The more you believe me, the more real it becomes.

Chapter 108 Where is the hardest place to be? The Southwest!

He watched as the six families who came out one after another lost what he had been so proud of.

After a brief moment of stunned silence, King Anqing felt a sweet taste in his throat and then vomited a mouthful of blood.

If the gods, immortals, ghosts, and Buddhas were the cause of his rebellion, then the wealth he had accumulated over many years in Qingzhou was the result.

The former made him want to take a gamble, while the latter was his fundamental source of confidence.

He had suspected that this "destiny" had come too easily, perhaps with some foul play. However, after repeated deliberations, he could not resist the once-in-a-lifetime "opportunity" before him—the court was mired in the quagmire of the southwest, and it was the time for him to take a gamble! Even if the grand undertaking failed, with this foundation, he, the Prince of Anqing, would be able to carve out his own territory and become a powerful ruler!
But now.
The gods are gone! The monsters are gone! The family fortune is gone!!!
"Hehehehe... Hahahaha!"

Looking at the mess he had made, Anqing Wang suddenly burst into laughter, clutching his head as if having a hysterical episode.

This startled the chief clerk of the prince's residence standing before him, who was at a loss for words and could only utter:
"Your Majesty?!"

Has Your Highness truly gone mad?
Anqing Wang seemed not to hear, only muttering to himself:

"What a wonderful monk and Taoist priest who granted me my destiny! What a wonderful monk and Taoist priest who destroyed my destiny!"

After repeating himself several times, he suddenly pointed at Du Yuan and cursed:
"You Buddhist and Taoist sects are treating me, a prince of the imperial family, like a mere child!"

First, a monk and a Taoist priest came and said that he was blessed by heaven, and then another monk and a Taoist priest came and smashed everything he owned.

You came and went in a hurry, but what about him?

All that wealth and life savings he accumulated over the years?!
Du Yuan shook her head and said:

"You yourself treated the lives and fortunes of the people of Qingzhou as a joke; otherwise, with your destiny sealed, how could you possibly lose it?"

These words were like a heavy hammer blow, instantly shattering all of Anqing King's surging anger, leaving only a deep, suffocating feeling.

Because it accurately pinned its criticism on itself, rather than on the vague and ethereal "battle between Buddhism and Taoism"—it brought this upon itself!
People can't accept that they themselves can be wrong!

An Qingwang's Adam's apple bobbed violently, and his lips twitched for a long time before he abruptly turned his gaze away and squeezed out a sentence:
"Me? What abilities do I have to compare with you? The Mishui River is fake? The Bodhisattva's manifestation is illusory? Even you, this unassuming Taoist priest, can easily take my life and overturn my years of accumulated power. Tell me, what can I do?"

Looking at Prince Anqing, who was still making excuses and shirking responsibility, Du Yuan sighed:

"You only see the Mi River cascading down, but you don't see that if that person hadn't inherited your fortune, how could he have lifted the Mi River?"

Anqing Wang's expression visibly stiffened.

Du Yuan continued to ask:

"Tell me, after today's ordeal, are you really feeling absolutely nothing?"

Anqing Wang did not answer, but turned his head even further to the side, almost turning his back to Du Yuan.

Did I sense anything? Of course I did! On this day, countless warning signs filled my mind!

just
"So if you hadn't disregarded the well-being of the people and insisted on creating chaos, how could you have allowed them to seize your destiny and cause trouble?"

Not to mention when Du Yuan went to stop him at the city gate today.

Even when Du Yuan abandoned him and prepared to go to Pinglan Mountain, if he suddenly realized his mistake, there was still a chance for a turnaround.

Unfortunately, he was even more deluded than those seductive monks and Taoists!

Seeing that Du Yuan's words were all pointing out his faults, King Anqing completely lost control!
He suddenly turned his head and roared:

"What do you know? You're an outsider, what can you possibly know? I'm just a mortal, while they possess extraordinary abilities. From the moment they approached me, did I have any room to refuse them?"

"Even now, with my weapon in hand, do you think I can kill you? No, I probably won't even be able to touch the hem of your clothes!"

Faced with this hysterical roar, Du Yuan remained completely calm, simply saying:
"I slew the snake demon of Qing County. I killed the vicious wolf of the desolate mountains. And even here, I personally went to investigate."

He looked calmly and directly at Prince Anqing:
"So why do you assume that if you truly repent and are redeemable, I would turn a blind eye?"

King Anqing was struck dumb.

He had no way to refute this, because Du Yuan had indeed come in full view of everyone.

Even he himself knew that he had already missed the last chance to turn things around during the day.

But how can a person admit their mistakes? That's too difficult, even more difficult than correcting them!

Countless people know the pain and silently correct their mistakes, but very few know they've made a mistake and then admit it!

And the bigger the mistake, the harder it is to admit.

Therefore, the Prince of Anqing could only lower his head and mumble a sentence:
"What makes you think you can save me? Even if you, a wild Taoist priest, have some skills, how can you compare to those monks and Taoists who can lift water and wield thunder? Can you even compare to those Bodhisattvas with their radiant Buddha light?"

As for what happened before, Du Yuan only answered each question because she didn't want to see him making excuses or evasive statements.

That was the best sentence Du Yuan had heard tonight.

So Du Yuan raised her hand and smiled:
"How do you know I am inferior to those monks? Do you know that I am quite familiar with them, and we have debated the Dharma, with each of us winning and losing? For example, recently, many people learned that I had lost my hair, which meant I had lost to them. But not long ago, I won back my victory!"

Watching Anqing Wang and the others gradually change color.

Du Yuan smiled, her hands behind her back:

"Therefore, what he can accomplish, I can also accomplish!"

Upon hearing these two sentences, King Anqing felt dizzy and disoriented.

He staggered two steps and then collapsed to the ground.

True immortals stand before us, yet we do not recognize them; destiny is in our hands, yet we do not grasp it.

The onlookers were in an uproar, and many believers even knelt on the ground and kowtowed repeatedly.

Du Yuan didn't sense any definite change, but he felt that something must have happened.

Because so many people believe it!

It seems the imbalance is still too great.
However, he did manage to obtain that remaining information.

Yes, it's beautiful!

As for whether Pinglan Gong would reveal that the two were actually the same person, Du Yuan had already made arrangements.

That was what he said to Duke Pinglan, who had come to express his gratitude:
"Remember, if you have any doubts in the future, never speak them, lest you reveal heavenly secrets and incur karmic consequences!"

It's not specific, but it's very broad. Therefore, it's absolutely useful for those who like to ponder things all day!
Du Yuan learned this from Governor Pei and that richly dressed young man.

These two really love to speculate wildly. Since we can't control their speculations, let's just let them think whatever they want!
After chuckling softly, Du Yuan called out to the crowd:

"Lord Governor?"

"Your humble servant is here!"

Governor Pei hurriedly stepped out of the crowd and bowed to Du Yuan.

"The matter of Qingzhou is now settled. You know better than I how to deal with the Prince of Anqing, so I will not say any more."

After saying this, Du Yuan cupped her hands towards the crowd and said:

"Gentlemen, I take my leave!"

Everyone was shocked, especially the heads of the six families, who hurriedly tried to persuade them to stay:

"Master, why not rest for the night before you leave? We haven't properly entertained you yet!"

Staying is an option, but it doesn't seem to align with the magnanimous spirit of a truly wise person as to leave once the deed is done.

Therefore, Du Yuan waved her hands repeatedly and asked:
Where in the world is the most miserable place today?

Governor Pei was taken aback and said:

"Naturally, the southwest is the most impoverished."