Chapter 111: Little one, have you had enough to eat?

Qin Jianyi’s heart sank slightly as he asked, "What crisis does the Qin family face?"

"Before discussing the crisis, Brother, you should first understand the current situation. The current Sovereign deeply distrusts the Nine Great Families. He plays a dual game of co-opting and suppressing them. The Shen family has now completely retreated from public life, refusing to take a stance on political matters..."

Qin Jianyi sneered, "Shen Wuxiang occupies the central hub, holds the position of the Empire’s Minister of War, and commands the majority of the imperial military. What does it matter whether they express an opinion or not? Others will speak for them. As long as they hold the military in their hands, who would dare touch a single hair on the Shen family?"

"Exactly. That is the source of our family's crisis. Father has served as a deputy in the Bathing Fire Legion for many years. The current commander, Tang Shengyan, is about to step down, and all factions are scrambling to secure that position for themselves..."

"I know about this. I serve in the Bathing Fire Legion; do you think I’m unaware of the intricacies? There are many competitors, and our Qin family cannot out-compete the Shen family’s Shen Fangweng..."

"Have you considered the Sovereign's perspective? If the Shen family manages to seize the position of Commander of the Bathing Fire Legion, the Sovereign will only be able to fully trust the Imperial Guard out of the Empire's four ace legions. The Phoenix Dance Legion was originally reorganized from the Royal Guard, but over the years, it has been infiltrated by major factions until it is as full of holes as a sieve..."

"The Undying Legion can be considered the personal army of the Shen family; they fought alongside them through mountains of corpses and seas of blood... The Sovereign’s words might not even carry as much weight as Shen Wuxiang’s..."

"In that case, does our father have a chance?"

"I have spoken with Father. That is the theory, but... how could the Shen family easily relinquish such a position? Even if they don't take it themselves, they certainly wouldn't allow our Qin family to have it..." Qin Jianyi frowned, speaking with a heavy voice.

"Yes. It is possible that the situation will end with the Shen family unable to take it, and the Qin family failing to secure it, ultimately letting a third party reap the benefits..."

"If my guess is correct, it would be the Yu family. Although the Yu family are royal relatives, they are still one of the Nine Great Families. Since Empress Yu Sining passed away, they have been suppressed by the royal family for years, unable to hold their heads high... Perhaps Zhong Daolong will offer them some compensation this time."

"Then where exactly does our Qin family's crisis lie?"

"With you, Brother."

"What crisis could I possibly have?"

"Because Father is competing for the position of Commander of the Bathing Fire Legion, and the Qin family is one of the Nine Great Families, it is only natural for the Sovereign to view us with displeasure. For years, you have achieved great military merit in the Bathing Fire Legion, yet you have never had the opportunity for promotion. Don't you find that strange?"

"Father told me to hone my skills for a few more years, not to rise too quickly so as to avoid an unstable foundation."

"That is what he says, but is it really that simple? If there were a good position, wouldn't Father want to secure it for you? You have always been a deputy or a secondary general, never a leader in your own right."

"So, once this matter is settled, my crisis will be resolved?"

"If I am not mistaken, you should be promoted by one rank this time, with the opportunity to lead a battalion independently."

"Just because I stepped up to face Tang Fei in a duel?"

"No, this is to send a signal to the Sovereign," Qin Yuyang said.

"What signal?"

"First, that we understand him. We know what is on his mind. Second, that we are here to help him. We can do the things he wants done but finds inconvenient to handle himself."

"Explain."

"The Sovereign has only one daughter, Zhong Yu Xiuxue. How could he possibly be willing to see his precious daughter hanging around with a drifter from the Old Lands all day? No matter how outstanding that young man may be, he can never be within the considerations of the current Sovereign..."

"Furthermore, that Tang Fei has been quite the center of attention lately. He first defeated Shen Qingping in the Qi-Cultivation Realm, then entered the Starry Sky Ranking. Many have been fueling the flames behind his back, loudly propagating his intimate relationship with Zhong Yu Xiuxue... I imagine the Sovereign must be furious by now, right?"

"However, Tang Fei is his daughter's savior, and their bond is quite strong. If the Sovereign were to act forcefully, it would not only make him appear cold and ungrateful, but it would also damage the father-daughter relationship..."

"At this time, someone needs to step forward to help him. To do what he wants done, and to tell everyone that this is not a result he wishes to see."

"If that is the case, why was it only me who stepped forward? Why didn't the other families do so? It is impossible that they didn't see the Sovereign’s intentions."

"Some did see it, so they incited Shen Qingping to go and kick Tang Fei out of the game. They didn't expect Tang Fei to have such explosive power, actually overcoming the obstacles Shen Qingping set for him..."

"Shen Qingping is merely a minor character, but behind him stands the Shen family, the head of the noble houses. I heard that after this incident, the Princess herself went to Mount Luojia, and Shen Boyu, to express the Shen family's apologies, gifted Tang Fei a rare, priceless night-luminescent pearl from his private collection..."

"The Shen family fears the Princess’s authority?" Qin Jianyi shook his head and said, "That is unrealistic."

"Indeed. But no one dares to underestimate the wisdom of that old man. He encourages others to do the things he is unwilling to do himself... Before figuring out the oddities hidden in this, who would be the first to act?"

"And so, all the families are now in a state of silence, waiting to watch the show. More precisely, everyone is waiting for the reactions of you and Shen Xinglan."

"Because we are the two most intense competitors?" Qin Jianyi squinted and smiled.

"Yes. Let the young people stir up trouble first. Once the situation becomes uncontrollable, the state of affairs will become clear. Then the elders of each family will step forward, have a drink, and the matter will fizzle out."

"As for Tang Fei, whether he lives or dies... who would care?"

"Did you think of all this yourself?" Qin Jianyi asked.

"I have spoken with Grandfather a few times," Qin Yuyang replied.

Qin Jianyi thought to himself: outsiders all think Qin Yuyang is a mediocre, transparent figure in the Qin family, yet the old man at home knows his descendants like the back of his hand; no one’s talents or abilities can escape his eyes. The old man spends his days in meditation and health cultivation, and even Father and the uncles find it extremely difficult to get an audience with him. Yet, he is willing to call Qin Yuyang to his side for meals and conversation...

Could it be that in Grandfather’s heart, the core figure of the younger generation is actually Qin Yuyang?

One who excels in swordsmanship is at most a general.

But Qin Yuyang excels in strategy; will he be the one to become the next head of the family, strategizing from the central hub and winning battles from thousands of miles away?

Thinking of this, Qin Jianyi felt a faint sense of loss.

Yet, he then reasoned that since this was his own younger brother, having him command from the central hub of Phoenix City while he himself led his troops to conquer the galaxy was not an unacceptable reality.

"You have lived in Phoenix City for a long time; you see things more clearly," Qin Jianyi said, looking at Qin Yuyang with praise.

Qin Yuyang gave a bitter smile. "What use is seeing things clearly? I still messed up. I was beaten black and blue by that fatty, which will inevitably affect the dignity of the Qin family... I fear Grandfather will call me in for a lecture."

Qin Yuyang looked at Qin Jianyi and asked, "What I don't understand is, why did you intentionally concede?"

"I didn't intentionally concede," Qin Jianyi looked at Qin Yuyang distantly and said, "I truly lost."

"What? How is that possible?" Qin Yuyang found it hard to accept. "During the school entrance examination a few days ago, that kid was only at the mid-stage of the Qi-Cultivation Realm. Even if he has had a breakthrough, he shouldn't have exceeded the high-stage of Qi-Cultivation..."

"And yet, Brother, you reached the Profound-Spirit Realm three years ago, and these years of tempering in the military have seen your progress skyrocket... How could you possibly have lost to him? It’s not logical."

"One stage per year—that’s considered rapid progress among the younger generation, isn't it?" Qin Jianyi asked.

"Yes. The higher the realm, the more difficult the promotion. Many people are trapped in the Wish-Fulfillment Realm their whole lives, lacking that final push to become a grandmaster," Qin Yuyang said. "But Brother, you are a full realm higher than that kid..."

"You are different from Shen Qingping. Shen Qingping has only just entered the Profound-Spirit Realm and probably hasn't grasped the nuances of it. You have been in the Profound-Spirit Realm for years, and your next breakthrough will be the Wish-Fulfillment Realm... How could you lose to a mid-stage Qi-Cultivation practitioner?"

"Because of that sword strike," Qin Jianyi’s eyes were sharp. He did not belittle Tang Fei for defeating him. "That sword strike was unfathomable, beyond the reach of gods or ghosts."

"I am also puzzled as to why I lost to someone at the Qi-Cultivation stage. But I understand the feeling... that sword energy, clinging like a bone-deep gangrene, elusive and impossible to lock onto, yet making you aware that it was everywhere..."

"I didn't want to injure my body, so I abandoned my original killing move to block with my sword. In that hurried change of tactics, most of my sword energy dissipated, and naturally, he severed half of my branch."

"Then, what realm does such a freak belong to?" Qin Yuyang asked.

Qin Jianyi shook his head. "Realm is only one standard for measuring strength, not the whole picture. Some people don't understand cultivation but can still kill cultivators... The path of Ancient Martial Arts is difficult to define."

"If you fought again, would you have a chance of winning?"

"Yes," Qin Jianyi said with full confidence.

"What if it were a fight to the death?"

"Fifty-fifty."

A fifty-fifty chance—half death, half life.

The outcome would be uncertain.

Qin Yuyang never expected his brother to hold such a high opinion of that drifter. And this is only at the Qi-Cultivation stage; one dares not imagine what he will become in time.

As the Qin brothers discussed the world's trends, Tang Fei and the little fatty were squatting on the ground, eating delicacies. "Are you still eating?" Tang Fei asked.

"No more," the little fatty rubbed his stomach, feeling quite full.

"Then stop. We have birthday cake to eat in a while," Tang Fei said.

The little fatty's face changed instantly, and he said in a panic, "I forgot about the birthday cake..."

"It's fine. We'll walk around the garden twice, and you'll be hungry again in no time," Tang Fei comforted him.

The little fatty felt relieved and said, "Then let’s go... let’s walk for a bit longer."

Just then, a beautiful woman in a black evening gown walked through the crowd toward the octagonal pavilion, swaying with a captivating, seductive grace.

She stopped in front of Tang Fei and the little fatty, her voice magnetic and pleasant: "Little ones, are you full?"