The List

"Whether my Prime Minister's Manor has leeway to spare is not something for you to trouble yourself with, Imperial Preceptor Ran." Xu Yinhe smiled faintly, his voice tinged with a chill. "You need only know that the emergence of the Overseeing Heaven Pavilion threatens the position of your Tianyuan Sword Sect, and my manor is willing to serve as the blade." "Hahahaha..." Hearing this response, Ran Jianli laughed heartily, the sound vibrating across the tranquil lake. When his laughter faded, Ran Jianli fixed the Chancellor before him with a humorless smile and murmured: "Though the Overseeing Heaven Pavilion has emerged, their stance remains unclear. Whether they truly threaten my Tianyuan Sword Sect is still uncertain. But if I join hands with you, then they will certainly become a threat to my Tianyuan Sword Sect." With that, Ran Jianli seemed to recall something and suddenly smiled: "I might as well let you in on something. In truth, within our Sect Alliance, many millennium-old sects reject the Overseeing Heaven Pavilion. As for why—even if I don't say it, you ought to know." Due to the Overseeing Heaven Pavilion's constant clandestine machinations over the past ten thousand years, most information concerning them in this world had been destroyed, reduced to closely guarded secrets known to very few. Even fewer knew that the Overseeing Heaven Pavilion Master possessed the ability to divine the future. Yet, they had once been the supreme hegemon when sects reigned over the realm. No matter how thoroughly the Overseeing Heaven Pavilion destroyed those records, these millennium-old sects still possessed some traces in their archives. Thus, rejecting the Overseeing Heaven Pavilion required no justification at all. After all, no one wanted another Supreme Sovereign perched above their heads. What was more, this Supreme Sovereign was unlike Di'an City, for he could accurately predict every single step of one's future. As the two spoke, they had quietly arrived before a wooden walkway leading to the pavilion at the center of the lake. Xu Yinhe turned in silence and walked toward the center of the wetland lake. Ran Jianli followed behind him. Seeing that he said nothing, he asked with a chuckle: "What, Lord Chancellor, cat got your tongue?" Xu Yinhe exhaled gently, countering in a calm tone: "That may be true now. But what about later?" "..." Ran Jianli's gaze suddenly froze. Some things did not need to be spelled out between the two of them. Their positions, their knowledge, and their intelligence had already made it clear that the Great Yan Dynasty was currently like a Source Crystal nearing overload. Even a trace, negligible wisp of Source Qi channeled into it would cause it to detonate instantly. Although the gazettes across Great Yan reported that the Barbarians were wiped out and the northern border war had ended, in truth, this was merely the beginning. The first battle between the Imperial Court and the sects had already been ignited there. Right now, only the sects in the Northern Border were suffering. Since danger had not yet threatened their own survival, the other sects naturally rejected the Overseeing Heaven Pavilion. But if things truly reached that point... Should the Overseeing Heaven Pavilion extend a helping hand, the very sects leading the push against them would likely drop straight to their knees in a sliding grovel to "welcome the imperial host." Ran Jianli followed Xu Yinhe's steps for dozens of paces, then suddenly sighed softly: "Be that as it may, Xu Yinhe, you and I have known each other for decades. I know all too well what kind of man you are. The number of people you've schemed to death that I personally know of already exceeds both hands." The people Ran Jianli spoke of were naturally no small fry; each had been a formidable figure who once wielded immense authority. And the most prominent among them was the biological father of the Sovereign currently seated in Jinluan Hall. Xu Yinhe pondered for several breaths, then asked: "What do you want to know?" Ran Jianli grinned: "If you want to cooperate, you must offer something tangible, mustn't you? At the very least, give me the bottom line." "The bottom line?" Xu Yinhe shook his head and countered, "You said it yourself just now: you know full well what kind of man I am. Then you should know even better that anything I set out to do is backed by absolute certainty. Besides, you should already have the answer in your heart." Ran Jianli scratched his cheek, an understanding gleam flashing in his hale, spirited eyes: "It seems that during the two hours I spent waiting outside your gates, you already spoke to Li Yaoxuan about this..." At this point, Ran Jianli's tone abruptly shifted: "Xu Yinhe, you aren't playing both sides, are you? First promising Li Yaoxuan that I would participate, and then promising me that Li Yaoxuan would participate... Heh." Xu Yinhe's steps came to a sudden halt. Looking back, a faint, imperceptible smile appeared in his eyes: "Does that matter?" A smile mirrored in Ran Jianli's eyes as he uttered three words: "It doesn't." Footsteps sounded once more as the two entered the pavilion built at the center of the wetland lake one after the other in silence. Taking their seats, Xu Yinhe gave a slight wave of his sleeve, and an exquisite tea set instantly appeared upon the table. Seeing the tea set, Ran Jianli frowned in dissatisfaction: "Got any wine? You know I don't drink tea." "I do know." Xu Yinhe ignored his grumbling, quietly igniting a small flame as he casually began to heat water and brew tea. "This is for myself." "..." Smacking his lips, Ran Jianli let out a snort. With a heavy thud, he pulled a jar of fine, prized wine from his Sumeru ring and set it on the table. Yet despite the jar's heavy impact, the tea wares upon the table did not budge in the slightest. Seeing this, Ran Jianli felt rather bored. He picked up the wine jar, tilted it to his mouth, and took several heavy gulps. The fiery liquor burned down his throat, drawing a soft breath. He asked once more: "How do you plan to carry this out specifically?" Xu Yinhe watched the flames dancing beneath the fine porcelain pot, his voice soft and slow: "I intend to assassinate every single member of the Overseeing Heaven Pavilion's upper echelon." Ran Jianli froze for an instant, then frowned: "Are you joking with me?" Xu Yinhe raised his gaze slightly: "Do I look like someone who jokes?" Ran Jianli's frown deepened. His calloused index finger rubbed against the smooth rim of the wine jar as he uttered four words: "That breaks the rules." "The one who broke the rules first wasn't me." "..." Silence. Xu Yinhe's words, the faint killing intent lingering about him, and his current decision all evoked certain memories in Ran Jianli. He asked softly: "Who among your subordinates or family was assassinated?" Xu Yinhe did not answer, his eyes as still as a withered well. Time ticked away in this eerie silence until the spring water inside the porcelain pot began to boil. Only then did Ran Jianli venture to ask: "It couldn't be that bastard Xu Changtian, could it?" "..." Xu Yinhe still didn't reply. He merely picked up the tea wares before him, warming the utensils, measuring out the tea, and pouring the water with practiced, calm movements. Pouring a cup of fragrant tea, Xu Yinhe brought it to his lips, blew on it, and said: "Mm." Hearing this, Ran Jianli instinctively glanced in the direction where Qingmo was, a complicated look entering his eyes. The sound of boiling water continued for a dozen breaths before Ran Jianli said in a low, heavy voice: "To tell you the truth, Xu Yinhe, after hearing this plan of yours, I had no desire to get involved. But with Qingmo's temperament, if she were to find out about this, she would likely storm right to their doorsteps... "So, "what do you want me to do?" Xu Yinhe drained the fragrant tea in his cup in one gulp and said: "Within your Sect Alliance, there are sects affiliated with the Overseeing Heaven Pavilion. I need a list." Ran Jianli pondered briefly: "I am currently investigating this matter as well. It will take time." "The sooner the better." "Understood." Ran Jianli asked, "Do you have any other conditions?" Xu Yinhe shook his head, his tone soft yet chilling: "None. You only need to provide me with a list and their possible locations." Ran Jianli nodded slightly and murmured: "In that case, let me state my conditions as well." "Speak," Xu Yinhe nodded. "For now, do not tell my disciple about this matter. As for how to keep it from her, figure that out yourself." "Mm." "Also, guarantee her safety within Di'an City." "Mm." "Once everything is concluded, have Feng Jiuxuan personally escort her back to Mount Tianyuan." "Mm." With those words spoken, Ran Jianli gazed toward the north and sighed softly: "Even with Feng Jiuxuan going there in person, he still couldn't save Xu Yuan...?"