Hearing Pang Hai Chen's words, Pei Jing could not help but feel startled.
Even though he had occupied a high position for many years and was long accustomed to remaining calm even if Mount Tai collapsed before him, his expression still slipped for a moment upon hearing that shocking news.
Especially since the news had come from Old Pang, the leader of the Academic Faction, which made him all the more stunned.
He could not help turning to Pang Hai Chen. "Old Pang, how is that possible?"
It was no wonder Pei Jing asked.
The Academic Faction had the Eighth Shelter Military Academy as its trump card. As the Eighth Shelter's specialized school for training mid- and lower-level officials, it had sent an enormous number of talents into the Shelter over the years.
Half of them had been sent by other factions for further study, but nearly half had joined the Academic Faction after graduating, then taken up posts in the various To-be-Planned Zones.
That had caused the Academic Faction's influence throughout the Eighth Shelter to expand at an astonishing pace.
It had long become the second-largest faction, second only to the Iron-Blood Faction.
If the Fengtian Faction had not possessed so many mid- and high-ranking officials, even Old Tang's position as number two might have gone to Pang Hai Chen.
And such immense strength was, in itself, a form of protection.
After all, even in peaceful times, there was the saying that the law could not punish everyone.
In these chaotic times, if anyone truly dared lay a hand on a major faction, that faction might rebel at any moment.
That was why Pei Jing had hesitated over what Pang Hai Chen had said.
Pang Hai Chen was not surprised by Pei Jing's alarm and suspicion. He stared ahead,