You Failed

"Right now, you have no cards in your hand. You have no military authority, no sect backing, and the people in court willing to speak for you have almost been purged clean by Xue Qinghe. The only thing you have left is your life. If you lose even that, then you'll have nothing at all. Zhou Qiubai could rise from a Rogue Cultivator to the city lord of Canghai City because he had enough strength, because he dared to fight and risk his life, and because he had a group of people beside him who were just as fearless, following him into the fray. What do you have?"

Xue Beng was left speechless by the question.

Because he knew that all Xue Xing could do for him was keep him alive.

Anything more than that, Xue Xing could not give.

Because he himself lived with extreme caution.

"Forget it." He opened his eyes, the usual wastrel smile rising to his lips, but this time even he felt that smile was laughably fake. "I'll go back and sleep tonight, then keep playing my prodigal prince tomorrow. Imperial Uncle, you're right. I have no cards, so I can only wait. When the day comes that Xue Qinghe ascends the throne, I'll think about whether to kneel or run."

At a roadside tea stall, a middle-aged man who looked somewhat like a traveling merchant was speaking quietly with his companion.

"Eight hundred men! Listen carefully, a full eight hundred soul masters! No banners, no markings, but aside from that place, who else could mobilize eight hundred soul masters?"

His companion was a gaunt old man. When he heard this, the tea bowl in his hand nearly slipped. "Where were they headed?"

"East." The merchant pointed into the distance, the corners of his mouth