As night fell, the academy appeared somewhat desolate. The frozen lake in the distance resembled a vast mirror, making this small courtyard appear even lonelier.
Under the eaves, Chen Chao and Xie Nandu sat by the stove. The two sweet potatoes had been eaten long ago, and their peels were thrown into the stove, burning with difficulty.
Chen Chao placed his hands near the stove, soaking in the warmth. Although there was only an additional person, Xie Nandu, accompanying by his side this year, to Chen Chao, it was the liveliest New Year in the past few years.
Xie Nandu stared at the stove in a daze. After some time, she suddenly said, "I miss Zhu Xia a bit."
Hearing the mention of the Saintess of the Myriad Heaven Palace, Chen Chao nodded and said, "Very few foreign cultivators, let alone someone of her status, share similar thoughts. It's a pity, but perhaps one day, we might find ourselves standing on opposite sides of the riverbank."
Xie Nandu glanced at Chen Chao, and said with an unusual jest, "Can you bear to?"
Chen Chao opened his mouth as if about to say something, but after a moment of thought, he fell silent again.
He probably understood that some things were not as straightforward as he thought. Just like the matters between these two women, if he were to express even a slight inclination towards Zhu Xia, this woman in front of him would likely be displeased. Since that was the case, why say anything at all?
However, Xie Nandu clearly was not about to let him off so easily. She looked at Chen Chao earnestly and said, "I want to hear your opinion."
Chen Chao pretended to be clueless, shaking his head and saying, "I have no opinion."
Xie Nandu stared at Chen Chao. Seeing that he remained silent for a long time, she gave up and changed the subject, talking about some other matters.
Suddenly, Chen Chao asked, "Has your senior brother in the North replied to you recently?"
Xie Nandu shook her head. Since the war in the Northern Frontier, her senior brother had sent very few replies. Recently, not a single one had arrived. However, she was not too worried about her senior brother dying in the North. After all, the Xie Family was a vast and influential clan, capable of learning about events even in the most secretive places. As for the Northern Frontier battlefield, there had not been any news of a sword immortal's death.
Seeing through Chen Chao's thoughts, Xie Nandu asked, "Are you wondering when His Majesty will return to the capital?"
Chen Chao was silent.
Xie Nandu said softly, "You're already starting to worry now. You think that when His Majesty spared your life back then, it was actually for this situation. Now that this scheme is about to end, how will His Majesty treat you? Regardless of his thoughts, after all, you're of the bloodline of the late Crown Prince. All the offspring of that deposed Emperor are no longer alive. If those people want to choose another person to be the Emperor, you're the most suitable. In such a situation, as the emperor, how could he not think about getting rid of you?"
"Even if His Majesty feels guilty and is unwilling to eliminate you, for the stability of Great Liang, will he not raise the butcher's knife? After this game of chess is done, if you, this chess piece, become useless, will you be discarded?"
Worthy of her reputation as a genius girl, Xie Nandu's every word, every sentence, cut straight to the point. It left people unable and unwilling to refute.
Chen Chao said, "You've indeed figured it out."
In fact, he should have thought about it long ago. These matters were not too complicated, how could Xie Nandu not understand? Whether she would think it through or not depended on whether she wanted to think about such matters.
This young girl, who studied and practiced swordsmanship daily, seemed to have nothing else on her mind except for these matters. However, in reality, she paid attention to many things, especially regarding Chen Chao. If she did not care, she would not have been waiting for Chen Chao in that place at that time.
She had always treated Chen Chao differently.
Xie Nandu said to herself, "I'm not dumb."
In fact, after meeting Song Yingxu, Chen Chao had been contemplating this matter. He even considered whether to escape from the Divine Capital while the Great Liang Emperor had not yet returned. He had not shared with anyone his internal struggle.
Before Chen Chao could speak, Xie Nandu continued, "I've thought about it for a long time. If His Majesty truly wants to kill you, it seems there is no one under the heavens who can save you unless you go to the Infatuation Daoist Temple and become a daoist."
After a moment of hesitation, Chen Chao said, "I've thought of many ideas. Since the foreign cultivators also do not want to see a powerful Great Liang Dynasty, I can seek their help. My identity is useful to them, and it's possible for them to intervene and save me. However, after this idea arose, I erased it."
Xie Nandu remained silent, just quietly looking at the black-robed young man before her.
Chen Chao looked at her with an innocent look, "I don't want to die either. Even if Lord Warden Commander values me, if he wants me dead, what else can I do?" In the Great Liang Dynasty, no one could go against the will of the Great Liang Emperor.
Chen Chao also felt a bit aggrieved, "But it seems that those sects in the foreign lands don't seem to treat martial artists well. If I were a sword cultivator like you, I'd definitely be highly sought after."
Xie Nandu said expressionlessly, "Then you might be stabbed to death by me when the time comes... forget it, I'll just stab a few more times."
Chen Chao was at a loss whether to cry or laugh.
Although this girl was joking, the atmosphere was not too cheerful. The fact that the Great Liang Emperor did not die in the Northern Frontier and his impending return to the Divine Capital seemed like a dark cloud hanging over this young man.
Chen Chao sighed, "Although I know this is a way out, I really can't bring myself to do such a thing."
When the Great Liang Emperor rebelled back then, the foreign cultivators did not intervene. In fact, they might have had the idea of sitting back and watching the tigers fight. After all, they initially did not believe that once the Great Liang Emperor ascended to the throne, he could control the entire Great Liang. In their view, even if the Great Liang Emperor ascended, there would be many troubles throughout the Great Liang. Like a towering tree, even if it survived, there would be countless worms within it, and eventually, some problems would arise.
But in the end, the results turned out contrary to expectations.
No one expected that the Great Liang Emperor would completely control the Great Liang. In these past ten years, the national strength of the Great Liang has even been growing steadily over the years, showing no signs of collapse.
Even if what Chen Chao said was true, was enduring such a fate, living as a puppet manipulated by others throughout his life, really what he desired?
No, it was not.
A young man without hot-bloodedness was not called a young man, and a young man who willingly lived his life so miserably was not a true youth either.
Xie Nandu looked at Chen Chao, understanding the current turmoil within this young man. She remained silent for a long time, unable to find the right words to say.
At this moment, even she did not know what to say.
Chen Chao lamented softly, "I really don't want to die."
Xie Nandu looked at him, also remaining silent for a long time, and said softly, "I won't let you die."
Chen Chao looked at her and suddenly smiled, saying, "I won't die."
