If You Can't Solve the Problem, Solve the Person Who Created It

Perhaps it's true that alcohol helps people open up.

After a few rounds of drinks, the conversation flowed freely.

Slightly tipsy, Si Nan put his arm around Shi Sheng's shoulder and said earnestly, "Shi Sheng, don't take offense at my blunt words, but you can't keep going like this in the Brocade Guard. You have no backing, no connections, and you don't know how to adapt. You won't get anywhere."

As a First-Rate Martial Artist, Shi Sheng's alcohol tolerance was definitely better than Si Nan's.

He had originally intended to shake Si Nan off, but hearing those words and remembering the days he was ostracized in the Brocade Guard, he couldn't help but gulp down a cup of wine.

"I just want to do my job properly and bring every villain to justice."

"That's exactly why your thinking is wrong. Look at me."

Saying this, Si Nan patted his chest and said proudly, "Ever since I followed the Lord, even a Third-Rate Martial Artist like me can sit in the position of Banner Officer. And you? You worked so hard for so many years just to get this position. Don't you understand?"

"..."

Shi Sheng couldn't respond.

Although he looked down on those who relied on connections, looking around, there were very few who truly rose through their own strength.

When turbidity becomes the norm, purity becomes a sin.

"To be honest,"

Shi Sheng's tone suddenly became much lower.

"I wasn't born in the Imperial City. My hometown was just a small village. My parents were ordinary people who worked from sunrise to sunset. But that day, bandits attacked the village, everyone died, and only I survived."

As he spoke, Shi Sheng clenched one fist tightly.

"That's why I joined the Brocade Guard. I never thought about becoming a high official. It's enough for me as long as I can catch every villain."

This was Shi Sheng's pursuit.

It was precisely because of this pure heart that Shi Sheng could become a unique existence in the Brocade Guard.

"..."

The topic suddenly became a bit heavy.

Ye Liuyun held his wine cup and drank alone, not joining the conversation, just lost in thought.

Before crossing over, he was law-abiding. Not long after crossing over, he successively killed his nominal older brother. Only people adapt to this era; the era will not adapt to people.

"Hey, hey, hey! Don't talk as if you're the only one with a story."

Si Nan was truly drunk. He slammed the wine cup in his hand onto the table, breaking the heavy atmosphere.

"Do you think I was born knowing how to fawn over others? Let me tell you, I saw with my own eyes my grandfather being beaten to death by a Royalty's son."

Upon hearing this, even Ye Liuyun looked over in surprise.

Si Nan's demeanor suddenly became dejected.

"My grandfather was originally an ordinary merchant. The other party disliked the taste of the things my grandfather sold and directly beat him to death. Isn't that ridiculous!"

"My family went to the authorities to report the case, but only my mother returned, and she had gone mad. She committed suicide by taking poison within two years. I don't know what happened in between, but I can guess."

Speaking of this, Si Nan suddenly laughed, a self-mocking laugh.

"That's why I joined the Brocade Guard. I wanted revenge, but after joining the Brocade Guard, I realized, revenge? It's just a fantasy for ordinary people. If I hadn't met you, I wouldn't know whose dog I'd be right now."

The higher one stands, the more clearly one can see things.

When Si Nan learned that the family of that Royalty's son had a Grandmaster guarding it, he realized that he probably wouldn't be able to get revenge in his lifetime.

Looking at Si Nan like this, Shi Sheng suddenly fell silent.

In the private room next door.

Originally curious about the conversation next door, these words made Yan Shuzhu completely silent.

"Young Master, you don't need to be like this. This is not your fault."

Lü Lan continued to pour wine for Yan Shuzhu, while also offering comfort.

Although Yan Shuzhu was the emperor, he had only been on the throne for less than two years, and everyone in the Imperial City knew that Yan Shuzhu's position was purely for show, just a puppet pushed out.

No one took Yan Shuzhu seriously at all.

But Yan Shuzhu didn't want to be like this, which was why he had been searching for a way to break the situation.

"Sir, do you have any aspirations?"

At this moment, a question from next door piqued Yan Shuzhu's interest, and he listened intently.

Seeing Si Nan and Shi Sheng's gazes all directed at him.

Ye Liuyun picked up his wine cup and hesitated for a moment.

"Aspirations? Something that feels distant and difficult to achieve, that's what you call an aspiration."

Ye Liuyun thought of the deceased Ye Liufeng.

"Not long ago, I learned a principle called 'Heaven and Earth will destroy those who do not act for themselves'."

"If the wicked are very wicked, then become even more wicked than them. If your enemy is very strong, then you must become stronger than them. When you are stronger than everyone else, all problems cease to be problems."

Ye Liuyun was not someone who liked to beat around the bush.

If you can't solve the problem, then solve the person who created the problem.

Neither Shi Sheng nor Si Nan expected that Ye Liuyun's thoughts would be so direct.

"But there will always be stronger existences, right?"

Above the Innate Realm, there are Grandmasters, above Grandmasters, there are Great Grandmasters, and above Great Grandmasters, there are the legendary Land Immortals.

"Then keep getting stronger, until you are stronger than everyone else. Aren't legends meant to be surpassed?"

Ye Liuyun's ambition was simple: to constantly grow stronger, to become stronger than anyone else.

By then, he'd like to see who would still dare to act so high and mighty in front of him.

"Good!"

Si Nan and Shi Sheng didn't speak, but from the private room next door, Yan Shuzhu couldn't help but cheer.

Legends were meant to be surpassed; those words truly resonated with Yan Shuzhu.

However, as soon as that sound came out, Ye Liuyun's side fell silent.

"It seems there are people in this Imperial Brothel who enjoy eavesdropping," Ye Liuyun said with a chuckle, making a joke.

Yan Shuzhu also knew that in this situation, continuing to hide would be a bit impolite. She immediately stood up and walked over with Lü Lan.

"Brother Ye, please don't misunderstand. I merely overheard some of Brother Ye's remarks by chance. For a moment, I found it difficult to control myself and couldn't restrain my emotions."

Could there really be such a coincidence in the world? Just happened to overhear.

Moreover, you, a woman disguised as a man, coming to the Imperial Brothel, it's unlikely you're truly here for drinks and entertainment, is it?

"Since we've met by chance, let's have a drink together."

Ye Liuyun didn't expose her; there was no point.

"Alright!"

Yan Shuzhu wasn't a coy person, so she immediately sat down with Lü Lan.

Noticing Shi Sheng's gaze, she quite humbly cupped her hands in greeting.

"There was a misunderstanding regarding the previous matter. I didn't intentionally not pay; I was just a bit hasty on my first trip out of the palace. Please rest assured, I have already sent someone to pay the shopkeeper."

Having understood some of Shi Sheng's experiences, she also realized that Shi Sheng hadn't been deliberately targeting her that day.

Without speaking, Shi Sheng simply raised his cup to Yan Shuzhu and took a sip, letting the matter pass.