The peers of the Wild Gathering who had pulled up stools to watch the drama unfold were not disappointed after all. After rising to power through sheer ruthlessness, Ling Shuo, now a Dragon Head, continued his relentless streak of wild stunts. It was an eye-opening, dazzling spectacle of the highest order.
When it came to pulling stunts, he never let anyone down.
On his very first day in office, right after swiftly resolving the hot potato that had hung on the Wild Gathering exchange for half a month, signing an agreement with the Northern Realm Wild Gathering, and securing his first round of backing, he followed hot on its heels by striking a long-term partnership with both Haizhou Wild Gathering branches.
The Yacheng and Chaocheng branches had long been queued up in party mode waiting for a match. Now that the Seven Cities had finally come online, they hit it off instantly. A smuggling pipeline connecting the Federation and the Thousand Islands was erected between both sides like a phlogiston conduit, laden with torrential profits. Immediately afterward, he turned right around and started cursing out his counterparts from the Iron Hook Ward and Fog Veil Reef branches at headquarters, putting on the posture of a man ready to wage full-scale war if talks broke down.
Such was what they meant by the times making the hero. With the overarching momentum behind him, Ling Shuo entered an unprecedented upswing. In a single day, his internal standing within the Wild Gathering shot straight up from "barely known" to "a force to be reckoned with."
Whether it was outsiders who just loved watching the world burn or insiders who knew the score, everyone could tell from his completely unmasked posture: this was a mad dog. Pure-blooded!
Regardless of whether this was an act or whether people secretly looked down on him, everyone had to put on a show of respect and admiration on the surface. In fact, anyone considering fishing in troubled waters and getting a piece of the action had to weigh things carefully—lest they fail to catch any meat and end up taking a couple of dog bites instead. And so, the ungrateful wolf Ling Shuo clung to Mr. Ji's thigh, stepping on his adoptive father's half-lifetime of reputation to climb to the top—though his adoptive father hadn't exactly built up a good reputation over that half-lifetime either, infamy was still fame, and in the Wild Gathering, it was arguably even more important!
Just like Ji Jue, who had unwittingly walked down the path of becoming famous through sheer notoriety...
Don't ask how grand it was; just ask if people were terrified!
While Ling Shuo basked in endless glory, Ling Liu over in Grey Harbor suffered a total loss of face, his doorstep deserted.
"Well, well, Sixth Master Ling! Father and son, two Dragon Heads—congratulations, congratulations!"
"A two-headed dragon for the Ling family, truly formidable!"
"A son like Ling Shuo is every father's dream! Sixth Master, your family discipline is truly something else!"
Such gossip and mockery among colleagues never ceased. The world was simply like this—few offered help in times of need, while many kicked you when you were down. Even more so in the cutthroat Wild Gathering; other Dragon Heads who had previously swallowed their grievances had popped no shortage of champagne over the past two days.
Some even began wondering if they should kick him a few more times.
After all, you, Ling Liu, strutted your stuff for half your life, yet now you can't even keep a lid on a son. Have you grown old?
Everyone saw it—you even poured him a drink and toasted him.
If you can't hack it anymore, hang it up. Vacate your seat early so you can retire and enjoy your twilight years, eh?
The bitter fruit of Ling Shuo establishing his own faction had finally begun to show... Spurred by Ling Shuo's success, the rest of Ling Liu's foster sons and daughters felt their ambitions stir, and covert testing began.
In just two short days, bizarre incidents multiplied in Grey Harbor. But soon enough, following the inexplicable disappearance of several people, everything returned to normal once more.
Having flexed his claws a bit to prove he was merely old, not dead, Ling Liu made an about-face from his usual cold, ruthless demeanor. He actually pardoned the sons and daughters who had committed only minor infractions. He even conducted an open self-criticism at a family banquet, weeping bitterly as the family embraced and wept together, renewing their bonds of affection. At the same time, he entrusted genuine responsibilities to several standout foster children. Under this veneer of fatherly benevolence and filial piety, their unity seemed to dramatically surge. As for what had happened before, Ling Liu made no further statements. He never spoke ill of Ling Shuo in public; instead, he repeatedly reproached himself for being too harsh on his children in the past.
As if... he had swallowed it.
One could only say that the old bastard had carved the words "enduring humiliation for future vengeance" into his marrow, clutching the phrase "settling scores" tight in his palm. Just how long he would swallow this breath, whether he could choke it down, or whether he would spit it back out—nobody could tell.
No matter what outsiders thought or what Ling Liu and Ling Shuo harbored in their hearts, on the surface at least, they were "chasing their own dreams and leading their own lives." As for how each would seek out gaps in the shadows and deal with the thorn in his side in the days to come, that depended on their respective moves. Amidst surging undercurrents, the predators lurking in muddy waters watched one another in silence, sharpening their fangs and claws, waiting for the signal.
And three days later, the reply from headquarters finally landed in the hands of the various parties.
The reply made no mention whatsoever of right or wrong in the whole affair, nor did it commit either way regarding Ling Shuo's allegations or the various factions' defenses. It consisted of just four characters:
[The Chieftain is apprised.]
Your business, I know about it.
And then?
And then there was no "and then." It didn't say yes, and it didn't say no; it didn't say good, and it didn't say bad.
The Chieftain knew, but the Chieftain didn't care.
Either way, it was internal Wild Gathering strife. Such things were all too common—there was no need to waste ink or breath on them. Since it was family business, let them handle it by the rules.
Fight it out!
***
"And so?"
Two days prior, Ring of Taiyi Association, headquarters Tianshu.
Ji Jue sat in a chair outside the counter, lifted his teacup, blew across the surface, and asked quizzically, "You called me all the way here because of a single tip-off? I traveled day and night without stopping to reach the Association, and now you tell me it was a misunderstanding? A tip-off, a misunderstanding, made me put my projects on hold, shut down my crucible, abandon my workshop, and wait around for instructions?"
He glanced at the pale face behind the service counter and chuckled softly. "Heh, I didn't realize the title of 'Master' had become so worthless."
"Th-This..."
Behind the counter, the clerk's voice trembled, stammering as he raised a hand to wipe away cold sweat. Heaven have mercy—he hadn't issued this document, nor had he orchestrated any of this. Why did the reckoning have to start with him?
If the counter hadn't blocked the way, he would have climbed over and kowtowed right before Ji Jue.
*Master, my probationary period only ended two days ago! I'm innocent!*
"This matter... our Coordination Section only... just received notification too, Mr. Ji." His trembling hands produced the internal document. "The specific reasons... we—we aren't very clear on them either..."
Ji Jue said nothing.
He simply smiled, watching him.
He watched until the clerk's face grew paler and paler, his breathing heavier and heavier, until finally, in a flash of divine inspiration, the clerk gasped and passed straight out. Shock.
Amidst the commotion, the unconscious clerk was dragged away.
And soon enough, Ji Jue was ushered into the office of the Chief of the Coordination Section.
Seat of honor offered; top-grade tea served.
Rushing in in a frenzy, the section chief launched into frantic, arm-waving excuses, practically weeping as he repeatedly swore this had absolutely nothing to do with the Coordination Section.
Seeing Ji Jue do nothing but smile—not speaking, not drinking his tea—the chief couldn't keep talking. Right in front of Ji Jue, he pulled up the operational logs.
Using his own permissions, he logged into the Association's system on the spot, spun the monitor around to face Ji Jue, and let him view it freely.
The signatory on the tip-off intake form and the coordination inquiry notice...
Bore none other than the official seal of the Association's Audit Office.
A core department of real power within the Ring of Taiyi, controlling the project reviews and deliverable acceptances for countless artisans year after year—a veritable pillar of the Association.
"Oh, no wonder!"
Ji Jue glanced at the name and chuckled softly, enlightened. "I was wondering who had such a stiff spine. Turns out he belongs to a Director's faction! In that case, I'd better give them a wide berth. After all, how could a mere Crown of Glory dare pick a fight with a Director?"
Ji Jue slowly stood up, buttoned his coat, and gave a polite nod of farewell. "Rest assured, I certainly won't harbor any resentment or dissatisfaction."
With that, paying no heed to the chief's despairing look, he turned to leave. But after two steps, he looked back and asked curiously, "Ah, right. Should I provide the Association with an explanation?"
"Master Ji, let's talk this out! Let's talk this out, please!"
Tears nearly burst from the chief's eyes. If not for his sheer terror of Ji Jue's reputation, he would have rushed forward to wrap his arms around Ji Jue's legs and never let go.
How could he not know what a vicious piece of work this Master Ji before him was?
*Don't, brother, please don't!*
Speaking officially, how long had it been since the last clash between Embers and the Profound? The Association had only just gone through an adjustment period; it truly could not withstand any more turmoil. Moreover, once Ji Jue started stirring the pot, nobody could predict how things would turn out.
And speaking personally, once this blew up, regardless of whether the Coordination Section was at fault, as the department mediating relations between artisans and the Association, they would have to swallow a massive mouthful of shit.
*Damn it, Du Erchang, you deserve to die!*
For who knew how many times, he cursed that dog in his heart until he ran out of spit.
As the acting Chief of the Audit Office who had stepped in during the turbulent period, this old dog had spent half his life floating through the Association. Feeling that further advancement was hopeless, he had been trying every trick in the book to rake in money before vacating his post—daring to take on any job, daring to pull any stunt.
The Directors, seeing how diligent he was at taking the blame for things, hadn't scrutinized him too closely, and the result was him stirring up this giant mess!
In reality, it wasn't just the Audit Office; there were plenty of others behind the scenes looking to give Ji Jue a hard time and enjoy a good show—after all, who asked him to open-source the fundamental introductory texts of Three-Phase Alchemy, offending so many peers in one fell swoop?
Now, wild disciples and grand-disciples of Ji Jue were popping up left and right, while domestic beasts of burden were turning wild. Did the masters of those workshops harbor no resentment? Ji Jue was well aware of all this.
He just didn't care.
Just as Ye Xian had once said: on the Path of Embers, a loss was a loss, and a win was a win. It was always the losers who obsessed day and night about how to stage a comeback; when had a winner ever tossed and turned in anxiety?
If anyone dared come, smash them to death with a stick.
Why make things complicated?
So, after receiving the notice, even knowing it might be a trick to lure the tiger from the mountain, he hadn't cared in the slightest. He headed straight for Tianshu.
Upon arrival, he showed his face at the Association's reception desk, then went straight to his room to sleep, seeking out no one and meeting no one.
After waking, he had breakfast and drank two cups of tea.
Then he sat down directly before the service counter.
And started applying pressure to the Association!
You like following procedure, do you? Fine, I'll walk this procedure with you to the bitter end!
Today there was no room for sentimental favors and no face given. Nobody gave a damn who showed up.
Everything would be done strictly by the book!
"Process it. Don't feel any pressure at all; do whatever must be done."
Ji Jue smiled, patting the section chief on the shoulder as he told him, "Everyone knows that I, Ji Jue, am the most obedient when it comes to the Association's arrangements. Risking life and limb without a word of complaint—how could I ever make things awkward for everyone? I trust the Association will surely give me an accounting... if only to let everyone see how the Association cooks the hound once the hare is caught and stows away the bow once the birds are gone."
*Click.* The door shut.
Leaving the Chief of the Coordination Section sitting slumped on the floor, his vision blacking out once, twice, and a third time.
His ears rang with a deafening buzz.
*Fuck!*
*Now the shit has really hit the fan...*
There were no secrets in the Association—at least not in the administrative branch.
What was more, Ji Jue made no attempt to conceal his movements. He arrived in Tianshu with great fanfare and strutted right in, sitting before the Coordination Section's counter drinking tea, his smile amiable and warm.
"Master Ji is here?"
"Yes, yes. There was a tip-off, so I rushed over to sort it out."
"Oh my, that serious?"
"Yes, quite urgent. I specially halted my projects to come over. But fortunately, it's all a misunderstanding. As long as it's cleared up, it's fine."
Such exchanges took place countless times.
From start to finish, he didn't utter a single bad word about the Association or voice any discontent. Like any ordinary artisan visiting Tianshu, he registered, handled his business, ate his meals, and drank tea.
Then he found a spot with a pleasant view, pulled up a chair, sat down, and opened his phone and newspaper.
Waiting for a reply.
After he had personally cast this spark, the flame on the fuse had already snaked away. An unseen tempest howled upward from the bottommost levels of Tianshu, surging straight to the top.
How many fence-sitters it threw into turmoil, how many walls and foundations it shook—none of it was Ji Jue's concern.
*Surely nobody can say I stirred this up, right?*
*I obediently came as the Association instructed, waiting for a reprimand and ruling.*
*What more do you want?*
As for the upheaval, buck-passing, and infighting among the Association's various departments, what the hell did that have to do with him?
*I didn't start this teamfight, I didn't accept the tip-off letter, and I didn't want to come to Tianshu. You people did everything from beginning to end—so what's wrong with me following the procedure?*
In contrast to the raging undercurrents within the Association, the response of the artisans could be called eerie calm.
Silent, unresponsive. No declarations of support, no denunciations, not the slightest reaction—as though they did not exist. An uncanny stillness that made one's hair stand on end.
Everyone simply watched, waited, gazing in silence.
Watching to see what the Association was actually going to do. A single anonymous tip-off jerked a Crown of Glory Master around like a puppet? Does that mean you administrative bastards can ride roughshod over us artisans whenever you please?
How long has it fucking been since the last duel between Embers and Stagnant Rot?
And you're already preparing to butcher the donkey as soon as it leaves the millstone?
One could only say this was the charm of putting things on the scale: once something was elevated to an ideological principle, everyone picked a side based on where they sat, and right or wrong ceased to matter.
Ji Jue didn't need to do anything, nor did he need to resist or rail in outrage. All he had to do was lower his head with supreme meekness, ready to accept reprimand and punishment. The moment the situation escalated, the issue could no longer be explained away by so-called procedures and precedent!
*Go on, play, gentlemen! If you love playing games, play all you want—who could ever beat you at your own game?*
For the Association, things had reached a point where what had happened was no longer what mattered most; what mattered was what would happen next... Thanks to his stellar reputation and track record, Ji Jue's talent for "stirring up trouble" was already widely known—in a sense, even more terrifying than his attainments in alchemy.
Nobody could guarantee he wouldn't pull some crazy stunt.
If they really tried to muddle through and stall as per routine, giving Ji Jue an excuse and pretext to run wild, who knew what colossal spectacle and disaster would unfold next!
*Either take me along to win, or go down with me!*
*That's the boiling-blooded bond between us!*
*Choose!*
Now the pen had been placed in the Association's hand, but whether the answer would satisfy the masses was no longer up to the Association.
And so, amid the surging storm, the procedure moved forward.
The Coordination Section reported to the Supervision Department. The Supervision Department held meetings for an entire day, then reported to the General Affairs Bureau. The folks at General Affairs spent half a day cursing up a storm in their offices, then bit the bullet and reported to the President.
President Gustav read the report and gave a concise endorsement:
[Read.]
And that was it. It only said he had read it, with no instructions on how to resolve it. Instead, he placed the document into the stack on the right side of his desk, forwarding it to the Board of Directors.
*You caused this mess; resolve it yourselves.*
There was no need to wait for the next day's regular Board meeting; that very day, someone approached Jiang Tongguang, begging for favors and asking him to be merciful.
They didn't even get to see him.
"The Audit Office lost face; let them go find it themselves. The mess Medman's lackeys poked open, what the hell does it have to do with me?" Sitting in his wheelchair eating fruit, Director Jiang didn't even spare them a glance. "I'm still convalescing! Don't bother me!"
The subordinate beside him reported, "The visitor said Director Medman's position is..."
"Whatever his position is has nothing to do with me."
Jiang Tongguang rolled his eyes, couldn't care less.
Just because he had played peacemaker once, did everyone think they could run to him to trade on his favor?
What kind of dogshit was Du Erchang?
Did he really think everyone had a Golden Body protecting them like Hu Jian?
"Handle it! I support the Association! I believe the Association can definitely handle it well!"
Gloating, he signed his name on the copy routed to him.
A rare good show like this—how could they not handle it?
Not only should they handle it, they should handle it in style, with full fanfare—let the chips fall where they may!
Just like the Association's procedures, even by the time the Chieftain's reply arrived, the overdue final payments owed to the Seven Cities for the calamity beast materials remained indefinitely delayed. Stalling—they were shamelessly dragging their feet.
Ask, and the answer was always nothing. Ask, and it was "in procedure." Ask, and it was "a few more days."
*Damn it, stop asking! Aren't you annoying?!*
Ever since Ling Shuo openly leveled accusations within the Wild Gathering, aside from William over at Shiye who had been burned and gritted his teeth to settle a portion of the payment, Fog Veil Reef and Iron Hook Ward didn't even bother pretending anymore.
To this, the returned Ji Jue didn't care in the slightest, not even bothering with a cold sneer.
*No problem. Stall. Keep stalling.*
*I want to see just how long you can drag this out...*
*Just whatever you do, don't chicken out!*
In truth, it didn't take long at all.
On the very next day after the Chieftain's reply came down and the Association's procedures ran their course, a bolt from the blue slammed right between the eyes of the Wild Gathering branches in Iron Hook Ward and Fog Veil Reef.
Disastrous news struck.
And then, they finally realized... the Wild Gathering's final payments had started getting stalled too, what the fuck!
Chapter 860