When he boarded the carriage, Luo’er intentionally lifted the curtain to glance outside. At this mont in Shengyuan Qilan, the streets were enveloped in an eerie atmosphere, with hardly a soul in sight.
Occasionally, arrays of the Forbidden Army could be seen hurriedly patrolling by. These people were highly skilled practitioners, making almost no sound as they walked, yet their powerful aura was palpable.
The entire city was under lockdown, with a curfew in place. After nightfall, no one except officials and soldiers were allowed on the streets.
Of course, no one dared to stop Ichuan Fei’s carriage, so the road was unimpeded, and they quickly arrived at Ichuan Fei’s mansion.
Returning here once again, Ichuan Fei customarily greeted them at the door and led Luo’er to the familiar waterside pavilion.
A grand feast was already laid out on the table, but the only guest was Luo’er. Even the people around the courtyard had been dismissed, leaving only Luo’er and Ichuan Fei.
As soon as they sat down, Ichuan Fei smiled apologetically and said, "Recent duties have been demanding, preventing from hosting the National Teacher, I hope you will forgive ."
"Young Master is too kind," Luo’er replied courteously, "Young Master works tirelessly day and night for the affairs of the state, I’ve seen this for myself, why should Young Master apologize."
"I see that the National Teacher is quite close with His Majesty, I assu you are already accustod to His Majesty’s behavior."
"Emperor Wu rely seeks to cultivate, so I rely taught him so alternative thods of cultivation."
"National Teacher," Ichuan Fei smiled slightly, then his expression turned serious, "Here in the pavilion, it’s just you and , feel free to speak your mind. Outside this pavilion, you can forget what should be forgotten and rember what should be rembered. The National Teacher need not be so reserved, say whatever you wish, I would like to have an honest conversation with you."
"Alright, then I will ask."
Luo’er nodded lightly, took a deep breath, and asked, "When will you agree to our demands?"
"If the National Teacher needs it, the Imperial Court can issue a decree tomorrow, pledging eternal friendship with the West Outer Heaven, never to trespass again," Ichuan Fei raised his glass and said.
"Is it that simple?"
"Does the National Teacher think it’s too quick?"
"To be honest, I’ve never been quite clear about your intentions and agendas."
"The National Teacher has helped us with many things, including training Emperor Wu and drilling the army. Such great deeds must be repaid by the Wen Family. As for the National Teacher’s request, we feel it is too modest, so we have wondered if we should offer the National Teacher more generous compensation?"
"Let’s forgo the compensation; we’re here to discuss terms, not to do business," Luo’er waved his hand, keeping a calm deanor.
"The National Teacher is indeed noble and righteous, I am impressed," Ichuan Fei said with a slight smile.
In fact, for Luo’er, nobility is only part of the matter.
The most important aspect is that, ever since the end of the Otherworld War, the headquarters to which the Advance Team belongs has always received the country’s financial budget tilt.
To put it simply, there is fundantally no lack of money, creating a situation where the Advance Team, including all subhuman individuals, are not sensitive to finances.
In the schools where subhuman individuals live, all resources are free of charge, with no need to pay, so many people don’t even have the concept of money.
Later, the headquarters beca aware of this issue and began providing allowances to subhuman individuals periodically, encouraging them to use money to purchase living supplies, thereby reversing the peculiar situation.
Luo’er, being the first subhuman individual, his grandfather was a high-ranking officer, and his mother was a foreign princess. So, although life was harsh, he never lacked any resources.
"I’m curious," Luo’er asked, "with the new army trained and the court setting out, why is Shengjing under complete lockdown?"
"Precisely because of the expedition, the city needs to be under lockdown. Has the National Teacher forgotten that in this city, there are forces of the Wu Family lingering? Back then, the Wu Family spared no effort in attempting to abduct the National Teacher. I assu the National Teacher still rembers this?"
"Nowadays, the Wen Family is strong and well-ard; are they still afraid of the re remnants of the Wu Family?"
"Everything should be done cautiously. The dike of a thousand miles is destroyed by an ant’s nest. The National Teacher should understand this principle better than I do, right?"
"How do you know I understand this saying?"
Upon hearing this, Luo’er couldn’t help narrowing his eyes.
Because Ichuan Fei’s phrase in Kyushu language, when translated directly into Chinese, was a proverb he was most familiar with.
In fact, Luo’er had also noticed. Throughout the entire Dongsheng Empire, especially within the upper echelons, they would inevitably use so idioms and sayings he was very familiar with.
These words, when spoken in Kyushu language, didn’t seem strange to him. But once translated into the Chinese he could understand, he was astonished to find that these words were actually original Chinese expressions.
It’s hard to imagine such a coincidence. An ancient country on another continent, thousands of miles from the Otherworld Gate, had its official language infused with nurous Chinese words and idioms.
Yet, within the Otherworld, this kind of coincidence did carry a certain rationale.
A few years ago, the Advance Team encountered CIA-affiliated action agency operatives in the high-peak people’s capital, Helros.
These people, while 100% Caucasian, had sohow transford into Otherworldly beings and were carrying out missions in the Otherworld.
If the country is attempting to engage in Otherworld affairs through the Origin Project, then the country across the ocean uses another form to intervene in Otherworld affairs.
The essence of the Origin Project is to cultivate hybrid subhuman individuals, enabling them to implent national policies in the Otherworld.
Aside from that, for Earthlings to consistently intervene in the Otherworld, another thod is through transmission and summoning.
Due to the existence of magic, Otherworldly beings are always eager to challenge impossibilities. They conduct summoning experints again and again, bringing enormous disasters to the Western Continent, eventually leading to comprehensive prohibition by the Church Court.
It can be imagined that since Western Continent people know about summoning, it’s likely that East Continent people are also aware of summoning.
The types of summoning are myriad, including Earthlings. Once summoned to the Otherworld, Earthlings beco Otherworldly beings and fully adapt to the Otherworld environnt, just like Zhuyan Yu.
Therefore, it’s not rely a coincidence that the Kyushu language has so many Chinese words. Perhaps it’s due to those Han people summoned to the Otherworld by the East Continent sharing their language.
"I’ve always felt that the National Teacher is very familiar, almost as if we were ant to be family. From the first mont I saw the National Teacher, I’ve steadfastly held this belief," Ichuan Fei said as he left his seat, gazing at the waters, speaking leisurely.
"Is the Young Master complinting or..."
"I’m serious," Ichuan Fei turned to look at Luo’er, smiling as he spoke, "I think the National Teacher might co from the country of my ancestors, which is why I feel this sense of familiarity."
"What do you an?"
"National Teacher, would you like to tell you the story of the Yichuan Clan?" Ichuan Fei did not answer directly, once more turning away, hands behind his back, and said.
"I’m all ears," Luo’er nodded and replied.
"The story of the Yichuan Clan can be traced back to the period around the founding of the Empire, that turbulent era. Of course, since the story has been passed down through generations, my recounting may not be entirely accurate, so please listen as you will," Ichuan Fei said after clearing his throat and taking a deep breath.
He paused briefly, cleared his throat slightly, and after a deep breath began, "The story starts in that turbulent era, with my ancestor, a Young Master of the Yichuan Clan. She began practicing from a young age, and by the ti she was young, she had cultivated considerable skills."
"However, she was peculiar, despite her talent, she wasn’t keen on Dual Dao Skill, instead, she was obsessed with Nine Streams Skill. In today’s terms, she was unconventional."
"In ancient books, she discovered a secret art, capable of summoning a particular person or thing through so special ritual. So, she boldly tried it at ho and ended up summoning a strange man."
"The man had long braids, but half of his head was bald. He spoke in a scholarly manner, uttering words difficult to comprehend. Ancestor dared not let him go, choosing instead to imprison him in the family underground."
"Three years passed in this way. During these three years, Ancestor had many exchanges with the man, and gradually the man began to understand our language, while Ancestor also began to grasp his."
"Over much ti thereafter, they continued their exchanges, discussing everything from astronomy and geography to economics and politics. The man was incredibly intrigued by our world, but what surprised him most was our system."
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