"Strategist, staying here will surely lead to your death, so I must take you with me. Regardless, you and Minister Dong unearthed us from among the commoners and mountain bandits. We have repaid Minister Dong with blood over the past decade; our debt of gratitude is settled. But to you, I’ve always been in debt. When I surrendered to Lord Xuande, I made it clear that I wouldn’t partake in any battle against Minister Dong, hoping that Lord Xuande would allow me to call back old friends." Hua Xiong knelt halfway on the ground and solemnly said, "Fortunately, our lord took pity and granted my request. If you leave, I will treat you with the courtesy due to the head of the household. Chen Zichuan’s orders do not bind me much."
"You may go!" Li Ru waved his hand and said, "My heart is already dead, and I wish to avoid involving myself in the matters of the feudal lords. You should assist Liu Xuande well; he might become the new ruler. Remind him to be wary of Cao Mengde, for that man will surely accomplish great things in the future. It’s a pity that Zhongying didn’t manage to persuade him; such a shame, such a shame!"
"Strategist!" Hua Xiong called out in a low voice.
"You may go!" Li Ru looked up, his eyes filled with killing intent, "This world will eventually fall into the hands of the powerful families; where is the way out for those from a Humble Family! Where is it! Tell Liu Xuande that the influence of the powerful families can’t be undermined in one generation’s efforts unless a Great Sage emerges to enlighten the common people, causing the gradual decline of the powerful families. Otherwise, they will never be extinguished!"
Hua Xiong was intimidated by the immense spiritual power emanating from Li Ru, powerful enough at this close range to wipe out all of Hua Xiong’s thoughts, turning him into an idiot. After experiencing Dong Zhuo’s tyranny and the shattering of his ideals, Li Ru’s spiritual power had undergone a second transformation.
"Strategist!" Hua Xiong’s voice was hoarse with strain, for that level of spiritual power posed a threat to life itself, yet he still made a weak attempt.
"Ah!" A sharp pain suddenly exploded in Hua Xiong’s brain, as if it were about to burst; thankfully, it was only momentary. However, that brief moment of agony caused the Inner Qi Manifestation Level’s Hua Xiong to be drenched in sweat.
"At my level, even if it were Lyu Bu, he couldn’t force me to leave if I was unwilling. You may go; Liu Xuande isn’t bad, and I hope your judgment hasn’t failed you." Li Ru waved his hand, signaling Hua Xiong to leave, for he no longer wished to live. Otherwise, no one would be able to stop him from leaving, not even the likes of Wang Yun or Lyu Bu!
With a wry smile, Hua Xiong kowtowed to Li Ru and then turned and left without looking back. Since Li Ru had reached such a state, and with his desire for death taking hold, there was nothing to be done if he couldn’t be persuaded.
Li Ru’s wish for death was an honorable one; Hua Xiong, however, did not wish to die. Were Li Ru to unleash all his spiritual power, regardless of Li Ru’s fate, Hua Xiong would surely go mad if he didn’t die!
"Alas, I wonder what kind of person Liu Xuande is. The Talent Recruitment Order, I really want to see Mount Tai for myself. Cough, cough, cough~" Li Ru muttered to himself before breaking into a consecutive coughing fit. He quickly covered his mouth with white silk, and when he removed it, there was already a patch of congealed blood, "My days are numbered..."
Furious, Hua Xiong stormed out of Li Ru’s house, then leapt up and darted across the night sky, heading straight for Jia Xu’s house.
"Boom!" With one kick, he broke open the door of the Jia residence, only to find no one inside. This fueled Hua Xiong’s anger even further.
"This must be the tunnel!" Hua Xiong quickly found the hidden tunnel in the backyard of Jia Xu’s residence and immediately jumped down. If he could justify not bringing back Li Ru, could Jia Xu really think of escaping?
"Not good, how could there be pursuers behind us at this time?" Jia Xu, who had been moving forward through the tunnel, suddenly froze when he heard the disordered footsteps behind him. Then, gritting his teeth, he turned around, deciding that taking control of his fate was the King’s Way. Continuing to flee and negotiating seemed equally viable, and to Jia Xu, negotiation was certainly a good method.
"Hua Zijian?" Jia Xu was initially startled to see Hua Xiong charging towards him but then quickly sorted through all of his thoughts in an instant.
"Hua Xiong, do not knock me out; I have a way for you to take Li Wen You with you!" Jia Xu rapidly spoke as he saw Hua Xiong rushing at him.
As expected, upon hearing these words, Hua Xiong forcefully stopped his attack, his hand blade halting at Jia Xu’s neck.
"Whew, I think you should know that Li Wen You has already resigned himself to death, and with his abilities, he’s willing to face it. Even Lyu Bu wouldn’t be able to stop him," Jia Xu said without any preamble, knowing that simplicity and directness were all that the ’Barbarian’ valued; anything more was unnecessary.
"Speak, what’s the method!" Hua Xiong said impatiently.
"However, I require that after the matter is settled, you don’t knock me out. I suppose your rough treatment is because you think I’m disloyal to Minister Dong. In truth, my thinking aligns with Wen Youi; given that Minister Dong is beyond saving, we shouldn’t incite the wrath of both heaven and man. The sooner Yongzhou can be soothed, the better. As for the lives of those from Xiliang, if I can’t escape in time, I will personally see to it that they get the means to save themselves from my old servant," Jia Xu quickly laid out his plan before Hua Xiong could adequately react.
"..." Hua Xiong was left speechless. Couldn’t Li Ru see this? He could. If Li Ru could see it, why did he not act? This thought irritated Hua Xiong, who had wanted to rough Jia Xu up a little, but now Jia Xu’s well-reasoned and structured case left no room for Hua Xiong’s venting.
"In that case, please take me to the Jia Residence, Zijian. I need to bid farewell to Wen Youi. However, before I give the signal, Zijian must ensure that Li Wen You does not find out I am there," Jia Xu adjusted his robe, fixed his hairpin, and adopted the composed demeanor of a scholar.
"Fine, I trust you. But if you try to run, believe me, you’ll never outpace me!" Hua Xiong practically didn’t think twice. In his eyes, Li Ru was far more important than Jia Xu, and even with Jia Xu’s explanations, the prior impressions hadn’t worn off.
At the Hour of the Ox, Jia Xu rode to Li Ru’s mansion.
"Wen He actually has the time to see me," said Li Ru in mourning clothes, seated before a desk upon which a Precious Sword lay.
"Having been colleagues for years, we both understand each other. I’ve come to see you off on your final journey. Afterward, I’ll leave. We’ve both made arrangements for the Xiliang Army. Either one should be enough for Li Que and Guo Si to exchange for a lifetime of wealth and status. However, if no one suppresses those two, they’ll surely become heartless, and inevitably, others will scheme against them," Jia Xu poured Li Ru a cup of wine, bowed, and then casually discussed the future.
"I’m already dying. If they choose to follow my arrangements, they won’t lack a life of wealth and status. If they don’t, what can I do? Since Jia Wenhe is so calm and unhurried, why not join me in burial for Minister Dong?" Li Ru drank the wine in his cup, then laughed heartily.
"I still want to see those people’s lifelong convictions shatter and gather your remains for both of you. Have you prepared your coffin?" Jia Xu, suddenly bristling upon hearing Li Ru’s words, jumped back, pointed at him, and began to scold. Mid-sentence, Jia Xu stopped talking, "Wen You, I’m leaving. Rest assured, when the time comes, I’ll remember to get you a coffin made of golden thread nanmu." After saying this, he bowed and slowly backed out. Only after he had left the main hall did he straighten up, sigh, and slowly depart.