importance.

It doesn't matter where they come from, what their purposes are, or their gender, age, race, or categorization—people who should be naturally opposed and incompatible, can still walk shoulder-to-shoulder, integrating into the same framework and order, following its rules and regulations.

Those who were once disunited like grains of sand, now combined and united, can even trustingly turn their backs to those completely unlike themselves, even those they personally disdain...

Isn't this a miracle?

Isn't this truly the most solemn and boundless Power in this world?

"Great is Tian Yuan! Glorious is Tian Yuan!!"

Mister Tao laughed heartily, his voice indistinct and hoarse, from his seat he stretched out his withered and slender arms, presenting this achievement, "What I have pursued and admired, hasn't it always been right before your eyes for these nine years?

I have never concealed it; yet why haven't you noticed, Lu Changsheng?

When I see mountains high and waters long, I know of Tian Yuan's vast and boundless expanse, and what does the landscape you see with your eyes look like?"

Lu Changsheng was silent.

For a long time.

From within the prolonged stillness, admiration accompanied by a sigh.

"The heart of Mister Tao is firm as a rock, I fear that not even someone as lascivious as myself can shake it. I am impressed."

"I don't care," said Mister Tao.

"I know."

Lu Changsheng lowered his eyes, looking at the chaos of the chessboard between the two, placed his hand on the Tian Yuan position at the center, "I still want to play another game of chess with you."

"Speak."

"Still the same as before, just like just now, do as you please—you and I, the Security Bureau and the Evil Cult, Hai Province and the Evil Foolish, let's settle this once and for all."

He said, "Rest assured, I won't detonate Spring City, causing the situation to be irredeemable. If the Heavenly People don't show up, let's determine the ownership of Spring City based on the outcome of our duel, how about that?"

He proposed, "If you win, take Spring City and I'll turn around and leave. If you lose, you can discard the agreement and prepare a new stand for an open battle to the death with us.

How does that sound?"

Tao Gong didn't answer.

His murky eyes lowered, groggy as if lost in thought, but after a long while, when those eyes lifted again, they became sharp.

Like a blade stripped of dust and rust, bone-chillingly cold.

"So that's how it is..."

He murmured in realization, "So this was your plan from the beginning, wasn't it?

You gathered all these Evil Foolish forces and prepared for so many years, as if you wanted to recklessly clash head-on with the Security Bureau in this world? Why?"

"Why?" Lu Changsheng suddenly asked back, the same question.

"Hmm?"

"Why, in Tao Gong's view, must we skulk around?" Lu Changsheng asked curiously, "I don't understand why someone like me should live like a rat that shuns the light, hiding in corners you can't see, scavenging off decay?

To the extent that everyone in the Evil Cult feels: This is right, this is normal?

The rats have been crawling in the gutters for too long, fearing the daylight. But why do you look down on me as a matter of course?

These years, I've been pondering this question—"

He broke into a grin, "What if one day, an audacious rat takes the lead, calls to arms, and the serpents and rats climb out from the sewers, marching proudly through the streets in broad daylight, dancing with flamboyance, will those terrified screaming lords realize: Turns out there are others who coexist with them under the same sky?

Or will they still block their ears, cover their eyes, deceive themselves, and pretend to see nothing?"

Tao Gong looked down, restraining the coldness in his eyes, "Are you ready to provoke Tian Yuan, ready to be utterly destroyed?"

"Does Tao Gong truly believe I have the power to turn the world upside down?"

Lu Changsheng asked proudly, "And how can you be so sure I would fear so-called total destruction?"

For a moment, the silent room seemed to reveal infinite ripples, with the malice lurking beneath the sea rising like an iceberg, exposing its ferocity.

But eventually, everything quietly dissipated.

Hidden once more.

All the while, Lu Changsheng made no move, showing no emotion.

Only the old man on the chair sighed softly, "Unlike those fools who embrace Evil Foolishness in pursuit of power and ambition, you indeed are a great menace of the world."

"Perhaps so, but in time, maybe the real menace lies within Tao Gong, within the Federation, within the Empire, within you Superior People!"

Lu Changsheng laughed heartily, stretching out his hand.

Waiting.

Until Tao Gong's frail hand slowly raised.

They struck hands together.

A pact sealed with a clap.

Within five days, here in Spring City, a decisive battle!

The sound of the clap faded, and Lu Changsheng, like an apparition, vanished from sight.

The office returned to dead silence, with only the frail old man on the chair remaining, his eyes closed, drifting off to sleep.

And on the chessboard, amidst the chaotic arrangement, a strangled black piece slipped away, revealing a white piece buried beneath.

Helplessly bathed in the turbulent Flame Light reflected from outside the window, it trembled continuously with the ground's shaking.

It lay askew at the edge of the unfinished game, unable to affect the approaching storm, yet with nowhere to flee.

Unable to live, yet unwilling to die.

Thus, amidst the upheaval, helpless and with great difficulty, it moved slightly...

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