Chapter 345 The Past of the Samsara

When leaving Lin’an, Li Tianlan had a big-name driver, in addition to Dongcheng Rus.h.i.+, who went back with him.

Lin Fengting stayed in Lin’an but sent his son Lin Youxian to Huating. Li Tianlan and Dongcheng Rus.h.i.+ sat in the back row, while Lin Youxian drove the car with a smile on his face. He was carefree and seemed to be in a good mood.

“Did you go to Huating to watch the final maneuver, Youxian?” asked Li Tianlan casually.

He took out a cigarette and handed it to Lin Youxian. In the end, he didn’t ask the heir of the Lin Clan to call him brother-in-law, and Lin Youxian did not tell Li Tianlan to call him Brother Lin. They called each other directly by their first names. Although they were not yet very familiar with each other, they were now on the same page, so they were on good terms.

“Yeah.”

Lin Youxian took the cigarette and glanced at Dongcheng Rus.h.i.+ in the rearview mirror. To his surprise, instead of feeling disgusted, this genius of the Dongcheng Clan offered to light Li Tianlan’s cigarette with a lighter. He smiled and said, “Each of the final maneuvers between the two academies of Zhongzhou State is of great quality. This one is even more so. With you, Shengxiao, Gu Hanshan, and Jiang Shangyu, this maneuver is arguably the most valuable one. If I missed it, I would regret it for the rest of my life. Apart from me, even if the super forces in the Dark World don’t show up, they will collect relevant information carefully. The Sky Academy now is in the spotlight.”

Li Tianlan suddenly remembered the conversation he had had with Qin Weibai the other day.

It was a conversation about the Chosen One.

Qin Weibai said that in this era, if someone could face the siege from Lin Fengting, Deity, and the Master of Samsara Palace without sustaining the damage of his foundation, on condition that the three teamed up with one murderous weapon in hand respectively, then that man would be the Chosen One of this era.

But this era was about to over.

Then came the era of the young.

w.a.n.g Shengxiao, Gu Hanshan, and Jiang Shangyu would all be the top combat power of Zhongzhou State in the future.

If he did not get his foundation hurt in the face of their siege, was he really worthy of the name “the Chosen One of Zhongzhou State”?

Li Tianlan did not consider whether he could do it. He was already pondering the risks and benefits he would encounter when he succeeded in doing so. In the final maneuver, if he truly beat everyone in this way, then no one would doubt his potential and future. However, the w.a.n.g family of Beihai and Kunlun City would have an exceptionally strong desire to kill him.

Li Tianlan was well aware of this. He wondered how many people would protect him at any cost by then.

Only by surviving would the immense prestige he gained as the best of the young generation become a tangible benefit. Furthermore, his future development in Tiannan would be smooth too.

“The final maneuver…”

Li Tianlan mumbled to himself

After the Youzhou Conference, the final maneuver would undoubtedly become the watershed of the Li family. In the long run, it was even more crucial than the Youzhou Conference. The Youzhou Conference highlighted the previous resources and strength of the Li family, while the final maneuver meant the future potential of the Li family. The time between the two events was so short. Li Honghe and Li Tianlan seemed to serve as a bridge between the past and the future.

“Are you really going to Tiannan to seek development after the final maneuver, Tianlan?” Lin Youxian asked, smiling as he turned off the music in the car.

…

Li Tianlan recovered himself and nodded. “There’s an opportunity out there, and I don’t want to miss it.”

“Do you mind if I go to Tiannan with you?”

Lin Youxian grinned and took a drag on his cigarette. He was leisurely and carefree, as if walking on clouds. His hands were almost off the steering wheel.

Li Tianlan froze for a moment. Then he started and sat up straight subconsciously.

“You’ll go to Tiannan too?” he asked.

…

“What? Do you look down on me?”

Lin Youxian added with a smile, “I’m not afraid of any of the young Chosen Ones in Zhongzhou State currently. Well, perhaps I’m no match for Shengxiao, but my weak point is the realm instead of the sword intent. And maybe I will suffer a little bit physically, but there won’t be a big gap between us. If I go to Tiannan, I won’t hold you back. There’s something I can do.”

“I believe you.”

Li Tianlan looked at Lin Youxian strangely. Lin Youxian’s current realm was only half a step away from the Peak of the Thunder-shocking Realm. There was no doubt about his apt.i.tude and martial impartation. But Li Tianlan couldn’t figure out why Lin Youxian would go to Tiannan.

“Does Uncle Lin know you’re going to Tiannan?” Li Tianlan asked straightforwardly.

…

“Yes, he does.”

Lin Youxian nodded. “He’s neither for nor against it. It’s all up to me.”

“The Lin Clan never enter the secular world,” Li Tianlan spoke slowly.

…

Lin Youxian did not think much of this rule. “That’s true, but it’s only used for the people in the headquarters of the Lin Clan. To tell you the truth, if it hadn’t been for your presence, I might have been in Zhongzhou State by now. Xuanyuantai of Zhongzhou State belongs to the Li family and the Lin Clan as well. If the Li family cannot shoulder the inheritance of our ancestors, the Lin Clan will not let it unattended. The original plan was for me to set up a branch of the Lin Clan in Zhongzhou State. Now that you show up, I’m relieved. I’ve wanted to thank you. I should go to Tiannan to help you a little. And maybe I’ll create a branch of the Lin Clan on your territory when I find the Dark World wonderful in the future. Our future is too changeable. Who can tell that?”

“Do you have a choice?”

Li Tianlan felt somewhat unbelievable. Lin Youxian was the only heir of the Lin Clan. If he broke away from the headquarters, who would take care of the future of the Lin Clan?

I didn’t have a choice previously. But I can make a choice now.”

Lin Youxian paused for a while and then continued calmly, “For the next 20 years of the Lin Clan, my father has found a helmswoman who is remarkable than me, him, and anyone else. I won’t keep it a secret from you. She is my sister, whom I have just acknowledged. The Dark World is a mess now, but the three years of fighting will come to an end sooner or later. If everything went well, this storm would end in Snow Country.

“The Samsara Palace is, at present, in a terrible situation. Within three years, it has single-handedly provoked the melee of the Dark World. Nowadays, all the forces have almost reacted, but it’s too late to back down, and they have no alternative but to bite the bullet. Nonetheless, when all this comes to an end, the Samsara Palace, which has attracted so much hatred, will come to no good. Its destruction is to be expected.

“If the Samsara Palace disappears, my father intends to hand over the Lin Clan to my sister for the next 20 years.”

He glanced at Li Tianlan thoughtfully. “It’s the entire Lin Clan, not just the headquarters.”

Li Tianlan looked stunned.

The entire Lin Clan.

Even with his current experience, he didn’t know what that meant. The headquarters of the Lin Clan, together with the branches scattered around the world, could perhaps form a behemoth that was able to fight against the w.a.n.g family of Beihai. In any case, it would be no less powerful than an average super force. In terms of resources, it was many times better than the Samsara Palace.

Lin Fengting was going to hand over the 20 years of the Lin Clan to Qin Weibai?

Li Tianlan remembered that a few days ago in Lin’an, Lin Youxian called Qin Weibai sister the first time they met. To this day, he finally fathomed out what that action meant.

“Why?” Li Tianlan couldn’t help asking.

…

This question was simple and yet complicated, for it contained too many things. And among these things, the word “trust” appeared particularly sensitive.

Why did Lin Fengting trust Qin Weibai so much?

“Because my sister doesn’t care about these things.”

Lin Youxian whispered, “That’s what my dad told me. My sister doesn’t care about power or interests. She’s truly desireless of everything in the Dark World. If not, the Samsara Palace would certainly be different today. She is the most trustworthy person as long as her demands are met in the areas she cares about most.”

What she cared about most…

Li Tianlan seemed to understand something when he thought of Lin Youxian’s willingness to follow him to Tiannan. But he couldn’t help asking, “What does she care about most?”

“Your safety.”

There was some envy in Lin Youxian’s eyes. “You’re the one that she cares the most. As long as you can be safe, she won’t care about anything else.”

That was why Lin Youxian would follow Li Tianlan to Tiannan.

Under the circ.u.mstances that the Samsara Palace was doomed to be destroyed, the loose Lin Clan may not be able to offer Li Tianlan too much help, but at least it could provide him with a way out.

Li Tianlan remembered what Li Honghe had just said.

Behind the inexplicable deep feeling, there must be a debt.

If Qin Weibai did owe him something, what kind of debt could make her make it up to him so affectionately and persistently?

Li Tianlan shook his head violently and threw his cigarette b.u.t.t out. He didn’t speak for a long time.

Lin Youxian smiled and again turned on the music in the car, driving in silence.

There was a sentence he had not uttered.

He now had the option of not being the heir of the Lin Clan.

If he followed Li Tianlan to Tiannan and eventually established a branch belonging to the Lin Clan in Zhongzhou State, it would be the best for Li Tianlan, Qin Weibai, the Li family, the w.a.n.g family of Beihai, the Lin Clan, and even the Dongcheng Clan.

…

Lin Youxian even knew what Li Honghe was worried about.

It was said that in the most glorious period of the Li family, there was also an exceedingly beautiful woman who was very good to Li Kuangtu.

However, if Qin Weibai went to the Lin Clan, the Samsara Palace would no longer exist in the world, and the terrible past of the Samsara would not present itself again.

Dongcheng Rus.h.i.+, who had been lying quietly in Li Tianlan’s arms, moved and rubbed the latter’s eyebrows, whispering, “Are you unhappy?”

“No.”

Li Tianlan smiled. “What about you? You haven’t spoken since you got in the car. Are you upset?”

He told Li Honghe in front of Dongcheng Rus.h.i.+ that the wedding day should be put on hold.

Dongcheng Rus.h.i.+ had reason to be upset.

“No.”

Dongcheng Rus.h.i.+ looked into his eyes. “I have something on my mind.”

Lin Youxian’s mouth twitched as he drove the car. He almost burst out laughing.

The so-called something on mind was naturally unspeakable. The daughter of Dongcheng Wudi was pretty innocent and lovely.

Li Tianlan could hardly hold back his laughter. He touched the hair of Dongcheng Rus.h.i.+ and said with a chuckle, “What is it?”

Dongcheng Rus.h.i.+ hesitated.

She turned to look out the window at the night sky.

Under the night, the bright moonlight shone on the unlit highway, looking cold.

She stared at the cold moon hanging high in the sky, lost in thought.

“I seem to have heard a name.”

Dongcheng Rus.h.i.+’s eyebrows furrowed in annoyance.

Her eyes were still pure, but at this point, something more appeared in them—a trace of ineffable calm and incisiveness instead of a vacant look.

She looked into Li Tianlan’s eyes and whispered, “Tianlan, do you know a person named Yueshen?”