In Qin Le Yin's memory, Qin Xiao was not like the rumored crude and strong Skyrim people.

He was gentle and refined, like a friendly neighborhood uncle, even a bit of a chatterbox, able to chat with anyone for a long time. When Qin Le Yin first met him, he was outside the outer district of Xuanzhu County teaching a few little kids to read the "Radiant Ode".

Seeing the unnoticed bruises on Qin Le Yin's body, he didn't say anything, but suddenly changed the culture class to a Combat Technique class, teaching the kids how to effectively hurt adults despite being shorter. That day, he was knocked over several times by the kids and even treated everyone to mung bean soup.

After Qin Le Yin went back, he used the moves he learned on the street and for the first time knocked down his own father.

His father was very surprised and then used Combat Technique to beat Qin Le Yin even more severely.

When Qin Le Yin, with a bruised face and swollen nose, went to find Qin Xiao, Qin Xiao seemed to have been prepared, called over a Medical Officer to help Qin Le Yin heal, and then began to teach him Combat Technique.

A spy who likes to trick little kids, that was Qin Le Yin's initial impression of Qin Xiao.

"Actually, the assassination of officials and rebellion in Skyrim happens once every few years, it's not surprising." Bai Yu said, "Yanjing treats those who go to Skyrim as officials as sacrifices. Once the Skyrim people kill the sacrifice, they'll naturally settle down."

"But that year was different."

Le Yin: "What's different?"

"The political situation was different," Bai Yu said, "The late emperor wanted to reform and revitalize the stagnant waters of Radiant Ode. The Imperial Court factions were opposing each other but also did not want the Imperial Family to encroach on their benefits, so Skyrim became a breakthrough point."

"Yanjing's Forbidden Guards couldn't be moved, so the Imperial Court planned to draw elite troops from seven districts to form a new army to attack Skyrim. Because the Forbidden Guards had long been infiltrated and polluted by the Imperial Court, the late emperor wanted to form a force that could obey his orders and had combat power. The Outer District United Army was the best choice."

"And the factions of the Imperial Court did not oppose, even though everyone knew the emperor's intentions, this move could weaken the military power of the Outer District, so the noble families of Yanjing who were worried naturally agreed. Moreover, would the emperor really enjoy the feast of the new army alone? Everyone had their own agenda and passed the decree."

"For a time, except for Skyrim, the other seven regions all sent troops to support Yanjing, forming a new army of thirty thousand. Interestingly, the late emperor's confidence to form a new army was largely thanks to Qin Xiao."

Le Yin was a little taken aback: "What does this have to do with Qin Xiao?"

"His efforts over those years to rehabilitate Yanjing enriched the national treasury again. Moreover, in aspects such as connecting railroads, building bridges, and repairing roads, Qin Xiao played an indispensable role."

"Without him, the new army would not have been formed so quickly, and the proposal might not have even been passed."

Bai Yu smiled, but his voice carried no humor: "It's quite ridiculous, isn't it? It was precisely because of his efforts that the Imperial Court had the confidence to form a new army, to annihilate his homeland."

Le Yin couldn't help but ask: "Actually, isn't it enough to suppress the rebellion? Why must it be an annihilation?"

Annihilation, just from the word itself, reveals its brutality—it means killing all adults capable of resistance, leaving only the children.

Radiant Ode rarely launched annihilation wars unless it was against the barbarian race, but even against the barbarians, it was rarely seen because centuries of defensive fortifications had already crippled the barbarians.

But in the early days of Radiant Ode's founding, the word annihilation was quite common—after all, the eight districts of Radiant Ode weren't won through mere diplomacy; compared to persuading savages, Radiant Ode people were more willing to completely purge all barbarians.

For the regular army, even if the barbarians could hide in remote mountains and forests where the military had difficulty moving, they only needed to send an elite squad composed of Martial Artists to completely eradicate those savages who had not practiced Combat Techniques.

Bai Yu flicked the ash from his cigarette and said, "If it were just to suppress a rebellion, there wouldn't be a need for a new army; just let Skyrim's own army suppress it. It would take more time and effort, sure, but being the local army, the effect would be better."

"Perhaps forming a new army always needs some battle to serve as training, or maybe the Imperial Court was getting impatient with the frequent uprisings in Skyrim and wanted to solve the problem once and for all, not wanting to continue the previous conciliatory policies... Of course, it might also have just been a whim of the bigwigs."

"After all, there were no officials of Skyrim origin in the Imperial Court, so destroying a group of unrelated but troublesome people, of course, nobody cared... except for him."

"Until Qin Xiao stood up at the court meeting, everyone realized he was a Skyrim person."

Bai Yu shrugged: "How could an ant stop a cart? All his familiar friends, including me, advised him not to be stubborn. How could he possibly defy the Imperial Court's authority? You're an orphan in Skyrim without family; even if you had some, you could bring them over, so why oppose the entire noble assembly?"

"Everyone agreed, and you disagreed, so who do you think you are?"

"Then he let everyone know who he was."

"He used his connections; if he could make the rusty old machine of Yanjing operate with lubricant, naturally he could also find a way to make the machine malfunction. Although we didn't dare openly support Qin Xiao, his friends—including me—slowed down the advance of the new army."

"At that time, it wasn't the railroad derailed or the solar lamps broke without anyone to replace them, but supplies like food, military equipment, clothing—all preparations were dragging on slowly, successfully delaying the new army's pace."

"Of course, these things were just to buy time. Qin Xiao's true aim was to find the Loyal Guardian Commander."

Le Yin was stunned: "The Loyal Guardian Commander?"

Bai Yu nodded: "It was said that each Loyal Guardian Commander had a close relationship with the Imperial Family, and only the Loyal Guardian Commander could directly influence the court's decisions. No one knew if he found the Loyal Guardian Commander, but the result was the annihilation campaign was canceled, Skyrim handled its own rebellion suppression, and the illustrious Qin Xiao was posted to Dongyang District."

"As for what he did in Dongyang, you know better than I do."

Yes, Le Yin was very clear about what Qin Xiao did in Dongyang.

He brought water smoke, directly poisoning a whole generation of the Silver Blood Association.

He conspired with Jing Qingfu, attempting to destroy the Silver Blood Association through government-business alliances.

Whether it was Le Yin or Qin Le Yin, they both considered Qin Xiao an ambitious politician. But now, Le Yin had a new understanding of him.

Suddenly, Le Yin felt a stirring in his heart and asked, "How did he die?"

This was both Le Yin's question and Qin Le Yin's question. Among the many purposes for Qin Le Yin's visit to Yanjing, one was to investigate the cause of Qin Xiao's death and then avenge him.

"The late emperor considered Qin Xiao a talented individual and also recognized that he had offended many factions, and he wanted to summon Qin Xiao back as a solitary minister." Bai Yu said softly, "But others feared him."

"Feared?"

Bai Yu exhaled a wisp of smoke: "Qin Xiao's ability exposed when he was delaying the new army caused the entire court to be on guard. He could mobilize every department in Yanjing with his own strength, which also meant that if the emperor directly cleared out all the court ministers or even the entire Cabinet, Qin Xiao had the ability to keep the court running!"

"Moreover, he has no family, no wife or daughter, posing no threat to the imperial power; he will become the sharpest sword and the sturdiest shield of the Imperial Family!"

"An emperor with a reformist heart, a person without ties, who wouldn't fear that, who wouldn't tremble?"

"Qin Xiao idled back in Yanjing for a year, during which the Radiant Ode's Four Guards, Imperial Court factions, and the Imperial Family clashed in the shadows. As a small character, I do not know what kind of interest exchange they reached, but the result was Qin Xiao's imprisonment on charges of treason."

"Treason?"

"That is to say, winning people's hearts and plotting rebellion."

Le Yuxin couldn't help but laugh: "Is this what they call good people being rewarded?"

"When I went to the prison to see him, I asked him just that," Bai Yu also laughed. "Can you guess? He actually nodded and said this is what it means for good people to be rewarded."

"If it weren't for the relationships he established earlier, how could he have delayed the new army's pace? If not for his significant contributions, why would the dignitaries be willing to obstruct the Imperial Court's decisions?"

"Where there is effort, there is reward; good people indeed are rewarded. It's very fair."

"He said his greatest regret is finding out this news too late. If given enough time to operate, he might have become the new army's marshal, turning a funeral into a celebration... But even the dignitaries did not agree to his request, because the emperor would not hand the new army over to someone whose opinions differed from his own."

The cigarette butt was extinguished, but Bai Yu was oblivious, murmuring: "After all, it's a conversation from ten years ago; I've forgotten many of the details, but I still remember asking him if he regretted it."

Bai Yu changed his tone as if retelling someone else's words: "Regret is inevitable, but I only seek to be true to my heart."

"I was originally an ordinary person, and being able to sacrifice my life to prevent a war has already been worth it. We live to one day, for whatever reason, give it our all."

"Haha, it's been a long time since I've seen that look in your eyes, Bai Yu. Usually, after you give me that 'fool's look,' I would say what good would come from my good deeds... But I'm sorry, this time there is truly no tangible benefit; if I must say, I can only say I'm happy."

"Yes, how could good people be rewarded? How could the world be so fair? The notion of 'good people being rewarded' is just a lie used by rulers to maintain public stability, a curse used by literati to exploit the common people... and the naive wish of ordinary folk."

"I don't want to be a hero, just a specialist who can solve ordinary people's problems, a specialist who gets things done steadfastly. Yet, somehow, I've come to this point. Maybe this is what it means when fate cannot be defied."

"Hmm? Haha, of course, the 'secret' that good people are rewarded is just a trick on you; have you just realized it now?"

"As for why I do it... It's obviously because I know everyone is selfish. Or rather, is there anyone who isn't?"

"But selfishness and selflessness are not opposites; they can coexist... Since everyone is selfish, I give you reasons to do good for selfish purposes. Isn't the effect quite good?"

"You ask me why I do it... I've done so much because I want to stand out, achieve fame, wield power over the Imperial Court, and... because I am very patriotic."

"You're using that look on me again... Indeed, as a Skyrim orphan, a prisoner, and a political pawn, what right do I have to say such grandiose words?"

"Now everyone likes to be selfish, it's shameful to be a good person, to be a patriot. Of course, it's because of the times; only the selfish can survive, the selfless have long perished... And everyone believes that patriotism should be the right of the elite, what right do the orphans, butchers, workers, the bottom layer, have to patriotism?"

"When I was young, I thought the same until that rainy night when I met that person, left with only half a body, exhausting their last bit of vitality, pleading with me to deliver the intel."

"At that moment, I suddenly realized that some things transcend life itself. What that person gave me was not just information, but their will."

"I buried that will in my heart; the more I grew, the stronger it became. The Radiant Ode's culture, history, diligent people, magnificent architecture, everything settled in my heart. But given the times, I could only adapt, doing selfless deeds through selfish means."

"I am not loyal to the Imperial Court, not to the Four Guards, not to the Imperial Family, only to the Radiant Ode. I hope this land and its people can live better, no longer tormented by hunger, war, and exploitation."

"Bai Yu, don't cry, you look really ugly when you cry... And, you don't have to follow me out of sentiment; just fulfill your duty. This world doesn't need heroes, just specialists; if everyone does their job, peace will be achieved."

"Do not resent the emperor and the dignitaries; the dignitaries have no obligation to keep saving me, and the emperor is an ambitious man, but his ambitions can make the world a better place. My death is inevitable, perhaps because I've done so many good deeds that I could live a few more years."

"That student of mine might come to Yanjing in the future, just look after him... Or maybe he doesn't need your care, as he's also a fierce person."

"So really, stop crying, your tears almost make me want to cry... Even though I say I have regrets, if I could do it all over again, I should be the same."

"One must strive for what they want to do, that way, even if you fail, you can blame the world with all your heart without resenting yourself."

"I live for my righteousness, and I will die for my righteousness."

"Radiant Ode is great, I'll come again next time."

After Bai Yu finished speaking, the bedroom returned to silence.

After a long while.

Le Yuxin suddenly realized that Bai Yu's request not to turn on the lights was perhaps anticipating this moment.

After another while, Bai Yu, in his usual tone, said: "I've said so much, not to ask you, Hongle, to inherit his will, but to let you know the history of the past."

"Faced with a game that requires life as its stakes, what kind of resolve have you made? After knowing Qin Xiao's fate, are you truly willing to squeeze into this deadly political struggle?"

Le Yuxin felt that Bai Yu was conflicted.

He was both delighted by Le Yin's shared qualities with Qin Xiao and feared sending Qin Xiao's only student to his doom, so he found Le Yin before the outbreak of war, revealing all he had concealed, letting Le Yin decide his punishment—whether accepting or rejecting, either way, it was a punishment for him.

Just as Le Yuxin pondered how to respond, the sound of breaking suddenly came from outside.

Crack, crack, crack—

The dim lights outside the window were going out one by one, plunging the entire bedroom into darkness as if engulfed by an abyss!

Immediately afterward, the sound of the door creaking 'squeak' was heard.