: Pointing Fate?

The elderly demon cultivator continued questioning Liu Er about Ning Zhuo, eventually figuring out the reason.

"Ning Zhuo is only temporarily aligning with Xiao Liu because of a family vendetta."

"He has his own goal of traveling, so he'll leave after this battle."

"Even if the war turns unfavorable and he sees no hope for revenge, he might leave midway."

"As for the support he and the Ning family provide Xiao Liu, it's partly because Ning Zhuo himself gets along well with Xiao Liu, partly due to the family vendetta, and finally, they're aiming for profits from the spoils."

"After all, war spoils are often the most lucrative."

With that thought, the elderly demon cultivator stopped paying attention to Ning Zhuo.

Seeing his mentor's reaction and knowing the elder's expertise in divination, Liu Er felt a stir and probed, "Master, does this mean Ning Zhuo and I are fated to have no connection?"

The elderly demon cultivator immediately became stern. "Xiao Liu, you must dismiss such thoughts at once!"

"Although you possess a king's fate, you must understand that nothing within it is absolutely predetermined."

"A king's fate is merely a strong tendency, one that can be changed."

"Therefore, even if Ning Zhuo is fated to have no connection with you, you can change that through your own efforts, turning no fate into fate, making him your subordinate."

"If Ning Zhuo is fated to be connected to you, but you repeatedly miss the opportunities, causing the loss of talent, that would be your fault. If you cannot seize the opportunities fate provides, it's all in vain."

"Do you understand?"

By the end, the elderly demon cultivator's tone was sharp and reproachful.

Liu Er quickly bowed, thanking his mentor respectfully for the admonishment and vowing to always remember his words.

"Mm." The elder nodded, his expression softening.

It was precisely because a king's fate could be changed that the elderly demon cultivator had personally come to protect this critical juncture.

In Liu Er's early development, Mu Lan was especially important—the key stepping stone that would allow Liu Er to integrate into the bureaucracy of the two Zhu countries with a legitimate standing.

Otherwise, relying solely on his half-demon identity, he would inevitably be rejected by the mainstream upper echelons. Even with talent, he would be buried for many years.

The elderly demon cultivator changed the subject. "Regarding the issue of spoils ownership, Xiao Liu, what are your thoughts?"

Liu Er assumed a solemn expression, bowing with hands clasped. "In your disciple's view, there are two major drawbacks."

"First, it may damage our reputation for integrity. Such a reputation must be cherished, especially when navigating righteous paths. Given your disciple's awkward status, without virtues like integrity, it would be nearly impossible to progress."

"Second, most of our military funds are sponsored by Ning Zhuo, and likely will be in the future. Taking back the spoils for the entire army would mean living off the Ning family's provisions. If this continues long, will the Three Generals Camp belong to us or to the Ning family?"

Observing the elder stroking his beard with a satisfied nod, Liu Er grew bolder and continued, "Your disciple previously wanted to ask about the king's fate and any connection with Ning Zhuo."

"Actually, it was also with this matter in mind."

"If Ning Zhuo and I share no fate or connection, I could afford to be bolder in accepting the Ning family's support now."

"After all, the Ning family is in South Bean Country, not within the two Zhu countries."

Seeing Liu Er about to say more, the elderly demon cultivator decisively raised a hand. "Very well, handle it as you see fit."

"I called you here for another matter, far more important than Ning Zhuo or spoils—a thousand, ten thousand times more important!"

"Xiao Liu, since you wish to pursue Mu Lan, be decisive, bold, proactive, and open about it."

"Mu Lan is a general's daughter, a tigeress who most admires heroes on the battlefield. If you act schemingly and stealthily, even if you ultimately defeat Shuang Jing and Sun Gan, you won't win her heart."

Liu Er exclaimed, "Ah... Master, your disciple naturally has heroic spirit and wishes to express it freely."

"But the enemy's forces are too great. My Three Generals Camp is newly established, a small venture that could easily be ruined."

The elderly demon cultivator raised his hand again, stopping Liu Er's explanation.

"Go now."

The elder gestured toward the direction of the Three Generals Camp.

Liu Er was surprised but quickly understood. As he took his leave, he said, "Master, your disciple understands your meaning."

"Upon returning, I will openly and honorably pursue Mu Lan."

When Liu Er looked up again, the elderly demon cultivator had already vanished.

"Master remains as mysterious and unfathomable as ever." Liu Er sighed, then turned and headed back to the camp.

The elderly demon cultivator hadn't left; he remained in the same spot.

It was just that his illusion technique was unique, deceiving Liu Er.

The elder's face was deathly pale, blood streaming from all seven orifices. Vast amounts of his essence and lifespan flowed out with the blood, rapidly depleting.

The elder endured bitterly.

The excruciating pain, both physical and mental, made life worse than death, each moment feeling like a year.

Finally, the agony gradually subsided, and the bleeding from his seven orifices stopped.

This was the drawback of divination.

Everything has pros and cons; it's nature's balance.

Divination can often predict future trends, which is its great advantage among the hundred arts of cultivation. However, its drawbacks are far more numerous and severe than other cultivation techniques.

What the elderly demon cultivator had just experienced was the consequence of relying on divination to guide a key figure, causing a violent fluctuation in fate. The elder bore this fluctuation, suffering a severe backlash.

And this wasn't even a critical reminder!

A critical reminder, also known as "pointing fate," is extremely difficult, requiring the diviner to have a strong spirit of dedication and sacrifice. It might lead to death from backlash due to revealing heavenly secrets.

The elder's earlier reminder wasn't a critical one; it wasn't "pointing fate."

If, before Liu Er heard about Mu Lan's dual cultivation and other key information, before he considered pursuing her, the elder had given a clear reminder about it, that would have been "pointing fate."

Having received valuable advice from his mentor, Liu Er acted decisively upon returning.

He summoned Guan Hong, Zhang Hei, and Ning Zhuo, publicly announcing the reclaiming of spoils ownership—but only for some.

"For those who don't want this right, we'll increase their provisions and pay to win them over."

"As for those who still wish to keep the right to their spoils, let them have it."

"Identifying these two groups will be tedious and involve many tasks. I'll rely on the strategist for this."

Ning Zhuo promptly acknowledged it as his duty and praised Liu Er's arrangement as mature, well-considered, very steady, and far superior and more comprehensive than his own proposal.

Next, Liu Er announced his intention to openly pursue Mu Lan.

As expected, this decision met with simultaneous opposition from the other three.

But Liu Er displayed a man's fearless spirit and determination in the face of difficulties, stirring Guan Hong and Zhang Hei's热血 (blood boiling). They fervently expressed their firm resolve to follow him.

Seeing this, Ning Zhuo couldn't help but wonder what trump card Liu Er held that gave him such confidence!

But since the three generals had already agreed, Ning Zhuo, though curious, decisively expressed his compliance.

"Thus, the situation for the Three Generals Camp is about to take a sharp turn for the worse, perhaps even becoming more precarious than the Red Flower Camp."

(End of )