Inside the cave, Chaoxiang watched Elder Yang’s retreating figure with a smirk. “Well, that went better than expected,” he muttered to himself before turning to his mages. “Wake up my brother’s guards and tell them he fell victim to a sudden illness. We’ll need a convincing story for the sect.”
The mages nodded, and Chaoxiang left the cave with a spring in his step, the shadows of his schemes growing darker with every step.
Beggar Sect Headquarters, Dao City, Haiso Province,
The training room of the Beggar Sect’s leader, Wang Fei Gao, was carved into a cave deep within the headquarters’ secluded backyard. The stone walls shimmered faintly from torchlight, their rugged surface adorned with creeping moss and tendrils of ivy, lending the room an air of age and gravitas. The faint trickle of water echoed from a distant spring within the cave, underscoring the tense atmosphere. Inside, the most significant figures of the Beggar Sect—the elders, family heads, and key advisors—had convened for an emergency meeting.
Dao City was in crisis, and the urgency was palpable. Wang Fei Gao, a man whose stoic presence commanded respect, sat at the head of the long stone table, his sharp eyes scanning the room. His eldest son, Deng Fei Gao, stood, his face flushed with frustration as he slammed his fist against the table.
“They just keep pouring in!” Deng’s voice reverberated through the chamber. “Wave after wave, tens of thousands! Yesterday alone, nearly 19,000 low-ranking beggars entered Dao City seeking better lives, and today’s estimates show that number might double!” He glared at the room, his gaze landing on Elder Jie Fei Han. “How do we house them? Feed them? Maintain order with this endless influx? It’s chaos!”
Elder Jie, seated directly across from Deng, remained calm. A venerable figure with a long silver beard, Jie had been the first to sound the alarm about the growing immigration problem weeks ago. His warnings had been dismissed then, labeled as exaggerated. Now, the Beggar Sect faced the full brunt of a crisis spiraling out of control.
Deng Fei Gao’s face twisted with anger at the elder’s stoic demeanor. “Speak, Elder Jie! You raised this issue before. What do you have to say now?”
The elder nodded respectfully before replying, his tone measured. “Young Master Deng, all you say is true. I did indeed warn of this possibility. It is an unfortunate oversight that the matter has escalated to this scale. However,”—his voice sharpened—“assigning blame will not solve the problem.”
Deng’s temper flared, but before he could launch into another tirade, Wang Fei Gao’s voice cut through the tension like a blade. “Enough.”
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The sect leader’s commanding presence brought the room to order. His voice was low and firm, yet it carried the weight of authority that silenced the bickering. “This is not the time for arguments. If you have solutions or insights, speak now.”
The youngest of the siblings, Du Fei Gao, seated at the far end of the table, raised her hand. Her composed demeanor belied the turmoil surrounding the issue. “Father, with your permission, I’d like to report our findings.”
Wang Fei Gao gave a nod, and all eyes turned to her.
“As per the investigation conducted by my division within the Haiso Pavilion,” she began, her voice steady, “the root cause of the mass immigration lies in the Gunghua Province. Specifically, it stems from the actions of a sect known as the Eternal Will Sect. A recent change in leadership within the sect led to a radical shift in their strategy. To clean their region of low-ranking beggars, who are often informants for our Beggar Sect, they paid large sums to encourage them to relocate to Dao City.”
The room murmured in shock. Du continued, “The Eternal Will Sect’s initial efforts created a ripple effect. Businesses across Gunghua Province, fearing their secrets would be exposed, followed suit. The result? A cascade of displaced individuals pouring into our city, which was seen as a sanctuary for them.”
Deng Fei Gao clenched his fists. “So, it’s their fault! They dumped their problem onto us!”
Elder Jie shook his head slowly. “Not entirely, Young Master Deng. There are no imperial laws preventing a sect from offering payment to beggars to leave their region. It is common knowledge that beggars, desperate for coin, often serve as informants for our sect. The Eternal Will Sect exploited this dynamic to rid themselves of the issue.”
Bai Fei Gao, the second-youngest daughter and the most analytical of the siblings, added, “They essentially paid their way out of a problem they didn’t want to address, sending it back to its source—us. It’s a clever move, albeit one that has created immense strain on Dao City.”
Wang Fei Gao leaned back in his chair, his sharp eyes narrowing as he digested the information. “In essence, they acted within their rights. We have no grounds to accuse them of wrongdoing.”
The room fell silent for a moment, the weight of the situation pressing heavily on everyone. Deng finally broke the silence, his frustration boiling over. “So what do we do? We can’t just let this continue! The city is on the brink of chaos. If this growth persists, riots are inevitable!”
Elder Jie raised his hand. “If I may, Sect Leader, I have an idea that could address this issue.”
All eyes turned to him, eager to hear his proposal.
Jinwei Mansion, Blazing Dawn Sect, Gunghua Province,
Meanwhile, far away in Gunghua Province, the cold winds of mid-day swept through the halls of the Jinwei Mansion. Senior Edina sat in her private study, her pen gliding across a scroll of parchment as she drafted plans for the future. The chill outside was biting, but the warmth of the room, provided by a small brazier, made it a sanctuary of comfort.
Senior Edina hummed softly to herself, her focus unwavering despite the reports piling up on her desk. News of Dao City’s troubles had reached her ears, and she couldn’t help but smile at the success of her strategy. By ridding Gunghua Province of the beggar spies, they had secured their own operations now it’s time for the next phase of the plan.
As she dipped her pen into the inkwell, Senior Edina thought to herself, A clean province and no blood spilled—a win on all fronts.
The storm brewing in Dao City was just beginning till now.