When Shen Xinglan's footsteps faded away, Sun Shehu emerged from the inner room.

The Shen Family affairs just now were not something an outsider like him had any right to be involved in.

Of course, he didn't want to get involved either.

Knowing too much could become a stumbling block on the road ahead.

Now that Shen Anyuan and Shen Xinglan had both left, his appearance was a matter of business, military business.

Sun Shehu looked at Shen Wuxiang and sighed, "The Young Master is still too kind-hearted."

Though inside the room, he could hear some of the conversation outside.

He understood the thoughts of his Lord:

He hoped to push his own grandson onto the throne.

Yes, blood was indeed thicker than water.

It's precisely because of this reason that he was so displeased with Shen Xinglan.

Disappointed for not living up to expectations.

"If he wants to be a leisurely nobleman or a wealthy man, being kind-hearted wouldn't be a bad thing," Shen Wuxiang said with a serious expression and cold eyes, "but if he wants to sit in that position, and sit well, and sit steadily... kindness is the greatest weakness."

"Take it slow, the Young Master is a smart person, he will come to understand," Sun Shehu comforted.

Shen Wuxiang shook his head and said, "If he understood this... when Tang Fei took his woman, he would have slain him with a single sword."

"A poor boy from the old lands, with the Shen Family backing him, who would dare sermonize him? Yet, he chose to maintain that worthless reputation and acted as if nothing happened... If Tang Fei faced such a situation, how would he react?"

"... That young man is extreme," Sun Shehu replied subtly.

Given his understanding of Tang Fei, he's someone who never takes a loss.

When he first arrived in New Star, he was destitute, with a low cultivation realm.

He merely held tightly to Zhong Yu Xiu Xue's powerful alliance...

But whether facing Shen Qingping of the Shen Family, Qin Jianyi of the Qin Family, or even Yu Huoshui and Shen Xinglan among the Empire's most excellent youths, when did he ever lose out?

Not only did he never lose, but several from the Seven Stars were killed by him.

Like Yu Huoshui.

If someone took his woman, they would likely end up dead.

This point indeed makes him different from their Young Master.

"A wolf travels a thousand miles to eat meat, a dog travels a thousand miles to eat dung."

"..."

Sun Shehu dared not respond to this topic.

Who is the wolf? Who is the dog?

If Shen Xinglan is the dog... then what are you?

"Life is too comfortable, in this regard, not as good as Tang Fei, who came out of the old lands," Shen Wuxiang said with a face full of sentiment, "Back then, Xuanyuan Mingjing said, without experiencing life and death crises, one doesn't understand the warmth or coldness of human feelings..."

"Without a strong desire for survival and unabashed ambition... how can one stand out and become the ultimate victor?"

With these words, a sudden thought flashed through Shen Wuxiang's mind:

What if Tang Fei were his grandson?

What kind of chemistry would develop between him and Tang Fei?

Would his thoughts, goals, and those unspeakable ambitions be well implemented by Tang Fei?

Forget it, forget it, stop thinking about it.

Shen Xinglan is not unexceptional, just overly gentle in temperament, always leaving room in what he does.

But he doesn't understand that a gentleman cannot be a monarch.

Perhaps he understands, but his nature is difficult to change.

This thought flashed through Shen Wuxiang's mind, an unexpected thought from his own grandfather towards the dazzling and extraordinary genius youth.

"The Military Minister's action... is it pushing the seedlings too fast?"

"In the past, I could give him time to grow slowly. But things are different now..." Shen Wuxiang stood up and walked over to the virtual map before him, speaking, "Red Moon City has fallen, the bandits now occupy the Blood Red Gobi and Dushan, as well as Red Moon City, forming an extremely broad strategic depth from point to surface."

Shen Wuxiang pointed at the map, gently touching it to create a red line extending from Red Moon City towards Phoenix City: "If they continue to advance, a quarter of the entire Empire's territory will fall into their hands."

"Moreover, they have occupied Dushan, advancing to attack and retreat to defend, forming a triangle with the Zhao Ling area occupied by the Qin Family and the barren land of the Lu Clan..."

"No matter which side is attacked, the other two sides can quickly provide support... If our army approaches, they can quickly retreat north of Dushan or even to Zhao Ling or the barren land..."

Although Sun Shehu did not understand military affairs, he was quite troubled by the red markings on the virtual map and spoke, "Who could have thought... that Tang Fei could recover those barbarians?"

"The barbarians have fought against the Empire for decades, their hatred runs deep, never-ending death... It's precisely because of this reason that we've always considered that area a natural barrier."

"Not only because of the Dushan garrison, there's also the barbarian tribes... Tang Fei went over there and subdued the barbarians, instantly transforming a deadlock into a lively game..."

Shen Wuxiang's face showed a trace of hatred, speaking, "Most importantly... Shen Qingping's treason... This matter has profound implications and must be handled with caution."

Sun Shehu deeply agreed, finding this matter extremely tricky as well.

Tang Fei recruiting Shen Qingping... was even more unacceptable to them than recovering the barbarian tribes.

Although the barbarians are fierce, their numbers are ultimately small, and against powerful ships and artillery, they have the worst of it.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have struggled for decades to cross Dushan...

However, Shen Qingping's treason was undermining the Military Minister's authority and shaking the foundation of the Shen Family from within.

'The direct descendants of the Shen Family have all defected... Can we still follow him with conviction?'

Many people might have such thoughts arising in their minds.

"Therefore..." Shen Wuxiang's eyes were fierce and cold as a blade: "Shen Qingping must die... his entire family must die."

If betrayal goes unpunished, what meaning does loyalty have?

Sun Shehu was silent.

Exiting Grandpa's office, Shen Xinglan had the urge to visit Shen Anyuan and their spouse in prison, but upon consideration, he abandoned the idea.

What would he do there?

What could he say?

Words of comfort...

There is no such thing as shared empathy in this world.

He wandered aimlessly to the summit of Qi Mountain, where three towering phoenix trees stood tall.

Each tree was several centuries old, requiring three or two people to encircle them.

It was said that the central tree was the Divine Tree where the Phoenix rested, giving Qi Mountain its name.

The twinkling lights below stretched endlessly, resembling an entire Milky Way.

This was the garrison of the Mountain Qi Camp, the Shen Family's leverage for seizing the national tripod.

As he gazed at the endless lights, he felt not pride but an indescribable melancholy.

"What kind of person do I want to become?"

Shen Xinglan once again asked himself this question.

------

Red Moon City, City Lord Mansion.

After the Sky Wolf Army took over Red Moon City, following instructions from Tang Fei, they temporarily rested and fortified the walls.

They took control of major city departments and military factories, cleared out small groups of bandits...

Indeed, victors write history, and the former guardians of this city are now like rats crossing the street.

Absurd, isn't it?

Accompanied by Shen Qingping, Tang Fei arrived at Meeting Room No. 2, where Xun Pu and Chen Ran had been waiting for a long time.

Everyone present was from the top ranks of the Dushan Army, essentially making it an internal meeting of the Dushan Army.

As Tang Fei arrived, everyone's attention focused entirely on him.

To kill or to spare depended entirely on his whims.

Entering the room, Tang Fei glanced around, meeting the gaze of everyone one by one, and spoke with sincerity and gratitude: "The Righteous Army's ability to swiftly clear obstacles and occupy a mighty city owes much to the Dushan Army's efforts... as well as the wise leadership and guidance of everyone present."

He bowed deeply, loudly stating: "Please accept my salute."

"..."

Everyone's faces changed dramatically.

What nonsense are you talking about?

Who led?

Who directed it?

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