Xiao i studied the decrypted ssage Chen Yan had just handed her. Upon grasping its implications, a look of disdain passed through her face.
"Seems like your plan worked wonders. These Elders lost their senses the mont you 'unknowingly' presented them with an opportunity to rebel.
They didn't even pause to think whether they're being manipulated by you. They're treating you as a minor chess piece to advance their own agenda."
Chen Yan shook his head, his expression eerily calm. "It's not that they haven't considered the possibility that I'm using them while acting the part of a greedy fool.
The fact is, my intentions don't even matter to them. What they require, is in action. As long as I do what they're asking to do, their goal to oust Xuan Zi could be achieved. They need a spark.
After all, their collective strength and will to resist have been ground down thoroughly over the years since Xuan Zi's takeover. This is their final opportunity to rebel, whether they know it or not.
So, having been given this golden chance, why would they bother to complicate the issue?"
Xiao i squinted at him. "Why did you bother to put up an act at all then?
You could've just told Elder Shen that you can help them launch a decisive attack at the Sect Master, right? You could've hidden your main objective, the goal to rob Han Xuhan, under that proposal."
Chen Yan glanced at Xiao i's bemused face and sighed in his heart.
In the last six weeks, many things have changed in their mountain.
The senior disciples were ashad of the performance of their juniors. The junior disciples were embarrassed to admit their own inferiority. And that star of disaster, Han Xuhan, had visited them every day to remind them of it.
During this period, Xiao i had been forced to respond to his challenges at least a dozen tis. Each and all of them had resulted in her defeat, so contests close, the rest conclusive.
Sohow, these defeats had managed to wear down the reckless mindset she had grown up with. Fiery words and simple tricks no longer swayed her as easily as before. She was using her head more.
Her maturity was a good developnt, for sure. It even made Chen Yan feel a bit grateful to Han Xuhan. But she still had a long way to go if she wanted to participate in such sches.
As her 'Advisor', it was his duty to do the thinking and scheming on her behalf. Teaching her these things could lead to causing her unintended harm.
But then again, the answer to her question was sothing everyone should understand. Imparting this principle could only be beneficial them both.
"When you're scheming against people stronger than yourself, using people stronger than yourself, you must always reserve a way out for yourself," Chen Yan muttered.
"Between Xuan Zi and the Elders of the outer court, any side could co out on top. We don't know enough information to speculate on their chances.
So, while we're in contact with either party, we must not get involved too deeply, nor should we place only one bet. It doesn't matter if we cannot claim a comprehensive victory, but we must never suffer an absolute loss."
Xiao i nodded slowly. "I get it. Now those Elders think you're nothing but an idiot being used by them.
So even if Xuan Zi manages to suppress their rebellion, they'll not be able to accuse you of intentionally starting the fire. You can easily claim that your only goal was to punish Han Xuhan."
"Exactly," Chen Yan said with an approving look. "But that would probably not be enough to placate Xuan Zi if things co to that.
That's why I have already begun setting up my way of redemption. If it works out, Xuan Zi won't just forgive , he might even reward , regardless of the outco of the rebellion!"
Xiao i's eyebrows shot up. "How is that possible?!"
Chen Yan smiled serenely.
"Just wait and watch. It will be very interesting to see how that scourge reacts once he realizes that none of his long-winded sches ever stood a chance..."
Right at that mont, one of Chen Yan's spies sent him an ergency ssage through a consumable talisman. Only one sentence showed up on the back of the talisman paper.
"I just spotted Han Xuhan heading towards the Sect Master's Mountain."
"Your prediction was correct!" Xiao i exclaid after she read the ssage. "Han Xuhan really must be planning to use the Sect Master himself as his final card."
"Of course. That was why I insisted that our first choice should be to use the Elders who can take a stand against Sect Master Xuan Zi."
Chen Yan stood up and smoothed out his attire.
"Do I look presentable enough?" he asked.
"Are you going to intercept Han Xuhan?" Xiao i seed confused.
"No, I'm going to ride on his robes and pay a visit to the Sect Master together! Otherwise, how can I fool the eyes of those cunning old Elders?
If I don't have a legitimate reason to visit him, they might just correctly assu I've betrayed them, Haha!"
Chuckling faintly, Chen Yan sped out of the hut. About ten minutes later, he t Han Xuhan near the sect master's mountain. Han Xuhan looked like he had been caught unprepared, while Chen Yan wore a look of surprise.
"Junior brother Xuhan! This is a pleasant coincidence, I must say!"
"Senior Brother Yan, are you here to visit the Sect Master as well?" Han Xuhan said suspiciously.
"Indeed. I have requested it a few tis, hoping to personally pay my respects to the senior one last ti before leaving the sect. But he's rarely available. Today, I thought I should give it another shot. Looks like I'm in luck!"
Han Xuhan nodded. "Sure seems like it. In the entire outer court, I might be the only junior disciple who gets to visit the old man so frequently these days."
Chen Yan's smile didn't reach his eyes. "Being favored by the master of the sect must feel amazing."
"It does."
"But probably not as amazing as being favored by the heavens. If only you were blessed with a normal physique, a good fate, and a bit of fortune... Tsk~ what a pity!"
Chen Yan laughed in a fake tone of sympathy.
Han Xuhan faked a laugh.
Together, they walked towards the fake-looking mountain peak where the Sect Master awaited them.
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