Starting as pearl divers, they have endless jobs.

Chapter 277 Preparations Before the Sect Competition
Chen Ye ignored Zhang Wu's complaints.

Unsociable?
For someone whose mind is filled with hatred, fitting in is laughable.

Chen Ye knew very well that Qin Qing in this state was like a sharp blade drawn from its sheath, sharp but also fragile.

Any attempt to force her to fit in will only hasten her breakdown, causing her to destroy herself before hurting others.

"I understand. I'll handle this." Chen Ye said calmly. "You go ahead and get busy. Tell Wang San to behave himself and not to provoke her again."

"Yes!" Zhang Wu dared not say anything more and turned to arrange for the others to do their work.

He knew that the new manager had his own ideas and unpredictable methods, so there was no point in him saying anything.

The docks were bustling again, with the sounds of hammering, shouting, and the lapping of the water mingling together.

Chen Ye strode forward, walking slowly toward the reef.

His footsteps were very light and made no sound, but when he walked about three zhang behind Qin Qing, the figure who had been gazing into the distance suddenly froze.

Qin Qing turned around abruptly, her beautiful eyes filled with vigilance and hostility, like a startled female leopard. At the same time, her hand had already subconsciously reached for her waist, where a sharpened oyster shell was tucked.

"What are you here for?"

Chen Ye did not approach her again, but stood still, calmly meeting her gaze.

He didn't exert any pressure or show any emotion, just like a stranger who happened to be passing by.

“You’re angry,” Chen Ye said, his voice as calm as still water.

Qin Qing's pupils suddenly contracted, and her fingers gripping the oyster shell turned white from the force. At the same time, the scarlet flame above her head suddenly shot up a bit higher. Clearly, Chen Ye's words had precisely struck the most sensitive spot in her heart.

"None of your business," Qin Qing squeezed out through gritted teeth.

“It’s indeed none of my business.” Chen Ye nodded, then changed the subject, “But your hatred is too weak.”

"What did you say?!" Qin Qing tensed up instantly, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on, and the scarlet anger in her eyes was almost bursting out.

For her, hatred is all she has left, the only pillar that has allowed her to endure humiliation and survive until now.

Chen Ye said her hatred was too weak, which was more unbearable for her than any insult.

Chen Ye ignored her murderous glare and continued speaking in a completely emotionless tone.

"Your hatred is like a wildfire, seemingly powerful but actually chaotic. It can only burn some insignificant weeds, and may even accidentally burn yourself. For example, you might get into a fight with some insignificant scum over a single sentence and almost cause a death."

He was naturally referring to the conflict between Qin Qing and Wang San.

Qin Qing's breathing became rapid, and her chest heaved violently.

She wanted to argue, but found herself at a loss for words.

Because what Chen Ye said was true.

Hatred drove Qin Qing to attack everyone who approached her like a hedgehog, but this behavior only made her more isolated and miserable, without any real purpose.

"True hatred should be a tempered steel blade." Chen Ye's voice came clearly in the sea breeze, carrying a strange magic that quietly plucked the strings of desire in her heart.

This is the power of eloquence; it bypasses the defenses of reason and directly engages with the most primal desires.

"It should be sheathed, its edge hidden, only to be drawn at the most crucial moment, to strike a fatal blow." Chen Ye's gaze was deep, as if he could see through her soul, "instead of being wielded haphazardly by you, cutting others and leaving yourself covered in wounds."

The raging crimson flames above Qin Qing's head miraculously subsided somewhat after Chen Ye spoke.

The hostility and wariness in her eyes slowly faded, replaced by a trace of confusion and bewilderment.

"I..." Qin Qing opened his mouth, but only a single syllable came out of his hoarse throat before he could say nothing more.

"You want revenge, don't you?" Chen Ye continued to ask.

Qin Qing didn't answer, but her tightly clenched fists said it all.

“In your current state, you can’t even get out of this Black Stone Beach, let alone take revenge.” Chen Ye pointed out the cruel reality without any mercy. “You will be consumed by your hatred and eventually die silently in some corner like a wild dog, and your enemies will not even know you exist.”

These words were like a sharp icicle, piercing Qin Qing's heart.

The pale green light above her head, representing her will to survive, flickered suddenly, as if it might go out at any moment.

Forgotten by their enemies, they died silently.

This was an ending that terrified her even more than death itself.

"No..." Qin Qing murmured to herself, her eyes beginning to glaze over.

"Look at me." Chen Ye's voice suddenly rose a few decibels.

Qin Qing subconsciously raised her head and met Chen Ye's unfathomable eyes.

In that instant, Chen Ye quietly activated the Throne of Desire.

He didn't try to forcibly distort or create anything, but instead gently cast a wisp of divine thought into Qin Qing's crimson flames of desire.

He planted a simple and direct seed of thought.

Obey me and you will gain power.

hum!
Qin Qing's body trembled violently, as if a thunderclap had exploded in his mind.

The man's figure suddenly appeared incredibly tall in her vision, and at the same time, a voice rang in her mind, carrying an undeniable authority, overlapping with Chen Ye's voice at that moment.

"Your hatred is excellent firewood, but you lack a furnace to forge it into a steel blade, and a blade wielder who knows how to wield it."

Chen Ye's voice softened, yet it carried an irresistible persuasive power.

“But I can give you that opportunity.”

"I can teach you how to control your power, how to conceal your sharpness, and how to condense all your hatred into the most lethal strike."

"I can let you personally cut off your enemy's head."

Each word was like a devil's whisper, striking precisely at Qin Qing's most desired and most vulnerable spot.

The crimson flame of desire atop her head began to undergo a wondrous transformation under the ignition of the seed of thought planted by Chen Ye.

It was no longer a chaotic wildfire, but began to slowly revolve around that thought, forming a tiny vortex.

The confusion and disorientation in Qin Qing's eyes vanished, replaced by an unprecedented fervor and...trust.

She looked at Chen Ye like a lost believer who had finally found his god.

"What... should I do?" she asked in a trembling voice.

Chen Ye smiled slightly, "It's very simple."

He pointed a finger at the turbulent black lake not far away, "From today onwards, your enemies will no longer be scum like Wang San."

"Your enemy is this black lake."

“Go into the water every day and dive to the deepest you can handle. When you can move freely in the lake as you would on land, that’s when you’ve taken the first step.”

This requirement is almost demanding, even cruel.

After all, the chilling energy of Blackwater Lake is deadly to the human body, and even strong martial artists dare not linger in the deep water.

But after listening, Qin Qing showed no fear in his eyes; instead, a fierce fighting spirit ignited within him.

Because Chen Ye gave her a clear goal, a channel for her to vent her hatred.

Compared to aimless internal conflict, this kind of pain with a clear goal is a relief for her.

"Okay!" She nodded heavily without the slightest hesitation.

"Remember this." Chen Ye gave her one last look before turning to leave. "Your hatred is your most precious asset. Don't waste it on any unworthy people or things. Accumulate it, hone it, refine it, until it becomes the sharpest knife in your hand."

After saying that, Chen Ye left, leaving Qin Qing alone on the reef, facing the sea breeze, her eyes fixed on the bottomless black lake.
-
Not long after Chen Ye returned to the stone house, there was a knock on the door.

"Come in!" Chen Ye sat cross-legged on the futon, not even lifting his eyelids, and simply called out.

The next second, the heavy wooden door was pushed open, and Shi Hu and Yan Bo walked into the stone house one after the other.

"Manager Lin."

Yan Bo was the first to speak. His voice was as steady as ever, revealing little emotion.

Shi Hu appeared much more agitated. As soon as he entered the room, his gaze was fixed on Chen Ye. His large, bell-like eyes held both anger and doubt, but more than anything, a suppressed unease.

Chen Ye slowly opened his eyes, his gaze calmly falling on the two of them. "Is there something you need?"

"My junior sister, she..." Shi Hu finally couldn't hold back any longer and asked in a gruff voice, "What exactly did you do to her?" His tone was accusatory, and his fists clenched unconsciously.

If it weren't for Chen Ye's unfathomable strength and the restrictions that controlled their lives, he probably would have charged straight at them.

Chen Ye's gaze swept over Shi Hu and then landed on Yan Bo, who remained silent but had equally sharp eyes.

He didn't answer Shi Hu's question, but instead asked slowly, "You came to me just to ask this?"

"Otherwise what?" Shi Hu took a step forward, the floor seemed to tremble. "We three, brother and sister, were captured together, so we should stand together and retreat together! If you have any tricks up your sleeve, come at us! Why make things difficult for a woman!"

"Shi Hu!" Yan Bo shouted, reaching out to pull him back. At the same time, he clasped his hands in a fist salute to Chen Ye and said in a deep voice, "Manager Lin, my junior brother has a quick temper and offended you with his words. Please forgive him! Besides, we were only worried about our junior sister's safety and had no other intentions."

Yan Bo knew very well that in the face of an absolute difference in strength and status, any form of questioning was foolish. Unlike Shi Hu, he was not easily swayed by emotions and was better at assessing the situation.

Looking at the two people with such different personalities, Chen Ye had a sudden thought, and the talent of the Throne of Desire quietly activated once again.

In an instant, two completely different auras of desire clearly appeared in his field of vision.

The aura of desire atop the stone tiger's head was a burning crimson flame.

At the heart of this flame is not hatred, but an extremely pure and intense desire to protect.

He wanted to protect the last remaining bloodline of his sect, and to protect his senior brothers and sisters; therefore, his anger stemmed from this desire to protect.

Yan Bo, however, was completely different.

The aura of desire above his head was a deep, earthy yellow, appearing calm and solid, without any ripples, just like the earth itself.

But deep within that earthy yellow hue, Chen Ye caught a faint, dark golden light, representing ambition and lust for power.

This is a man of deep thought and who is never willing to be inferior to others. His taciturnity is just a disguise, a means to observe and accumulate strength. He sees further than Shi Hu and understands forbearance better.

Having discerned the core desires of the two, Chen Ye's gaze returned to Shi Hu, and he said calmly, "Make things difficult for her? If I wanted to make things difficult for her, I had a thousand ways to make her wish she were dead. Why would I need to do it this way?"

Shi Hu's breath hitched as he recalled the scene of Qin Qing being tormented by the restrictions and convulsing on the ground on her first day on the island, and he fell silent.

He had indeed witnessed the methods of the man in front of him.

Just then, Chen Ye continued, "I only gave her the option to take revenge herself."

"Revenge?" Shi Hu and Yan Bo were both taken aback.

“Not bad.” Chen Ye’s gaze swept over the two of them. “Your Ironclad Sect was wiped out, and your teachers and fellow disciples were killed tragically. Don’t you want revenge?”

"I want it! I dream about it!" Shi Hu roared out these words, his eyes instantly turning bloodshot and his blood surging.

Although Yan Bo did not speak, his suddenly contracted pupils and tightly pursed lips betrayed his inner turmoil.

Hatred is a common mark on the three of them.

"But on what grounds?" Chen Ye's voice suddenly turned cold. "On what grounds do you have such meager strength? Or on what grounds do you have such useless anger?"

His gaze was like a knife, piercing straight into Shi Hu's heart.

“Let me tell you, Shi Hu, your anger is of no value except to make you run around like a stupid bull.”

"It won't make your knife faster or your fist heavier; it will only make you lose your mind, make wrong judgments, and ultimately lead you to your destruction."

These words were more hurtful than any form of torture, because they directly negated the belief that Shi Hu had always been so proud of.

"You!" Shi Hu trembled with rage, but couldn't utter a single word in rebuttal.

Because he knew that Chen Ye was right.

In the prison camp, he acted impulsively out of anger countless times, only to be punished more severely and implicate his fellow prisoners.

Just then, Chen Ye quietly activated the power of the Lord of Lust for Shi Hu.

Instead of twisting Shi Hu's desire to protect, he chose to provoke and amplify it, while planting a new idea in his mind.

To protect them, you first need unparalleled power.

hum!
Shi Hu felt a roar in his mind, as if something had been ignited.

"Power is the foundation of everything. In this world, without power, everything is a joke. Your hatred is empty talk, and your dignity is worthless."

“I sent Qin Qing to Blackwater Lake to cultivate so that she could forge the useless wildfire in her heart into real power. I am helping her, and I am also helping you.”

Chen Ye turned his gaze to Yan Bo, his voice becoming meaningful.

“You are my private property. I paid a price to buy you back, so naturally I don’t want to see you as a pile of useless trash that could be scrapped at any time due to internal strife. What I need are three sharp knives, not three stubborn stones.”

“I provide you with resources, show you the path to becoming stronger, and even tacitly allow you to harbor hatred in your hearts. What I want is for you to create enough value for me. When your value is great enough, your revenge may not be impossible.”

Chen Ye's words stirred up huge ripples in the hearts of Shi Hu and Yan Bo.

For Shi Hu, Chen Ye's words provided an outlet for his restless desire to protect.

For Yan Bo, Chen Ye's words showed him a completely different picture.

Because he keenly grasped the core of Chen Ye's words—value.

If you create value for him, he will reward you.

This is a transaction, an investment by those in power in those in power.

The dark golden light representing ambition in Yan Bo's heart quietly brightened a little.

He was neither as naive as Shi Hu, nor as blinded by hatred as Qin Qing.

He knew very well that the so-called revenge might just be a pie in the sky that Chen Ye was dangling, but the opportunity to become stronger that this pie represented was real.

This steward is mysterious and powerful, and his actions are completely unconventional, making him quite different from other Blood Lotus Sect disciples.

Following him, perhaps... we can really forge a different path.

At that moment, Chen Ye also planted a thought in his mind.

In an instant, Yan Bo's eyes flickered, and he had already made up his mind.

He bowed deeply to Chen Ye, adopting an extremely humble posture.

"Thank you for your guidance, Steward. We... understand now."

"Good that you understand." Chen Ye nodded in satisfaction. "Qin Qing has already started, so you two shouldn't fall behind."

"Yes!" the two replied in unison this time, their voices filled with determination.

"Go out." Chen Ye waved his hand.

Shi Hu and Yan Bo said no more and respectfully withdrew from the stone house.

When they stepped out of the stone house and stood under the moonlight again, their beliefs had quietly changed.

They no longer harbored any resentment towards Chen Ye; instead, they were filled with gratitude.

This gratitude will subtly make them loyal, and the key is that this change is so natural that they themselves are unaware of it.

“Let’s go. Since Manager Lin has given us this opportunity, we can’t let him down,” Yan Boyan said.

"Yes, I understand, senior brother!" Shi Hu said in a deep voice.

Inside the stone house, Chen Ye listened to the conversation between the two and felt much more relaxed. He then withdrew his divine sense and began to plan his next move.

The outer sect competition is of utmost importance; it is a crucial step for him to shed his managerial status, advance to the inner sect, and thus gain greater freedom and more resources.

In order to achieve good results in the competition, in addition to one's own strength, some external help is also essential.

For example... his puppet, Li Qingyan, who was far away in the inner sect and whose soul he had imprinted.

While the soul imprint planted before could ensure she wouldn't dare to betray him, it was ultimately a crude method of control. Now that we have the Lord of Lust, it's time to "upgrade" her.

After all, an inner disciple who is genuinely and willingly devoted to serving you is far more valuable than a puppet who is forcibly enslaved.

Thinking of this, Chen Ye took out a communication jade talisman from his storage bag.

This was left to him by Li Qingyan to facilitate communication between the two.

Chen Ye infused a wisp of true essence into the jade talisman, and after a faint glow appeared on the talisman, he spoke four words to it.

"Come to Black Stone Beach."

(End of this chapter)