Surging Undercurrents

Late at night, in the back courtyard of the Yanlu Merchant Association.

Knock, knock! Knock, knock! Knock, knock! Knock, knock!

"Who is it?" Ning Xiang woke from her dream. As she asked, she swiftly rose, flicked her palm, and swept the dagger by her bedside into her sleeve.

"It's me." The old woman's voice sounded at just the right moment.

"I need to discuss something with you."

"Granny..." Ning Xiang relaxed a little, but didn't let down her guard completely. She flicked a finger, sending a gust of force to the door. With a creak, it slowly swung open.

"It's so late. Do you have something urgent, Granny?"

Ning Xiang arranged for Granny to sit down and asked as she did so.

In truth, she already knew the answer. The old woman must need her help with something; otherwise, who would want to disturb a good night's rest?

Sure enough, when Ning Xiang asked first, the old woman sighed. She fell silent for a while before finally saying:

"Half an hour ago, someone from the sect came to see me."

Someone had come to see her? Ning Xiang's expression immediately turned cold.

"What? They want us to do something for them again?"

Granny gave a quiet "Mm" and nodded.

Ning Xiang was a little indignant. "We've already helped them arrange for some people to stay here. We've done them a favor and taken on the risk. How can they still push their luck and keep ordering us around?"

"Granny, did you agree?"

Ning Xiang and Granny were old members of the Dream Star Sect. They had been taught its doctrine of "nurturing all the people," which was completely different from the sect's current doctrine of rebellion.

It was precisely because she had seen how the Dream Star Sect had fractured