Chapter 180: Pain and Determination
Leaving the palace, Star Remnant Douluo returned to his residence. Under the respectful service of his servants, he changed into loose training clothes and entered his quiet room to start cultivating.
The events he experienced at Small Shop at noon made him even more aware of the importance of cultivation.
Even though he's already at the level of a Titled Douluo, he could not afford to slack off.
However...
Star Remnant Douluo smacked his lips.
That restaurant, though highly unusual, made exceptionally delicious dishes.
The Boiled Cabbage in Clear Broth and Fish Belly Stuffed with Lamb were flavors he had never tasted before.
They were so good that even someone like him, who didn't care much for food, felt the urge to visit again.
But first, cultivation.
Pushing aside his chaotic thoughts, Star Remnant Douluo quickly entered meditation.
He did not notice the faint, fine golden mark that appeared at the center of his forehead, emitting a dim golden light.
Upon closer inspection, this golden mark was strikingly similar to the golden carp leaping over the dragon gate.
As this golden mark appeared, Star Remnant Douluo's aura shifted.
He transitioned from his regular meditation state into deep meditation.
The gathering of heavenly energy around him quietly intensified, and it seemed as if threads of heavenly laws were intertwining and spreading around his body.
Star Remnant Douluo's thoughts flickered, feeling as if his senses were magnified many times over.
The laws of heaven and earth, which he could only vaguely grasp before, now became as clear as the words on a page.
Such a miraculous state startled the Star Remnant Douluo awake.
He quickly realized what this was.
Deep meditation!
Without time to ponder the catalyst for this deep meditation, Star Remnant Douluo focused his mind and maintained this state as best he could.
Such an opportunity was rare and precious.
As Star Remnant Douluo fully entered deep meditation, his perception of the outside world diminished. Under his loose training robes, golden lines emerged from his body, interweaving to form a golden lotus.
The golden lotus pattern seemed alive, radiating dazzling light and slowly blooming.
As the petals of the lotus reached their full bloom, pure energy erupted from the Star Remnant Douluo's body, as if cleansing all impurities from within him.
In no time, his training clothes were covered in grime, and his exposed skin seemed coated in a layer of filth, emitting a foul stench.
Yet, as he's in deep meditation, he remains oblivious to all of this.
...
Xu Changling entered his study.
His private study, which should have been the most secluded place in his mansion, was now silently occupied by a man with a scarred face.
Even in daylight, the man wore tight-fitting night clothes, exuding an eerie coldness.
Seeing Xu Changling, the man said nothing, merely handing over a letter.
"Next time you come in, give me some notice," Xu Changling frowned, speaking in a deep voice before taking the letter.
These people were becoming increasingly presumptuous.
The man gave no response to Xu Changling's words. It was as if his task was only to deliver the letter.
With that done, he vanished, leaving the study empty except for Xu Changling.
Xu Changling did not immediately open the letter. Instead, he sat in his study chair with a furrowed brow.
Those people, who initially treated him with respect and courtesy, now entered his study as if it were their own, such audacity was truly infuriating.
Xu Changling knew well that over the years, his ability to repeatedly evade political adversaries and smoothly rise to his current position was inseparable from those people who had approached him ten years ago.
However, they were not acting out of goodwill.
They merely saw him as a tool for their own purposes.
They had their own agenda, and this agenda was not beneficial for the Star Luo Empire.
Their relationship could only be described as a partnership where each side got what they needed.
Xu Changling needed their intelligence and some support, while they needed to elevate Xu Changling to a high position, then quietly operate under his cover to achieve their goals.
It was like seeking the skin of a tiger.
With a sigh, Xu Changling opened the letter in his hand.
As he read it quickly, his expression grew increasingly grim until it finally turned into a bitter smile.
"Fronted by wolves, backed by tigers, being the Prime Minister of this empire in my position is indeed unique."
The letter detailed the entire conspiracy of the royal family and Second Prime Minister Zhao Qu, including plans to find a pretext to dispatch the Eastern Army, ambush Dai Youyuan on the way, and if Xu Changling opposed them, they would strike him down with a thunderous blow, stripping him of his position as the First Prime Minister.
"Those fools probably celebrated before handing over such critical information to me." Xu Changling's face showed a hint of sarcasm.
This message was clearly a deliberate leak from the Emperor and the Second Prime Minister.
Their strategy against Dai Youyuan was a covert plot, but the strategy against him was an outright scheme.
His old adversary Zhao Qu always managed to create such significant trouble for him; truly, he was an old wolf.
By now, strong individuals were likely watching his residence closely.
The most crucial part of their plan was that he could not contact Dai Youyuan by any means once he learned of the situation, or their entire plan would fail.
Having battled Zhao Qu for so many years, Xu Changling knew how troublesome he could be. Zhao Qu would have already anticipated and guarded against this.
Heh.
It seemed he needed to carefully consider his next steps.
Xu Changling leaned wearily against his chair, looking up at the ceiling of his study. Vaguely, he could see the towering figure of someone familiar in his mind.
"Big brother Youyuan... what would you do?"
...
When Xu Changling emerged from his study, it was hours later. He had changed into a scholarly long robe, gently knocked on the door, and then slowly walked into his beloved daughter's room.
"Ah! Daddy, why are you here?"
Xu Yiyun's eyes widened in surprise.
She looked at her father curiously.
At this hour, he should be in his study handling affairs. Why had he come to her room?
"It's nothing. I just wanted to see you." Xu Changling's smile was as warm as ever. "Tonight, I'll take you and your mother to have dinner at Small Shop. Your mother didn't go last time."
"Great! I've heard they have two very expensive dishes, costing 1.000 Gold Coins each." Xu Yiyun whispered, secretly observing her father with her big eyes.
"You little rascal." Xu Changling dotingly tapped her forehead. "We can afford a meal; after all, your father is the Prime Minister of the empire."
"Yay! Daddy is the best!" Xu Yiyun's face lit up with a bright smile upon Xu Changling's promise.
"I'll go get mom right away!" Xu Yiyun couldn't wait any longer. She quickly stood up and left her room. "The Small Shop is more popular than ever now. We need to go early to get in line, or we won't get a seat."
Watching his daughter's excited back, Xu Changling's smile remained warm.
However, deep in his eyes, a trace of pain and determination flickered briefly before disappearing quickly.
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