Chapter 549

Possessing the martial prowess to defeat the Saint Spear Immortal and the strategic cunning to capture the formidable Xilei Wall, he was capable of being granted a king's title and land at just eighteen years old. In "Sword Snow Stride," he has always seemed an almost flawless figure. Yet, the more perfect he appeared, the deeper the sadness he hid.

He lost his father at a young age, burying his face in the sorrowful earth. No one knew what the boy was truly thinking, but a seed of hatred must have been planted then. What that seed represented remained a mystery. It certainly wasn't directed at Xu Xiao; his father had willingly sacrificed his men to secure a chance for Xu Xiao's survival. Therefore, he had no reason to harbor ill will towards Xu Xiao, and his profound affection and loyalty, treating Xu Xiao like his own father, were undeniably real.

Later, as the adage goes, "when the useful are discarded," the Zhao emperor sought to destroy Xu Xiao. It was then that the dormant seed began to germinate, though it never fully broke through the surface. He understood that Xu Xiao would never rebel against Liyang, no matter how profound the betrayal. Therefore, he patiently awaited Xu Xiao's death, planning to inherit the title of King of Northern Liang. This way, he could avenge his birth father—who, though not killed by the Zhao clan, died in their service—and redress the grievances of his adoptive father, whose wife's death and the resulting demoralization of Northern Liang were direct consequences of the Zhao emperor's actions.

He simply wished to wait patiently. Once the King of Northern Liang grew old, he was prepared to become a historical traitor. However, as long as Xu Xiao remained vibrant, he would never put his adoptive father in a position of disloyalty.

However, all his meticulous plans were disrupted by the Crown Prince, who, despite possessing the aura of a protagonist, proved to be an endlessly frustrating and seemingly incapable burden. If the Crown Prince had simply accepted his role without vying for the position of King of Northern Liang, then upon Liyang's eventual collapse, he could have continued as the King. Alas, fate had other ideas. Perhaps Xu Xiao had even surmised his true intentions and deliberately denied him any opportunity to rebel. With the Crown Prince having truly inherited the title of King of Northern Liang, he would be reduced to nothing more than a spear—a tool to safeguard Northern Liang and prevent rebellion against Liyang. This was never the original ambition of the White-Clad Battle Immortal.

That the Crown Prince, who had achieved absolutely nothing, could study in the Tide-Listening Pavilion for twenty years, indulge in such extravagant profligacy, convince Old Huang and Li Chungang to accompany him willingly for thousands of miles, and have his adoptive father meticulously plan for him for two decades—none of this evoked envy, jealousy, or even indifference in him.

But Xu Weixiong, the woman he deeply loved, became a sacrificial pawn, an expendable piece in a grand scheme, all for the sake of that useless Crown Prince. How could he possibly remain calm?

Upon his return from Northern Mang, he undoubtedly carried with him the means to ascend to the position of King of Northern Liang. Yet, if he were to accept that title, how could he possibly avenge his birth father and resolve his adoptive father's profound grievances against the ruling dynasty?

At that critical juncture, this seemingly perfect man finally unleashed emotions he had suppressed for over a decade. He chose to become the King of Shu, yet he still did not rebel against Northern Liang. He departed without a single soldier. This was evident when his second sister intercepted him with her men, asking if he truly intended to betray Northern Liang, to which he simply retorted, "Who said so?"

He continued to refer to Xu Xiao as his adoptive father.

Furthermore, he intended to kill Xu Weixiong. Since she was born to be an expendable asset and was destined to die sooner or later, he believed that for the woman he loved, dying in his arms was undeniably a far more perfect end than perishing as part of a scheme for that idiotic Crown Prince. Thus, his intention to kill Xu Weixiong was genuinely rooted in this belief.

He declared he would make Xu Weixiong his Queen of Shu for ten years, carrying her lifeless body with him. After those ten years, she would become Empress. He had given himself a decade to seize control of the entire realm.

He and Zhao Zhi established a tacit agreement, a mutually beneficial arrangement where they used each other as pieces on a chessboard. However, Zhao Zhi completely failed to grasp the depth of his ambition, merely assuming he was at odds with Xu Fengnian. Otherwise, she would have undoubtedly eliminated this "white-clad" figure first. Despite any perceived foolishness, she would never truly betray Liyang; her only aim was to secure certain advantages for herself.

Should anyone question Chen Zhibao's right to become the King of Shu, his very name—"Chen Zhibao"—would be a sufficient answer. As for speculation about his collusion with Northern Mang, such claims are, at present, utterly baseless. How could such a perfectly confident man possibly conspire with foreign barbarians?

This pitiable figure, the "leopard," became the primary antagonist, a development many found unacceptable, with some even openly criticizing the author, Feng Huo. Yet, this merely signifies a maturation in Feng Huo's storytelling. After all, where does one find such a perfect life? Who in this world does not endure suffering?

Hong Xiang, a character who initially seemed destined for tragedy, ultimately found a comedic resolution. He waited for Hong Yi and made a pact with her for three hundred years.

Li Chungang, likewise a seemingly tragic character, found a comedic ending as well. He waited for Green Robe, and though it was merely a green fish, in his heart, it was truly Green Robe, and that was all that mattered.

Are you still cursing this "leopard"? Do you demand only perfection, tolerating no imperfections? This leopard, who meticulously plotted everything and seemingly held all the cards, ultimately gained nothing but the world's endless censure.

Those who wept copiously for the red-clad figure and whose eyes welled up for Green Robe—can they truly comprehend the complex, worldly emotions of the "leopard" and Weixiong? Though perfectly matched, these seemingly "unfeeling" individuals were tragically destined never to be together.

Northern Liang was inherently a place of sorrow, but the White-Clad was the most sorrowful of all.