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Yi Huawei and Shan Wanjing walked out of the teahouse side by side. The afternoon sun cast long, thin shadows of the two, and the noise of people and vehicles on the street gradually became clearer.

Shan Wanjing tilted her head slightly, her eyes sparkling, and said softly as if casually, "Master, I've heard that Miss Dugu Feng has superb swordsmanship and a rather...unique temperament. The way she looks at you seems quite different."

Her tone was relaxed, as if it were just casual conversation, but her eyes were secretly watching Yi Huawei's expression.

Yi Huawei kept his eyes fixed straight ahead, his expression unchanged, and said calmly, "The Dugu family's swordsmanship is indeed unique. As for the person, we met by chance, so there's no need to mention him."

He then changed the subject, glancing at the sky, and asked, "Wanjing, in your opinion, what should Li Mi do right now?"

Seeing her master easily change the subject, Shan Wanjing felt a slight sense of disappointment, but she was immediately drawn to the question. She collected her thoughts, pondered for a moment, and her gaze sharpened as she analyzed, "Wang Shichong's main force is engaged in a standoff with Li Mi outside the city, leaving Luoyang's defenses weak. If I were Li Mi, I would send elite troops to bypass the main battlefield, lay low, and advance swiftly. Taking advantage of Luoyang's lax defenses, we could launch a sudden and fierce attack, potentially capturing it in one fell swoop! Once we take Luoyang, the fortified city, its treasury and provisions, and its strategic location, the overall situation will be settled, far better than a bitter struggle with Wang Shichong in the wilderness. This is the best strategy: to avoid the enemy's strength and strike at their weakness, directly attacking their heart."

Upon hearing this, Yi Huawei smiled approvingly but offered no comment. He walked forward with his hands behind his back, his gaze fixed on the end of the long street.

A thousand paces to the left, the Luo River flows ceaselessly, its surface reflecting the setting sun, shimmering and magnificent. The Tianjin Bridge, imposing as a bridge across the Milky Way, spans the Luo River like a rainbow, connecting this wide, eight-mile-long main street, lined with trees on both sides—Luoyang's premier avenue. The bridge teems with carriages, horses, and pedestrians, bustling with activity, a scene befitting the capital city.

However, Yi Huawei suddenly stopped, and a divine light, as if it were tangible, burst forth, piercing through the bustling street and firmly locking onto the highest point of Tianjin Bridge.

Shan Wanjing immediately noticed her master's unusual behavior and followed his gaze intently.

At the top of the Tianjin Bridge arch, a tall, graceful figure stood leaning against the railing. Dressed as a scholar, she stood with her hands behind her back, slightly bowing, gazing at the ever-flowing Luo River below. Just then, a small boat drifted leisurely under the bridge, leaving ripples in its wake.

Facing the evening breeze blowing from the direction of the Luo River, the man's light blue robe fluttered gently in the wind, exuding an air of leisurely elegance. His posture was composed and at ease, as if all the surrounding clamor was irrelevant to him. However, a long sword with an elegant and simple design was slung across his back. This sword did not detract from his scholarly demeanor; on the contrary, it added a touch of heroic spirit, as if silently reminding those around him that this man was no ordinary, weak scholar, but rather someone who possessed unparalleled swordsmanship.

Although dressed in men's clothing, Yi Huawei recognized her at a glance by her figure and unique temperament. She was clearly Shi Feixuan, the successor of Cihang Jingzhai, whom he had not seen for several months.

Looking up at the highest point of the Tianjin Bridge arch from Shan Wanjing's vantage point, a ray of sunlight shines precisely on her profile, bathing her in a dazzling golden light that illuminates her exquisitely beautiful features, which seem to be born from the essence of heaven and earth, with distinct undulations like mountains and rivers.

Even though Yi Huawei had seen countless beauties, he couldn't help but feel a surge of pure amazement at this moment.

Her beauty, however, was entirely different from Wanwan's alluring charm and Shan Wanjing's bright pride. After several months apart, Shi Feixuan seemed to possess a more genuine, unadorned beauty, a natural grace that transcended worldly adornments, a simple and natural beauty. Just standing there quietly, she resembled a beautiful goddess from the Luo River. Even in the heart of the most bustling metropolis, amidst the hustle and bustle, her presence seemed to possess a strange magic, instantly transforming the surrounding noise into a serene and enchanting realm, ethereal and captivating. Though she appeared in the mortal world, she always made people feel that she shouldn't be in this mundane place, which seemed unworthy of her status.

Seemingly sensing the two fixed gazes, Shi Feixuan slowly turned around.

Her gaze swept over him, first landing on Yi Huawei. A faint look flashed in her clear, bright eyes, which seemed to see through the ways of the world, as if she were not surprised by his appearance.

Immediately, her gaze shifted slightly to the side, landing on Shan Wanjing beside Yi Huawei. A hint of undisguised surprise flashed clearly across her beautiful, calm eyes.

At this moment, after being baptized by the essence of the Evil Emperor's Relic, Shan Wanjing not only made great progress in her skills, but also her aura became more refined and profound. Her eyes were filled with inner light as they opened and closed. Compared to a few months ago, her temperament had become less immature and arrogant, and more calm and confident. This change might be able to deceive ordinary people, but it would be difficult to escape the spiritual senses of a master like Shi Feixuan.

Shi Feixuan's gaze lingered on Shan Wanjing for a moment before turning back to Yi Huawei. Her lips parted slightly, and her clear, melodious voice, like a spring flowing over stones, reached the ears of the two men: "How have you been, sir?"

Yi Huawei's gaze met Shi Feixuan's on the bridge. He did not speak, but simply nodded slightly.

Shi Feixuan said no more. With a slight movement, she floated down from the high bridge arch like a feather, her posture elegant and composed, without a trace of worldliness, and landed precisely on the bow of a light boat that was quietly approaching not far below the bridge.

The boatman seemed to have been waiting for a long time. When she landed, he steadily steered the boat toward the shore.

Yi Huawei walked towards the riverbank, with Shan Wanjing following closely behind. Although she was quite surprised by Shi Feixuan's appearance and the tacit understanding between her master and Shi Feixuan, she knew that this was not the time to ask questions.

The small boat docked, and Shi Feixuan stood at the bow, her blue robe fluttering slightly, awaiting the two. Yi Huawei and Shan Wanjing leaped aboard, leaving no ripples on the water. The boatman remained silent, skillfully punting away from the shore, the small boat gliding silently towards the center of the Luo River, gradually leaving the hustle and bustle of the banks far behind.

The cabin was small, but the furnishings were extremely elegant. There was a small table and three cushions, all made of bamboo, exuding a faint fragrance of herbs and trees. A copper kettle on a small stove was bubbling away, the water almost boiling.

Shi Feixuan knelt gracefully on a futon, extending her slender hand to take a tea cake, grind the tea leaves, add the tea, and pour water… Her series of movements flowed smoothly, carrying a unique rhythm, as if in harmony with the natural order of things. Before long, two cups of clear tea were presented to Yi Huawei and Shan Wanjing. The tea soup was clear and green, with a delicate aroma, truly a rare delicacy.

"Sir, madam, please have some tea."

Shi Feixuan's voice was calm and even, but her gaze fell on Shan Wanjing again: "It has been several months since I last saw you. Miss Shan's cultivation has improved so rapidly that it is something I have never seen before in my life."

She wasn't just being polite; she genuinely sensed the powerful and refined aura emanating from Shan Wanjing, a stark contrast to how she had been a few months ago. Shan Wanjing picked up her teacup and bowed slightly: "You flatter me, Immortal Master. I've only made a small progress thanks to your guidance."

Her tone was neither humble nor arrogant, but she was secretly on guard. The pressure from this successor of Cihang Jingzhai was far more profound than when she faced Dugu Feng.

Shi Feixuan nodded slightly, ceasing her questioning, and turned her gaze back to Yi Huawei. The cabin fell silent for a moment, broken only by the gentle murmur of the flowing water beneath the boat and the soft bubbling of the kettle on the stove. Her clear gaze fixed on Yi Huawei, as if trying to pierce through his calm and placid exterior.

After a long silence, Shi Feixuan finally spoke, her voice still clear and melodious, but with a hint of inquiry: "Sir, Feixuan has a question that has been lingering in my mind for a long time. I wonder if I should ask it?"

Yi Huawei picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and said calmly, "Feel free to ask."

“In the past, in the city, the gentleman once asked Consort Xuan what qualifications she had to choose a ruler on behalf of the world.”

Shi Feixuan spoke slowly, her tone calm, but a slight ripple appeared in her bright eyes that seemed to see through the world: "Your words, sir, are like a morning bell and evening drum, awakening Feixuan, hence the three-month period of quiet contemplation. After emerging from seclusion, I thought you would remain detached from worldly affairs, calmly observing the changing world. But unexpectedly..."

She paused slightly, her gaze sharpening as she looked directly at Yi Huawei: "Unexpectedly, you personally made your move, sweeping across Jiangnan and establishing the Heavenly Dao Alliance within just two months, its momentum spreading like wildfire. Your actions contradict your words from that day. I am foolish and dare to ask you, why did you change your mind?"

She asked directly, her gaze fixed on Yi Huawei, not missing a single subtle change in his expression. Shan Wanjing also held her breath, looking at her master. This was also a question that had always lingered in her mind.

Yi Huawei set down his teacup, his gaze falling on the ever-flowing Luo River outside the cabin. The water's surface reflected the ever-changing shadows of the sky and clouds. After a moment of silence, Yi Huawei slowly spoke:
“Yi’s words that day were not against ‘choosing a master,’ but against ‘choosing a master on behalf of the world.’”

Turning his head, Yi Huawei met Shi Feixuan's gaze: "This world belongs to all the people, not to any one family or clan, much less to any sect that can make decisions for them. The common people are ignorant, perhaps due to a lack of information or the pressure of making a living, making it difficult for them to see the big picture, but they are by no means born to be represented or chosen. Their will must be respected; their power must be guided; their future must be shaped by their own participation, rather than passively accepting the favors bestowed by a 'chosen' wise ruler."

As he spoke, Yi Huawei's tone grew increasingly somber, carrying a chilling undertone: "However, throughout history, the so-called 'choosing a ruler on behalf of Heaven' has often been nothing more than a way to appease the people and consolidate power after a power struggle, by giving the victor a seemingly legitimate and justifiable veneer. In essence, it is still a game of might and power. Jingzhai, being detached from worldly affairs, could have guided thought, enlightened the people, and enabled them to gradually learn to speak for themselves and take responsibility for themselves. But choosing to intervene directly and appoint the true leader, while seemingly a shortcut, is actually still following the old path of 'ruling on behalf of the world,' only with a seemingly more detached executor. This is not true public service."

Shi Feixuan's gaze narrowed slightly, but she did not immediately refute him; instead, she listened quietly.

Yi Huawei continued, "The reason I established the Heavenly Dao Alliance is not to emulate the Jingzhai and 'choose' a master. Rather, it is to... try a different approach."

His gaze returned to the window, and he said calmly, "The world is in chaos, powerful clans are vying for power, and the people are displaced. Wang Shichong, Li Mi, Dou Jiande, and even Li Yuan, their vision was either confined to a corner of Luoyang, or trapped in Guanzhong and Bashu, or exhausted by the war of annexation. In their eyes, there was hegemony, power, and the rise and fall of their families, but not the life and death suffering of the people."

"If no one else will do it, then I will do it myself."

Yi Huawei’s tone was calm, yet it contained immense determination: “The Heavenly Dao Alliance was not born to choose a leader, but to realize a new possibility. In the Southern Frontier, the Heavenly Dao Alliance has eradicated bandits, restored order, equalized land distribution, reduced taxes, promoted industry and commerce, and enlightened the people… Everything I have done is not to prove to anyone that we have chosen the ‘true Son of Heaven,’ but to let the world see that even in this chaotic world, there is another way of life, another possibility of order—an order closer to ‘the world belongs to all people.’”

Yi Huawei looked at Shi Feixuan with a deep gaze: "This is not a change of mind, but rather... a different way of answering your question from that day. I believe that the path of 'choosing a master on behalf of Heaven' is not feasible, so I will personally forge a new path to see what happens. This is my answer."

The cabin was silent except for the gentle murmur of water. The tea on the stove had long since stopped boiling, and the steam was gradually dissipating.

Shi Feixuan remained silent, her exquisite face revealing neither joy nor anger. Only deep within her clear eyes seemed to surge with turbulent emotions, indicating that her inner peace was far from what appeared to be. Yi Huawei's words once again struck at the very core of her and the Cihang Jingzhai ideals she represented.

Dan Wanjing listened with a surge of emotion. For the first time, she heard her master explain so clearly the true purpose of his struggle for supremacy. It was not for imperial power, but to practice a near-ideal path. She looked at her master's profile, her eyes filled with reverence and determination.

After a long while, Shi Feixuan took a soft breath. Her voice was still clear and melodious, but it carried an indescribable complexity: "The way of you, sir, is indeed... extraordinary. Feixuan has learned a lot."

Shi Feixuan gently placed the slightly cooled teacup on the bamboo table and turned her gaze to the outside of the cabin.

The small boat had drifted to the middle of the Luo River. The hustle and bustle on both banks had become a distant background, with only the murmuring of the water remaining. The setting sun dyed the river a warm gold, and the shimmering waves reflected her beautiful yet slightly complicated profile.

Shi Feixuan remained silent for a moment, as if organizing her thoughts or weighing her words. The atmosphere in the cabin became tense, broken only by the sound of running water and the occasional crackling of embers in the stove.

Finally, she slowly turned her gaze back, and her eyes became extremely focused as they landed on that calm and expressionless face. In the depths of her clear eyes, a light that was almost pure and questing shone.

"Sir's words are thought-provoking, and Feixuan has indeed gained some insights from them. However, there are still some things that Feixuan does not understand, and she hopes that sir will not hesitate to enlighten her."

Yi Huawei met her gaze calmly: "Please speak." (End of Chapter)