You tactical players, your hearts are all filthy.
Le Yuxin exhaled: "Then what should we do? Give up on establishing the White Night branch?"
"How can we give up the opportunity to gather progressives because of a few internal traitors? That would be like cutting off your toes to avoid sand fleas," Yin Yinyin shook his head. "Although forming the White Night branch is risky, we can avoid this by catching the traitor."
"Do you know who the traitor is?"
"If I knew, I wouldn't be meeting you tonight, and tomorrow you would hear news of a Star Engraving disciple's death."
Le Yuxin glanced thoughtfully at Yin Yinyin, thinking that, besides being his contact, Yin Yinyin was likely responsible for carrying out White Night's assassination missions. With his Hidden Sword Technique and keen planning, few in the Star Engraving County could stop him.
"Do you have any suspects?" Le Yuxin suddenly thought of a method he had seen before to catch a traitor: "Should we give each suspect a different meeting time and place in the name of the White Night Organization, then see which meeting location has Statistical Department agents appear, indicating that the corresponding suspect is the real traitor?"
"...?"
A big question mark appeared over Yin Yinyin's head: "Though I don't know where you heard that method, it holds no reference value for us: First, we don't know how many traitors there are; second, the traitor's goal is to infiltrate the White Night Organization. He certainly won't take any other actions until he has a complete list of members."
"But one thing is certain, the traitor should be among those few disciples of 'Star Engraving'."
"Why?"
"After 'Star Engraving' passed, only a few disciples who inherited his teachings can gather new members in his name." Yin Yinyin glanced at Le Yuxin: "Actually, you are considered one of them. You can indeed bring new members together—they would certainly be happy to beat you into a pulp to honor 'Star Engraving's' spirit."
Le Yuxin wasn't interested in Yin Yinyin's cold joke and pondered: "And Mr. Lin's disciples just happened to be released now because they were captured by the Statistical Department, with impeccable backgrounds... The responsibility for the White Night branch naturally falls on one of them."
"However, can't White Night refuse to let them join the branch and find someone else—like sending you to form the branch?"
Yin Yinyin spun the pen in his hand, shaking his head: "White Night has no reason to refuse. Just because of our suspicions, without evidence, to doubt their loyalty? This doesn't conform to White Night's internal regulations. White Night must entrust them with the legacy of 'Star Engraving' to show respect for the sacrifices made."
"Doesn't that mean losing everything for nothing, burying all of White Night's efforts in the Star Engraving County?" Le Yuxin found it hard to understand: "Isn't this losing the big picture for a small matter?"
"Oh? Losing the big picture?"
Yin Yinyin looked at Le Yuxin, suddenly showing a bright smile.
You can hardly imagine what it's like for Le Yuxin to see a deadpan face smile—anyway, it gave him goosebumps.
Yin Yinyin spoke slowly: "So what you mean is, now that 'Star Engraving' is dead, we not only should not let their relatives and disciples inherit 'Star Engraving's' will, but also treat them as traitors, as suspects of a rebellious organization?"
Le Yuxin was momentarily speechless: "That's not what I mean..."
"Your 'losing the big picture for a small matter' is implying that you think 'Star Engraving's' family and disciples are small matters, while the White Night branch is the big picture, right?" Yin Yinyin interrupted Le Yuxin's statement. "So, you think that slighting them temporarily, not letting them join the White Night branch for now, should be understandable to them... That's what you think, right?"
Le Yuxin didn't speak, but he vaguely sensed... this White Night Organization seemed not to be an ordinary rebel group.
"But how would they think?" Yin Yinyin resumed his sarcastic tone: "'Ah, Teacher Lin sacrificed so much for White Night, and White Night now doubts us'—Meteor, you know, the reason this world has become like this is because too many people want those with 'small' positions to 'understand' their 'big' goals."
"The brilliant Imperial Court hopes Skyrim's people can understand their governance strategies, leading to the Skyrim governor being killed and the entire Skyrim region thrown into chaos."
"Ding Yi definitely also hopes the people of Star Engraving County can understand his wild ideals, resulting in your Statistical Department running rampant, and progressives being persecuted."
"Everyone considers themselves the sun in the sky, thinking all starlight should make way for themselves, so—"
Yin Yinyin spread his hands: "We, the starlight, are here plotting in this basement to overthrow their brilliance."
Le Yuxin was slightly dazed, smirking bitterly: "Do I really own a cow...?"
Yin Yinyin raised his eyebrows: "Are you using some slang curse?"
"It's a joke. A recorded... an imperial envoy asked a farmer if he found a treasure, would he be willing to donate it to the state? The farmer said yes. The envoy, pleased, asked if the farmer would donate a cow if he had one, to which the farmer replied no."
Yin Yinyin was also curious: "Why?"
Le Yuxin: "Because I actually have a cow."
Yin Yinyin was silent for a moment, the corners of his mouth slightly curling up: "That's an interesting joke. The central thought aligns with what I just said, your associative ability is still quite impressive."
Le Yuxin felt a hint of delight, but then he sensed something off—it sounded like a teacher was praising a primary school student.
"In summary, 'considering the big picture,' 'losing the big picture for a small matter,' 'making concessions for the sake of overall interests,' these phrases don't align with White Night's modus operandi."
Yin Yinyin said: "Compromise breeds resentment, resentment leads to hostility, and hostility sparks wars... Today, we might compromise a few people for the big picture, tomorrow someone might compromise us for the big picture."
"Meteor, I heard your sister is at the age of blooming beauty. If I said, for the big picture, she needs to be forced to do something she doesn't want to do, would you accept it?"
"No," Le Yuxin answered instantly.
"So stop making such noble sacrifices on behalf of others. We can sacrifice, we can endure grievances, but we cannot be sacrificed or be wronged," Yin Yinyin lifted his hand, gently brushing aside his white hair bangs. "Humans can't truly understand each other, but they can respect each other."
Yin Yinyin solemnly recited: "'This world is intrinsically dark, but we harbor light within, not shining against all, instead standing alone in white, for the White Night.'"
Le Yuxin's expression was somewhat complicated: "What a naive political ideal."
"If everyone does not force others to understand themselves while respecting others, a beautiful world of mutual understanding can be achieved," Yin Yinyin opened a notebook. "This is White Night's ultimate pursuit, where no one needs to compromise themselves, nor consider the big picture, yet society can operate harmoniously."
Le Yuxin couldn't help shaking his head: "With such childish ideals, can White Night really succeed?"
"Even if White Night fails, it will only prove our White Night Walkers' incompetence, not that the ideal is wrong," Yin Yinyin spun his pen. "Precisely because the ideal is so dreamy, the road to the ideal is naturally filled with thorns."
Le Yuxin scoffed: "You talk more impressively than singing, but what about the traitor?"
"Well said, that's why I wanted to meet you," Yin Yinyin pointed the tip of his pen at Le Yuxin. "I have a plan to expose the traitor. However, this plan presents certain difficulties in execution and is very dangerous, so I need your help."
Le Yuxin nodded: "Sure, how can I help?"
"Actually, it's not that hard," Yin Yinyin shrugged. "You just have to endure some grievances."
Le Yuxin immediately felt uneasy: "What kind of grievance?"
"It's actually nothing much," Yin Yinyin paused. "It's just that you might die."
"Damn, didn't you just say that White Night wouldn't require members to sacrifice their own interests!?"
"White Night indeed doesn't require members to sacrifice their own interests, but you can voluntarily sacrifice them. This is common sense, you're welcome."