Conversation and Plans

Liu Zhengde's mansion was located in the southern mountain range, nearly an entire city away from the train station. Although not many people owned cars these days, city traffic still slowed them down, making the journey take almost two hours.

Liu Zhengde, the only one with a Crimson Cloud Empire driver's license, was behind the wheel. Liu Wenhan sat in the passenger seat, while Liu Yun and Liu Tian squeezed Liu Wenqian between them, one on each side.

"Why are you driving yourself this time, Second Uncle? Where's the driver?" Liu Yun asked from the car.

"Heh!" Since they were family, Liu Zhengde didn't put on airs, nor did he adopt the terse attitude he usually had with outsiders. "I'm on vacation, aren't I? Since I have free time, why would I let a driver pick you up?"

"Besides, this is the first time I'm meeting my nephew. How could I let a driver handle such a memorable occasion? If your aunt hadn't gone back to her parents' home, I would have brought her along too."

"But thankfully she did, otherwise this car is too small to fit everyone... and someone's blocking the road ahead. I should have brought the military vehicle..."

"The roads in Pei Commandery need to be repaired and widened. There are too many one-way streets, making traffic inconvenient. In the Hundred Flowers Kingdom, most roads are eight lanes, and the narrowest are at least four lanes. How have the roads here remained so narrow after all these years?" Liu Yun replied.

"Isn't it the City Lord's fault?" Liu Zhengde chuckled. "The higher-ups allocated funds, but he's greedy. He spent a lot of money to get this position, so how can he not earn back ten times that amount?"

"Has the Crimson Cloud Empire truly fallen to this point?" Liu Yun frowned, clearly catching the keywords. "Selling official positions and titles is a sign of a dynasty's end. And it's only been a few years."

"Since the failed war ten years ago, the three great empires, except for the newly established Dawn Alliance, have been in constant decline. Both the Crimson Cloud Empire and the Morning Star Alliance are no exception." What might be considered classified information elsewhere was casually revealed by Liu Zhengde in conversation. "They lost their largest colony and most profitable exploration projects, yet they still have to maintain the lavish lifestyles of those people. If they don't sell official positions, how can they manage?"

"This dynasty has lasted eight hundred years. If the storm hadn't ended at just the right time, the Crimson Cloud Empire would have collapsed long ago. It's not too late now; the good times won't last much longer..."

"Those bloated, greedy fellows are like a bunch of leeches. If they can't suck blood from elsewhere, they can only suck their own. In my opinion, within ten years, if there's no external war, there will be an internal one. If another natural disaster strikes, well, the Crimson Cloud Empire's lifespan is nearing its end."

"Your decision to leave was the right one, fifth brother. The situation is unpredictable and treacherous right now. Perhaps we'll need to ask for your help someday."

Despite being considered upper-class within the Crimson Cloud Empire and holding a position of power in the military, with the entire Liu family seemingly prospering, Liu Zhengde showed no hope for the Crimson Cloud Empire's future. He was even making arrangements for a fallback plan.

"Alright, let's not talk about this anymore." Before Liu Yun could reply, Liu Zhengde changed the subject, turning his attention to Liu Tian. "Speaking of which, I haven't heard nephew say anything. Are you shy?"

"?" Liu Tian, who had been idly watching the security guards beating up stray dogs outside the window, turned his head when he heard himself mentioned. "Me? No, I just don't have anything to say."

"Nothing to say?" Liu Zhengde picked up the conversation, and a torrent of words poured out. "Why don't you tell us how you guys ended up together? Also, nephew, do you have a fiancée yet? Should your Second Uncle set you up? Oh no, I forgot, the beauties of the Hundred Flowers Kingdom are famous far and wide. I'm sure you already have someone in mind, nephew?"

"No," Liu Tian replied concisely, giving Liu Zhengde no room to speculate. "Women only slow down my martial arts training. Until I become number one in the world, I have no interest in romance."

"?" Liu Zhengde burst into laughter. "As expected of fifth brother's son, you have great ambitions, just like you did when you were younger! World number one? I thought about that when I was young too, but how is that possible? This world is too vast. There's no number one in literature, but there's always a number two in martial arts!"

"Don't mention it," Liu Yun sighed. "My son is too stubborn. No matter how I try to persuade him, he won't change his mind. He's set on being the best in the world and won't stop until he hits a wall."

"Hey, that's not bad either. Young people should have dreams. As they grow, they'll naturally change," Liu Zhengde said by way of comfort. "I remember what you wanted to do when you were young, fifth brother. 'Traverse the green mountains before age catches up.' You insisted on going out to sea, to see all the world's scenery, and no one could dissuade you. But didn't you end up getting married and having children? You just never came back. Old man often misses you."

"Second Uncle, please don't comfort me. Father has five daughters and seven sons, all successful. One more or one less doesn't matter. Especially with you here, why would Father miss a disobedient son like me? The last time I went back, Father didn't even recognize me." Liu Yun's expression was calm, as if he were talking about someone else, the past mistakes now something he could laugh about.

"Father is old, after all. He's a hundred years old. I don't know how much time he has left. We take it one day at a time," Liu Zhengde also said. "If the situation were stable, I would have definitely advised you not to return to the Hundred Flowers Kingdom this time. But now, alas, we just take it one day at a time..."

"Second Uncle, don't be too pessimistic. Even a sinking ship has three nails. The Crimson Cloud Empire has stood for so many years; it won't collapse just like that," Liu Yun comforted him. "Speaking of which, my son has recently become fond of antiques from the Lost Empire. Didn't you go fight there back then, Second Uncle? Did you keep any souvenirs? Let my son broaden his horizons."

"No problem, no problem. I actually kept quite a few of those things. They aren't too valuable, so consider them a welcome gift for my nephew," Liu Zhengde said generously. "They're all in storage. When the time comes, Tian, you can pick out a couple of things you like."

"Thank you, Second Uncle." Liu Tian's eyes lit up when he heard the keywords, and he quickly thanked him. "But it's not necessary. I'll just take a look."

"Just looking isn't enough! You have to take at least one piece – otherwise, I'll just randomly pick one to smash. I can't let this go empty-handed. Your father and I grew up together, we're biological brothers. Don't I have that much face?"

"Then I'll thank you in advance, Second Uncle." Seeing Liu Zhengde's decision, Liu Tian no longer made pointless refusals and agreed. After all, judging by today's events, something is bound to happen sooner or later. I'll just put in a bit more effort to protect Second Uncle's family then.

Late at night, in a small manor, a man who looked unremarkable was kneeling on one knee, one fist on the ground and the other on his knee, reporting on his day's work.

"You're saying a young man discovered you?" the voice belonged to a man hidden in the shadows, deep and slightly hoarse. "To be able to sense you amidst a crowd suggests the Liu family still has some hidden strength."

"I deserve death for my failure and for disrupting the master's plan," the man said, bowing his head low, begging. "Please punish me, master!"

"Heh." The man seemed to sense his subordinate's fear and gently lifted him. "No need to worry, Rat. Even if you hadn't been discovered this time, I would have found an opportunity to let them know that a certain force is watching them from the shadows."

"I know Liu Zhengde as well as I know myself. He will never change his mind because of potential threats. He will only prepare more meticulously, act more boldly, to lure out and capture whoever is secretly watching them."

"If Liu Zhengde isn't made aware, if he isn't made to try his best, if he's made to believe it's foolproof, how can I savor the sweetness of this wine of revenge?"

Hearing his master's words, the previously fearful man was instantly relieved.

"Your subordinate obeys."

"You may withdraw. There's no need to worry too much, but be extremely careful not to get caught during this period, Rat."

"Understood."

With that, the ordinary-looking man quietly departed.