The Tip of the Duckweed

"Hello. Big Brother!" Blondie stood up and answered the call. "There's something I need to tell you." Chen Xingzhou's voice came through the receiver, calm, even, and cutting straight to the point. "Yesterday, Mr. Ji called me. He said you've been doing well lately and asked if I wanted to pile a little more onto your shoulders. I turned it down for you. You aren't suited for what he's about to do." Chen Xingzhou paused slightly before continuing, "As your elder brother, cutting off your path to advancement doesn't sit entirely right with me. If you feel dissatisfied, I can go back and ask him to reconsider." "Huh? If even you think I'm not suited, Big Brother, then there's no way I could handle it!" Without a second thought, Blondie shook his head vigorously. "Forget it, forget it. If I screw it up, making a fool of myself is one thing, but if I ruin Mr. Ji's affairs, I won't have the face to show myself in Yacheng ever again!" Chen Xingzhou chuckled. "Aren't you going to ask what it was?" "Uh..." Blondie looked blank. "Does it make a difference?" "...All right. Then come back. Bring a few reliable people with you." Chen Xingzhou's tone remained placid. "You've always done a fine job in Xinquan, and Mr. Ji wants you to keep at it. Give it your all, and don't drop the ball." "I'll have my boys book the earliest flight right away!" "No need to rush. Take things one step at a time." Chen Xingzhou gave a final reminder: "Mr. Ji has shown you great favor; don't forget your manners." "Don't worry, Big Brother, I get it!" Blondie nodded repeatedly. Hanging up the phone, he kicked the door open and barked orders at his subordinates to pack up. Ignoring their stunned expressions, he hopped into a car and drove straight to Ji Jue's residence on Luo Island. All along the road, he racked his brain over how to express his gratitude for Mr. Ji's high regard, how to properly bid Mr. Ji farewell, desperately dredging up auspicious words. The more he thought, the more he despised his own lack of education: aside from canned blessings like "fortune as vast as the Eastern Sea, longevity as tall as the Southern Mountains," the only other phrase that sprang to mind was "happy birthday"... In the end, when the moment came, he opened his mouth—and forgot his lines entirely. He stammered and sputtered. Instead, Ji Jue merely smiled as before, ushering him into the living room to sit down. On the table, freshly brewed tea was still warm. "I take it Boss Chen has already spoken to you? Getting ready to leave?" "Um, ah, yes... yes, sir!" "Don't be nervous, and don't overthink it." Ji Jue waved a hand, gesturing for him to relax. "Working in the Seven Cities isn't like working in Xinquan. The Seven Cities is too chaotic; if forced to handle it, you probably couldn't manage. Meanwhile, the affairs in Xinquan are far too important—I wouldn't feel at ease leaving them to anyone else. There aren't many people who follow the rules these days, and you've always known your limits in how you conduct yourself and handle business. Both Mr. Chen and I think highly of you." Blondie grew even more agitated, instinctively scrambling to his feet, his face flushed scarlet. "Yes, sir! I—I... I won't let you and Big Brother down!" Ji Jue chuckled, feeling a quiet touch of emotion. If it had been Ling Shuo, he might have dropped "Big Brother" from that statement entirely to make it sound more pleasing to the ears. Yet conversely, it was precisely because Blondie could never drop it that he inspired trust. Ji Jue pushed a box across the table. "Since you're leaving, at least take some local specialty with you," he teased. "I couldn't possibly drink your bansha herbal tea for nothing..." Blondie frantically shook his head. "Sir, how could I possibly—" His voice cut off abruptly before the sentence finished. He stared down blankly. Inside the box Ji Jue had opened, a folding knife rested on silk brocade, its gleam shifting and mesmerizing... With just a single glance, he forgot to breathe. And with the second glance, he could no longer breathe at all. The folding knife snapped open in Ji Jue's hand, pirouetted lightly, rose, and plunged straight into Blondie's heart—all the way to the hilt. Blondie had not even reacted. He was frozen in sheer bewilderment. "Eh?" It hadn't been so fast that it was imperceptible, yet it was impossible to resist. The motion was simply too concise, fluid as running water, utterly flawless, as though it were the natural order of heaven and earth. There was simply no opportunity to fight back. Even though it all unfolded right before his eyes, even if he had wanted to dodge, he wouldn't have been able to. What was more, he hadn't even grasped what had happened... *Huh? What's going on?* *Why did Mr. Ji stab me?* *Is this for real?* *Did I say something wrong?* Only then did it belatedly occur to him: *Why don't I feel any pain?* Not only was there not the slightest twinge of agony, but his mind was crystal clear and his entire body felt completely unobstructed! Even his breathing had become effortless. The blade buried in his heart felt as though it were fusing with him, drawing upon his blood and spiritus, undergoing subtle shifts. Soon, a strand of viscous black liquid seeped noiselessly from the hilt, dripping onto the tabletop. The pungent stench of alcohol and tar filled the air. "Smoking and drinking harm the body. Even a Celestial Chosen must exercise moderation." Ji Jue pulled the blade free and laid it before Blondie, telling him, "Take better care of your health. Keep it." Blondie remained in a daze, his breath coming heavy and ragged. "Th-This... this..." His voice trembled. "Is this... really for me?" "It's stained with your blood now, which means it's bound to you from here on out. If I don't give it to you, who else would I give it to?" Ji Jue chuckled, urging him to put it away. "Once the spiritus infusion is complete, remember to carry it on you at all times. Don't leave it behind—it can save your life." "I, I... thank you, Mr. Ji... I..." Blondie picked up the knife with utmost care, unable to bear parting with it for even a second. That thrust just now hadn't been an attack—it had been treatment! Under this blessed creation, every single toxic substance lodged inside his body had actually been stabbed right out of him... At this moment, he felt better than he ever had in his entire life. Blondie's virtue lay in knowing his place, being obedient, and following the rules; his flaw lay in the exact same things. Lacking the wits for intrigue, he could only focus his attention on matters that truly counted. Because of that, he earned the trust and reliance of both Ji Jue and Chen Xingzhou; yet also because of that, he was prone to being simpleminded. Getting rid of him was all too easy—sometimes violence wasn't even required. A single cup of poisoned wine would hit the mark nine times out of ten. As long as the host was enthusiastic enough when urging him to drink, he might even down the poison thinking the brew just had an extra kick today. That was why Ji Jue had forged this creation. Whether it was curses, poisons, the mental subjugation of Heart Pivot, or the allure of Ascension, a single stab would directly refresh both body and soul from the foundation up, stripping away all external interference and influence to leave the person completely renewed. If the wielder's condition deteriorated past a certain threshold, it would also fully replenish their spiritus and vitality while granting them a temporary overclocked state. As long as a single breath remained, they could achieve a full-health regeneration, maxing out attack speed, reaction time, and combat output to enter a berserk frenzy—ensuring that even if survival was impossible, they could drag their enemy down with them in mutual destruction. Its design incorporated aspects of Yuchang and Chunjun, specifically tailored and optimized for Blondie. More importantly, Ji Jue's name and insignia were engraved onto the tang. Even just that mark alone was enough to make its value skyrocket beyond what an ordinary person could fathom. It served as fair compensation for Blondie's diligent service throughout this period. "It's just something I made to practice my craft, nothing major," Ji Jue told him. "If you're truly grateful, just do your job well." "Yes, sir!" Blondie offered his final farewell, solemnly rising to take his leave. Watching that impassioned posture, anyone who didn't know better would have assumed he was marching off to die in Ji Jue's place, leaving Ji Jue feeling a twinge of guilt. The poor kid really hadn't seen much of the world—this was only the beginning. Once he had free time down the road, he would craft a few more novel trinkets for him. After saying goodbye to Ji Jue, Blondie wasted no more time. That very afternoon, he boarded a ship with his subordinates and departed, leaving all his territory and profits behind for Ling Shuo to slowly sort through. A sudden exit, a lightning-fast departure. It was so abrupt that when Ling Shuo received the news, he could scarcely believe his ears: Wait, he really just left, grinning and cheerful as could be? Without even leaving a single word behind? *I spent the entire journey coming up with so many ways to make you back down gracefully without hurting feelings—does this mean none of it will be used?* *You make me look like an absolute idiot!* Yet precisely because of this, he could feel Ji Jue's almost undisguised affection and protectiveness toward Blondie: *The silly kid can't handle things this complicated; go on home and play.* And precisely because of that, after a momentary bout of astonishment and envy, he couldn't help but feel exultant. What a departure! It couldn't have been better! It was precisely because Blondie had left so safely, so breezily, that Ling Shuo could feel this grounded—Mr. Ji truly was different from everyone else! To a certain degree, for the Seven Cities and for Ji Jue, the best outcome would have been for Blondie to stay, struggle in vain, fight back desperately, and engage in a life-or-death brawl with Ling Shuo. The struggle for power was never a game; a fight to the death was the norm. There were no peaceful departures, only survival of the fittest and the law of the jungle. As a stepping stone, Blondie, having outlived his usefulness, would be eliminated by Ling Shuo. Ling Shuo would then naturally swallow his territory and assets, taking another step upward to let everyone feel his authority, submit to his standing, and establish his rules as he truly made a name for himself—that was the best way to utilize Blondie! Even if Blondie's life was spared, his crushing defeat could still serve as a grisly warning to cow any lurking monsters! Now that Blondie was gone, taking over the subsequent work would indeed be somewhat more troublesome, but wasn't this also leaving an escape route for himself? Mr. Ji was fundamentally benevolent and magnanimous; he would never cast aside those who risked their lives for him like others did— Knowing just this was more than enough! Ling Shuo's blood was already boiling with fervor. "Brother Ji Jue said he has given you the opportunity." That evening, an unfamiliar youth carrying a long sword at his waist walked into Ling Shuo's office and handed him a box. "—Whether it succeeds, and whether you can wear this openly and honorably, is entirely up to you." Ling Shuo looked down, gazing into the opened box. Resting on the silk brocade was a dazzling, majestic dark-gold ring. It was so breathtaking that it almost stole his breath away. For a fleeting second, he felt an overwhelming urge to cup the ring in his palms and slide it onto his finger, but the moment he came to his senses, he jerked his hand back as though jolted by electricity. Carefully, he closed the lid and put the box away. This was not something he was entitled to touch just yet. It was a gift—a congratulatory gift from Mr. Ji to the Dragon Head of the Seven Cities! "I understand," Ling Shuo pledged with utter resolve. "Please tell Mr. Ji not to worry. I will never let him down!" "Oh." Hearing this, the somewhat wooden youth merely nodded. He seemed totally indifferent, not engaging in the slightest, leaving Ling Shuo momentarily lost for words. Ling Shuo couldn't wrap his head around it. Blondie had only just left, yet an unfamiliar face had immediately appeared in his place. What on earth was this kid's background? He looked as though he hadn't even come of age, with a slender build, and his delicate features under messy bangs were as pretty as a girl's. When he spoke, he never looked people in the eye, appearing to avert his gaze almost instinctively. Yet when those clear, quiet eyes seemingly brushed over him by accident, a bone-deep chill gripped Ling Shuo's entire body! It was like a beast sensing the gaze of its natural enemy, an instinctual shudder. That aura felt like something he had once encountered in a nightmare. Instinctively, Ling Shuo lowered his head, naturally humbling his demeanor even further. "May I ask how to address Your Excellency?" "Your Excellency? Are you talking to me?" The bewildered youth looked over at him and smiled faintly. "My name is An Ran."