"Brother, you didn't really cheat on me, did you?"
On the way back, we remained silent.
Only when they entered the room did Keke quietly ask, "Do you still like Ms. Shion?"
Do I have a reason to dislike it?
"Anyway, you'll get tired of it after a while," Keke muttered. "They say men are all like that, they're energetic all day, twice a day, and three times a day, so they're especially prone to getting bored easily. Even someone as outstanding as Teacher Shion, once you get her, you'll get tired of her..."
"Who are they."
"... some comic book creators."
Stop watching useless things.
"How can it be useless? The story may be fake, but the principle behind it absolutely cannot be fake!"
"..."
Keke said seriously, "Romance comics never lie!"
Thinking about how many boring romance novels exist online, Jiang Si couldn't even bring herself to say, "I feel they're not as good as online novels, I should read more online novels."
It's all the fault of those who write romance novels.
He petitioned to have those wicked creators who wrote romance novels banned.
Unexpectedly, the website and its low-quality readers actually forbid it!
It's practically polluting the creative environment.
This elevates online novels to the same level as romance comics that young girls like Keke enjoy.
Online novels are the path to enlightenment, yet people use them to talk about romance—it's utterly ridiculous.
If the beast-taming genre is merely a different path, both ultimately still on the path of seeking the Dao, then romance novels are the opposite.
It is the biggest dark cloud hanging over the edifice of online literature.
Some men, though physically imposing, are no different from little girls.
Indulging in the pleasures of love and becoming enamored with beautiful women, he dares to claim that his Daoist heart is steadfast!
Furthermore, the influence of romance in novels is quite remarkable. Countless works that should have focused on the pursuit of enlightenment have instead turned to romance instead of properly depicting combat and advancement.
Even Heavenly Emperor Ye was not spared.
But this is clearly not a problem between "Shrouding the Heavens " and Heavenly Emperor Ye, but a problem between websites that do not ban romance novels and viewers who accept romance.
He absolutely refused to acknowledge these people as fellow practitioners.
Therefore, he once told Bai Mei that he must ban all online romance novels in the world.
Let Bai Family's Third Sister use her dozen or so pseudonyms and names to call on platforms to clean up the internet and give these romance novels a good blow!
Drive all online romance novels out of the country!
Unfortunately, the more they try to suppress it, the more it comes out.
As a result, Jiang Si is currently unable to refute Keke.
After all, if romance comics are deceptive, then wouldn't online novels, which are similar to comics, also be deceptive?
That's absolutely impossible; the two cannot be equated, but currently there's no theory that distinguishes them.
So Jiang Si simply ignored the conversation.
Let my foolish sister stay in the darkness.
After taking the vegetables from Keke, I changed my shoes, washed my hands, and started washing the vegetables, preparing to cook.
It's already dark outside, so I'm going to just cook something simple, have dinner, and then rest.
Keke grabbed a stool and sat in the kitchen to help pick and wash the vegetables. "Brother."
"Um?"
"Why don't you tell me the Azure Cloud Sect rules the world?"
Why do we want to rule the world?
" Shion- sensei, who is your friend, is the strongest magical girl," Keke said. "She could definitely rule the world, right?"
Are you sure you're the strongest?
Keke, who was picking vegetables, paused for a moment, "Is there anyone stronger than Teacher Shion?"
"Who knows?" Jiang Si washed the pot clean and heated it over a fire for a while. "The world is so big, and we don't even know the true nature of the Disaster Countermeasures Bureau. They might have even more power Full Bloom. To rule the world, we must first overthrow the Disaster Countermeasures Bureau. Maybe there are even stronger magical girls or powers within the Disaster Countermeasures Bureau?"
"Oh..."
After washing the vegetables and handing them to her brother, Keke thought to herself, "Even Teacher Shion didn't seem to have thought this through so carefully."
But upon closer examination, all of the Azure Cloud Sect's actions so far have been within the acceptable range for the Disaster Countermeasures Bureau.
This was indeed to avoid direct conflict with the Disaster Countermeasures Bureau.
"If she were stronger than the Disaster Countermeasures Bureau, Shion- sensei could probably rule the world..."
Why do we want to rule the world?
Jiang Si gave her a strange look. "You have the power but don't pursue the Great Dao. What kind of low-level thinking is it to think about ruling the world all day long?"
"Downward adjustment thinking?"
"The mindset of a lower-level cultivator."
"Oh, okay." Keke nodded, though she didn't quite understand. "It's mainly for convenience, like making money, gathering intelligence, and stuff like that. I thought Shion- sensei would be interested in world domination..."
"Those things can be done without ruling the world." Jiang Si put the chopped vegetables into the pot. "Breaking the existing rules means you have to build a new set of rules and find a way to maintain them, which wastes too much energy and time. It's better to focus on cultivation."
After saying that, she added, "That's probably what Shion thinks."
What was supposed to be a cultivation and combat game has turned into a farming and resource management game.
The messy political and economic situation is so boring to even think about.
He also has no interest in changing the world.
Even if he were to rule the world alone in the future, Jiang Si decided to continue entrusting the management of the world to the Disaster Countermeasures Bureau, at most making the Disaster Countermeasures Bureau a nominally subordinate organization of the Azure Cloud Sect.
As the saying goes, if the code runs without problems, don't touch it.
It doesn't hinder one's pursuit of the Tao.
"So, does that mean if you join the Disaster Countermeasures Bureau, even if Shion- sensei doesn't dare to touch you? That means even if you fall out with Shion- sensei, you'll have a way out..."
"Are you sure the Disaster Countermeasures Bureau is willing to turn against the Azure Cloud Sect for my sake?" Jiang Si glanced at her.
" The Azure Cloud Sect is unwilling to rashly antagonize the Disaster Countermeasures Bureau. It's not that the Azure Cloud Sect is afraid to antagonize the Disaster Countermeasures Bureau. What good would it do to fight Shion? Is the Disaster Countermeasures Bureau really willing to wage a full-scale war against the Azure Cloud Sect just for my sake?"
"Why..."
"I was so stupid, so stupid," Keke sighed as she chopped vegetables for her brother. "I shouldn't have met Shion- sensei in the first place. If I hadn't met Shion- sensei, I wouldn't have become Shion student. If I hadn't become her student, Shion- sensei wouldn't have met my brother. If Shion- sensei didn't know my brother, he wouldn't have become Shion boyfriend. If he wasn't Shion- sensei's boyfriend, he wouldn't have been played like this by Shion..."
"... and then my brother wouldn't be like this, forever trapped in Shion- sensei's grasp."
Why did you run away?
"What if you cheat on me in the future, or if you're a victim of domestic violence and want a divorce? Don't you need a way out?"
Jiang Si, holding the spatula, paused in mid-air, pondering for a long time.
What is Keke thinking?
It seems we can no longer let Coco run wild Keke confront the darkness of the cartoonist's world.
Comics are harmful; Coco should be forbidden Keke reading comics from now on, and encouraged to read more online novels instead.
"No, no, no." Keke handed Jiang Si the pepper and salt. "You absolutely can't break up with Teacher Shion until we find a way out!"
"You don't need to tell me."
"We also shouldn't anger Shion- sensei, and we should try to keep our distance from the other girls..." Keke added, "Of course, Captain Yinlian can get a little closer."
"Dinner's ready."
"Oh."
They carried the dishes and bowls back to the living room, and habitually turned on the TV. The two of them ate while listening to the television.
The report roughly refers to the Disaster Countermeasures Bureau's report on the destruction of the Calamity Curse Realm by the Azure Cloud Sect. It describes how the Azure Cloud Sect completely wiped out a century-old cult that had been hiding in both South China and East China. The report highly praises the Azure Cloud Sect's achievements and expresses the determination to cooperate, assuring citizens that it will be able to better protect their safety.
The reaction was pretty quick.
"Brother, are you short of money?"
"Not lacking."
"Huh? Where did this money come from?"
"I earned it myself."
"Oh." Keke shoveled a couple of mouthfuls of rice. "If you need money, just tell me. I got paid."
"How much?"
"Twenty thousand."
"Quite a few?"
"Hey-hey."
Jiang Si nodded. "It seems the Disaster Countermeasures Bureau does have its merits."
"Of course!" Keke sat in her chair, swinging her legs smugly. "It's a fixed salary, you get paid even if you don't do any work. That's why Senior Peony wants to slack off every day; she can get paid even if she doesn't work. But there's no bonus for doing a lot of work."
Then, her nose practically popped out of her head. "Looks like an elementary school student, but actually a magical middle school girl earning 20,000 yen a month! Amazing, right? Super awesome! I'm a genius!"
As he spoke, he grasped the seed, transformed, and patted Jiang Si's shoulder triumphantly. "Brother, you don't need to work anymore."
"You don't need to feel ashamed for spending your sister's money; you should be proud of it." With that, he deactivated his transformation.
Hearing Keke's attitude that she would be the master of the house from now on, Jiang Si didn't say anything.
He had more than just the 300,000 yuan that Bingtang had given him.
Since Ruoyun, that spendthrift girl, left, the company in Jiangming City has seen a considerable increase in revenue.
When Flower Fox was still around, she managed to save up 200,000 yuan for herself over a month, which Ruoyun then spent. Later, Ruoyun directly sold Flower Fox to the Disaster Countermeasures Bureau, effectively cutting off the company's resources and using all the company's money to expand her own small army.
It's not that you can't spend it, after all, investments do yield returns, and Ruoyun's returns aren't low, so Jiang Si doesn't feel bad about spending this money...
Okay, there is a little bit.
However, he believed that Ruoyun could earn it back.
As long as we can obtain the materials from the Land of Mirrors and complete the forging of the Extreme Dao Emperor Weapon, everything will be worthwhile.
The company Flower Fox, is gone. Ruoyun has drained almost all of its funds, leaving it practically bankrupt.
Even Jiang Si herself had completely given up.
After all, it was something he did casually in Jiangming City, so he didn't really care.
Unexpectedly, the company later received investment, and someone contacted him to replace Flower Fox, claiming to be Flower Fox's subordinate and taking over the company's operations.
In just half a month, the company was brought back to life and successfully returned to profitability.
Their operations are much more effective than those of Flower Fox.
Keke earned 20,000 yuan a month while doing nothing, and the company there gave her 60,000 yuan in just a few days.
No wonder everyone wants to be their own boss.
Who wouldn't want to make money while lying down?
The older brother, who had nearly 400,000 yuan in his hands, shook his head as he looked at his younger sister, who was already smug about being 20,000 yuan pregnant.
He casually stroked his bank account, a disdainful smile spreading across his face.
A frog at the bottom of a well.
They lost their composure over 20,000 yuan, while I, with nearly 400,000 yuan in my hands, didn't say anything.
To be so easily swayed by such a small sum of money that Cognitive Obstruction is truly terrifying; this child is as treacherous as a mushroom and will surely become a great threat.
If I encounter a wealthy person in the future, wouldn't I be easily deceived?
We'll have Bingtang show her around and broaden her horizons.
When Jiang Si thought about having ten black gold cards, she only felt that they were precious, but she didn't feel a strong sense of ownership.
There are simply too many.
There were so many that it naturally made people feel suspicious, suggesting that something was amiss.
However, since there were just too many, even if there were ghosts involved, Jiang Si couldn't help but collect them first.
It eats the bait and the hook together, and if that doesn't work, it eats the fish itself too.
It's not like it'll choke you to death.
Unfortunately, it all broke in the end.
But then again, even if he really had that much money to spend, Jiang Si still couldn't think of how to spend it, since he really didn't need that much money.
Keep a little pocket money, but leave the rest to Bingtang to handle; expanding the Azure Cloud Sect is more meaningful.
Bingtang is the best at making money from money; all she does is use money to breed maggots.
Starting three years ago, Bingtang was able to develop the Azure Cloud Sect under the very nose of the Disaster Countermeasures Bureau, using methods within the rules to avoid attracting the Disaster Countermeasures Bureau's attention, ensuring the Azure Cloud Sect's balance of income and expenditure, and eventually leading to profitability.
Bingtang was only thirteen years old at that time.
Having just become magical girls, they weren't even in their New Sprout Stage. Although they could snatch people from the Beihai Disaster Countermeasures Bureau, Jiang Si, who had witnessed the power of the Larkspur, knew that if they really provoked the headquarters, the Azure Cloud Sect would naturally not be able to develop.
Even with extraordinary talent, it takes time to overcome the foundation of an ancient organization with a history spanning millennia.
As you can see, Flame Emperor and Martial Ancestor once fled east and west under the pressure of large organizations.
It wasn't until Jiang Si entered the New Sprout Stage that the Azure Cloud Sect finally gained some confidence and began to operate openly.
Two years ago, Jiang Si had not yet reached the Peak Full Blossom Great Perfection, while Shion's strength only reached its peak last year and began to enter a bottleneck period.
During the period when the Azure Cloud Sect was severely lacking in combat strength, Bingtang had already recruited many disciples willing to join the Azure Cloud Sect and carried out many formal businesses for the Azure Cloud Sect.
By the time the Azure Cloud Sect had quietly developed into a profitable organization right under the nose of the Disaster Countermeasures Bureau...
Bingtang just turned fourteen not long ago and is currently in her third year of junior high school.
When the Beihai Witch Association used various evil and illegal means to obtain funds, they were targeted and severely cracked down on by the Disaster Countermeasures Bureau.
The Azure Cloud Sect has developed into a mainstay of the Beihai.
Although the path of benevolent rule is slow, it is steady. The Azure Cloud Sect has developed through legitimate means, which has not only won the hearts of the people, but also created mutually beneficial business relationships with other companies. It does not require any military threats or the display of any strength.
Nowadays, many companies in Beihai and even East China are willing to cooperate with the Azure Cloud Sect on any business they want to develop.
The Disaster Countermeasures Bureau couldn't find a way to cause trouble here, as all of the Azure Cloud Sect's income sources were legal, which was why there was no resistance when the Disaster Countermeasures Bureau and Azure Cloud Sect announced their formal cooperation.
The Azure Cloud Sect has never been so short of money that it had to resort to force to rob other companies, much less like the Witch Association, which caused many companies to go bankrupt, mass unemployment, and drove people to suicide.
Jiang Si spoke with great confidence that the Azure Cloud Sect was the leader of the righteous path.
Even standing before the ancestors of the Azure Cloud Sect, he could proudly declare, "Our Azure Cloud Sect is worthy of the world!"
Throughout my life, Jiang Si has only sought to punish evil and uphold justice, walking a path of integrity and conscience.
Knowing how difficult the journey had been, Jiang Si was actually unwilling to easily use the Azure Cloud Sect's assets.
He's not really in dire need of money. If he were, like when his younger sister needed tuition fees, he could naturally get money from the Azure Cloud Sect.
Even to save face for him as the sect leader, Bingtang would proactively help him out if he was ever short of money, preventing him from shamelessly asking for more.
The purpose of setting up the Holy Church to raise money was actually to fund his various frivolous ideas, such as alchemy and weapon forging—he knew these were likely to be a waste of money, and he would feel guilty using Azure Cloud Sect's money, but he didn't care if the money came from the Holy Church.
After finishing her meal, Jiang Si removed her left hand, which had been caressing the 300,000 yuan bank card, and cleaned up the dishes.
Before he even washed his dishes, Keke ran over and offered to wash them along with his, saying, "You cook, I wash the dishes; next time I cook, you wash the dishes."
"Good."
After returning to the house, I originally planned to concoct medicine.
I saw a message displayed on the crystal ball.
" Si Motu! You said you'd get as many potions as possible, and I've got you a ton! Aren't I Xilan, Si Motu!"
Jiang Si looked at it carefully before confirming that the units listed were correct.
"One ton? Where did you get the money?"
"Reporting to Si Motu! It was a loan, I used a loan!"
How much did you borrow?
"Don't worry, Si Motu, it's only 80 million! The seller said that since it's a legendary cadre like you making the purchase, he gave me Xilan an 'internal price,' a 'cost price,' a 'wholesale price,' which is dozens of times cheaper than selling it to subordinates individually!"
"We can even take away a ton of Witch Potion with just a deposit of fifty million. They'll give us an extra discount, a full 20% off! We'll make a killing, Lord Si Motu!"
Given Xilan's credit history, getting a loan is practically a pipe dream.
Jiang Si frowned. "Who gave you the loan?"
"It's the great Prince, Si Motu! She's such a kind person; she helped us with the paperwork. It would have been very difficult to get a loan without Si Motu present, but she somehow managed to get it done for you!"
"The 80 million yuan limit in your Witch Association account has been activated. The fast-track approval window has been successfully opened for a limited time, and the loan has been approved! Now only 50 million yuan is needed, Lord Si Motu! As long as you nod, it's yours for the taking! Hurry, or you'll miss out!"
The missing 50 million is the real issue!
Jiang Si looked at the shattered black gold card in her hand. "Contact Her Highness the Prince for me. I need to speak with her."
"Okay! But it'll probably take several days..."
Ice-Colored Era Group Building.
The middle-aged man sat in his office, staring blankly at the endless phone calls.
None of them answered.
After a long while, after the office bell rang, a girl dressed in ice blue pushed open the door.
He was still holding the door key in his hand.
After closing the door, he sat down on the sofa as if no one else was there.
" Bingtang."
The middle-aged man spoke first, "What do you want to do?"
Bingtang then revealed a gentle, refined smile, like that of a well-bred young lady, "Father, you're not old enough to have dementia yet, are you?"
Another phone call came in, and he frowned.
Even he, seeing the name on the screen, had no choice but to pick up his phone and answer the call.
After listening to the other person talk for a while, he only gave a bland "oh" before hanging up the phone.
Bingtang wasn't in a hurry; she simply brewed herself a cup of tea and sipped it slowly.
" Azure Cloud Sect, Disaster Countermeasures Bureau." The middle-aged man sneered, "Such a grand scheme."
"Don't get the father wrong," Bingtang gently reminded him. "This is just a normal business collaboration."
The middle-aged man suddenly stood up, veins bulging on his forehead.
Bingtang smiled faintly, raising her teacup. "Don't rush. Rushing will only make you look desperate, just as you said before."
Do you think violence will make me submit?
"As I said, it's a normal business collaboration." Bingtang casually placed a Bingtang into the tea.
"Even when faced with the threats and torment of the Witch Association, you never bowed your head. Everyone knows the fortitude of the Ice-Colored Era Group's CEO, and I am proud of you, Father. Therefore, this is not a threat; no one can threaten you."
Bingtang's father had once fallen into the hands of the Witch Association, but that was a long time ago, before Bingtang was even born.
While still working hard, Bingtang's father's company became wealthy, attracting the attention of Bingtang Witch Association Society. They used threats, inducements, and even physical abuse, threatening him with death, to force him to submit and relinquish the company's profits.
However, Bingtang's father never bowed his head, only sneering and mocking them as a bunch of good-for-nothings.
A good-for-nothing can't keep money; he'll only waste it. He doesn't have the habit of giving money to good-for-nothings.
After being rescued by the Disaster Countermeasures Bureau, the father of the Bingtang became famous due to the release of this impressive record, and the company also rose in popularity, eventually becoming the behemoth it is today through his hard work.
No violence could make Bingtang's father bow his head; he firmly believed this throughout his struggles.
Only losers resort to violence.
Moreover, the Disaster Countermeasures Bureau later provided him with protection—most large industries like the Ice-Colored Era Group have cooperative protection with the Disaster Countermeasures Bureau.
The General Administration will react very quickly in the event of a threat to personal safety.
Some retired magical girls are even hired by the company to work as bodyguards.
Of course, Bingtang never intended to use despicable means such as threats from the beginning.
If she wanted to use violence, she wouldn't even need to transform into a magical girl.
Having been raised by her father, she naturally knew that it was meaningless.
This old man, who's known as having an iron will, can't be broken by violence.
"As long as you obediently follow my rules and don't need to do anything extra, you will officially inherit the Ice-Colored Era Group!"
Bingtang sat on the sofa, enjoying her father's rage.
In the past, her father would sit in a chair and admire her expression.
From a young age, her father treated her as both a protégé and a rival.
The relationship between father and daughter wasn't particularly bad, but as serious competitors, there was never any normal warmth between them.
The winner takes all, the loser bows down.
"What you give me, I don't want; what you don't want me to give me, I will take back with my own hands." Bingtang put down her teacup. "I don't need your inheritance, Father. I will take Ice-Colored Era from you. Most of Ice-Colored Era's industries, shares, and external partners have already been transferred."
"Just sign the papers, and you can retire. Enjoy your rest."
Taking a deep breath, the middle-aged man swayed as he leaned against the table. "How long have you been preparing?"
"It all started when you told me you wanted me to become your business competitor."
"Thirteen years old."
The middle-aged man took a deep breath. "When were you prepared? Let me lose clearly and decisively."
"Well... speaking specifically within the group, it was the first half of the year." Bingtang poured a glass of water, stood up, and handed it to her father, "When Ice-Colored Era Group invested in Jiangming."
"Ah, I see. No wonder that deficit couldn't have been Zhang Feng's doing. Zhang Feng wouldn't have dared to do that!"
The middle-aged man took his daughter's water glass and drank it all in one gulp. "You should have been fully prepared long ago! Why did you only start now?"
"On one hand, it's quite amusing to see you, Father, so condescendingly say you're going to put me through a test," Bingtang said with a teasing smile. "It's like watching a sick cat bluffing; it's very entertaining."
The middle-aged man nearly smashed his water glass!
He never imagined his daughter could be so infuriating!
"On the other hand, it's unnecessary. The Ice-Colored Era Group is so large, it's troublesome to manage. I have my own things to do, and I'm not in a hurry to take over the Ice-Colored Era Group."
The middle-aged man sneered, "Now you're in a hurry? Why?"
"My sect leader is short of pocket money."
After a long silence, the middle-aged man looked at her suspiciously and asked, "Huh?"
"Okay, if you don't understand, let me put it another way."
Bingtang stood up, poured herself a cup of tea, and went over to clink glasses with her father. "My boss is short on pocket money. I'm a bit short on cash right now. After all, five hundred million is quite a hassle to come up with all at once, so I have to take over the Ice-Colored Era Group to tide me over."
"Just because of that?"
The middle-aged man glared angrily, "Five hundred million!"
"That's already a lot." Bingtang shook her head, looking at her father, who seemed to think, "Why don't they eat meat porridge?"
When the Qingyun Sect was expanding across South China, West China and North China, it only had a little over 2 billion yuan in funds. Now, it wants to take out 500 million yuan at once to give to the sect leader as pocket money, which will naturally affect the Qingyun Sect's expansion activities.
However, the middle-aged man just yelled, "You could have just asked me!"
"It's for my sect leader." Bingtang went over and removed the badge from her father's chest. "Not you, and certainly not Ice-Colored Era."
Seeing her father trembling with anger, Bingtang Tang smiled gently, "A bet's a bet, Father. This isn't the first time you've been a loser, is it?"
He slammed the water glass to the ground!
The middle-aged man, who had always despised violence, used the very method of venting that he scorned most for the first time.
Then, leaning against the table, he sat down shakily.
After taking a deep breath, he looked as if he had aged decades in an instant.
She had never seen her father so dejected and powerless; the once imposing and strong figure of her childhood had become somewhat fragile and vulnerable.
Bingtang simply placed the prepared documents on the table and pushed them in front of him.
Happy birthday, Dad.
A new beginning for losers.
The audiobook is out, and it's quite interesting. It's a shame the male lead's voice acting lacks a bit of presence. Those interested can check it out.
Thank you to the patron whose nickname has been used countless times for the generous donation!