I am the villain in the book

Beside the rosewood tea table with its scrolling grass pattern, Wei Changtian casually added a pinch of refreshing and mind-clearing borneol incense to the burner.

Now, he finally understood the purpose of Gui Peian's trip.

He knew that the old man hadn't traveled all the way to Shu Prefecture just to see him; there had to be something more important.

Now it seemed that this was the matter.

Clearly, the situation in Da Ning over the past year had made Da Li, which had always been the weaker of the two, unwilling to remain a vassal state and eager to find an opportunity to "turn the tables."

However, they were afraid of "losing the bait while trying to snare the chicken" and wanted to have a backup plan, so they planned to use this "unofficial" method to create more chaos in Da Ning.

Of course, regardless, the 100,000 troops were a tangible reality.

Since Da Li was willing to commit so many people to the battlefield, then he, as the "direct beneficiary," would certainly have to pay a price.

But joining the Kui Xing Academy, was that price too small?

The abnormality made him wary, and Wei Changtian's excitement subsided somewhat after realizing this.

"Chief Minister Gui, you said earlier that you wanted me to join the academy as an elder."

Looking at Gui Peian, Wei Changtian slowly asked, "I wonder what this elder usually does?"

"There's nothing special."

Gui Peian answered truthfully, "When there's nothing to do, you lecture the disciples, and occasionally you may need to go out and handle some matters."

"So... I need to stay in the Kui Xing Academy all the time?" Wei Changtian frowned.

"That's natural. Since you are an elder of the academy, it's best if you reside in the academy for a long time."

Gui Peian smiled meaningfully, "Of course, it doesn't matter if you're unwilling."

"However... your life tablet must remain in the Kui Xing Academy."

A life tablet is similar to a paired jade, capable of indicating the life or death of the connected person at all times.

Ordinary people certainly don't have this, only "important figures" like Wei Changtian would have a life tablet made from umbilical cord blood at birth.

When a person dies, the tablet shatters.

And if the life tablet is broken when the person is not dead, it will produce a certain backlash effect.

Although it won't directly cause death, it will cause very serious and irreversible damage to that person.

Therefore, various forces are extremely cautious about the preservation of life tablets.

For example, the location where all the Wei family's life tablets are stored is currently only known to Wei Zhaohai and Wei Xianzhi, and even Wei Changtian wouldn't know before officially taking over as the Wei family head.

Therefore, Gui Peian's motive for asking Wei Changtian to hand over his life tablet to the Kui Xing Academy for safekeeping was obvious.

Damn it! I knew the price wouldn't be so small!

As long as they controlled his life tablet, he would have to work for the Kui Xing Academy.

Wei Changtian would never hand over his life tablet, so there was no need to discuss joining the Kui Xing Academy.

"Ahem, Chief Minister Gui, I'm afraid this won't work."

"Young Master Wei."

Gui Peian seemed to have expected this, so he just shook his head gently, "This old man knows what you're worried about."

"However, the Kui Xing Academy wouldn't do the things you're worried about."

"The academy has tens of thousands of disciples, including some who are ill-intentioned or even have betrayed the academy."

"But the Kui Xing Academy has never broken their life tablets."

"This universally known rule, I think Young Master should understand."

"..."

Any sect or force must not break the life tablet of its disciples, this is indeed an unwritten rule that is followed throughout the world.

Even if this disciple has done something terribly wrong, they can only be killed directly, but not punished by "breaking the tablet."

After all, once this happens, it will make everyone in the entire sect feel insecure.

If the sect can break other people's life tablets this time, wouldn't it be able to break their own next time?

This rule is for the "sustainable development" of the sect, and as a large force with tens of thousands of disciples, the Kui Xing Academy may have indeed been strictly following this rule.

But Wei Changtian didn't care about these things.

Anyway, it was absolutely impossible for him to hand over his life tablet.

"Chief Minister Gui, I naturally believe that the Kui Xing Academy will abide by the rules."

Shaking his head, Wei Changtian had already thought of a reason.

"The reason why I can't join the academy is actually because you should know about the Tianluo Sect, right?"

"Oh?"

Hearing Wei Changtian suddenly bring up the Tianluo Sect, Gui Peian couldn't help but be slightly stunned.

"Naturally, I've heard of it. This old man even had a meeting with Sect Leader Qin a few years ago."

"Is that so?"

Wei Changtian smiled calmly, and then said something that made Gui Peian's expression change drastically in an instant.

"Chief Minister Gui, to be honest, I am actually the current leader of the Tianluo Sect."

"..."

In an instant, the quiet room was silent.

Gui Peian stared at Wei Changtian in disbelief, and after a long while, he slowly asked:

"Young Master Wei, Sect Leader Qin is already..."

"No, my maternal grandfather is doing very well."

Wei Changtian interrupted, "He just happened to obtain a secret cultivation method a while ago and wanted to use it to try to break through to the first rank."

"In this way, he naturally has no time to take care of the affairs of the Tianluo Sect, so he passed the position of sect leader to me."

"..."

Secret cultivation method, breaking through to the first rank.

As a late-stage second rank, Gui Peian, who also had a great obsession with the first rank, was relatively convinced by this statement.

In addition, he didn't think that Wei Changtian would joke about such a thing, so after being stunned for a while, he could only shake his head with a wry smile.

"So that's how it is, then it seems that Young Master Wei is indeed not suitable to join my Kui Xing Academy anymore..."

"Yes, what a pity."

Wei Changtian shook his head and swayed, putting on a look of "unbearable regret," and then slowly probed:

"How about Chief Minister Gui change the conditions?"

Although he couldn't join the Kui Xing Academy, Wei Changtian still wanted to fight for the 100,000 troops.

And Gui Peian had obviously anticipated this situation, so he directly said frankly:

"Young Master Wei, then I wonder if you would be willing to give a lecture at my Kui Xing Academy?"

Give a lecture?

That's simple!

Although he didn't know anything, he could completely agree to this first!

But how did the conditions become easier?

"Chief Minister Gui..."

After pondering for a moment, Wei Changtian did not respond to Gui Peian's "lecture invitation," but asked softly again: "Is there a second condition?"

"Yes."

Gui Peian paused for a full few breaths this time.

He dipped a finger in the teacup and then outlined a strange contour on the tea table.

"This is..."

Looking at the pattern outlined by the tea, Wei Changtian looked puzzled: "Chief Minister Gui, what are you drawing?"

"It is the second condition."

Gui Peian gently tapped a few positions in the outline, while slowly saying:

"An, Pei, Su, Lan, Wei, Ding."

"If Young Master succeeds, my Da Li wants these six prefectures."

"..."

In an instant, Wei Changtian finally understood what Gui Peian was drawing.

He was drawing a map of Da Ning!

And with the exit of those six words, Da Li's ambition was also revealed.

I will send 100,000 troops to help you. If you succeed, then cede six prefectures to me.

For Da Ning, which has thirty-six prefectures, six prefectures are not many, but they are definitely not few.

More importantly, if Wei Changtian really agreed, then he would be a complete "traitor to the country."

Rebellion, at most, can only be regarded as an internal conflict of Da Ning.

Even if Ning Yongnian is eventually overthrown and replaced by Ning Yu Ke, Da Ning will still be Da Ning.

But if six prefectures are ceded to Da Li... then the nature will change.

"Chief Minister Gui, what if I fail?"

Suddenly, Wei Changtian asked, "Wouldn't you be at a loss?"

"There is no business in the world that only makes profits without losses. If Young Master really fails, then Da Li will just accept it."

Gui Peian looked at Wei Changtian with a smile and reached out to wipe away the tea on the table.

"Young Master Wei, I wonder what you think of these two conditions?"

"I think..."

Contrary to Gui Peian's expectations, Wei Changtian hardly hesitated.

He didn't even bargain, and nodded with a smile like a traitor seeking glory.

"Very reasonable, it's settled then."