As Jiang Jue's words fell, Jing Hongchen frowned deeply, as if he were meeting Jiang Jue for the first time.
Jing Hongchen turned Jiang Jue's words over and over in his mind, thinking about them from every angle. In the end, he tasted only two words from them:
Ambition.
Heaven-defying ambition!
As far as he knew, Jiang Jue had only ever stayed with the Holy Spirit Cult and the Body Sect, and he himself was the Holy Son of the Holy Spirit Cult. It was only natural that he would one day take control of the Holy Spirit Cult—but the other one was the Body Sect, one of the continent's three great powers.
To have both of these colossal forces submit to a single person—this was something Jing Hongchen, as the Hall Master of Mingde Hall, had never even dared to imagine.
Yet the boy standing before him, who had only just turned fourteen, harbored such vast ambition and aspiration.
"No—perhaps when he was 'abducted' by the Body Sect back then, the proactive side wasn't the Body Sect at all. Perhaps everything has been under his control from the very beginning!"
The more Jing Hongchen thought about it, the more alarmed he became.
"Still… it could also have been Zhongli Wu's idea. I shouldn't scare myself."
Recalling that after Jiang Jue had been taken away by the Body Sect, Zhongli Wu had never come to him about the matter, Jing Hongchen changed his line of thinking again.
But no matter which angle he considered, it felt as though he had brushed against a massive game—a game big enough to encompass the entire continent!
The office fell into complete silence.
Jiang Jue calmly looked at Jing Hongchen. Light and shadow flickered in Jing Hongchen's eyes as the soft lamp light bathed the two of them.
After an unknown amount of time, Jing Hongchen's gaze passed through his lenses and fixed on Jiang Jue. He spoke softly:
"Jiang Jue, I want to know—are your feelings for Meng genuine?"
"I'm asking you this as her grandfather. I want to hear it from your own mouth."
Jiang Jue froze slightly, a trace of surprise flashing through his eyes, but it quickly turned into understanding.
At the end of the day, setting aside all those identities, Jing Hongchen was simply Meng Hongchen's grandfather. Just like in another timeline— even after losing his position as Hall Master of Mingde Hall, Jing Hongchen would still care about Meng Hongchen and Xiao Hongchen, and would step forward without hesitation when danger came.
"My feelings for Meng are, of course, real. There is no need to question that."
Jiang Jue met Jing Hongchen's gaze and said solemnly.
"That's good. Otherwise, this hall master definitely wouldn't let you off, you little brat. You disappeared for almost two years—and during those two years, Meng…"
Jing Hongchen stood up and walked to Jiang Jue's side. Looking at Jiang Jue, who was already taller than himself, he still reached up and patted Jiang Jue on the shoulder.
But before he could finish his sentence, he stopped.
Jiang Jue naturally knew why.
"Alright. I've finished asking about personal matters. Now tell me—what did you come to find me for?"
Jing Hongchen returned to his chair and asked, his tone noticeably warmer than before.
Meng Hongchen's heart was clearly tied to this little brat Jiang Jue. Jing Hongchen had watched her grow up, so he naturally understood her personality.
Once she set her heart on something—once she chose someone—it would never change.
"Weren't you about to go to the palace just now? Then go on and do so."
Seeing this, Jiang Jue felt reassured and said with a smile.
"To find Xu Tiannan? Now that Experimental Subject No. 1 has already been retrieved, this hall master has no need to look for him."
Jing Hongchen frowned slightly and asked in confusion.
"Xu Tiannan is certain to ascend the throne. This man has the bearing of a hegemon. He won't be like the current Sun Moon Emperor, who only seeks stability. Once he takes power, he will definitely launch wars."
"And you—although you are the Hall Master of Mingde Hall and the dean of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy—these two positions are both extremely important to the Sun Moon Empire. After Xu Tiannan takes the throne, he definitely won't give them up."
Jing Hongchen narrowed his eyes, his fingers tapping lightly on the tabletop.
"I've sat in this position for so many years. I have strength and methods to spare. I'm not someone who can be easily manipulated."
"No. Since Xu Tiannan's accession to the throne is already a foregone conclusion, why not choose your side earlier?"
Jiang Jue's eyes grew ever brighter.
"Stop beating around the bush, you little brat. You just want this hall master to plant himself by Xu Tiannan's side to make things more convenient for you, right?"
Jing Hongchen waved his hand, looked at Jiang Jue, and scolded him with a smile.
"Hahaha, you see right through me."
Jiang Jue's lips curved upward as he nodded slightly.
Mingde Hall was the sharp blade of the Sun Moon Empire. Since he wanted to control this empire, that blade had to be held in his hand.
When the Sun Moon Empire unified the continent, that same blade would also be hanging at Xu Tiannan's neck. At that time, together with his master Zhongli Wu, Xu Tiannan would be nothing more than a lone sleeper agent ruling the Sun Moon Empire.
As for the several great Beast King legions, Jiang Jue had already thought of solutions for them long ago.
"I truly never expected that at such a young age, you could already lay out such a vast chessboard. Then tell me—who is this grand game of yours ultimately aimed at?"
A sharp gleam flashed in Jing Hongchen's eyes, but Jiang Jue only smiled without answering.
"Then why should this hall master help you?"
Jing Hongchen smiled as well, looking every bit like an old fox.
"Hall Master Hongchen, I trust you wouldn't want Meng to be unhappy…"
Jing Hongchen's smile instantly froze.
"Hahaha, just a joke. Meng will, of course, be happy and blessed. But Hall Master Hongchen, standing with Xu Tiannan isn't just for my sake—it's also for your own."
Jiang Jue said firmly.
He knew very well that once Jing Hongchen lost his value, Xu Tiannan would ruthlessly kick him aside. So why not kick Xu Tiannan off the throne before that happened?
"That joke wasn't funny at all. If I ever find out you've treated Meng badly, I won't spare you, you little brat. And here—take this."
Jing Hongchen walked to Jiang Jue, grabbed him, opened a drawer, took out a jade box from inside, and handed it to him.
"Here. This is your prize from the All-Continent Advanced Soul Master Academy Tournament. Meng insisted on keeping it for you—she didn't even take one for herself."
"Who would've thought you kid really aren't of the light attribute."
There was a trace of astonishment in Jing Hongchen's voice. From the extreme evil aura Jiang Jue had just released, Jing Hongchen was certain he was a genuine evil soul master—the evil energy was so intense it was practically billowing black smoke.
Jiang Jue took the jade box. Inside was the Light Unicorn soul bone.
"Meng…"
Jiang Jue's gaze flickered as his long fingers gently brushed over it.
"Ah… Meng, Grandpa's done all he can for you. From here on, it depends on whether you can tie this kid's heart down."
Jing Hongchen thought to himself. Just now, he hadn't mentioned the entire competition team—he had specifically mentioned Meng Hongchen alone, so that Jiang Jue would understand how good she was to him.
Love might not make two people last forever—but guilt certainly could.
"Alright. Take it and go."
Jing Hongchen waved his hand at Jiang Jue.
"And you—"
Jiang Jue had just begun to speak when Jing Hongchen interrupted him.
"Don't worry. I'll go find Xu Tiannan. Xu Tiannan really is unlucky—to have caught your eye."
Jing Hongchen sat back in his chair and rubbed his temples.
"Then I'll take my leave."
"I've also prepared a grand gift for you. I believe you'll like it."
Jiang Jue smiled faintly and turned to leave.
"Oh, right—go see Meng…"
Just as Jiang Jue was about to close the door, Jing Hongchen's voice came from inside.
"I will."
Jiang Jue replied softly, his words carrying unmistakable resolve.
Click.
The door closed, and Jiang Jue's figure disappeared once more into the darkness.
"A grand gift for me? What kind of grand gift?"
Inside the office, Jing Hongchen frowned slightly and muttered to himself.
"And when you came to the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy back then… were you really just here to study soul-engineering techniques?"
As Jing Hongchen's words fell, the room returned to silence.
At the same time, inside a treatment room at the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy—
Huo Yuhao looked somewhat nervous, because just before leaving, the doctor treating him had told him:
The post-incident inspection of the Sun Moon Royal Soul Engineer Academy has arrived!
(End of Chapter)