Chapter 544: A Card Up One’s Sleeve
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Greater Rat Underground Kingdom, in the civic square.
Elder Ancestor Bai’s coffin was placed in the middle of the square for the ma.s.ses to admire.
Bai s.h.i.+xin took the lead and solemnly kowtowed nine times, and was just about to get up and give another speech to the public.
However, before he could get up, he felt the atmosphere of the place change.
He stood up and turned around, and saw a youngster walking up from the crowd of Greater Rats.
Wherever he went, the Greater Rat demons instinctively made way for him, as if meeting a superior creature.
.
‘This person actually showed up?’
His body trembled. ‘Did I miscalculate again?’
‘It’s said that no man is wise at all times.
‘However, I’ve miscalculated so many times. Am I really not a wise man? Am I just an idiot who believes that I am?’
The youngster walking towards him had a stubborn face and a desperate expression oozing from his body.
‘What’s he planning?’
He very quickly understood.
The youngster walked up with frigid eyes, followed by another person behind him. It was the person who would not stop causing trouble these few days, as well as his former apprentice, Nie Yuan.
Bai s.h.i.+xin stared at that youngster and realized that in his gaze, it seemed to betray his intention of sending Elder Ancestor Bai’s coffin flying off with a kick…
Why was that?
He had confidence that his current spiritual prowess had keen and acute senses. He definitely would not be mistaken.
‘Even so, that’s his biological father… Ah, this is bad. It must be the other one!
‘However, even if I say that, would the others believe me?
‘No, they won’t. These people here are all a bunch of idiots. Only very few people know that Cang Gongzi has two ident.i.ties.
‘Elder Ancestor Bai also deliberately blocked off this news. After all, who would wish for others to know that their son is actually a schizophrenic?
‘That would make the possibility of him rising to power become impossible. No one would wish to place their fates in the hands of an indecisive and wavering person.’
Bai s.h.i.+xin immediately felt extremely troubled. He could almost instantly guess why this little runt was coming here to fight for the position.
What else if not for revenge?
Although revenge sounded cliche, the motivation it offered was endless.
It could make cowards become brave, waverers become resolute, and make laggards advance. It could cause the kindest people to become vicious, and even make the Buddha pick up a butcher’s knife.
“Brother, what do we do now?” Bai s.h.i.+xin asked him telepathically beside him, “Do we do as you said before and run now? If we flee in defeat now, it’ll really be worse than dying.”
“I was just making an a.n.a.logy. Even if we have to run, we don’t have to hurry now. At least he doesn’t have any reason to fight us. We didn’t give him any reason to either.” Bai s.h.i.+xin said calmly, “Besides, I still have one last move.”
“Brother s.h.i.+xin really is the smartest. You have a card up your sleeve for every situation.” Bai s.h.i.+fu felt slightly relieved. Since Bai s.h.i.+xin had said so, it definitely was not just empty words. It was unlikely that he would let himself serve as a scapegoat as well.
After all, there were no benefits for him to do that.
While the two were discussing, Bai Ruocang’s voice suddenly sounded.
“The late king was taken from us while his life’s work remained unfinished. Fortunately, there were virtuous men who maintained order so that the entire clan remained in peace. I am extremely thankful for this. However, a country cannot go a day without a king. I’ve looked at my own inexperience and realized that I cannot fulfill this important task, and willingly step down for the virtuous one instead.”
‘You’re retreating in order to advance? You immature little brat, how dare you play this hand with me?’
Bai s.h.i.+xin saw through his plan in a glance. He did not play along but instead glanced at the people around him.
“Who’s this?” Very quickly, questions and discussions began buzzing and spreading among the Greater Rats in the Square.
“I’ve never seen him, but judging by his words, could he be the Elder Ancestor’s official heir?”
“I’ve never heard the Elder Ancestor telling everyone about an heir. Could he be a swindler? He might have heard from somewhere that we’re changing leaders here, so he wanted to take advantage of it.”
“I’ve heard that the humans have a type of long-distance fighter that can’t be seen even in battle. However, when the rewards are given out, he stands higher than anyone else…” Someone said mockingly.
Bai Ruocang was a youngster after all. Although it was the fires of revenge that urged him to step up, Nie Yuan did give him plans and ideas to deal with general situations.
However, when it came to these kinds of details, he could only rely on himself.
He was furious with the idle gossip of these demons now, but he could not do anything to them.
If he killed those wretched demons now, he would become powerless to defend himself, let alone ascend to the position of Greater Rat King.
His face flushed red, but he did not refute at the moment.
The so-called foundation laid in this.
When you were attacked by many people, as long as you had a foundation, there would naturally be others who would block those verbal attacks on you. You would be able to save your energy and calm your mood.
Otherwise, bickering would always be advantageous to the side with more people. A repeated rumor would become a fact. If a lie was spoken enough, other people would easily believe it.
As for his foundation in this Greater Rat Clan, he naturally had none.
However, Bai s.h.i.+xin, as the chief logistics officer, had given countless people benefits and secretly roped in innumerable trusted aides who were all people who could at least speak up in critical moments. He did not have to expect those people to throw away their lives for him, but at least they could withstand pressure to help him.
Now that he was about to rise to power, those people were naturally satisfied. That also meant that there were many benefits to be accounted for.
As for this newly arrived Cang Gongzi. They were not clear on the ins and outs of this person, so they did not know what price they should offer either.
He was a youngster that had not even grown facial hair. By comparing the two, everyone knew clearly who to chose.
Automatically, these people’s discussions began to become one-sided.
“Chase this phony out!”
“Yeah, who’s he putting on this show for? Who the h.e.l.l does he think he is? What has he done for our kingdom?”
“That’s right. Chief Bai toil day and night and work overtime every day without rest. At that time, where was this guy?”
“He was probably sleeping soundly. After all, Chief Bai always stays up till dawn every time he works overtime.”
Bai s.h.i.+xin suddenly signed with both his hands and lightly said, “Quiet, everyone. You might not know this, but this Cang Gongzi is indeed the Elder Ancestor’s legitimate son. Due to a great tragedy in the Upper Realm, the Elder Ancestor lost almost all of his heirs. Cang Gongzi is the only one who survived, so it’s indisputable that he’s the successor.”
“Eh, Brother Bai, how could you speak up for that runt who’s still wet behind the ears?”
“Yeah, we can’t let someone like that lead us. Won’t we end up starving to death?”
“That’s right. As the saying goes, in Rome, do as the Romans do. Since we’re already living on Earth, we have to accept the practices of Earth. Most of the leaders here are elected by the ma.s.ses. Why don’t we all chose who should be the new Greater Rat King today?” Someone immediately fanned the flames.
“Of course it has to be Chief Bai. He handles affairs with fairness, and no one has ever felt unfair before. Furthermore, he’s extremely diligent and exceedingly kindhearted. Although his wife and children betrayed him before, he chose to return good for evil, and they finally got back together.
“So Chief Bai actually had such a sad thing happen to him. How rare. Even after such a blow, he could still persevere with his work. Choosing him is the right choice.”
At this time, the crowd in the Square stirred and everyone began to spout lofty words. Anyway, no one would cause trouble now.