The Household Head Hong always felt that most of the things he had done in his life were in accordance with his conscience. He wouldn't say they were absolutely upright, but he was basically without guilt.
However, there were some hurdles in the King of Qin's heart that he couldn't overcome.
In those days of hellish chaos, what human race initially had any ambition to rule the Central Plains? Apart from a few warlord families or sorcerer families, most people's greatest desire was simply to survive until tomorrow, including even middle-class families like theirs.
The Hong Household was already considered a powerful clan in Hebei, but even so, due to years of war, the male members of the family were almost wiped out.
Ordinary people without blood ties were treated worse than pigs and dogs in that era; ten pounds of rice or flour could be exchanged for a child or a woman who looked somewhat presentable.
In those times, he had never seen hope since he could remember.
But in that dark and hopeless era, it was this man who brought light to everyone.
Although the later concept of the demonic nobles, which allowed only the most heinous criminals to become food, violated his bottom line, it must be said that the greatest credit for the twenty years of peace in the Great Jin Dynasty did not go to the Xiao Household.
"It's been a long time, Uncle Hong," King of Qin said with a slight smile.
The Household Head Hong looked at the King of Qin with an extremely complicated expression. He had heard about the Prince's deeds in the capital, but he never expected to meet him again.
"Your Highness," the Household Head Hong knelt on one knee, performing the highest level of kowtow, "Greetings, Your Highness!"
The eldest princess saw it all but did not stop him. She clearly remembered the struggle Uncle Hong went through when he wanted to break with the King of Qin, and she knew how much courage it would take for such a loyal and righteous person to betray the King of Qin. But it was precisely because of this that she was at ease, knowing that the head of the Hong Household family had not changed and was still the same person she knew well.
"You haven't changed at all after all these years," the King of Qin chuckled. "So utterly useless."
"I'm sorry to disappoint Your Highness," the Household Head Hong replied with a wry smile.
King of Qin sighed and didn't say much. In fact, after many years of contact with Chen Qing, he had a general understanding of these people's positions. His original design did have flaws, and it would indeed allow the demons to cruelly exploit the human race in the end. However, it was not a barbaric deprivation, but a crushing of power. It was normal for the truly dignified human race to be unable to accept such a reasonable way of eating humans.
Although Lao Hong was honest and kind, he was a man of dignity.
He actually quite liked that kind of person, but unfortunately, sometimes it's impossible for people to come together when it comes to their stances.
"It's been a long time, Little Phoenix," the King of Qin said with a smile.
"It's been a long time." The eldest princess looked at the other person with a very complicated expression. Back in Cloud Capital, the other person appeared in a strange manner, but their focus was on Ziyue, and they barely communicated with each other. At that time, the situation was urgent, and there was no time to catch up.
She knew she would run into this person again sooner or later, but she didn't expect it to happen so soon.
"I thought you would take over those soldiers immediately." The princess looked at him and said, "The current Flying Dragon Lord still has many captains who were your former subordinates. If you make secret contacts, you still have a chance to control the army."
"Is that so?" King of Qin shook his head. "When I died back then, the Flying Dragon Army didn't rebel, which means my prestige wasn't actually that great. It's the same now. I have an evil spirit inside me, and the life and death of my family are in the hands of the Xiao Household. How could they betray me just because of my appearance?"
"You've always been so wise," the princess said with a smile. "Then why have you come here?"
"Cooperation," the King of Qin said earnestly.
"Cooperate with me?"
"To cooperate with you," the King of Qin said calmly.
"With the person who betrayed you?"
"The world isn't black and white. What happened back then was a matter of perspective, and I'm disappointed by your choice, but that doesn't mean I don't understand. And now, we do have contact for cooperation."
"What is the basis for our cooperation?" The princess chuckled. "You are a man-eating demon, and that will never change. In any case, the human world will not allow someone like you to exist!"
"Humans cannot stand on their own in this world," the King of Qin laughed. "You understand this better than anyone. All of humanity's power today comes from demons and monsters—be it bloodlines, sorcerers, or even the ghostly army you've chosen. You know very well that humanity cannot control the Central Plains alone. Coexistence between humans and demons is necessary. Whether you dislike it or are angry about it, this is the rule of this world, and no one can change it!"
"Are you here to convince me to continue believing in your absurd idea of humans and demons coexisting?"
"No." The King of Qin shook his head. "I came to find you to oppose the Buddha Kingdom. We have different stances, but we at least have some things in common. What we want is the prosperity of the Central Plains, not to be like those ancient times, a group of bloodsuckers who suck our fill and then run away, waiting for the human race to grow up again like leeks."
"Is that so?" The princess looked up and met the other's deep eyes directly. "But cooperation depends on what you can offer. My Great Jin currently has a million-strong army and a hundred thousand Transcendent troops. What do you have?"
" Daoist School."
The princess's pupils contracted.
Her worst fears came true.
"My lord, do you really want me to come along?" Wei Gongzhan was a little uneasy. Although he had experienced many major events, he was still quite apprehensive about the important task of getting close to the imperial princess.
"I remember you used to call me Second Cousin," Wei Gongcheng said casually.
Wei Gongzhan paused for only a moment before correcting himself, saying, "Second cousin."
A slight smile appeared on Wei Gongcheng's usually stern face.
"You are the most like me among the Wei Household members."
"How can I compare to my second cousin?" Wei Gongzhan quickly waved his hand.
Who in Jiangnan doesn't know Wei Gongcheng's abilities these days?
Although some outsiders say it's because of the master's favoritism, how can one explain his ability to firmly hold the position of the supreme ruler of the Underworld, surpassing the Shen Family, simply by saying it's favoritism?
"Don't be modest. You just don't have much ambition. In fact, you do many things better than me."
Wei Gongzhan looked at the other person, unsure how to respond, because he could tell that his second cousin didn't want him to be modest.
"Brother, it was just contact with the Princess. Although Great Azure Mountain isn't part of the Underworld, with your abilities, it shouldn't be necessary."
What if there are other people?
"Forehead?"
Wei Gongzhan paused for a moment, then cautiously asked, "Do you think there are other people? People who could threaten you?"
"Who do you think it could be?" Wei Gongcheng's question was clearly tinged with a test.
Wei Gongzhan dared not be negligent and quickly thought it over. Although his cousin had not made many moves, Lord Ziyue had commented that there were almost no people in the Underworld who could defeat his second cousin, not even a veteran expert like Lord Shen Er.
Wei Gongcheng has a deep understanding of the Underworld, and his abilities are no less than those of any top sorcerer.
As for the Shen Family members, although they are also rulers of the Underworld, they are more accustomed to using the power of their inherited techniques.
"There are only a handful of people in the world who can threaten you, Second Cousin. If it's not that guy surnamed Lan, then it must be someone else who has intruded."
"And among all of them, even fewer would want to infiltrate this place silently. They would need extremely strong spatial manipulation abilities, at least comparable to Lord Ziyue's. So..."
The answer is obvious.
" Your Lord King of Qin?"
"You're really good," Wei Gongcheng smiled.
"But what's he doing here at this time?"
"To cooperate," Wei Gongcheng said in a low voice, "But not with us. Jiangnan is vulnerable internally, and he won't miss this opportunity. Besides, I have news of Lord Ziyue. She said the soldiers Lord Ziyue brought this time are in that guy's hands!"