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,
The night hung heavy outside, the frost on the window diffusing the pale glow of the moon into faint silver streaks across Senior Edina’s desk.
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 reports in front of her had been read and reread, and one of their details was unsettling no matter how many times she pored over them. Sect Leader Khang’s account from the Eternal Will Sect about the demon bones unearthed at Hin Lake refused to leave her thoughts.
The idea of demon bones existing at all was troubling. Demons didn’t leave remains—they dissolved into pure mana upon death. Yet these skeletal remains, somehow preserved for millennia, had reformed into a complete body and flown away. The impossibility of it only made it more dangerous.
Edina drummed her fingers against the edge of her desk, her thoughts racing. Her hypothesis about the bones had remained the same: the demon must have fallen into Hin Lake during a battle or by some divine misstep during the era of gods and demons. The lake’s high concentration of Red Black Steel likely played a critical role in suppressing the demon’s regenerative abilities. Red Black Steel, after all, was the only material capable of truly harming demons, its energy-suppressing properties unparalleled.
“For thousands of years, it lay dormant,” she murmured, staring at the report. “Until the Eternal Will Sect's mining operations disturbed it.”
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Now the demon was free, and its destination was unknown. Edina sighed, leaning back in her chair. There was no way to track it—not yet, at least—but the implications of its existence gnawed at her. What else lay hidden beneath the surface of Hin Lake, waiting to be unearthed? And what consequences would follow?
Setting the report aside, she reached for another stack of documents. These were far more personal and immediately troubling. Chaung Chi’s intelligence from her time within the Mu Mansion had proven invaluable, and the latest revelations only deepened Senior Edina’s unease. Aunt Li Mei, ever the strategist, had managed to secure her position as the primary investor in Jade Grass Commerce. This alone was a significant shift in power dynamics.
The Commerce’s rapid expansion mirrored its success in Senior Edina’s previous life, but this time, the stakes were higher. Aunt Li Mei now had access to a steady stream of revenue, which could be funneled into her campaigns and influence-building efforts. The implications were clear: Senior Edina’s earlier assumption that reclaiming the Jinwei Mansion had left Aunt Li Mei resource-strapped was dangerously incorrect.
“She’s always a step ahead,” Senior Edina muttered, her voice edged with frustration. The advantage she had worked so hard to gain was slipping away. If Jade Grass Commerce continued to grow unchecked, Li Mei’s resources would become insurmountable.
Yet, as daunting as the challenge seemed, Senior Edina refused to let it shake her resolve. The Commerce’s meteoric rise left it vulnerable to exploitation—cracks in logistics, supply chains, and personnel could all be targeted. Quietly and methodically, she began outlining strategies to destabilize it from within. Each stroke of her pen was precise, her thoughts cold and calculated. Aunt Li Mei had underestimated her before, and Senior Edina intended to make her pay for that mistake.
Her focus shifted to another pressing matter: the Red Black Steel mined from Hin Lake. The Eternal Will Sect’s treasure resource was both a blessing and a curse. The material’s unparalleled strength and resistance made it invaluable, but its indestructibility posed a significant challenge. No conventional method of forging could shape it. The only known solution was Sulfur Fire, a volatile and rare substance capable of softening the ore.
Senior Edina's lips pressed into a thin line as she considered the complexities. Sulfur Fire wasn’t just rare—it was dangerous to handle, and its procurement would be fraught with risk. Even with the fire, forging Red Black Steel required expert blacksmiths willing to brave the hazards of failure, which often came at the cost of life or limb.
But failure wasn’t an option. Aunt Li Mei would undoubtedly be racing to secure her own supply of forged Red Black Steel. If Edina’s faction fell behind, it would spell disaster. She clenched her fists, her frustration bleeding into her thoughts. Time was a luxury she didn’t have. The forges needed to be ready, the materials secured, and the blacksmiths prepared to begin work as soon as possible.
Her eyes moved back to the moonlit window, her reflection faint against the frost-covered glass. The night seemed to mirror the challenges ahead—cold, unyielding, and fraught with uncertainty. But as the faintest sliver of light broke through the clouds, Senior Edina allowed herself a small, grim smile.
she murmured, her voice low but resolute. "We’ll see who survives this game."
With that, she bent over her desk once more, the pen in her hand moving with renewed purpose. The night was far from over, and there was still much to be done.