Qin Li lived in a courtyard.
His confidant, Chang Zheng, weighed his words carefully, "Sect Master, about today’s events, you shouldn’t have..."
"I know, I was momentarily careless and got trapped by Lin Xiao, but I had my considerations."
Qin Li said, "The struggle between Gu Jinlai and Lin Xiao has been long-standing. Half a year ago, he even wrote to me, trying to make amends, which shows that he originally did not wish for things to become strained. As for the Meteor Star Guard matter, if there had been any other choice, who would want to quit being a Great Sect Elder to become a Vice Garrison Commander?"
He chuckled softly, "Now, I’ve managed to secure for him the treatment of a Golden Robed Elder. He just needs to accept the order, and he can rise rapidly. Even his rival, Lin Xiao, would have to bow down and submit to him. Naturally, he would be completely satisfied."
"Times have changed now."
Chang Zheng said, "Half a year ago, Gu Jinlai was down and out, hiding here and there. But now, he dominates Lingxiao City, governing over a million souls, and holds the deadly power of gunpowder... From his ability to annihilate the Red Blood Sect, one can see his force. Now... He’s vastly influential."
"Are you saying he won’t accept the order?"
Qin Li shook his head. "Gu Jinlai is a clever man. As an elder of the Purgatory Sect, he clearly understands what his refusal would mean—it’s a betrayal, and the consequences of betraying the Purgatory Sect... he can’t withstand it. The Meteor Star Guard won’t be able to protect him."
The Purgatory Sect, being a top major sect, had this confidence.
If not for various checks and balances, the Purgatory Sect could easily conquer Star State with its power alone.
"This time, the order wasn’t made public by the Sect Master, Lin Xiao will also propagate it, thereby definitively alienating him from the Meteor Star Guard and having him return to our Purgatory Sect. Therefore, as long as Gu Jinlai remains rational, he will definitely accept this command. Once he does, I can utilize this to suppress Lin Xiao’s influence."
Qin Li spoke with conviction.
He was clear, Lin Xiao was the person he truly needed to deal with.
Gu Jinlai was merely a chess piece to diminish Lin Xiao’s influence.
"Sect Master, since Gu Jinlai has turned to cultivate as Heavenly Master and becomes a force on his own, it would be inadvisable to plot against him if we could establish amicable relations."
"I understand that. I considered his position when implementing this plan. Elevating him to Golden Robed Elder, having his rival Lin Xiao apologize to him, both in face and in substance, would make everyone happy with a win-win result."
Starlight City, Lingyun Building.
This was the most luxurious and high-end restaurant in Starlight City, standing forty-nine meters tall, with a view from the top that overlooked most of Starlight City.
At this moment in Starlight City, two men and two women, four young people, were drinking and making merry. The tea snacks laid out before them, if brought outside, could match the salary of ordinary people for several months.
This expenditure alone revealed the exceptional identities of the four.
Just then, a man in a yellow robe suddenly spoke, "Su Tong, I heard your dad pulled some strings for you, sorted a position?"
Opposite him, was a tall woman, elegantly dressed, appearing quite aloof.
But her response rather spoiled her own demeanor.
"What a useless position, a garrison commander, and only a vice at that. And it’s key that I have to leave Starlight City to go to Lingxiao City over a thousand miles away—what’s the difference from running off to the countryside? I surely won’t go."
"Really? A Vice Garrison Commander, of a small city at that? Who did your dad contact to get such a position?"
"Star Master Zhang Luu from the Star Lord Department, I’ve remembered him. To fob me off , this isn’t over."
Yet no one picked up her remarks.
Being the beloved daughter of Minister Su, Su Tong could afford to speak disrespectfully about Zhang Luu, but the others dared not be so bold.
At that moment, a voice came from outside the private room.
"Is that Sister Su Tong?"
Hearing this voice, everyone in the room paused.
"It’s Young Master Qi."
"It’s the Second Master’s voice."
The four quickly discerned something.
Su Tong stood up happily, rearranging her appearance while saying, "Brother Fenglei, I’m here, please come in."
The door to the private room opened, and a handsome and graceful man, like a refined jade, walked in.
It was the second son of the State Governor’s Mansion, aged thirty-four, who had stepped into Refining God and was known as the Wind and Thunder Swordsman, Qi Fenglei.
Having achieved Qi Refining at twenty-three, his vitality remained constant. Thus, he looked ageless, indistinguishable from a young man in his mid-twenties.
"It is really you, I heard your voice outside and thought I had misheard."
Qi Fenglei smiled and said, "I came without invitation, please forgive me."
"Not at all, we are more than happy to interact with Brother Fenglei."
Su Tong moved forward obediently to help move a chair, "Please have a seat, Brother Fenglei."
After a moment, she blinked her big eyes, "Wasn’t Brother Fenglei visiting Sect Master Yun Jiu at the Nine Formulas Sword Sect? When did you return?"
"I just arrived today."
Qi Fenglei said, "My father has invited all the sect powers within Star State to a meeting outside the city at Ten Miles Slope. I delivered invitations one by one, and after three months, I finally finished."
"This clearly shows that the State Governor intends to entrust you with heavy responsibilities. In the future, dealing with these local powers is inevitable in managing the major and minor affairs of Star State."
"With my brother ahead, it’s not up to me to oversee the affairs of Star State."
Qi Fenglei hastily shook his hand.
The two exchanged pleasantries.
The other three in the private room simply smiled and rarely interjected.
It was a while before Qi Fenglei said, "I heard that Xiao Tong, you have been appointed to an official post outside, and the procedure had been taken care of a month ago? Why are you still in Starlight City?"
Brother Fenglei, stop it."
Su Tong sounded somewhat aggrieved, "I really didn’t want to leave Starlight City, but I know we can’t live under our parent’s wings forever. So I asked Star Master Zhang to arrange a position for me, but he went on to appoint me as a Vice Garrison Commander, that too in a small place like Lingxiao City... Is this not bullying?"
Lingxiao City? That is not a small city, although it cannot compare to Chang County, Baihe, or Green Emperor, it still governs over a million citizens."
As Qi Fenglei spoke, his tone shifted, "However... appointing you as Vice Garrison Commander, Zhang Luu’s action was indeed excessive. Who is the Garrison Commander of Lingxiao City?"
There isn’t one yet."
Su Tong said, "Lingxiao City has no Garrison Commander. I heard that the previous Garrison Commander, Fang Que, was implicated with Demon Martial Artists and was executed by one of his Vice Garrison Commanders. It seems that Star Master Zhang intends to have him fill the position and take over as the Garrison Commander."
"Oh? No Garrison Commander?"
Qi Fenglei smiled, "Given your status, if you are to take up a post, it should start from Garrison Commander. Since the Garrison Commander of Lingxiao City has not yet been appointed, I will speak with Zhang Luu on your behalf and see if you can take up that position."
A Vice Garrison Commander was something Su Tong looked down on.
But a Garrison Commander...
That equated to governing a region, controlling a city, a post enough to satisfy her."
Immediately she asked, "Wouldn’t that be troubling you, Brother Fenglei?"
"What trouble could it be?"
Qi Fenglei smiled. "You are someone I have watched grow up. Now that you are facing difficulties, how can I remain unconcerned?"
"Thank you, Brother Fenglei."
Su Tong sweetly called out.
"However, your appointment needs to be addressed swiftly since it has been over a month already. If the Vice Garrison Commander of Lingxiao was capable of suppressing the previous Garrison Commander, Fang Que, he must be skilled. You might consider taking him under your wing, then work hard to achieve some accomplishments. If all goes well, you should be able to return to Starlight City soon."
Qi Fenglei encouraged, "If you manage to gold-coat your experience there, among the young women of our Starlight City, who could compare to you?"
Su Tong nodded vigorously. "Rest assured, Brother Fenglei, I will not disappoint you. I’ll start my journey to Lingxiao City right away."