Chapter 139: The Emergence of Ye Xin

"There is truly no need for you, Head Dean, to worry about me, Ye Xin." Ye Xin leaned back into his chair, his expression composed. Beside him, Zhou Suying gently lifted a wine flagon and filled his cup. Ye Xin picked it up, swirling it slowly as he watched the ripples form, his gaze seemingly wandering far beyond this place. "Many people, even my own subordinates, believe that I always focus on 'profit' in my actions. They are all wrong. In truth, every judgment I make is rooted in human nature."

"What is human nature?" Qiu Xiang asked cautiously.

"Human nature is the fundamental spiritual attribute inherent in every individual. Everything in this vast world is but a projection of that nature." Ye Xin said calmly, "Human nature is divided into divinity and bestiality. Divinity represents reason, while bestiality represents instinct. These change as environments shift and time passes; under different circumstances, the manifestations of good and evil will also vary."

Qiu Xiang was a well-read man, but what Ye Xin spoke of was a realm he had never touched. It felt as though he understood, yet simultaneously, he understood nothing at all.

"My subordinates often say my wit borders on the demonic. In reality, I am no smarter than them. The only area in which I am more proficient is that I always set up specific scenarios for my targets and then wait for them to make their choice." Ye Xin took a small sip of wine. "No matter what choice they make, I trigger the corresponding logic."

Qiu Xiang really did not know what to say, his lips trembling.

"I repeat, there is truly no need for you, Head Dean, to worry about me." Ye Xin smiled. "Because I am never the one making the choice. How should I put it... I am essentially a formula. If you do this, I trigger this formula; if you do that, I trigger that one. Do you understand now, Head Dean? It is the one making the choice that you should worry about, not me."

Qiu Xiang felt a bone-chilling coldness wash over him, even though he still did not fully grasp the meaning. He suddenly realized that Ye Xin, whom he had perceived as young and flamboyant, was actually as deep and unfathomable as an ocean. He could not be measured. It could even be said that he and Ye Xin were not on the same level; he had been looked down upon all along—looked down upon by Ye Xin!

At this moment, Xue Baiqi stepped quickly into the tent and handed Ye Xin a letter. Ye Xin opened it slowly and extracted a small slip of paper.

Qiu Xiang’s heart tightened. He instinctively knew that the slip contained Ye Xin’s great secret. If he could only see it, he would know exactly what Ye Xin was thinking. But what could he do? Could he rush forward and snatch it?

Ye Xin read the note and held it to the candle flame. It burned away in an instant.

Qiu Xiang’s breathing grew heavy. The answer was right before his eyes, yet he could only silently watch it turn to ash. This feeling was truly agonizing.

"He has made his choice." Ye Xin smiled. "I am tired. Head Dean, you should return and rest."

"This old man takes his leave." Qiu Xiang stood up, forcing a smile.

Ye Xin nodded with a smile. Qiu Xiang slowly backed out of the commander’s tent. Before long, Xie En, Hao Fei, Lin Tong, Fu Shang, Ziche Hui, and others walked in. The atmosphere inside the tent became deathly silent.

Because today would decide their future, no one felt at ease.

Ye Xin frowned, deep in thought. Xue Baiqi and the others held their breath, waiting for his voice. They were accustomed to this. In the days of bloodshed on the battlefield, before every major turning point, they would gather in Ye Xin’s tent to await his orders.

"First of all, I was wrong. These past days have been so smooth that I have become somewhat soft, so I must apologize to you all." Ye Xin said slowly. "I once thought that living like this was fine. If I could abandon the vengeance for my father, it would spare the Great Wei Kingdom from a bloodbath. Although this is unfair to my father and unfair to me, it would prevent much bloodshed and save many, many lives."

Xue Baiqi and the others listened quietly.

"It sounds laughable, but though I call myself the God of Slaughter, deep down, I am a man who does not wish to commit too much carnage." Ye Xin gave a self-deprecating smile. "That is why I have always seemed so conflicted. In the end, I decided to give Tie Xinsheng a chance, to give the Great Wei Kingdom a chance, and to give myself a chance. However, I am not a fool. If he wants me to make a sacrifice, he must demonstrate a kind of human nature—a human nature that allows me, Ye Xin, to feel at ease."

The expressions of those present varied. Fu Shang, having understood Ye Xin’s decision, flashed a cruel grin, while Xue Baiqi sighed softly, knowing that many would die in this catastrophe.

"He has made his choice, and the result is very disappointing." Ye Xin stated. "I could have let go of the past and fought for the Great Wei Kingdom, but what choice did Tie Xinsheng make? To firmly control me, he sacrificed Wen Hongren and Wen Rong without a second thought. Perhaps to him, everyone is merely a pawn—pawns whose destinies he decides. Today he can discard Wen Rong; tomorrow it could be you, the day after, it could be me. As long as it is to his advantage, he will have no compassion. Such a man does not deserve the loyalty of Ye Xin."

"I remember promising you that the Heavenly Sin Battalion is the only army in the world that fights solely for itself. We are all prisoners who deserve to die ten thousand times over. If we do not cherish ourselves, who else will?" Ye Xin continued. "But because my state of mind was not strong enough, or perhaps because I saw the monstrous sea of blood ahead, I grew afraid. I retreated. I thought tolerance and forgiveness could lead to a better life, but... fortunately, I have awakened in time."

"What we have decided to do will trigger a series of terrifying logical consequences. Once we set out on this path, there is no turning back. To retreat is to die." Ye Xin stood up. "I used to think that so-called ideals were all damn nonsense, but now I must find an ideal for you all. We will not just live; we will truly have lived. After tomorrow’s battle, no matter if we win or lose, this world will never be able to forget us!"

It had to be admitted that Ye Xin’s control over emotions had reached a state of perfection. This pre-battle speech was incredibly incendiary. Fu Shang and Ziche Hui, whose temperaments were naturally wild, were now burning with excitement, and even the usually steady Xue Baiqi became impassioned.

"The war banner of the Heavenly Sin Battalion has not flown for a long time. Tomorrow, we shall raise our own banner and let those self-righteous masters tremble under our blades!" Ye Xin said calmly. "Now, I will go into seclusion!"

Xue Baiqi and the others responded in unison, their momentum immense. They could hardly wait to go out and slaughter their enemies!

"Baiqi, keep an eye on them," Ye Xin said, then he took out the small box containing the Truth-Seeking Pill.

Ye Xin did not only want to convince others; he wanted to convince himself. Perhaps his greatest insight and ability in his cultivation was that, unlike other warriors, he did not wait bitterly for the inspiration to break through to appear. He was adept at creating an atmosphere and using it to push his spirit and will to their peak.

Ye Xin had not gone into seclusion the moment he obtained the Truth-Seeking Pill because the atmosphere was not yet right; he had not grasped the opportunity and inspiration that cultivators often spoke of. Now, he had finally convinced himself, allowing his spirit and will to surge.

This was the fundamental reason why Ye Xin’s progress had been swift as a galloping horse, leaving his peers far behind. Cultivators focused on doing their part and leaving the rest to fate; once their internal energy reached a bottleneck, all that remained was a long, arduous wait. Ye Xin, however, created his own opportunities and forged his own destiny.

Ye Xin took the Truth-Seeking Pill, calmed his breathing, and sat cross-legged on the rug.

Xue Baiqi walked out of the tent and saw the pale-faced Ye Ling, Shen Miao, and Shao Xue. They had vaguely known that Ye Xin was plotting something major, but they never expected it to be an act of such treason!

Ye Ling was easier to manage; she was Ye Xin’s sister, and whether she liked it or not, she would follow his path. Shen Miao and Shao Xue, however, felt extremely conflicted.

On one hand, Ye Xin’s plan fundamentally violated their common sense and beliefs. On the other, they knew his capabilities all too well. For a man like him to decide to betray Tie Xinsheng, the chances of success should not be low.

But where were they to go from here?

In the Great Prison of the Nine Tripod City, Wen Hongren, shackled, paced back and forth in his cell, the chains clanking incessantly. He had finally learned the charges against him and felt they were absurd to the extreme. He had indeed met Feng Qishan a few times, but they had only exchanged a few words each time. He wasn't even close to Feng Qishan—there was nothing to say. This was a shameless frame-up!

But why would Guan Hanyu frame him? And why would Tie Xinsheng believe it? Wen Hongren could find no reason, remaining lost in bitter thought.

In the cell opposite, Shen Yunling was weeping continuously. She was an ordinary official's wife; disaster had struck from the heavens, leaving her completely helpless.

In another cell, Wen Rong appeared very quiet. She sat calmly under the moonlight, watching cockroaches and ants crawling through the weeds. The prison environment was naturally poor, far from her home, but the sudden change in circumstances did not affect her.

Ye Xin had vaguely warned her, but the promise of a warm and hopeful future had dulled her insight and caused her to overlook those warnings. That day, she did not reject or fear becoming Ye Xin’s weakness because she believed in her own ability and wanted to be a useful person. Only now did she realize how dangerous it was to be Ye Xin’s weakness. Moreover, she had a faint feeling that this ordeal was only the beginning.

In another corner of the Nine Tripod City, Mo Yan drew his longbow, aiming at the high sky. His fingers relaxed, and an arrow whistled through the air. A moment later, it exploded in the night sky like a massive, brilliant firework.