Chapter 79: Destroy What You Care About Most

Luo Changning remembered that in his previous life on the Earth Dragon Continent, there was a period when he became deeply fascinated by online novels.

After all, he had already read nearly all the books in the orphanage’s library by then, and the director, of course, was not about to heed the request of a disabled orphan to spend money on new books. Thus, Luo Changning could only resort to the internet to read pirated online novels.

As for why he chose web novels instead of digital versions of traditional books, it was because of his particular obsession with the sanctity of books.

In his heart, he stubbornly believed that truly meaningful books should never be read in digital form. Only when paper slips through one’s fingers can one truly appreciate the essence and charm within.

Moreover, due to his disability, he had always been confined to the small orphanage and had never glimpsed the outside world.

Yet, Luo Changning was still just a boy and yearned for the youthful days his peers enjoyed but that he could never have. And so, he could only immerse himself in online novels to experience the stirrings of youth through the lives of others.

That was how, one day, he chanced upon a modern urban CEO novel. The protagonist appeared on the surface as the king of an economic empire, but in the shadows, he was a kingpin trafficking arms in the underworld.

Luo Changning remembered how the CEO told the heroine: trafficking arms and building underworld power was all to protect the economic kingdom he had established.

Indeed, the reason that CEO strove to stand atop his economic empire was to harness its power and make his way into politics, to ascend to that supreme position.

Martial strength served as a shield for business, and a powerful financial base granted one the unshakable confidence needed to stand tall in politics—a masterful trump card.

Luo Changning thought the domineering CEO’s words made perfect sense. If one seeks true success, one must first possess great strength to protect what is theirs from being taken by others.

Luo Changning admitted that his current martial skills were far from sufficient to safeguard what he possessed, but that did not stop him from developing his own influence before he became truly powerful.

In Luo Changning’s plan, the first step was to gather those beggars and orphans with potential under his wing and slowly nurture their talents, helping them become strong.

He would then assign them to suitable roles according to their abilities—assassins, merchants, officials, spies for gathering intelligence—none of these talents could be lacking!

Step by step, Luo Changning would place them where they belonged, infiltrating every industry across the Qianwu Kingdom.

Beyond that, he even sought to establish a new faction—one that would surpass the Beggar’s Sect at its peak and become the foremost force of its age!

Of course, until his wings were strong enough, he would not let the martial world realize that a new sect was rising. Instead, he would quietly take control of the economy along the Thirteen Thoroughfares, until at last, he held the very lifeblood of Qianwu’s commerce in his grasp.

With more money, Luo Changning could better develop his power. In this way, he would be able to achieve far more.

Of course, he would never reveal that he was the true mastermind behind the faction until the very end.

For besides all this, Luo Changning had an even more dangerous and perilous plan—one that led him closer to his enemies: if you do not enter the tiger’s den, how can you capture its cub?

Luo Changning thought: there is nothing more exhilarating or direct than standing openly before your enemy to exact your revenge.

Gaining the trust and favor of Dugu Bancheng would give him a better chance than plotting assassination from the shadows.

After all, Dugu Bancheng had already reached the Transcendent Realm, a height Luo Changning could not yet hope to attain. And even if, in the end, he did reach that level, so what?

Dugu Bancheng was the sovereign of a kingdom, surrounded by countless powerful warriors, many of whom had attained the Transcendent Realm themselves.

Not to mention, beyond his visible power, Dugu Bancheng surely had hidden resources as well. The royal court, military, shadow guards, the Hall of Imperial Offerings—these were all his talismans of survival, mighty and unbreakable.

Only by infiltrating the enemy camp and weakening their power from within could Luo Changning safely crush his foes without endangering himself.

It was not that Luo Changning clung to life or feared death, but now, he was no longer alone. There were people he wished to protect. He could not risk his aunt’s safety for the sake of revenge.

Otherwise, even if he succeeded in killing Dugu Bancheng, what would it gain him?

He and his aunt would face endless pursuit and never know peace.

Moreover, Dugu Bancheng was not the only one Luo Changning sought vengeance against; he wanted to destroy the entire Qianwu Kingdom.

After all, it was for the golden throne—that symbol of ultimate power—that Dugu Bancheng launched his coup, plunging Fengyan's people into chaos and leading to Luo Feng's death on the battlefield.

Qianwu was built atop the blood of countless innocents, including Luo Changning’s own parents. How could he allow it to stand?

Since Dugu Bancheng’s ascent to the golden throne had cost him what he cherished most, Luo Changning would destroy Qianwu as well, and take from Dugu Bancheng the one thing he valued above all else, to finally quell the hatred in his heart.

After giving Chen Lin his instructions, Luo Changning made his way toward his room.

He had barely reached the door when he spotted Ma Xue’e standing there alone, clearly having waited for him a long time.

Beside her, the big clumsy bear sat on the ground with a look of deep grievance, its massive head nodding drowsily. It was obviously exhausted but forced itself to stay awake.

Luo Changning thought that if the big bear could talk, it would surely complain about its master mistreating animals—staying up all night herself and dragging it along to wait as well.

The image made Luo Changning laugh out loud.

Ma Xue’e had been hanging her head, looking listless, but the moment she heard Luo Changning’s quiet laughter, she seemed instantly revived. With a swish, she lifted her head and looked at him.

Soon, she ran over to Luo Changning with a bright, delighted smile. At this moment, Ma Xue’e had already regained her true appearance—radiant and lovely, impossible not to pity. Luo Changning’s own smile grew even more dazzling at the sight.

Ma Xue’e, forgetting all propriety, threw herself into Luo Changning’s arms, her little hands clinging tightly around his waist, her fuzzy head nestled against his chest.

Luo Changning couldn’t bear to push her away and simply let her hold him.

After a long while, Ma Xue’e murmured softly, “Tomorrow, Brother Changning and Aunt Su, you’re both leaving. I really don’t want to see you go.”

Luo Changning was moved. He reached out and gently ruffled Ma Xue’e’s soft hair.

He said tenderly, “Don’t worry, Xue’e. Whenever I have time, I’ll come back to see you.”

Ma Xue’e kept her head buried in his chest, refusing to look up.

For some reason, seeing Ma Xue’e like this reminded Luo Changning of a rabbit—soft, adorable, and irresistibly endearing.

Off to the side, the big bear, looking particularly lonely, rolled its eyes dramatically at the embracing pair, as if protesting that they had forgotten all about its existence.