Chapter 747: Chapter 641: Special Envoy and Imperial Edict
Inside the grand hall, it fell silent, like a realm of death, so still that you could hear a pin drop.
After Emperor Xuanwu finished speaking, he carefully observed Qin An’s expression.
But he was quite disappointed because he couldn’t detect a hint of curiosity or any other emotion he wanted to see in Qin An’s expression.
At this moment, Qin An’s gaze was as calm as autumn waters, and even if a violent wind swept by, it wouldn’t stir his emotions in the slightest.
Emperor Xuanwu, slightly intrigued, asked, "I’m very curious, why are you not the least bit surprised? From my perspective, leaving you alone is enough to astonish many, yet you seem completely unconcerned."
"Moreover, what I just revealed could be considered a world-shaking secret, don’t you find it even a little bit interesting?"
Qin An shook his head slightly, gently stroking the scabbard at his waist, and said indifferently, "There’s nothing surprising, Your Majesty. I have come from life-and-death slaughter, so except for some extremely special matters, my mood remains unaffected."
"Of course, I am indeed curious about the secret you mentioned, but any secret must be spoken of first to see whether it arouses curiosity or enough astonishment."
Truth be told, he was indeed curious about the task Emperor Xuanwu wanted him to undertake, but as the matter was not revealed, he had no idea what it was.
So for him, this so-called curiosity wasn’t enough to stir any thoughts.
Therefore, what Qin An needs to do now is to wait until Emperor Xuanwu speaks out to see what it is all about.
Emperor Xuanwu came back to his senses, nodded, and said, "Very well, your composure has earned you some acclaim from me."
"Since we’ve spoken this far, I won’t beat around the bush. I’ll tell you the reason directly. But before that, I want to know what you think of the current situation?"
"Not long ago, you proposed a course of action, but what I am more interested in is knowing your thoughts."
During the last audience, Qin An mentioned a method of exterminating all threats, which Emperor Xuanwu wholeheartedly agreed with, but a method and a viewpoint are completely different.
Therefore, Emperor Xuanwu is more interested in knowing how Qin An perceives the current situation.
Upon hearing this, Qin An pondered briefly, then looked up and said, "Dangerous, very dangerous. If what I previously understood about the Daqian Kingdom was the threat from the Demon Pseudo-Gods, what we now face is the even more terrifying people from the Forbidden Area."
"Those traitors, including the Heavenly Demons behind them, are far more dangerous than the Demon Pseudo-Gods, and although I have completely sealed off the Forbidden Area of the Celestial Cloud Path, it doesn’t mean other cities, including Xuanjing City here, are also sealed. Hence, I am well aware of the immense pressure Your Majesty is under."
Emperor Xuanwu nodded slightly, then leaned his back against the dragon throne. His straight back, like a poplar tree, slumped a bit at this moment, revealing a hint of fatigue.
"I am very tired,"
Emperor Xuanwu sighed and said.
"My fatigue is unimaginable to ordinary people. I want to lead the people of this world to a life where they can eat their fill, wear warm clothes, and not worry about losing their lives at any moment. But to achieve this on my own is exceedingly difficult."
"To have accomplished what I’ve achieved so far, I’ve already poured all my thoughts into it, yet it’s still far from enough. I desire peace under heaven, but the traitors from the Forbidden Area, the Demon Pseudo-Gods, and the more mysterious Heavenly Demons have become an obstacle in my heart."
Qin An slightly tightened his grip on the scabbard and said, "Your Majesty’s grand strategic vision and ability to stabilize the Daqian Kingdom for so long amidst such a critical situation are truly commendable."
While saying this, Qin An had no intention of pretending, as he truly believed Emperor Xuanwu was extraordinary.
If it were anyone else, even if Qin An himself sat in this position, it would not necessarily have resulted in such a well-managed Daqian Kingdom.
As an emperor, there are far too many things to consider, and a single word from them could potentially cause an earthshaking change in the trajectory of the Daqian Kingdom.
Therefore, Qin An thought that even if he were in this position, under such immense pressure, he wouldn’t handle it as calmly as Emperor Xuanwu.
Emperor Xuanwu sighed deeply, with a wry smile, and said, "Indeed, compared to the previous dynasty and countless past dynasties, I feel that I have already done well, but it’s still far from enough."
"That’s why I want you to help me, and this is also the main reason I called you over. I know your identity; those Defenders call you the Savior."
"But to be honest, I don’t really believe in so-called prophecies and fate, because the future is uncontrollable."
"And I, in the distant past, overthrew the tyrannical previous dynasty by my own efforts. To me, the future and prophecy are a joke, yet seeing your recent deeds, I suddenly feel maybe it’s worth believing."
"Therefore, I want to give you an opportunity, and also give myself a chance, to see just how far you can go."
Qin An raised his hand in salute and said, "In fact, I am not inclined to believe in so-called destiny decrees either. What I can do is merely to go further along the path I’m able to tread."
"Facing numerous dangers along the way, these dangers actually serve as my motivation for growth, so I have never believed in destiny, only in the blade in my hand."
