On the surface, Councilor Cai appeared calm, but inwardly, he was filled with bitter resentment.
Clearly, he had been the one most opposed to undermining Celestial Xia from within and most opposed to cooperating with Zhang Yu. It was Councilor Lan who had actively pushed for this matter. Yet now Councilor Lan was safe and sound, while he had been pushed out instead.
But for the success of this expedition, after the other councilors had dispersed, he still had no choice but to seek out Councilor Lan. "Councilor Lan, Cai has a matter to ask of you."
Councilor Lan looked at him with a gentle expression. "Councilor Cai is too polite. Speak freely. As fellow cultivators, if I can help, I naturally will."
Councilor Cai said, "Could Councilor Lan, in the name of the Origin Upper Hall, inform Chief Envoy Zhang through the resident envoy and have him draw away as much of Celestial Xia's strength as possible, so that we may more easily take down that realm?"
Councilor Lan looked at him. "I had always thought Councilor Cai harbored doubts toward Chief Envoy Zhang. Does this mean you now count him among those you trust?"
Councilor Cai said, "No matter how I view this man, he is still maintaining relations with our Origin Xia, is he not? If he truly stands on our side, then once the Origin Upper Hall formally sends its letter, he will understand the stakes and surely do his utmost to tie down Celestial Xia. If he fails to accomplish this, then either he is incapable of doing so, or else..."
He paused. "At the very least, we can test his true attitude, can we not?"
Councilor Lan did not answer that question. Instead, he said, "Since Councilor Cai has made up his mind, Lan