Chapter 543 Fame, Momentum, and the Leader of the Divine Martial Association

Liu Xing City was met with a massive influx of refugees, who were, as expected, barred from entering.

Allowing them all to flood into the city would undoubtedly cause a massive disruption.

“There’s something wrong with these refugees. Why are they so quiet?” A grave expression appeared in the eyes of Xiang Jin, the City Lord of Liu Xing City.

It was normal for refugees to riot and cause trouble to express their discontent. All he would have to do is dispatch forces to suppress them.

But their current inaction was the biggest problem of all.

It meant the refugees were already completely under someone’s control.

If he were to let them into the city now, the consequences would be unimaginable.

“We’ve gathered some intelligence. It’s said the refugees have formed a faction called the Divine Martial Association to band together and avoid being bullied.”

“Their leader is a tiger-slaying hero. He killed a ferocious tiger that was preying on the refugees on the road,” a scholar-official by his side explained.

He was just an ordinary man who had failed to pass the imperial examinations and join the Confucian Lineage, which was why he had stayed in Liu Xing City to become the City Lord’s advisor.

A sense of dread began to rise in Xiang Jin’s heart.

‘The world is in such chaos. All it needs is for someone to start a rebellion and set an example for the rest,’ he thought.

‘And now you’re telling me this entire group of refugees listens to one man. I don’t even have to guess what will happen next.’

‘If I open the gates, I’ll be turned into a puppet or even replaced entirely.’

‘If I don’t open the gates, I’ll be handing them an excuse to shout slogans about how the Court disregards the lives of its people.’

‘Once that rumor spreads among the refugees and enough discontent has festered, they’ll riot and storm the city.’

‘At that point, I won’t just be a puppet. I’ll be dead on the spot.’

‘They’ll need my head to placate the refugees and quell their anger.’

“Despicable, wolf-hearted ambition!” Xiang Jin cursed bitterly, then asked, “How do we solve this?”

“Open the granaries and distribute food to stabilize the refugees.” The advisor had no real solution at the moment; this would only treat the symptoms, not the root cause.

Unless they could eliminate the refugee leaders and turn them back into a scattered, disorganized mob, it was a hopeless situation.

Of course, there was another solution: quell the conflict between the Daoist Lineages and, while they were at it, end the drought.

However, if Xiang Jin were capable of such things, why would he be worried about some so-called refugees?

“Fine, but there’s a problem. What if the refugees use the food distribution as an opportunity to charge into the city?” Xiang Jin asked, raising another issue.

What if they were already determined to make a move? Excuses could always be found later, but an opportunity like this might only come once.

If they succeeded, would they even need to worry about finding an excuse?

They could even fabricate one out of thin air without issue.

Upon hearing this, the advisor fell silent. He had not, in fact, considered how to solve that problem.

After thinking it over and over, he still couldn’t come up with an answer.

“Well then, shall we request aid from the Court?” the advisor finally suggested.

‘You say no to this and no to that. I’m just an ordinary person, not one of those Daoist Lineage masters. All I can do in the end is suggest we call for aid,’ he thought.

“The Court can’t spare any resources in the short term.” Xiang Jin rejected the idea once again, then explained, “The conflict between the Daoist Lineages has caused many cities, like Guiyun City, to end up destroyed, their people fleeing.”

“These refugees seeking shelter in our Liu Xing City are likely just the first wave. More are on their way.”

“So you need to come up with a solution, and fast. Otherwise, I’m afraid we’re both dead men.”

The advisor was speechless. ‘He wants me to find a solution? What am I supposed to solve it with?’ he thought.

‘There’s no money, no grain, and not enough military might to guarantee our safety. Every path is a dead end.’

‘And he expects me to solve it? This is beyond ridiculous.’

After much consideration, the advisor found an escape route for himself.

‘If you won’t give me a way to survive, then I’ll just defect to the other side.’

“If the City Lord has not abandoned this humble servant, allow me to seek out the leader of the Divine Martial Association.”

“With my silver tongue, I shall surely persuade their leader to bend the knee and surrender!” the advisor declared.

Xiang Jin was dumbfounded. ‘Since when were you capable of something like that?’

But on second thought, getting the other side to surrender did seem like the best possible solution.

“Good, I’ll entrust this matter to you.” Xiang Jin agreed without a hint of hesitation. He then casually added, “You can take your personal dagger. If negotiations with the leader of the Divine Martial Association fall through…”

“Rest assured, City Lord. I will surely meet a martyr’s death,” the advisor said hurriedly.

“I am very pleased with your resolve.” Xiang Jin patted the advisor’s shoulder in commendation before saying, “A martyr’s death is noble, but it would be even better if you could spill some blood first.”

The implication was clear: if negotiations failed, he was to assassinate the leader of the Divine Martial Association.

Hearing this, the advisor was genuinely shocked that Xiang Jin would say such a thing.

‘The man killed a tiger. I’m not completely helpless, but if I were to face a tiger, the only thing I could do is become its meal,’ he thought.

“Yes, City Lord.” Seeing no other choice, the advisor could only brace himself and agree.

His resolve to betray Xiang Jin in exchange for his own survival grew even stronger.

‘Sacrifice my own life for your benefit? In your dreams.’

‘At the end of the day, it’s just a job. There’s no need to put my life on the line for it.’

Soon, the advisor was lowered from the city wall in a basket. He was then led by the refugees to the central tent of the encampment.

There were many people inside. Seated in the central position was an unremarkable middle-aged man who didn’t look like a leader in the slightest.

“I am Hu Shichan, and I have come especially to offer my allegiance.” When the advisor, Hu Shichan, spoke these words, everyone present was taken aback.

“A fake defection?” A fierce glint appeared in Jiang Peng’s eyes.

The formation of the Divine Martial Association had gone smoothly, but there was one issue: Qi Suian had promoted a whole new batch of people from who knows where.

Every single one of these new people was a force to be reckoned with, creating a structure of checks and balances where no single person could dominate.

As the leader of the Divine Martial Association, Qi Suian remained firmly in control. He barely had to lift a finger, yet all the power remained in his hands.

Fortunately, Qi Suian was generous. All he wanted was the authority; he didn’t even keep the “meat” for himself, distributing it down the ranks.

The higher-ups ate meat, the mid-level drank soup, and even those at the bottom got a taste of meat and fish.

“No, no, no, I have sincerely come to pledge my allegiance.”

“And I’ve brought a pledge of loyalty,” Hu Shichan said quickly. “Liu Xing City’s defenses are empty. If we strike at midnight, we can surely enter the city and capture that villain, Xiang Jin, alive.”

“Xiang Jin is currently…”

Everyone listened with mixed expressions, especially when Hu Shichan mentioned the word “midnight,” which seemed to stir up unpleasant memories for them.

“Bring him a chair,” Qi Suian, who was sitting in the main seat, spoke up.

No one dared to disobey. A chair was quickly brought over, and Hu Shichan was motioned to sit.

“I don’t want to hear analysis or plans,” Qi Suian asked coldly. “I’ll ask you just one thing: if I entrust this matter to you, how certain are you of success?”

Hu Shichan, who had just sat down, was stunned. He hadn’t expected Qi Suian to say something so direct.

“We won’t need to wait for midnight. Give me one hundred men, and within two hours, I will have our leader residing in the City Lord’s Mansion,” Hu Shichan said, a thrill of excitement in his heart.

‘Look at that. Now that’s what I call magnanimous, giving me a chance to perform right from the start.’

“I’ll give you five hundred men and six hours.” Qi Suian had a limited number of men at his disposal, or he would have given him a thousand. He did, however, grant him more time.

Hu Shichan’s eyes lit up. He immediately declared, “If our losses exceed one hundred men, I will present my head to you, Leader.”

“Jiang Peng, Feng Cai, you two will assist him.” Qi Suian called out two more names. “Remember, you are to follow his orders.”

“If this mission fails, you both will share the responsibility.”

“Succeed, and your merits will be recorded as such.” Qi Suian was not a stingy man. He knew that making empty promises was useless; real benefits had to be given.

However, the things he gave away were things he didn’t need, while the things he gained were what was truly useful to him.

“Yes, sir,” they replied in unison.

Jiang Peng was inwardly displeased. ‘A veteran like me has to listen to a newcomer?’ he fumed. But with his sworn rival, Feng Cai, also assigned to the task by Qi Suian, he didn’t dare make a move.

The balance of power within the Divine Martial Association was unshakable. Every member had several sworn rivals, and if one was not careful, they would surely be dragged down.

Qi Suian’s position was as stable as a mountain precisely because this balance existed.

Feng Cai’s thoughts were similar to Jiang Peng’s, but he was looking further ahead.

He was already thinking about how to win Hu Shichan over. The best move was to pull a talent with such capabilities into his own faction.

Many had already begun to form cliques and factions as a form of self-preservation.

This, too, was part of the entanglement of interests.

Qi Suian was happy to see this situation develop. What was the use of open and secret struggles between individuals? Factional power plays were far more entertaining.

“It is now 7 a.m. Let’s say you have until 5 p.m. to finish.”

“The rest of you, cooperate with them. Dismissed,” Qi Suian said bluntly.

Upon hearing this, some looked as if they wanted to speak but held their tongues. In the end, no one said a word and simply left as Qi Suian had commanded.

After everyone had gone, Qi Suian resumed his research on the unique energy structure of “Fame.”

He had already formed several theories by extracting and analyzing samples.

‘It’s a conceptual, post-celestial law. It has an effect similar to luck, but it isn’t truly luck. It’s more akin to a ‘grand trend.’ ‘

‘As for Scholarly Qi and Incense Vows, those are ‘minor trends.’ ‘

‘Before the grand trend takes shape, it’s far inferior to Scholarly Qi and Incense Vows. But once it coalesces, it becomes as unstoppable as a cataclysmic flood.’

‘The difference, I suppose, is like that between lesser Buddhist Teachings and the Mahayana True Scripture.’

‘But its flaw is also significant.’

Qi Suian discovered that his survivor avatar was now bound by this grand trend.

‘Minor trends can be altered, but the grand trend is immutable.’

‘Therefore, once the momentum builds, you either crash and burn, or you become a dragon soaring in the great sea.’

‘There is simply no turning back.’

‘If Qi Suian were to back down now, the backlash from his Fame would directly claim the life of his survivor avatar.’

He himself could probably withstand it, but it wasn’t worth it for a mere avatar.

‘No wonder there are only three major Daoist Lineages: Confucian, Buddhist, and Daoist. The Court might have had one too, but they’re all gone now.’

‘Furthermore, even if you succeed, the three great Daoist Lineages won’t let you be.’

‘It’s a good thing the First Realm – Special Cloth that I created has a concealment ability. Otherwise, people from the Daoist Lineages would have already hunted me down and disposed of me.’

‘The flaw is significant, but the potential for growth and the efficiency are also high.’

“If I succeed with this, sweeping away the three great Daoist Lineages by myself will be no problem at all.” Qi Suian felt that using Fame and the grand trend as a foundation was an incredibly promising path.