Street tavern.
Aunt Yun, who was dressed maturely and had a charming temperament, was making tea with delicate and agile movements while she glanced meaningfully at the man sitting across the tea table:
"I didn't expect that Zhang Zhenlin, the reckless man who fell in the eyes of money, could be reliable at times. This time he really didn't disappoint."
The man sitting across from him had an ordinary appearance, an ordinary build, and ordinary clothes. He looked no different from the middle-aged men who were working hard for a living on the street. He was completely unremarkable in a sea of people.
"Lao Zhang's biggest shortcoming is his love for money, but that's his only shortcoming. Looking at the current officialdom of Yan State, there are very few people like him who can figure out the right and wrong, so there is no need to force too much."
The ordinary man took the tea cup and took a sip, "Well, your tea-making skills are still as good as ever. You can brew a unique flavor from any tea leaves in your hands. I have to say that this is also a skill."
Aunt Yun rolled her eyes, "If you don't do anything yourself, you still like to pick and choose whether you like to drink or not."
The ordinary man looked at the teapot and tea leaves, hesitated for a moment and finally shook his head: "Forget it, I have to use new tea leaves to make another pot, there is no need to waste it."
When Aunt Yun saw that he was really considering replacing her, she was so angry that her chest rose and fell.
"The Holy Envoy from the North came to Jizhou City. Have you sent anyone to see it?" The ordinary man changed the subject.
Aunt Yun said angrily: "What can a little girl do if she comes? She won't ruin your plan."
Ordinary men let out a long "Oh" and asked calmly: "What is my plan?"
Aunt Yun glared at him fiercely: "Are you testing me, or are you doubting my IQ? Do you think I can't see your chess game?
"Using a No. 3 Research Institute to leverage the Zhengyang Sect, and then using a Zhengyang Sect to knock down the mountain and shake the tiger, isn't the purpose of using the No. 3 Research Institute to pull out the chess pieces buried by the Monster Clan in Jizhou City?"
"Once they move on a large scale, even a blind man in the government office should be aware of it. What awaits the monster lurkers then will be the huge net you expected?"
Speaking of this, Aunt Yun's eyes softened, she let out a long sigh, and continued with a tone of admiration: "The old fox is indeed an old fox, and he made a big fuss just after returning to Jizhou City.
"It only took a mere demon clan stronghold to draw the Zhengyang Sect's attention to the Chief Secretary. If nothing else happens, the demon clan forces all over the city are now in a state of turmoil.
"If the chief envoy knew about this, I don't know if he would thank you or scold you."
The man put down the tea cup and smiled, "You don't have to admire me so much. This was not my plan from the beginning, it's just that things have developed to a certain extent and things have gone smoothly.
"This turmoil can have the effect of making a huge difference. In the final analysis, it's Su An who got in touch with the Chief Envoy. If it weren't for his good fortune, there would be no limit to what I could do."
Aunt Yun sighed softly, "Who admires you? You are not as thick-skinned as you in this building!"
Ordinary men did not respond and drank tea in peace.
Aunt Yun rolled her eyes and said angrily: "I have seen it a long time ago. If Su An can make friends with Wang Zhe, you must have contributed to it! He will go to Guandu City that day. I don't believe it is a coincidence."
The man gently brushed the non-existent dust on his clothes with an indifferent expression.
"Old man, you are pretending to be sophisticated in front of me again!"
Aunt Yun snorted heavily, "What are your plans next?
"We still have some information in hand. If the government's response is not as expected, I can throw out a few more to continue to stimulate the demon clan and make them jump like ants on a hot pot."
The war is just around the corner. If Lingdong Province is not to be captured by the demon clan, the threats hidden within the opponent must be eradicated, or at least exposed.
Some people have to step forward for some things. If the corrupt government can't do it, let them do it.
The man said calmly: "There is no need to be anxious, just wait and see. We can only go with the flow and make the best use of the situation, and we cannot make things too obvious, otherwise the disaster of that day will inevitably happen again."
Aunt Yun was silent for a while, remembering the incident a few months ago.
After a while, she took a long breath and said unwillingly: "I can't use my strength. It's really uncomfortable to hold it in."
The ordinary man remained indifferent: "In any case, Zhengyang Sect has been thundered, so it should attract the attention and vigilance of some caring people."
Aunt Yun said: "I'm afraid that too few people will be alert!"
The man said: "There are things to do and things not to do in this world. You can't wake up a person who is pretending to sleep, and there is no need to wake him up. We only fight for those we can fight for. One good general is far better than a thousand mediocre soldiers."
Aunt Yun pursed her lips and said no more.
...
"It's good to have a big tree with deep roots. The Zhengyang Sect can be immortal."
At the celebration banquet of the Anxia League, Zhao Xiaokui, whose cheeks were red from drinking, sighed sincerely, "It turns out that it is so easy to collude with the demon clan without paying the price!"
Sun Zongsheng, who drinks very little, disagrees, "A five-star sect, a century-old history, and the endorsement of a big shot in the provincial council. Which condition is easy to achieve?"
It's okay if he didn't say this. When he said this, Zhao Xiaokui became even more angry and beat the table angrily:
"With these conditions, you can interact with the demon clan? Shouldn't everyone who interacts with the demon clan be torn into pieces regardless of who they are? The dignified Yan Kingdom doesn't even have the most basic bottom line of principles?!"
Sun Zongsheng was speechless and could only shake his head and sigh: "This is reality."
Except for them, the dozens of Anxia League sect leaders and powerful men in the audience were all very angry. Some were gnashing their teeth, some were drinking silently, and some were shouting curses.
This banquet to celebrate Anxia League's successful control of the Dongping District Supermarket Fresh Market should have been filled with laughter, but now the atmosphere became gloomy because of the government's handling of the Zhengyang Sect.
Zhao Xiaokui turned to stare at Su An: "I received the recruitment order from the committee and management office. I have to pack up my weapons and go to the front line to fight the monsters tomorrow. What about you?"
Su An said: "The Anxia Sect has to leave tomorrow."
Dusi's army can no longer withstand the demon attack. Even though the demon army has not yet entered the country, the only ones launching the offensive are the chaotic forces and rural armed forces gathered by the demon clan.
Due to the pressure of the battlefield and following the usual practice, the authorities recruited extraordinary civilians to rush to the front line. Many social sects in Jizhou City have received the order.
Zhao Xiaokui hit the table hard and almost knocked it over. She picked up a glass of wine and drank it down in one gulp, furious: "Look, this is the Yan State authorities!
“The government offices usually dominate and enjoy privileges, but when it comes time for them to perform their duties, they can’t even cope with the demon’s advance army!
"After a few rounds of gunfire and a few rounds of cannons, we social sects have to spend their lives to plug holes. Do we pay less taxes to the court? What do we need them for!"
Of course, Zhao Xiaokui was not the only one who was angry. Everyone present, including Zhang Yuying, was also angry.
They are the ones who go out to perform tasks during normal times and fight against the demons. It is they who build cities and create wealth. They are the ones who bear the national taxes. When war comes, it is they who fight bloody battles with the demon army.
They have done everything, so what else do they need from the government offices and the military?
Everyone complained repeatedly, wishing that the officials could eat their flesh and sleep with their skin.
But apart from complaining at the wine table, there is nothing the extraordinary people can do.
After drinking and grumbling, they still had to go back to their homes to make preparations. They had to rush to the battlefield with their own weapons at dawn tomorrow.
"After I leave tomorrow, An Xia League will depend on you to take care of it. I will leave Li An Xin behind and you will escort her."
After walking out of the hotel, Su An lit a cigarette outside the door, facing the red and green neon lights and busy traffic on the street, and said to Zhang Yuying who was going out together.
Sects such as Anxia Sect, Liuli Sect, and Qingyun Sect were recruited, but sects such as Xingsheng Sect and Shenxian Sect were not included in the recruitment.
But this does not mean that the latter can enjoy peace. They have not been named at this stage, and it may be their turn in the next stage.
Zhang Yuying curled her lips: "I don't want to stay bored in the city. I just need Xiaomei and the others to look after the house. I want to go out to collect military merit points anyway."
Su An nodded slightly and had no objection.
Having Zhang Yuying, a level 7 expert, by his side had only advantages and no disadvantages for him.
"You raided the Zhengyang Sect's research institute and dug up evidence that they were colluding with the Monster Clan. The authorities then decided that the Zhengyang Sect's headquarters had nothing to do with the Monster Clan. Now the Zhengyang Sect is still standing, and a recruitment order from the authorities will make you... If you have to fight monsters, is there no psychological imbalance?"
Zhang Yuying saw that Su An's expression was normal and not as angry as everyone else, so she asked curiously.
Su An glanced at her doubtfully, as if to say, "Your strange appearance makes me very strange":
"The authorities are the authorities, and I am me. What does it have to do with me whether they are humans or dogs? Is it because the authorities are all silverfish, that I have to abandon my principles and stick to them, and become as unhuman as they are?"
Zhang Yuying was confused by what he said.
Su An continued: "I am not fighting monsters for the sake of the authorities.
“To put it more broadly, I am fighting for Jizhou and its citizens.
"Jizhou is the place where I was born and raised. Without Jizhou, I would have no source of food, clothing, housing and transportation; the citizens of Jizhou are my brothers. Without them, I would have no social identity.
"To put it mildly, I am fighting for myself and the Anxia Alliance.
"I need to go to the battlefield to practice and enhance my strength. The Anxia Alliance needs military merit rewards. My personal strength and sect wealth are mine. How can I let them be taken away by monsters?
"Although the authorities are corrupt, they will give me real points and bonuses. These are enough.
"Although this is a method used by the authorities to control extraordinary people among the people and force social sects to fight for them, it has indeed given me a stable ladder of advancement and wealth protection. It is not an exaggeration to say that it is mutually beneficial.
"Taking a step back, at my current level, breaking away from the authorities will only result in loss of interests, but nothing more."
Zhang Yuying understood what Su An meant and nodded in agreement.
That's why she's willing to fight.
After Su An finished speaking the last sentence, Zhang Yuying raised her eyebrows and said "oh":
"What do you mean, when you are strong enough and it is more beneficial to break away from the authorities than to rely on them, you will go out and make your own way?"
Su An didn't answer the question immediately.
He stared at the street lined with lights and signs, savoring the prosperity of the civilized world, and quietly smoked a whole cigarette.
Then he said with a calm face: "I am from the Yan country, and I love my country. Loving the country and loving the government are two different things. The former cannot be changed, but the latter changes with time.
“If the authorities cannot protect my legitimate interests, then I have no reason to like them; if the authorities harm my fundamental interests, then I have reason to despise them;
“If everyone hates the authority, then we can replace it!”
When he said this, he walked to the trash can, put out the cigarette butt and threw it into the bucket.
