Chapter 219: Behind-the-scenes Storm

"Brother, are you alright?"

Gu Chudong quickly ran to Gu Mo's side and checked him thoroughly. Only after confirming he was unharmed did she relax. Pointing to the pile of shattered Grand Void Divine Armor on the ground, she asked, "Brother, are these your spoils of war?"

Gu Mo whispered, "Quick, pack them up."

Gu Chudong immediately understood. While Gu Mo's identity as the Great Hero of Yunzhou brought advantages, it also came with certain limitations. For instance, if he were to take these items, both the Six Doors and the Pure Yang Temple could send junior disciples to pitifully request them. However, Gu Chudong could circumvent these restrictions. She wasn't a great hero; she was just a naive, cheerful, and money-loving girl. Anyone who dared to ask her for something should be prepared for extortion; not only would they fail to get the items, but they might also end up paying extra.

Immediately, Gu Chudong swiftly pulled out two extra-large leather bags from her satchel and quickly scooped the fragments of the Grand Void Divine Armor into them, her movements as fast as her blade aura.

Song Danyang, Venerable Lingxu, and Zhao Congyue, who had just arrived from the other side, all looked helpless.

Although the Grand Void Divine Armor was broken, its materials were rare treasures, formed from extraterrestrial profound iron that had absorbed terrestrial energy for a hundred years. It was impervious to blades and fire, resistant to water, and could absorb spiritual energy, making it an excellent material for crafting divine weapons.

Venerable Lingxu and Song Danyang also knew that it contained a supreme treasure: the Profound Sky Floating Stone, one of the Ten Great Marvelous Stones of the world.

The Profound Sky Floating Stone, like the raw material of the Grand Void Divine Armor, was an extraterrestrial meteorite that fell to earth over 800 years ago. It possessed the ability to levitate and once caused a scramble among martial artists, becoming a disruptive "demonic stone." However, over time, people gradually discovered that while the Profound Sky Floating Stone was marvelous, its power and carrying capacity were limited. It couldn't even lift a dog, let alone a person; it only aided martial artists skilled in Qinggong by increasing their speed and agility. Thus, the once-popular Profound Sky Floating Stone gradually faded from public attention. Still, because of its unique levitation ability, it was listed as one of the Ten Great Marvelous Stones alongside nine other stones with special powers.

It wasn't until 600 years ago, when extraterrestrial profound iron appeared and was forged into the Grand Void Divine Armor by numerous master blacksmiths, that one of them had a flash of inspiration: the Profound Sky Floating Stone could add flight capability to the armor. Finally, after several years of research by over a dozen master blacksmiths, they managed to engrave a formation within the Grand Void Divine Armor, utilizing its ability to absorb spiritual energy and store internal force. This amplified the power of the Profound Sky Floating Stone many times over, allowing the armor to achieve flight through bursts of powerful internal energy.

Few knew that the Profound Sky Floating Stone was inside the Grand Void Divine Armor, but Venerable Lingxu and Song Danyang certainly did.

Zhao Congyue walked over and saw that Gu Chudong had not only packed up all the extraterrestrial profound iron but also seemed intent on collecting the large pile of various mechanical parts. His face clouded over as he said, "Heroine Gu, there's really no need. Those mechanical parts are useless."

Gu Chudong grinned and said, "I think these parts are quite pretty..."

"They really are useless," Zhao Congyue insisted. "Not only are the mechanisms of the Grand Void Divine Armor mostly shattered, but even if they were intact, there's no material to forge a second one. Those parts can't be used. Even if we had more profound iron, the master blacksmiths of six centuries ago were unparalleled, and their like can't be found today."

Gu Chudong nodded and said, "Oh, I see. No problem, I can just take them home to play with."

Zhao Congyue's face darkened. "..."

Seeing Gu Chudong had finished packing the pile of mechanical parts, Zhao Congyue quickly said, "Oh, young miss, why don't you leave some for me? You've already taken the most valuable profound iron and Profound Sky Floating Stone; these parts aren't necessary, are they...?"

Gu Chudong immediately shielded the large bag behind her, looking at Zhao Congyue with vigilance, as if protecting her food. "Chief Constable Zhao, you're so old, and a venerable grandmaster. You wouldn't try to snatch toys from a little girl who's about your granddaughter's age, would you? You couldn't do such a thing, could you? You must still care about your reputation in the martial world, right?"

Zhao Congyue: "..."

"Heroine Gu, those mechanical parts are truly useless to you, but I'm different. I can give them to the Ministry of Works. The government doesn't lack blacksmiths. These were crafted by a dozen master blacksmiths 600 years ago and hold great research value. They might even be applied to agriculture or weaponry, benefiting the common people and defending the nation! Heroine Gu, if you give these to me, it would be a great service to the country and its people. You must understand..."

Gu Chudong extended five fingers, waving them before Zhao Congyue, and said, "Five thousand taels. For such a grand undertaking that benefits the people and the nation, the government surely wouldn't begrudge five thousand taels of silver, would it?"

Zhao Congyue's mouth twitched. "Heroine Gu, look, Great Hero Gu killed the Azure Leaf Hall Master, and the bounty alone is ten thousand taels..."

Gu Chudong said, "Exactly! My brother is a great contributor, so the government would be even less likely to begrudge five thousand taels of silver, right?"

Gu Chudong looked at Zhao Congyue with wide, innocent eyes.

Zhao Congyue: "..."

His mouth twitched violently. He turned to look at Gu Mo, only to see him gazing at the sky, looking left and right, as if the scenery was beautiful and worth appreciating.

*Your eyes are still covered with a black cloth!* Zhao Congyue thought.

"Fine, five thousand taels it is," Zhao Congyue gritted his teeth. Although it was a large sum, given his status, he could agree to it directly. "You'll get it with your brother's bounty."

"Great!" Gu Chudong said, beaming. "Chief Constable Zhao, a grandmaster and head of the Six Doors, is a man of his word. He definitely wouldn't lie to a little girl like me in front of so many people!"

Zhao Congyue: "..."

Gu Chudong suddenly spoke again, "Oh, and that fake Grand Void Divine Armor over there..."

Gu Mo quickly pulled Gu Chudong, preventing her from making further exorbitant demands. After all, by no means could that fake Grand Void Divine Armor be considered his spoils of war. Moreover, it was a fake created by Old Madam Lin, likely with some temporary efficacy but not lasting. To prevent exposure, it probably had a self-destruct mechanism, as a destroyed fake leaves no evidence.

Zhao Congyue immediately motioned for several Six Doors constables. Some were tasked with moving the pile of mechanical parts, others with taking away the bodies of Lin Chuan and Old Madam Lin.

"Great Hero Gu, Venerable One, Temple Master Song," Zhao Congyue bowed to them and said, "Today's events are no small matter, so I won't linger here. Hmm, Great Hero Gu, would you like to leave together?"

Before Gu Mo could speak, Song Danyang quickly interjected, "No rush, no rush, Great Hero Gu. Since you're already here, please don't be in such a hurry to leave. You should at least stay and enjoy the Pure Yang Temple for a few days!"

Venerable Lingxu also added, "Great Hero Gu, we are all martial artists who cultivate internal force. It's a rare opportunity to gather like this. Anyway, if you leave now, you'll still have to wait for the bounty from the Six Doors, so why not stay at the Pure Yang Temple and discuss martial arts?"

Just then, Song Danyang sent a mental message to Gu Mo, saying, "Great Hero Gu, today's matter is significant, and Old Madam Lin's background is deeply entrenched. Undercurrents will surge within the Six Doors in Cangzhou. It's not advisable for us, as martial artists, to get further entangled."

Gu Mo's heart cleared. Without revealing his thoughts, he said, "I also truly wish to discuss martial arts with Venerable Lingxu and Temple Master Song; this is a golden opportunity. Even if you two weren't to keep me, I would shamelessly stay for a while longer." With that, he bowed to Zhao Congyue and said, "Chief Constable Zhao, I won't be accompanying you."

Zhao Congyue bowed and said, "That's good too, to be honest. I'll certainly be very busy from now on, and I was worried I might neglect you, Great Hero Gu, amidst the hustle. Haha, a discussion of martial arts between three Grandmasters of internal force – what a grand event for the martial world! It's a pity I won't have the chance to witness it. A true shame!"

After a few brief exchanges, Zhao Congyue left in a disheveled manner. He was on the verge of spitting blood and staying any longer would have caused him great embarrassment. Today, four grandmasters had joined forces against Old Madam Lin and Lin Chuan, yet he was the only one severely wounded. To save face, he had been enduring the pain for the past half-day.

In truth, strictly speaking, Zhao Congyue was not weak. In today's battle, Zhao Congyue's performance was outstanding. Although his legs couldn't break the Grand Void Divine Armor, he continuously suppressed it, keeping it unstable and creating excellent conditions for Song Danyang and Venerable Lingxu, which was crucial in subduing the armor. It was just unfortunate that despite taking the same blows, Zhao Congyue was beaten to the point of spitting blood, while Song Danyang and Venerable Lingxu remained completely unharmed.

This was because Song Danyang and Venerable Lingxu were both Grandmasters of internal force. Both master and disciple shared a common weakness: slightly insufficient burst power. However, their defense and endurance were incredibly strong. It was only because of today's rain, which greatly increased the Grand Void Divine Armor's speed and power, that it had a chance to escape. Under normal circumstances, with the two of them working together, they could have worn down the Grand Void Divine Armor until its energy was depleted, without needing anyone else's help. While the Grand Void Divine Armor was powerful, it couldn't necessarily injure Song Danyang and Venerable Lingxu even if it fought for a full day. This was the advantage of internal force grandmasters: strong endurance and defense.

As two of the Ten Grandmasters of the Qian Kingdom, Qi Tianshu, ranked seventh, and Venerable Lingxu, ranked fifth, represented two extremes. Qi Tianshu was renowned for the lethality of his swordsmanship, while Venerable Lingxu was known for his deep internal force and ability to fight prolonged battles, even ranking higher than Qi Tianshu. To describe their combat power on a scale of one hundred, Qi Tianshu would start at seventy, reaching one hundred in attack power during bursts, then rapidly declining to fifty; his defense would start at seventy, reach one hundred during bursts, then remain at fifty. Venerable Lingxu, however, would start at eighty, his combat power increasing to ninety the longer he fought, maintaining that level; his defense would start at ninety and remain at ninety until his internal force was exhausted. One had an extremely high ceiling, while the other had a solid foundation.

Watching Zhao Congyue and the others depart, Song Danyang walked to Gu Mo's side, bowed deeply, and said with great sincerity, "This humble Daoist thanks Great Hero Gu. If not for your assistance today, I would surely have suffered an unjust accusation, and Pure Yang Temple would inevitably have been implicated by me. Great Hero Gu is my great benefactor, and thus the benefactor of Pure Yang Temple."

Gu Mo supported Song Danyang's arm and said, "Temple Master Song, there's no need to be so polite. I merely stated the facts. You were framed from the start; don't take it too much to heart."

Song Danyang said, "A kindness is a kindness."

"Brother," Gu Chudong suddenly asked, "How did you come to suspect Old Madam Lin?"

Gu Mo shook his head slightly. "From beginning to end, I suspected Temple Master Song, not Old Madam Lin. After all, Old Madam Lin's family was nearly ruined by the Azure Leaf Hall; she was the biggest victim. Who would suspect a victim? Temple Master Song's suspicion was genuinely high. However, when I discovered that the Grand Void Divine Armor at Pure Yang Temple was fake, it became obvious. No matter how well Old Madam Lin disguised herself, it was useless. We tracked the Grand Void Divine Armor to Pure Yang Temple, and Old Madam Lin used her tracking methods to get here. The moment the Divine Armor was revealed to be fake, it meant that tracking it here was invalid. Yet, Old Madam Lin still brought us here and found the fake. This could only mean she already knew there was a fake Grand Void Divine Armor here and deliberately led us to catch the culprit, which made it clear she was framing Temple Master Song."

Song Danyang sighed and said, "It's a pity. Old Madam Lin was truly a woman of extraordinary talent. It was not easy for her to lead the Lin family to such heights as a woman. She built the Lin family, yet she was ironically bound and burdened by it for her entire life."

Gu Mo said gravely, "Temple Master Song, from what you said earlier, you mean that the Azure Leaf Hall... or rather, Old Madam Lin, has very deep connections behind her?"

Song Danyang nodded. "For Old Madam Lin to gamble her lifelong reputation and the Lin family's foundation to establish the Azure Leaf Hall, there's only one possibility: she was striving for an opportunity for the Lin family to transition from a martial arts family to a political one. Given the Lin family's limited resources and the lack of promising young talents, ordinary achievements wouldn't be enough for such a transformation. There's only one way: gaining merit by supporting a future emperor. Therefore, there must be a prince behind the Lin family."

"That's not right," Gu Chudong said. "The Azure Leaf Hall appeared ten years ago, but the current emperor only ascended the throne six years ago?"

Song Danyang chuckled, "Ten years ago, the current emperor was already the Crown Prince. The struggle for succession never begins only when everything is certain; by then, it's already too late to contend for the throne."

Gu Chudong nodded, "So that's how it is!"

Song Danyang continued, "And now, in the imperial court, with the Second Prince's return last year and his enfeoffment as Prince Jin by the Emperor, the succession struggle has entered a complete white-hot phase. This is precisely why I advised you, Great Hero Gu, not to get too deeply involved with the Six Doors. Old Madam Lin is dead, but that doesn't mean the Azure Leaf Hall is gone. The Six Doors will immediately investigate. To what extent will they investigate? Will they root it out completely? Or will they stop here? They can't possibly trace it all the way to the capital, can they? Who would dare to investigate, and who could? The Six Doors itself isn't monolithic; it has factions. We might not know which prince is behind Old Madam Lin, but that doesn't mean others don't. If someone from another faction wants to use this to suppress Old Madam Lin's faction and investigate thoroughly, but also wants to protect themselves, might they find someone to act as their pawn? If you get too deeply involved, you might just be used as a pawn."

Gu Mo chuckled and asked, "So, Temple Master Song, which faction do you belong to? Or rather, which faction do Pure Yang Temple and Imperial Advisor Zhang Daoji belong to?"

Song Danyang shook his head. "None of them. If my Pure Yang Temple had joined any faction, I wouldn't have suffered this calamity today."

Gu Mo asked curiously, "What do you mean?"

Song Danyang sighed and said, "One cannot help oneself in the martial world. Pure Yang Temple's influence within the Daoist sects is second only to Dragon-Tiger Mountain, and since the current Emperor values Daoism, our status has risen. Among the Qian Kingdom's strongest martial forces—the Three Supreme Sects, Four Great Schools, and Seven Noble Families—Pure Yang Temple ranks just below the Three Supreme Sects, being the head of the Four Great Schools. Among the Three Supreme Sects, Penglai Island in the East Sea is detached from worldly affairs, a group of cultivators no one dares to provoke. Dragon-Tiger Mountain has profound heritage, the ancestral home of Daoism, and needs no allegiance. As for Canglan Sword Sect, it has already taken a side early on. Everyone's attention can only fall on the lower Four Schools. We at Pure Yang Temple don't want to get involved in court disputes, but we lack the profound heritage of Dragon-Tiger Mountain. Alas, when strength is insufficient, neutrality sometimes means offending everyone. This time it's clear: someone set their sights on Cangzhou, and Pure Yang Temple stood in their way with no one backing us. Naturally, we became a target for reckoning. Even other forces were happy to push the tide, as no one likes a neutral, swaying, yet influential power."

Gu Mo asked curiously, "Since it's unavoidable, why not take a side?"

Song Danyang shook his head slightly. "If Pure Yang Temple were an ordinary martial arts sect, taking a side would be simple. But Pure Yang Temple is one of the two ancestral Daoist temples in the Qian Kingdom. If we take a side, it's akin to forcing Dragon-Tiger Mountain and the entire Daoist community to take sides. Without careful attention, this could lead to disputes over orthodox lineage and internal strife within Daoism, potentially making Pure Yang Temple a sinner for eternity in the eyes of Daoism."

Gu Mo said, "But constantly being in this state isn't a solution. This crisis was significant, and there will be a next time, and a time after that."

Song Danyang chuckled helplessly, "We can only endure until Dragon-Tiger Mountain makes a move, and then follow their lead to avoid calamity. As for the tribulations along the way, we can only respond as they come. The Grand Void Divine Armor three years ago was one such tribulation. The martial world says I'm righteous and noble-minded, willing to give away a treasured heirloom for the common people. In truth, I'm not that noble. Even if I were, the Grand Void Divine Armor isn't mine alone to decide upon. How could a treasure passed down in Pure Yang Temple for over two hundred years be given away at my whim? We were forced into it because the imperial faction behind the Azure Leaf Hall needed the Grand Void Divine Armor and had their eyes on it; we had no way to refuse. If I hadn't handed it over then, that group of so-called great bandits would have continued to kill people, and it would quickly become known throughout the land that Pure Yang Temple ignored the slaughter of common folk and remained indifferent, causing our reputation to collapse. At first, I was defiant. I prepared to seek out that group of bandits, thinking that by killing them, I could surely protect the Grand Void Divine Armor? But I overthought it; I couldn't kill them at all. I couldn't find any clues, and I still don't even know if that gang of ruthless bandits truly existed. Most importantly, during that period, Pure Yang Temple was suppressed in all aspects. I only had to hand over the Grand Void Divine Armor because I couldn't endure it any longer."

Gu Mo slowly said, "No wonder Venerable Lingxu was so certain you were framed."

Song Danyang nodded. "That's why my master told me to go find my senior martial uncle. If you, Great Hero Gu, hadn't exposed Old Madam Lin's lie today, I would have had to flee to the capital and ask my senior martial uncle for help, because this matter isn't a simple martial world incident as it appears on the surface, but a struggle within the imperial court."

Gu Chudong, standing nearby, sighed with emotion, "Even your Pure Yang Temple, a top sect in the martial world, is so powerless in the face of imperial court struggles?"

Song Danyang chuckled and said, "Heroine Gu, what do you consider a martial arts force? Aren't they just civilian organizations formed with the court's permission? Not to mention that local governments keep an eye on them, the Six Doors in each region are openly established specifically to suppress the martial world. Whether it's the Three Supreme Sects, Four Great Schools, or Seven Noble Families, if the court didn't permit them, how could they have been established? And since the court does permit them, it naturally has absolute confidence that it can control and suppress them at any time. In fact, many major forces in the martial world are merely the black or white gloves of high-ranking officials and nobles within the imperial court."

Gu Chudong frowned and asked, "Then are there no martial arts forces or individuals who can escape the court's suppression?"

"There are," Song Danyang said. "The world is vast, and there's nothing strange under the sun. Everything has exceptions. Throughout the various dynasties and states, there have been plenty of commoners who rose up and eventually ascended the throne, but it's merely another cycle. Every dynasty is fated to decline; the imperial court will eventually decay, and dynasties will change. The day a dynasty begins its decline is the day martial arts forces break free from control."

At this point, Song Danyang looked at Gu Chudong and asked, "But, Heroine Gu, do you wish for that day? When the nation is in chaos, warlords clash, the martial world loses order, and various forces vie for power, fighting endlessly and no longer adhering to rules. Martial artists without the court's suppression are merely beasts who wield power and treat human lives as dirt."

Gu Chudong shook her head. "Then, in that case, it's better for martial arts forces to be suppressed by the imperial court."

Song Danyang said, "Although my position is one of being suppressed by the imperial court, I must admit that only in this way can the brutality of the martial world be restrained, and ordinary people have a chance to live."

Gu Chudong asked again, "You spoke of martial arts forces. What about individuals? Can anyone escape the court's suppression?"

"There are," Song Danyang replied.

Gu Chudong's eyes widened, and she said, full of disbelief, "Really?"

"Truly."

"Who?" Gu Chudong asked curiously.

"The Sword God Su Qianqiu, who is called the second greatest under heaven but is actually the first," Song Danyang said.

Gu Chudong asked suspiciously, "But isn't Imperial Advisor Zhang Daoji only slightly inferior to Su Qianqiu? Or even, might he even surpass Su Qianqiu? In that case, can't the Imperial Advisor also escape the court's suppression?"

Song Danyang shook his head. "No, he cannot."

"Why?"

Song Danyang said, "Because Su Qianqiu has no weaknesses. He is a solitary individual, a lone wanderer. He has no family, no sect, and no wife or children."

"Huh?" Gu Chudong didn't immediately grasp it.

Gu Mo chuckled. "Simply put, Su Qianqiu has no qualms. If anyone provokes him, he can erupt in a fit of rage, causing blood to splatter five paces, and he would even dare to kill an emperor. Because he has no worries; if he kills, he kills. No one can do anything to him. Even if a large army besieges him, he can run or charge. Whether he escapes or not, it doesn't matter. But Imperial Advisor Zhang Daoji is different. He has a sect and its lineage. His martial arts are formidable; he can come and go freely even within the imperial palace. However, Dragon-Tiger Mountain cannot be moved. Its disciples do not have the power to break the rules. Therefore, Zhang Daoji must adhere to and protect the rules. Only then will the Daoist lineage he cares about become a beneficiary of the rules. He recognizes and protects the rules, willingly placing the imperial court above himself, as it brings him greater benefit."

Song Danyang nodded. "Great Hero Gu's explanation is simple and clear. The Imperial Advisor benefits from the rules, so he is constrained by them. But Su Qianqiu is not; he doesn't need the benefits the rules provide, so he can break free from the court's shackles."

Gu Mo chuckled. "I think I suddenly understand why the Imperial Advisor pays attention to me and even helps me find wanted criminals."

Song Danyang chuckled softly, remaining silent.

Gu Chudong asked, "Why?"

Gu Mo said, "Because many people believe I might become the greatest under heaven in the future, and the Imperial Advisor agrees. To be precise, even if I don't become the greatest, I could become someone qualified to disregard the law. Because I'm also a martial artist without a fixed affiliation, and I only have one sister, I don't have many concerns."

Gu Mo gently tapped the wooden railing with his fingers as raindrops washed down from the eaves. He slowly said, "The Imperial Advisor wants me to gradually become a beneficiary of these rules as well."

Song Danyang nodded slightly. "The more benefits, the deeper the entanglement."

Gu Mo said, "But, aren't these benefits not enough?"

Song Danyang shrugged. "It's merely an incidental effort. While the Imperial Advisor is a guardian of the rules, he's not the primary beneficiary. When a person like you, Great Hero Gu, emerges, he'll want you to benefit too and become a guardian of the rules. But shouldn't those who benefit the most contribute the most?"

"That would be the imperial family and the court, then."

Song Danyang shook his head. "But I fear the imperial family and the court officials stand too high and too far away; they can no longer see clearly. Arrogance and prejudice are two great mountains that cannot be moved."

The revelation of the Azure Leaf Hall Master's identity as Old Madam Lin of the Lin family immediately sent shockwaves throughout the Cangzhou martial world, then spread rapidly across the entire martial community. After all, the Lin family was one of the Qian Kingdom's Seven Great Martial Arts Families. At first, many people didn't believe it. However, when it was discovered that the Lin family had been placed under investigation and control by the Six Doors, everyone had no choice but to believe.

Immediately afterward, the Cangzhou martial world descended into chaos. The fall of the Lin family meant that all its foundations and territories became hot commodities. The Lin family was like a sick tiger; every beast wanted to take a bite. However, to the surprise of all forces in the Cangzhou martial world, just as everyone was planning to divide up the Lin family, someone had already bought into the bottom, swallowing up more than half of the Lin family with lightning speed.

It was the Yun family, another one of the Seven Great Families, that made the move, led by the Yun family's eldest daughter, Yun Xiu. No one knew how Yun Xiu managed it. She directly collaborated with the Lin family elders, who unexpectedly accepted Yun Xiu's investment in various Lin family industries, catching all other factions completely off guard. Originally, with the Lin family's scandal, Old Madam Lin and Lin Chuan's deaths, and the Lin family undergoing a full investigation, all factions could have pressured the Lin family to sell off its various assets at rock-bottom prices. But now, the Yun family, disregarding martial ethics, directly bought at the bottom.

No one knew how Yun Xiu achieved this. How could an outsider integrate a Lin family that was already falling apart, with almost all elders agreeing to cooperate with her? What baffled the martial world factions even more was that all the Lin family members agreed to Yun Xiu's method of investing on credit. Normally, with the Lin family's collapse, those high-ranking members who hadn't been purged would try to maximize their own interests from the family's assets. Since Old Madam Lin and Lin Chuan were dead, they couldn't possibly hold onto the assets, and uniting would be even more impossible, as human nature is selfish. Unless there was a capable person in the Lin family, like Old Madam Lin in her prime, who could command everyone's respect, the current Lin family was simply a loose collection of individuals. Yet, under these circumstances, the Lin family was integrated by an outsider, Yun Xiu. Crucially, they all accepted her investment on credit, meaning the Yun family invested in half of the Lin family's assets without spending a single penny. It was "half" because Yun Xiu deliberately conceded a small portion; after all, the Yun family sought wealth, and devouring such a massive profit alone would invite widespread resentment.

In fact, it wasn't just outsiders in the martial world who were puzzled; people within the Yun family were also perplexed. However, no one dared to question Yun Xiu anymore. Previously, with the successful clothing exhibition, Yun Xiu had already been internally designated as the young family head, though it hadn't been publicly announced. Now, with this new development, Yun Xiu's prestige directly surpassed that of the current family head. Many elders in the clan were already discussing bypassing the young family head position and directly making Yun Xiu the new family head.

In Cangyuan City, at Yun Xiu's residence, Yun Xiu had just returned home from a family meeting. The moment she entered her courtyard, her pupils constricted slightly. She immediately waved away the guards and maids behind her and entered the room alone. Upon entering, she saw a man wearing a felt hat sitting inside. The man slowly raised his head, revealing him to be Zhao Congyue, one of the two Chief Constables of the Six Doors in Yunzhou.

Yun Xiu bowed respectfully and said, "Chief Constable Zhao."

Zhao Congyue nodded slightly. "Miss Yun, how was it? Are you satisfied with the acquisition of the Lin family's assets?"

Yun Xiu poured a cup of tea for Zhao Congyue and chuckled, "How could I be dissatisfied? If not for Chief Constable Zhao's assistance, I would never have been able to acquire so many of the Lin family's industries."

Zhao Congyue picked up his teacup and chuckled, "Then, let's have a pleasant cooperation from now on!"

Yun Xiu also picked up her teacup and said, "A pleasant cooperation."

Zhao Congyue took a sip of tea and slowly said, "Miss Yun is an intelligent person, so I won't mince words. Since we're cooperating, let's do so sincerely. It's good for you, good for me, good for everyone. Don't be half-hearted."

Yun Xiu quickly said, "Yun Xiu shall naturally swear loyalty to His Highness Prince Qi until death!"

Zhao Congyue nodded. "His Highness Prince Qi has been observing you for a long time. This year, he will first support you in becoming the Yun family head. Next year, during the imperial examinations, he will find a way to secure one or two jinshi positions for your Yun family."

Yun Xiu's eyes lit up, and she quickly said, "Thank you, His Highness Prince Qi, and thank you, Chief Constable Zhao."

Zhao Congyue waved his hand and said, "Just serve His Highness well."

Yun Xiu nodded repeatedly and asked, "Chief Constable Zhao, there's one thing I'm unclear about: can I use those Lin family members?"

Zhao Congyue nodded. "Feel free to use them. They are the most afraid of death. Otherwise, why do you think so many Lin family members died, yet they managed to escape the purge?"

Yun Xiu's pupils shimmered. "And the Azure Leaf Hall?"

"It belongs to His Highness Prince Qi," Zhao Congyue said.

Yun Xiu was full of doubts. "But aren't you also His Highness Prince Qi's man? Why have you been relentlessly pursuing the Azure Leaf Hall for so many years? On Mount Shinan, you even exposed the Azure Leaf Hall's true identity. Why did you do that? If you had been investigating the Azure Leaf Hall all these years, I could understand that you were implicitly protecting them. But why expose their true identity on Mount Shinan?"

Zhao Congyue slowly explained, "For all these years, I've been relentlessly pursuing the Azure Leaf Hall precisely for the reason you stated: a superficial investigation, but in reality, protection. I was cleaning up after them and erasing their traces. Otherwise, how could the Azure Leaf Hall have remained hidden for so long? As for the Lin family's exposure this time, do you really think I did it? It was merely the various government factions vying for credit. I was entirely cooperating with Old Madam Lin in framing Song Danyang. Otherwise, do you think the Six Doors are truly that incompetent? Would they be so easily led by the nose by the Azure Leaf Hall? Alas, His Highness Prince Qi made a single misjudgment by trying to scheme against Gu Mo. As a result, a dam of a thousand miles collapsed due to an ant's nest. Because of that one lapse, all was lost. It was Gu Mo who killed Old Madam Lin and Lin Chuan, and it was Gu Mo who exposed Old Madam Lin. I merely took credit for someone else's work. In that situation, I had no choice but to fully assist in apprehending Lin Chuan and Old Madam Lin."

Yun Xiu suddenly understood. "So that's how it is," she said after a moment's thought. "So, does this mean the Azure Leaf Hall that was seemingly rooted out is only on the surface, and the real Azure Leaf Hall still exists?"

Zhao Congyue chuckled, "No, the Azure Leaf Hall is gone. However, there will be the Scarlet Leaf Hall, the Green Leaf Hall... Now it's your hidden force, Miss Yun. You can call it whatever you like!"

Yun Xiu asked, "So, what does His Highness need me to do? Continue with the plan to control the Cangzhou martial world?"

Zhao Congyue waved his hand. "That plan has failed. This Lin family incident has escalated significantly. Pure Yang Temple cannot remain unresponsive, nor can the other princes. The struggle in Cangzhou will directly move into the open; it can no longer be hidden. Therefore, you are fortunate. Old Madam Lin needed to operate in the shadows; Prince Qi's designation for her was that of a hidden weapon. The situation is different now; you can no longer hide. You need to act openly and righteously. Otherwise, how will Prince Qi promote your Yun family members to obtain jinshi honors next year? Old Madam Lin's greatest advantage was her venerable status, allowing her to hide as deeply as possible and deliver a fatal blow to opponents at the right moment. You are different; you cannot hide. The moment you emerge, you will be exposed. Furthermore, your greatest advantage is your business acumen. His Highness has many expenses, and Cangzhou is the most profitable region in the Qian Kingdom. Therefore, your task is to continuously expand and earn money. You must remain clean. As for clandestine matters, the hidden operatives of the Azure Leaf Hall will handle them for you. On the official side, I will provide protection and escort."

Yun Xiu nodded. "I understand."

Night fell at the Zhao family residence in Cangyuan City. After meeting Yun Xiu during the day, Zhao Congyue went to the Six Doors to handle official duties, not returning until it was completely dark. After dinner with his family, he went to his study. He sat in a chair, took a small jade vial from a drawer, and tossed it into a dark corner, saying, "Take this Puppet Pill back to His Highness. Let's not entertain such unrealistic ideas about controlling Gu Mo anymore."

From the dark corner, a black-clad masked figure slowly emerged and said in a low voice, "Chief Constable Zhao, you've been with Gu Mo for so long; surely there was some opportunity to administer the drug, wasn't there?"

Zhao Congyue rolled his eyes and retorted irritably, "Is Gu Mo some kind of brain-damaged fool? How long have I known him? How much trust could he possibly have in me? Come on, Old Ghost, tell me, is Gu Mo a fool? Can a fool become one of the Ten Grandmasters?"

The masked figure called Old Ghost remained silent.

Zhao Congyue continued, "Also, do you truly understand Gu Mo? Damn it, you almost got me killed! If I had truly made a move on Gu Mo, where would my head be right now? Let's set aside whether I even had a chance to act against him. Even if I succeeded, is your pill some kind of immortal elixir? A Puppet Pill, in the end, is just a spiritual secret art combined with a Gu worm. Gu Mo is an internal force grandmaster, so there's a chance he *could* be controlled. But tell me, what about that blade technique he used to hack at the Grand Void Divine Armor in Pure Yang Temple? That martial will, where man and blade were one, where man and heaven were one, almost blinded me. A grandmaster who cultivates both internal force and true martial intent—do you really think your broken pill is an immortal elixir? Controlling a grandmaster? Why don't you just secretly give it to His Majesty for Prince Qi to control the succession directly?"

Old Ghost chuckled. "My deepest apologies, indeed. This was certainly a mistake on our part. We knew Gu Mo cultivated true martial intent, but we didn't investigate to discover he was also so strong in it. If we go by his performance at Pure Yang Temple that day, Gu Mo's internal force is no weaker than Venerable Lingxu's, and his martial intent method has reached the state of man-heaven unity. Wouldn't that mean he could contend with the top three masters on our Qian Kingdom's Heavenly Rankings?"

Zhao Congyue thought for a moment and said, "He ranks fourth, aspiring to second! My suggestion is to prioritize winning him over!"

"Understood. I will relay the message to His Highness." Old Ghost's voice gradually faded as he slowly retreated into the corner.

Early this morning, in the capital, at Prince Qi's residence, an advisor entered Prince Qi Li Zhongyi's room, handed him a secret letter, and said, "Your Highness, a letter from Cangzhou."

Li Zhongyi took the letter, set it aside, and said, "Speak."

The advisor reported, "The Yun family has essentially taken over the Lin family's industries..." Then, the advisor detailed the specifics of Zhao Congyue's cooperation with the Yun family.

Li Zhongyi nodded. "Very good. This Zhao Congyue is capable; he has minimized the impact of the Lin family's failure on me."

The advisor nodded. "Chief Constable Zhao always handles matters very steadily." After a moment of thought, the advisor continued, "Oh, and Your Highness, Chief Constable Zhao also said that Gu Mo's strength is unfathomable and that we should prioritize recruiting him. Even if we can't recruit him, we must not offend him!"

Li Zhongyi suddenly looked up, his tone displeased. "What does Zhao Congyue mean? Is he telling me, a prince, to bow to a mere commoner? This Gu Mo has thwarted my plans time and again, and now he says I shouldn't offend him? Saving Li Zhongqing in Mo Bei was one instance, and now he has ruined another important matter for me in Cangzhou. What, does he expect me to humble myself and admit fault?"

The advisor quickly said, "Your Highness, Chief Constable Zhao didn't mean that. He meant that Gu Mo's strength is unfathomable. Although he has disrupted Your Highness's plans twice, it wasn't intentional; it was merely coincidental. Is it necessary for us to offend such a formidable opponent?"

"What kind of formidable opponent is a mere martial arts wanderer?" Li Zhongyi sneered. "No matter how strong he is, can he be stronger than Imperial Advisor Zhang Daoji? If Zhang Daoji didn't have Dragon-Tiger Mountain as his backing, he wouldn't amount to much. Is a mere Gu Mo worth me avoiding his edge?"

The advisor opened his mouth, knowing that Li Zhongyi was currently in a fit of pique, and refrained from speaking further to avoid provoking him.

After a while, Li Zhongyi calmed down, waved his hand, and said, "Forget it. It's too demeaning to constantly be at odds with a commoner, and it brings me no benefit. If he's forced into the Second Prince's or Eldest Prince's camp, that would be even worse. How about this: find a time to recruit him. If he can be recruited, then do so; if not, then so be it. Additionally, send people to gather comprehensive intelligence on him, find all his weaknesses and flaws. If he shows any signs of joining others or causing trouble again, kill him immediately!"