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*****
"I'm not afraid of death. I just don't know how to face him.
Forget it—after all these years, this matter should have been resolved long ago. I've only been running away. It's time to let him have his closure."
Li Muxuan let out a long sigh.
"King, could you agree to one request of mine?"
"Speak."
George nodded.
Li Muxuan's expression grew distant.
"If, in the end, Lu Jin wants to kill me, don't interfere. That's what I deserve."
"No problem."
George did not object to his words.
As for the rights and wrongs between Li Muxuan and the Trinity Gate, he would not pass judgment.
In this world, many matters were far too complex to be measured by a single standard. Some things didn't even have a clear right or wrong—it all depended on perspective.
He was only an outsider. If Li Muxuan felt that he had been wrong back then, then so be it. If he felt he was right, then so be it.
George didn't care about those matters. His only concern was fulfilling his own deal with Lu Jin.
If, in the end, Lu Jin killed Li Muxuan, then so be it. After all, even if Li Muxuan died, George could still bring him back.
Of course, he wasn't planning to save Li Muxuan because he thought Li Muxuan was right.
It was only because Li Muxuan was Li Mumu's grandfather. Mumu was once a Nassen Guard and now its commander, one of George's most capable subordinates.
Besides, Li Muxuan's strength was considerable—he could be taken in as a new member of the Nassen Guard.
"Good. Then let's meet him, and finally put an end to this matter."
Li Muxuan had already made up his mind.
Hearing this, George took Li Muxuan and instantly teleported to the palace's conference hall. Seeing Li Mumu and Zhao Fangxu still negotiating the details of the cooperation, George asked:
"How's the discussion going?"
"King, it's nearly complete—just a few issues remain in the details."
Li Mumu respectfully listed the unresolved points.
George waved his hand.
"Don't worry too much about the details. As long as the general agreement stands, that's enough."
Li Mumu cared so much about the details because she knew that with George around, any issue could be handled.
But one day, when George grew old and passed away, the next King of Nassen Island might not possess such overwhelming strength.
If the details weren't settled now, they could become future problems.
Yet what she didn't know was that George would never age or die—he had already attained immortality.
So George didn't concern himself with the fine points. What he wanted was alignment on the bigger picture, and that was sufficient.
"Chairman Zhao, there's something I must tell you. I intend to take Old Li to the Lu family."
George then explained briefly about Li Muxuan's history and his entanglement with Lu Jin.
Zhao Fangxu immediately spoke up:
"Honored King, if necessary, our Everywhere Company can mediate in this matter. I believe that Elder Lu, being a man of reason, will not press too harshly."
Since Li Muxuan was Li Mumu's grandfather, he was essentially a person of Nassen Island. With King Jin personally escorting Li Muxuan to meet Lu Jin, it was obvious that George intended to protect him.
But if Lu Jin killed Li Muxuan, it could provoke Nassen Island and jeopardize their cooperation.
The company could never allow that.
That was why Zhao Fangxu suggested that the company first step in to mediate, and only afterward allow the two sides to meet—so they could reconcile peacefully.
Even if mediation failed, and Lu Jin refused, they would still have to force him to accept.
Under normal circumstances, they would never take such a stance—after all, Lu Jin was one of the Ten Elders, and the Lu family wielded tremendous influence in the Awakened world.
And their reputation was beyond question.
But this was a special situation, and special measures were needed. If Everywhere Company chose to act with uncompromising force, even the Heavenly Master himself would have no choice but to comply—otherwise, Mount Longhu would cease to exist.
Lu Jin was not alone; he carried the entire Lu family. In the end, he would have no choice but to yield.
"There's no need. This has nothing to do with the company. Old Li has already decided to leave Quanxing, and he's willing to undergo the trial and settle everything.
Just help spread the word to the Awakened world, and handle the arrangements. Don't mention that Old Li is connected to Nassen Island. Let it proceed according to the usual process."
George waved his hand, politely declining Zhao Fangxu's offer.
This matter was tied to his deal with Lu Jin. If it came to using force, he had no need to trouble Everywhere Company—he could easily resolve it himself.
But Li Muxuan understood cause and effect. It was best to let things follow their natural course.
"Leaving Quanxing… very well, we'll do as the King says. We'll see to the announcements and ensure order is maintained."
Seeing George's firm tone, Zhao Fangxu realized it wasn't mere courtesy and said no more.
At present, there was no formal precedent for leaving Quanxing. But in earlier times, if someone wished to renounce Quanxing and rejoin the normal Awakened world, there was a widely accepted method.
First, word would be spread so everyone had time to prepare. Then a time and place would be set, with a respected arbiter present.
Within the seven days leading up to the chosen time and place, anyone—regardless of reason—could participate in the withdrawal ritual.
The essence of the ritual was simple: during those seven days, any participant or witness could do whatever they pleased to the one leaving.
The person withdrawing had to accept any demands from the participants—even death.
That was why almost no one survived this process. Most who chose it never intended to live; they only sought to atone for their past sins.
"Let it be three days from now, at the valley behind the ruins of the Trinity Gate."
At that moment, Li Muxuan spoke up.
"Then it's settled. But before that, let me take you to meet Lu Jin."
George instantly teleported with Li Muxuan to the entrance of the Lu estate and sent a message inside.
Hearing the transmission, Lu Jin immediately activated his Triple Reverse Life, shattering the gates as he charged out.
"What is this, Brother Lu? Do you mean to fight right here?"
"Fighting you now would be too easy. For something as important as killing you, I need to take my time."
Lu Jin drew a deep breath and dispelled the Triple Reverse Life.
George said:
"Old Li has asked Everywhere Company to announce that in three days, a withdrawal ritual will be held in the valley behind the Trinity Gate ruins. If you wish to kill him, you can do it then."
"Leaving Quanxing… to think you've grown so bold in your old age."
Lu Jin's eyes locked on Li Muxuan's, his tone tinged with faint mockery.
But Li Muxuan did not take offense. Instead, he laughed heartily, sounding free of all burdens.
"Mr. Jin, thank you for bringing Lu Jin to me. Our deal is complete. Do visit the Lu family for tea sometime—you'll always be welcome."
Lu Jin also broke into laughter, then turned and spoke to George with genuine gratitude. He grabbed Li Muxuan's hand and pulled him toward the house.
"Since you'll be dead in three days, then before that, stay with me. Let's have a long talk."
"Then let's talk properly."
Li Muxuan did not resist. He only turned back to George and said one last thing:
"King, thank you for bringing me here. You can go now—I'll be fine."
"Mr. Jin, what's going on here?"
At that moment, Lu Linglong and her brother Lu Lin came rushing out. Hearing their conversation, they looked utterly confused.
"You'll know in a few days."
George chuckled, then vanished from sight.
(End of Chapter)