Ze Tian Ji (Way of Choices)

Chapter 1096 – People Are Most Frightened to See Naivete

No one roared in laughter. In fact, nobody spoke for a long time, causing a very bizarre mood to set in.

Suddenly, a squirrel ran across a branch of a tree by the Divine Path. This drew the attention of an officer from the Imperial Guard, causing him to subconsciously release the grip on his spear. The heavy spear thumped against the foot of the comrade at his side.

“Ouch!”

The seemingly frozen atmosphere was shattered and the crowd finally woke from their stupors, expressions of absurdity on their faces.

All was in an uproar.

Chen Changsheng’s proposal was simply far too absurd!

This matter involved the throne of the Great Zhou, the future of the Human race, the contents of the history books, and the fates of millions.

And he wanted to fight with his master to make this decision?

Back in Luoyang, Zhou Dufu’s fight with the Demon Lord truly did change the course of history, but that had been a battle with an outsider. If all disputes in the world could be resolved so simply, why did so many descendants of the Imperial clan have to die within the Hundred Herb Garden, and why did the Orthodox Academy have to become a desolate tomb twenty-some years ago?

“This is impossible.”

Wang Zhice looked at Chen Changsheng and declared. There was no derision in his voice. On the contrary, it seemed somewhat soothing.

Chen Changsheng earnestly replied, “Since we place the importance of all living beings above all, and don’t want too many people to die so as to avoid weakening humanity’s strength, but none of us want to yield, we should just decide victory and defeat with a fight. In the end, whether he dies or I die, everyone else will live. Isn’t this the best method?”

The crowd gradually settled down as they digested his words.

The crowd turned toward the south, toward the gradually settling plume of dust and the other, slowly approaching, plume of dust. They sensed the killing intent resting within that plume of dust.

The absurdity they had felt from hearing Chen Changsheng’s proposal had been greatly diluted. Although still absurd, it now seemed reasonable.

Critically, Chen Changsheng was right. Whether he died or Shang Xingzhou died, what did it have to do with them?

They would remain alive and the capital would be fine. Was there anything more important?

Wang Zhice’s gaze deepened as he said, “The grand events of the world are no game, and certainly not some child’s quarrel.”

To use a fight to decide the future of the Human race was an absurd action, no matter how one looked at it.

Chen Changsheng looked at Wang Zhice and argued, “I’ve read many books since I was a child. These books contained many schemes and plots, but if one examined them more deeply or simply, what difference is there between those schemes and the children of Xining Village quarreling with each other? It’s just whether they’re fighting over sugared fruits, fish, the world, or the amount of space one takes up on the history books.”

Wang Zhice was quiet for a very long time.

Before Chen Changsheng and Gou Hanshi, he had been the first genius to become well-versed in the Daoist Canon.

The number of books he had read was in no way inferior to Chen Changsheng’s, but it was only today that he began to consider the contents of these books from a different angle.

Ruling a great country was like cooking a delicate fish. He had always believed that this phrase meant that one had to be cautious, but according to Chen Changsheng’s way of thinking, it could mean that one didn’t need to care at all.

Warlords contending for hegemony were just children fighting. Before engaging in a massacre within the courts of kings, one had to bear in mind that even killing a fish would spill blood.

Wang Zhice said, “I admit that your view might be reasonable. However, your master will not agree.”

While Chen Changsheng and Wang Zhice were speaking, Shang Xingzhou had remained silent.

He stood within the South Stream Temple sword array. He had no intention of breaking out of the array, only quietly looked into the distance, occupied with his own thoughts.

Chen Changsheng knew that Wang Zhice had spoken rightly.

He knew more than anyone else what Shang Xingzhou was thinking.

Shang Xingzhou was the world’s most cautious and most foresighted person.

He would only embark on an action once a plan was made. Without absolute grasp over the situation, he would not strike, and even when he struck, he would not leave any trace behind.

So even when the ministers within the Lingyan Pavilion had died at his hand, only a few people in the world knew of Daoist Ji’s existence.

So even when several years had passed after the bloody incident of the Orthodox Academy, not even the Tianhai Divine Empress had been able to find him.

A person like Shang Xingzhou would never bet all his chips on one fight.

Even if this fight seemed like a guaranteed victory for him.

Because what he wanted was to pull off a feat for the ages, and also because fights always had aspects that could not be controlled.

How could Chen Changsheng convince him?

“When I saw Daoist Wu walk out of the stone wall, I knew how I should proceed with this matter.”

After saying this, Chen Changsheng glanced at Xu Yourong.

It was also at that moment that he knew that Wang Zhice would appear and that she would lose to his master.

He looked to Wang Zhice and continued, “And then, I suddenly thought of a method.”

These words caused countless people to look at him.

Shang Xingzhou also turned to look at him as if wanting to know just what sort of idea had gotten into his head.

“I knew that it would be very difficult for me to convince Master to agree to my proposal.”

Chen Changsheng said to Wang Zhice, “But you can do it.”

Shang Xingzhou had invited Wang Zhice to the capital to have him persuade Xu Yourong to renounce her insane and destructive plan.

Chen Changsheng had done nothing because he was waiting for Wang Zhice to appear.

He was hoping that Wang Zhice could persuade Shang Xingzhou to agree to his proposal.

Yes, probably only Wang Zhice could convince Shang Xingzhou.

“Besides, since we’re going to fight, we need a judge.”

Chen Changsheng added, “In the entire continent, only Sir is qualified to be this judge, because Sir has a sufficiently high prestige that everyone will believe in Sir’s impartiality.”

After a pause, Wang Zhice said, “So you really were waiting for me to appear.”

The crowd finally understood what Chen Changsheng was saying and understood his arrangements.

Xu Yourong had entered the palace late in the night while Prince Chen Liu had traveled overnight to Luoyang. While the entire capital was fraught with tension, he had chosen to quietly contemplate the sword in his stone room within the Li Palace.

Why? Because he needed to prepare for this fight, because he was waiting for Shang Xingzhou to invite Wang Zhice.

He had always been waiting for Wang Zhice to appear.

He had been waiting for Wang Zhice here.

But how could he be so sure that Wang Zhice would help him?

Because of Wang Zhice’s prestige and impartiality?

Wang Zhice looked at Chen Changsheng and said, “I do not have a good relationship with your master.”

His expression greatly cooled.

Chen Changsheng said, “I know, but since Sir has come, that means that the relationship is not so bad as I originally imagined.”

The vast majority of the meritorious ministers and generals in the Lingyan Pavilion had died at Shang Xingzhou’s hands.

Shang Xingzhou was Emperor Taizong’s most inconspicuous and most terrifying knife.

Wang Zhice had a poor relationship with Emperor Taizong, and he also had a portrait in the Lingyan Pavilion.

Logically speaking, he should have loathed Shang Xingzhou.

Chen Changsheng had once believed this to be the case.

But when he discovered that Wang Zhice would accept Shang Xingzhou’s request to come to the capital, he began to re-examine the relationship between the two.

He thought about how Wang Zhice had suddenly appeared back when he was being pursued by the Demon Lord in Mount Han.

This assured him that his master and Wang Zhice had always had the means to communicate with each other.

Wang Zhice replied, “You’re wrong. My coming to the capital has nothing to do with your master.”

They had returned to his words from the beginning…

‘All living beings of the world’.

Chen Changsheng was a little surprised, but he was not disappointed.

Because persuasion was really just choosing a side.

As long as Wang Zhice was willing to stand on his side, Shang Xingzhou had to agree to his proposal.

Or else Shang Xingzhou would pay an even greater price, a price that no intelligent person would be willing to pay.

The problem was, even if Wang Zhice was moved by his words to not support Shang Xingzhou, why would he support Chen Changsheng?

Because of all living beings of the world?

This was truly a forceful reason, but Chen Changsheng did not want to use this phrase.

This phrase had appeared too many times today, and it made him rather uncomfortable.

He sincerely said to Wang Zhice, “Because… Daoist Wu will die.”