This time, Ye Tao did not return directly to Danyang, but stayed in Su Feng City for a few days. One reason was at the request of Crown Prince Tan Weiming, to see that the canal had been operating for a long time without any problems. The other was to see Lei Huang, who had secretly traveled all the way from Xiling back to Dongping after a long time of construction. At this critical moment, he came to Dongping partly to avoid disaster, and partly to go to Danyang to report to Tan Xiaopei what had happened over the years and to ask for instructions on future arrangements. The fact that the Lei Yin Demon Sect was able to gain its current strength so quickly made Lei Huang, who had been just a servant in the inner mansion a few years ago, a little scared. Although the Lei Yin Demon Sect still needed the help of others to withstand the pressure of the Dao Ming Sect to avoid destruction, if this continued, one day the Lei Yin Demon Sect would also become a behemoth like the Dao Ming Sect, a monster. If it had only been proselytizing and organization, it would have been fine, but now, with the emergence of the Zongmo Corps, although Lei Huang himself knew that he did not have command of the Zongmo Corps, others did not know that. He didn't know what kind of rumors would spread.

Therefore, Lei Huang instinctively thought of Ye Tao, the young but wise Ye Jinglue. When he followed Ye Tao and received training in those interesting subjects in Ye Tao's unprecedented training class, he regarded Ye Tao as his mentor. He constantly corresponded with Ye Tao, receiving various instructions from him, and often asked Ye Tao for advice on various personal or organizational issues of the Lei Yin Demon Sect. Although Ye Tao was not omnipotent, he only provided some reference opinions or a brief idea for some problems. But Lei Huang was, after all, lonely. Even those companions who went to Xiling with him would now consciously or unconsciously rely on his opinions, and even involuntarily reveal their respect, admiration, awe, and other emotions for him, as if they had really been immersed in this fabricated sacred system for too long and were unconsciously infected. However, Lei Huang himself had always been calm and rational. He always separated the fanaticism he showed when he preached and presided over religious ceremonies from the emotions he felt when he carefully controlled the various affairs of the Lei Yin Demon Sect, constantly reminding himself of his responsibilities. In this increasingly lonely environment, only Ye Tao communicated with him in a consistent tone, and even teased him about some of the very interesting arrangements and activities of the Lei Yin Demon Sect. Now, Lei Huang had come to treat Ye Tao as a father figure.

"Ye Jinglue, recently, while the assassins and death warriors of the Dao Ming Sect are still active, I was wondering if we could fake an assassination attempt against me. I want... I want to step down from the position of Pope of the Lei Yin Demon Sect." Lei Huang said seriously, "I still want to do some simple things. If I can't show my face and do anything for the time being, at least I can travel around and see the local customs and practices."

Ye Tao did not seem surprised. He looked at Lei Huang, who had inexplicably spent so much effort to ask to see him, and asked, "Have you thought about what changes this will bring?"

Lei Huang smiled calmly. His temperament had changed greatly due to the events of these years, and he naturally expressed a strong persuasiveness between his gestures: "Of course I have thought about it. Without me, the Lei Yin Demon Sect will indeed have a period of calm. Everyone will need time to adapt to a high-level priest group without me. Perhaps, Ye Jinglue, you will need to send someone else to give everyone ideas, but the Lei Yin Demon Sect will not fall apart. We have spent so much effort to let everyone know that fighting for their own affairs will always have some effect. As for the rest, my father-in-law can probably take the opportunity to distance himself from the Lei Yin Demon Sect. Just let the 'new' Pope quarrel with him a few times, and everyone can adjust things from the inside and outside. I'm afraid there will be some benefits. Originally, the Lei Yin Demon Sect should not be ruled by me alone. Originally, we should not have placed ourselves so deeply into it."

Ye Tao asked again, "What do you think? Your performance is much better than I expected. I think that in this position, you have truly发挥(fā huī - bring into play) your talents."

Lei Huang said carefully: "Ye Jinglue, didn't you often say that people with great power are like sitting in a kerosene bomb warehouse? Now, I have that feeling too. I'm afraid of this feeling. I always feel that something might go wrong at any time, and someone is always watching the position I occupy. I'm not like you, who can take it easy and turn governing Yunzhou into such an interesting thing. In fact, the Lei Yin Demon Sect's affairs are not interesting at all. Especially now... especially when the Lei Yin Demon Sect has its own combat power. From my heart, I'm afraid I'll become that kind of cold and ruthless adjudicator. Sir... Actually, I only liked the fun of deceiving people in different ways at the beginning, watching others nod sincerely when you tell them something incredible. Sir, you don't know that feeling, it's like..." Lei Huang seemed to have recalled his experience when he first started preaching in Xiling. For others, it was a very difficult time, but for Lei Huang, this special guy, that time was full of fun. "We deceived people, so thoroughly, not just one or two people, not just those parishioners, but the whole world, including those of the Dao Ming Sect who regarded us as enemies, as heretics. I hope to be remembered for such things, but I'm afraid that my name will be linked to killing and bloodshed. But what about now? Apart from the ideas that we have already consolidated in the hearts of our parishioners, what is the difference between us and those martial arts sects that compete for territory?"

Ye Tao thought for a while. They were in an unopened city tower in Su Feng City, which would be the city guard's mansion in the future. Various weapons were hanging on the walls of the luxuriously decorated room. Looking out from the window, one side was rows of houses, and the other was the sparkling moat. The scenery was very pleasant. This place was also specially arranged by Tan Weiming. After all, this crown prince needed a mansion, otherwise he would have taken this place as his office.

Ye Tao did not try to persuade Lei Huang. He naturally understood this feeling. Lei Huang was different from himself. Yunzhou was a place of stable development, and the four borders were peaceful. If anything happened in the future, it would be when Yunzhou was fully prepared. However, the Lei Yin Demon Sect was surrounded by enemies on all sides. The pressure from the Dao Ming Sect was increasing day by day. How to superficially reconcile with Sun Boping, how to maintain close cooperation secretly, and now even how to provide assistance when Yunzhou attacked the Zhenbei Military Division without letting anyone notice... Any leader would feel like collapsing when faced with so many important matters. Lei Huang could not even throw a lot of work to his subordinates like Ye Tao. Lei Huang was lonely, and he could only decide everything himself. After a long time, Lei Huang, who had never been under so much pressure, inevitably could not stand it.

"I don't object to you arranging a plan to withdraw, but coming up with such a move at this time will greatly demoralize the parishioners. Although the Lei Yin Demon Sect's followers tend to be rational, if they encounter the assassination of the Pope, they will either be very frustrated or have a fanatical desire for revenge. Neither of these is a good thing. Wouldn't it be better for you to arrange a mystical situation to let you withdraw after things have come to an end?" Ye Tao said.

"Sir, do you really agree?" Lei Huang was overjoyed.

"Although you are from the inner mansion, I have always been responsible for coordinating with you. It's not wrong to regard you as my subordinate. Have you ever seen my subordinates being unhappy?" Ye Tao said with a smile, "It's just that you are withdrawing like this now, and at this time, it's a little inappropriate. If you must quit, it's fine, but I really suggest that you at least persevere through this period of time."

Lei Huang nodded and said, "Sir, this is a major event in Dongping. I dare not be willful, so I will listen to your arrangements."

Ye Tao smiled and said nothing. After thinking about it, he said, "What if you do less of this kind of thing? What if I give you control of the interesting things? You know Xiling better than we do now. It should be more convenient for you to control some things than for us to send someone over there. Or, would you be willing to hang on to the title of Pope and control these things for me? If there is anything in the Lei Yin Demon Sect, you, as the Pope, can solve the problem in time. But usually, all the daily affairs are handed over to the Lei Yin Demon Sect's priest group. Of course, if you don't care about routine affairs, I will ask His Majesty to send a few more people to enter the priest group. Of course, they must be sensible people who won't cause trouble."

When Lei Huang heard this, he became interested and said, "That's fine. After all, if I leave those places now, if I suddenly do nothing, I really won't be able to adapt."

Ye Tao patted Lei Huang on the shoulder and said, "Then it's settled." Lei Huang was no longer the person who had just entered Xiling and regarded preaching as an interesting game with a passion and energy in an environment surrounded by enemies. The current Lei Huang not only realized the great energy that such an organization as the Lei Yin Demon Sect might possess, but also realized the opportunities and crises in his position as Pope. Although Lei Huang was young, although his heart was now filled with waves that he never thought he would have to face, he was, after all, sensible. Such a person should be given more importance, and only by giving more importance can Ye Tao's consistent style of squeezing the talents around him to make his own life easier be reflected.

____________

在外码字，刚回来，晚了点 (written outside, just got back, a little late)