Chapter 58: He Truly Is Generous and Selfless, Daring to Take the Lead for All Under Heaven

Suddenly, there was a loud bang!

King Zhou fell to his knees before Chu Xiaoyu, bowing deeply. “Sir, I beg you to save me, to save my kingdom.”

“If you wish to save yourself, only self-redemption will do,” Chu Xiaoyu replied leisurely.

King Zhou looked thoroughly confused. “Sir, your words... I don’t quite understand.”

“My words are simple: cherish your wise ministers, distance yourself from petty men. As for Su Daji—if events unfold according to the old course of history, she will enter the palace. When that time comes, everything will depend on the choices you make.”

“If you choose to indulge in the company of a beauty and neglect your country, then the Shang dynasty will have only twenty-eight years left to its fate.”

“But if you can treat beauty as filth and remain unswayed, then let me congratulate you in advance. You’ll have already stepped off the beaten path of history and onto a broad, sunlit road. The future of your nation will be brilliant, long and splendid.”

“It’s a simple choice, like the ones schoolchildren make on their tests—nothing complicated.”

Though he didn’t quite grasp the analogy about schoolchildren and their choices, King Zhou was certain of one thing: compared to a woman, the fate of a nation mattered far more.

If the country fell, there would be no home left—what woman could there be to speak of? That would be nothing but a fanciful dream.

What truly chilled King Zhou to the core was how future generations would judge him—a tyrant, the destroyer of his own realm? He could not accept such a fate.

The Shang dynasty had lasted half a millennium—why, then, must he, the last emperor, become its captive? Such a tragedy must not come to pass.

He had to turn the tide!

“I choose my country,” he declared, without a moment’s hesitation, his voice unwavering.

Clap, clap!

Chu Xiaoyu applauded. “Excellent. What man ever truly lacks for a wife? As for a mere woman, no matter how stunning she may be, in the end, she’s but a fox spirit in disguise. Here, let me offer you a little strategy. When you return, do exactly as I say...”

Chu Xiaoyu whispered a secret plan, and as King Zhou listened, an odd expression flickered across his face.

Was the gentleman really going to personally instruct Su Daji?

Remarkable! Truly, the gentleman was selfless and bold, willing to act for the sake of all. Such a man—one could hardly have too many like him.

The two of them spoke at length, so engrossed that they forgot the very passage of time.

During the conversation, Chu Xiaoyu made sure to pass on some knowledge from the modern age—progressive ideas, advanced concepts. Whether King Zhou could accept, digest, or adapt to them would depend on his own ability to survive and thrive.

Given that the dynasty was on the brink of collapse, even the most forceful methods of teaching were worth the risk. There was no time for gentle guidance; a swift, decisive approach was the only hope.

How much King Zhou could absorb, master, and ultimately use would all depend on his own fate.

In the end, even the best fire can only help if the iron is strong enough to be forged.

Suddenly, Chu Xiaoyu noticed the purple mist over the farm growing thicker than ever. Glancing at the time, he saw it was already past midnight.

In the distance, in the backyard of the farm, a sudden wave of light appeared—so dazzling it seemed to be summoning something.

Was it the Gate of Time? Or perhaps a Celestial Gate?

Once again, a mysterious door opened, radiating a wicked, chilling energy.

King Zhou seemed to feel its call, and had no choice but to take his leave. As he reached the strange portal, he turned and bowed deeply to Chu Xiaoyu. “Thank you, sir, for your guidance. I will never forget your great kindness and virtue.”

Chu Xiaoyu smiled faintly. “No need for more words of thanks. No matter what happens, our meeting was a kind of... fated chance.”

A truly rare coincidence, indeed.

After all, those not of the same family wouldn’t cross the same threshold.

As for whether the strange transformation on his own farm was a blessing or a curse, Chu Xiaoyu no longer bothered to guess.

When King Zhou passed through the so-called “Celestial Gate,” he and the doorway vanished without a trace.

…

Chu Xiaoyu slept until dawn, washed up, and after a simple breakfast, casually turned on the television.

The news was reporting: The patriarch of Beichuan’s leading electronics family, Mr. Gu Tianxiong, passed away last night at the age of fifty-six.

Fifty-six? That’s not old at all—a pity.

Still, his life was hardly wasted. As the head of the most noble family, on par with the Su clan, he lived in luxury and knew every pleasure. Even death was hardly a loss.

The report also mentioned that when Mr. Gu was critically ill and hospitalized, the family issued a citywide reward—anyone who could save him would be paid over ten million.

Ten million! An irresistible reward!

Chu Xiaoyu frowned, thinking to himself: why didn’t he see this news sooner?

Yet now… perhaps it wasn’t too late.

He certainly didn’t need money, but having just returned from the provincial capital, it seemed he’d have to make another trip.

At Shengmade Hospital in the city, the entire Gu family had crowded into the ward so tightly that not another soul could squeeze in.

Gu Tianxiong’s sudden passing was a catastrophe for the family.

The old man left so abruptly that not even a final word was left behind.

Gu Ruyan, the eldest daughter, along with the second, third, and fourth branches of the family, had blocked the ward, weeping in grief.

Wiping away her tears, Gu Ruyan looked at her mourning relatives and steadied herself. “Second Uncle, Third Uncle, Fourth Uncle, please restrain your grief. I believe Grandfather wouldn’t want to see us all in such pain.”

The dead cannot return. No matter how deep the sorrow, it does no good.

“Grandfather said before he passed that his funeral should be kept simple, without any lavish arrangements. Uncles, do any of you have thoughts on this?”

As the eldest legitimate daughter of the main branch, Gu Ruyan held the most authority in the family. Even with her father gone, no one could rival her position.

Even those uncles harboring hidden ambitions found themselves powerless against her unassailable standing.

“Ruyan, let’s honor the old man’s wishes and keep the funeral simple,” Second Uncle said.

Gu Ruyan nodded. “Third Uncle, Fourth Uncle, any objections?”

The third and fourth uncles shook their heads in silence.

In the family, the third and fourth branches had always been minor players, with little say in important matters.

“Good. Since no one objects, the funeral will be kept simple.”

Thus, the arrangements for the patriarch’s funeral were decided in a single sentence.