AsforwhyHuoDaiyunmadethesecretpactwithWeiLongle,CaiSenknewthatwasbesidethepoint.WhatmatteredmosttohimwasthathehadcomeupwithasolidexplanationforHuoDaiyun‘sactionsandhadalreadyinfuseditintoherbrain.
CaiSenrepeatedthisexplanationinhismindlikeamantra:“Tobeunconstant,tobetrayone‘sformerallegianceandturntoanewcause.TodefectfromtheTowerofTranquilityandpledgeone‘sallegiancetotheGreatAlliance.Inexchange,receivetheblessingoftheGreatAllianceroyalprince,securinghisprotectionandfavor.“
Heknewitwasanexcellentreason,onethatwouldsurelyconvinceHuoDaiyunofthebenefitsofswitchingsides.
Moreover,CaiSenhadadeepunderstandingofHuoDaiyun‘spersonalityandmotivations.Heknewherlikethebackofhishand,knewwhatmadehertickandhowtopushherbuttons.
Ashewalkeddownthestreet,CaiSenponderedtheintricaciesoftheirpartnership.Itwasanuneasyalliance,onethatwouldsurelyraiseeyebrowsifdiscoveredbyothers.Butfornow,itwasameanstoanend?anendthatCaiSenwasdeterminedtoachieve.
ThemooncastitssilveryglowoverthecityasCaiSencontinuedhisstroll,lostinthought.Hiseyesscannedthecrowds,searchingforpotentialalliesoradversaries.Heknewthatnoteveryonewouldtakekindlytohisplans,buthealsoknewthathehadanetworkofinformantsandspieswhoowedhimfavors.
CaiSen‘smindwhirledwithpossibilitiesashenavigatedthewindingstreets.Heknewthateverydecisionhemadewouldhaveconsequences,thateverymovehetookwouldhaverepercussions.Buthewaswillingtotakethatriskifitmeantsecuringhisplaceinthisworld.
Ashewalked,CaiSenfeltasenseofpurposecoursingthroughhisveinslikeliquidfire.Thiswaswhatbeingali
vewasallabout?livingontheedge,takingrisks,andmakingsacrificesforthesakeofpower.