Chapter 25

When something unusual happens, there must be a reason.

When someone is nice to you for no reason, they must have their own reasons, and when that person is your potential rival, their kindness is mostly not well-intentioned.

Nuo Wen did not notice the purpose behind his colleague's invitation back then, and he did not care to find out, because his heart and mind were already on a woman.

Moreover, he was a person with a somewhat slow mind, and he only became alert after many things had happened, but by then it was often too late.

As a learned and talented scholar, he possessed extensive knowledge but lacked a flexible mind.

"You're not telling the truth, not the truth—" Nuo Wen buried his hands in his hair, his face showing doubt and disbelief. Perhaps, he was avoiding the harsh reality.

"Whether to believe or not is up to you." Xia Lan said indifferently, "I don't want it to be the truth either, but how do you explain everything that has happened?"

Seeing Nuo Wen's silence, Xia Lan continued to entice him, "I think over the years, there have been things you found hard to accept, or perhaps you chose to resist and forget. When you faced those things, you might have thought about accepting them, but you didn't want to, or you felt you couldn't. Because this is your persistence, you were afraid that accepting those things would make you lose your principles, and in doing so, you would find excuses, and the things you lost would only increase."

"Actually, we don't always have to choose to accept. Perhaps we can change our perspective. If we don't accept, we can choose to change." Xia Lan smiled, as if a sincere friend offering comfort. "I think you can at least do this, right?"

Nuo Wen raised his head, his face full of complex emotions, and looked at the young man, saying, "Now I believe what you said."

"Oh?" Xia Lan was somewhat surprised.

"I believe what you said when you were saving me."

"Which part?" Xia Lan thought the other person had finally understood, but it turned out to be something else.

"'But I also know a lot, and it seems you are of no use,' now thinking about it, what you said is very true." Nuo Wen said to himself mockingly. "I am indeed of no use."

"But your memory is good." Xia Lan waved his hand, not caring about his self-deprecation, "At least I forgot I said that."

"Anyway, thank you, sir!"

Nuo Wen stood up and bowed respectfully to Xia Lan.

Xia Lan found it quite amusing that he had been constantly luring and deceiving the other person, yet still received a word of thanks. Such a ridiculous thing was indeed rare. "So now can you understand what I said before?" He gestured for the other person to sit down and asked with a smile.

"Only the Crown Prince can help me, right? Sir!" After Nuo Wen returned to normal, he seemed to have changed, and his response to Xia Lan's question carried a sincere and earnest tone.

"Wow—" Xia Lan showed some surprise, "I thought you still didn't understand, but I didn't expect you to figure it out now."

"My foolishness has made you laugh at me." Nuo Wen said, looking somewhat ashamed.

"Then tell me what you understood, I want to know what you understood." Xia Lan said with interest.

"The content is not complicated, but rather simple, yet I have always overlooked a situation, which is why I ended up in this predicament." Nuo Wen sighed deeply. "If my value is enough to attract the Crown Prince's attention, then getting his help wouldn't be difficult. I had that opportunity at first, but—"

"But you were preoccupied with Bilin and didn't understand the fundamental issue!"

Xia Lan continued his words with a smile.

"Ah—" Nuo Wen's face darkened, and he forced a bitter smile. "I only thought about myself, but I always ignored how to get Bilin out. Now, thinking about it, I was too selfish and foolish."

"Don't blame yourself. After all, understanding it is not without the possibility of remedying and recovering." Xia Lan comforted him.

"But—" Nuo Wen looked at Xia Lan with some difficulty.

Xia Lan understood his thoughts and couldn't help but smile. "Don't worry, I won't leave the capital for now, and I will give you at most one year."

Hearing Xia Lan's words, Nuo Wen felt delighted, but then thought about his current situation and couldn't help but feel discouraged. "But how can I make the Crown Prince value me again now?"

"Very simple—" Xia Lan took out a gold coin and spun it in his hand, attracting the other person's gaze. "You just need to tell the Crown Prince what those debt collectors forced you to do today."

"This—" Nuo Wen was speechless, seemingly confused.

"Don't worry, I don't think the Crown Prince will blame you. The thing you were unwilling to do even at the cost of your life might have some value to the Crown Prince. As long as you explain everything and show sincere repentance, I think you will soon be back in the Crown Prince's favor. After all, he discovered you, and I think he has some lingering feelings." Xia Lan explained, then added in a serious tone, "But the premise is that you must not mention me."

"Why?" Nuo Wen asked, puzzled.

"Because you are my attendant, and no great person would entrust important tasks to an outsider."

"But how do I explain the debt issue?" Nuo Wen asked, thinking of a key point.

"As for the debt? Ha ha, isn't it gone?"

"But—"

"As long as you don't mention me, can't you fabricate a simple reason?" Xia Lan rudely interrupted Nuo Wen's hesitant concerns. "If you can't even do this, I think you don't need to seek the Crown Prince's help and should leave the capital with me as soon as possible."

Nuo Wen's face turned red with shame, and he was very silent because he felt he was displaying his incompetence.

Xia Lan had already given him enough help, but he still kept asking for more. He was a person with self-respect and dignity, and because he was a scholar, out of scholarly pride, he could not let his identity be disgraced.

"Who did you borrow money from?" Xia Lan suddenly changed the subject when the other person remained silent.

"Anbofen from the Stone Street in the Fuguang District." Nuo Wen asked, puzzled, "Why do you ask, sir?"

"Ha ha—"

Xia Lan did not answer because some things didn't need to be told.

"Sir, may I ask a rude question, why are you willing to help me like this?"

This was the second time Nuo Wen asked why. The first time, he got a reasonable answer he couldn't accept, and the second time, he still needed to know the reason.

The two were vastly different.

He remembered his former colleague; no one would help you for no reason.

His dark side had been successfully provoked, and everything suspicious was now colored, so beautiful, yet unclear in morality.

"Because I need a loyal and steadfast attendant." For Nuo Wen's suspicion and disrespect, Xia Lan secretly admired him, but he would not show it. "I think you understand that an attendant is easy to find, but a loyal one is rare."

"But do I have the value to be noticed by you?" Nuo Wen asked.

"Do you think you don't have this value?" Xia Lan countered.

Everyone's inner self hopes to be recognized by others, and sometimes this becomes the driving force or purpose of life.

Nuo Wen still had doubts about Xia Lan's answer, but he secretly agreed.

Because he was recognized by others, he wanted to prove his value, a sense of satisfaction and pride.

Xia Lan did not care whether Nuo Wen believed him. Perhaps what he needed was not a reason but an excuse to escape the inner constraints.

Because avoidance is the best breeding ground for excuses.

A person's change in thinking can be difficult or easy, depending on the person, but when the other person is temporarily trapped in your verbal cage, what you need is to gradually strengthen your cage until they cannot escape.

Nuo Wen did not realize he was in a cage, while Xia Lan, outside the cage, was both comforting and reinforcing. This was his prey.

"You can stay by the Crown Prince's side with peace of mind during this year. I will not interfere or make any demands. When you have difficulties, you can seek my help." Xia Lan broke the silence.

"How can I contact you then?" Nuo Wen had to ask cautiously, as one person's wisdom is limited, and he only had one year, so he needed help.

"Do you know the Golden Rose Inn?" Xia Lan asked.

Nuo Wen nodded.

"If you have something, you can tell the attendant at the Golden Rose Inn, and I will have the attendant inform you of the time and place to meet." Xia Lan explained, then joked, "During this year, you will probably have to endure the pain of separation."

"Ha—" Nuo Wen blushed and said, "A short separation for a long reunion, I think I can endure for this goal."

"I hope you can persist; this is your last chance."

"Yes, sir."

Nuo Wen's determined expression and tone were impressive. If it was just a facade, Xia Lan would have killed him with one sword, as it would ruin his plan and waste his time.

So he hated fickle people.

The two ended their conversation and went their separate ways.

Xia Lan glanced a few more times at Nuo Wen's retreating figure. He was just one part of his plan, and he would not be lonely, as he would have other companions in the days to come.

He valued him because this was the beginning, and he liked a good start.

The night was dark without stars or moon.

Xia Lan felt the gloom in the sky, and perhaps tomorrow would be a bad day.

The street lamps were dim, and there were few pedestrians.

He liked the night, more accurately, he liked such a dark night.

Quiet, mysterious, and terrifying.

He gripped the sword in his hand, a new sword, because his role required him to have such a good sword.

After identifying the direction, he began to leave, but not toward the inn.

He did not plan to return to the inn, or rather, before returning to the inn, he had to deal with something, a hidden danger.

His face returned to its cold and ruthless expression, and he gripped the sword even tighter.

Because he was about to kill.

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Thank you to "Xixi Cheng Jue" from Baidu Tieba for making the cover, and I just received a notification that the site will be recommending it soon, so I hope those who like it will collect and vote, thank you.

There is a small error in these two chapters, which is that neither party introduced themselves. In my setting, they had already introduced themselves on the way to the church when Xia Lan brought Nuo Wen there, so friends who noticed this detail don't need to worry.

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