The Merit of Supporting the Dragon

Xian Chen is a general, a businessman, and a man of power.

That means he cannot simply do whatever he pleases, make deals that bring him no benefit, or act out of pure compassion.

The late Emperor, Old Man Huo, treated him like his own son. Before dying, he clasped Xian Chen's hand and urged him to rebel and become emperor.

Xian Chen refused. He was a subject, a general, and a Tian Si.

All he wanted was to give the throne to Old Man Huo's son, then go off to war, expand the empire's borders, and roam free as a wild horse, all while keeping the whole realm under his control.

He did not want the throne, and he was not capable of taking it.

Who could have guessed that he'd bring Old Man Huo's illegitimate son back from a campaign?

The boy was from the Southern Border, and his name was too difficult to pronounce, so Xian Chen gave him a Central Plains name.

Huo Nan.

He called him that over and over in his heart, and found himself liking the little barbarian from the Southern Border more and more.

The little barbarian liked him and became his devoted admirer.

Then a lot more happened. To make a long story short, it's hard to explain.

Even Xian Chen only vaguely remembered how he eventually got caught up in the power struggles over the empire. Step by step, he helped Huo Nan climb the ranks and ascend the throne.

How amusing. He had become Huo Nan's devoted admirer.

At the victory banquet that day, the emperor dismissed him with a casual,