Chapter 44: Su Ziye's Confirmation

The two of them left the Flashgold Trading Guild in silence.

Su Ziye glanced back at Liu Ru with a smile. "I'm going somewhere. Would you like to come with me?"

"How can you still be smiling?" Liu Ru asked.

The situation was nearly hopeless, yet Su Ziye showed no trace of anxiety.

"Because it's important to face this world with a smile, no matter how rotten it may be," Su Ziye said calmly. "So, will you come?"

"Can I really come along?" Liu Ru asked in return.

"I said yes," Su Ziye replied evenly.

Liu Ru nodded and fell silent, choosing to follow quietly behind Su Ziye.

They weaved through the streets of Yeye City, moving from the East Market to the West Market. Along a secret path, they finally arrived before a low, blackened room.

Su Ziye stepped forward and knocked on the door.

"Please come in," Yi Lanshan said calmly from behind the door.

Su Ziye pushed the door open and entered, with Liu Ru trailing behind him.

Yi Lanshan was slightly surprised to see Liu Ru following Su Ziye.

"Your Highness, you are truly generous," Yi Lanshan said sincerely.

"It's not generosity," Su Ziye replied calmly. "She has performed excellently. In the future, I will share more secrets with her. This is just the beginning."

Liu Ru said nothing. She stood silently, listening. She would speak only when Su Ziye needed her to.

"You know why I have come," Su Ziye said, fixing his gaze on Yi Lanshan.

Yi Lanshan nodded.

"I haven't seen you for a long time. I thought Your Highness would have come here sooner."

"I've been busy," Su Ziye answered simply.

"Then you must be even busier now," Yi Lanshan smiled.

"Perhaps I'll find some leisure soon," Su Ziye said calmly as he pulled out a chair and sat across from Yi Lanshan.

"Is there anything you would like to instruct me on, Mountain Master?" Su Ziye asked.

Yi Lanshan looked at the black-haired youth before him, shook his head, and smiled. "Did you come to confirm something, or to learn any updates?"

"To confirm," Su Ziye answered lightly.

"Then please speak first," Yi Lanshan said calmly.

"The root of all this stems from my uncle, right?" Su Ziye asked.

Yi Lanshan nodded. "Emperor Qingli harbors deep hostility toward you. Although he cannot kill you for now, he doesn't hesitate to destroy everything connected to you."

"Such as the little things you're playing with like child's play," Su Ziye added.

"So that's why there has been malicious bidding to inflate prices, right?" Su Ziye asked.

"Someone has already used vast sums to nearly monopolize every item around Broken Star Lake that you had sought to purchase. This defies all business logic. Naturally, only His Majesty could afford such extravagance," Yi Lanshan nodded.

Su Ziye sought confirmation. Though he had pieced the situation together, he still needed someone to validate his judgment before taking the next step.

"Does West City have a way to help me?" Su Ziye asked.

"There is, but you will not need my assistance," Yi Lanshan said calmly.

Su Ziye nodded.

Yi Lanshan’s dealings always involved a price and a future return on investment. Seeking his help in such matters seemed somewhat overkill.

"The Flashgold Trading Guild cooperates with His Majesty because that family once had deep ties with the Empire. Though those ties have long since weakened, no family would dare disobey such an order," Su Ziye continued.

"Yes," Yi Lanshan replied quietly. "After all, the Stet Empire was once the master of that family."

"Then, may I ask who cracked my Academy’s Happy Water? I’m very curious," Su Ziye inquired.

"That is no longer a matter for confirmation," Yi Lanshan reminded him.

Su Ziye nodded. "I’m just very curious."

He repeated his words.

"That person is named Christina," Yi Lanshan said calmly. "The daughter of Stella and Noct, and potentially the future head of the family."

"Christina," Su Ziye repeated the name. "Christina Crawford, right?"

"Yes, Christina Crawford," Yi Lanshan confirmed.

"May I be so bold as to ask, could you do the same?" Su Ziye asked, looking at Yi Lanshan.

Yi Lanshan thought carefully, then shook his head. "I have not developed my strengths in this field. With forced deduction, I might manage it, but I won’t."

"Then how could she? Is she even stronger than you?" Su Ziye asked calmly.

"You seem to have guessed something, but that’s not something you should reveal," Yi Lanshan said, looking steadily at Su Ziye.

Su Ziye smiled and let the topic drop.

"If I wanted to meet this Crawford, do you have a way?" Su Ziye asked.

"I do, but the price would be beyond your means," Yi Lanshan said.

Su Ziye sighed. "Then forget it."

"I believe I’ve asked everything I wanted. Is there anything you wish to ask me?" Su Ziye said quietly.

"There is," Yi Lanshan smiled. "I want to know what you plan to do next."

"I know about your wager with President Carlot," Yi Lanshan continued, "and that there are certain things you must obtain from the Academy. Given the current situation, how do you intend to break the deadlock?"

"I'm no omnipotent superhero," Su Ziye said lightly with a smile. "I can’t conjure things from thin air, so if there is a way to break this, it won’t be some unimaginable trick."

"But do you really want to know?" he asked.

Yi Lanshan pondered, then said, "Very well, then please dance for me."

"Actually, the Academy’s Happy Water tastes quite good, and your instant noodles are interesting too."

"I'm curious what new things you will come up with next. None of these seem like world-destroying contraptions."

Su Ziye nodded. "Hopefully, I won’t have to see you again."

"I, on the other hand, hope Your Highness will visit more often," Yi Lanshan said with a calm smile.

Su Ziye smiled back and turned to leave.

Liu Ru closed the door behind him.

Behind the door, Yi Lanshan smiled quietly to himself and murmured, "A truly fascinating child. I almost want to lend him a hand. But a child like him, who fights through thorns and brambles on his own, is the one who will truly become a terrifying monster."

On the way back, Liu Ru finally spoke. "Do you really have a way to solve this?"

Today, Su Ziye had been to many places, but none had given him a solution.

"Do you remember what Mr. Withered Dragon said?" Su Ziye said softly.

"I do, but I’m not sure which line you mean," Liu Ru replied.

"The one about darkness," Su Ziye smiled.

"There is indeed a bottomless darkness looming over me. Until I can truly shatter that darkness, I must be forced to live under its shadow."

"However, a truly wise person wouldn’t futilely try to slash through that darkness with their own hands."

"I will ask someone capable to give me a breathing space for now."

"But Mr. Yi Lanshan..." Liu Ru hesitated.

Clearly, Yi Lanshan was that capable person.

"He’s too expensive. I won’t consider it unless absolutely necessary," Su Ziye said calmly.

"I have many options, and one of them offers a much lower price."