Upon hearing these words, Uncle Alhan’s eyes immediately lit up, nodding repeatedly and excitedly repeating Qin Yining’s words to the Chagan Bala brothers behind him, causing other Minuo tribe members to also nod in agreement.

Liao Zhibing smiled and said: “Raising this parasite is somewhat difficult, but it’s not impossible. How about this – you find someone clever, and I’ll teach him for a while. I’ll leave once he’s learned it.”

Uncle Alhan nodded repeatedly, expressing endless gratitude to Liao Zhibing.

Seeing the expressions on Uncle Alhan and the others’ faces, Qin Yining knew they agreed to stay and no longer strongly insisted on following them to Great Zhou. She couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief.

If all the tribe members followed them to Great Zhou, how could she and Pang Xiao guarantee their safety when they themselves were in danger? Moreover, if the Tatar tribe members truly got involved in Great Zhou’s affairs, the situation would become even more complex. She didn’t want to make things more difficult for Pang Xiao, nor did she want the tribe members to take risks with them. Having the tribe members stay here, no longer oppressed and exploited by Si Qin, able to live freely and establish a new nation – this was the best choice for them.

She stood up, pulling Pang Xiao along and calling to Lu Heng. The three quietly walked away together, leaving the space for the tribe members who were communicating enthusiastically.

Qin Yining took a deep breath and sighed softly: “Such carefree air – we won’t have this when we return to Great Zhou.”

Pang Xiao couldn’t help but sigh as well. His large hand patted her shoulder, his eyes filled with indescribable tenderness and guilt. If she hadn’t married him, Qin Yining could have lived a more prosperous and stable life, and wouldn’t have to live like this now – unable to return home, wandering and suffering outside.

Even without him speaking, Qin Yining could understand Pang Xiao’s feelings, so she raised her delicate hand to gently pat his large hand.

Her hand was pale and slender, forming a striking contrast with Pang Xiao’s distinct knuckles – one soft, one strong.

Lu Heng withdrew his gaze from Qin Yining’s shoulder, pressing his lips together as he looked into the distance. A gust of wind blew toward them, stirring the loose hair by Lu Heng’s temples. His already pale complexion appeared even paler.

Pang Xiao said: “Brother Lu, you already know about what happened in your family, right?”

Lu Heng nodded and said gravely: “I heard about it from Guard Cao last time. But I don’t know the recent situation.”

“Elder Lu is seriously ill, and the situation doesn’t look optimistic. The current head of the Lu family is Second Master. But Brother Lu needn’t worry too much. I can see that Elder Lu has a resilient character and won’t give up easily. Brother Lu can set your mind at ease and shouldn’t torment yourself too much – you must prioritize your health.”

Pang Xiao could tell that Lu Heng’s physical condition was like Qin Yining’s – equally worn down and damaged. It was clear that during their time wandering outside, they hadn’t lived well either.

Although Lu Heng worried about his family, having grown up in such a great household, he had long adapted to these complex matters. What truly tormented his heart was his unrequited feelings for Qin Yining.

However, seeing that Pang Xiao had misunderstood, he naturally wouldn’t deliberately explain this matter. Though he couldn’t obtain Qin Yining’s love, he had already gained her friendship, and he believed he wasn’t completely without a place in Qin Yining’s heart – this was already the best situation.

What Lu Heng wanted was to be able to stand by her side long-term. Naturally, he couldn’t let Pang Xiao misunderstand his presence or affect the couple’s relationship.

But thinking of his grandfather who loved and had high hopes for him, Lu Heng’s heart still burned like fire, and he lowered his head in guilt.

“It’s all my fault.”

If he hadn’t been so stubborn back then and insisted on getting the treasure map, none of the subsequent events would have happened. His grandfather had trained him as the next family head for so many years, but now because of his mistake, all their plans had been overturned, years of arrangements had become bubbles, and his grandfather’s life hung in the balance. Lu Heng’s heart truly felt more painful than being stabbed by knives.

Seeing him so dejected, both Pang Xiao and Qin Yining could understand. Qin Yining didn’t know how to comfort Lu Heng for a moment. Instead, Pang Xiao spoke up.

“Since things have come to this, self-blame is useless. The important thing is to figure out how to solve the problem. I think Brother Lu has operated in the Lu family for many years and was trained as the next generation family head. Your connections and capabilities should be more than just this little bit.”

Hearing this, Lu Heng looked up at Pang Xiao. Seeing his spirited appearance and hopeful outlook for the future despite their predicament, he immediately felt that his earlier behavior had been somewhat unmanly.

He took a deep breath and said: “You’re right. If we’re talking about arrangements and control within the Lu family, I do have confidence. But there are some things the Prince doesn’t know about. The Lu family is a great household with a hundred years of heritage, and naturally has certain rules.”

Pang Xiao nodded: “The Lu family is a hereditary household, passed down for a hundred years, with heritage dating back to the founding of the Northern Ji Kingdom. Naturally, it has its own rules.”

Lu Heng smiled and nodded: “For a hereditary family to be passed down for a hundred years and remain standing, it must have a set of principles that adapt to the times. I’m not afraid to tell the Prince – the reason the Lu family has survived through all the rulers of the Northern Ji dynasty and gained favor after Great Zhou’s founding is that our family has always adhered to one principle: being eternal ‘royalists.'”

Upon hearing the term ‘royalists,’ Pang Xiao understood. It seemed the Lu family’s so-called “royalism” wasn’t about supporting whoever was emperor, but supporting whoever had the chance to ultimately become emperor.

Pang Xiao smiled: “In plain terms, the Lu family is quite good at choosing which side to support.”

Lu Heng nodded approvingly and smiled: “The Prince is a perceptive person and must understand the deeper meaning. Over these many years, there have indeed been palace coups and such, but the Lu family has always been able to choose the correct side to support, always earning the royal family’s trust. This is why our hereditary family has been able to survive and grow strong on this land like an old tree with deep roots.”

Listening to their conversation, Qin Yining couldn’t help but say: “So you mean your current situation isn’t because you lack the ability to compete with your second uncle, but because of your family’s hereditary rules. Since you’ve already fallen out of the Emperor’s favor, you’ve become a discarded piece. As a discarded piece, you must have the awareness of being discarded – like a gecko shedding its tail, you are that severed tail. Now you can only remain silent and cannot obstruct other Lu family members from continuing to choose sides?”

“That’s exactly what I mean.” Lu Heng sighed: “Before the interests of the entire Lu family, my personal gains and losses are no longer important.”

Upon hearing this, both Pang Xiao and Qin Yining nodded in understanding.

Lu Heng’s thinking was correct, and it was precisely because every generation of the Lu family had many people like Lu Heng with such thinking that the Lu family had been able to survive to this day.

“If that’s the case, staying here would actually be a better choice for you. Returning to Great Zhou would mean facing bloody storms. You’d have to face not only pressure from various political factions in court, but also internal pressure from your Lu clan and pressure from the Emperor’s side. Since your family already has such rules and you accept them, wouldn’t it be better to stay and live freely from now on?”

“I understand the Prince’s meaning, but some responsibilities cannot be easily avoided. If I stay, I might suffer from my conscience for the rest of my life.”

Lu Heng’s words resonated deeply with both Pang Xiao and Qin Yining.

They shared the same situation as Lu Heng. Even knowing that staying here would allow them to live like immortal couples, no longer needing to consider those complicated intrigues and deceptions, they still had to return to Great Zhou to face the coming storms. Because they couldn’t leave all the mess for their elders to handle.

Pang Xiao then asked: “What are your plans after returning?”

Lu Heng pressed his lips together, and after a long while said: “Perhaps every great family’s downfall has someone like me who disregards the bigger picture and causes trouble from within.”

Qin Yining and Pang Xiao exchanged a glance, already understanding his meaning from his words.

He wasn’t planning to let his second uncle take the family head position.

Seeing Lu Heng’s conflicted and guilty expression, Qin Yining smiled and consoled: “Who can say for certain what the future holds? If the family’s inclination goes entirely one way, who can guarantee that your second uncle’s choice is correct? Having both sides balanced is the best strategy. This way, no matter which side’s choice is correct, one branch of the Lu family will always continue. It’s much safer than putting all eggs in one basket.”

Lu Heng was first stunned, then his eyes lit up, and he said softly: “You’re right. I was being stubborn and actually became obsessed over this matter.”

The depression that had been weighing on his heart was actually resolved by Qin Yining’s single sentence.

Lu Heng had always been confident in his decision-making abilities, but such long-term wandering had completely worn down his confidence.

But thinking of the situation in the capital and his grandfather who cared for him so much, he pulled himself together.

Sometimes, reality simply didn’t allow him any retreat – he had to be strong.

Although Lu Heng’s complexion was still somewhat pale, his smile was exceptionally firm. It was as if the large stone pressing on his heart had been moved away, and he could finally breathe freely.

After thinking, Qin Yining said: “Since you’ve made your decision, once we leave the desert and reach a safe area, I’ll ask Aunt Cao to secretly escort you across the border. If you travel with us and people find out, they’ll inevitably be suspicious of you behind your back.”

Lu Heng had originally been reluctant to part from Qin Yining. But since Qin Yining had reunited with Pang Xiao, constantly staying by their side would be meaningless. Moreover, he wasn’t someone who couldn’t let go. There were more important matters waiting for him now. If he developed well, he could also help Pang Xiao and Qin Yining.

Thinking of this, Lu Heng no longer hesitated and nodded: “Separating from you would indeed be better. Then I’ll have to trouble you.”

Qin Yining smiled: “You and I can be considered comrades through life and death. Why thank me? Wouldn’t that make us seem distant?”

Qin Yining’s thoughts were frank and open, so her smile and tone at this moment were very natural. This made it inappropriate for Lu Heng to overthink, as if using romantic thoughts about her would be a desecration of this friendship.

Therefore, Lu Heng just nodded and smiled: “You’re right.”