Gu Mo still wasn't sure whether to do so, but it was better to be prepared than to be caught unprepared. At worst, he could host the sealing himself, since this body was merely a replaceable incarnation, and there's no need for Ah Xiu to bear that heavy burden.

Upon their swift return to Lushan City with the blacksmith's sister properly settled, they made their way back to the Heaven-Defending Tower.

However, Gu Mo barely had a chance to catch his breath before the old man summoned him directly... Of course, only Gu Mo was called, not the two sisters.

The messenger maid specifically mentioned that the old man's beloved daughters should rest well, as the long journey would inevitably be tiring—this kind of preferential treatment was blatantly evident.

The Japanese room exudes a mystical aura, the lighting slightly dim.

The surrounding candlelight flickered softly, accentuating a peculiar serious atmosphere.

Sitting in the room, the old man who seemed to have been waiting for a while, assumed a bold posture, no longer sitting properly, but rather sprawled unceremoniously, with one leg raised and an arm resting on his knee, gulping down a bowl of wine.

The thick scent of alcohol permeated the area, causing Gu Mo to subtly frown the moment he entered. Just how much had he been drinking?

The old man seemed somewhat off, though Gu Mo now lacked the ability to directly interpret emotional electric fields and Spirit wavelengths, he could keenly sense Saito Dosan's extremely complex emotions, as if he had decisively made up his mind about something, full of reluctance, yet resolute and unyielding.

Conflicting and diverse emotions simultaneously concentrated on the old man, causing Gu Mo's eyebrow to twitch, his face revealing a strange expression.

"You're here, have a seat!"

Saito Dosan glanced at the scoundrel before him, who stood tall and poised, his expression neither servile nor overbearing, and his temperament very peaceful and calm, naturally... Such a person would undoubtedly be considered a young talent, and in the past, the Viper might not have been able to resist praising him a few times.

But now... however he looked, he found him detestable; that's a father's natural instinct.

Gu Mo smoothly sat down in front as if following the current, unbothered by Saito Dosan's impolite demeanor, which hadn't just started today; he had long grown accustomed to it. However, today seemed even more offensive, and he looked even more displeased?

"The reason for calling you today is to discuss something extremely important..." The old man downed the exquisite wine in his bowl, his cheeks flushing even deeper, speaking in an aggressive tone, his voice hoarse and guttural.

"Alright, Lord Dao San, please continue, I'm listening..."

Gu Mo nodded, thoughtfully observing the wine bowl in Saito Dosan's hand.

—Was he going to smash the cup as a signal?

It wasn't unusual for his mind to wander, considering the old man found him increasingly displeasing, generally not wanting to see him, and seeing him only ignited his anger... Yet today, he called him over alone, his emotions so complex and contradictory. It was hard not to suspect that five hundred sword-wielding assailants lay ambushed outside, ready to rush in and chop him into mince once the cup smashed as a signal.

Emmmmm... and he specifically instructed Ah Xiu and the others not to come, urging them to rest, maybe he really did want to cut the Gordian knot swiftly.

"Forget it, let's not talk about this... Just take it!"

Saito Dosan took a deep breath, seemingly trying to compose his emotions, but after a while, he suddenly appeared somewhat deflated, disinterestedly waving his hand.

He didn't smash the wine bowl in his hand but tossed over a letter instead... And at the moment it left his hand, his wrist unconsciously twitched slightly, seemingly wanting to retract it, but forcefully suppressing that impulse.

And with this subtle motion, it seemed to exhaust all his Qi Power, and his entire spirit suddenly seemed to wane... In the blink of an eye, the incredible momentum of the Overlord of Mino, the formidable strategist, was gone, leaving only a weary elder.

"What is this..." Gu Mo was momentarily stunned, reaching out to catch the letter.

"A decree of country transfer... From now on, Mino is yours."

Saito Dosan stated in a low voice, unilaterally pouring another full bowl of wine for himself, even though he didn't feel any reluctance. From beginning to end, he pursued an exceptionally pure ideal and intention, not for power and influence. In the pursuit of peaceful times, he had never lost his way, not even once.

However, that ultimately represented the achievements of his lifetime.

It was as if he had completely handed over the meaning of his existence, and at this moment, the elder felt entirely liberated, but alongside the relief, he also experienced an intense emptiness.

"...Thank you, Lord Dao San."

Gu Mo's expression shifted several times, ultimately not declining, but gently tucking away the decree of country transfer.

"No need for thanks, whether you can shoulder this responsibility or maintain it, that's your business... I won't help you!" Saito Dosan snorted coldly, seemingly very annoyed, "But for the sake of my beloved daughters, I've done what I can."

"The Saito Family is ultimately my own family, not everyone will necessarily accept this, they're not Yoshitaka, unable to view things so openly... But you needn't worry, I won't let you be troubled by such matters. I sent Mitsushige to handle it some time ago."

The elder spoke calmly, a hint of ruthless determination flashed across his expression: "Those who survive are people you can trust to use, don't concern yourself with the rest."

"I understand..."

Gu Mo nodded lightly, seeming to gain a deeper understanding of this Mino Viper.

Truly ruthless...

"As long as you know. There's only one last question left..." Saito Dosan put down his wine bowl, calmly looking across at the young man, "From now on, you are the Lord of Mino. What do you plan to do next?"

The young man blinked: "Build high walls, stockpile grain, bide time to become king..."

"Don't say such clichés, everyone knows the grand principles, I'm asking for your specific thoughts, don't tell me you have no idea what to do next..." The old man chuckled derisively, speaking with an utterly contemptuous tone.

Gu Mo shook his head helplessly, in truth, everything stemmed from a misunderstanding, but now he wasn't planning to explain it, nor would he declare that he really didn't want to accept these things... Having come this far, and since he was capable, why not give it a shot.

Without any hesitation, he began to speak: "The current world has already entered the age of great navigation, we must also keep pace with the times. I envision completing an industrial revolution in Mino Realm within ten years, liberating productivity, and then unifying this Warring States..."

A specific plan? Of course, he had arrangements. This world, similarly undeveloped and feudal, was like his private land, possibly offering even more freedom for transformation compared to the real world, in his view, an immensely valuable dimension.

"In twenty years, we need to launch the first artificial satellite..."

"Aim to establish a sub-base on the Moon Ring City dimension before the end of this century..."

Gu Mo spoke eloquently, while Saito Dosan's mouth on the other side opened wider and wider.

He just wanted to test this kid, to see if he really had the ability to govern a country, whether he needed his help... How did it feel like listening to an Arabian Nights story now?