Chapter 44

Clever people are always suspicious; they won’t easily believe what others tell them directly. Instead, they will add their own deductions and trust the results of their own reasoning more. Li Er was undoubtedly such a clever person.

He had always been suspicious of the power behind Li Kuan, hoping to bring it under his control. However, he was misled by the smokescreen Li Kuan put out, leading him further down the wrong path. Yet, he believed everything he did was correct. In this matter, Changsun also played a role, albeit one that pushed Li Er further off course.

"Since scientists deny the existence of gods and Buddhas, why would they create such a spectacle? Isn’t this slapping their own faces?" Changsun raised a question.

"Regarding this, I believe it’s both a show of force and a gesture of goodwill! They must have prepared in advance to create such a scene, indicating that they’ve had their eyes on Blackstone Mountain for a long time! They must have already set up mechanisms on Blackstone Mountain, but have never taken action. Is there some secret behind this? We don’t know, but this time they used Kuan’s hand to transfer Blackstone Mountain to his name before making their move, showing that they desperately need Kuan’s help!" Li Er analyzed.

"But this has nothing to do with them slapping their own faces! Kuan is just a child, how could he have such an important position?" Changsun picked up the charcoal stove on the table and skillfully started to boil the tea.

"I’m not sure either, but they are showing me that they can use the methods of Buddhism and Taoism, and even more skillfully than the two sects. This is a warning for me not to have any ideas about them, at least not until I can better deal with the two sects. In the future, I will still try, but for now, I will practice on the two sects. Otherwise, if these mysterious scientists hide again, just like they did for a thousand years, no one will be able to find them, and that would be a problem! As for their gesture of goodwill, it’s because they used Kuan’s hand to show me. This means they haven’t hidden anything from Kuan, and Kuan is my son. He wouldn’t turn against me for the sake of a sect he’s only met a few times, showing that they have no ill intentions. Perhaps through Kuan’s connection, we can even reach a cooperation!" Li Er felt this reasoning fit the development of events, where both sides would benefit. Otherwise, who would help you without any benefit, unless they had other plans for you!

"In that case, this scientist has been secretly accumulating strength for a thousand years? What a terrifying sect!" Changsun fanned the stove with a fan as she spoke.

"I’m afraid this scientist doesn’t have much strength, just a few dozen people!" Li Er said.

"How is that possible?" Changsun didn’t believe it. How could a sect that had existed for a thousand years have only a few dozen members? Even the weaker Taoist and Buddhist sects had thousands of disciples, not to mention the Confucian scholars who were spread throughout the land.

"It’s quite possible. If a large sect with thousands of disciples really existed, how could it remain hidden? Over a thousand years, there have been dozens of dynastic changes, each causing turmoil. How could thousands of people remain undiscovered? Only a small, low-profile group, scattered and only gathering at critical moments, could continue their research without being discovered!" Li Er’s reasoning made sense, and Changsun nodded in agreement.

"In that case, each of these scientists must be an elite. Otherwise, how could they have maintained and even surpassed the methods of Taoism and Buddhism for a thousand years!" Changsun helped Li Er analyze, though she never involved herself in state affairs, this matter concerned Li Kuan, and possibly Li Chenggan and her brother Changsun Wujì, so she couldn’t help but be concerned. Besides, this was within her responsibilities, as Li Kuan was still under her charge!

"Indeed, otherwise it wouldn’t make sense. Without a large number of disciples, they could only follow an elite path, with each generation being elite and making breakthroughs. A thousand years of accumulation could create such a secretive and powerful academic sect!" Li Er also agreed with Changsun’s view.

"Then, how should we deal with this scientist? We can’t subdue them, and if they hide again, it won’t be a problem, but if they cause trouble, showing so-called miracles and misleading the people, even inciting rebellion, it would be a great disaster for the world!" Changsun thought of a terrifying consequence. In this era, people’s beliefs were the most dangerous thing. Zhang Jiao of the Eastern Han Dynasty only needed to play with some ghostly symbols to organize a million Yellow Turban rebels, ending the Eastern Han Dynasty. If this scientist used their methods to rebel, what would the world become? Unimaginable!

Li Er was also startled by this thought, breaking out in a cold sweat: This absolutely cannot be allowed to happen, or the people will suffer again. The world is gradually stabilizing, and the signs of recovery are just beginning. It can no longer withstand the turmoil of war!

"It probably won’t happen! They haven’t done such things in the past thousand years, so there must be some restraint!" Li Er said uncertainly.

"In the past? This scientist has never appeared before!" Changsun didn’t dare to rely on any ancestral rules of the scientist!

"Then, we can only cooperate with them through Kuan!" Li Er realized he was at a disadvantage.

"There’s no other way. The world can no longer withstand war!" Changsun finished the tea and poured it for Li Er. Then she reached out to massage his temples.

Her technique was skillful, clearly practiced. Li Er closed his eyes, resting his head on Changsun’s chest, enjoying his wife’s tenderness.

"Brother, don’t think too much! Believe that Kuan won’t harm our family! I’ve been observing him for months. Since he almost died, he has changed, no longer as isolated, and has become kinder to his brothers, especially to Lizhi, whom he dotes on! He won’t harm his family!" Changsun comforted Li Er.

"Ah! I can’t help but consider it! The entire court is a murky pool, once you enter, you can never be clean again. Even with a large military power in my hands, I still have to tread carefully, one misstep and it’s all over! And Kuan’s matter could even affect the stability of the court, how can I be careless?" Li Er didn’t open his eyes, his voice filled with fatigue. Only in front of Changsun and Li Kuan’s mother, Yin Shaohua, did he show this vulnerable side, but now only Changsun was left.

"Then, how does Kuan contact his sect? I find this very strange, it’s as if someone from his sect is always by his side, but I can’t find them!" Changsun still had many doubts.

"Kuan says it’s some kind of telepathy. I think it’s similar to the concept of 'heart-to-heart connection.' Just like when Shaohua passed away, I was far away with the army, but I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my heart, followed by a wave of sorrow. Kuan’s sect must have some secret technique to enhance this connection, allowing them to transmit vague messages!" Li Er once again started to speculate, processing what Li Kuan had shown him and labeling it as trustworthy.

The couple discussed for half an hour, finally getting a rough idea of Li Kuan’s situation. Now it was Changsun’s turn to speak her mind.

Actually, when the two decided to use Li Kuan to cooperate with the scientists, Changsun’s worries were mostly resolved. In her view, as long as the conflict between Li Kuan and Li Chenggan wasn’t severe, the two children could resolve it themselves. She would persuade Changsun Wujì not to interfere, and if it got too big, Li Er would handle it. This way, she wouldn’t be caught in the middle.

Since her worries were resolved, there was nothing she couldn’t say: "Actually, I noticed something at the banquet! Kuan was too outstanding, and my brother might have other thoughts about him!"

"Oh! Wujì wouldn’t be so petty! From what I know, he would only plan in his heart and not directly interfere. He would use Kuan to hone Chenggan and even Chong. If the two children are really not up to it, he would step in. Besides, our current enemies are the remnants of the rebels and the Eastern Palace. Wujì wouldn’t lose sight of the main issues! As for the children’s matters, it’s a special kind of training and selection, making them improve through competition!" Li Er thought Changsun had some hidden concerns, but didn’t expect her to be worried about the future, which was still far off!

"Since Brother has made a decision, it’s my overthinking! But being in the middle, I can’t help but think too much!" Changsun was quite helpless.

"Haha… Guanyin, don’t overthink it. Actually, competition among the children is a good thing. Without competition, how can they grow? Kuan’s performance will make Chenggan work harder, and even Xiao Ke and Qingque will become more motivated because of their competition! Don’t worry, we just need to ensure their competition is healthy and doesn’t harm them!" Li Er comforted Changsun.

"That’s good! But can the scientists behind Kuan cure Xiuning?" Changsun thought of Li Xiuning, who was still lying in the Imperial Hospital.

"Kuan’s teacher said it’s not difficult, but because Xiuning’s wound is special, the imperial doctors can’t completely remove the necrotic tissue, leading to continuous infection!" Li Er replied.

"Then who can do it completely?" Changsun asked.

"Probably only one person in the world, Sun Simiao, the Taoist priest. Kuan’s teacher, Chen Tuan, said that if the main branch of the medical scientists is still alive, they could be the second person! They would use some kind of 'disinfectant' to clean the wound and have a medical book!" Li Er had asked this question during his conversation with 'Chen Tuan' at noon.

"It seems we still need to find Sun Simiao, the Taoist priest!" Changsun didn’t expect to come full circle, as even the scientists couldn’t solve the problem.