Yue Huaiyuan shook his head. "That's all ancient history written in old records of anomalies. It hasn't shown its face in thousands of years. Who knows if it's dead or alive?"
"Their so-called backing is just those beasts trying to glorify themselves. If Immortals truly existed, would the world be in such a chaotic state?"
Jiang Yuechu did not respond, merely running her finger lightly along the teacup.
Since there are Demons in this world, and the Ink Dot Realm, Seed Lotus, Mountain Gazing, and Lamp Lighting Realm exist, the so-called Immortals might not be baseless rumors.
Xie Tinglan gave a bitter smile. "The matter of the Immortal Sect is debatable, but those eight Demon Saints are a genuine existence. Although the Great Tang's national strength is currently flourishing, the Northern Barbarians are holding the pass, and the Western Regions Demon Court is watching covetously. If we truly start a direct war with the Drinking Horse River for the sake of one County, Yu Hang..."
He paused, holding up three fingers.
"We would lose at least thirty percent of our national strength."
"And that's just a conservative estimate."
Yue Huaiyuan sighed, pouring himself another bowl of wine.
"Commander Lu is already overwhelmed dealing with that beast in Taihu Lake. If I report this matter up, it will only distract him, serving no other purpose."
"If those beasts hadn't been so presumptuous a few days ago, it would have been difficult for me to act; I could only endure it."
"Furthermore, most Demons from the Drinking Horse River rarely come to the Great Tang mainland. Although there has been friction over the past few centuries, we have maintained a relative peace."
"The Imperial Court is also enduring and lying in wait. Perhaps in a few hundred years, when the Great Tang produces a few more Martial Saints of the Lamp Lighting Realm, or when our national strength increases further, we will be able to spare the effort to completely wipe out those foreign Demons."
"Lord Jiang."
Yue Huaiyuan spoke earnestly, "I know you are young and spirited, capable, and can't stand seeing such disgraceful matters. When I first joined the Demon Suppression Division back then, I was just like you, believing there was no Demon in this world that couldn't be killed."
He sighed, his tone carrying the melancholy of a seasoned veteran.
"But this world is not something you can navigate purely with passion."
"The Great Tang's current situation truly cannot withstand such turmoil..."
Jiang Yuechu listened quietly.
This was the so-called prioritization of the big picture.
Using the suffering of a single County, Yu Hang, to secure the stability of the entire Region East of the River and even the Great Tang.
Using the lives of a few to fill a bottomless pit, so that the majority can barely survive.
"So..."
Jiang Yuechu took a deep breath. "What crime have the people of Yu Hang committed?"
Yue Huaiyuan's body stiffened.
He seemed to want to spout some grand philosophy, but looking into the girl's clear eyes, all his lofty words were stuck in his throat.
If he could kill them, who would willingly act like a coward?
Who would want to see the common people under their governance slaughtered indiscriminately like livestock by Demons?
But he was a Demon Quelling General.
A General defending a city protects not just the gains and losses of a few individuals, but the overall situation of the entire Region East of the River.
Finally.
It could only turn into a long, drawn-out sigh.
"If we must assign blame..."
"We can only blame Yu Hang for having bad luck."
Merely because of bad luck.
Yu Hang had to tolerate a Demon acting tyrannically in this place.
Merely because of bad luck.
The common people who died in the mouth of the Demon became sacrifices for the sake of the big picture.
Jiang Yuechu turned her head, looking out the window.
The lights on both banks of the Grand Canal were still brilliant, and the faint sound of music from the pleasure boats drifted over, covering the stench along the riverbank.
"It's better for one person to die than for many to die."
Jiang Yuechu murmured to herself, "That statement does sound very reasonable."
Yue Huaiyuan was stunned.
Xie Tinglan was also stunned.
"But General Yue..."
"In the face of life and death."
"Who among them is willing to trade their own life for the survival of others?"
The words were too blunt.
So blunt that it was like violently ripping off the fig leaf named 'the big picture.'
Revealing the bloody truth beneath.
Sacrificing one County to secure peace under Heaven.
This calculation, in the eyes of the officials in the Imperial Court and even the Demon Suppression Division, was a worthwhile bargain.
It was a necessary compromise.
But in the eyes of the people of Yu Hang, who were being delivered into the Demon's maw.
Who was willing to be that price?
"I understand General Yue's difficulties."
"The Imperial Court has the Imperial Court's considerations, and the General has the General's hardships."
Jiang Yuechu's expression was calm. She slowly stood up and straightened her silver-white greatcloak.
Hearing this, Yue Huaiyuan thought the girl was also going to retreat in the face of difficulty.
Although he felt a little disappointed, he also breathed a sigh of relief.
After all, if this Silver Robe Inspector truly didn't know the immensity of heaven and earth.
Insisting on stirring up that hornet's nest, creating a monstrous disaster, no one would be able to handle the consequences.
The girl lifted her eyelids and suddenly asked:
"Where is that beast now?"
Yue Huaiyuan subconsciously blurted out, "Thirty miles north of the city, Qiantang..."
The moment the words left his mouth, he suddenly realized.
The hairs on his whole body stood on end.
Wait!
Why is this girl asking that?!
Yue Huaiyuan shot to his feet.
"Lord Jiang! You... what do you intend to do?!"
Xie Tinglan was also shocked, quickly rising to stop her. "Lord Jiang! Do not be rash! That is the Drinking Horse River..."
Jiang Yuechu ignored their panic.
She picked up the Hengdao from the table and hung it back on her waist.
She turned and pushed the door open.
The wind and rain outside had not stopped, and the damp, cold Drinking Horse River wind poured into the room along the corridor.
Her Silver Robe fluttered wildly, and the fox fur collar trembled.
The girl paused slightly but did not look back.
Only her cold, clear voice, accompanied by the sound of the wind and rain, reached their ears.
"I am a person who hasn't read many books..."
"Talk about prioritizing the big picture, talk about enduring humiliation for the sake of survival..."
"Not only do I disregard these things today, but even if one day I, Jiang Yuechu, die on the battlefield and turn into dust, these concepts will never be worth a damn to me!"
"..."
By the time Yue Huaiyuan and Xie Tinglan recovered their senses, the doorway was already empty.
Only that extremely arrogant statement still echoed within the private room.
After a long while.
Yue Huaiyuan stammered, "Insane... truly insane..."
"..."
A rustling sound came from beside him.
Yue Huaiyuan turned his head to look.
He saw that Xie Tinglan had already stood up and silently grabbed the Hengdao from the table.
"Where are you going?"
"Inspector Jiang is young and already in the Ink Dot Realm. Her future achievements are limitless. I must, at all costs, ensure Lord Jiang's safety."
Having said that.
He said no more, cupping his hands in salute toward Yue Huaiyuan.
"General Yue, take care."
Until the sound of heavy footsteps faded into the distance.
Only Yue Huaiyuan remained, sitting alone at the table.
"Damn it..."
"Crazy, every single one of them is crazy..."
How can the youth of today be so daring?!
Who gave them this courage?!
Huh?!
So I'm the only coward here?
After a long while.
Yue Huaiyuan picked up the wine bowl and brought it to his mouth, only to find his hand shaking violently, spilling wine all over himself.
"To hell with your big picture!"
He simply threw the bowl onto the ground and strode outside.
"Wait for me!"