Lighting Lanterns in the Mountains and Seas

Unexpectedly, after pondering for a long while, Young Master Nan suddenly looked up to the sky and sighed, then returned to sit beside the tea table, smiling bitterly: "Brother Chun, I certainly trust your capability, but this truly isn't a minor matter. Words alone won't suffice; I'm afraid I'll have to mortgage quite a bit of business as collateral. Please don't let me down! If it doesn't work out, we won't hold the official positions, and I'll support you for life, okay?"

Upon hearing that he could pull out billions as collateral, Shi Chun was still surprised, "No, Brother Nan, it seems that those who jest call you 'God of Wealth' are no exaggeration. I'm curious, how much money do you actually have?"

Young Master Nan sighed: "You're overthinking it. Most businesses have partners, and some are only nominally under my name, managed by my side. When I put these businesses up as collateral, various parties will undoubtedly question me, and you should understand the pressure I bear. It's easy to deceive, but if I break my word, no one can protect me. I'm truly gambling with my life this time. After all, I betrayed you earlier, nearly got you killed, imprisoned you for twenty years, and owe you."

"Alright!" Shi Chun excitedly clapped his hands; solving things with mere words is the best, saving lots of trouble. With the other party willing to go this far, truly, he has nothing to say about such a friend. Having capabilities later, one will certainly not be treated badly.

He immediately rose and bowed, "Rest assured, Brother Nan, I dare not guarantee anything else, but I'll definitely ensure you don't lose your life over this matter, and will undoubtedly provide Brother Nan with a satisfactory answer."

Once the matter was settled, the two discussed the details extensively.

Shi Chun did not leave immediately; Young Master Nan insisted on hosting a banquet to thank him for the great assistance, not able to refuse even this little kindness.

At the banquet, several noble guests who had previously visited the Heavenly Domain accompanied them. In this aspect, Shi Chun was somewhat lacking compared to Wu Jinliang; he didn't mingle well with these people.

Dancers performed, beauties embraced.

Midway through the banquet, someone approached Young Master Nan to whisper something; upon hearing, Young Master Nan pushed away the beauty beside him coaxing him to drink, and waved indicating the one beside Shi Chun to avoid too. Only then did he lean over to Shi Chun and whispered, "Brother Chun, an old acquaintance wishes to meet you: Wei Mo. Somehow he heard you were here, he's right outside the main entrance. See him or not?"

Shi Chun was taken aback, "Wei Mo? He wishes to meet me?"

Feeling somewhat mixed up, given his rank, it ought to be him visiting the other party.

Could it be that the grudge over the earlier Battle of Great Pardon hasn't dissipated?

Young Master Nan noticed his confusion, murmuring softly: "Wei Mo's days aren't well either. Initially, being favored by the Right Minister irritated the original summit, but his future seemed bright; even if defeated in the Battle of Pardon, it might just pause for a while. His mistake was making some conspicuously wrong decisions in the Battle of Pardon. When he went to Juku State to capture you, I was with him personally witnessing Li Hongjiu's formidable Heavenly Thunder means. Even several Heavenly Immortal Realm were trapped there; despite this, he dispatched Yan Zhili and others to force in. Consequently, it resulted in heavy losses, Yan Zhili, severely injured nearly couldn't escape. Consequently, someone questioned his series of decisions, even questioning the Right Minister's decisions. Wei Mo didn't manage to earn prestige, instead, upset the Right Minister too, faced charges, got demoted, sat on the sidelines, and now ranks even lower than you. Ming Chaofeng of Nanshan died mysteriously; regardless of Manxi's win in Heavenly Court, now there's no laugh, one after another. Due to the restoration of Demon Realm and the reemergence of Spirit Vein, all are added with blame, none have it good, sigh."

So that's it, Shi Chun uttered, somewhat puzzled, "What's his purpose seeing me?"

Young Master Nan had similar thoughts, "Probably because you interrupted, holding dissatisfaction, perhaps? Seeing him or not is up to you; given your current position, he shouldn't dare to act openly."

After thinking, Shi Chun decided to meet. Rising from the table, Young Master Nan greeted those present before accompanying.

Wei Mo was nearby, not too far, standing under a lantern in a pavilion, hands behind, gazing at the bustling Royal Capital night view, appearing somewhat desolate.

The area was quiet, faint lights flickering, yet intermingled with melodic sounds of laughter and performance drifting near.

As Young Master Nan followed Shi Chun approaching, Wei Mo greeted with a smile and bowed, behaving amiably, thoroughly lowering the pretense.

The so-called thirty years east of the river, thirty years west, such is life. This scene, placed in the old days, Shi Chun wouldn't dare imagine.

Young Master Nan felt even more deeply, secretly lamenting; just months prior, he pleaded with Wei Mo to spare An Wuzhi and others, to avoid taking them to war, back then Wei Mo flourished impressively, yet in a blink, became nothing.

Seeing Wei Mo kept with pleasantries, Young Master Nan understood it was time to excuse himself. Noticing no malice from the guest, he made an excuse to accompany the other guest and left.

Shi Chun also signaled Jiang Wushou and others to retreat further.

Without others, Shi Chun bowed, "Lord Wei, please instruct freely."

Wei Mo restrained pleasantries, sighed: "The past is reminiscent of smoke and dreams, I hope Brother Shi doesn't mind earlier offenses."

Shi Chun promptly waved: "No, not at all, Lord Wei, you're too serious. I'm already enormously grateful for your ability to overlook past grievances."

Does this sound overly hypocritical? Wei Mo's eye couldn't help twitching a bit, dropping it, directly addressing, "Brother Shi, I heard Heavenly Court hints at crossing the river and dismantling the bridge. Heard you encountered some troubles in the Heavenly Domain, and came seeking Young Master Nan's assistance?"

Rather than flaunting his superior position to Wei Mo, Shi Chun humbly replied: "Lord Wei possesses insightful wisdom, it's hard to conceal anything from you—truly worrisome."

With calm mixed with slight amusement, Wei Mo said: "Now I'm somewhat powerless. Introducing population might not be a massive help; if Brother Shi still has needs, maybe utilizing a small labor force of a million, valuing our friendship, you can take them."

A million population considered small busywork? Shi Chun suddenly widened his eyes in disbelief, at such magnitude, even Carefree Sect under Dongguo Shou wouldn't dare say this?

He felt doubtful, questioned: "Lord Wei indeed offers a million people?"

Not beating around the bush, Wei Mo calmly smiled: "Now it's impossible to command everyone in Sheng Province, yet having positioned as Shengzhou Domain Master for nearly a century, I hold some bargaining leverage over certain powers. Extrapolating, a million population should roughly match."

Shi Chun immensely delighted, "If truly so, it's indeed timely aid—it's immensely appreciated."

Wei Mo: "No need for gratitude. Circumstances have shifted; instead of leaving them to Sheng Province, slowly eroded by others, better utilize my remaining influence, aiding Brother Shi, serving as an apology for past events! However, let's be candid—sending them all at once isn't feasible; such commotion isn't proper given Royal Court's relationship with Heavenly Court. Consider doing it in batches within your so-called three-year term."

Shi Chun: "Alright, no problem. As long as it's within three years, it's fine."

Wei Mo: "Under current Heavenly Domain conditions, normally transient ones hold no settling points. After moving there, kindly treat them well. If new Spirit Veins emerge, if possible, allow their occupation before filing, serving my accountability to them."