Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Li Nianfan hurriedly saluted, “Prince Zhou, how impolite of me.”
Zhou Yunwu was still standing. He bowed and said sincerely, “I was speculating wrongly. Thanks for the quick reminder, Mr. Li. You’ve made me realize important things. Can you please be my teacher?!”
His earlier mentality was completely wrong. Not only was he overly dependent on the cultivators, he was also holding grudges against them. If he kept thinking like that, it would have troubling consequences.
He imagined what would happen and had cold sweat all over.
Li Nianfan simply waved and said, “That’s too much of a compliment, Prince Zhou. I’m just an ordinary man in the mountains. How can I be your teacher? Please, don’t bring it up again.”
Li Nianfan did not need anything else here. He had a beautiful woman as his company and he could occasionally show off to the cultivators. He had an awesome time.
‘He wants me to work for the kingdom? To be busy all day and battle in war?
‘Does he think I’m foolish?
‘Yet another person who wants to be my student? Indeed, talented people are popular in the Immortal Realm,’ Li Nianfan thought to himself happily.
Zhou Yunwu was more respectful of him. At the same time, he sighed pitifully, “Mr. Li, you don’t care much for fame or fortune. Your mind is as still as water. I’m so embarrassed because I’m nowhere near your level.”
He groaned for a moment and continued, “Mr. Li, you’re a legendary genius. Don’t you have ambitions? I’ve visited all the famous places and realized cultivators were powerful. However, ordinary people are more common in this realm. If someone can gather the common people and inspire them to work together, cultivators won’t look down on us anymore. We can put ordinary people on top again!”
Li Nianfan stared at Zhou Yunwu.
It seemed like his sincere apology was not sincere at all. In the end, he still wanted to battle the cultivators as an ordinary man.
It could not be blamed. He was a noble prince. He must be mad that the cultivators were on top. The unfairness he felt was impossible to get rid of.
However…that was very ambitious of him.
There were no other proper kingdoms in the Immortal Realm, so if he did gather the people, it would be a force to be reckoned with. As the saying went, ‘teamwork makes the dream work’.
Li Nianfan shook his head without a second thought. “No, not at all. I don’t have any kind of ambition.”
It would take a lot of time to rule the world. Li Nianfan did not want any part of it. He could not wait to say goodbye to Zhou Yunwu.
Zhou Yunwu looked disappointed. He tried to speak but did not know what to say.
After a while of silence, he said, “It seems like this isn’t where your ambitions lie, Mr. Li. I shall not force you to do so. Actually…apart from the plague, I have another question for you, Mr. Li.”
“Say it.” Li Nianfan did not reject him because he was an ambitious prince. He wanted to be on his good side.
“The Xia Kingdom is in a central region, but there are cases of banditry coming from three sides. We’re not afraid if it’s only coming from one side, but these three areas are secretly working together because they fear our kingdom’s power. If we attack one side, the other two will charge and attack my kingdom.”
Zhou Yunwu looked worried after saying that. He had a headache because to him, this was an unsolvable issue. He felt like the only solution was to use all their might to attack.
His ambition of ruling the world seemed far from reality every time he thought about this issue. He could not even deal with three banditries. How could he rule the Immortal Realm? Such a joke, right?
“I see.”
Li Nianfan looked at the table. He took out a dumpling. Then, he placed a pair of chopsticks, a spoon, and a plate around the dumpling.
“To better visualize it, let’s pretend the dumpling is the Xia Kingdom. The chopsticks, spoon, and plate represent the three banditries. Which one is the biggest banditry?”
Zhou Yunwu was taken aback. Then, he pointed at the plate and said, “The plate’s the biggest!”
Li Nianfan looked at the table and thought for a moment. He had a plan in mind. “The chopsticks, plate, and spoon seem to be working together, but they’re not made from the same material. Naturally, they would have some mistrust and greed between one another. Breaking their attack…wouldn’t be that hard!”
Zhou Yunwu felt his heart skip a beat. He was instantly overjoyed.
He was only trying to give it a go. He did not expect to receive an actual solution to this issue.
What a man of mystery!
He had sparkles in his eyes as he excitedly asked, “What should the dumpling do?”
“I have a plan. It’s called…instigation!” Li Nianfan smiled and teased him on purpose.
Too bad he did not have a long beard. He could stroke it and give off the ‘hidden expert’ effect.
He could think of ten different solutions while yawning. How talented of him!
Zhou Yunwu immediately stood up and bowed at him politely. He exclaimed, “Please, teach me, Mr. Li!”
Li Nianfan smiled and asked, “Does the dumpling have hostages of the chopsticks, spoon, and plate?”
“Naturally, yes,” said Zhou Yunwu.
“How do we deal with the hostages?”
“Kill them all!” said the bodyguard behind the prince.
Li Nianfan stopped him. “Ha, the killing will show that you aren’t to be messed with but it’s not the solution to the problem. It will make the chopsticks, plate, and spoon work together more seamlessly.”
Zhou Yunwu frowned. “So, no killing?”
“You have to, but only a part of it!” Li Nianfan paused. “If you kill the spoon and chopstick hostages but you release the plate hostages, how would the spoon and chopsticks feel?”
Zhou Yunwu realized what he meant and thought about it.
Li Nianfan continued, “Right now, the dumpling sends someone to bring gifts to please the plate. What would be the results?”
Zhou Yunwu stood up. He felt like he was enlightened. He mumbled, “The plate will think that the dumpling’s scared, and the plate will be greedy. But the chopsticks and the spoon won’t be happy about this!”
Power imbalance worked every time!
However…it was not enough.
Li Nianfan continued, “Suddenly, the dumpling releases a classified rumor saying that the plate is on the dumpling’s side and that the plate is ready to work together with the dumpling to get rid of the chopsticks and the spoon. However, the dumpling suddenly leads a big army to ambush the plate, wanting to get rid of it. What would happen then?”
“The spoon and the chopsticks would think this is the dumpling and plate’s plan. They wouldn’t dare to do anything reckless, so they won’t help the plate!”
Zhou Yunwu felt goosebumps all over. His scalp was almost numb. He walked back and forth on the spot. His voice trembled as he said, “Amazing, amazing!”
He did not need Li Nianfan to continue. He talked to himself, “Just when the spoon and the chopsticks are hesitating, the dumpling will use that time to annihilate the plate! Their plan…will be completely destroyed!
“The talented Mr. Li, please, accept my bow!”
He looked serious and bowed at Li Nianfan. He said sincerely, “If you help me, Mr. Li, the world will be at peace. Please, reconsider your decision. I’m willing to share the world with you as your student!”
He called himself a student. He was being very humble.
Li Nianfan said without a second thought, “No need to reconsider. Good luck on your side.”
“Mr. Li, if you have second thoughts about this, find me anytime at the ‘dumpling’. I’ll welcome you as your student!” Zhou Yunwu bowed again. “Thanks for all the great help today. I should return. Farewell!”
