My Father: Incapable of Success, Capable of Failure

"A common man's rage, blood flows five paces?"

Xu Lu looked at Situ Dao Sheng's back as he spurred his horse away, and couldn't help but chuckle.
He didn't know how to evaluate Situ Dao Sheng anymore.
To say he was a bad person, he could kneel before Xu Lu for the sake of Jiangdu City's common folk.
But to say he was a good person, it didn't seem that simple either.

"Too naive."

Xu Lu could only give him such an assessment.
Did Situ Dao Sheng think that by saying a few words, Xu Lu would be filled with righteous fervor, lead his men to fight to the death with the Tian Gong Eight Great Families, break the siege, and lead the flames of war elsewhere?
Not to mention that Xu Lu and Workshop No. 65 were currently no match for the Tian Gong Eight Great Families.
Even if Xu Lu had the strength to break the siege, he couldn't abandon the base he had painstakingly built for so long.
Workshop No. 65 had only just taken its initial shape; how could Xu Lu abandon it now?
If he abandoned it now, wouldn't all his efforts be in vain?
He could actively leave Jiangdu City and hide in the wilderness outside the city; that was already showing utmost concern and help.
From a rational perspective, Xu Lu should currently occupy Jiangdu City and seize all its resources for himself; that would be the best strategy.
In fact, Di Wu Huo Rong and Mei Jiu Qu had both mentioned this point to him.
Xu Lu had no intention of attacking Jiangdu City, yet Situ Dao Sheng still wanted Xu Lu to sacrifice himself to preserve Jiangdu City.
If this wasn't naive, what was it?

"Come out, stop hiding."

Xu Lu turned his head to look in a direction and spoke.
With a rustle, a figure emerged from the bushes.

"Are you hating me?"

Xu Lu looked at Situ Yan Qing and spoke, "I humiliated your father like that; do you hate me so much you wish to kill me?"

"No."

Situ Yan Qing's expression was somewhat complex as she shook her head and said, "I know that sometimes my father's thoughts are too childish."
Xu Lu looked at Situ Yan Qing with some surprise.
Situ Yan Qing was not a person with this kind of personality.
She was always one to roll up her sleeves and get things done.
If she had any grievances, she would absolutely not let herself suffer.

"My father has no idea what Secret Cultivation means, and he doesn't understand what kind of people are besieging Jiangdu."

Situ Yan Qing clenched her fists and said, "You're not wrong; those people are not human! They simply don't value human lives! My father thinks that if Workshop No. 65 leaves, they won't harm Jiangdu City's common folk. But those people, when they besieged Jiangdu, I'm afraid they had no intention of letting anyone go."

"You think so?"

Xu Lu was slightly surprised.
Situ Yan Qing would also consider these issues?

"I saw it with my own eyes."

Situ Yan Qing said seriously, "Before, when you sent Qi Huang Jia and the others to collect debts, I let them go. As a result, they encountered people from Tian Gong. I saw with my own eyes how brutal the Tian Gong people were!"
Situ Yan Qing's eyes were red-rimmed.
If Luo Jing Qi hadn't intervened, her subordinates would have almost all been killed or injured.
Situ Yan Qing had personally witnessed how cruel the Tian Gong people were when they killed.
Situ Yan Qing, who used to lead Qingfeng Stronghold in conquests, had also killed people, and quite a few at that.
But even in a life-and-death struggle between mountain strongholds, where everyone fought each other, it wasn't as brutal as the Tian Gong people.
Those people killed as if humans were not human.

"You can't blame your father either."

Xu Lu sighed, "He has never been exposed to the brutal side of those people."

"Xu Lu, if you spared Jiangdu City out of consideration for me..."

Situ Yan Qing bit her lip, looked up at Xu Lu, and said, "Then you can make your move now! I support you in taking Jiangdu City! I feel that you are more suitable to be Jiangdu City Lord than my father. I only hope that, at that time, you can let my father enjoy his old age in peace!"

"You support me in taking Jiangdu City?"

Xu Lu was momentarily dumbfounded.
This father and daughter, Situ Dao Sheng and Situ Yan Qing, were truly interesting.
One feared he coveted Jiangdu City, while the other encouraged him to occupy it.

"Yes!"

Situ Yan Qing said seriously, "I know what kind of person my father is. Others think he is just and incorruptible, but in reality, he is indecisive. In times of peace, he makes a very good City Lord. But in the current situation, he is completely unsuitable to continue as City Lord. He will only lead Jiangdu City to its demise. If you agree, I can personally lead people into the city and force my father to yield the position of City Lord!"
Situ Yan Qing was indeed still the decisive Situ Yan Qing.
If she wanted to do something, she would roll up her sleeves and do it.
Completely without overthinking.
Xu Lu actually admired Situ Yan Qing's decisive personality.
Such a personality could save one a lot of trouble.
If it were Xue Huan, and he treated her father like this, Xue Huan might not have thought so much.
Of course, Xue Huan had her strengths; there was nothing to compare.

"That won't be necessary."

Xu Lu said, "I have no interest in being City Lord. Moreover, occupying Jiangdu City now wouldn't bring much benefit; there's no need to do such a futile thing."
Being the City Lord of a city wasn't just about occupying territory.
One also had to feed the several million inhabitants of Jiangdu City.
This was not an easy task.
Hadn't Situ Dao Sheng knelt before Xu Lu for the sake of the city's common folk?
Xu Lu didn't want to fall into Situ Dao Sheng's predicament.
He couldn't even feed the few people in Workshop No. 65 right now; how could he have the capability to feed all the common folk of Jiangdu City?
As for plundering Jiangdu City and then abandoning its people to their fate, Xu Lu couldn't do such a heartless thing either.
So, he simply didn't get involved with Jiangdu City.
After all, the benefits in Jiangdu City were not that important to Xu Lu.
In other words, Xu Lu didn't care for Jiangdu City.

"No, Xu Lu."

Situ Yan Qing said, "Our Workshop No. 65 is currently extremely short on money, and Jiangdu City has it. I'll tell you, Jiangdu City is the richest city in the Southern Province; there are countless wealthy people here. You just need to become City Lord, and you can make them hand over their money. By then, our Workshop No. 65 won't have to worry about being short on funds."
After all, she used to be a Stronghold Master, so she spoke of looting so naturally.
If Situ Dao Sheng heard these words from Situ Yan Qing, he might not know whether to be happy that his daughter had grown up.
Xu Lu thought to himself, but still shook his head and said, "Occupying Jiangdu City now won't do much to solve our current predicament, and it will also add many burdens. When we suppress the Tian Gong Eight Great Families, wanting Jiangdu City will be even more useless. Our Workshop No. 65 can become a self-sufficient city on its own. Jiangdu City's population is too large; it's like a tail too big to wag."
Situ Yan Qing frowned. She had gone to great lengths to convince herself to say these words to Xu Lu.
As a result, Xu Lu told her that Jiangdu City was completely unworthy of his effort?

"But, Xu Lu, you don't understand my father. He is incompetent in accomplishing, yet proficient in ruining."

Situ Yan Qing argued for a while, then spoke.
Xu Lu: "..."
Could someone really speak of their father like that?
But thinking about it carefully, Situ Dao Sheng was indeed incompetent in accomplishing, yet proficient in ruining.
Driving Xu Lu out of Jiangdu City earlier was a bad move.
If Xu Lu hadn't been magnanimous, if he were truly the Young Master of Tian Gong, he could have directly dealt with Jiangdu City.
Situ Dao Sheng was also lucky to have met Xu Lu.
If it were someone else, Situ Dao Sheng would have long since been utterly destroyed.
Now Situ Dao Sheng was starting to ponder trivial matters again; who knew what else he might do?
If he truly colluded with the Tian Gong Eight Great Families and led people here first, Xu Lu, even if unwilling, would only be able to deal with him.
Situ Yan Qing truly understood her father.

"Therefore, Xu Lu, to prevent any unforeseen circumstances, you should still become City Lord."

Situ Yan Qing continued, "You don't need to do anything; I will bring the old Qingfeng Stronghold members and can take over Jiangdu City. By then, you just need to show up and let everyone know you are the Jiangdu City Lord. I will handle my father!"
Situ Yan Qing led step by step, wanting to give her family's legacy to Xu Lu.
Xu Lu was somewhat dumbfounded.

"Even if you can truly control your father, what about the Bohai Marquis?"

Xu Lu said, "Jiangdu City is also the Bohai Marquis's fiefdom. If he doesn't agree, Jiangdu City won't change hands."
Bohai Marquis Xue Dao Zhi was the official "head" of Jiangdu City, while Situ Dao Sheng was the "second-in-command."
But Bohai Marquis Xue Dao Zhi was too modest, so he often had no sense of presence.
However, having no sense of presence and not existing were two different things.
In fact, Bohai Marquis Xue Dao Zhi still held a very important position in Jiangdu City.
If he didn't agree, no one could become Jiangdu City Lord.

"He has no interest in secular power whatsoever. He doesn't even want to be the Bohai Marquis. If you become Jiangdu City Lord, he definitely won't object. If he dares to object, I'll have my senior cousin deal with him!"

Situ Yan Qing said confidently.
Her senior cousin was Xue Huan, also the Bohai Marquis's only daughter, and currently Xu Lu's disciple.
Situ Yan Qing couldn't think of any reason why her uncle would object.
Even if he wanted to object, it would be a futile objection.
She was directly starting a rebellion.

"Jiangdu City also has the City Guard Army."

Xu Lu was a little helpless. Situ Yan Qing was determined to rebel against her father.
Was this the so-called "donning the imperial robe, having no choice but to rule"?
Xu Lu truly couldn't bear to refuse Situ Yan Qing's good intentions.

"Just a few thousand City Guard Army soldiers? I'm not boasting, the army I trained at Qingfeng Stronghold is absolutely the elite of the elite; they can completely defeat the Jiangdu City Guard Army."

Situ Yan Qing said confidently.
Under her command, there were not only Secret Cultivators like Qi Huang Jia, but also many Strength Cultivators.
Moreover, she had used the art of military training taught by Master Bai to train the mountain bandits under her command.
There was a reason why she had led Qingfeng Stronghold to sweep through the bandit world.

"You've said all this; what more can I say?"

Xu Lu spread his hands and said, "I'll say this first: I'm very busy right now and don't have time to help you. Workshop No. 65 also cannot spare any manpower or resources. So, this matter can only be handled by yourself. You can try; if it succeeds, it succeeds; if not, then so be it. Don't cause too much bloodshed, understand?"

"Understood!"

Situ Yan Qing saluted in a military fashion, her posture heroic.

"I knew it; you're not like those brutal people from Tian Gong. You don't like killing."

Situ Yan Qing said happily.
Xu Lu glanced at her. Not liking killing, when did that become an advantage?
Isn't not killing people something one should do?

"Xu Lu, don't worry, I will definitely ensure you smoothly become City Lord."

Situ Yan Qing said.
Xu Lu waved his hand. He didn't care about being City Lord or not; as long as Situ Dao Sheng didn't interfere with his affairs, that was enough.

"Whether you can occupy Jiangdu City or not isn't important. The most important thing is that you must ensure your father doesn't do anything that harms our Workshop No. 65. Otherwise, even if I want to give you face and not hold it against him, the others in Workshop No. 65 won't agree."

Xu Lu said sternly, "Your father, even if he cannot become our friend, I don't want him to become our enemy."
Situ Yan Qing nodded solemnly and said, "I understand. I understand my father better than you; I guarantee I won't let him mess things up!"
Why was Situ Yan Qing so proactive in doing this? Wasn't it to prevent her father and Xu Lu from becoming enemies?
If her father truly did something irreversible, at that time, would she help her father or Xu Lu?
Helping either would be a hurdle in her heart.
Therefore, Situ Yan Qing decisively chose the simplest method.
That was to seize her father's position as City Lord.
This was Situ Yan Qing's personality.
She wouldn't play any schemes or tricks. Her forte was to resolve things decisively, directly addressing the core.
As long as her father was no longer the Jiangdu City Lord, the conflict between her father and Xu Lu would disappear.
Directly resolving the core of the conflict would prevent future troubles.
Situ Yan Qing even praised herself for being clever.
As for her father kneeling before Xu Lu just now, in Situ Yan Qing's eyes, it was just a small matter.
Her old man was sometimes just that stubborn.
If he was willing to do such a thing for the common folk of Jiangdu City, then let him do it.
Suffering a little loss was also good for the old man.
One had to admit, Situ Yan Qing's magnanimity was truly vast.
Xu Lu smiled and shook his head. Such a girl was rare even in his previous life.
He truly didn't know how such an old-fashioned man like Situ Dao Sheng managed to raise such a heroic girl.

"You also need to be careful. Don't forget, beside your father, there are also high-level Strength Cultivators guarding him. If he truly turns against you, you might not be able to control him."

Xu Lu reminded Situ Yan Qing.
Although Situ Dao Sheng might not necessarily harm Situ Yan Qing, if he truly captured Situ Yan Qing, Xu Lu would inevitably have to intervene.

"I know."

Situ Yan Qing said proudly, "The City Lord's Manor's high-level Strength Cultivators will absolutely not lay a hand on me. If given a choice, they would help me, not my father. I am still very confident about this. That old stubborn man of mine is not popular. I am saving him from his old age!"..