Entering

The entire plan had been thoroughly finalized, and Zhou Feng showed no great change on the surface.

All that remained was to wait quietly for the Black Market to open.

At daybreak the next day, Zhou Feng went to report for duty at the Tax Gu Division on time, as usual.

Since Li Qiulan had taken office, the East City branch had purged its atmosphere and tightened its rules. No one dared stir up trouble recklessly or show favoritism in private, and the entire office rested in a state of utmost stability and calm.

Everyone performed their respective duties, kept to their posts, and maintained an orderly appearance.

Zhou Feng blended into the crowd, handling matters steadily and performing his duties by the rules. He neither fought nor scrambled, neither grew arrogant nor impatient, perfectly maintaining the low-key, dutiful bearing of an ordinary clerk, without revealing the slightest anomaly.

Yet beneath that peaceful facade, undercurrents still quietly tested the waters.

The Qian Clan had indeed not fallen completely silent.

During the day's duty hours, several clerks belonging to the Qian Household faction approached him. They appeared casual, yet were deliberate in truth, chatting about assignments and household matters, every sentence covertly probing his intentions. They beat around the bush, asking whether he had considered the matter of cooperation and when he would be willing to answer Qian Lu's invitation.

Some feigned mention of the advantages and drawbacks of cultivating the Heavenly Heart Gu, while others tactfully promised future support in resources and connections, intending to erode his guard bit by bit and force him to loosen his lips and enter the game.

Zhou Feng's heart was clear as still water, but his expression remained unreadable.

No matter how they tested or tempted him, his attitude remained ambiguous, and he brushed