"An alliance?"
Lu Yuan was somewhat surprised.
This surprise was not an act.
It was genuine.
After all, no matter how one looked at it, he could hardly be considered qualified to form an alliance with the Martial Realm. Or rather, his circumstances did not meet the basic conditions universally recognized in the Myriad Heavens, so an alliance was out of the question.
In the common understanding of the Myriad Heavens,
alliance was a very special word.
Generally speaking, it was only used for two factions of equal strength. Moreover, the degree of trust between them was certainly not built solely upon the most solid foundation of mutual interests.
Interests were an unavoidable word.
Because they were tied to rationality.
Whether it was Lu Yuan, Xiao Yan, or anyone else in this world, none of their actions could completely break free from that word.
Take Lu Yuan, for example.
Did he truly support Xiao Yan simply because Xiao Yan was a transmigrator?
Or simply because Xiao Yan was a fellow townsman?
Obviously not!
The reason he supported Xiao Yan—including preventing Nalan Yanran from publicly breaking off the engagement, concealing Yao Lao's existence for Xiao Yan, and standing up for the young Xiao Yan—was all based on the premise that Xiao Yan was worth investing in and that this investment could pay off. If the investment could not be recovered—put more plainly, if it could not turn a profit—he certainly would not continue supporting Xiao Yan!
This was a very realistic issue!
It was also the original starting point!
A line of thinking born from rationality!
Perhaps it sounded harsh.
But it had to be admitted.
Those harsh words were reality.
Of course,
Xiao Yan was the same.
When Xiao Yan initially chose Yao Lao—or, more precisely, chose Yao Lao in