Tiannan

"Are you happy?" Yaoguang opened his eyes. It was a bit of a pity. He hadn't had the chance to ask Zhao Sheng that question before the man was beaten to death. Still... He lifted his head slightly, his gaze seeming to pierce through empty space toward a farther horizon. "Who is the prey now?" ... Tiannan provincial capital. The moment Yaoguang arrived at Yuyuan, his keen senses picked up on something. The perimeter of Yuyuan was under surveillance. He glanced at Zong Yan. At first perplexed, Zong Yan quickly caught the meaning in his eyes. After sensing the surroundings for a brief moment, he promptly signaled to one of the Grandmasters. That Grandmaster immediately stepped out of the vehicle with several men. Before long, a voice crackled through a compact communication device on Zong Yan's person. "It's the local authorities." "Make them leave," Zong Yan instructed. "Understood." The voice faded. "Those people are connected to your logistics squad, aren't they?" Yaoguang asked. "Strictly speaking, they are composed of the younger generation from my logistics squad. The original members of my team are advanced in age and have all retired," Zong Yan replied. It was entirely normal for a Martial Saint to possess their own personal team. However, as one of the three principal directors of the Jishi Society's Dayu headquarters, having only members of his own logistics squad at his beck and call... His tenure as a director had to be considered somewhat of a failure. Zong Yan evidently understood this as well. He gave a bitter smile. "I am getting on in years, and my strength is no longer what it was in my prime. Moreover, I hail from Lihuo. While hardly a tiny backwater, its national power cannot begin to compare with Dayu. My posting to this branch of the Jishi Society was primarily supervisory in nature, making it difficult for me to intervene in internal matters." Yaoguang said nothing in response. As a developed nation boasting a population of three hundred million, Dayu was one of the few countries in the world capable of serving as a viable piece on the board in the contest between Xuelong and Chixing. On that point alone, over ninety percent of the nations across the globe could not hold a candle to it. Consequently, the people of Dayu possessed the natural pride of a developed nation. Aside from immigrants from Chixing and Xuelong, newcomers from other countries found it exceedingly difficult to climb to high positions within Dayu. The vehicle pulled to a stop at the Yuyuan villa. Yaoguang stepped out. Lei Yun, Pang Long, and the others hurried over to greet him, their expressions grave. "Young Master." "See to our guests' accommodations," Yaoguang instructed. His calm demeanor helped Lei Yun and Pang Long relax slightly. Responding with an affirmative, they promptly went off to attend to the Jishi Society members. Yet as he entered the villa, Aili stepped forward, hesitating as if wanting to speak. "Speak your mind. They can be trusted," Yaoguang said. "Grandmaster Yue is here," Aili whispered softly. "Oh?" Hearing this, he quickly detected a presence upstairs that was suppressed to the absolute limit. "I'll go up and see him," he said, instructing her to attend well to Zong Yan and the others before heading up to the second floor. Following his perception, he soon arrived outside a study. "Grandmaster Yue." As Yaoguang pushed the door open and entered, Yue Xingzhou, whose nerves had been stretched taut inside the room, finally allowed himself to relax slightly. Then, as if remembering something, his face suddenly fell. "Yaoguang, the situation in Tiannan has spiraled completely out of control! Lu Zhenhai and Wei Kongming are tearing off all pretense to come after us!" Yaoguang had already seen this intelligence within Zhao Sheng's soul fragments. Killing Xia Wuyuan was clearly not enough of an apology from the Liao family. He and Yue Xingzhou were the next targets. As local tyrants rooted in Tiannan, the Yue family behind Yue Xingzhou naturally picked up on any subtle shift immediately, so it was hardly surprising that he had caught wind of this development. "Then you..." "We must leave Dayu at once and go into hiding for a while," Yue Xingzhou said in a heavy voice. "I came to take you with me. The Yue family cannot stand against the Rebirth Society. You... you might be able to wrestle with them in the future, but right now, clashing head-on with the Rebirth Society is out of the question." Hearing this, Yaoguang gave Yue Xingzhou a slightly surprised look. Under circumstances like these, Yue Xingzhou had still thought to take him along in his escape. Still... "No matter. The Rebirth Society won't have the chance," Yaoguang said. "The waters behind the Rebirth Society run far too deep..." Yue Xingzhou replied with a wry smile. "I even suspect that the president known as 'Mo Guang' is himself an aristocrat from Chixing, and an immensely powerful high noble at that. Otherwise, their influence wouldn't span the entirety of Dayu, leaving even the royal family afraid to act rashly..." At that point, the expression on his face froze. It seemed he had only just registered the meaning behind Yaoguang's remark that "the Rebirth Society won't have the chance." His pupils instantly contracted. "Yaoguang, did I just hear you say..." "No need to make a fuss. Zhao Sheng is dead. The Rebirth Society's forces within Dayu have been practically wiped out. Before they can infiltrate their strength back into the country, we are completely safe." "Dead!?" Yue Xingzhou caught his breath, his voice abruptly rising a pitch. "Zhao Sheng is dead!?" "Yes." "Zhao Sheng... According to my latest intel, he wasn't just the overseer of the 'divine blood' project; he was very likely the head of the entire Rebirth Society in Dayu! How could he be... dead!?" Yue Xingzhou's face was filled with utter disbelief. "How did he die?" Yaoguang said calmly. "I wanted him dead, so he died. Is there a problem?" "Er..." Yaoguang's words left Yue Xingzhou momentarily at a loss for words. Yet a moment later, another thought struck him. Yaoguang seemed to have been invited into the Jishi Society... With his talent, once he entered the organization, he would undoubtedly receive their utmost nurturing. Granting him the status of a Revelator, assigning a Martial Saint as his personal protector, and having them instruct him directly would hardly be out of the question. Furthermore, the Jishi Society was the sworn enemy of the Rebirth Society. When Zhao Sheng set his sights on Yaoguang, it was only natural that the Jishi Society would mobilize in full force to annihilate them. Thinking of this, he took a deep breath and quickly regained his composure. If that was the case... They truly didn't have much to worry about. At this realization, Yue Xingzhou felt an immense weight lift from his shoulders. "Those people who arrived with you downstairs—are they Jishi Society experts?" he asked rapidly. "Yes." "Is there a Martial Saint among them?" "Yes." "Then we're fine." "Don't you want to ask how many there are?" "How many?" "Two," Yaoguang said. "One downstairs, and one upstairs." "Upstairs?" Yue Xingzhou's expression shifted, turning solemn. "Where? If a senior Martial Saint has graced us with their presence, I ought to step outside and pay my respects." "You may pay your respects right now," Yaoguang said with a faint smile. "I can pay my respects now?" Yue Xingzhou pressed immediately. "Where is the senior?" "Right in front of your eyes," Yaoguang said. "Me." Yue Xingzhou froze for a moment. Then, as if the implication of the exchange finally dawned on him, his eyes widened involuntarily. "You!?" His face was a picture of sheer shock, his tone completely incredulous. "You became a Martial Saint!?" "Yes." Yaoguang made a downward pressing gesture with his hand, speaking calmly, "As a Grandmaster of the Tiannan Yue family, you need to stay composed." "I..." Yue Xingzhou opened his mouth, on the verge of blurting out a string of unrefined expletives. But the moment the words reached his lips, the sudden reality of Yaoguang's strength and shift in status forced him to choke them right back down. After a long pause, he simply couldn't hold it in any longer. "How can I stay composed!? A Martial Saint!? You're already a Martial Saint!? How could it possibly happen so fast!?" Yaoguang smiled without offering an explanation. "Let's go. Head downstairs and meet the Jishi Society director." Pausing slightly, he added, "We ought to have a territory of our own." Coming back to Yuyuan, a place he temporarily considered "home," only to find it under surveillance... He did not care for that feeling. "Wait!" Yue Xingzhou suddenly called out. He stared at Yaoguang... It took him a good while before he reiterated, "You... truly became a Martial Saint?" "If not, how could we have rounded up and eradicated Zhao Sheng and his gang of demons?" Yaoguang asked. "Martial Saint! Martial Saint! Martial Saint!" Yue Xingzhou repeated the title over and over. Only after a considerable stretch did he manage to accept this reality. Then, his expression gradually turned stern. "There is an inside story behind Xia Wuyuan's death." "I know," Yaoguang said. "No! The inside story I mean isn't what you think!" Yue Xingzhou hesitated for a moment before continuing, "The night before he died, he called me. He asked if I knew about the Artifact Sect, and if I knew the truth of the world." "How did you answer?" "Our Yue family records naturally contain information regarding the Artifact Sect," Yue Xingzhou said. "Out of respect for Xia Wuyuan's character, I told him the truth about the Artifact Sect." Here, he paused. "Yet after hearing me out, he told me... that I was wrong. The truth of the world isn't what I understood it to be." Yaoguang was not surprised that Yue Xingzhou knew of the Artifact Sect. From the Jishi Society, he had already learned the true nature of the aristocratic families. In essence, behind every aristocratic family stood a disciple of the Artifact Sect. The scale and standing of their family in this world depended entirely on their family's Martial Saint's status within the Artifact Sect. Still... "The truth of the world? Wrong?" "I don't know what he was talking about," Yue Xingzhou said, shaking his head. "Though theoretically... for a Grandmaster from a local sect like him, merely learning of the existence of the Artifact Sect was already the absolute limit. How could he have known any deeper information? Much less anything about the truth of the world." "Go visit Zhenwu Fist," Yaoguang mused. "See what it was he was trying to say." "Then what about you..." Yue Xingzhou looked at him. "I won't be going for now," Yaoguang said calmly. The real culprits were still at large. Once he finished what he had to do, it wouldn't be too late to go. Yue Xingzhou didn't fully understand, but he made no attempt to refute Yaoguang's decision. He merely gave a firm nod. "I'll head there right away." Yet just as he was about to depart, he halted and turned back toward Yaoguang. "May I inform Yue Nanxing of your breakthrough to Martial Saint?" "You may," Yaoguang said. "It is hardly something that needs to be kept in the dark." Hearing that, Yue Xingzhou nodded with solemn gravity. "Though I cannot speak for the entire Yue family at this moment, I believe that once he learns you have attained the realm of Martial Saint, he will unconditionally support my decision." He cupped his fists and bowed deeply. "From this day forward, the entire Yue family is willing to look to Young Master Su as our master, follow your lead, and place ourselves entirely at your service." Yaoguang was not surprised by Yue Xingzhou's choice. When Yue Xingzhou had previously sent gifts worth four billion, he had already demonstrated his desire to build goodwill. Back then, the man had likely harbored thoughts of mutual cooperation for win-win results. However, reaching the realm of Martial Saint in such an extraordinarily short span of time made Yue Xingzhou realize that a Martial Saint was by no means Yaoguang's limit. Naturally, his mindset had shifted accordingly. Mutual cooperation had transformed into a clear hierarchy of master and subordinate. And this was an outcome Yaoguang had already foreseen when he accepted the gifts. He did not refuse, asking merely, "The Yue family has people placed throughout all the major departments in Tiannan, correct?" "Yes!" Yue Xingzhou said resolutely. "If not for our wariness toward the royal Liao family standing behind Lu Zhenhai and Wei Kongming, our Yue family's personnel could take full control of Tiannan at any moment." "Then what are you waiting for?" Yaoguang said. "I will handle the Liao family. I give you one month. Is that enough?" "More than enough!" Yue Xingzhou nodded solemnly. "One month from now, there will be only one voice left in Tiannan!"