"A truly excellent calculation."

Gu Shen mused silently.

The promotion of this bill involved too many figures.

It must be said that Zhao Xilai, the fisherman behind the scenes, was a truly thoughtful and far-sighted old fox. As an old bone with half his body buried in the earth, he was able to hold his breath and wait for the heroes and immortals to finish fighting, and then wait for Changye City to state its final position... Waiting for the variables to settle, he finally revealed his true intentions and slowly made his move.

The ninth level underground of Huazhi, the "New World," was guarded by the Grave Demon. Once the candidate councilors were settled, the outcome of the Awakening Bill should be a foregone conclusion.

"I have a question..."

Gu Shen sat opposite the Grave Demon, looking at that sallow, withered face, and asked, "You... why do you advocate for the implementation of the bill?"

Xing Yun smiled silently.

He looked towards Cui Zhongcheng, who still wore that detached, amused expression.

Xing Yun could only shrug, and perfunctorily said, "It seems you've heard of the 'Grave Demon's' reputation. Then you should also know what good deeds I've done. Because of the Qingzhong Bill, I offended so many big shots. I had no choice but to run. And it just so happened that Mr. Zhao was willing to take me in. The world is vast, but only the underground of Huazhi in the capital can accommodate me. I have nothing to repay him with except..."

At this point, he thoughtfully looked up at Cui Zhongcheng, and smiled slightly, "Except to work like a dog and devote myself to him."

Gu Shen: "..."

Cui Zhongcheng: "..."

Young Master Cui rubbed his temples, "The Grave Demon has a very bad reputation outside, that's true. Very few people have the ability to take him in, and even fewer dare to."

"Helped Changye City promote the 'Qingzhong' Bill... Why did it end up like this?"

Gu Shen was somewhat puzzled.

Logically speaking, the implementation of the Qingzhong Bill helped Changye City establish an extremely solid transcendent position.

"Because Gu Changzhi is still sleeping."

The Grave Demon spoke indifferently, too lazy to beat around the bush with the naive young man in front of him, or to speak in riddles. "And many people don't want him to sleep, many people don't want him to wake up... Perhaps you'll understand when you're older that everything in the world has two sides, so no matter what you do, you'll hinder another group of people."

"There are actually two types of people who don't want Gu Changzhi to 'sleep'."

Cui Zhongcheng explained for the Grave Demon, "One type hopes he wakes up, and the other..."

"Hopes he dies completely." Gu Shen said, vaguely understanding the impact of the Grave Demon's Qingzhong Bill.

"I told those who supported the bill in Changye City that as long as the Qingzhong was established and the transcendent source matter was condensed, Gu Changzhi could be awakened. But I never expected that despite all the resistance, the Qingzhong Bill was successfully implemented, but Gu Changzhi was still sleeping..."

The Grave Demon sat alone among the mountain of documents, a hint of loneliness in his eyes.

"These people consumed a great deal of power, pinning their hopes on Gu Changzhi's awakening, only to be met with disappointment. In a sense, the Qingzhong Bill was a failure for them, all their efforts were in vain. They think I'm a liar."

"The other group goes without saying. If there were no Qingzhong, perhaps Gu Changzhi would already be dead... But now, as long as there is one more day, he possesses vital signs, he possesses mental fluctuations, then those who hope for Gu Changzhi's death will not dare to show their faces, will not dare to speak out. They hide underground, they hate Qingzhong, and they hate me even more for proposing the bill."

The Grave Demon spread out his palms, seemingly self-deprecating, but actually nonchalant, and smiled, "Look... I'm truly a genius, aren't I? One Qingzhong Bill, and I successfully made both sides hate me at the same time."

Indeed... a genius.

Gu Shen fell silent.

"You're an interesting fellow, because no one has ever asked me why I did these things."

"Also... how many people would care about questions like 'why'?"

"In fact... I promoted the Qingzhong Bill because I really wanted to see Gu Changzhi wake up."

Xing Yun picked up the piece of paper that had fallen to the ground, lightly flicked it, and said resolutely, "Just as I really want to see... the New World come."

...

...

In the old urban area of the capital, in the northern suburbs, there was a remote, desolate little mountain.

This was actually a cemetery that few people would visit. At the foot of the mountain, there was only a square, low-quality iron fence, which was only there for show. It couldn't actually stop anyone who wanted to climb over it. There was no such thing as a gravedigger here... Because no one would come to this cemetery, including the descendants of the old folks buried here.

Unless they were in dire straits, their graves wouldn't be buried in a place like this.

The capital had specially built mausoleum scenic spots, with beautiful scenery and fresh air. The tombstone locations in the mausoleum were graded, with clear price tags. Some were expensive, some were cheap, but for the sake of "dignity" after death, those who had struggled in life would always buy a place here.

In this era, there were very few people buried in the wilderness.

These were all "indecent" people.

Those who came here to offer sacrifices would probably also be labeled as "indecent."

But today, a black Wraith smoothly drove to the desolate mountain in the northern suburbs of the old urban area. The vehicle stopped, and the driver, Crow, wearing a black suit, solemnly opened the car door.

The madam, dressed in a white礼服 (lǐfú, formal dress), slowly got out of the car.

She stopped Song Yingji from opening a parasol for her. The morning sun wasn't strong, and the weeds on the desolate mountain shook their heads, clinging to the distinct dewdrops.

The two walked slowly towards the mountain.

On this old, desolate mountain, there was a tattered wooden tablet stuck in the ground, buried with those who died nameless...

On the way up the mountain, Crow couldn't help but recall old Lu's smiling face when he was alive. He suddenly felt a little sad. Actually, for many years after old Lu died, he hadn't understood why this guy, who was so rich and powerful, had left a will stating that he wanted to be buried in such a remote and desolate place after his death?

"Caw—"

"Caw—"

They walked for a while after stepping onto the mountain path.

Suddenly, the cry of a crow startled by them sounded overhead.

The black shadow of a crow swept through the gaps in the branches above the desolate little mountain. Lu Nanzhi frowned slightly, while Crow felt surprised, with a vaguely strange premonition in his heart...

The two quickened their pace in unison.

After reaching the top of the mountain.

Crow and the madam silently looked at the scene before them:

The old mountain path steps were broken and fragmented, and withered yellow leaves covered the steps.

The top of the mountain was even more covered with枯叶 (kūyè, dead leaves), a bleak autumn chill, a desolate sight. But in the very center, the area in front of the wooden tablet that read "Nameless One, Lu Cheng" had been cleaned spotlessly.

The scabbard of a long knife, used for cleaning, was placed in a pile in front of the tablet.

Incense was burning in front of the tablet, its smoke swirling and spreading in the wind.

A red-haired woman in a long 風衣 (fēngyī, trench coat) was kneeling in front of the tablet, her eyes closed.

Lu Nanjin pressed her hands together, silently mourning her father.