As an official, what's wrong with raising a few monsters?

Chapter 235 The right to interpret belongs to the one who speaks.

"Mingchen?!"

A gasp suddenly rang out from the street, drawing the attention of passersby.

A handsome young man and an old man with a full head of white hair faced off.

"Lord Dong, it's been a long time! How have you been?"

As expected of the top player in the Underworld, his magical techniques are truly mysterious.

After Mo Xile left.

Everything has returned to reality.

Mingchen smiled and cupped his hands in greeting to the somewhat disheveled old man.

The last time Mingchen saw him was in the imperial court, when they were at odds.

At that time, the old man was beaming with pride and high spirits.

Unlike now, he was gray-haired and frail, with three bloody scratches on his face. He didn't look like a king, but more like a dejected old man.

The dragon robe on his body had long been removed, leaving only a white inner garment, and he still smelled of fish and stench.

Dong Zhenghong.

It can be said that this is the name that Qian Yuan has mentioned the most throughout the entire eastern region over the past year.

He was once the Grand Secretary, a high-ranking and powerful minister.

He was a treacherous minister who led his army into the palace, helped a mediocre emperor ascend the throne, and used the emperor to command the world.

Then came his three resignations and three concessions, the fall of his kingdom and the change of his surname, the usurpation of the throne, and his ascension to the supreme position.

Step by step, through meticulous planning and deep scheming, he achieved that highest position.

Now, it's all just a dream, all for naught.

Whether this person is loyal or treacherous, good or bad, let's leave that aside for now.

But for him to rise to a high position in that treacherous and scheming court, and even to see the situation clearly, seize the opportunity, and steal a country... all of this required both courage and skill.

He is indeed a remarkable person; it's not something you can just do because you're capable.

In the end... he was just a victim of history.

"Mingchen...this..."

How did he end up meeting Mingchen?

Dong Zhenghong was also somewhat bewildered at this moment.

Mingchen killed his son; they were mortal enemies.

However, it is clear that hatred is not the most important thing right now.

After all, even if his son were alive today, he would still be destined to die.

He unconsciously touched his neck.

The Blood-Clad Army stormed into Yueyang City, and it was all over.

Fear, tension, dread, despair... all sorts of emotions intertwined in his mind, and he could no longer control his emotions.

A three-foot-long white silk ribbon was hung above the main hall, marking the end of his life.

He should have returned to the underworld, but he remained in a daze.

When he regained consciousness, he found himself facing this young man whom he could never quite grasp or understand.

Is this the underworld?
Mingchen is dead too?
"Lord Dong, you're not dead yet, and neither am I!"

Mingchen didn't have any particular feelings about respecting the elderly or caring for the young. Looking at the bewildered old man, he seemed to be able to guess what he was thinking.

"Isn't this place familiar?"

He had a sharp tongue, bringing up their past grievances: "That's true... maybe you've never even left the capital! Your son passed through here back then, this should be the Qian Yuan's Cape Leap Pass!"

"He's not dead..."

Dong Zhenghong stood there, stunned.

When a person loses everything, they either suffer a mental breakdown or have an epiphany.

The higher one's position and the more one possesses, the more likely this will happen.

Mingchen looked at the old man with great interest and told him about the current situation: "Your Chen Kingdom has fallen, and the land here has all fallen to the Jinglan Alliance."

"Dead...dead..."

"Hehehe...hahahaha..."

Now, Dong Zhenghong is no different from an ordinary old man.

Suddenly, the old man laughed, his voice gradually becoming more and more manic, ferocious, and shrill, starting from a weak tone.

He was completely obsessed.

In his moment of madness, he quickly regained his composure, his cloudy old eyes staring quietly at Mingchen: "Mingchen, what do you intend to do with me?"

The old man has died once.

He has wasted his life and now has nothing.

Gold and silver treasures, imperial power and status, family lineage... all were destroyed in a single dynasty.

For him, death or life had lost all meaning.

His body was frail and old, and he no longer had the courage to make a comeback.

Now that he's in Mingchen's hands, he can accept whatever treatment Mingchen gives him.

Mingchen shrugged: "Lord Dong holds a high position and wields great power, while I am but a mere youth, utterly unqualified to deal with you."

Ultimately, this is about Mingchen personally.

Dong Zhenghong didn't actually have any direct hatred towards him.

He was one of the ones who benefited.

He killed someone's son and indirectly caused the downfall of a country, completely severing the old dynasty's corruption through the hands of Dong Zhenghong and Wang Huai.

Throughout the entire process, Dong Zhenghong did not harm Mingchen in any way.

The only slightly unpleasant thing was that this old man had hastened Xiao Zhengyang's death.

Mingchen and Xiao Zhengyang have a good relationship and can be considered close friends.

However, the sick prince was not very determined to survive and was on the verge of death. If Dong Zhenghong did not take action, he would not live for long.

Mingchen planned to have Fuyao deliver the old man to Xiao Xinyue later.

After all, this guy usurped the Xiao family's kingdom, which has some strategic significance at the national level. Xiao Xinyue also established her kingdom under the banner of Dong Zhuo's usurpation.

The matter has a beginning and an end; how to handle it is up to Xiao Xinyue to decide.

Dong Zhenghong: ...

Sure enough, he couldn't get along with this young man.

That's a really sharp tongue.

Everything returned to calm, and he had nothing left to resent.

He let out a soft breath and asked Mingchen, "Mingchen, can I die knowing the truth? Can you tell me what you've done?"

From beginning to end, he never truly understood this young man.

The other party killed his son without leaving any clues, leaving him with no way to strike.

When he gained momentum, his opponent casually retreated, avoiding his sharp edge.

In just one year, the new Qian Yuan rose from the ground, and the Blood-Clad Army came with overwhelming force and was unstoppable.

On the surface, his enemies are Xiao Xinyue and Wang Huai, two ambitious and heroic rulers who aspire to conquer the universe.

But in reality, he had a feeling that someone was manipulating all of this.

Now, on the verge of life and death, he saw Mingchen again.

It wasn't this person I met in Ji Qu, but rather in this northern pass.

This suggests that Mingchen was likely observing the battlefield during the previous Yueyang City war.

This person is a monster.

New Qian Yuan, Blood-Clad Army, Jing Lan Alliance...

Xiao Xinyue, Wang Huai, Tong Wuchang, Ling Yu...

These people, these events, all sorts of memories swirl and intertwine in my mind.

He sensed that the person in front of him was not as simple as a carefree young man, and he underestimated him.

Dong Zhenghong lost and left the stage, but he also wanted to die knowing the truth.

"It's simply an inevitable trend!"

"Lord Dong, Chen has nothing to say."

Whether you're a wise ghost or a fool is none of my business!

Mingchen had no interest in showing off in front of the old man, and he hadn't actually done anything special.

It's just going with the flow.

"You kid..."

Dong Zhenghong paused, then sighed repeatedly.

Mingchen wasn't going to say anything more to the old man.

Ultimately, the old man, despite his best efforts, was nothing more than a victim of the tides of time.

The bird and Mingchen became one in mind, and the bird's figure immediately expanded several times its original size. It grabbed Dong Zhenghong and flapped its wings to fly into the sky.

"Lord Dong must take care of his health!"

Fuyao cannot carry anyone other than Mingchen.

The old man was treated the same as the young general before him, except that he was held in claws and flown into the sky.

The wind was biting cold all the way.

If the old man dies by accident, then it's not Mingchen's fault.

"Hoohoo!"

A strong wind suddenly arose in the vast northern pass.

Dust filled the sky, and the flying sand and stones swirled and dazzled the eye.

The soldiers on the city wall waved their arms wildly, trying to cover their eyes.

In the hazy light, I seemed to see a handsome and beautiful figure flash by.

When the sandstorm subsides and the world returns to peace.

"Huh?! Where's the cannon?!"

"My gun..."

"What...what's going on?!"

"Line up!!!"

"Investigate! Investigate! What happened?!"

……

A gasp suddenly rang out, and several soldiers stared wide-eyed, their faces filled with horror.

Just as a gust of wind passed by, a cannon and several guns vanished inexplicably before everyone's eyes.
In the midst of the riots, no one could see the sky above the clouds.

The magnificent phoenix grabbed the flushed old man and sped off towards the west.

Now that we're going back, we might as well do what Mingchen just asked us to do.

Stealing a little something is easy for a bird.

……

"Is there anything else?"

"Master, tell me again!"

Ji Qu, the great monk, looked at the esteemed emperor before him, who was displaying great interest, and was momentarily speechless.

During this time, I walked from Yueyang to Jiqu, as if I were in a completely new world.

When the country is stable, the people live and work in peace and contentment.

Compared to the war-torn east, it was like a fairyland.

Although this emperor was a woman, she was indeed a wise ruler, with strict laws and fair rewards and punishments.

He possessed the majesty of a monarch, but was not arrogant.

The person Mingchen has chosen is indeed extraordinary.

This already meets the monk's standards, and barring any unforeseen circumstances, he plans to stay here and help Mingchen and the Empress.

However, there is one thing: isn't she a little too concerned about Mingchen?

With so many civil and military officials in the court, is it really true that only this one person is favored? Now, he finally understands the significance of Mingchen to this new dynasty and the empress.

She has summoned him several times in the past few days.

The questions he asked were fragmented, including the situation in the East, his abilities, and his views on the new dynasty.

But the most important thing is still related to Mingchen.

What did he do along the way, and where did he go...?

The monk put his hands together in prayer, just about to say something.

But as if sensing something, he felt a strong wind howling outside the door, accompanied by bursts of noise.

"Your Majesty, someone has arrived."

His eyes flickered slightly as he spoke to Xiao Xinyue.

The two went outside, with several guards armed with knives on guard.

A red bird fell from the sky, landing a person on it. Amidst the howling wind, there was also a cannon and several firearms.

"Fuyao?"

Xiao Xinyue naturally recognized Fuyao.

Dongfeng Express, mission accomplished!

The bird transformed into a tiny form, its small eyes revealing a mischievous glint. It flapped its wings at the two of them in a human-like manner before suddenly soaring into the sky.

If we go back now, we can still make it to the dinner with the young master tonight!
The group remained where they were, looking at each other in bewilderment at the extra items.

"It's alright, you may leave!"

This was clearly sent by Mingchen.

This unlucky fellow didn't send a letter home, but sent all this random stuff.

Xiao Xinyue waved her hand, signaling the guards to leave.

She was aware of the things Mingchen had made at the Military Flag Bureau, and what was being sent now was clearly obtained from the Jinglan Alliance.

But when she saw the old man lying unconscious on the ground, her eyes widened: "Dong... Dong the thief?!"

The State of Chen was destroyed, so wasn't that old man dead?

Where did Mingchen get this person from?
The monk had no idea that this was the traitor who had plotted to usurp the throne; he simply placed his golden hand lightly on the old man's body.

Warm energy permeated the frozen body.

After a while, the old man's eyes widened suddenly, his face turned ashen, and he trembled and cowered.

I've never felt this pain, not even when I was hanging myself.

Lord Dong is truly defeated; he's hovering on the brink of death.

He goes in and comes out, goes out and comes in... He's the one who manipulates ghosts and spirits.

“Xiao Xinyue…”

When he opened his eyes again, he saw this woman who exuded natural nobility.

He was momentarily dazed.

First Mingchen, then Xiao Xinyue...

The old man felt like he was being paraded through the streets with his pants down; he'd experienced that firsthand in his life.

……

Why did Long Lian transform into human form at this time?

After Fuyao'er left, the brief commotion subsided and everything returned to calm.

Mingchen looked at the beautiful woman beside him with a cold and aloof demeanor and couldn't help but ask with a smile.

Aside from the moment she dips her beans in the sauce, Fuyao dislikes transforming into human form.

She prefers to perch on Mingchen's shoulder as a little bird, and she doesn't transform into a human even when facing enemies in battle.

However, Long Lian was clearly different. When she faced Mo Xile, she transformed into a human, holding the withered leaf sword given to her by the old tree, looking quite like the aloof fairy described in novels.

When Mingchen asked her the question, Long Lian paused, then tugged at the hem of her blue robe, hesitatingly saying, "Um...Young Master, I just think this looks more proper. Is it...not good-looking?"

Upon hearing this, Mingchen couldn't help but laugh and exclaimed, "Hahaha... That's beautiful!"

"Don't you see all the people passing by looking at us?"

"It's all because our Long Lian is too beautiful."

Mingchen, Longlian, and Xiudie walked along the road, walking their little white dog, like a family of three taking a stroll.

In this desolate place, it is like a flower blooming in the desert, attracting extraordinary attention.

"..."

The homebody Ryu Lian has some degree of social anxiety.

Hearing Mingchen praise her like that, she unconsciously blushed and felt a little embarrassed.

He quickly changed the subject, asking, "Young master, who was that person just now?"

The strange man from before turned out to be an old man named Dong Zhenghong.

Although it's just one person's body, it's clearly two people.

Dong Zhenghong is insignificant, but that strange man from before was quite noteworthy.

Her aura is ethereal and elusive, as if she has lived through countless ages, giving people immense pressure.

Apart from the old tree in Mingchen's house, Long Lian had never encountered anything like it before.

Having just transformed into human form and stood guard beside Mingchen, she was already prepared to use her trump cards to fight to the death and escort Mingchen to safety.

However, the other party does not appear to be an enemy.

He sat opposite Mingchen, said those inexplicable things, and then left.

She was a little curious.

The answer lies in the riddle itself.

"He said he was a traveler from the north. Legend has it that once you cross the countless mountains of Beilie and reach the far north, you can cross the barrier between life and death and enter the vast and boundless underworld, where you can see the boundless sea of ​​blood churning the heavens and earth. Where do you think he came from?"

Mingchen shook the full gourd of wine, feeling a pang of emotion, and then said to Long Lian, "Weren't we just meddle in their business outside Yueyang City?"

Human affairs, human wars, should be resolved in a human way.

With the Blood-Clad Army victorious and Wang Huai entering the capital, the matter was considered closed.

However, gods, ghosts, immortals, and demons were also involved. Mingchen entered the scene using strange and unorthodox methods, so it was only natural that the project manager from the other party would also meet with him.

Perhaps it was a fight, or perhaps it was just a casual chat.

Mingchen guessed that the latter was more likely, and the result was as expected.

There is no army now, and it has been removed from the energy center.

Mingchen had been waiting for the other party to appear the whole way, and now that they were about to leave Qian Yuan territory, the other party finally appeared.

This Mo Xile is clearly from the Netherworld. He is most likely the owner of the hand that finished things off that day. He holds a high position in the Netherworld, either one of the Nine Emperors or a top-tier powerhouse below the Nine Emperors.

Do not rejoice, do not be negative; dislike leads to anger, and unhappiness leads to hatred.

Those ten demons belong to the legendary Supreme Blood Sea Emperor of the Underworld.

"Is he here to demonstrate against us, to warn us?"

After all, they hadn't made a move in Yueyang City before, and Mingchen wasn't on the side of the ghosts and gods.

"No!"

"Quite the opposite."

Mingchen shook his head and said, "Didn't he already say that we are destined to be together, and the wine we drink is the wine of fate?"

"The Jianghu is not about fighting and killing."

If someone can become a friend and be of use to me, then I will not make them an enemy.

Beings with higher energy and higher positions are less likely to have their paths blocked.

Gods, the imperial court... they're pretty much the same.

In this world, the power system is not clearly divided. One's own combat strength is only the least important aspect. What matters more is the strange and wonderful magical treasures and supernatural powers.

Mingchen had no idea how much the other party knew about him, or even what level his current status was.

He can use magic to fight against immortals and spirits, possesses the means to slay gods and immortals, and has an ancient tree of unknown origin behind him...

But he knew that Mo Xile knew at least one thing: when he went south in Mingchen, he had met the Supreme Being of the Underworld, the Xuanming Miro Wonderful Dharma Venerable.

The supreme and sole ruler of the underworld.

Having met his immediate superior is enough to elevate Mingchen's status.

When one person attains the Tao, the chicken and the dog ascend to heaven.

Even if Mingchen is truly a nobody, perhaps we should treat him well.

The rats that stole lamp oil from the Buddha's side were beyond the control of ordinary people, so they had to be left to the Buddha to decide.

These top-tier beings won't lay a hand on anything that isn't something they can crush without any pressure.

At most, send out some unimportant chess pieces to test the waters.

The chess pieces and the gloves can be completely separated; whether they live or die does not affect their very essence.

If they were to take action themselves, it would surely be a sacred and magnificent event, a sure victory, completely justified, without any burden or consequences.

Otherwise, even the slightest mistake could severely damage the established power structure.

The old folks in the family have said that the gods only intervene when victory is assured.

For example, the reason why Wang Huai's personal guards were slapped to death outside Yueyang City was because they were ants and had no power to resist, so it would not cause any consequences.

The monk was slapped into the ground because he broke the rules.

His words were clear and unambiguous, and his actions were perfectly justified and unmatched.

Although Mingchen's current situation is unclear, he possesses some trump cards and has even met the Supreme Being before...

Essentially, the flood washed away the Dragon King Temple; we're all one family.

Whether it leads to friendship or enmity is not difficult to choose.

same,
Since there was no real grudge, Mingchen wouldn't rashly break ties with the other party. Instead, he would go along with it, and whatever was in the cup would become a 'fateful drink'.

"He drank with me, and the story he told was the purpose of his visit. He explained everything in a roundabout way."

“The generals, emperors, envoys, and even soldiers in the story can all be found to represent specific people.”

When doing things, we shouldn't speak too explicitly. If we speak too explicitly, we lose our dignity and there's no room for explanation or maneuvering.

A story is just a story. If you feel that it refers to something, then it does.

He said it was just a story, so it's just a story.

It can be true or false, it can be present or absent; the right of interpretation belongs to the speaker, and no evidence will be left behind.

The other party didn't even meet with Mingchen in person; they just used Lao Dong's name as a front, leaving themselves no evidence.

Once this is over, let's move on.

Only the two of them knew that this was the opportunity that brought them together.

To the outside world, it was just that the traveler and Mingchen had a drink together; it didn't amount to anything.

Mingchen pointed to himself: "I am an envoy."

"He is a general."

"The supreme being in the underworld is the emperor, and the soldiers... should all be those ghosts and gods."

"The legendary general was ordered to go to war, so what he meant by explaining to me was that he also followed proper procedures and had been approved by the Supreme Being, and that he did everything in accordance with the rules."

"The conflict between us was nothing more than the servant's ignorance; he didn't recognize me or know what official business I was doing. It had nothing to do with him. But he met with me on behalf of the servant, drank this cup of wine, and resolved the conflict in the hope of saving his subordinate's life."

"After a while, we became acquainted, and we can still talk to each other in the future."

Long Lian: ...

The woman who had lived in the river for a thousand years had never heard of this before. She had only heard about the petty squabbles and intrigues between the fishermen.

She was completely confused by what Mingchen was saying.

She only knew one thing: if Mingchen was in danger, she would fight bravely.

The child next to him had empty eyes and looked completely dazed.

Holding Mingchen's hand, she didn't say much, but seemed to be listening with great interest.

"Sometimes when subordinates cause trouble, it's not necessarily a bad thing."

Mingchen looked at the sky, smiled softly, and sighed, "Long Lian, do you think that soldier in the story Mo Xile told knew the identity of the envoy before he caused trouble? Or, did the general know the identity of the envoy before that incident?"

"A minor conflict led to a meeting."

"It's fate, it's fate. Fate needs to be created."

(End of this chapter)