My classmates chose martial arts and fantasy, but I chose the prehistoric world.

Meng Chuan slowly walked to the center of the main hall, looked around, and said in a calm tone: "You keep saying that Daji is a demon who will bring chaos to the Shang Dynasty—then let me ask you a question."

He held up one finger: "Since she entered the palace, has she ever done anything detrimental to the Shang Dynasty?"

The crowd looked at each other, but no one answered.

"No, right?"

Meng Chuan continued, "On the contrary, she even saved the King's life. How many of you ministers who claim to be loyal can actually do that?"

Du Yuanxian blushed and retorted, "Even so, a demon is still a demon! Who knows what she might do in the future..."

"We'll talk about the future later."

Meng Chuan interrupted him, "I only know one thing—if you continue arguing here and delay His Majesty's handling of state affairs, that would be truly detrimental to the Shang Dynasty."

He turned to Di Xin and said, "Your Majesty, in my opinion, we should put aside the question of Daji's fate for now. Let her stay in the palace and I will personally keep an eye on her. If she makes any unusual moves, I will take action to deal with her."

Di Xin nodded: "As you say, teacher."

Du Yuanxian wanted to say something more, but when he met Meng Chuan's calm eyes, he swallowed his words.

He had a strange feeling—

This young imperial tutor, though always smiling and seemingly harmless, had something hidden deep in his eyes that made even this veteran of three dynasties feel uneasy.

That was a kind of... absolute confidence!

It seemed as if nothing in this world could stump him.

……

After the court session ended, Emperor Xin kept Meng Chuan behind by himself.

"teacher……"

Di Xin dismissed his attendants and asked in a low voice, "Are you really confident in keeping a close eye on Daji?"

"Your Majesty, rest assured."

Meng Chuan smiled and said, "Don't even mention one Daji, even if there were ten or eight more, I could keep them under control."

Di Xin nodded, then asked, "Then... does Teacher really think that Daji... won't harm me?"

Meng Chuan glanced at him and said meaningfully, "Your Majesty, have you ever thought about this question—why her of all people?"

"What?"

"There are countless demons in the world, why did she have to come to your side? Why did she have to save your life?"

Meng Chuan's gaze deepened. "Some things, though seemingly accidental, are in fact inevitable."

Di Xin frowned: "What does the teacher mean...?"

"What I mean is—"

Meng Chuan patted him on the shoulder, "Some people appear in your life for a reason. As for what that reason is, you'll have to discover it yourself."

After saying that, he turned and left, leaving Di Xin standing there alone, lost in thought.

……

In the days that followed, Daji officially remained in the palace as "Su Meiren".

She was gentle and well-mannered, never interfered in politics, and never became arrogant because of her favored status.

The thing she did most every day was to accompany Emperor Xin in the imperial study as he reviewed memorials—while he read them, she would grind ink, brew tea, add incense, and occasionally chat with him in soft voices.

Gradually, Di Xin found himself becoming more and more dependent on her.

It wasn't because of her beauty, but because of her companionship.

In her presence, he didn't need to pretend or put on airs like a king; he could let down his guard and be an ordinary person again.

This feeling was something he had never experienced before.

Meng Chuan, on the other hand, remained as relaxed as ever.

He would stroll around the palace every day, occasionally giving Di Xin some pointers on his cultivation, sometimes chatting with Daji, and sometimes going out of the palace to wander around the city. He lived a carefree and leisurely life.

But he knew that these peaceful days wouldn't last long.

Because things have already started to move in Xiqi.

……

On this day, Meng Chuan was drinking in a restaurant in the city when he suddenly sensed a powerful aura coming from the west.

He put down his wine glass, squinted, and looked towards the western horizon.

A golden light, like a shooting star, streaked across the sky and sped toward Chaoge City.

"It's finally here."

Meng Chuan's lips curled up slightly as he stood up, and with a flicker of his body, he disappeared from the spot.

The next moment, he appeared in the sky above Chaoge City, standing with his hands behind his back, blocking the golden light.

The golden light stopped, revealing a middle-aged Taoist priest wearing a Bagua robe and holding a whisk.

When the Taoist priest saw Meng Chuan, he was taken aback at first, then cupped his hands and said, "This humble Taoist priest is Jiang Ziya. I have come down the mountain on my master's orders to assist a wise ruler. I am passing through this place. I wonder why you are blocking my way?"

Meng Chuan glanced at him and smiled slightly: "Jiang Ziya? A disciple of Yuanshi?"

"Exactly."

Hearing the other party address his teacher by his given name, Jiang Ziya frowned, but his attitude remained neither humble nor arrogant. "Fellow Daoist is..."

"Meng Chuan, Imperial Tutor of the Shang Dynasty."

Jiang Ziya's pupils contracted.

Although he had just come down the mountain, he had heard of a mysterious imperial tutor in Chaoge City when he was on Kunlun Mountain. This tutor had extraordinary abilities, and even his senior brother Yun Zhongzi had been humiliated by him.

I didn't expect to run into him so soon.

"So it's Fellow Daoist Meng Chuan."

Jiang Ziya cupped his hands and said, "I have long admired your name."

"No problem, no problem."

Meng Chuan waved his hand, "Where are you going, Fellow Daoist Jiang?"

Jiang Ziya hesitated for a moment, but still answered truthfully: "I am here on my master's orders to go to Xiqi to assist Ji Chang."

"Oh?"

Meng Chuan raised an eyebrow. "Assisting Ji Chang? That's no easy task."

Jiang Ziya frowned: "What do you mean by that, fellow Daoist?"

"It doesn't mean anything."

Meng Chuan smiled. "I'm just kindly reminding you—the world's affairs aren't something you can simply choose to assist. Sometimes, you think you're following fate, but in reality, you're just being used as a pawn."

Jiang Ziya's expression changed: "What do you mean by that, fellow Daoist?"

"It doesn't mean anything."

Meng Chuan shrugged. "I was just saying. Fellow Daoist Jiang, please go ahead. I won't delay your journey any longer."

After saying that, he vanished from the spot in a flash.

Jiang Ziya stood there, gazing in the direction where Meng Chuan had disappeared, his brows furrowed.

He had a vague feeling that this imperial tutor of the Shang Dynasty would be the biggest variable in his trip!

……

Meng Chuan returned to the restaurant, sat down again, picked up his wine glass, and drank it all in one gulp.

His gaze was fixed on the west, a playful smile playing on his lips.

"Jiang Ziya, oh Jiang Ziya..."

He muttered to himself, "Do you know that your journey to Xiqi will not only usher in a dynastic change, but also a catastrophe that will sweep across the three realms?"

"But it's okay."

He poured himself another glass of wine, raised it, and offered a toast to the western horizon.

"With me here, the outcome of this great calamity will likely disappoint many."