CHAPTER 152
She Is the Variable
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"Yu Lan, if you didn't know whether something was right or wrong, would you still do it?"
Yu Lan looked up at Su Cheng, genuinely surprised he would ask such a question.
In public, he was the sect leader and her master; in private, he was also her husband.
"Does my opinion truly matter to you, my husband?"
Su Cheng pondered for a moment before nodding.
"I want to know your answer."
Yu Lan, however, shook her head. "If my opinion truly matters, then I cannot speak it."
Su Cheng understood—Yu Lan didn't want to influence him.
"So often, I don't know if the choices I make are right or wrong, yet they are always crucial."
"I trust my husband's choices." Yulan was far more resolute than Su Cheng had imagined.
Su Cheng smiled faintly, gazing into the distance at Dongfang Jue's slightly arrogant demeanor.
Dongfang Jue was the future Empress of the Human Race. Even without him, she would go far.
Compared to Qinghan and Shiyao, her fate in the original world's timeline was relatively favorable—she had walked hand in hand with Cheng Liang to the very end.
In the countless worlds he had traversed, Su Cheng often played the role of Cheng Liang—the protagonist, the chosen one, the center of everyone's attention.
Yet what he could achieve was no different from Cheng Liang's—utterly childish.
Driven by a desire to save all living beings, he ended up betraying those closest to him.
At that moment, having completed the system's mission and earned the reverence of countless people, Su Cheng felt no joy in victory.
Not a shred of it. Instead, he felt a profound sense of desolation.
Few of his close companions remained. Some had died for his cause, others even fell by his own blade.
This path seemed destined for solitude. Had Su Cheng walked it, he might not have fared any better than Cheng Liang.
Truthfully, Su Cheng thought of that flower-seeking immortal. He was a master who could turn mud into gold.
If she were here, Su Cheng would know what to do.
But unfortunately, she was still angry with him and refused to see him.
Su Cheng envied people like that—they always seemed to know exactly what to do.
But he, it seemed, was forever being pushed along, tormented by trivial matters that left him scratching his head in frustration.
With Su Cheng's strategic counsel, Jue'er's campaign could be called a bloodless victory. Only two men were injured, and 164 rebels were captured.
Had Dongfang Jue not deliberately allowed it, no one would have escaped. Yet this was a necessary part of Su Cheng's plan.
Dongfang Jue came running over with a delighted expression. Even without him speaking, Su Cheng could guess what he wanted to say—nothing more than praise for his brilliant strategy.
"Jue'er, speed is paramount in warfare. Turn the army around immediately and march toward Lihé Pass."
Dongfang Jue knew Su Cheng's plan—it matched what Su Cheng had outlined beforehand—but he hadn't anticipated it happening so swiftly.
"Jue'er?"
"Very well. I'll make the arrangements immediately."
Su Cheng shook his head. War was no game; this maneuver wouldn't keep General Luo'an occupied for long.
With the old general blindfolded, he likely dared not venture out recklessly. Yet truth cannot be concealed forever; the moment of exposure would inevitably come.
The capture of a mere hundred or so men was hardly a crippling blow and wouldn't deter the old general from deploying his forces.
They must completely isolate Yong'an City before Luo'an could react, securing an unassailable position.
"There's no time for arrangements. Issue the order immediately. The army must move now."
"Understood." Dongfang Jue was somewhat surprised. Su Cheng's tone carried a hint of a strict teacher's sternness. Dongfang Jue didn't know if Su Cheng was equally demanding with disciples at Lingxian Hall, but at least in her eyes, Su Cheng wasn't like this.
At Dongfang Jue's command, the army set out overnight, leaving only the fixed sentries and ambushes in place.
Su Cheng intended to inspect the Lihe Pass. Once matters here were settled, he could demand his reward from Dongfang Jue.
He was counting on the Dongfang family's magical artifact to deal with the mastermind behind the northern border's troubles!
Little did Su Cheng know that his two capable disciples had already arrived in the Northern Domain.
At the Sacred Domain, by the time Ye Qinghan arrived, Xu Zhanfeng had already handled most of the matters.
Xu Zhanfeng dared not delay and hurried to greet him at the gates of the Sacred Domain.
"Zhanfeng greets the First Matriarch and Second Matriarch!"
With a kneeling slide and drift, Xu Zhanfeng executed a fluid, high-speed maneuver. Remarkably, he controlled his landing with pinpoint precision, stopping not an inch off target at the feet of the two matriarchs—a flawless display!
Ye Qinghan remained silent, instead smiling as she looked at Li Shiyao.
The two had made preparations for their journey to the Northern Domain.
Ye Qinghan, being a snow fox demon, naturally feared no cold. Shiyu, however, was another story.
She wore a tiger-head fur hat, fur-lined snow boots, a snow-white coat, red floral gloves, and a red woolen scarf stuffed into every gap—bundled up so tightly she looked adorably chubby.
Of course, the cost of this winter gear would be deducted from Li Shiyu's allowance, though Ye Qinghan planned to tell her about it later.
Otherwise, his dim-witted junior sister probably wouldn't be smiling after hearing that!
"Shiyao, didn't you just say you wanted to build a snowman? Go ahead~"
The Sixth Elder had said that when it snowed, most children would build snowmen and have snowball fights!
The Holy Mountain enjoyed spring-like weather year-round and never saw snow, so she had never played in it.
As the Sacred Maiden, few were willing to play with her. Even when she snuck out, opportunities to play in the snow were scarce.
Seeing all this snow now, she'd been itching to try!
She wanted to have a snowball fight and build a snowman with her senior sister! It would be so much fun!
Li Shiyu beamed with excitement: "Yay! Let's hurry, Senior Sister!"
Ye Qinghan nodded, telling Shiyu to go ahead while she spoke with Xu Zhanfeng.
Second Grandma wasn't interested in what Senior Sister was up to either. All she wanted now was to build the biggest, most beautiful snowman—one that would make Senior Sister jealous and impress her Master!
Ye Qinghan turned her face, revealing only an icy expression as she followed Xu Zhanfeng into the Sacred Realm.
Wherever they passed, corpses littered the ground, a sight that sent shivers down the spine. Even Ye Qinghan couldn't help but feel a chill.
"You did this."
Ye Qinghan understood Xu Zhanfeng was no saint. If this man harbored any independent ambitions, she would need to keep a close watch on him.
"Everything was done according to the Grand Elder's orders. We were to use the most brutal methods to make them understand the consequences of opposing Lingxian Hall."
"These were the Grandmaster's orders?"
Though Ye Qinghan had long suspected as much, she never imagined her master would utter such words.
"Yes. The enemies of the First Lady are the enemies of the Lingxian Hall, and they are also Zhanfeng's enemies."
Ye Qinghan nodded, feigning composure as if everything unfolded as expected.
"Any discoveries?"
Xu Zhanfeng hesitated. He wasn't sure if he should tell the First Lady about this…
Ye Qinghan noticed Xu Zhanfeng's unease. The disciple had likely uncovered something he didn't want his master to know.
"Did the Master instruct you to guard against Qinghan?"
"Not at all. Grandma, please understand—Zhanfeng would never harbor such intentions."
"Then what is this about?"
"Zhanfeng will show the First Lady the way. I humbly request the First Lady…"
Ye Qinghan followed Xu Zhanfeng through the Main Hall littered with corpses, arriving at a hidden chamber.
As if designed for exorcism or some dark ritual, the room was meticulously arranged. Oil lamps were placed in precise formations, creating an air of profound mystery.
In the very center sat a basin…
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