After his sister was taken to the Fengshen Palace, Shen Feng hurried to the City Lord's Mansion. He found his three advisors there, representing three generations. He began to inquire about the situation in Siberia.
"What should we do now? The journey to Siberia is long and arduous, and we don't know what we'll encounter. If we don't go, my sister will be difficult to appease. This is a truly difficult situation!" Shen Feng leaned back in his chair with a sigh.
Ban Xian, as always, was the first not to voice his opinion. It seemed he was well-versed in the teachings of Elder Huang. As Lao Tzu once said, "I have three treasures, which I cherish and keep. The first is compassion, the second is frugality, and the third is not daring to be the first in the world."
This translated into Dan Zhengming never being the first to offer an opinion. He would wait until others had spoken, or had spoken enough, before stating his own views. This approach was a classic way of letting others test the waters while he observed.
Feng Shicheng immediately said, "City Lord, resolving this matter is quite simple. It only requires a little manipulation, depending on whether you are willing to use it."
Shen Feng quickly asked, "What method?"
"It's simple. You leave Yuzhou for Siberia, but saving people is dangerous, isn't it? Take a trip there, and when you return, adopt a somber tone and say, 'I couldn't find your brother-in-law.' With that, City Lord, what can your sister do? She'll be sad for a while, and then she can find someone else!" Feng Shicheng said with a smile.
"That's a terrible idea! Isn't that just fooling her?" Shen Feng was immediately displeased. What was the use of such a bad idea?
Although Shen Feng knew that Feng Shicheng often came up with bad ideas, the one he proposed at this moment was too terrible, clearly intended to dismiss the matter by fooling his sister.
Feng Shicheng spread his hands helplessly and said, "City Lord, where in the world is there a perfect solution? You want to solve the problem in Siberia, and you also need Yuzhou to remain stable in your absence. You must remember that there is still fighting in the Dabashan Mountains. If you leave, what will others think?"
Feng Shicheng's reasoning was sound. War was unpredictable. While there was no immediate danger or sudden incident in the Dabashan Mountains at this moment, if an accident occurred after Shen Feng's departure, who would resolve it?
Shen Feng hesitated for a moment and said, "If I leave, Senior Sister can handle matters in Yuzhou."
In the past, when Shen Feng went out, he would entrust household affairs to his wife. Chang Jianyi always completed her tasks, which made Shen Feng habitually believe that even if he left Yuzhou, everything would be fine.
At this moment, the young Yu Zhijing said to Shen Feng, "City Lord, you cannot go to Siberia because it is not proper or justifiable!"
Yu Zhijing directly opposed Shen Feng's departure from Yuzhou, his expression very serious. Shen Feng quickly asked, "Why?"
Yu Zhijing said earnestly, "City Lord, don't forget one thing. The Ability Administration is not your subordinate, and the headquarters isn't dealing with this matter. Why should you? In other words, this is your sister's request, and you feel compelled to do it. But have you considered that if this happens once, it will happen again? This time, you're going to Siberia to save someone at your sister's request. What about next time? What if your parents ask you to?"
Yu Zhijing's words were very blunt. If Shen Feng truly accepted his sister's request to go to Siberia to rescue someone, regardless of the outcome, he would already be under duress. With hostages in someone else's hands, would he go to save them this time? And what about next time? If it were Shen Feng's parents asking, or even if they knelt before him, what could he do?
Therefore, Yu Zhijing's answer was simple: it was better to not get involved at all, preventing anyone from holding him hostage. If the first incident doesn't happen, then the second and third incidents won't happen either. This solves the problem at its root.
Shen Feng suddenly felt a headache coming on. He picked up his tea and took a sip. "Your idea isn't bad, kid, but the consequences are worse than Feng Shicheng's suggestion. If I follow Feng Shicheng's plan, I'm at least putting on a show. If I completely disregard it, then I won't even be putting on a show. What will others think of me?"
"It's the apocalypse now. As long as you have strength, that's all that matters. A few idle rumors won't damage your reputation, City Lord, will they?" Yu Zhijing continued to ask.
Shen Feng looked at Dan Zhengming, hoping that Ban Xian could offer a solution.
Dan Zhengming, however, was silently gazing at his teacup, saying nothing.
"Ban Xian, Ban Xian?" Shen Feng quickly called out to Ban Xian, hoping he would snap out of it.
Dan Zhengming came back to his senses and said with a wry smile, "City Lord, I apologize. I was too engrossed in my thoughts just now and became lost in them."
"It's alright. Please offer your suggestion as well. Should I go rescue Xiao Sheng and the others? If not, I'm prepared to use Feng Shicheng's terrible idea." Shen Feng said helplessly.
Although the suggestion made by the prodigy Yu Zhijing was excellent and very feasible, Shen Feng still had to consider how others would perceive him. If people thought he was someone who wouldn't even agree to his sister's request, and thus not a good leader, that would be problematic.
However, Siberia seemed particularly dangerous, and Shen Feng dared not underestimate it, especially with winter approaching. Searching for someone in an unfamiliar place was like finding a needle in a haystack. Therefore, for such a difficult task, if he were to actually do it, it would be better to at least pretend to look, take people there for a check-in, and report back that he had searched.
Dan Zhengming replied, "City Lord, you are currently facing a no-win situation. If you don't go, you'll be letting down your sister and family. If you do go, you'll be letting down the people of Yuzhou, especially with the autumn harvest approaching and the ongoing conflict in the Dabashan Mountains."
Shen Feng nodded. The situation was indeed as described. Regardless of whether he went or not, it was a difficult choice.
Dan Zhengming continued, "Since this is the case, we must find a way to turn the disadvantage into an advantage. If you don't go, you need to find a suitable reason for your sister, either by sending someone to Siberia or by finding her a suitable new partner. If you do go, you need to give the people of Yuzhou a proper explanation. You can choose a grand reason, such as investigating the habitats of mutated birds in Siberia to prepare for the southward migration of birds next year!"
Reminded by Ban Xian, Shen Feng suddenly felt a sense of clarity. That was right. If they were at a disadvantage, they should find a way to turn that disadvantage into an advantage. In this regard, the reason of investigating mutated birds seemed quite appropriate.
"Now that North China and Northeast China have already been attacked by mutated birds from Siberia, it's possible these birds will continue to move south, and Yuzhou will also be in trouble. In this case, investigating in Siberia would be logical. After all, the people below don't know my true intentions," Shen Feng nodded.
Hearing Shen Feng's response, Ban Xian understood his meaning. Shen Feng still intended to agree to his sister's request, but the official reason would not be to rescue the Ability Administration.
"Alright, thank you for your trouble this time. You continue reading and resting. I'll go discuss this matter with Senior Sister," Shen Feng immediately left the room. He found Chang Jianyi in her office at the City Lord's Mansion. She was still processing documents, with four or five secretaries sitting beside her, responsible for organizing files and offering suggestions.
Shen Feng walked into the office and coughed lightly. The secretaries immediately stood up and, understanding the situation, left the office, not forgetting to close the door.
Shen Feng walked behind Chang Jianyi, reached out to massage her shoulders, and then smiled, "Senior Sister, I'm going to Siberia. But I promise, I'll be back quickly."
Upon hearing this, Chang Jianyi immediately understood why Shen Feng was giving her a massage. It turned out he was planning to go out. She then asked, "Siberia? Are you out of your mind? Do you know how far Siberia is from Yuzhou? Especially in winter, it can freeze people to death. Why are you going there? Staying in Yuzhou to stabilize the situation is what you should be doing."
Shen Feng quickly explained that he wasn't going to Siberia of his own volition. As a homebody, he wished he could stay indoors. Why would he travel all the way to Siberia to make himself uncomfortable? It was simply that he couldn't ignore his sister's request, so he had to go, but he wouldn't do anything particularly risky.
Hearing Shen Feng say this, Chang Jianyi couldn't help but frown, clearly not wanting Shen Feng to leave Yuzhou.
Putting aside other matters, Yuzhou's situation had only recently stabilized after Shen Feng's return. At this time, mutated birds were also proliferating. Leaving Yuzhou now was a very poor choice.
"Senior Sister, I promise you, this will be the last time I go out. After I return, we will stay in Yuzhou, focus on agriculture, recuperate, and wait for the end of the apocalypse. Is that okay?" Shen Feng quickly promised. This was his last long trip; he would never travel so far again.
"Who would believe that? Do you think I'm easily fooled? How much of what you say can be trusted?" Chang Jianyi said irritably, clearly not believing Shen Feng's words. Her expression did not soften at all.
Shen Feng could only promise repeatedly, "I guarantee I can do it. This time it's for my sister. I can't just stand by and watch my future brother-in-law in danger, can I?"
"They aren't married yet. What do you mean by 'standing by and watching in danger'?" Chang Jianyi retorted.
Shen Feng was helpless and had to resort to persistent pleading. He promised that he would only go to the city of Qiu Ming in Siberia, and if he couldn't find anyone, he would return immediately without any delay.
Chang Jianyi, unable to resist Shen Feng's persistence, reluctantly agreed. "Fine, fine, go. But you'd better bring someone with you, and that person is Lu Xian!"
Shen Feng was taken aback and asked, "Isn't Lu Xian currently under quarantine and investigation? It doesn't seem appropriate to bring him along, does it?"
Chang Jianyi found a document in her drawer and handed it to Shen Feng. "The information is here. Take a look. Everything has been investigated. Lu Xian was implicated by his wife. He has never betrayed Yuzhou; otherwise, he wouldn't have stood by me before."
Shen Feng sat down and leaned against the chair, starting to read the document, his brow furrowing as he did.
Lu Xian had married Hong Yehui a year ago. Shen Feng had even sent a gift at the time, thinking that was the end of it. He never expected that when Yuzhou encountered trouble, Hong Yehui would collude with outsiders and leak considerable intelligence to the Tianlong Bureau. It was Hong Yehui's betrayal that allowed the Tianlong Bureau to capture Chang Haojie and steal Xiao Long and Xiao Hu.
Hong Yehui was decisive. After being apprehended, she confessed everything but refused to mention Lu Xian.
Shen Feng hated traitors the most because the knives from behind were the hardest to dodge. Such people could stand behind him, pretending to be loyal.
After reading this document, Shen Feng realized that Lu Xian was innocent. Lu Xian had been found by Shen Feng in the mountains a year ago. If he had truly harbored ill intentions, he would have acted arrogantly with his abilities long ago, just like many ability users Shen Feng had encountered.
"It seems Lu Xian is innocent. Then I'll bring him along this time. Also, let's bring Xu Xing. She always wants to kill all the bandits in the world. I'll take her out to see the world and dissuade her from such thoughts," Shen Feng said after finishing the document.
Chang Jianyi nodded and said seriously, "Bring Lu Xian. Keep a close watch for enemies around you. If the situation turns unfavorable, retreat immediately. Don't rush in foolishly."
Chang Jianyi was unsure of the situation in Siberia, but Lu Xian's ability was thermal sensing, allowing him to detect enemy situations regardless of terrain. He could easily identify disguised enemies. This ability would be of great help to Shen Feng.