Fan Xian's eyes narrowed slightly. His pupils constricted slightly. He then stood up in front of the large shed. Straightening his back, he calmly looked at Yun Zhilan, who was singing loudly.
Everyone around the Sword Hut was kneeling. Even the members of the Qing diplomatic group knelt in front of the Great Grandmaster Sigu Jian's coffin and bowed sincerely. Before they came, the Qing Emperor had personally approved this minute etiquette. No one had any problems.
Fan Xian rose and appeared particularly eye-catching. Of the thousands of people inside and outside, only he and Yun Zhilan stood in front of the large black coffin.
Fan Xian did not want to kneel to anyone in his life. Other than heaven and earth, his parents, he was not in a good mood even when he went to court and knelt to the Emperor. He was willing to kneel with all his heart because he respected the strong and respected the dead. However, Yun Zhilan's last words shocked him. It also completely turned the faint respect he had for Sigu Jian into a faint anger.
Everyone heard Yun Zhilan's last words clearly. These were the words the 13 disciples of the Sword Hut heard at the same time as they knelt in front of the bed. Yun Zhilan would not lie and did not dare to lie. Thus, everyone turned their gaze toward Sir Fan junior, who had already abruptly stood up.
Mother from Dongyi?
Personally teaching sword skills?
Truly talented?
Hosting the opening of the Hut?
Countless shocked, puzzled, and amused gazes landed on Fan Xian's body, but they did not make his clothes flutter. He only looked calmly at Yun Zhilan as if trying to determine if he had imagined these words or if they were something else.
These simple words revealed four pieces of information that Sigu Jian wanted to announce to the world.
Fan Xian's mother was Ye Qingmei. Although Ye Qingmei had helped the Qing Kingdom rise to prominence, she could still be considered a person of Dongyi. This was not a secret. As for the matter of personally teaching sword techniques, since Sigu Jian had said so in his last words, everyone believed it. A Great Grandmaster had the right to teach Sir Fan junior the true meaning of the Sigu Sword. As for the evaluation of being a great talent, everyone thought Sir Fan junior was worthy of it.
The problem was that these messages all faintly revealed a kind of feeling. It was a feeling of intimacy, a feeling of wanting to pull Fan Xian toward Dongyi.
The maternal relationship referred to the closeness of blood. Teaching the sword was the relationship between master and disciple. Dacai was Dongyi's approval of Fan Xian.
As for having Fan Xian host the opening ceremony, that was the most important thing.
The Sword Hut had appeared in the world for decades. It had only been 20 years since the Sword Hut had truly opened and accepted disciples. Each time, the person hosting the opening ceremony was none other than Sigu Jian himself.
Other than the three years when he was heavily injured and waiting for death, Sigu Jian paid particular attention to the opening ceremony of the Sword Hut. This created a tacit agreement in the world.
Anyone who presided over the opening of the Sword Hut was the master of the Sword Hut.
Sigu Jian's last words had appointed Fan Xian to open the Sword Hut. Naturally, he had given him this Sword Hut, which contained countless aces and three generations of disciples.
…
…
This was indeed something Fan Xian had not thought of. During these two days, he had been thinking about how he could truly make the 12 swords other than Yun Zhilan work for him. Thirteenth Wang didn't need to think about it. He had already seen through this young man's personality. What about the other aces of the Sword Hut?
Unexpectedly, Sigu Jian had thought of this problem for him ahead of time and solved it. However, the method of solving this problem stunned Fan Xian.
Three pieces of information and one final order. The Sword Hut was in his hands. From now on, his words would be the same as Sigu Jian's words in the past. A mountain was now in his hands. It seemed to be a wonderful thing, but Fan Xian knew that behind the beauty was Sigu Jian's hidden ruthlessness.
This was a needle, a needle stuck between Fan Xian and the Emperor. As a Qing official, he had become the master of the Sword Hut. What would the Emperor think? No matter how much the Emperor trusted Fan Xian, could he watch as the power in Fan Xian's hands grew in the light? Particularly when Dongyi appeared to be so close and loyal to Fan Xian.
Even if the Emperor's heart was like the ocean, his confidence was like the sun and moon, and he didn't care about anything, what about his emotions? People were animals controlled by their emotions. The Emperor would certainly not like his illegitimate child to shine too brightly, perhaps even brighter than himself.
There could only ever be one sun in the sky.
Fan Xian stared at Yun Zhilan's lips. Only now did he know that before Sigu Jian died, he had still played a trick on him and dug a hole for him to jump into.
It was like Yun Zhilan did not notice his gaze at all. Naturally and calmly, he finished all of Sigu Jian's last words. He then walked in front of Fan Xian and bowed respectfully. "Please."
Please what? Please take the seat of honor? Please and then please? A cold smile rose to the corners of Fan Xian's lips. He unconsciously glanced down from the corner of his eyes. Everyone present had already risen. They were still staring at everything happening in front of the black coffin with stunned expressions.
Fan Xian glanced at the officials of the diplomatic group, particularly the assistant minister of the Board of Rites. The assistant minister sensed his gaze and furrowed his brows in thought for a long time. He then slowly nodded his head.
The exchange of thoughts between the two men in the Qing diplomatic group ended here. The Assistant Minister of the Board of Rites knew what Sir Fan junior was worried about. However, seeing that Dongyi was about to submit, he didn't want this matter to affect the bigger picture. The Qing people's desire to expand their territory was too strong. This Assistant Minister thought that the Emperor would not be angry because Sir Fan junior had accepted the position of Master of the Sword Hut without permission.
Fan Xian thought silently for a long time. He evaluated the pros and cons of this matter in his mind, particularly guessing how the Emperor would react once he learned of this matter.
Yun Zhilan was not in a hurry. He looked at him with a glimmer of mockery and waited for his response.
Fan Xian knew what he was mocking. It was just as his father had said. His behavior had indeed been a bit hesitant and not very straightforward. However, these people did not know that those who wanted to do great things had to be careful, especially when faced with the unfathomable Emperor.
In the end, Fan Xian took a deep breath and said with a slight smile, "I didn't think that even in death, your teacher would still not let me go."
"Since I am going to help Sir Fan junior achieve a great deed, the disciples of the Sword Hut must throw themselves under your banner." Yun Zhilan seemed to not hear the sharpness in his words. "It is getting late. Please accept the sword and then go to open the Sword Hut."
Fan Xian didn't move. Suddenly, he asked, "After opening the Sword Hut, the disciples of the third generation will all listen to my orders?"
"Correct."
"What about you?" He looked into Yun Zhilan's eyes and smiled slightly. "If I told you to dig 36,000 earthworms, would you agree?"
Digging earthworms was an interesting part of another story in another world. Yun Zhilan had never heard of it, but it did not stop him from answering quickly. It was clear that regardless of whether it was the dead Sigu Jian or him, they were both fully prepared for Fan Xian's question.
"I am now the Master of Dongyi. Since I am an official, I have left the Sword Hut," Yun Zhilan said with a sigh. Yun Zhilan sighed, but there was no sense of frustration in his voice. "Now, I am no longer a member of the Sword Hut. You cannot control me."
"So that's how it is." Fan Xian thought to himself that Sigu Jian indeed did not completely trust him. He still wanted to bring the troublesome Yun Zhilan out of the picture. He paused for a moment and then returned with a slightly mocking smile. "Don't forget, your position as the Master of Dongyi still needs the Qing Emperor's royal title. If the Emperor doesn't like you, you won't be able to do it."
Yun Zhilan's expression didn't change. "I think Sir Fan junior will let this matter happen."
The two of them spoke in very low voices. Standing alone in front of the black coffin, they didn't have to worry about others hearing them. Fan Xian understood that his words were to see if he was willing to cooperate or even form an alliance with the power of Dongyi or return to his identity as a pure official of the Qing Kingdom.
This move that had suddenly appeared after Sigu Jian's death had indeed messed up Fan Xian's plans. He had to worry about Jingdou's reaction and the Emperor's. Although this move was harsh, it was not something Fan Xian could not accept. At least, it was much better than the situation he had once been incomparably afraid of.
He had always been afraid that after Sigu Jian died, he would suddenly order the Shadow to take over as the Master of the Sword Hut.
If that happened, Sigu Jian would be forcing Fan Xian's faction to directly fall out with the Emperor.
Although the scene in front of him could create some cracks between Fan Xian and the Emperor, Sigu Jian was still rather merciful and gave Fan Xian some time to prepare.
Thinking of all the hidden moves this thin and weak Great Grandmaster had laid down before his death, Fan Xian couldn't help but sigh. He then thought of the hidden moves Ku He had laid down in Xiliang and Jingdou before his death. Only now did he know that the realm of a Great Grandmaster was not just about martial cultivation. It was also about the affairs of the human heart.
Fan Xian lowered his head and was silent for a moment. He then glanced at the Assistant Minister of the Board of Rites below and nodded slightly. He then gently grasped Yun Zhilan's hand.
Yun Zhilan furrowed his brows slightly.
"Smile. Since we are acting, we should act beautifully. In the future, we will be partners, just like the Qing court and Dongyi."
Fan Xian didn't look at him. Instead, he raised Yun Zhilan's hand with a slight smile.
The hands of the second-generation Master of the Sword Hut and the Master of Dongyi of an unknown generation clasped tightly in front of Sigu Jian's black coffin and in front of countless spectators.
…
…
The opening ceremony was not complicated, but it had a sense of sacredness. Fan Xian himself did not have a sacred belief in the sword. When he gently pushed open the tightly closed door of the grass hut, he found that the attitude of the disciples of the Sword Hut toward him had faintly changed. The respect and cooperation began to have some meaning that came from the heart. Even Thirteenth Wang was no exception.
After everything was done, Fan Xian returned to the Qing diplomatic group and entered a quiet room with the Assistant Minister of the Board of Rites. This was only the opening ceremony and the second round of negotiations. Although the negotiations had gone smoothly, they were still at the final juncture of the merger. Thus, the highest-ranking official the Qing Kingdom had sent, other than Fan Xian, was this Assistant Minister.
If they truly wanted to announce to the world that Dongyi belonged to the Qing Kingdom, not only the Minister of the Board of Rites, but perhaps even the Emperor would be interested in coming personally to accept the map and enjoy the worship of the tens of thousands of Dongyi people who had once been citizens of a foreign country.
The Assistant Minister of the Board of Rites looked at Sir Fan junior in deep thought and speechless. A moment later, he said evenly, "Sir, don't be too troubled. We know what Dongyi is thinking. We are used to it and will defeat it."
"Although that is true, it is still not appropriate," Fan Xian sighed and said warmly. "I will have to trouble you to quickly write a memorial and send it back to Jingdou. The Emperor must know of this as soon as possible."
He couldn't help but say with vexation, "If I hadn't suddenly been forced to do so, logically speaking, there would have to be an edict before I would dare to take over."
"The people of Dongyi are still unwilling," the Assistant Minister said, shaking his head. "However, the Emperor is wise. He can certainly see at a glance what these people are trying to do."
Fan Xian smiled. He knew that the Assistant Minister could see his worry. However, the Assistant Minister did not know what he was thinking in his heart. Of course, he wouldn't expose it. Furrowing his brows, he said, "Looks like I will have to return to the capital."
"Although the negotiations are going smoothly, Dongyi's resistance is still very strong," the Assistant Minister of the Board of Rites said. "Without you holding down the fort, I'm afraid things will change. Before I came, the Emperor had given a strict order that this matter must be completed in one go. I think you should continue to hold down the fort. As for these specific matters, let me return to the capital and report them to the court. "
Fan Xian had been waiting for these words. After thinking for a moment, he nodded and said, "Thank you for your hard work."
…
…
There was a stone weighing on Fan Xian's heart. He knew that the identity of the Master of the Sword Hut would not cause the Emperor's trust in him to immediately weaken. However, during these years, he had done many things that he had overdone. He had always been eating meat from that trust. Who knew when this meat would be eaten up by him?
Sigu Jian's move was to prevent Fan Xian from selling Dongyi in the future. He would first sell Dongyi to Fan Xian before anything else. It was better to give it to Fan Xian than to the Qing Emperor. If Sigu Jian lost the gamble, this would be the end. No matter how much trouble Fan Xian and the Emperor made, what did it have to do with the dead Sigu Jian?
Fan Xian once again came to the seaside outside Dongyi. Narrowing his eyes, he sat on a rock and looked at the slowly rising and falling white waves. It was as if he could see Sigu Jian's cold and emotionless eyes inside.
"Everyone is forcing me down that path. Have you ever thought that I will have a hard time?" Fan Xian asked as he looked at Sigu Jian in the waves.
Sigu Jian seemed to answer with one sentence, "Should I love you and the Qing people?"
Fan Xian shook his head.
Sigu Jian said, "Whether you have a hard time or not, whether the Qing Kingdom is in chaos, what does it have to do with me?"
Fan Xian gazed at the waves and said with a smile, "I can have a hard time, but I cannot die. Furthermore, the Qing Kingdom cannot fall into chaos. I love the Qing Kingdom more than your Dongyi."
"It is our Dongyi."
"I am a person of the Qing Kingdom."
"You are not a person of the Qing Kingdom. You are a person of the world."
Fan Xian slowly woke up from his dream. He thought to himself that he was actually not a person of the world, so why did he not want to part with the people of the world? Was the light of idealism his mother had left in this body finally beginning to radiate out?
He would do his best and leave the rest to fate. If he could not stop the bloodbath from coming, if he could not change the changes in history, then he would leave this world and live his own life.
This was what he should think.
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