Chapter 2285 - 2288: Those With Hope Won't Risk Everything

Upon hearing Gong Ziyi's words, the elder suddenly showed a look of surprise and joy, and said: "Young Master, love and such, our generation didn't have so many considerations, I'm not very familiar with it, so I can't refute you in this aspect. However, I disagree with you saying Shen Qiang won in strategy!"

"Because since you've already seen through Shen Qiang's intentions, he has already lost. He wants to use Song Weiyin to buy time, so now as long as we start attacking, his strategy will collapse on its own. If you can take the opportunity to make Song Weiyin fall in love with you, then Shen Qiang would lose both the battle and the lady!"

Looking at the elder's exuberant eyes, Gong Ziyi smiled: "Do you know why I kept losing before?"

The elder was stunned for a moment and said: "The Young Master underestimated the enemy."

Gong Ziyi smiled and said: "That was just an excuse to cover up my failure. The real situation is that I'm not as good as him, so I lost."

Looking at the surprised elder, Gong Ziyi smiled, then said solemnly: "Human emotions, and ways of thinking, vary from person to person. Many times, different people, when encountering the same thing, will have entirely different reactions."

"For instance, if a strong man holds a knife and threatens a girl in a desolate alley, most people would pretend not to see, turn around and walk away, a very small portion might choose to call the police after leaving, but if they happen to encounter someone with a strong sense of justice and recklessly brave, that person might rush in to fight the thug."

Glancing at the elder, Gong Ziyi smiled and said: "Humans share similarities, but are also different, so many times, many seemingly ingeniously devised and even flawless plans might repeatedly fail, completely useless."

Upon hearing this, the elder immediately nodded and said: "Indeed, some things can really happen like this, there are always some people who will do unexpected things."

Gong Ziyi smiled and said: "That's where I lost! Shen Qiang's strength isn't in the sophistication of his strategies. To be honest, his methods are not without clues, and sometimes I even find his tricks somewhat naive and ridiculous, but the frustrating part is that his methods often work."

The elder nodded upon hearing this and said: "That's true. Looking back at the few times you've matched wits with Shen Qiang, every time was inexplicably lost, especially that meeting in the Beijing villa; the loss was utterly confounding."

"Shen Qiang's brilliance lies in that his methods aren't sophisticated, but accurately targets human nature, meaning each of his designs, in detail, targets specific objectives, like the exquisite napkin in the villa incident."

"If it were an ordinary person, seeing such a napkin, they would hesitate, thinking 'such a beautiful, exquisite toilet paper will instinctively make one ponder', but not for me; I'm accustomed to luxury, so it's the ordinary toilet paper that repels me."

Listening to Gong Ziyi's words, the elder's expression grew solemn and said: "I understand now; Shen Qiang's methods are tailored to opponents. The same strategy applied to another person might be laughable."

Gong Ziyi smiled and said: "Yes, the person who understands you best is always your opponent. This phrase reveals all the hidden intricacies, like everyone knowing that gambling is a bottomless pit, yet those who lose everything find it impossible to resist the urge to try again, eventually leading to ruin."

"So many people who never gamble cannot comprehend why obviously clever individuals would stumble in such a place."

The elder said gravely: "I understand your point, young master, but this has nothing to do with you having seen through Shen Qiang's plan. Once a scheme is seen through, it's just garbage; he's unable to influence your actions, so he lost. Our people can immediately take action and initiate precise retaliation against Heshenghe!"

Gong Ziyi smiled and said: "And then?"

The elder hesitated: "You continue to protect Song Weiyin, make her fall in love with you, and then Shen Qiang loses both the battle and the lady. By that time, even a smile from you could enrage him!"

Gong Ziyi laughed, then sighed and said: "Shen Qiang's strength lies in the fact that he knew that even when I saw through everything, I would still follow the path he laid out for me. What initially seemed like a conspiratorial strategy becomes an open strategy I have to abide by once I see through it."

The elder was stunned and said: "Master, I don't understand what you mean."

"Shen Qiang placing Song Weiyin by my side, from the angle of conspiracy, it's a blunder, bait; but from the angle of open strategy, she's a sword hanging over my head," Gong Ziyi's expression deepened.

The elder asked in bewilderment: "I don't understand."

"Our sneak attack on Heshenghe ended in total defeat. It's a big, tragic event that makes us very angry, but from others' perspectives, it's something we deserved, something we brought on ourselves. In such a scenario, if I immediately enact revenge, how do you think Song Weiyin would perceive it?"

The elder hesitated: "She would think you're too excessive!"

"Shen Qiang handed Song Weiyin to me because he understood that I would see this as a chance to start over with Song Weiyin, an opportunity to present myself anew, rebuild my authority, and reestablish my image. If I act against Heshenghe now, I'll forever lose the opportunity to win Song Weiyin's favor."

"Shen Qiang is tormenting me." Taking a sip from a nearby wineglass, Gong Ziyi said earnestly: "Song Weiyin will never forgive me for attacking Heshenghe in Shen Qiang's absence using despicable means. So if I act now, I will undoubtedly win, but Song Weiyin's cold gaze would become Shen Qiang's mockery of me, tormenting me like a nightmare for a lifetime."

The elder frowned: "Master, please reconsider. There are plenty of women, but your fame..."

"Shen Qiang is forcing me to confront him head-on," Gong Ziyi laughed: "Don't you understand? If I retaliate against Heshenghe now without hesitating, I'd forever be labeled as a petty and despicable villain. Not only would cultivators have thoughts about us, but the Dragon Group might also intervene. Even if I win this round, the title of First Young Master would be empty."

"And if I chose to start from Song Weiyin's side, I couldn't reveal my identity to intimidate those bounty hunters or pressure the Mirage people to withdraw their bounty on Song Weiyin, because if I did, I'd lose my reasonable reason to stay by Song Weiyin's side."

The elder frowned and said: "Master, you're bound by emotions. I should just help you eliminate her, so if you can't have her, no one else can either, which will make you stronger."

"Don't touch her." Gong Ziyi's face turned ashen and said: "If I, Gong Ziyi, cannot even protect the woman I love most, what right do I have to stand in the world? This is Shen Qiang's open strategy. I've already lost to his tactics, and the only reason his tactics succeeded is because he showed me the opportunity to win Song Weiyin. Only those who have an opportunity consider the outcome, not risking everything."