Chapter 14: Persuasion

The old man let out a long laugh and said, “With your capabilities, would you be content to serve such a waste? I’ve never heard of someone as powerful as you in the vicinity. If that useless person ascends to the throne, who do you think would truly sit on it?”

Qian Ye replied indifferently, “Since you recognize my strength, you should know that Zheng Kingdom is merely a stepping stone. I won’t stay here for long.”

“Then, why not lend your support to the second prince, who is wise and far-sighted? It’s better than serving a useless person with no merit.”

Qian Ye’s face darkened, and he coldly replied, “Lend my support? Are you out of your mind?”

The old man tightened his grip on his war axe and roared, “Truly, a wolf with ambitions! I will rid Zheng Kingdom of this menace today and remove an obstacle for my grandson!”

With that, the old man’s aura surged, his hair and beard flying wildly as he pounced on Qian Ye like a mighty lion. Midway through his charge, he let out a fierce roar, and a sheet of lightning shot from his war axe, accompanied by thunder, aiming directly at Qian Ye.

Qian Ye remained motionless, and the Sea Vortex Domain instantly activated. Unlike before, after the Qingyang King’s augmentation, the domain’s absolute power hadn’t increased, but its control was more fluid. Now, all the domain’s force concentrated around the old man, while the rest of the area remained calm.

The old man’s attack, originally swift and powerful like an eagle in flight, suddenly felt as if it weighed several times more, causing him to plummet straight down. Startled, he desperately adjusted in mid-air but landed heavily, his feet sinking into the stone ground. The sudden change prompted the old man to channel all his primordial force to counter the mountainous pressure, but when he looked up again, Qian Ye was nowhere to be seen.

Just as the old man’s heart was filled with alarm, he suddenly felt a lightness, and his head flew high into the air. Even until the very end, he couldn’t understand why he had been defeated so quickly.

Looking at the old man’s slowly falling corpse, Qian Ye shook his head and sighed.

The old man was a fierce warrior with considerable strength. Despite being only at level fifteen, his experience and combat skills made him a match for many at level sixteen. However, his short-sighted loyalty and stubborn adherence to his grandson made him inflexible in the matter of succession.

Such a person had to be eliminated.

A flurry of hurried footsteps echoed outside the door as Song Lun and several mercenary generals, brimming with killing intent, burst into the hall. Seeing Qian Ye, they were all taken aback.

Qian Ye pointed to the old man’s corpse and said, “This should be the city lord. Take his head and try to recruit as many as possible.”

Song Lun nodded in agreement and quickly went to pick up the old man’s head.

One of the mercenary generals scratched his head and said, “I wondered why we didn’t see anyone when we rushed in. Turns out, you were already here, sir.”

“I’m not that old!” Qian Ye laughed and, with a flick of Dongyue, sent the mercenary general flying out of the city lord’s residence.

The city of Liao was more prosperous and resilient than expected. Even with the news of the city lord’s death confirmed, the sporadic street battles continued for several days before finally subsiding.

In these few days, Nan Ruo Huai had been tirelessly visiting the city’s prominent families, seeking their support. Qian Ye wanted Liao City for its workshops and did not intend to massacre the inhabitants. Besides keeping the news under wraps, the rest of the persuasion and pacification work fell to Nan Ruo Huai.

Among the noble families, some were fickle, some spoke well but were indecisive, and others were indifferent or evasive.

These were still the ones Nan Ruo Huai could meet. Some families refused to see him, even insulting him, blaming him for bringing in an outsider, and predicting his lasting infamy.

No matter what obstacles he faced, Nan Ruo Huai always maintained a gentle and humble smile, even when faced with insults. But upon returning to the city lord’s residence, a faint sense of disappointment and weariness appeared in his eyes.

Liao City was a traditional stronghold of the second prince, making it much harder to win over the support of the local magnates compared to the Floating Island. These magnates had a deep-seated disdain for Nan Ruo Huai. Among so many princes of Zheng, who knew what kind of person this suddenly emerging thirty-first prince was?

Some well-informed individuals had unearthed the royal reports, revealing that Nan Ruo Huai’s mother was originally a songstress, without even a formal title. She was only given a low position in the harem because she gave birth to a boy.

A songstress’s son, aspiring to the throne?

On this day, just as Nan Ruo Huai returned to the city lord’s residence, a servant informed him, “Lord Qian Ye wishes to see you.”

Nan Ruo Huai immediately composed himself and, standing before Qian Ye, regained his cheerful demeanor.

Qian Ye looked him up and down and asked, “These past few days have been tough, haven’t they?”

“Well, not really…” Nan Ruo Huai paused, then said with a bitter smile, “It’s true. They all think I’m a songstress’s son, unworthy of the throne. Even if I ascend, it will be recorded in history as a disgrace.”

“Is there anything wrong with being a songstress’s son? The current emperor of Great Qin, isn’t he also of a similar background?”

The humility of Emperor Hao’s maternal lineage was no secret, but he had received the throne directly from the previous emperor, making him the legitimate ruler. Few in the vassal states dared to question him, as it would not only be disrespecting the emperor but challenging the authority of the entire Great Qin. Moreover, despite his modest reputation, recent rumors of his near-success in a Celestial King’s challenge had silenced any further criticism.

Qian Ye could say this, but Nan Ruo Huai could not. He respectfully replied, “I wouldn’t dare to comment on the affairs of the Great Qin emperor.”

Qian Ye nodded and said, “It’s good that you are cautious. What suggestions do you have for the current situation in Liao City?”

“I’ll keep persuading them.”

“Is that all?”

Under Qian Ye’s gaze, Nan Ruo Huai felt increasingly uneasy, sweating profusely. He lowered his head slightly and said, “As you command, sir.”

“I’m asking for your thoughts.”

The calmer Qian Ye’s voice, the more nervous Nan Ruo Huai became. After much thought, he finally said, “Perhaps… perhaps we need to kill a few people.”

“That’s more like it.” Qian Ye nodded. Nan Ruo Huai felt a great relief, though he broke into a cold sweat again.

Qian Ye pushed a piece of paper in front of Nan Ruo Huai. Upon picking it up, Nan Ruo Huai saw it was a list of the families that had openly insulted him in the past few days.

“Are they all on there?”

“…Yes.”

Qian Ye said calmly, “Good. When I called you here, Song Lun had already led the troops there. They should be arriving now. Since they want to be remembered as martyrs, we’ll grant them that wish.”

As if to confirm Qian Ye’s words, a red glow suddenly illuminated the window. On closer inspection, it wasn’t the sunset but the fire in a part of the city.

Nan Ruo Huai, no longer tense, glanced out the window and, without looking back, said respectfully, “Sir, you are wise!”

Qian Ye said, “If we don’t kill them now, others will follow their example, and more people will have to die.”

Nan Ruo Huai sighed, “Our Zheng Kingdom has a long tradition of violent succession. Each time the throne changes hands, it’s a bloodbath. Brothers kill each other, fathers fight sons. This time, no matter who wins among the second, fifth, and eleventh princes, they will exterminate the families of the others.”

Qian Ye stood up and paced the room, saying, “I came to Yonglu to take land. But the land I seek will be taken from the dark races. The world’s fate lies in the struggle between Eternal Night and Dawn, not in the disputes of one kingdom or family. So, I have no real interest in Zheng. If you prove yourself, I will return this place to you. But if you fail or betray me…”

Nan Ruo Huai hastily said, “Never, sir!”

Qian Ye raised a hand, and Nan Ruo Huai immediately fell silent. Qian Ye continued, “While I have no interest in Zheng, I won’t tolerate interference. In the grand struggle, even the throne is secondary. If you don’t contribute to humanity’s survival and instead hinder it, Zheng itself has no reason to exist.”

Nan Ruo Huai, drenched in sweat, wanted to make another pledge but restrained himself.

Qian Ye sighed and said, “Years ago, I met a Zheng person. Perhaps you know her, Nan Hua.”

“Yes, that’s the ninth princess.”

Qian Ye reminisced for a moment and said, “She was good in many ways, but she was foolish in matters of right and wrong. No, maybe it’s more accurate to say she was self-centered and didn’t consider others. Your Zheng people, weak in external battles, excel in internal strife.”

Nan Ruo Huai grew restless again.

Qian Ye gazed at the flames outside the window and said, “There are big and small issues, just as there are major and minor aspects in the struggle for the world. I came to Yonglu for myself and my brothers, but that doesn’t prevent me from doing something for the greater good of humanity. The same applies in reverse.”

Nan Ruo Huai listened quietly.

Qian Ye, however, did not continue but waved for him to leave.

After Nan Ruo Huai left, Qian Ye stood by the window, silently watching the blazing fires. Distant gunshots indicated resistance, but the few families could not withstand Qian Ye’s elite mercenaries. The resistance was quickly suppressed, and the gunfire ceased faster than many had expected.

Qian Ye summoned a servant and instructed, “Notify all the families and merchants in the city to come to the city lord’s residence for a meeting tomorrow morning. Anyone who dares to skip will be dealt with as these families were.”

“Rest assured, sir.” The servant, brimming with killing intent, departed.

After the servant left, Qian Ye stood quietly for a while and then said, “Come in.”

A young woman, dressed as a maidservant, entered with a fresh and lovely smile. Seeing her, Qian Ye smiled and said, “Why is Lady Hui not at the Song mansion but here?”

The visitor was Song Hui. At the funeral of the Duchess of Anyuan, Qian Ye had briefly met her. He hadn’t expected to reunite with her in distant Yonglu.

Song Hui grinned and said, “I came to be your maidservant!”

“Can you really do that?”

“What, am I not welcome?”

“Of course, you’re welcome, but why aren’t you at the Song mansion?” Qian Ye repeated the question.

“I came to be your maidservant!” Song Hui repeated the answer.

Qian Ye sighed and spread his hands, “It must be Zining who sent you. If you don’t give me a straight answer, go back.”

“How can you be so ungentlemanly!” Song Hui exclaimed.

“Those who treated you gently are now corpses, aren’t they?” Qian Ye retorted.

“That’s not me; it fits Song Ziyi better.”

“Zining’s evaluation of you isn’t like that.” Qian Ye remembered clearly that Song Ziyi seemed more innocent, albeit with the flaws of a wealthy girl.