Power

"Still drinking?" Monkey froze. He had just thrown up once earlier.

"Before, everyone was drinking together. Now it's just the two of us brothers drinking. It's different," Fan Lang said.

"Brothers... Fine. For those two words, I'll drink myself to death tonight if I have to!"

Monkey was moved, his fighting spirit to sacrifice himself for a friend ignited.

He had thought that after Fan Lang rose to prominence, he would gradually distance himself from him. He had never expected Fan Lang to remain the same as before, still calling him brother without changing at all. It touched him deeply, even moving him a little. If he were a woman, he might have considered marrying Fan Lang right then.

Fan Lang pulled Monkey onto the roof, and the two leaned back against the rows of overlapping tiles.

Monkey asked why they had come up here to drink. Fan Lang said drinking on a rooftop had style.

"As expected of my Lang Ge. You're just that flashy. Even where you drink is different from everyone else's." Monkey gave him a thumbs-up.

"Quit kissing my ass." Fan Lang laughed and scolded him.

The two drank and chatted, talking about everything under the heavens—past and future, east and west.

Halfway through, Monkey suddenly sighed with feigned profundity. "Lang Ge, you're a loyal man, but in the end, you still have to focus on your own great ambitions. How could you have much time for a little nobody like me? I'm afraid chances for us brothers to drink like this in the future will be few."

"Even if there won't be many, don't sigh like that. Do you think I'd mistreat you?" Fan Lang said disdainfully.

"But I can't keep taking your favors for nothing. You already helped me become a steward, which is plenty. With the little ability I have, I can only scrape by as a steward in the City Lord's Mansion."

"That may not be the case."

"Oh?" Monkey's eyes lit up, and he set down his wine jug. "What do you mean?"

"The City Lord's Mansion can't contain me. Sooner or later, I'll leave this place. When that happens, will you stay in the City Lord's Mansion, or come with me?" Fan Lang asked.

"Of course I'll go with you."

"The places I go are too dangerous. You can't come."

"That's true." Monkey wilted. Forget the future—even now, he could not go where Fan Lang went. He would only hold him back.

Fan Lang patted Monkey on the shoulder. "I have other plans for you. In the future, I intend to build a faction of my own and develop it step by step. You'll hold an important position in it. I might not put you fully in charge, but at the very least, your status will be higher than it is now, you'll manage more people, and you'll deal with more important matters."

"That sounds great!" Monkey perked up, his fighting spirit reigniting.

This was not a spur-of-the-moment decision from Fan Lang. He had planned it long ago.

Building a faction had many benefits. First, it could become his right-hand men. Second, it could complete certain tasks for him and obtain benefits. For example, if there were tasks he did not want to do, he could hand them over to his subordinates. Third, it could give people like Monkey and Li Yunyan a place, allowing them to continue serving him rather than scattering in all directions.

With his abilities and his understanding of the Magic Martial Era, it would be enough to make this faction flourish.

Monkey was the first member of this faction.

Compared to Fan Lang, Monkey seemed even more excited.

"Lang Ge, does our faction have a name yet?" Monkey asked.

"Not yet," Fan Lang said.

"Then let's hurry up and pick one!"

"Fine. A journey of a thousand miles begins beneath one's feet. Let's start by choosing a name."

"How about... Heaven and Earth Society?"

"No. That sounds like a rebel organization."

"How about the Fan Hou Gang? It combines our surnames."

"How did you even come up with such a bizarre name? Forget it. I'll think of one myself."

Fan Lang looked up at the starry sky. Inspiration struck, and he had an idea.

"Our goal is the Sea of Stars. This faction shall be called the Star Cloud Alliance!" Fan Lang rose to his feet.

"Isn't that bad? The Silver Moon Merchant Guild has the moon in its name, while we have stars. That puts us a level below them." Monkey frowned.

"You don't know shit. Nebulae are far bigger than the moon. Objection overruled. It's called the Star Cloud Alliance."

"Alright, I'll listen to you. You're the alliance leader, and I'm... the temporary vice alliance leader."

"The alliance leader's first order for you is this: starting tomorrow, you must spend at least three hours a day reading. Read more history books first, then books on strategy and military tactics, and lastly mathematics and the art of commerce."

"Why are you making me read? I don't even recognize all the characters."

"Books are whetstones for the mind. The more books you read, the sharper your thoughts become. If you can't succeed in literature or martial arts, what the hell kind of vice alliance leader would you be? I'm not expecting you to become a strategist or adviser, but you must at least reach the level of an aide or accountant. Start reading tomorrow. If you disobey, I'll expel you from the Star Cloud Alliance, and you can spend the rest of your life cooped up here as a steward."

Fan Lang wore a stern expression and spoke with complete seriousness.

Monkey scratched his head and forced a smile. "Alright, alright. It's just reading. How hard could it be? Tomorrow, I'll pay for a teacher to teach me how to read. I'll learn characters while reading books. Will that do?"

"Mm, that's more like it."

Fan Lang drained the wine in his jug in one gulp.

Thus, the Star Cloud Alliance was established. Its members consisted of one bare-commander leader and one Monkey who could neither excel in literature nor martial arts. How far it would go in the future remained unknown.

The next day, Fan Lang set off for the Ice Fire Pool. Only benefits in hand were real benefits; otherwise, it was just empty promises. It was best to visit this Ice Fire Pool sooner rather than later.

Li Yunyan traveled with him, giving off the impression of a personal enforcer.

Before they left, Luo Jiuxiao sent an Xuan Grandmaster expert to protect Fan Lang in case anything unexpected happened. Since the Wind Cloud Genius Battle, Fan Lang's value had soared. This level of protection was necessary, and it was also meant to win him over and make him serve the City Lord's Mansion.

Fan Lang had no reason to refuse. He agreed to let the expert accompany him, treating him as a free bodyguard. Perhaps he could even drag the expert along to hunt some monsters. Wouldn't that be wonderful?

"Yan'er, do you want to sit in front or behind?" Fan Lang asked, pointing at the Flying Waterfall Shark.

The double saddle had genuine leather seats and a rosewood frame. The distance between the two seats was just right, making it perfect for two riders, especially a man and a woman.

"I'll ride a horse myself." Li Yunyan flatly rejected the invitation and turned toward the stables.

A light breeze swept past, carrying away a fallen leaf. Though it was not autumn, it carried autumn's desolate air.

Fan Lang was left standing there, thoroughly embarrassed.

The expert witnessed the scene and tried his best not to show any expression. He was an expert, and he was old. He had to remain mature and composed.

Fan Lang looked at the expert and pointed at the Flying Waterfall Shark's back. "How about the two of us ride together?"

"I'll just run. It'll train my legs. You should ride by yourself." The expert tactfully declined, then took off running.

The light breeze blew again.

Fan Lang had specially prepared a double saddle, yet he could only ride alone. His romantic fantasy of a man and woman sharing one mount had burst like a bubble. It was truly a little tragic.

"Riding alone is even better. More room!"

After consoling himself, Fan Lang leaped onto the Flying Waterfall Shark. The Flying Waterfall Shark shook its head, flapped its dorsal fin, and flew forward. It was faster than a thousand-mile horse, scattering droplets of water along the way.