Since it's already like this, might as well memorize a bit more.

Miaoyuan Temple.

Chen Baiqing reached out and tapped the table lightly, looking at the deeply conflicted face of Wu Wang with a calm expression.

Even the most difficult choice only takes a moment of gritting one's teeth to finalize—all it lacks is someone to give a little push.

But the unease that follows a decision and the terror of its uncertainty are what truly torment a person's mind.

Especially when doing something one knows to be wrong.

Inner turmoil would turn into a whip, striking directly at the soul.

Wu Wang's decision was already set in stone. In his moment of hesitation, he didn't need others to bewitch him; a single word of affirmation was enough.

Perhaps that one phrase—If I do not descend into hell, who will?—had precisely captured Wu Wang's heart.

Chen Baiqing did not speak to comfort Wu Wang.

For one, she disliked monks.

Secondly, she wouldn't comfort anyone outside her own sect, except when absolutely necessary.

Strictly speaking, now that Wu Wang had made his decision, he basically had no more use in Chen Baiqing's eyes.

It was just that, in case of the unexpected, this monk might still have some lingering value to be exploited.

Sitting here for a while would settle the monk's mind, and at the same time, allow her to make minor adjustments according to her own intentions.

When Eldest Senior Sister returned with Cui Hao, she had also come to ask about Wu Wang's decision. However, Wu Wang, who had already made up his mind, merely made excuses to think it over further.

Eldest Senior Sister had gone out to take a look and seemed to have made a judgment on the current situation—at the very least, there was still some buffer time.

Therefore, she didn't truly force Wu Wang to make a decision on the spot.

Second Senior Brother, just as initially expected, hadn't said anything to Eldest Senior Sister.

Sometimes, the seemingly simplest methods were the most lethal.

No flaws, no deception; almost everything was, in fact, the truth.

But Eldest Senior Sister didn't know that the seemingly stable situation was about to descend into madness.

Countless facts had proven one thing—it is not easy to do something well.

However, steering a situation from bad to worse was much simpler.

Especially when the Buddhist faction, which had been wavering and trying to appease everyone's anger, completely took a side.

Slogans were born out of nowhere from the Hinayana Buddhism.

Wealth and rank are not destined; life is uncertain.

The Golden Lotus has no seat; compassion is endless.

Ambiguous phrases, through various interpretations, all turned into extremely sharp blades aimed straight at the noble families.

Various twisted interpretations were told to those who wanted to hear them, making them believe it was the truth, an ironclad law.

Wealth and rank are not destined. If it is you today, why couldn't it be me tomorrow?

Overthrow the noble families, and your wealth today shall become my wealth!

The Buddhist faction was no longer the cornerstone balancing the two sides; instead, it became the backer of one. Hinayana Buddhism was held high, with the Buddhist faction secretly nodding in approval from behind.

All of this gave far too many people an illusion.

The timing and the mandate of heaven are both here at this moment. If not now, when?

News from many Buddhist temples gathered at Miaoyuan Temple. Countless methods and means to overthrow the noble families, and even absurd proposals to start a frontal clash with the army, arrived on Wu Wang's desk.

Truly, the bolder the courage, the more insane the ideas.

However, the current Wu Wang truly only had the right to be informed.

The attitude of the Buddhist faction could no longer waver.

"If Hinayana Buddhism continues to be promoted like this, the Cangwu Kingdom will definitely be turned upside down." Wu Wang turned his gaze, staring at Chen Baiqing, "With the noble families being overthrown and such overwhelming momentum, how could the Emperor sleep peacefully? Suppression is inevitable."

Hearing his questioning, Chen Baiqing finally stopped her movements and answered in a calm tone:

"Oh? You only realize this now?"

Hearing this, Wu Wang took a deep breath and asked coldly:

"In that case, you knew all along. Why didn't you remind me?"

Chen Baiqing met his gaze without showing any weakness:

"Naturally, it's because I thought you weren't that stupid and could see the most obvious situation. I just didn't expect you to truly be this stupid."

"Since you asked such a stupid question today, I will explain clearly what will happen in the future."

"The Cangwu Kingdom will naturally suppress Hinayana Buddhism, even treating it directly as a rebellion, and will massacre people because of it."

"If the Buddhist faction hadn't been dragged down by you and forced to intervene, the winners of this war would naturally be the noble families and the Emperor."

"Farmers who only know how to plow the fields, unless truly driven to a dead end, will compromise in order to survive."

"Moreover, they absolutely cannot defeat armored soldiers."

"The current situation is just a group of people swept up by emotions, trying to reach out for the things they once desired the most."

"But once the butcher's knife falls, the fear of death will awaken them from their greed."

"Looking through history, the succession of great dynasties only happens when there is no way to survive. Only a life-and-death struggle with no way out will make them unable to stop."

Wu Wang took a deep breath before asking:

"If everyone is dead, what is the point of promoting Hinayana Buddhism?"

Chen Baiqing calmly replied:

"My master once told me an unfinished story. The general idea was about killing and burning, only to eventually accept amnesty."

"If we don't intervene, the ending is naturally doomed, but will you do nothing?"

"Hinayana Buddhism is ultimately the weaker side, but it is also the side with nothing to lose."

"The noble families consider their lives precious; how could they be willing to trade lives with a bunch of peasants?"

"It's just about wealth. The noble families will part with their money to save their lives, and once the money is distributed, it will be enough for Hinayana Buddhism to stop."

"The initial fury is inevitable, but knowing when to stop later on is also inevitable."

"Therefore, the future path for Hinayana Buddhism is—kill! Burn! Accept amnesty!"

Having said that, Chen Baiqing finally shook her head somewhat helplessly and said:

"It's no wonder you managed to make things turn out this way. After all, if one is stupid, this is indeed the result."

"Now you know what you should do, but what you really should worry about is my Eldest Senior Sister."

"If she knew this was your plan, I'm afraid she wouldn't wait patiently. So, you need to agree to her before my Eldest Senior Sister loses her patience."

Chen Baiqing leisurely stood up, turned, and walked outside, speaking at the same time:

"Right now, I came today to ask you on behalf of my Senior Sister whether you agree or not. Your answer is that you need to think about it."

"In the future, it probably won't be me coming. You don't need to pay attention to my Second Senior Brother."

"The one you need to be careful of is the one named Cui Hao. If he is the one who comes, I suggest you just agree directly and coax him to leave."

Hearing this, Wu Wang asked:

"Cui Hao? The one your Senior Sister took out tied up?"

Chen Baiqing nodded slightly, standing at the door and answering:

"Don't underestimate him. In certain matters, he is even more perceptive than my Eldest Senior Sister."

"Understood," Wu Wang nodded.

Chen Baiqing didn't say anything more. Today's task of urging from her Eldest Senior Sister was considered complete.

She still had to report back to her Eldest Senior Sister upon returning.

How should she phrase it?

She had promised her master before, so it was better to tell the truth.

She would just say that Wu Wang might have other ideas, or perhaps other support, and is temporarily unwilling to push forward Eldest Senior Sister's idea.

After all, Wu Wang was already in hell.

Taking on a bit more blame at this point probably wouldn't matter anyway, right?

Just treat it as Wu Wang delivering this pitiful soul of mine.

With his mind made up, Chen Baiqing's footsteps grew noticeably lighter.