Asked About The World Of Mortals

Chapter 52: Interrogation

The scene fell silent, and the soldiers looked at Li Qinglin. Their lips trembled, but they were all speechless, not knowing what to say. Li Qinglin continued to face away from everyone, his body thin and hunched. Qin Yi knew that if he were to turn around, he would see a face full of wrinkles, no longer the handsome and spirited Li Qinglin.

He took a deep breath and suddenly said, "Fellow Daoist Ming He, have you had enough of this play?"

The air quieted for a moment, and a fragrant breeze brushed past as Ming He suddenly appeared beside them.

"The demon is wreaking havoc in the Prince's Mansion. Why don't you take action, Fellow Daoist?" Ming He asked.

"I won't kill Ye Ling, so naturally I won't kill the other party either. I will only watch from the sidelines," Ming He casually replied to Qin Yi while looking at Li Qinglin's white hair.

Qin Yi asked, "Is the play over now?"

"...," Ming He fell silent. No one, including Liu Su and Ming He, could have expected this outcome.

Just a moment ago, Liu Su also thought that the events in Nanli were nothing more than a power struggle, regardless of the background. She also found it tasteless, unable to "add flavor to its long life."

But she didn't expect it to end like this. Even those who were detached like them were moved. Until this moment, Liu Su remained silent, lost in thought.

Ming He was also in a complex state of mind.

Qin Yi bowed and said, "Please help Li Xiong return, Fellow Daoist. I will repay you in the future."

"I am also powerless," Ming He sighed lightly. "I am only superior in cultivation compared to Fellow Daoist, but not necessarily in all areas of knowledge."

Qin Yi persistently asked, "Does your sect not have any special techniques, like rejuvenation?"

"If one can help others rejuvenate, then they can help them achieve immortality. If such techniques existed in the world, why would we need to seek the Great Dao? Unless one obtains a true Nine Revolution Gold Core or extremely unique treasures from heaven and earth, it is beyond what Ming He can comprehend."

Qin Yi fell silent. Where could he find such things?

Ming He continued, "The most I can do is to use illusion techniques, making it appear to the court and the people of Nanli that the Crown Prince is still the same. As for what happens afterwards..."

"That will be enough," Li Qinglin suddenly spoke up. "Please perform the technique, Daoist."

His voice was old and hoarse, like that of an elderly person.

Some soldiers couldn't help but cry.

Ming He waved his slender hand, and a faint dust brushed past Li Qinglin's body. In the eyes of everyone, Li Qinglin's figure straightened again, and his white hair turned black once more.

He slowly turned around and calmly said, "Let's leave this place first. There are still many things to be settled."

After saying this, he walked out with firm steps. The soldiers breathed a sigh of relief, and the feeling of the sky collapsing dissipated. They lined up neatly and followed behind him. Even though he had aged, he was still the same Li Qinglin.

Only Qin Yi silently looked at Donghua Zi's body, the silver spear still piercing through it.

What kind of situation would make a Martial Artist forget to remove their close combat weapon?

He knew that Li Qinglin's heart was definitely not as calm as it appeared on the surface.

He silently pulled out the silver spear and turned to Ming He, saying, "Fellow Daoist, do you still want to stay in my dilapidated courtyard?"

Ming He asked, "Are you hoping that I can come up with a solution?"

"Yes, let's think about it together. Maybe there is a way? After all, this is not true aging for him, but rather a curse. Perhaps it can be lifted," Qin Yi said.

Ming He suddenly said, "Why are you so concerned? Don't you want to know what choice he will make?"

"I know that there are true methods of immortality in this world, but from the perspective of a prince, his philosophy of enriching the country and strengthening the people, and making contributions without asking for immortality, is what I admire. Even if Li Qinglin becomes incompetent after many years, at least he wouldn't have forcibly subjected himself to such a desperate situation of interrogation. The answers obtained would be meaningless, just Donghua Zi's wishful thinking. For me, I don't want to know his choice at all. I just hope that he doesn't have to face such a choice," Qin Yi said.

Ming He looked at him for a while and shook his head. "Fellow Daoist... you still don't seem like a cultivator."

Qin Yi really didn't have the mood to argue about the distinction between immortals and mortals at this moment, nor did he have the mood to look at this matter from a bystander's perspective. He didn't say anything more and turned around with Li Qinglin's silver spear in hand. "I said, at least for now, I am unable to break through."

...

Walking out of the underground palace, Li Qinglin was still standing outside. Most of the army was no longer by his side, and the old general Xie Yuan was also gone.

Seeing Qin Yi coming out with the spear, Li Qinglin smiled bitterly and took the spear, saying, "Thank you, Brother Qin."

Qin Yi asked, "Don't you still have some loose ends to tie up?"

"I had someone seal off the palace. Since the troops have already entered the city and disregarded the imperial edict, it's impossible to have a smooth transition. In the end, it will become a handle for others to use against us." Li Qinglin paused and said in a low voice, "To be honest, I don't have the mood to consider other details at this moment."

Qin Yi wanted to say something, but Li Qinglin waved his hand and said, "I know Brother Qin is noble-minded. There are some things that are inconvenient to express in front of the soldiers, or even to tell Qingjun... but I can tell you."

Qin Yi withdrew his comforting words and said, "Alright, I'm listening."

"Donghua Zi planned to kill me, and I knew it a long time ago." Li Qinglin looked into the distance and slowly said, "Before, I thought that if I died because of his scheme, or if this operation failed, then I would leave Nanli to Qingjun. So no matter what, I refused to let her marry Mang Zhan, and I refused to let anything happen to her."

Qin Yi nodded and said, "You are sincere, and everything can be proven by that jade pendant."

"But Brother Qin..." Li Qinglin still looked into the distance, as if he couldn't look Qin Yi directly in the eye. He said in a low voice, "Now I know that I won't live long, and my energy is declining, but... I don't want to give up the throne to Qingjun. The throne is right in front of me, and I find it impossible to say the words of giving up. I am confused about what my ambition really is. Have I deceived myself, thinking that it's for Nanli, when in reality, it's only for the throne?"

Qin Yi didn't mock him, but said seriously, "This is normal... I don't demand my friends to be saints. To truly dedicate oneself to Nanli without any personal desires would be false."

Li Qinglin seemed to breathe a sigh of relief and finally turned to him with a smile. "Brother Qin is a true friend."

Qin Yi said, "In fact, Qingjun is not suitable for shouldering this burden. If it were really entrusted to her, it might end up worse than Donghua Zi's reincarnation."

Li Qinglin laughed heartily. "That's very possible."

Qin Yi hesitated for a moment and finally said, "You are, after all, an Innate Martial Artist, with stronger vitality than ordinary people. Even if you age, you still have some years left. Hold on for now, and during this time, I will try my best to come up with a solution..."

Li Qinglin's gaze suddenly became strange, and he slowly said, "I thought Brother Qin would say, teach me the method of cultivation."

Qin Yi's heart skipped a beat.

But Li Qinglin suddenly laughed and said, "Forget it, that's what Donghua Zi wants to see, being obsessed with cultivation and neglecting state affairs? I won't do as he wishes." He paused and said, "I feel much better after confiding in you. Brother Qin, you've worked hard today, go back and rest, accompany Qingjun."

After speaking, he walked away.

Qin Yi watched his figure in silence for a long time.

Liu Su said, "There is great terror between life and death. Although we may think we can face it with a smile in normal times, when we truly face it, we will still waver."

"Facing such a situation, it is natural for one's heart to be shaken. At least he hasn't turned completely dark." Qin Yi sighed, "If it were me, I probably wouldn't be as calm as him."

Liu Su asked, "If Li Qinglin turns back and asks you to teach him the method of cultivation, will you teach him?"

"Are you willing to let me freely spread the techniques?"

"That's just the basic techniques, I don't mind."

Qin Yi pursed his lips. He had just avoided Li Qinglin's implied request, not only because he didn't know if Liu Su would agree, but also because he hesitated himself.

Li Qinglin's understanding of "being obsessed with cultivation and neglecting state affairs" was not quite accurate. If it were truly understood this way, as long as one had enough self-control, wouldn't it be possible to balance both state affairs and cultivation?

But it was not the case. The essence of cultivation, which required tranquility and letting go of attachments, was fundamentally contradictory to the attributes of the throne. They couldn't coexist. Either one would abandon the throne and focus on cultivation, or they would remain on the throne and "not a single emperor would achieve immortality."

The most likely outcome was neglecting both state affairs and cultivation. Throughout history, countless emperors have repeatedly proven this point.

Li Qinglin had already admitted that he couldn't let go of the throne... If he were to be taught cultivation, he would truly follow in the footsteps of his father, becoming the person he once despised the most.

Qin Yi understood him, but he really didn't want to see that day.

(End of this chapter)