National Preceptor Shuangye's Methods

"On the surface, this letter of his seems humble and respectful, but in truth, he is being thoroughly brazen." Xi Yunhe dared not make a sound. Even he could see it; how could National Preceptor Shuangye fail to notice? He Lingchuan dared to shield the Burrow Spider Queen and pin the Beijia squad to the ground—wasn't he relying on his sliver of "old acquaintance" with National Preceptor Shuangye to defuse the conflict? No matter how respectful the wording in the letter was, it could not conceal the truth: the boy had factored National Preceptor Shuangye into his schemes all along. Xi Yunhe considered for a moment, then gave a soft cough. "Speaking of which, he also did everything he could to avoid a head-on clash with Yu Zecheng. That shows he didn't want to put you... to put you in an awkward position." Yu Zecheng had been sent by National Preceptor Shuangye. He Lingchuan hadn't laid a finger on Yu Zecheng himself and had maintained outward courtesy, adhering precisely to the principle that one must look at the master before beating the dog, carefully calibrating his limits. If he had beaten Yu Zecheng black and blue or taken off an arm or a leg, National Preceptor Shuangye would have had no choice but to turn against him. National Preceptor Shuangye gave a faint, ambiguous smile. "So by that logic, he was doing it to give me face?" Xi Yunhe felt that the National Preceptor's words today were exceptionally difficult to follow up on. Fortunately, he did not have to rack his brains for a reply. National Preceptor Shuangye paused in thought for a brief moment, then suddenly shook his head and laughed softly. "He's not wrong, though. He Xiao is still He Xiao—his handling of affairs remains as measured as ever." Even a clay Buddha has a spark of temper, let alone a National Preceptor of such towering status and power. Yet that fleeting irritation vanished in the blink of an eye, never clouding his judgment. Measured? This time, Xi Yunhe truly could not understand. He Xiao hadn't killed Yu Zecheng, but he had forced him to eat his own comrade and extorted a million taels of silver from him. With someone so ruthless, so cruel, and so rapacious, how could National Preceptor Shuangye praise him for being "measured"? National Preceptor Shuangye glanced at him, as though seeing right through the bewilderment in his heart. "Yu Zecheng's humiliation was brought upon himself; he has no one else to blame." He had thought that basking in Beijia's halo meant he could strut about flaunting his might anywhere he pleased. Most of the time, doing so couldn't be called wrong, but many Beijia people, including Yu Zecheng, failed to realize that respect had to be earned by oneself. If he did well, he brought prestige to Beijia. If he did poorly, he brought shame upon Beijia. National Preceptor Shuangye did not elaborate further, merely saying to Xi Yunhe, "Ponder it slowly; you will figure it out eventually." From He Lingchuan's letter to National Preceptor Shuangye, Xi Yunhe had seen calculating subtlety and humility. But when viewed in light of He Lingchuan's actions toward Yu Zecheng, National Preceptor Shuangye read three additional layers of meaning: On a foundation of mutual respect, I am willing to maintain relations with you. Yu Zecheng failed in his mission and brought shame upon you; knowing it was inconvenient for you to act, I gave him a harsh lesson on your behalf. I also preserved face for Beijia and spared you too much embarrassment. Therefore, I helped you twice. I went to such effort and was so considerate; surely, Lord National Preceptor, you must appreciate the gesture? National Preceptor Shuangye murmured with amusement, "The youngsters who have cropped up in recent years are all quite intriguing." Xi Yunhe pondered for a long while before suddenly asking, "By doing this, isn't He Xiao afraid that someone in Beijia's imperial court will pursue the matter to the bitter end, regardless of the cost?" National Preceptor Shuangye dipped his brush into ink. "There are a few people in this world who look upon dread and anxiety as nothing, walking through peril as if treading on level ground. They do not fear that 'what if'." If one constantly worries about the 'what if', one will never accomplish anything. The prerequisite for mutual respect was simply: "I do not fear you." With the final stroke finished, he took a mouthful of tea and sprayed a fine mist over the scroll with a puff. That single mist carried over a century of cultivation power, instantly bringing the painting vividly to life. Xi Yunhe stepped forward without needing to be told, moved the scroll aside, and hung it up to dry. National Preceptor Shuangye said casually, "Send this painting to He Xiao." "Ah, yes." Xi Yunhe froze. Gifting a painting to He Xiao—did this signify...? National Preceptor Shuangye paced slowly to the window, gazing out at the azure sky. "Draft a memorial." Xi Yunhe immediately walked behind the desk, taking up a memorial booklet and dipping his brush in ink. This memorial was dictated by National Preceptor Shuangye and penned by Xi Yunhe. The opening was ornate and fluid, consistent with National Preceptor Shuangye's usual style, reporting various matters within his purview. Then came the mention of the Burrow Spider Queen. "The fugitive has fled to the Yangshan Archipelago, ensconced in the deep rear of Mou Kingdom, under the protection of National Preceptor Wang Xingyi. However, prior to Wang Xingyi's arrival, our forces secured the confession of Zhu Erniang, who stated under examination that the mastermind behind the scenes concealed their head and face, revealing no true appearance, and that she likewise has no knowledge of their background or identity." Xi Yunhe's hand slowed upon hearing this. Though National Preceptor Shuangye's back was turned, his dictation paused immediately as well. Xi Yunhe hastily resumed writing with flying strokes, with only three words echoing in his mind: How utterly brilliant! In the personal letters from both Yu Zecheng and He Xiao, the National Preceptor of Mou Kingdom had appeared. On the night of the hurricane, Wang Xingyi had remained a bystander, never stepping onto the field from start to finish. Yet what of it? Given Wang Xingyi's status, his very appearance in the Yangshan Archipelago at that peculiar juncture was in itself an explicit backing of the archipelago, and in itself an obstruction of Yu Zecheng's squad hunting the Burrow Spider Queen! His stance and attitude were what mattered. What he had actually done was, by contrast, unimportant. Having read the letters from both Yu Zecheng and He Lingchuan, Xi Yunhe knew perfectly well that Wang Xingyi had provided no real support to the Burrow Spider Queen. Yet National Preceptor Shuangye phrasing it this way could hardly be considered wrong. Wang Xingyi visiting the Yangshan Archipelago showed he regarded He Xiao with favor; He Xiao, in turn, protected the Burrow Spider Queen. Didn't that roughly equate to Wang Xingyi sheltering the Burrow Spider Queen? What Xi Yunhe found truly breathtaking was that throughout the entire memorial, the name He Xiao did not appear even once. Not once! He wasn't mentioned at all! National Preceptor Shuangye then instructed him to enclose the Burrow Spider Queen's confession within the memorial—the separate sheet written and submitted by Yu Zecheng. The mastermind behind the Heavenly Palace upheaval had worn a mask, and Juju had never seen his face. Since both the Heavenly Palace and Lingxu City accepted that explanation, what was so strange about the Burrow Spider Queen not having seen it either? Whoever planned such an audacious strike was flying in the face of the entire realm; concealing their identity was standard practice. Once this memorial was submitted, the responsibility for harboring Zhu Erniang would fall squarely upon Mou Kingdom and Wang Xingyi. An enemy nation and an enemy National Preceptor—how could the Demon Emperor verify the truth with them anyway? As for He Xiao, he was completely extracted from the affair. Xi Yunhe secretly clicked his tongue in amazement, never expecting National Preceptor Shuangye to go this far to shield He Xiao. Yet on second thought, only by pinning this matter on Mou Kingdom's National Preceptor Wang Xingyi would the Demon Emperor be unable to pursue it further. After all, he was on the same level as National Preceptor Shuangye, hardly a figure Beijia could easily manipulate or corner. Thus, the pursuit of the Burrow Spider Queen could be brought to a close, and National Preceptor Shuangye, who had originally been tasked with the matter, could wash his hands of it. What an exquisite play. Since one cannot deal with the person creating the problem, then deal with the problem itself. From this, Xi Yunhe also sensed a trace of helplessness in National Preceptor Shuangye: Less than a year had passed since the fall of National Preceptor Qingyang. That woman had once stood at the head of the Four Great National Preceptors and spent over a century meticulously building her power in Beijia; her roots ran deep, and her faction spanned the entire realm. How could a single year suffice for National Preceptor Shuangye to fill the power vacuum she left behind and purge her remaining remnants? Right now, National Preceptor Shuangye was stirring up immense waves in the imperial court. If he made a single mistake—a single major blunder—he might well suffer a devastating backlash from Qingyang's old faction. Therefore, his most urgent priority was to seize every moment to consolidate his position. What lay ahead remained uncertain, but at this particular juncture, what National Preceptor Shuangye loathed most was unexpected complications. He needed to devote his undivided attention to overcoming his own hurdles. It was a delicate moment in time. Had He Xiao, far beyond the horizon, accurately gauged his predicament and his mindset as well? Xi Yunhe could not help but wonder. Only after he had folded and stored the memorial did National Preceptor Shuangye speak: "He Xiao's name is unfit to be mentioned; he took the name 'He Lingchuan' in the Yangshan Archipelago. Do you know that more than half a year ago, an anomaly appeared in the Panlong Desert once more, and Palace Emissary He of the Heavenly Palace went to investigate, only to unfortunately perish? Afterward, Lingxu City sent people to investigate locally and discovered that over a dozen factions had entered the mystic realm to fight for the Dafang Pot. One of those factions was led by a general of the Yuan Kingdom, whose eldest son died within the realm. Guess what that eldest son was named?" The deceased eldest son? Xi Yunhe blurted out, "He... Lingchuan?" National Preceptor Shuangye watched the red leaves drifting outside the window and nodded. "Though countless people across the realm share the same name, if this person were to appear in a memorial together with Zhu Erniang, the Sovereign would inevitably be reminded of the Panlong Desert and the Dafang Pot. And even if he failed to recall it, there are plenty of others eager to jog his memory." In that case, the matter would never be laid to rest. Why should National Preceptor Shuangye invite trouble upon himself? "However—" National Preceptor Shuangye was about to add a 'however', "though He Xiao will not appear in the memorial, we must investigate him ourselves." If National Preceptor Shuangye investigated privately, it would remain flexible and adaptable. Why did this man cross the ocean to Mou Kingdom's rear? Why did he purchase the Yangshan Archipelago? Why did he shelter Zhu Erniang? All these questions could be looked into at their leisure. It was merely a matter of spending some time, effort, and manpower. And those were the very things Beijia and National Preceptor Shuangye lacked least. Whom should he send? National Preceptor Shuangye already had a suitable candidate in mind. He gave a faint smirk. "Speaking of which, the explosion at that dock in the Yangshan Archipelago—the method feels strangely familiar." In both cases, striking before the enemy made a move, beating them to the punch by blowing up one's own property. Xi Yunhe thought for quite a while before recalling the explosion that occurred just after Bai Ziqi had brought He Lingchuan and the others back to Lingxu City. He had long suspected that He Lingchuan had orchestrated that incident himself; comparing the two now, it was virtually confirmed. "Intriguing," National Preceptor Shuangye said with a chuckle. "Right under Wang Xingyi's nose, he still refrained from an outright breach with Yu Zecheng, proving he still intends to navigate both sides and refuses to throw his lot entirely with Mou Kingdom. Yu Zecheng doesn't even realize he has already walked to the gates of hell and back." "A man like this will never be obedient and law-abiding." National Preceptor Shuangye picked up He Lingchuan's letter, a wisp of true fire reducing it to ash. "His presence at Mou Kingdom's rear is by no means a blessing for Mou Kingdom. This is good. Ha, this is even better." There was now yet another reason to leave He Xiao and the Yangshan Archipelago alone. Shifting the topic with practiced ease, he asked, "Yunhe, where did Qingyang go?" Xi Yunhe's body stiffened slightly, but he answered quickly: "It seems she retreated to seclusion in a small kingdom southeast of Beijia." "Have you still not let it go?" National Preceptor Shuangye took a sip of tea. Xi Yunhe said nothing, rolling up the now-dry painting and tying it securely with a thin cord. A maple leaf drifted in through the window. National Preceptor Shuangye picked it up, examining it closely: "Whenever you make peace with it, that is when you may leave." "...Yes." "Also, tell Yu Zecheng to return promptly after paying the ransom. Tell him to stop making a spectacle of himself over there—he is no match for He Xiao." —End of Bailie, Volume One.