Небо над реками и озерами очень чистое

Глава 11

"Him?" The girl closed her eyes, not particularly surprised. "Don't you know very well? I know you've been secretly inquiring about him lately."

"His situation..."

“It’s terrible, everyone knows that.” Interrupting him, Jia Ye opened her eyes, her dark pupils as calm as a deep pool. “What do you want me to do?”

"I hope you can help him."

"What reason do you have to think I would be willing to do something so thankless?"

"Letting Qianming Zisu grow too powerful will not do you any good."

She twirled her pen and nodded expressionlessly. "That's right, but the same applies to Fu Zhijiuwei."

“If Jiuwei can stand up to Qianming on his own, your pressure will be much less. If Jiuwei is eliminated, the next Moon Envoy will definitely side with Qianming, and your situation will be even more dangerous.”

"I'm not in danger right now, and besides, in my opinion, Jiuwei and Qianming are not much different."

"Qian Ming controls the Assassination Group, and even you will be subject to his control. Do you really want his power to reach that level?"

"So you're advising me to provoke him now?" Her tone was always indifferent, detached as if it were none of her business. "If the next Moon Envoy chosen by the King has nothing to do with Qianming, I can simply sit back and watch."

"If you secretly help me now, Jiuwei will definitely be grateful."

"How does his gratitude benefit me?"

“An imbalance among the four forces will do you no good.” He composed himself and carefully chose his words.

"The relationship between Zi Su and Qian Ming is no secret within the sect, and their hidden power is immense. Jiu Wei's foundation is not yet stable, and only by joining forces can you barely quell the situation. Without the support of the Assassination Group, consolidating the Demonic Sect's influence in the thirty-six kingdoms of the Western Regions will be nothing but empty talk. At that time, Qian Ming will have an excellent reason to squeeze you out, just like he did to Jiu Wei today."

After a moment of silence, the cool voice rang out like a breeze carrying floating ice.

"If I get involved, I will offend both the Wind and Flower Envoys at the same time, and I might die even faster."

“Even if you don’t intervene, he still won’t let you off the hook.”

"Even so, Qianming is preoccupied with internal affairs, and Zisu is bothered by criminal law. These two matters are beyond my jurisdiction and I cannot help them."

“You have a way,” he said, staring intently at her. “If you really want to.”

She returned his gaze coldly.

"Teaching you about the Strategies of the Warring States period isn't to get back at me."

"I'm just stating the pros and cons."

After a long, silent standoff, she suddenly turned her head away.

“Alright, I’ll give him some advice.” Jia Ye sat back down in his chair and pondered for a while. “His biggest problem right now is his lack of authority. It would be best to go to the Pope to negotiate.”

"The King of Pope?"

"good."

"But if we go to the King of Pop now, wouldn't that just prove that we are incapable of commanding the crowd?" If things go wrong, it will give Qian Ming an excuse to attack us.

Perhaps his questioning expression was too obvious, for Jia Ye gave him a half-smile and began to speak slowly.

"The one who least wants Qianming to become too powerful is the King of the Sect. Granting him the title of Wind Envoy was a last resort. His achievements in quelling the rebellion were too great, and without rewarding him, it would be impossible to convince the masses."

"It's just that his ambition was too great, and he was deeply resented by the King of the Sect. That's why he promoted Jiuwei to the position of Moon Envoy, cutting off Qianming's chance to control the Killing Camp. Everyone knows that Jiuwei is still inexperienced. At this time, he could have been completely honest. The King of the Sect would not have looked down on him. Instead, he would have regarded him as loyal and frank, and would have given him more favor and support. If Jiuwei only knew how to cling to power and hold on to the end, in the eyes of the King of the Sect, he would be inflexible and unworthy of great responsibility. It would not be a pity to let him be eliminated by Qianming."

He pondered for a long time before speaking again.

"How can we deal with the unruly nature of the assassination squad? Using severe punishment as a deterrent would probably be even more difficult to control."

"To stop boiling water by adding more water, why not remove the fuel from under the pot?" Jia Ye's eyes were strange and cunning. "The Moon Envoy has just taken office and doesn't have his own shadow guards yet, does he?"

"You mean..."

“I’ve made myself perfectly clear. If he can’t even understand this, then he’s not qualified to be a Moon Envoy.” The girl raised her hand to stop his question, her expression turning cold again.

“Shuying, I know about your relationship, but you must also understand that the King does not want a Central Plains person to be too close to the Moon Envoy, as this would make him doubt the loyalty of his subordinates.” She stopped there, not saying everything, but he already understood and fell silent.

Not only would being too close to Jiuwei arouse suspicion, but the King probably also does not want Jiuwei to unite with Jiaye. The fact that the four envoys have mutual distrust and their own concerns is what the superior would like to see. In this way, each side would have to rely on the King to protect itself and suppress its colleagues in order to prevent one side from becoming too powerful.

"Go down. I've said enough today. Don't expect me to help him. The Moon Envoy can only gain a foothold in the sect by his own strength."

It's both something I don't want to do, and something I find inconvenient...

At this time, openly assisting Jiuwei would be tantamount to handing someone a handle against him, and would also arouse the suspicion of the King of Jiao, which would be extremely unwise.

The aloof and taciturn Jia Ye's consideration of the various forces, his clear understanding of his own situation, and his grasp of the Pope's intentions... were terrifyingly accurate.

Jiuwei remained silent.

After hearing everything, he only said two sentences.

"Thanks."

His slightly dark face showed a resolute and determined spirit, like someone burning their boats and charging forward without hesitation.

"Shuying, you watch, I will definitely succeed."

For the next three years, they had no further opportunity to speak.

These three years were also a time for Gaya to consolidate her position in the church and build up her own trusted followers.

He carried out countless missions, traversing the various kingdoms of the Western Regions, and countless people died at his hands. Jia Ye's methods were more ruthless and more covert than those of the former Elder Jing.

On the one hand, they used assassinations to intimidate other countries; on the other hand, they bribed high-ranking officials and concubines with vast amounts of gold and jewels. They employed both force and diplomacy, engaging in intrigue and scheming, and even manipulated the deposition and enthronement of kings in some countries, as well as wars. A monarch cannot protect the peace of his own household, and the support of a single religion can affect the survival of an entire nation.

His methods were swift and decisive, his threats were overwhelming, and he used them perfectly.

Within a few years, the prestige of the Demonic Sect reached its peak, with various countries vying to offer tribute in order to establish friendly relations. A continuous stream of wealth flowed in like water, attracting the attention of even the sect's king.

No one dared to underestimate this girl who was as frail as a child anymore.

She proved with facts that the title of Snow Envoy was well-deserved, and even the Shadow Guards behind her were figures of awe. The Six Wings led by Shuying were in no way inferior to the elite of the Assassination Group. Each member had their own strengths and cooperated perfectly. They had achieved success in every mission. Faced with such strength, even Qianming, who was in charge of the administration, would give way.

After Qianming Zisu became one of the Four Envoys, she became distant and rarely interacted with him in private. Only when she demoted Jia Ye Jiuwei did she become close to him and share the same heart.

At this time, Jiuwei was no longer the ignorant man he once was.

Three years ago, he cautiously accepted the position of Moon Envoy. He faced many hardships, but in a moment of crisis, he boldly met with the Pope, frankly admitting that his virtue and talent were insufficient to win over the masses, and requested to resign from the coveted position. The Pope was moved by his sincerity and granted him the power of independent judgment, allowing him to punish believers for minor offenses without the need for Zi Su's approval.

Having gained access, Jiuwei, citing the precedent of the Quefeng Camp rebellion, confined the Assassination Group to the Forbidden Garden for a year of discipline to increase their loyalty. Within the Forbidden Garden, no one was allowed to come or go; Jiuwei was supreme, making decisive decisions and obeying orders without question, and no one dared to raise any objections.

Then, he selected two men to serve as shadow guards through a method of mutual combat, and chose five more to be captains, in charge of camp affairs. Rewards and punishments were clearly defined, and responsibilities were clearly assigned. Any slackness was not tolerated. From then on, he heard everything that happened in the camp, no matter how big or small. When there were occasional orders to be transferred, he handled them with ease and without hesitation.

Over the course of three years, many skilled fighters were promoted to the Assassination Camp through rigorous training, repeatedly achieving great merit. Like a broken blade that had been reforged, they earned the King's praise. The name of the Moon Envoy Jiuwei remained as solid as a rock, no longer the newly favored figure whose fate was once the subject of speculation.

As time went by, the four envoys laid a foundation in the teachings and each had their own followers.

With equal strength and checks and balances, the church enjoyed unprecedented prosperity and stability.

The wind rises

After a long and tiring journey back to Tianshan, I stepped into the Water Palace and inexplicably felt at peace.

Perhaps it was the lotus blossoms along the waterways in the palace, the gentle tinkling of bells, or perhaps it was the serene tranquility, the gauze curtains like mist. Suddenly, I awoke from the continuous bloodshed and slaughter, calming the restlessness in my heart.

Completely different from his time in the Central Plains, he abandoned all thoughts and hesitated no more when he struck, becoming a true killing machine, yet he could not blame the girl who was waiting for him at the end of the lotus pond.

It was his choice to submit to her and be at her beck and call.

She would always simply nod slightly, pointing out any shortcomings in the operation and assigning the next task.

Time seemed to stand still around her.

Although several years have passed since their first meeting, she remains unchanged, showing no signs of aging. Her followers can't help but gossip among themselves, with some even claiming she is a demon. Her youthful appearance, captivating methods, aloof nature, and reclusive lifestyle seem to provide context for the rumors.

Looking at the girl in white before him, he was also incredulous and momentarily stunned.

"Shuying!" After waiting for a long time without a reply, the girl frowned.

He snapped out of his daze and gave her the answer she wanted.

"What are you thinking about?" Her cool gaze swept over his face, slightly surprised.

"How old are you exactly?" For some reason, he voiced the question that had been lurking in his mind for a long time. After speaking, he unconsciously took a step back, regretting his slip of the tongue.

Jia Ye was stunned for a while, then gradually smiled, with a hint of self-mockery.

He didn't get angry, but sighed softly.

"I look like a monster, don't I?"

He rubbed his forehead with his pale hand, his usually calm voice rising and falling slightly.

He opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a word.

"Don't ask again in the future." He lowered his hand, his expression cold and composed, as if his momentary loss of composure was merely an illusion. "That's not something you should be concerned with."

What force caused a child to stop growing?

As he stepped out of the water palace, he was still recalling Jia Ye's expression at that moment.

Disheartened, slightly weary, and with a touch of helpless desolation.

Something pierced through her cold exterior, revealing emotions she could no longer conceal.

Beneath the mask of having no weaknesses, never losing one's composure, remaining calm and self-controlled, lies a rare authenticity.

At this moment, he vaguely realized that this powerful young woman was also a person of flesh and blood.

The green-clad woman in her blue dress walked towards us, her smile sweet and gentle.

At the moment of performing the ritual according to religious rules, a very low voice reached my ears.

"Today at Hai hour, in Qingjia Pavilion, Meiyuan Garden."

He walked past silently, then clenched his fist in an instant.

Meiyuan, a paradise rarely found on earth.

Everywhere you look, there are exquisite beauties, charming and welcoming, with the fragrance of flowers and powder wafting in, gentle and lingering to the bone.

Dodging the delicate figure that lunged at him, he directly ordered Qingjia Pavilion. A beautiful and sweet-talking maid led him into an exquisite little pavilion, leaving behind a trail of resentful glances. After several corridors, what appeared before his eyes was carved beams and painted rafters, winding courtyards and white walls, quite reminiscent of the Jiangnan region.

The Duyuan Garden was mostly inhabited by the most beautiful women, and only those of high rank in the church were allowed to enter and leave.

The maidservant led him to the door and discreetly withdrew. Two pretty maids in light pink blouses came forward, their eyes lighting up. They bowed with melodious voices and then pulled and pushed him into the inner room.