Chapter 257: What Is True Despair?
Tiance Mansion, Ninth Floor
"Qing'er, what do you think that old fox Gu Dao is plotting?" Xiao Tiance asked with a relaxed smile, his gaze fixed on Xiao Qing.
Xiao Qing's face darkened, his expression cold and furious. After witnessing the events that had just transpired, he could barely contain his rage. Gu Dao's schemes were blatantly targeting him.
The audacity to send Gu Clan members into the Heavenly Tomb to attempt to gain the Ancient Emperor's Legacy thus creating a Dou Di and putting the Gu Clan on equal footing with the Xiao Clan was infuriating.
What angered Xiao Qing even more was his wife, Gu Yue.
As the wife of the Xiao Clan Leader, the one person under only the First Supreme Elder in status, she still prioritized her clan's interests over her husband's. In the past, Xiao Qing had turned a blind eye to her sending resources to the Gu Clan. But this time, it was too much.
Xiao Qing's Rage
"Third Uncle, I'll go kill that old man Gu Dao right now!" Xiao Qing's voice was ice cold, his anger unrelenting.
Seeing his fury, Xiao Tiance chuckled softly and shook his head.
"Qing'er, why the rush? Don't forget, this is Tianwaitian our territory. If you want to deal with someone, you can take your time. Why get worked up?"
Even with Xiao Tiance's calming words, Xiao Qing's face remained grim.
If this had happened in front of someone else, such as Tian Luo or another elder, he wouldn't be so enraged. But sitting beside him was Xiao Tiance his third uncle, his mentor, and the person who had placed immense trust and expectations upon him.
Knowing he had failed to handle this situation before his uncle, Xiao Qing's shame only fueled his anger.
"Gu Dao has gone too far, Third Uncle. Please, allow me to kill him. Otherwise, I won't be able to swallow this insult!" Xiao Qing's eyes burned with killing intent, like a lion ready to pounce.
A Lesson in Patience
Xiao Tiance raised his hand, gesturing for Xiao Qing to calm down. His voice remained soft and composed.
"Qing'er, there's no need to let this get to you. Any scheme or ploy becomes meaningless in the face of absolute power.
Think about it if our roles were reversed and the Xiao Clan were in the Gu Clan's position, wouldn't you make the same choices as Gu Dao?"
"But, Third Uncle..." Xiao Qing began, only to be interrupted by Xiao Tiance.
"There's no 'but.' Everything that exists has a reason to exist. Gu Yuan, Gu Dao, even your wife Gu Yue they're all making choices they feel forced into.
Why? Because the Xiao Clan's strength makes them uneasy and fearful.
To them, the Xiao Clan is like a sword hanging over their heads, ready to strike at any moment. Even if we have no intention of harming them, our strength is a constant threat in their eyes.
In the Dou Qi Continent, strength rules above all. The Gu Clan's former status ensures they will never simply sit back and accept being suppressed by us."
Human Nature and Power Dynamics
Xiao Tiance sipped his tea leisurely before continuing, his tone calm and measured.
"This means the Gu Clan will try every method to compete with us, and there are only two outcomes.
First, they overstep their bounds, forcing the Xiao Clan to destroy them. If that happens, they'll claim they were right all along that the Xiao Clan's tolerance was just a strategy to lull them into a false sense of security.
Second, they succeed, becoming our equals or even surpassing us. In that case, they'll celebrate their foresight and courage, believing their choices were entirely justified.
This is human nature, Qing'er. Humans are the most complex beings, their minds filled with thoughts of self preservation.
As for why I wanted you to see all of this today it's to teach you a lesson before I leave."
A Lesson from Xiao Tiance
Xiao Qing lowered his head slightly, his anger momentarily subsiding. "Please, Third Uncle, enlighten me."
Seeing Xiao Qing's reverent attitude, Xiao Tiance chuckled and shook his head.
"It's not enlightenment, Qing'er. You've already done well. I've observed everything you've accomplished as Clan Leader.
But here's the truth: you feel ashamed in my presence, and that shame has turned into anger. You think killing Gu Dao will resolve the matter.
However, as a leader, you must remain calm. Even if the highest mountain crumbles before you, you cannot let your emotions control you.
Do not let anger cloud your judgment; it will only dull your mind. Do not let hatred guide your actions; it will erode your ability to make sound decisions.
Right now, the Xiao Clan holds an overwhelming advantage. Unless the situation drastically changes, you can afford to remain calm and patient.
And even if the Gu Clan somehow produces a Dou Di, what of it?
In the face of the Xiao Clan's absolute power, they are nothing more than a fleeting nuisance grasshoppers after the autumn frost, destined to fade quickly."
Understanding the Bigger Picture
Xiao Tiance poured Xiao Qing a cup of tea, taking a sip from his own as he waited.
After a long silence, Xiao Qing bowed respectfully. "Then, Third Uncle, what should we do now? Are we really going to let the Gu Clan send people into the Heavenly Tomb?"
What Is True Despair?
Xiao Tiance smiled faintly. Instead of answering directly, he posed a question.
"Qing'er, do you know when people feel true despair?"
"True despair? It must be when they see no hope," Xiao Qing replied without hesitation.
Xiao Tiance shook his head, his smile deepening.
"Not quite.
When people see no hope, they do despair but not the deepest kind.
In such cases, they might simply give up and resign themselves to their fate, no longer struggling."
"Let me tell you a story," Xiao Tiance began, his tone calm as he addressed Xiao Qing.
"Imagine a steel walled room, sealed so tightly that no air can enter. Inside this room are ordinary people, fast asleep. Because they cannot get fresh air, they will eventually suffocate.
Now, since they're asleep, they feel no pain and will die peacefully in their dreams.
But then, one person wakes up. That person begins shouting, waking up the others and making them aware of their impending doom. Do you think that person is doing the right thing?
These people could have died without ever experiencing fear or pain, but instead, they are forced to face the terror of imminent death.
This is exactly what the Gu Clan is doing now. Gu Yuan, Gu Dao, and their high ranking members are stirring everyone awake, trying desperately to break out of the 'steel room.'
But what they don't realize is that the Xiao Clan is that steel room. No matter how much effort they put in, they will never break free or find air to breathe.
And when that truth becomes clear to everyone in the Gu Clan, don't you think they will feel even greater despair? Worse, won't they blame the very people who woke them up?"
Xiao Qing's Revelation
Hearing the story, Xiao Qing broke into a cold sweat.
He had always known that his Third Uncle was a man of extraordinary wisdom, but this level of strategic insight and psychological manipulation left him in awe.
This wasn't merely intelligence; it was a terrifying mastery of human nature a confidence born from absolute control.
"True despair isn't about having no hope," Xiao Tiance continued.
"True despair is when people are given hope, only for that hope to be utterly shattered, leaving them to fall deeper into the abyss."
"Third Uncle," Xiao Qing hesitated before asking, "are you suggesting we let the Gu Clan send people into the Heavenly Tomb, give them the illusion of hope, and then let that hope be destroyed leaving them in complete despair?"
Xiao Tiance chuckled, his expression unreadable.
"Qing'er, you are the Xiao Clan Leader. Such decisions are for you to make. My role is simply to remind you of one thing:
As long as I am here, no matter how lofty the Gu Clan's ambitions or how far their plans reach, they will forever remain trapped in the world we create for them."
A Lesson in Leadership
Xiao Qing drew in a sharp breath, the implications of his uncle's words sending chills down his spine.
For the first time, he truly grasped the terrifying power of the man before him.
Living in the same era as Xiao Tiance was both a privilege and a curse.
"I understand, Third Uncle. I will handle this matter properly," Xiao Qing said, bowing respectfully.
Xiao Tiance's gaze softened slightly as he continued, "Good. However, there is another matter we must address your wife, Gu Yue.
No matter how much you care for her, or how talented she may be, she is no longer suitable to be the Xiao Clan's Matriarch."
The Price of Leadership
Xiao Qing's eyes widened in shock. "Third Uncle, Yue'er..."
Before he could finish, Xiao Tiance raised a hand to silence him.
"Qing'er," he said, his tone firm yet patient, "if you were just an ordinary member of the Xiao Clan, I would turn a blind eye to whatever choices you made regarding Gu Yue.
But you are not ordinary. You are the Xiao Clan Leader the ruler of an empire in all but name.
As the leader of the Xiao Clan, you must prioritize the interests of our clan above all else.
Gu Yue may love you sincerely, but her actions have already crossed the line. She has repeatedly placed the interests of the Gu Clan above those of the Xiao Clan.
Do you know what your people are saying about her? Many of them are dissatisfied, Qing'er.
The resources she has secretly funneled to the Gu Clan resources that rightfully belong to the Xiao Clan have not gone unnoticed.
Right now, they endure because the situation hasn't reached a breaking point. But if you continue to tolerate her actions, resentment will grow.
Remember, Qing'er, the people of the Xiao Clan are like water, and you are the boat. Water can carry a boat, but it can also overturn it."
A Difficult Choice
Xiao Tiance sighed and shook his head.
"Gu Yue is your wife, so out of respect for you, I will not deal with her personally.
However, you must make a choice:
You can keep her as a companion, treat her like a beloved songbird, and indulge her within a gilded cage. Or, you can expel her from Tianwaitian or even end her life if you deem it necessary.
No matter what you decide, I will not interfere. But understand this: as the Xiao Clan Leader, you cannot afford to let personal emotions dictate your decisions."
The Weight of the Past
Xiao Qing's mind raced, memories of the past flashing before his eyes.
He remembered the chaos a thousand years ago, when Xiao Xuan's attempt to break through to Dou Di had failed, and the Soul Clan sent over a hundred Dou Sheng experts to wipe out the Xiao Clan.
At the time, Xiao Tiance's initial decision had been to let the Soul Clan massacre the Xiao Clan's members to "remove the weeds and keep the healthy crops."
If Xiao Qing hadn't pleaded for mercy, Xiao Tiance might never have intervened to annihilate the Soul Clan's forces.
That ruthless decisiveness, combined with his absolute control, reminded Xiao Qing that his uncle's words were never idle threats.
Xiao Qing's Resolve
"I understand, Third Uncle," Xiao Qing said, bowing deeply.
(Chapter End)
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