Chapter 283: Seeking to Create a “Pure Land”

Slurp!

Yan Wuyong sat at the noodle table with a bold and carefree manner, taking a big slurp of noodles into his mouth. After chewing just a couple of times, he nodded at Gu Ning’an and let out an approving “Mm.” Without further delay, he picked up another large mouthful with his chopsticks and continued eating.

The bowl in front of him contained at least half a pound of noodles, yet in just five or six mouthfuls, he had devoured it all.

Letting out a satisfied burp, Yan Wuyong casually wiped the grease from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand and chuckled. “I’m a rough man. My eating manners aren’t the best—I hope sir doesn’t find it unpleasant.”

Gu Ning’an shook his head with a smile. “As long as you’re comfortable eating, that’s all that matters.”

“Mm! Well said!” Yan Wuyong suddenly changed the topic. “I don’t recall seeing you around before, sir. You’re not from Tianshui County, are you?”

“No, just passing through. I arrived in Tianshui County today.”

Passing through… then how did he know about the Bai Clan Medical Hall? And how did he know there was an old doctor there?

I’ve been scouting this place for days and never even noticed that.

“Oh…” Yan Wuyong paused briefly before asking, “I noticed you didn’t seem the least bit afraid when facing that demon. Have you encountered them before?”

“I have. Isn’t Great Wu full of demons?”

“Hah! That’s true enough!” Yan Wuyong smacked his forehead before continuing, “Sir, you’re a scholar. There’s something I’d like to ask your advice on.”

“I wouldn’t call it advice… but go ahead.”

Clearing his throat, Yan Wuyong smiled and said, “It’s nothing too serious, really. You saw and heard what happened today.”

“What does sir think of what I’m doing?”

Gu Ning’an shook his head. “I have no opinion on it.”

“Uh…” Yan Wuyong hesitated for a moment before asking, “Then do you think I can succeed?”

Gu Ning’an smiled. “You mean becoming emperor?”

He hadn’t expected this white-robed gentleman to be even bolder than himself, daring to speak of seizing the throne so openly.

Yan Wuyong glanced around cautiously before lowering his voice. “I do have some self-awareness.”

“Sure, what we’re doing amounts to rebellion, but if I were to say that we could overthrow the dynasty with nothing but the blood and passion of the common folk and put myself on the throne… That kind of thing—I wouldn’t even dream of it.”

“My ambitions aren’t that lofty. I only have two goals…”

“First, to one day take control of a province and separate it from the turmoil of the imperial court.”

“Second, to establish a place where the common people can live in peace—free from exorbitant taxes and cruel officials, free from the constant fear of being devoured by demons at any moment.”

“Sir, do you think I can achieve this?”

Hearing this, Gu Ning’an paused for a moment before smiling. “In these chaotic times, with the strength you currently wield, given enough time, you will certainly amass a force that the Great Wu court cannot ignore.”

“And if that happens, what difficulty would there be in claiming a province?”

For some reason, hearing this affirmation from the white-robed scholar before him, Yan Wuyong felt an uncontrollable surge of excitement!

A thought surfaced in his mind—if this man said he could do it, if he said that given time, he could seize a province and realize his vision, then it must be possible.

Without waiting for Gu Ning’an to answer his second question, he blurted out, “Mr. Gu! The men by my side are all rough warriors—there’s not a single scholar like you among us!”

“To take a province is to claim a piece of the world. I need a learned man like you by my side!”

“Would you be willing to join me in this great cause?”

Gu Ning’an shook his head. “No, I have no interest in such matters.”

“However, there is something I’d like to ask you, Brother Yan.”

Yan Wuyong wasn’t surprised by Gu Ning’an’s rejection. In fact, the moment he had asked, he had already anticipated this answer.

He had only extended the invitation on a whim, just to see if there was a chance.

Seeing this, Yan Wuyong only showed a slight hint of regret before responding, “Go ahead, sir.”

Gu Ning’an asked, “Just now, you said you wanted to create a place where the people can live in peace, free from oppressive taxes and tyranny… Do you think you can truly achieve that?”

“This…” Yan Wuyong’s expression froze, his gaze shifting as he fell into deep thought. After a long silence, he finally let out a bitter smile. “To be honest, I don’t know if I can.”

“Frankly speaking, even making it this far feels like a dream to me…”

“There are things I can’t say to the people who follow me, but I can say them to you, sir…”

Hearing this, Gu Ning’an nodded. “Go ahead, I’m listening.”

“Mm.” Yan Wuyong nodded slightly, then cast a glance at the middle-aged noodle stall owner standing nearby.

Without needing any further instruction, the stall owner immediately understood. He put out the fire under the stone stove and hurriedly slipped into a nearby alley.

About half an hour later, after pouring out the hardships he had endured along the way, Yan Wuyong stood up and exhaled deeply. “Speaking all that out loud… I feel much lighter!”

“Mr. Gu, about what I said today, I ask that you keep it a secret.”

Gu Ning’an nodded. “Don’t worry, Brother Yan. I know how to keep my mouth shut.”

“Good. Then I’ll go check on my injured brothers—I won’t keep you any longer.” With that, Yan Wuyong turned and headed straight for the Bai Clan Medical Hall without looking back.

Truthfully, after revealing everything that had been weighing on his heart, he began to regret whether he should have told all this to a stranger he had just met for the first time.

But then he reconsidered—some of his followers were already aware of the truth behind his cause.

Yet, by this point, those who knew had already come to believe in the “lie” he had once told.

Thinking this way, even if Mr. Gu were to reveal everything, it probably wouldn’t make much of a difference.

“Brother Yan.”

Hearing his name called, Yan Wuyong turned around with a smile. “Mr. Gu, is there something else?”

Gu Ning’an stepped forward, holding a palm-sized pouch, and handed it to Yan Wuyong with a faint smile. “If you ever find yourself in a situation you can’t get out of, open this pouch… It might be of use to you.”

“Oh?” Yan Wuyong looked at the pouch in his hand, clicking his tongue as he laughed. “Is this one of those storybook clichés?”

“A wise hermit appears in the wilderness and bestows a secret pouch of wisdom?”

“It’s nothing as grand as that…”

Gu Ning’an didn’t explain further. He simply said, “Brother Yan’s ambitions are noble. I am curious—if you succeed, will Great Wu gain a place of true peace?”

“Agreed!”

Yan Wuyong pocketed the pouch and laughed heartily. “If that day ever comes, and I somehow manage to succeed, I will personally invite Mr. Gu to witness it… To see whether I have stayed true to my ideals, or if power has turned me into the very person I despise most!”

“If that day comes, I will come to see.” Gu Ning’an clasped his hands in farewell. “For now, this is where we part ways. Brother Yan, I hope you hold on to your convictions.”

Yan Wuyong returned the gesture. “I will! Mountains high and rivers vast—travel safely, sir.”

With that, they exchanged a final smile before turning to go their separate ways.

Yet after taking only a few steps, Yan Wuyong suddenly realized—he had never asked where he could find Mr. Gu again.

Quickly, he turned back—only to find that the long street was completely empty.

Even as he looked around in all directions, the figure in white had vanished without a trace.