Human, Yet Not Human

Leaving the Imperial Palace, Qin Yi was still pondering. The emperor's words weren't inherently wrong; Sage Ruler and benevolent ruler governing peacefully and steadily was indeed a way to cultivate good fortune, far more meaningful than relying on any precious treasure. The problem was that this guy was utterly oblivious. Didn't he know whether he himself was a wise and benevolent ruler?

Lingxu, observing Qin Yi's expression, knew he was somewhat disappointed, so she said, "Actually, Your Majesty is still a wise ruler..."

Qin Yi waved his hand. "I understand."

Ultimately, it can be said that Li Qinglin betrayed the Great Qian Dynasty. If it weren't for the "conquest of the Southern Border," perhaps this emperor wouldn't have become so arrogant... It's truly unimaginable that a nominal vassal state could cause such a psychological shift.

Therefore, the cause and effect of dynasties are so great that one move can have far-reaching consequences. You really don't know how much impact getting involved in something will have on hundreds of millions of people, so it's right not to get involved lightly.

Knowing he couldn't say it aloud, Lingxu asked Qin Yi in a friendly manner, "Brother Dao, have you returned to the temple? I recently acquired some fine tea. We enjoyed Tea Tasting and Dao Discussion and temporarily forgetting our troubles. Wasn't that delightful?"

This guy is quite interesting. His address has changed countless times, from "fellow Daoist" to "senior" to "Immortal" to "brother Daoist." Is this a necessary course for cultivation in the mortal world? Qin Yi found this old Daoist quite amusing and thought he could further assess his character. If the Great Qian Dynasty is truly beyond saving, and his character is indeed acceptable, perhaps he should be taken to the Ten Thousand Dao Immortal Palace; at least he could handle the clerkships in the various halls.

However, he had no time for the Lingxu right now, Humble Origins was probably still trembling under Meng Qingying's whip. "My friends at the tavern are waiting for me. Let's have tea another day, fellow Daoist."

"That Fat Shopkeeper..." Lingxu hesitated for a moment, but still said, "He seems to have a... Yao Qi?"

Qin Yi asked curiously, "At a time like this, you still care about this? Brother Dao doesn't seem like such a pedantic person."

"It's not that I'm being pedantic, but I can't help but wonder if this matter is related to demons."

Qin Yi was about to reply that it was impossible, but the words caught in his throat. Humble Origins didn't have the means didn't mean that the person behind him didn't...

Although the possibility is slim... it's not entirely impossible.

He patted Lingxu on the shoulder. "I understand now, thanks for the pointers."

On the way back to the tavern, Liusu, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up, "The Da Qian Emperor of Crown Prince are no good. I suggest you cooperate with Meng Qingying to overthrow them. There must be Treasures Suppressing Luck in the Imperial Palace that can bring good fortune. Whether you take it for your own use or give it to Southern Li, it's better than letting these good-for-nothings waste it."

Qin Yi couldn't help but laugh, "You're encouraging me to do something bad again."

"It's not like you don't think that way. In the past, when you disagreed, your tone wasn't this soft and submissive."

"Ha..."

"Hey, do you think Cheng Cheng might be involved in this too? Come to think of it, she might have a motive."

Qin Yi said, "A demon openly establishing a kingdom in the human world would invite attacks from all sides that she cannot bear. Making the Humble Origins pay attention to human affairs is merely to prevent herself from becoming too isolated; she has always been very farsighted. If she has a motive, it's possible she might try to siphon this dragon energy to the Demon City —that's something she might do, so I can't be sure."

"If she was indeed involved, would you sabotage her plans?"

Qin Yi hesitated for a moment, then said without answering, "We won't make any decisions for now until we understand the specific cause and effect of this matter. Making assumptions is just creating unnecessary trouble for ourselves. Let's figure it out first."

Liusu jumped off the stick. "Are you mocking me for being mediocre?"

Qin Yi subtly made a gesture to press it back down. "Don't show yourself off in the street."

"Idiot, I'm just a soul. If I want you to see me, I'll appear as a tiny white mist figure. If I don't want anyone to see me, then no one can see me, unless he is Huiyang!"

Qin Yi was taken aback, looked down, and sure enough, he couldn't see Liusu anywhere.

He soon felt something jump up his arm and then sit on his shoulder and stay still.

Qin Yi grinned, his mood improving, and strode back to the tavern.

Upon entering, one sees Meng Qingying leaning against the window, actually reading a book. Humble Origins sits behind the counter with a bitter face, muttering words that no one can hear, angrily wiping here and there, looking like a shop assistant forced to work.

Even her Demon Power wasn't sealed. Just as she had predicted, the Humble Origins and the Myriad Phenomena Asura Sect were at peace. Meng Qingying wouldn't easily provoke another demonic force whose background she didn't know.

To be honest, Qin Yi's relationship with Humble Origins was far from friendly. Hanmen had tricked Qin Yi and even beaten him up during the ancient tomb incident. Now, when Qin Yi tried to question him, he was threatened with Wolf Tooth Club, and the answers he received weren't even entirely truthful. Meng Qingying should know that using him to threaten Qin Yi into abandoning the mission is unrealistic; at most, she could only threaten Qin Yi's kindness, making him think that she was the one who led him there and wouldn't ignore the situation...

Therefore, Qin Yi will definitely come back to visit; this is the result of a tacit understanding between the two parties.

Seeing Qin Yi return, Humble Origins breathed a sigh of relief and collapsed onto the counter, exhausted. "I'm so tired... Qin Yi, you heartless bastard."

Qin Yi found it somewhat amusing. "What kind of show are you putting on? Is Miss Meng intentionally running the tavern and forcing the owner to become an employee?"

"Who wants this run-down tavern?" Meng Qingying without looking up. "This filthy place is covered in grease and dust, with jars scattered everywhere. It's so messy and disgusting to look at. Only you bunch of stinking men can still order people around in this stinking and chaotic place."

The Humble Origins said, "Then you don't have to stay here. You were invited here, weren't you?"

"Hiss..." Qin Yi leaned back slightly, you wouldn't guess he's such a straight man!

Meng Qingying put down her book and stared coldly at Humble Origins with her beautiful eyes.

The Humble Origins threw down the rag, puffed out his chest, and said, "This guy's back. We can join forces now. We're not afraid of you."

"Heh..." Meng Qingying said leisurely, "But I think that this guy is more likely to cooperate with me now that he's back."

Qin Yi sat down next to her, leaning against the window, and glanced at the book in her hand.

The page in "The Chronicles of Nanli Figures" is the Biography of Qin Yi.

Qin Yi had always felt strange about becoming a figure in a biography. It was one thing for Ju Yunxiu to read it aloud, but seeing it in person made his old face burn with embarrassment and felt very awkward. Meng Qingying, on the other hand, seemed to find it very interesting, flipping through the page over and over again, as if there were flowers in it.

Qin Yi said helplessly, "With your Divine Sense and memory, you could probably recite it backwards after watching it a few times, so what's the point of watching it again?"

"I'm looking at what's hidden in the text."

"Wow, I didn't realize you were such a cultured person."

Meng Qingying smiled faintly, "The position of Grand Preceptor of Southern Li Imperial Preceptor awaits Qin Yi's return, which is understandable. But why is Qin Yi still willing to bear the title of Imperial Preceptor, remaining a mere constraint, instead of resuming his life as a recluse in the mountains?"

Qin Yi's heart skipped a beat, and he narrowed his eyes.

Meng Qingying said slowly, "Of course it's because he has something on his mind. There's something in Southern Li that's very important to Qin Yi, and he's unwilling to give it up. Giving up this title would seem to sever something... It's a kind of commemoration he's placed in his heart."

Qin Yi coldly asked, "What are you trying to say?"

"I want to say that the Great Qian Southern Li, but my Myriad Phenomena Asura Sect has a lot of ways to deal with it."

Qin Yi's expression was colder than ever before. "Our previous grudges were merely personal. I hope you can understand this and not take it out on others, lest it escalate to a point of no return."

Meng Qingying turned her head to look at him curiously, and suddenly laughed, "Really, I've always seen you with such a calm and collected demeanor, even when you're wielding Wolf Tooth Club to hit someone, you still have a carefree attitude. This is the first time I've seen you suppress your anxiety and rage, as if there are towering waves hidden at the bottom of the sea, and when they erupt, the sky will collapse and the Heaven Collapse."

Qin Yi remained silent.

Meng Qingying asked with great interest, "The Regent Queen of Southern Li, the Zhaoyang Grand Princess, Li Qingjun?"

Qin Yi said calmly, "It's none of your business."

"Tsk... How strange." Meng Qingying put down her book, propped her chin on her finger, and thought for a long time before sighing, "A genius cultivator... as long as he doesn't perish, he will almost certainly soar through the clouds and reach the heavens, becoming an immortal who lives for thousands of years... If you were with Minghe, I could understand. But to be so attached to a mortal woman, isn't that like a human falling for an ant, making people laugh?"

Qin Yi remained silent for a moment, then slowly said, "You say that immortals are not human, but I say that the character for immortal first has the radical for 'person.' Our paths are different, so there's no point in saying more."