The Jiang Family

Shao Yancheng was no stranger to the "Black Bodhisattva." Back when he first returned to Ping City from Jinmen, he had heard of this mysterious organization, where some foreign compradors and church bishops had shown their faces... though always in illegal settings.

Du Wenyuan's proposal to use this organization to boost Luo Bin's reputation, giving him a grand name to attract the attention of Cao Jichuan, Cao Hua's son, was indeed a good plan... After all, the chilling rumors about Cao Jichuan had been circulating in Ping City for many days now: he delighted in torturing and killing martial arts prodigies, as well as those gifted in various fields.

"It's a viable plan. Though the Chen Family is on the verge of collapse, a starved camel is still bigger than a horse, not to mention Chen Du over in Jinmen—that's a tough customer..." Shao Yancheng said slowly.

Jiang Lin nodded noncommittally.

Du Wenyuan didn't know much about Chen Du and asked at this point, "Chen Du, Chen Tianren's eldest son? For him to make you two wary, he must be no simple character."

"Wenyuan, you've only recently come to assist our Jiang Family. The reason Chen Du is troublesome isn't because his martial arts have reached Profound Mastery, but because he holds a high position in an organization in Jinmen and has a good master..." Jiang Lin said with a smile.

Du Wenyuan rubbed the tea cup in his hand, his eyes narrowing into slits as he asked, "The Gushang Peace-Waves Society?"

Shao Yancheng's expression turned slightly grave as he nodded. "Correct."

If there was anyone in the Jiang Family most familiar with this organization that had infiltrated every corner of Jinmen, it was none other than Shao Yancheng himself. During his years of struggling in Jinmen, he had witnessed firsthand the Society's protectiveness and bloody methods. Since the Chen Family was about to fall, it was best to let them fall slowly.

Any dirty tricks that couldn't be brought to light would only leave evidence for others to seize, causing more loss than gain. It was enough to target only Luo Bin, that rapidly growing martial talent.

Jiang Lin suddenly seemed to remember something and frowned as he asked Du Wenyuan, "What has that old Daoist Jia Yao been up to lately?"

"Hmph, that man likely harbors ill intentions. He pretends to pledge allegiance to our Jiang Family, but his heart still leans toward the Pei Family... That old bastard Pei Song has reconnected with an old flame from his youth in Tianhai. His lover holds considerable power there, and the Pei Family has managed to gain a slight foothold in that area now. With such backing, they won't easily submit to us..." Du Wenyuan said coldly.

Tianhai, true to its name, was one of Great Xin's first major cities to accept colonization—a hundred miles of foreign concessions, warlord garrisons, and foreign settlements... Most of Great Xin's trendy novelties originated from places like this.

Moreover, Tianhai had another special name—the "Demon Capital."

This added a layer of mystery to the city. Whether it was Jiang Lin or Du Wenyuan, both old men who had survived the "Jiashen Void" and the collapse of the previous dynasty, their knowledge of Tianhai was limited to fragments of hearsay.

This colossal city was not only fraught with danger but also filled with all kinds of temptations.

The "Succubus Den" beneath the concessions, the haunted bride in the ghostly tower left from the previous dynasty's prince mansion... these had become some of the city's core urban legends.

Jiang Lin stood up, gazing at the night scenery of Ping City. "The 'Spirit Binding and General Commanding' is a fine art. That old Daoist refuses to teach it, but that's to be expected—it would be strange if such a miraculous technique were casually passed on... He also failed when I had him search for information on the Chen Family's 'Yellow Court Inner Landscape' technique. He's old and doesn't say much, so let's set him aside for now."

Du Wenyuan and Shao Yancheng both nodded.

Jiang Lin continued, "Strip some of Ran Shaohua's authority. That man wavers between two sides, so it's better to be cautious. Yancheng, gather the men you've planted in the Shuo Gang and start taking over internal affairs."

"Yes."

The next day.

Luo Bin tucked the corner of the blanket around Wen Li, who was sleeping soundly with her head nestled in the crook of his arm, then quietly got up and went to the courtyard. He sat cross-legged on a stone stool, sensing the special insight fragment "Burning Breath of Fire" brought by yesterday's "Luo Fire Mourning Feather."

After circulating his qi and practicing for a long time, he could detect every subtle change in his body, yet the "Burning Breath of Fire" brought no noticeable transformation. He called up the Crimson Panel and found that the information displayed was still the same as before.

There was no separate column for the special insight fragment.

"I can't figure it out. I'll have to set this aside for now and wait until I have an opportunity or some fateful encounter to trigger this special insight fragment."

Then Luo Bin called up the panel again.

[Luo Bin]

[Realm: Golden Skin Pass (Perfection)]

[Techniques: White Ape Through-Arm Fist (Second Layer, 2/6), Primordial Stance (Third Layer, 5/20)]

[Essence Soul: Water Ghoul · Phantom]

[Modification Value: 2]

[Spirit Charm: 472]

[Techniques: Pure Yang Body-Forging Technique (Third Layer, 5/20), White Ape Through-Arm Fist (Minor Mastery, 1/80)]

Luo Bin stared at the glaring number four hundred seventy-two in the Spirit Charm column, his grin stretching nearly to his ears, his heart beginning to pound. The Spirit Charm brought by a single "Luo Fire Mourning Feather" rivaled all the meals and heavenly treasures he'd consumed these past days.

Under the Fu River at Yingchuan Ferry, Luo Bin remembered the appearance of that feather with its dark red luster. Thinking back now, it seemed like a feather lost by some kind of bird, but certainly not an ordinary one.

It was likely left by a demon beast on the level of the legendary Pengze Lake flood dragon.

At his current level—sixteen years old, standing like a mere underling—if an opportunity was handed to him, he'd be a fool not to take it. After all, that Luo Fire Mourning Feather had been lying at Yingchuan Ferry for many days without anyone claiming it. He'd only discovered it because his five senses had been enhanced by "Crimson."

That was how he'd caught that unusual faint fragrance.

"But since I used Crimson to absorb the 'Luo Fire Mourning Feather,' the faint fragrance it contained won't cling to my body."

Having sorted out the reasoning, Luo Bin felt more at ease. He recalled that yesterday at the Chen Residence, when Chen Tianren received that old man and young boy, the young one had emitted a faint fragrance identical to that of the "Luo Fire Mourning Feather."

Since that feather could be converted into so many Spirit Charm points, it must have been a rare treasure. If Crimson hadn't been able to absorb the "Luo Fire Mourning Feather" and he'd had to carry it himself, the scent emanating from his body would surely have caused trouble.

Especially with that old man and young boy.

"For Chen Tianren to receive them in the meeting hall, they must be no ordinary people..."

Luo Bin shook his head, clearing his mind of stray thoughts, and began to calculate how to spend this windfall. After all, over four hundred Spirit Charm points was a huge sum for him at present. It would even be enough to rush through to the Jade Bone Pass and practice several superior martial arts on the side.

Just as Luo Bin was pondering, the door creaked open, revealing Wen Li's face, flushed with a faint red glow and still heavy with sleep. After being "watered" by Luo Bin twice, her complexion was far better than before.

That ripe, seductive feminine aura was exceptionally endearing.

"Ah Bin, you only come to see me once every few days. Why not sleep a little longer?"