Chapter 695: Travel Across the World, See All Living Beings

Listening to the two of them, Chen Yan for a moment didn't know how to speak.

It's not that he was unwilling to answer Yuan Tiangang's and Li Chunfeng's questions; he just couldn't understand whether he was really that terrible.

The two were clearly about to lose trust in him.

Chen Yan couldn't help but doubt himself.

"Mr. Chen?" Li Chunfeng called out.

Chen Yan came to his senses and nodded toward the distance with his chin: "Let's go, we'll speak over there; this place isn't suitable for talking."

"Alright."

The two promptly agreed, followed Chen Yan into their room, opened the window, and could see the bustling scene below.

"You two, looking down, what do you think?" Chen Yan pointed and asked.

The two exchanged a glance, and for a moment were at a loss, unable to understand why Chen Yan asked that question.

What else could it be?

It's just naturally like that.

Li Chunfeng watched the various pedestrians below—merchants, common folk, foreign traders—countless figures toiling and hurrying, all condensed into this single view.

He mused, "It's very busy, very fulfilling, and also very hard, but there is already hope."

Chen Yan gave no verdict and asked Yuan Tiangang, "What does the National Teacher think?"

Yuan Tiangang remained silent for a long while, then gave a different answer: "The mortal world is like a cycle, the seasons turn, and before one knows it, the world has changed."

"In the past this place was prosperous, its inhabitants far better off than today, but after the wars at the end of the Sui, the city suffered countless hardships, countless people died, and now it is gradually recovering."

"I believe that soon this place will become even more prosperous!"

Chen Yan and Li Chunfeng listened silently, expecting Yuan Tiangang to stop after that, but suddenly he shifted his tone: "However, as the saying goes, destruction gives birth to new life; beneath prosperity lies dead air."

"In the distant future, this place will still endure greater hardships!"

"Hm?" Chen Yan asked in surprise, then inquired, "The National Teacher's words sound quite certain?"

"Mr. Chen is even more certain than I am!" Yuan Tiangang declared firmly: "From the start, your words that no one can escape the Dynastic Cycle Law already captured the true meaning of the world's cycles!"

"Mr. Chen, you actually understand this better than us; in our terms, this is the dynasty's qi fortune."

"When a dynasty is established, its qi fortune rises rapidly; usually at this time, besides the wise founding monarch, several subsequent generations also produce various wise emperors who drive the dynasty's qi fortune to its peak!"

"After reaching this peak, a dynasty inevitably falls into decline, with problems erupting one after another, ushering in a chaotic era."

"Times create heroes; the emergence of chaos will inevitably forge a great ruler who will reestablish a dynasty, set order anew, and thus the previous dynasty naturally meets its end."

The topic inevitably drifted, but Yuan Tiangang's words truly caught Chen Yan's attention, and he pressed further: "According to your view, how can one keep the qi fortune from declining?"

When the question was raised, Yuan Tiangang felt uneasy and instinctively glanced at Li Chunfeng.

The latter hesitated briefly, then said calmly, "There's no way; any dynasty will eventually decline."

Chen Yan didn't believe it and posed a question: "What if there is a united will?"

"......"

At first, Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng didn't take Chen Yan's question seriously, but after they thought it over, disbelief showed on their faces.

"A united will?"

"What is a united will?"

It naturally means everyone working together, as solid as a city wall; the metaphor implies that united people can overcome difficulties.

Initially, they thought Chen Yan meant that in the dynasty's final days, the emperor and officials, united in purpose, would strive to save the nation—a kind of united will.

But if Chen Yan wasn't referring to the emperor and officials' united will... but also including the common folk?

One must know that a single spark can start a prairie fire, let alone if the wills of the ruler, officials, and all the people are unified.

If that's the case, then they would be the greatest force!

"Impossible!" Yuan Tiangang exclaimed, "A situation of united will cannot arise."

"Even now, with you and His Majesty present, it cannot be achieved; even if it were, how could it be maintained forever?"

"Not to mention when the dynasty reaches its end, the world about to enter the cycle!"

"In chaotic times, the common people likely hate the court to the bone; how could they unite in will with them?"

Li Chunfeng also didn't believe: "Mr. Chen, this is a fanciful tale, truly impossible, don't speak of it further."

"Why not say it?" Chen Yan raised an eyebrow, "Is it because those words affect your spirits?"

The two were instantly left speechless.

Chen Yan chuckled, "In this world, nothing is impossible. I have long said that heroes of the world are like fish leaping over a river; just because we cannot do it doesn't mean later generations cannot."

"How could later generations be worse than those before?"

"Look down!" Chen Yan pointed again, "What did this place look like during the Yanhuang era? And during the Zhou dynasty?"

"What was it like when Qin Shi Huang unified the six states?"

"Indeed, the masters of this land have constantly changed. This land has endured countless hardships, but with the changing seasons and the cycles of dynasties, later generations always learn from their predecessors, gradually altering it, bit by bit making the land more prosperous."

"Dynasties cycle, yet spirit, will, knowledge, technology, and wisdom are passed down."

"When this passes down generation after generation, eventually it will give rise to a peerless figure who gathers the strengths of many schools, the essence of millennia, and the lessons of countless ages!"

"He will break this cycle, end the root of chaos, establish an eternal, indestructible spirit, and achieve a true united will!"

At this point, Chen Yan smiled softly, a faint, deeply hidden longing flashing in his eyes, unseen and unnoticed by anyone.

"And because of him, a era as brilliant as the stars will eventually appear!"

Yuan Tiangang and Li Chunfeng listened attentively to Chen Yan's words; they could not believe such a person would appear in the future, because the most dazzling individuals they had seen and known were Li Shimin and Chen Yan.

One mastered warfare to a divine level, the other was almost like a demon.

How many eras must pass to produce such a hero? This era has produced two.

But can anyone in the future achieve what the two of them cannot accomplish together?

They don't believe, but they hope.

Chen Yan saw their expressions clearly, knew they certainly didn't believe, but he gave no explanation and spoke slowly:

"Weren't you just asking me why I brought you along?"

"Now I can answer you!"

"The reason is simple: I want you to travel the world with me, to see the common folk, to take in these magnificent rivers and mountains, and, incidentally... to witness your own achievements."

"......"