Blind Ghostwriter: Starts with the full level of Nine Yang Magic Skill

Chapter 217 Behind-the-Scenes Storm (A long chapter of 1 words)
"Brother, how are you?"

Gu Chudong rushed to Gu Mo's side, checked him over, and only felt relieved after confirming that everything was alright. Pointing to the pile of fragments of the Taixu Divine Armor on the ground, she said, "Brother, is this your spoils of war?"

Gu Mo said in a low voice, "Hurry up and pack it."

Gu Chudong immediately understood. While Gu Mo's identity as a chivalrous hero of Yunzhou brought convenience, it also had some limitations. For example, if he took these things away now, both the Six Doors and the Chunyang Temple could send their junior disciples to pitifully beg for them back.

However, Gu Chudong can make up for Gu Mo's limitations. She is not a great hero, but just an innocent and greedy little girl. Anyone who dares to ask her for something should be prepared to be extorted. In the end, they will not only not get what they want, but also have to pay her.

Immediately,

Gu Chudong quickly took out two extra-large leather bags from the book box and swiftly stuffed the pile of Taixu Divine Armor fragments into the bags. Her hand speed was almost as fast as her sword energy.

The three people who came from the other side, Song Danyang, Lingxu Zhenren, and Zhao Congyue, all looked helpless.

Although the Taixu Divine Armor was broken, the materials used in its construction were rare treasures, formed from extraterrestrial black iron that had absorbed the earth's energy for a hundred years. It was impervious to blades and spears, water and fire, and also had the ability to absorb spiritual energy. Using it to forge weapons would definitely make it a divine weapon.

Lingxu Zhenren and Song Danyang also knew that there was a treasure inside, namely the Xuantian Floating Stone, one of the ten most extraordinary stones in the world.

The Xuan Tian Floating Stone is made from the same raw material as the Tai Xu Divine Armor. It is an extraterrestrial meteorite that fell to earth more than 800 years ago. It has the ability to float and once caused a frenzy in the martial arts world, becoming a demonic stone that wreaked havoc on the world.

However, people gradually discovered that while the Xuan Tian Floating Stone was wondrous, its power and load-bearing capacity were limited. It couldn't carry a person, let alone a dog; it was only helpful for masters of light-body skills, increasing their speed and agility. Thus, the once-famous Xuan Tian Floating Stone gradually faded from people's view. However, because of its truly unique levitation ability, it was listed among the Ten Great Wonders of Stones, along with nine other stones possessing special abilities.

Until six hundred years ago,

After the extraterrestrial black iron descended to earth and was forged into the Taixu Divine Armor by many weapon-refining masters, one of the weapon-refining masters had a flash of inspiration and thought that the Xuan Tian floating stone could add a flight ability to the Taixu Divine Armor.

Finally, after years of exploration by more than a dozen master craftsmen, they finally managed to utilize the Taixu Divine Armor's ability to absorb spiritual energy from heaven and earth and store internal force. They inscribed an array within the Taixu Divine Armor, amplifying the power of the Xuan Tian Floating Stone many times over. With the help of the explosive power of the strong internal force, they achieved the ability to fly.

Few people know that the Xuan Tian Floating Stone is inside the Tai Xu Divine Armor, but Ling Xu Zhenren and Song Danyang certainly do.

……

Zhao Congyue walked over and saw that Gu Chudong had not only packed up all the extraterrestrial black iron, but also wasn't planning to let go of that huge pile of various mechanical parts. He was speechless and said, "Miss Gu, there's no need, really no need. Those mechanical parts are useless."

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

"It's really useless,"

Zhao Congyue said, "The machinery of the Taixu Divine Armor, not to mention that it has been almost completely destroyed, even if it were intact, there would be no materials to forge a second Taixu Divine Armor, and those things would be unusable. To put it another way, even if there were more extraterrestrial black iron, we could not gather those dozen or so peerless weapon-refining masters from six hundred years ago in this era."

Gu Chudong nodded and said, "Oh, that's fine. I can take it home and display it for fun."

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

Seeing that Gu Chudong had finished loading the pile of mechanical parts, Zhao Congyue hurriedly said, "Oh, little miss, why don't you leave some for me? You've already taken the most valuable extraterrestrial black iron and Xuan Tian floating stone, these parts aren't necessary..."

Gu Chudong quickly shielded the large bag behind her back, looking at Zhao Congyue warily, and said possessively, "Chief Constable Zhao, you're so old, and a grandmaster of your generation. You wouldn't try to take a toy from a little girl who's about the same age as your granddaughter, would you? You wouldn't do such a thing, would you? You must still care about your reputation in the martial arts world, right?"

Zhao Congyue: "..."

“Miss Gu, those mechanical parts are useless to you, but I’m different. I can give them to the Ministry of Works. The government has no shortage of weapon refiners. These were made by more than a dozen master weapon refiners six hundred years ago. They have great research value and might be used in agriculture and weaponry to benefit the people and protect the country! Miss Gu, if you give these to me, it will be a good thing for the country and the people. You will understand…”

Gu Chudong held up five fingers and waved them in front of Zhao Congyue, saying, "Five thousand taels. For such a great thing that benefits the people and the country, the government certainly wouldn't be stingy with five thousand taels of silver, would it?"

Zhao Congyue's lips twitched, and he said, "Miss Gu, look, the bounty on the head of the Green Leaf Hall is ten thousand taels of silver for killing him..."

Gu Chudong said, "That's right, my brother is a great hero, so the government would never be unwilling to give him five thousand taels of silver, would they?"

Gu Chudong looked at Zhao Congyue with her big, innocent eyes.

Zhao Congyue: "..."

His lips twitched violently, and he turned to look at Gu Mo, only to see Gu Mo looking up at the sky, glancing left and right as if the scenery was quite beautiful and worth appreciating.

Zhao Congyue: Your eyes are still covered with a black cloth!
"Alright, five thousand taels it is."

Zhao Congyue gritted his teeth. Although it was a large sum of money, he could still agree to it directly because of his status. "I'll give it to you along with your brother's reward."

"Alright!" Gu Chudong said with a grin, "Chief Constable Zhao is a grandmaster and the chief constable of the Six Doors. He will definitely keep his word and wouldn't lie to a young girl like me in front of so many people!"

Zhao Congyue: "..."

Gu Chudong suddenly spoke up again: "By the way, that fake Taixu Divine Armor over there..."

Gu Mo quickly pulled Gu Chudong back, preventing her from making any more outrageous demands. After all, no matter how you looked at it, that fake Taixu Divine Armor couldn't be considered his spoils of war.

In addition, that thing was a fake made by Old Madam Lin. It must have some effect, but it won't last long. To prevent exposure, it is very likely that there is a self-destruct device inside, because only a destroyed fake will leave no evidence.

Zhao Congyue immediately beckoned to several constables from the Six Doors. Some were responsible for moving the pile of mechanical parts, while others were responsible for taking away the bodies of Lin Chuan and Old Madam Lin.

"Master Gu, Master Song, Abbot Song," Zhao Congyue said, bowing to the group, "Today's matter is of utmost importance, so I will not linger here any longer. Hmm, Master Gu, would you like to leave together?"

Before Gu Mo could speak, Song Danyang quickly said, "No rush, no rush, Master Gu, now that you're here, don't be in such a hurry to leave. You should stay at Chunyang Temple for a few more days!"

Master Lingxu also said from the side, "Hero Gu, we are all martial artists who cultivate internal energy. It is a rare opportunity for us to get together. Since you will have to wait for the bounty from the Six Doors if you leave now, why don't you discuss the Dao at Chunyang Temple!"

Just then, Song Danyang transmitted his voice to Gu Mo and said, "Hero Gu, today's matter is very serious. Old Madam Lin is deeply involved. The Six Doors of Cangzhou will be in turmoil from the inside out. We, as people of the martial world, should not get involved any further."

Gu Mo suddenly realized something, but said calmly, "I also really want to discuss the Dao with Master Lingxu and Abbot Song. This is an opportunity I've been longing for. Even if you two don't want me to stay, I'll shamelessly stay a little longer." After saying that, he cupped his hands to Zhao Congyue and said, "Chief Constable Zhao, I won't be traveling with you."

Zhao Congyue cupped his hands and said, "That's fine. To be honest, I'll definitely be very busy next, and I'm a little worried that I might neglect you, Master Gu. Haha, three grandmasters of internal energy discussing the Dao is a grand event in the martial arts world. It's a pity that I won't be able to witness it. What a pity!"

After a few brief words, Zhao Congyue left in a disheveled state. He was about to vomit blood; if he stayed any longer, he would lose face terribly.

Today, the four grandmasters joined forces to deal with Old Madam Lin and Lin Chuan, but he was the only one who was seriously injured. In order to save face, he has been enduring it all day.

Actually, strictly speaking, it wasn't that Zhao Congyue was weak.

In today's great battle, Zhao Congyue's performance was outstanding. Although his legs could not break through the Taixu Divine Armor, they suppressed it and kept it in an unstable state, creating excellent conditions for Song Danyang and Lingxu Zhenren, which is why they were able to suppress the Taixu Divine Armor.

It's just a pity,

When Zhao Congyue was beaten in the same way, he vomited blood, while Song Danyang and Lingxu Zhenren were completely unharmed.

Because Song Danyang and Lingxu Zhenren were both masters of internal energy cultivation.

Both master and apprentice share the same weakness: their explosive power is somewhat lacking, but their defense and endurance are formidable.

It was only because of the rain today that the Taixu Divine Armor's speed and power increased greatly, giving it the opportunity to escape. Under normal circumstances, with the master and disciple working together, they wouldn't need anyone's help and could simply wear down the Taixu Divine Armor until its energy was exhausted.

Although the Taixu Divine Armor is powerful, it might not be able to injure Song Danyang and Lingxu Zhenren even after a whole day of fighting. This is the advantage of internal energy masters: strong endurance and strong defense.

Also one of the ten grandmasters of the Qian Kingdom

Qi Tianshu, ranked seventh, and Lingxu Zhenren, ranked fifth, are two extremes.

Qi Tianshu is known for his swordsmanship and lethality, while Lingxu Zhenren is known for his profound internal strength and ability to fight protracted battles. Lingxu Zhenren is even ranked higher than Qi Tianshu.

If we use a 100-point scale to describe combat power, Qi Tianshu starts at 70, his attack power reaches 100 points during a burst, and then rapidly drops to 50; his defense starts at 70, reaches 100 during a burst, and then drops to 50. Lingxu Zhenren, on the other hand, starts at 80, his combat power rises to 90 as the fight goes on, and remains there; his defense starts at 90, and remains at 90 until his internal energy is exhausted.

One has an extremely high potential, while the other has a solid foundation.

……

Watching Zhao Congyue and the others leave,
Song Danyang walked to Gu Mo's side, bowed deeply, and said very sincerely, "I thank you, Hero Gu. If it weren't for your help today, I would have been wronged and Chunyang Temple would have been implicated. Hero Gu is my great benefactor and also the benefactor of Chunyang Temple."

Gu Mo held Song Danyang's arm and said, "Master Song, there's no need to be so polite. I was just stating the facts. You were framed, so don't take it to heart."

Song Danyang said, "A debt of gratitude is a debt of gratitude."

“Brother,” Gu Chudong suddenly said, “how did you come to suspect Old Madam Lin?”

Gu Mo shook his head slightly and said, "From beginning to end, I suspected Abbot Song, not Old Madam Lin. After all, Old Madam Lin's Lin family was almost ruined by Qingye Hall. She was the biggest victim. Who would suspect the victim? Abbot Song is really suspicious."

However, once I discovered that the Taixu Divine Armor in Chunyang Temple was fake, it became clear that no matter how well Old Madam Lin disguised herself, it was useless. We came to Chunyang Temple in pursuit of the Taixu Divine Armor; Old Madam Lin used her tracking methods to get here. The moment the Taixu Divine Armor proved to be fake, it meant that the tracking to this point was invalid. Yet, Old Madam Lin still brought us here, and finding the fake one, could only mean that she already knew there was a fake Taixu Divine Armor here and deliberately brought us here to catch us red-handed. It was obvious that she was framing Abbot Song.”

Song Danyang sighed and said, "What a pity. Old Madam Lin was such a brilliant and talented woman. It was truly remarkable that she led the Lin family to such a high level as a woman. She made the Lin family successful, but she was also bound and burdened by the Lin family for her entire life."

Gu Mo said in a deep voice, "Master Song, from what you said before, you mean that Qingye Hall... or rather, Old Madam Lin has deep ties behind it?"

Song Danyang nodded and said, "Given Old Madam Lin's status, there is only one possibility that she would risk her lifelong reputation and the Lin family's foundation to establish Qingye Hall: she is trying to give the Lin family an opportunity to transform from a martial arts family to a court family."

Given the Lin family's foundation and the lack of capable successors among its young members, ordinary achievements wouldn't be enough to transform the family. There's only one way: to achieve a feat of marrying into the imperial family. Therefore, there must be a prince behind the Lin family.

“That doesn’t make sense,” Gu Chudong said. “Qingye Hall appeared ten years ago, but His Majesty only ascended the throne six years ago.”

Song Danyang chuckled and said, "Ten years ago, His Majesty was already the Crown Prince. The struggle for the throne never begins until everything is settled; it's too late to try and seize the throne once everything is confirmed."

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

Song Danyang continued, "Now, in the imperial court, with the return of the Second Prince last year and his enfeoffment as the Prince of Jin by the Emperor, the struggle for the throne has reached a fever pitch."

This is why I advised you, Master Gu, not to get too involved with the Six Doors. The death of Old Madam Lin doesn't mean the Qingye Hall is gone. The Six Doors will investigate immediately. But how far will they investigate? Will they eradicate it completely? Or will they stop there? They can't possibly trace it all the way to the capital, can they? Who dares to investigate, and who can investigate?

The Six Doors isn't a monolithic entity; there are factions and cliques within it. We may 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 wants to investigate thoroughly, wouldn't they use someone as a scapegoat to protect themselves? If you get too deeply involved, you might become someone's tool.

Gu Mo chuckled and asked, "Then, which faction do you belong to, Abbot Song? Or rather, which faction do Chunyang Temple and Imperial Preceptor Zhang Daoyi belong to?"

Song Danyang shook his head and said, "I don't belong to any faction. If my Chunyang Temple had joined any faction, I wouldn't be suffering this calamity today."

Gu Mo asked in confusion, "What do you mean?"

Song Danyang sighed and said, "People in the martial world are often powerless to control their own destiny. Chunyang Temple's influence in the Taoist world is second only to Longhu Mountain. And now that the sages value the Tao, it means that the status of our Chunyang Temple is rising. Among the three sects, four factions, and seven great families with the greatest influence in the entire Qian Kingdom's martial world, Chunyang Temple is second only to the three sects and is the head of the four factions."

Of the three major sects, Penglai Island in the East Sea remains aloof from worldly affairs, a group of Qi cultivators whom no one dares to provoke. Longhu Mountain, with its profound foundation as the ancestral home of Taoism, doesn't need to choose sides. The Canglan Sword Sect, however, had already chosen its side long ago.

Everyone can only keep an eye on the lower four factions. Our Chunyang Temple doesn't want to get involved in the court's power struggles, but we lack the resources of Longhu Mountain. Alas, when strength is insufficient, neutrality sometimes means offending everyone. This time it's very clear: someone has their eyes on Cangzhou, and Chunyang Temple is blocking their way. Without anyone backing them, they're naturally the target. Even other forces are happy to fuel the flames; nobody likes a neutral, wavering force with considerable influence.

Gu Mo asked in confusion, "Since it can't be avoided, why not choose a side?"

Song Danyang shook his head slightly and said, "If Chunyang Temple were an ordinary Jianghu sect, taking sides would be fine. But Chunyang Temple is one of the two major Daoist ancestral temples in Qian Kingdom. If we take sides, it would be equivalent to forcing Longhu Mountain and the entire Daoist sect to take sides. If we are not careful, there will be a struggle for the Daoist lineage and internal strife within the Daoist sect. Chunyang Temple may become the eternal sinner of the Daoist sect."

Gu Mo said, "But this can't go on forever. This crisis is quite serious, and there will be another one, and another one after that."

Song Danyang chuckled helplessly, "If we hold out until the end of the Longhu Mountain incident, we can avoid the calamity by following Longhu Mountain's lead. As for the calamities along the way, we can only deal with them as they come. The Taixu Divine Armor incident three years ago was one such calamity."

People in the martial arts world say I'm righteous and of noble character, willing to give away a priceless heirloom for the sake of the people. But in truth, I'm not that noble. Even if I possessed it, the Taixu Divine Armor isn't something I can decide on my own. It's a treasure passed down through the Chunyang Temple for over two hundred years; how could I just give it away as I please?

We were forced into a corner because the imperial court behind Qingye Hall needed the Taixu Divine Armor. They had their eyes on it, and we had no way to refuse. If I hadn't handed it over, that so-called band of thieves would have continued killing people, and soon the whole world would know that Chunyang Temple had stood by and watched the massacre of the people. Chunyang Temple's reputation would have collapsed.

At first, I was unwilling to accept it. I was prepared to find that gang of bandits, thinking that if I killed them, I could at least keep the Taixu Divine Armor. But I was wrong. I couldn't kill them at all. I couldn't find any clues, and I don't even know if that gang of thugs even existed. Most importantly, around that time, Chunyang Temple was suppressed in all aspects, and I had no choice but to hand over the Taixu Divine Armor because I couldn't hold on any longer.

Gu Mo said slowly, "No wonder Master Lingxu was so sure you were wronged."

Song Danyang nodded and said, "So, my master told me to go find my senior uncle. If it weren't for you, Master Gu, exposing Old Madam Lin's lies today, I would have had to go to the capital to ask my senior uncle for help, because this matter is not as simple as a martial arts dispute on the surface, but a struggle in the imperial court."

Gu Chudong, standing to the side, sighed and said, "Even your Chunyang Sect, the most prestigious sect in the martial arts world, is so powerless in the face of court intrigue?"

Song Danyang chuckled and said, "Miss Gu, what do you think the Jianghu forces are? Aren't they just civilian organizations formed with the permission of the imperial court? Not to mention that there are local governments watching over them, the Six Doors in various places are clearly dedicated to suppressing the Jianghu."

Whether it's the Three Sects and Four Schools, or the Seven Great Families, how could they have been established if the imperial court didn't allow it? And since the imperial court allows it, it naturally has absolute confidence in controlling them and suppressing them at any time. In fact, many powerful forces in the martial arts world are essentially the black gloves or white gloves of high-ranking officials in the imperial court.

Gu Chudong frowned and said, "Then are there no martial arts forces or individuals who can break free from the suppression of the imperial court?"

“Yes,” Song Danyang said, “The world is vast and full of wonders. There are exceptions to everything. Throughout history, there have been those who rose up in rebellion and eventually ascended to the throne. But it’s just another cycle. No dynasty can escape its fate. The court will eventually decay and the dynasty will eventually fall. The day the dynasty begins to crumble is the day the martial arts world breaks free from its control.”

At this point, Song Danyang looked at Gu Chudong and said, "But, Miss Gu, do you wish for that day? The country is in chaos, warlords are fighting each other, the martial arts world is without order, and various forces are fighting and vying for power, no longer following the rules. Without the suppression of the imperial court, the martial arts people are just a group of beasts who have power and regard human life as worthless."

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

Song Danyang said, "Although my stance is suppressed by the imperial court, I do have to admit that only in this way can the ferocity of the martial arts world be suppressed and ordinary people have a way to survive."

Gu Chudong asked again, "You're talking about the Jianghu forces, but what about individuals? Are there any who can break free from the imperial court's control?" "Yes, there are," Song Danyang replied.

Gu Chudong's eyes widened in disbelief as she asked, "Really?"

"It's true."

"Who is it?" Gu Chudong asked curiously.

"The Sword God Su Qianqiu, who is nominally the second best in the world, is in fact the best," Song Danyang said.

Gu Chudong asked doubtfully, "But isn't the Imperial Preceptor Zhang Daoyi only slightly inferior to Su Qianqiu? In fact, he might even be able to surpass Su Qianqiu, right? Then, can the Imperial Preceptor also break free from the suppression of the imperial court?"

Song Danyang shook her head and said, "No."

"why?"

Song Danyang said, "Because Su Qianqiu has no weaknesses. He is all alone, a lone wolf, without a family, without a sect, and without a wife or children."

"Huh?" Gu Chudong didn't react at first.

Gu Mo chuckled and said, "Simply put, Su Qianqiu has no scruples. If anyone provokes him, he can unleash his fury and kill them all. Even if it's the emperor, he dares to kill him. Because he has no scruples, he can kill them and that's it. No one can do anything to him. Even if a large army is sent to besiege him, he can either run away or charge in. Whether he can escape or not, it doesn't matter."

However, the Imperial Preceptor Zhang Daoyi was different. He possessed a lineage and martial arts prowess, allowing him free movement even within the imperial palace. Yet, he couldn't be touched by Longhu Mountain; its disciples lacked the power to break the rules. Therefore, Zhang Daoyi had to adhere to and uphold the rules. Only in this way could his cherished lineage benefit from them. By acknowledging and upholding the rules, and actively placing the court above himself, he gained greater advantage.

Song Danyang nodded and said, "Master Gu's explanation is simple and clear. The Imperial Preceptor is a beneficiary of the rules, so he will be suppressed by the rules. But Su Qianqiu is not. He does not need the benefits brought by the rules, so he can break free from the constraints of the court."

Gu Mo chuckled and said, "I suddenly think I understand why the Imperial Advisor is paying attention to me and even searching for wanted criminals for me."

Song Danyang chuckled softly without saying a word.

Gu Chudong asked, "Why?"

Gu Mo said, "Because many people believe that I may become the number one in the world in the future, and the Imperial Preceptor also agrees. To be precise, even if I cannot become the number one in the world, I can still become someone who has the right to disregard the law. Because I am also a wandering martial artist, and I only have one younger sister, I don't have many concerns."

Gu Mo tapped his fingers lightly on the wooden railing, raindrops pattering under the eaves. He said slowly, "The Grand Preceptor wants me to gradually become a beneficiary of this rule."

Song Danyang nodded slightly and said, "The more you benefit, the deeper you get involved."

Gu Mo said, "But, isn't this little bit of benefit enough?"

Song Danyang shrugged and said, "It was just a casual thing to do. It's true that the Grand Preceptor is a guardian of the rules, but he's not the biggest beneficiary. With someone like you, Hero Gu, appearing, he'll think about how you can also benefit and become a guardian of the rules. But shouldn't the person who benefits the most contribute the most?"

"That must be the royal family and the imperial court."

Song Danyang shook his head and said, "But I'm afraid the royal family and the officials in the court are standing too high and too far away, and they can no longer see clearly. Arrogance and prejudice are two mountains that cannot be moved."

……

The revelation of the Qingye Hall Master's identity—that he was none other than the Old Madam Lin of the Lin family—instantly shook the entire Cangzhou martial arts world, and then spread rapidly throughout the entire martial arts community. After all, the Lin family was one of the seven great martial arts families of the Qian Kingdom.

At first, many people didn't believe it.
However, after discovering that the Lin family had been taken over and investigated by the Six Doors, they had no choice but to believe it.

Immediately afterwards, chaos erupted in the Jianghu (江湖, the martial arts world) of Cangzhou.

With the Lin family's downfall, all their assets and territories have become highly sought-after. The Lin family is like a sick tiger, attracting the attention of every wild animal eager to take a bite.

However, to the surprise of all the forces in the Cangzhou Jianghu, just as everyone was planning to divide up the Lin family, someone had already made a last-minute bargain and swallowed up most of the Lin family with lightning speed.

The family that made the move was the Yun family, one of the seven great families, and the person in charge was Yun Xiu, the eldest daughter of the Yun family.

No one knows how Yunxiu did it, but she actually reached a cooperation agreement with the elders of the Lin family. The elders of the Lin family actually accepted Yunxiu's investment in various industries of the Lin family, which caught other forces off guard.

Originally, with the Lin family's financial ruin, the deaths of Old Madam Lin and Lin Chuan, and the Lin family being thoroughly investigated, all forces could have pressured the Lin family to sell off their assets at rock-bottom prices.

But now, the Yun family has abandoned all martial ethics and is directly buying up assets at rock-bottom prices.

No one knows how Yunxiu did it. How could an outsider possibly reunite the Lin family, which was already on the verge of collapse, and have almost all the elders agree to cooperate with her? What's even more baffling to the various factions in the martial arts world is that the Lin family members all agreed to Yunxiu's method of investing on credit.

Normally, when the Lin family collapses, the high-ranking members who haven't been purged will try to maximize their own profits from the businesses they own. Since Old Madam Lin and Lin Chuan are dead, they simply can't protect the businesses, let alone work together. People are inherently selfish. Unless the Lin family has a capable person who can win everyone over like Old Madam Lin did back then, it's clear that the Lin family doesn't have that kind of person now; they're just a disorganized mess.

But in this case,

The Lin family was actually integrated by Yunxiu, an outsider. The key point is that Yunxiu accepted the investment on credit, which means that the Yun family invested half of the Lin family's business without spending a penny.

The reason it was only half was because Yunxiu deliberately gave up a small portion. After all, the Yun family was after wealth, and it would be very hateful for one family to take all the profits.

in fact,

Not only were people outside the martial arts world puzzled, but people within the Yun family were also very confused.

However, no one dared to question Yunxiu.

Previously, after the successful clothing exhibition, Yunxiu had already been internally designated as the young family head, though it hadn't been publicly announced yet. Now, with this latest development, Yunxiu's prestige has surpassed that of the current family head, and many elders in the clan are already discussing bypassing the position of young family head and directly making Yunxiu the new family head.

Cangyuan City, Yunxiu Mansion.

Yunxiu had just returned home after attending a family meeting.

As soon as she entered her courtyard, Yunxiu's pupils contracted slightly. She immediately waved to disperse the guards and maids behind her and went into the room alone.

Upon entering, one sees a man wearing a felt hat sitting inside. The man slightly raises his head, revealing himself to be Zhao Congyue, one of the two chief constables of the Six Doors in Yunzhou.

Yunxiu bowed slightly and said, "Chief Constable Zhao."

Zhao Congyue nodded slightly and said, "Miss Yun, how is it? Are you satisfied with the acquisition of the Lin family?"

Yunxiu poured Zhao Congyue a cup of tea and said with a light laugh, "How could I dare to be dissatisfied? If it weren't for Chief Constable Zhao's help, Yunxiu would never have been able to take over so many of the Lin family's businesses."

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

Yunxiu also picked up her teacup and said, "It's a pleasure to cooperate with you."

Zhao Congyue took a sip of tea and said slowly, "Miss Yun is a smart woman, so I won't say any more of those subtle things. Since we're going to cooperate, let's cooperate sincerely. It'll be good for everyone, so let's not be half-hearted."

Yunxiu quickly replied, "Yunxiu will swear to serve His Highness Prince Qi to the death!"

Zhao Congyue nodded and said, "His Highness Prince Qi has been paying attention to you for a long time. This year, he will first help you become the head of the Yun family. Next year, he will find a way to give your Yun family one or two Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations)."

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

Zhao Congyue waved his hand and said, "Just do your job well for His Highness."

Yunxiu nodded repeatedly and asked, "Chief Constable Zhao, however, there is something I don't understand. Can I use those people from the Lin family?"

Zhao Congyue nodded and said, "Use them with confidence. They are the most afraid of death. Otherwise, why would they have escaped the purge when so many members of the Lin family have died?"

Yunxiu's pupils gleamed as she asked, "That Qingye Hall?"

“Your Highness, Prince Qi,” Zhao Congyue said.

Yunxiu asked with a puzzled look, "But aren't you also one of Prince Qi's people? Why have you been chasing after Qingye Hall all these years? You even uncovered the true nature of Qingye Hall on Mount Shi Nan. Why are you doing this?"
If you've been investigating Qingye Hall for so many years, I can understand that you're actually protecting Qingye Hall in a roundabout way. But what was the purpose of uncovering Qingye Hall's true nature on Shi Nan Mountain?

Zhao Congyue slowly said, "Over the years, I have been relentlessly pursuing Qingye Hall. My purpose is exactly as you said: on the surface, I am investigating, but in reality, I am protecting them and cleaning up their messes. Otherwise, why would Qingye Hall have been able to hide for so many years?"
As for the Lin family's exposure this time, do you really think I did it? It was just the government trying to claim credit. I was cooperating with Old Madam Lin to frame Song Danyang the whole time. Otherwise, do you really think the Six Doors are so useless? Would they be so easily led by the nose by the Qingye Hall?
"Alas, Your Highness Qi made a fatal mistake, insisting on plotting against Gu Mo. As a result, a small leak can sink a great ship. Because of that one wrong decision, all your efforts were in vain. It was Gu Mo who killed Old Madam Lin and Lin Chuan, and it was Gu Mo who saw through Old Madam Lin's scheme. I was merely reaping the rewards. There was nothing I could do in that situation; I could only do my utmost to help capture Lin Chuan and Old Madam Lin."

Yunxiu suddenly realized, "So that's how it is." She thought for a moment and then said, "So, in other words, the Qingye Hall that has been completely eradicated is only the surface, and the real Qingye Hall still exists?"

Zhao Congyue chuckled and said, "No, Qingye Hall is gone, but there will be Hongye Hall, Lvye Hall... Now it's your hidden force, Miss Yun. You can call it whatever you like!"

Yunxiu asked, "Then, what does Your Highness need me to do to continue the plan to control the martial arts world of Cangzhou?"

Zhao Congyue waved his hand and said, "This plan has failed. This time, the Lin family's matter has blown up. Chunyang Temple cannot remain inactive, and the other princes cannot remain silent either. The struggle in Cangzhou will directly escalate into the open and can no longer be hidden."

So, you are lucky. Old Madam Lin needed to operate covertly; His Highness Prince Qi considered her a hidden weapon. Now the situation is different; you can no longer hide. You need to act openly and honestly. Otherwise, how will His Highness Prince Qi recommend your Yun family for the imperial examinations next year?

Old Madam Lin's greatest advantage is her highly respected status, which she can conceal as deeply as possible, allowing her to deliver a fatal blow to her opponents at the opportune moment. You are different; you cannot hide. The moment you show your face, you will be exposed.

Furthermore, your greatest advantage lies in your business acumen. His Highness has many expenses, and Cangzhou is the most profitable place in the Qian Kingdom. Therefore, your task is to continuously expand and make money. You must remain clean; as for those shady dealings, the hidden people in the Qingye Hall will handle that for you. Officially, I will protect you.”

Yunxiu nodded and said, "I understand."

……

Night fell at the Zhao family residence in Cangyuan City.

After meeting with Yunxiu during the day, Zhao Congyue went to the Six Doors to handle official business and did not return until it was completely dark.

After having dinner with his family, he went to his study.

He sat down in a chair, took a small jade bottle from a drawer and tossed it into a dark corner, saying, "Take this Puppet Pill back to His Highness. Don't have any more unrealistic ideas about controlling Gu Mo."

From the dark corner, a masked man in black slowly emerged and said in a low voice, "Chief Constable Zhao, you've been by Gu Mo's side for so long, surely you had at least a chance to drug him?"

Zhao Congyue rolled his eyes and said irritably, "Is Gu Mo some kind of mentally ill idiot? How long have I known him? How much trust can he possibly have in me? Come on, old ghost, tell me, is Gu Mo an idiot? Can an idiot become one of the top ten grandmasters?"

The masked man called Old Ghost remained silent.

Zhao Congyue continued, "Besides, do you guys really understand Gu Mo? Damn it, you almost killed me. If I had actually laid a hand on Gu Mo, I don't even know where my head would be now."

Leaving aside whether I even had a chance to attack him, even if I succeeded, what kind of magic pill is this? A puppet pill, at its core, is just a combination of mental techniques and Gu worms. Gu Mo is a master of internal energy; he has a chance to control him. But tell me, what was with that swordsmanship he used to cut down the Taixu Divine Armor at Chunyang Temple? That martial arts will of man and sword as one, of man and heaven as one, almost blinded me.

A grandmaster who cultivates both internal energy and true intent, do you really think your broken pill is a magic elixir? Controlling a grandmaster like that? Why don't you just have Prince Qi secretly give it to His Majesty and directly control His Majesty's succession?

Old Ghost chuckled and said, "I'm really sorry, I'm really sorry. This was indeed our mistake. We knew that Gu Mo was cultivating the true meaning of martial arts, but we didn't realize that Gu Mo was also so strong in the true meaning of martial arts."

"Based on his performance at Chunyang Temple that day, Gu Mo's internal strength is no weaker than Lingxu Zhenren's, and his martial arts techniques have reached the state of harmony between heaven and man. Wouldn't that make him comparable to the top three masters on our Qian Kingdom's Heavenly Ranking?"

Zhao Congyue thought for a moment and said, "Let's aim for fourth place and try for second! My suggestion is to focus on winning them over!"

"Very well. I will send a message to Your Highness."

Old Ghost's voice gradually faded as he slowly retreated into the corner.

……

Early that morning, in Kyoto, at the Qi Prince's residence.

An aide came to Prince Qi, Li Zhongyi's room and handed him a secret letter, saying, "Your Highness, a letter from Cangzhou."

Li Zhongyi took the letter and put it aside, saying, "Speak."

The advisor said, "The Yun family has basically taken over the Lin family's businesses..."

Immediately afterwards, the advisor reported the specific details of Zhao Congyue's cooperation with the Yun family.

Li Zhongyi nodded and said, "Very good. Zhao Congyue is quite capable. He has minimized the impact of the Lin family's failure on me."

The aide nodded and said, "Chief Constable Zhao is always very reliable in his work." After a moment's thought, the aide added, "By the way, Your Highness, Chief Constable Zhao also said that Gu Mo's strength is unfathomable, and that we should focus on recruiting him as much as possible. Even if we can't recruit him, we shouldn't offend him!"

Li Zhongyi suddenly raised his head and said in an unhappy tone, "What does Zhao Congyue mean? Does he want me to bow down to a peasant? Gu Mo has ruined my plans time and time again, and he still wants me not to offend him? Mobei saved Li Zhongqing once, and now Cangzhou has ruined my plans again. What, do you expect me to grovel and apologize?"

The advisor quickly said, "Your Highness, Chief Constable Zhao didn't mean that. He meant that Gu Mo's strength is unfathomable. Although he ruined Your Highness's plans twice, it wasn't intentional. It was just a coincidence. We don't need to offend such a powerful enemy."

"What kind of formidable enemy is a wandering swordsman?" Li Zhongyi sneered. "No matter how strong he is, can he be stronger than the Imperial Preceptor Zhang Daoyi? If Zhang Daoyi didn't have Longhu Mountain as his backer, he wouldn't be anything. Is this mere Gu Mo even worth me avoiding?"

The advisor opened his mouth, but knowing that Li Zhongyi was angry, he remained silent to avoid provoking him further.

After a while, Li Zhongyi calmed down, waved his hand, and said, "Forget it, it would be too low-class to confront a peasant, and it would not do me any good. If I were forced to join the camp of the second and first leaders, it would be bad."

Here's the plan: find some time to try and recruit him. If you can, great; if not, so be it. Also, send people to gather intelligence on him comprehensively, find all his weaknesses and flaws. If you discover he's planning to defect to someone else or shows any signs of misbehavior, kill him on the spot!

(End of this chapter)