Starting as dockworkers, they swept through Chongqing.

They weren't approaching quickly or in a hurry; it was clearly not a stealthy approach.

Xilun blinked slightly before shifting his gaze from the night sky and turning his head to look.

Under the moonlight, three figures were slowly walking towards them.

The person in the lead wore a well-fitting coat and had a faint smile on his face.

On the left is the tall and dignified Lansk.

The one on the right was actually fiddling with peanuts in his hand, eating as he walked, looking completely carefree.

They were none other than the three members of the armed insurrection party.

"Greetings, Governor of West London."

Reiner walked closer, nodded slightly, and gave a smile that was neither too deep nor too shallow, just right.

It was as if the probing and pressing at the banquet earlier was just an ordinary little thing that happened after dinner.

Xilun stood up and nodded.

"What is it?"

He didn't exchange pleasantries.

Since the other party made a special trip over after all the guests had left, it must not be just to talk nonsense.

Reiner didn't mind his directness at all. He pulled out a stone chair and sat down naturally, as if he were back on his own turf.

Lansk stood aside, glanced around to make sure the guards in the shadows were far enough away, then picked up the teapot on the table and poured a cup for each of the three.

As for Losfa, he seemed completely unaffected by the gloom of his earlier defeat. After sitting down, he grabbed some peanuts and melon seeds from the plate and started cracking them open with practiced ease, even casually slipping a couple into his pocket.

Siren glanced at him, and Losfa immediately gave a dry laugh: "I can't keep my mouth shut, please forgive me, Governor."

Xiren didn't bother to reply, and simply sat back down opposite him, waiting for Leiner to speak.

The night was cool, and the aroma of tea wafted through the air.

Leiner picked up his teacup, blew on it gently, and asked casually, "Governor Siron, what are your thoughts on the current situation in the Northern District?"

really.

Xilun was not surprised at all.

From the start of the banquet, he knew that the armed insurgents would not only test his strength tonight.

Exchanging ideas is just a stepping stone.

What we really need to discuss is our stance.

He pondered for a moment and said, "One superpower and many strong powers, confronting each other, lying low and patient, scheming against each other."

He paused for a moment, but his tone remained calm.

"These are just my humble opinions."

"I usually focus on cultivating extraordinary paths and don't pay much attention to these things, so what I'm saying may not be accurate."

Reiner laughed upon hearing this.

There was a hint of sincerity in his smile, but also a hint of scrutiny.

"The governor is usually very busy, dealing with miscellaneous matters on his territory while also practicing his spiritual cultivation. It's already quite good that he has this perspective."

As he spoke, he put down the tea, tapped the table lightly with his fingertips, and the gentleness in his eyes faded somewhat.

"However, I still have to remind Governor Sirion of something."

"Now that the tide has turned, we still need to think carefully about how to choose."

The night breeze in the courtyard suddenly became even calmer.

Losfa stopped eating sunflower seeds and looked up.

Siren looked at Leiner and said, "I'd like to hear more."

Reiner leaned back slightly, his posture relaxed, as if he were giving a presentation to a rising star.

"Currently, the Tussor family occupies two of the six parishes in the Northern District. The four major powers of ours each occupy one, and on the surface, we are in a standoff with each other."

"But in terms of actual foundation, it's far less stable than it appears."

"Let's start with the Colt family. They are more stable than ambitious. They are indecisive and, while they appear to have a deep foundation, they have long been dulled by complacency. They are good at maintaining the status quo but lack ambition. When faced with a truly significant opportunity, they will only waver repeatedly."

"Let's talk about the Crimson Academy. They rely on the plains and have spread their influence far and wide, but unfortunately they are too short-sighted. They only know how to cling to that system of bloodline and hierarchy, valuing their origins more than their abilities."

This approach may appear respectable on the surface, but it fundamentally keeps a large number of capable people out. Over time, it will breed a group of arrogant and incompetent individuals within the organization.

"As for the whispered choir—"

At this point, a distinct sneer appeared on Reiner's lips.

"They claim to be the orthodox practitioners of mysticism, and they are indeed wealthy and have some skills. Unfortunately, the things they do are the most disgusting."

"They cherish their lives when undertaking great tasks, yet risk their lives for petty gains. For the slightest bit of profit, they may swear an oath to you today, only to sell you to foreigners tomorrow."

Over the decades, countless people have suffered at their hands.

"No matter how rich or how good at pretending to be a god, such a force will never become the true core."

Xilun listened quietly, his face expressionless, but his mind was rapidly processing these judgments.

Reiner's analysis may not be entirely objective.

This is by no means empty boasting.

This person has a good eye for things.

As Reiner spoke, he leaned forward slightly, and his tone became even more serious.

"As for the Tusol family, over the past twenty years, they have not only taken advantage of their territory to continuously absorb resources and control two major parishes, but their strength has also grown stronger."

"But we, the armed insurgents, have never been idle for a single day."

When he said this, a hint of undeniable sharpness suddenly appeared in his eyes.

It was no longer the politeness of a banquet, nor the flippancy of a test.

It's a confidence that comes from the core.

"Under the leadership of our leaders, we have established a sufficiently comprehensive promotion and training system over the years."

"It's not about raising a few obedient dogs, using a few noble surnames to save face, or locking resources into the hands of a few people."

"What we need are truly capable people who can climb the ladder step by step."

"Our leader is not only strong, but also has a far-sighted vision. Looking at the northern region now, in terms of true upward momentum, our Armed Insurgent Party should be second only to the Tusol family."

Lansk hadn't said much until now, but then he added a casual remark.

"Moreover, it will soon be confirmed as the number one."

The words were spoken softly, yet they carried a weight that could not be ignored.

Xilun glanced at him, and after a moment said, "May I ask, Mr. Reiner, what is your purpose in telling me all this today?"

Instead of answering immediately, Reiner asked a question first.

"Let me confirm one thing."

"Are you currently a nominal patron of the Tusol family, or are you officially registered?"

Xilun said, "It's just a nominal title."

"That's good."

Reiner nodded, his expression visibly softening.

"Now that you are a force in the Parish of St. Mary, you need to know your place."

"You can maintain a proper relationship with the Tusol family, exchanging favors and resources—that's perfectly acceptable. But you can't become too deeply entangled with them."

As he spoke, his eyes gradually became serious.

"Otherwise, don't blame us for not tolerating you."

That's not exactly a polite way of putting it.

It even carries a hint of blatant warning.

But Siren did not get angry; he simply looked at him and waited for him to continue.

Reiner took a sip of tea, and his tone returned to calm.

"The Tusol family may seem glamorous, but in reality, it is beset by internal and external troubles. There is an uneven distribution of internal resources, fierce competition among the different branches, and the direct descendants look down on outsiders. If something were to happen one day, the first to be thrown out to take the fall would often be an outsider."

"You are talented, strong, and young. With the Tusol family name attached to you, it's natural that people will be watching you."

"But if you really think they'll treat you like one of their own... then you're being incredibly naive."

Xilun seemed to be deep in thought. After a moment of silence, he slowly said, "I only focus on the extraordinary."

"Let the guests in the high-rise buildings outside, let the winds rise and the clouds surge, let the disputes rage, none of it matters to me."

Reiner stared at him for a moment, then suddenly laughed.

"That would be best."

"The leader is inclusive and does not require everyone to join the armed insurgent party. However, there are certain bottom lines that cannot be crossed."

"You don't have to pledge allegiance to us, but you can't be too closely tied to the opposing forces."

That's enough.

He stood up, took out an exquisitely crafted card from his inner pocket, and placed it on the table.

"This is my business card."

"If you need anything, you can come to me. I usually work in the White House on Reines Street in St. Mary's Parish."

Xilun reached out and took it.

The card is made of fine, stiff paper with light gold foil embossed on the edges. A minimalist black flag logo is printed in the center, and below it is a neatly written address.

He glanced at it and then tucked it into his sleeve.

After thinking for a moment, Xilun took out a medal from his pocket and handed it over.

The base is bronze with black trim, and in the center are two clasped hands of the Brotherhood.

"In that case, you shall accept this."

"The Brotherhood Medal. With it, the Brotherhood won't give you trouble. Although—you'll probably never need it."

Reiner took it, paused for a moment, and then laughed.

"Then I'll accept it."

"Consider it a testament to my friendship with the Xilun brothers."

After he finished speaking, he turned his head to look at Losfa.

"You can handle the rest."

Losfaben was still quietly peeling peanuts when he heard this, and when he looked up, the arrogance on his face had subsided considerably.

He coughed and scratched the back of his head, looking slightly embarrassed.

"Please don't be offended, Your Excellency."

"I usually stay with my father and train in seclusion at the club. I just advanced to the second level three months ago, and after consolidating my skills for a while, I was only recently allowed to come out and move around."

"I'm sparring with you tonight for two reasons: firstly, I've just been promoted and I'm itching to get my hands dirty; secondly, I'm genuinely curious."

"These past few days, there's been a lot of talk outside, saying that the Brotherhood has a new governor with extraordinary talent. He's young, but ruthless. I want to see for myself just how good he really is."

As he said this, Chong Xilun smiled, a rather frank smile.

"Come on, three times!"

"If I could exchange a few blows with you, it would make me a little famous."

Xilun raised an eyebrow.

Losfa spread his hands, his tone becoming even more direct.

"Although my father is the chief administrator, he is very strict with me and always tells me to keep a low profile. As a result, I have been studying in seclusion all these years, and almost no one outside knows who I am."

"Now that we've finally been allowed to come out and train, we need to make a name for ourselves quickly. Otherwise, who will know who Losfa is?"

"Whether it's making friends or traveling around, it's always inconvenient without some fame."

When he said these words, there was a frankness in his eyes that was unique to young people, which was quite different from his aggressive demeanor just now.

Looking at him, Xilun couldn't feel too much malice.

He is shrewd, arrogant, and has his own plans.

At least they still acted with discretion.

He nodded slightly and said, "It's nothing serious."

"It was just a friendly spar; neither of us lost out."

Losfa grinned, seemingly relieved.

Seeing this, Reiner did not linger any longer and got up to take his leave.

As the three walked out of the backyard, the moonlight fell on their shoulders, casting long shadows.

Lansk, who had been silent all along, finally spoke in a low voice: "How is it?"

Reiner twirled the Brotherhood Medal between his fingers and said calmly, "He's a good guy, and he's smart enough."

"We've confirmed the Mysterious Yin Breathing Technique, and we've also confirmed that he doesn't want to bind Tusor tightly for the time being."

"It's best to be friends with this kind of person; if not, try not to turn them into enemies too early."

Losfa rubbed his numb wrist and grinned, "This guy is really tough. He's only been promoted for half a month, and his palm strike is already this heavy. After he trains for another six months, he'll probably be even harder to touch."

Lansk glanced at him: "Now you know what pain is?"

Losfa rolled his eyes: "I'm not stupid. If we keep fighting, I'll be the one who loses face tonight."

Reiner smiled upon hearing this, then looked up at the dimly lit downtown area in the distance, his gaze gradually deepening.

"The North District is about to descend into chaos."

"Especially in times like these, we must not just focus on old acquaintances."

"People like Xilen—"

"If you can stand on the right side, you may still succeed in the future."

The night wind swept past the street corner, and the three quickly disappeared at the end of the forest path.

In the backyard, Siron sat alone for a while.

He fiddled with the business card, his gaze deep and thoughtful.

Tonight, he had initially been skeptical of Lennart's claim that "the Armed Riot Party is second only to the Northern District," but now he was more inclined to believe it.

Putting everything else aside, just look at these three people—they are capable of both advancing and retreating, skilled in both literature and martial arts, and their demeanor is quite admirable.

The kind of people under a power often reveals how the leader at the top manages it.

only……

Xilun slightly closed his five fingers and put the business card back into his sleeve.

"I hope we won't become enemies."

He muttered something under his breath, then got up and went back to his room.

His top priority now is still developing fraternity chapters and expanding revenue.

Only when money and territory are secured can one truly make progress in acquiring cultivation materials, building power, and making future plans.

Especially the Xuan Yin Breathing Technique; just thinking about the prices of the corresponding resources is enough to give anyone a headache.

Not to mention—Tier 3 potions.

Although the second stage of cultivation is destined to be a long process, which may not be completed even in a few years, it is better to plan for such things as early as possible.

It would be troublesome to wait until the bottleneck is truly in front of you before looking for solutions everywhere.

In the following days, Xilun hardly received any visitors.

The area around the waterfall on the back mountain became the place where he spent the most time each day.

In the early morning, before the mountain mist had dissipated, the sound of water roared up first.

The waterfall crashes down from the height, bursting into a large spray of water on the rock face. A gust of wind blows through it, leaving one's face feeling icy cold.

The rugged, rocky paths that once surrounded the mountainside have now been repaired, and several diversion channels are hidden among the cliffs, which have reduced most of the most violent impact.

The broken branches, wood chips, and rocks around the pool were all cleaned up, and even the energy nodes around the water veins were specially adjusted by field scholars.

With over a hundred pounds of force applied, the effect is naturally quite good.

Xilun sat cross-legged on a specially made stone platform below the waterfall, closing his eyes and breathing deeply.

The pale red data flashed briefly at the edge of his field of vision.

Successfully completed a body tempering training session, gain +1 experience in the Bone Forging Iron Armor Ascetic Training Method!

Successfully completed a body tempering training session, gain +1 experience in the Bone Forging Iron Armor Ascetic Training Method!

Successfully completed a body tempering training session, gain +1 experience in the Bone Forging Iron Armor Ascetic Training Method!

……