Journey to the West: Treasure Vase of the Great Dao-Chapter 546 - 303: The Reason

Lao Han opened his eyes and saw a familiar face, and asked in an astonished manner, "You're still alive, that's truly wonderful."

However, the middle-aged man across from him revealed a bitter smile and said, "Lao Han, don't deceive yourself. You know my situation. I have already died; this is merely my soul and spirit."

Lao Han was startled, but because it was an old friend, his heart did not harbor much fear. He simply stared blankly at the middle-aged man before him and sighed deeply, "I never thought I could see you again in my dreams. Even though I know it's not real, I am still very glad. We once vowed to change this world, and now you have passed away, while I have also spent half my life achieving nothing, and someday I'll simply be a lonely grave forgotten by the world."

The mental strain of the past few days made even this weathered individual somewhat sentimental. As time gradually passed and old friends withered away, the bold proclamations of earlier times still echoed in his heart. But every morning, as he looked at himself in the mirror, his graying temples mercilessly reminded him of the ruthless passage of time.

The reality of the situation left him feeling powerless. He was not a competent leader himself; he had only taken up the burden because he could not bear to see a lifetime of effort go to waste. But he knew clear well that he couldn't find a bright path forward for these young people.

The immense pressure kept him awake day and night, his hair falling out in clumps, yet he had no good solutions and could only struggle to maintain.

Seeing his old friend's soul and spirit in his dream now, sorrow surged in him, and he said painfully, "You left just like that; how should I handle the situation now? The great trend has already passed. I'm having a hard time maintaining these few thousand troops, let alone realizing our shared ideals."

The middle-aged man quietly waited for Lao Han to vent his frustrations until he had poured out all his melancholy, then softly said, "I came here for this reason."

Lao Han suddenly raised his head, stepping out of his sadness, his gaze sharply fixed on his old friend, waiting for his subsequent words. Even if it was just a dream, he hoped his old friend could give him a direction, to not leave him in such despair.

"It was only after I died that I learned the truth of the world is far more secretive and cruel than we knew. The choices we thought we made were actually guided by fate. Honestly, this was somewhat disappointing. Perhaps the gods and Immortals who watch over all beings view us differently."

"The fall of Great Chu seems like our doing, driven by the Noble Families and Clans, but in reality, it was the choice of the Emperor of the Great Chu in the Underworld, hoping to break down the old to renew the nation's destiny. We just happened to be there at the right time. Unfortunately, these Noble Families and Clans always thought they controlled the grand trend of the world, not knowing they were just pawns too." The middle-aged man's tone carried a hint of lament.

Lao Han widened his eyes, feeling like his dream was surreal—how could his old friend speak such words?

"Does it seem unbelievable? I felt even worse than you when I first heard about it. For a while, I felt utterly despondent, thinking a lifetime of struggle was merely being a Puppet. But after some time, I came to understand, as long as we stick to our true hearts and consider the well-being of the common people, what does it matter if we are Puppets?"

Lao Han looked at his old friend, seeing a face full of relief, no longer the frailty of before, and his heart was also very glad. He asked, "If Great Chu has cut off its own foundation, where do they find the confidence that they can successfully restore the nation?"

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"Lao Han, the universe is far greater than we can imagine. Beyond the endless desert to the west, there is another world. The Ghost Deities of the Underworld call it Kyushu, also known as Great Tang, the land of origin of the human race. For thousands of years, Saints have emerged there, holding endless knowledge and wisdom, and the culmination of it all is the Human Sage. Behind the Lu Family is an elder known as the Tea Saint. With his Fortune and Destiny stabilizing, a reversal of fortunes is natural. I've heard that the Crown Prince of Great Chu is astute, a true emperor in the making, likely the one to revitalise."

"Are you suggesting I should meet this Crown Prince? But we are, after all, the enemy who killed his father."

"I do think you should meet him. If Great Chu is to be revitalized, it certainly needs a tolerance beyond ordinary people. If he can truly be impartial and not allow familial blood feuds to blind him, then it's not a bad place for us."

Lao Han thought this over for a long time. He had to admit, his old friend's opinion wasn't wrong; a truly great leader wouldn't let these issues cloud his judgment.

However, he still couldn't make up his mind, as any miscalculation might lead to the sacrifice of so many young lives—lives for which he and his old friend had spent their entire life laboring.

"Lao Han, listen to me. Go meet this Crown Prince. See his attitude and ideals, otherwise these people will be doomed. Could you bear to see our life's work end like this?" His old friend's voice echoed in Lao Han's ears, making him feel as though he were back in those early, decisive years when his old friend could always point him in the right direction."

"I'll listen to you; I'll go meet this person." Lao Han smiled and nodded as he spoke.