Chapter 339 If There Was an Afterlife
While countless reporters were still digging deep into the truth that Lonely Mountain had disappeared overnight, the Cabinet, the Jiangzhe Provincial Government and the Lin’an Government had clearly issued a doc.u.ment to take Lonely Mountain out from the tourist attractions of West Lake with the most official and formal att.i.tude.
It was no longer the default att.i.tude of pretending the previous decoration.
On the edge of the ruins of Lonely Mountain, the signs of Military Forbidden Zone were established.
The address of the Southeast Special Warfare Headquarters was in Huating.
Lonely Mountain would become the office for the Southeast Special Warfare Supervision Inst.i.tute.
The Supervision Inst.i.tute was the new inst.i.tution of the Zhongzhou State Special Warfare System, which was different from the special warfare headquarters.
The emergence of the special warfare headquarters was actually only the expansion and extension of power for the Special Warfare System. For the whole system, it was not large enough to subvert the influence of the fundamental rules.
But the Supervision Inst.i.tute was different, for it was a brand new inst.i.tution.
Different from the party committee and the government division in the political circle, it was also different from the military generals of armies and the political high-ranking officers. The function of Supervision Inst.i.tute was independent. From the perspective of responsibility, it was more similar to the discipline inspection department and monitored the performance of various special warfare agencies.
It was supervision.
It also only had the right to supervise.
The emergence of any new system or inst.i.tution would gradually become mature and stable after a relatively long period of time. Therefore, strictly speaking, the newly established Supervision Inst.i.tute with supervisory power and no disposition of power was actually in a very embarra.s.sing situation. The Special Warfare System was different from the military and political circles. Its duties were in secret and its power was hidden, following loose rules. Therefore, even if it had the power of supervision, the scope of supervision was somewhat blurred.
The School Master of the Supervision Inst.i.tute was at the level of the minister of the special warfare headquarters. But he did not partic.i.p.ate in the Decision Making Committee meeting. There was no supervisory bureau underneath. In addition to the Southeast area, the other regions were headed by the minister and supervision School Master of the special warfare headquarters. All explained that the Zhongzhou State was still at the stage of groping and observing that new inst.i.tution.
Therefore, Li Honghe served as the southeast supervision School Master and actually did not bring much power to the Li family.
What that position brought to the Li family was more akin to a reliable protection umbrella. At least while the Supervision Inst.i.tute still existed, no matter whether it was the w.a.n.g family of Beihai or Kunlun City, it was impossible for them to attack the Li family again. Because that was equal to blatantly trampling the rules that everyone was obeying.
The only thing was, the dozen remaining Li family members could not use the limited power in their hands to do anything against the w.a.n.g family of Beihai and Kunlun City.
The situation would generally stabilize.
The so-called balance was like that.
The situation at the moment was not bad for the Li family. There were no surprises; it was completely in line with expectations.
After more than two decades of crouching and forbearance, the Li family reappeared on the main stage of the Zhongzhou State. That seemed to be an insignificant step, yet it was the real foundation and starting point.
It was no longer Li Honghe who stood at the starting point.
It was Li Tianlan.
Perhaps until that day, Li Tianlan had really begun to shoulder the responsibilities of the Li family.
Before the Youzhou meeting, Li Tianlan was a hope for the Li family.
After the meeting, Li Honghe had fallen completely from the Invincible Realm. So Li Tianlan was everything for the Li family.
“There shouldn’t be much change in Jiangzhe in the next few years. Even the entire Zhongzhou State, if there is no accident, will be calm for a few years. Calmness has good and bad results. The benefit is safe enough, but the downside is the acc.u.mulation of stagnant water; no waves. So there will be no chance.”
In the early morning of late July, it was sunny and clear. The sunlight coming through the windows was shining in the bedroom, in front of the mirror. Qin Weibai had just gotten up and her hair was somewhat scattered. She tidied the suit for Li Tianlan and said gently, “So, I want you to go to Tiannan. Regardless of the future in store for the Zhongzhou State, Tiannan is destined to become another focus of the Dark World. The Li family can only have a tepid development in Jiangzhe. If you want to develop quickly, it is only possible while being in Tiannan, which is destined to be filled with constant troubles.”
Li Tianlan replied with an “En” and fixed the tie around his neck.
That day he had a series of extremely important social encounters. So he dressed very formally. A black suit with black shoes made him look mature and capable.
After the Youzhou meeting, the personnel transfer was carried out very quickly. Zou Yuanshan had already arrived in Jiangzhe from Luojing three days ago. On the first day of the appointment of the new governor of Jiangzhe, he visited Li Honghe and scheduled another appointment with Li Tianlan.
An unusual meeting.
Because Wu Zhengmin had not left yet.
Wu Zhengmin did not leave. So the new governor of Jiangzhe, Su Xinghe, naturally could not attend.
For the gap days, Wu Zhengmin hoped to make full use of them to create a situation that was beneficial to the Li family.
So that day, Li Tianlan was not only going to see Zou Yuanshan, he would also see Wu Zhengmin.
To be exact, Wu Zhengmin took Li Tianlan and Zou Yuanshan to visit various real power figures in Jiangzhe so that Li Tianlan and Zou Yuanshan could get their support.
Li Tianlan was a bit bored.
That was the first time he had been in contact with a high-level political force in a province. He was not uneasy, but felt a bit troubled at heart.
“There will be no problems.”
Qin Weibai softly said, “Don’t underestimate Zou Yuanshan. As the leader who gets the full support of the Giant Group 20 years later, he has definitely the top ability and influence. After Wu Zhengmin left, someone in Jiangzhe would definitely change the position. But there will not be too many people like him. Over the years, Wu Zhengmin took control of Jiangzhe very well. Everything is in place. Most of Wu Zhengmin’s forces will support Zou Yuanshan. At present, Jiangzhe is the home of Giant Group and the Li family. Although the Southeast Group’s Su Xinghe occupies the position of the top leader, their biggest helper is only one, w.a.n.g Jingxin. The battle between the two sides is bound to be long. No one can crush the other side at once. But then, as long as they keep this situation, it is beneficial to the Li family. The next two or three years will be the most precious opportunity for the Li family. Tianlan, you do not need to care about Jiangzhe for the time being. As long as you change the situation in Tiannan, Jiangzhe’s situation will gradually stabilize. If possible, have no concerns over it. It is the most important to develop yourself.”
“You said a lot today.”
Li Tianlan looked at Qin Weibai and his voice was soft.
Qin Weibai paused her movements and she suddenly became completely silent.
“Will you go to Huating with me?”
Li Tianlan asked.
The final maneuver of the two academies would begin soon.
That day was also the last day of his stay in Lin’an. After he met with the key officers of Jiangzhe, he would return to Huating and the East Emperor Palace, to wait for the beginning of the final maneuver of the two academies.
“I have to leave for a period of time.”
Qin Weibai said softly as she watched Li Tianlan’s face focusedly.
“Today?”
Li Tianlan remained silent for a moment and then asked softly.
For a few days, their gentle relationship and interdependence surrounded him. Li Tianlan heard the parting news before he had any psychological preparations.
“Yes.”
Qin Weibai nodded and muttered, “I should have left a few days ago, but I have been reluctant to leave. I really can’t delay it now.”
“I’ll see you off.”
Li Tianlan’s mouth moved and his voice suddenly became hoa.r.s.e.
“No need. You deal with your business. As long as Flaming Fire is close by, nothing will happen.”
Qin Weibai shook her head. “The reason why I tell you now is that I don’t want you to see me off. At first, I wanted to let others tell you once I had left. But I was afraid that you would be angry. So I am telling you personally.”
Li Tianlan shook his head, not knowing what to say.
He opened his hands and subconsciously put Qin Weibai’s soft body in his arms.
Qin Weibai warmly wrapped around Li Tianlan’s waist and smiled lightly. “I’m not dying. Why are you so serious? Hey, wait for me. I will be back after two or three months. By then I will stay with you and won’t leave. Okay?”
“Okay,”
Li Tianlan said suddenly.
Qin Weibai left his arms and took off a separate Buddha bead from her wrist and handed it to Li Tianlan. She said softly, “This is for you.”
“This is?”
Li Tianlan was a bit confused.
“It’s the Buddha bead that Great Master Wuwei gave me. I doesn’t mean anything special. It is a souvenir. I don’t like it very much, so I’m giving it to you.”
Qin Weibai said casually and her tone was extremely natural.
Li Tianlan did not think too much and he wore it on his wrist. “Where are you going?”
“I’ll go back to the headquarters first.”
Qin Weibai hesitated before saying, “The headquarters of Samsara are actually of little significance. It is time to give up. I have to go back. Then I will go directly to Snow Country.”
Li Tianlan nodded and looked at Qin Weibai in front of him.
Qin Weibai stood quietly in the sunlight and looked beautiful, dreamy and seemingly transparent.
That day was their parting.
Li Tianlan suddenly became tired and seemed to have no spirits to do anything.
“Go ahead. Today is important for you.”
Qin Weibai took Li Tianlan’s arm and showed him to the door. She said seriously, “I will be back soon.”
Li Tianlan nodded and tried to speak, but finally turned and went downstairs.
Qin Weibai went downstairs with him and watched Li Tianlan get in an Audi car at the door.
Qin Weibai looked calm and gentle.
Li Tianlan glanced at her.
Qin Weibai waved her hand with a smile.
Everything was so natural, like the most usual parting.
Li Tianlan got into the car.
At that moment, Qin Weibai saw only Li Tianlan’s profile.
She was affectionate and absent-minded.
The Audi car slowly left the villa area.
Qin Weibai stood quietly, motionless like a sculpture.
Such a simple parting.
But it was the last glance.
In the bright eyes of Qin Weibai, the light flowed and changed. All the pretense of natural emotions was wavering in her heart and then collapsed with his departure.
She could not show her relunctance.
She could not even show sadness.
Because she wanted to tell Li Tianlan it was a very ordinary parting.
She knew what it meant.
That was a cheating, the most cruel deception.
Because there would not be a gathering after that seemingly inadvertent parting.
Cruel.
But it wasn’t the most cruel.
She had seen the most cruel picture in Heaven Capital three years back.
That picture was not the moment when the woman in white had pierced Li Tianlan’s chest with the long sword.
It was the picture of Li Tianlan’s falling in the air.
That was the real cruelty.
The Audi car in sight disappeared completely.
All the relunctance, unwillingness and deep feelings completely collapsed in an instant.
Qin Weibai had already burst into tears.
Her performance was so normal, not even showing a trace of reluctance to Li Tianlan.
Without reluctance, it was the real unwillingness.
She bit her lip hard and whispered softly, “I’m sorry…”
If only there was an afterlife!