Second Round of the Family Hierarch Evaluation, part 24 (after battle)

…….

Jia Qiu was waiting for us, just as Hong Lu had predicted.

We couldn't tell how long he'd been waiting for us in here, as he didn't appear to be even remotely tired or angry.

He only regarded us in that same, collected silence we remember seeing from the day we first met.

How nice of them to bring us all together.

Isn't their intent quite obvious? Gathering all of us in here...

... They're telling us to rid ourselves of the trouble of finding each other, and determine who comes first among us.

Still your insolent tongue, Jia Huan. You possess not even an inkling of the path ahead.

You have taken that name for a better purpose than to assume such a boorish display of vanity, have you not?

The tension was palpable. No one was going to make the first move.

There was Jia Huan, who's always been hostile toward Hong Lu and us.

Then there was Jia Qiu, whose innermost thoughts we couldn't hope to grasp... but most likely harbored much anger toward Hong Lu and carried the torch of vengeance for his family's destruction.

Look, there's... something written up there.

Ishmael whispered.

A question, written in large, red letters.

'State the virtue of the Family Hierarch.'

Now, we have the top three candidates all gathered in this room. Are we about to find out the winner of this game right here, right now, right in this room?

So... with the gravity of this particular situation clearly communicated... let's try something completely different this time. Different, but most appropriate for the ceremony of selecting the next Hierarch of Hongyuan.

Behold the wall and ponder the question! This is the time for our finalists to debate the very question at the core of the Family Hierarch Evaluation!

…….

We are to... engage in a dialogue?

Hilarious. Had enough of the bloodshed, then? Shall we end this game with a sophisticated little confabulation on the sanctimonious 'virtues' instead? Might as well put a bow on it, why don't you?

If the opponent accepts your argument... perhaps you could indeed flex your rhetorical muscles and finish the second round with a parlay of words... But wouldn't you like to know what happens if you can't?

It changes absolutely nothing! Simply return to what you've been doing for this entire event! Take or be taken! Grab as many coins as you can!

But all of this was but the host's 'suggestion', nothing more.

If either Jia Qiu or Jia Huan decides to just attack us anyway, we'd have no choice but to fight them.

<What now...?>

However, Jia Qiu...

... only wordlessly gazed up at the writings on the wall.

What now, brothers?

Hong Lu asked casually.

I have to start thinking about every permutation of events that could happen this moment onward.

What if he decides to ally with Jia Huan to take us out? Wait, no. Someone like Jia Qiu might not even have to ally with anyone to destroy us.

Which means that, for us to come second, at least one of them must be eliminated.

There is a possibility that forfeiting the game now could result in us placing third.

However, what must also be considered is that, outside this room, there are other candidates who have collected a similar number of coins as we have; it is possible that there are additional coins to be collected, the sum of which may be greater than our current sum.

... A small variable, but a risk nonetheless.

... Yeah, but the biggest problem right now is that the only other clan that's aware of the Golden Bough... currently ranks higher than we do.

Not only are they aware of it, it's probably the whole reason they're participating in this game. At this point, they might as well have already obtained it if they were to forfeit now.

The ideal scenario would be for Jia Qiu to utterly destroy the N Corp. forces, take all of their coins, and eliminate them from the game. But...

Dammit, I can't strategize without knowing what he's thinking. He is impenetrable.

Outis, of all people, appeared completely stumped... This certainly does not bode well for our plan.

That big fella... he's not much of a talker, and seems to be the kind of guy who prefers to destroy his way to success than to talk things out...

…….

They have given us a platform to parlay. Thus rightly parlay we shall.

<…!>

What Jia Qiu said was a surprise to all of us.

Now that's unexpected. You're going to play along with this meaningless game, Jia Qiu?

The long years spent away from Hongyuan must've been quite smooth-sailing for you.

There was loneliness and impecuniosity, but it was indeed smooth-sailing.

I was deprived of those who would stand with me, for I was wanting in the fortune with matters of people; thus, I sought out the new, embraced them, and learned much.

I don't know just who you could've possibly met and learned from out there, but... your ambitions have certainly inflated.

I met this Zhao of the Wang family on my way here...

And he, whom we had all known to be quite clever, was sitting alone without coins, waiting for his elimination to be confirmed.

And do you know what he said to me then?

That he'd already given all of his coins to the one who should have them.

That he'd already achieved 'his' victory in this game, as he'd already given his coins to the one who deserves them most before anyone who does not could claim them...

I was tickled by that insolence, so I thought to separate his head from his torso... but the Heishou of this evaluation site leaped in to protect him.

Jia Qiu, why would you seek the Wang family's alliance now, of all times?

Alliance? Quite the lofty phrasing for what that was.

I had merely discerned what he deemed to be good - and promised that I would make it so.

What is good, huh...

What could you possibly have, after having essentially severed yourself from Daguanyuan for years, to offer him that the Wang family doesn't already have?

Fine, then... I'll play along with your game for now. If you have something to say, then say it.

Jia Huan gave Jia Qiu a sarcastic grin as he leaned against the wall.

To ask one to state the virtue of the Family Hierarch...

... is to ask one to state what it is that Hongyuan, soon to be under the lordship of the new Hierarch, needs the most.

I saw naught but two kinds of people as I was raised in this vast yet confined room they call Hongyuan.

Those who kill, and those who die.

To dissolve this vile distinction, to restore to the righteous path this land's trajectory of history, dyed crimson with the blood spilled in the name of our selfish avarice... we need these two virtues: humanity and propriety.

Your words are utterly meaningless. Do you seriously think the people who clamber around every Restructuring Day to secure just enough room for them to live have any care left to give about either of your pretentious virtues?

What Hongyuan needs is simple and pragmatic: the power to dominate and the administrative efficacy to wield it. Not to mention the ability to maintain the constant upward growth of technological innovation to keep up with the other Wings.

Unlike the other two who seemed to be more engaged in this debate than I'd expected...

... Hong Lu kept his aloof silence, as though none of that was of any interest to him.

This seemed to irk Jia Qiu, who turned to look at Hong Lu.

... Speak, Jia Baoyu.

Dare speak your mind - what does Hongyuan need?

…….

Don't treat him as though he's on the same scale on which we operate, Jia Qiu.

He doesn't even know what he needs, let alone what Hongyuan needs. This is a waste of time.

He does not even possess an ounce of ambition nor the heart to bloviate meaninglessly about his purposes.

... Yes, brother Huan is right. How could someone like me even dream of participating in such a... grand discussion of great causes?

I will not formulate my judgment of you based on conclusions Jia Huan or anyone else in Hongyuan has drawn. They will be heard, indeed, but my Way is forged only by the answers that spring from my own deliberations.

Thus, Jia Baoyu - do not allow the judgment of others to guide your tongue.

Jia Qiu replies sternly. Hong Lu looks toward the ground, somewhat taken aback, before looking up at Jia Qiu.

Would it not be much more... productive for you to tell us more of your thoughts, big brother?

Hah... just listen to him.

To reply to my lord's question with such a fatuous query signifies that he lacks the vision to perceive the grand picture.

Oi... This ain't the kind of question you can just pop out an answer for, is it? Don't put 'im on the spot, give him some time to - !

Do you still fail to realize which party among those present wields the sharpest blade?

Shame that you do not understand the significance of the powerful choosing to engage in rhetoric over crushing others with sheer might in times of chaos...

That is enough, Zilu.

I ask you again. What virtue must the Hierarch possess? What does Hongyuan need the most?

... For a split second, Hong Lu's lips part.

…….

…….

I...

But they soon shut again, as though he was shaking himself from an illusion.

Honestly, I have no idea what kind of answer you're looking for from me, brother.

…….

This was my first act of goodwill toward you… and quite possibly, the final opportunity I may be able to afford you.

Will you discard it regardless, blinded to its significance?

Brother Qiu...

You must be anticipating something from me.

Anticipation, is it...

An imprudent anticipation begets nothing but despair in the face of futility, leaving nothing but a hollow heart in its wake.

Even still... I have deigned to grant you my valuable time for that slim potentiality I once saw within you.

And by doing so, I risk delaying everything that I have prepared for a long, long time.

Yet... you still evade my every query.

To swallow one's words when it is their turn to speak is to hide them.

As you insist on stopping and veiling your thoughts, I am, perforce, compelled to act in a manner unbecoming of a noble man.

It seems that I must dabble in your methods today, Zilu.

As you command, my lord.

I shall afford you neither the wherewithal nor the time to mask your ruminations.

Bring forth a real answer; do not let it languish behind your tongue.