Beware Of Chicken v7c56: The Hidden Master

The pair who introduced themselves as Shen Rou and Lin Liling were undoubtedly foolish, yet they possessed a generous spirit. Whether it was the influence of the drinks or the events of the day, Ye Shun found himself engaging in conversation. “It’s been a trying day,” Ye Shun admitted with a sigh. “Several unfortunate developments have occurred, leading this old man to seek solace in a bottle.” The young man promptly poured Ye Shun another drink, demonstrating the appropriate deference of a junior to his senior. Ye Shun found himself developing a favorable impression of the young man, who showed proper respect towards his elders. “What sort of troubles are you facing?” Shen Rou inquired. “Primarily, troublesome colleagues. Their hot-blooded nature leads them to be rash, making it difficult to associate with them even though our ultimate goals are similar,” Ye Shun explained. The day had indeed been an unfortunate one for Ye Shun. His unsuccessful attempt to locate the Great Expert Rou Jin had been an annoyance, though a minor one. A Great Expert vanishing at their whim was not uncommon and was to be expected. No, Ye Shun’s current frustrations stemmed from those he considered his companions. Passions had been running high on the first night, as they invariably did. Proposals for immediate attacks and brazen acts of theft, disguised by the symbols of other Sects, had been voiced. While these were not tactics to be entirely dismissed, they were certainly not the initial course of action to be considered. Typically, a proposal for an extreme measure would be made, and as the discussion progressed, it would gradually evolve into a more cautious approach through the deliberation of the enemy’s strengths and weaknesses. Ye Shun had anticipated the second meeting to follow this familiar pattern. However, his fellows were too incensed and determined to maintain their initial stance. Not all of them, certainly, but a significant number of moderating voices were met with vehement opposition. They were eager for action, which, in Ye Shun’s judgment, was the worst possible course. “Ugh, I know the type,” the young man sympathized. “The sort of people who leave all the work to you and try to take charge because they can’t devise a decent plan themselves, only to ruin it for you anyway,” Liling grumbled. “Ha! Yes, exactly that type,” he replied, a smile directed at the young woman. “It’s somewhat understandable for some of them, being younger, but the older ones? They really should know better.” “Is there any chance you could simply collaborate with the smaller faction?” Rou suggested. It was a viable idea – they would undoubtedly achieve more if he were to work solely with those who genuinely understood the situation. However… while the meeting had certainly given Ye Shun a headache, the events that followed had disturbed him even more profoundly. His son and grandson had returned with their own separate reports; he had dispatched them into the Azure Alliance to gather intelligence. Both had returned with disquieting news. His son reported swift consolidations, the reinforcement of borders… and deeper shifts occurring within. They had heard about the Young Master of the Silent Rain Sect being recognized for actions taken on the Stone Fist Sect’s territory. Initially, they had dismissed it as mere words, some minor achievement that Cai Xiulan could cite as a success. His son had engaged with the rank-and-file members of the Sects, individuals who would be the first to react to any perceived slight. He offered drinks and subtly probed for the expected cracks of animosity. Instead, these two Sects, notorious for their intense mutual animosity… had surprisingly little negative to say about each other. The casual remarks about desiring to engage in combat and eliminate the other Sect’s disciples were absent. Expressions of contempt had largely been replaced by neutrality… or even favorable commentary. The Stone Fist Sect appeared impressed by Zhuan Yimu’s courage; and the Silent Rain Sect, by their former adversary’s integrity, remaining steadfast to his oath and refraining from acting on millennia of hatred when the future of his foe lay within his grasp. It was evident that some animosity still lingered, but it manifested as mere fissures rather than gaping chasms. And this change was not isolated to them. Any maneuver intended to incite conflict between these enemies would require meticulous planning. Yet, it was his grandson’s findings that truly sowed seeds of doubt within him. His grandson… seemed rather enthralled by the entire affair. He spoke positively of the numerous disciples from various Sects, and even unaffiliated cultivators, training together. He mentioned the diverse methods the Alliance was implementing for resource acquisition and distribution… but more significantly, he spoke of Rags. Cai Xiulan’s intelligence master, who had guided his son through his facilities, had described Rags as being instrumental in coordinating the entire Alliance, holding frequent consultations with the Grand Marshal. His grandson, who had always possessed an interest in such clandestine matters, found it beneficial for an independent cultivator to remain informed. But when his grandson expressed a desire to join… Rags had offered a knowing wink before escorting him to the back for a “special tour.” The description of the room his grandson provided sent a chill down Ye Shun’s spine.

A colossal map, densely packed with markers and annotations detailing cultivator locations, sect resources, Spirit Beast sightings, and rows upon rows of transmission stones, occupied the room. These stones were linked to every sect, ensuring immediate responses and resource dispatch upon receiving reports.

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His grandson had been utterly amazed by the depth of information Rags possessed.

Ye Shun, equally stunned, quickly grasped that all the current strategies discussed by the disgruntled independents were utterly futile.

"...no, I don't believe even collaborating with those who possess expertise would lead to victory. Our manpower would be far too limited." This was the unfortunate reality. The disciples, unlike the elders, were escalating in number at an astonishing rate. Their sheer numbers necessitated ambushing cultivators of comparable power, rather than those in the First or Second Stage of the Initiate's Realm. Not to mention the necessity of giving Cai Xiulan a wide berth. The Spiritual Realm... she could single-handedly dismantle the entire conspiracy. It wouldn't even constitute a battle.

They might manage one or two successful strikes. However, if the level of command and coordination that Rags had casually demonstrated were deployed against them, failure was inevitable. Should even one individual be captured and divulge information in a bid for self-preservation, the entire conspiracy would be uncovered and annihilated. They were Independents. Most were fair-weather allies at best. The caliber of planning and coordination required to confront this formidable entity was currently beyond the capabilities of Ye Shun's remaining associates.

It could have been a mere bluff, an attempt to project strength to entice recruitment. Yet, it seemed excessive for securing the allegiance of a single, obscure Independent. While his grandson observed, individuals had been updating the map in real-time. In one instance, a contingent from the Blazing Swords sect was dispatched to quell banditry.

A contingent that his son had personally witnessed departing.

Rags was demonstrably the most perilous of Cai Xiulan’s operatives, even more so than Rou Tigu. To wield such comprehensive information and hold the ear of the Grand Marshal?

Furthermore, he was an Independent himself—common knowledge. The man had apparently caught Cai Xiulan’s attention through sheer competence, having risen from being an illiterate gangster in Grass Sea City to possessing a cultivation level surpassing Ye Shun's own.

He was acquiring resources and advancing. Clearly, he held both power and influence.

Yet, this very fact was profoundly irritating. Rags had submitted to this new organization and was now reaping its benefits. He was subordinate to the sects. In Ye Shun’s view, he could no longer be considered an Independent.

Still, he possessed everything Ye Shun desired, achieved in a drastically shorter timeframe.

And therein lay the core issue. It was the reason he had sought solace at his preferred bar to clear his head... and how he found himself conversing with this young couple.

He could discern a viable path forward. It simply demanded his submission... a prospect he had no intention of embracing.

"Have you ever engaged in hunting, young man? Have you wandered the wilds on your own terms, moving freely and taking sustenance from cunning beasts?" Ye Shun inquired.

"I have," Rou responded. "To roam the wilderness and witness its magnificence is among the greatest boons a person can experience."

"What would you do if the hunting grounds you frequented were suddenly rendered inaccessible? If affluent individuals, whose fortunes were inherited rather than earned, blocked off those lands, installing guards along the perimeters to deny access?"

"I imagine I would be quite displeased," Rou replied drily. Ye Shun chuckled again.

"They possess dominion from one horizon to the other. Now, whenever you wish to hunt, you must humble yourself before the Young Master and implore his permission even for a rabbit. Or perhaps, if you join his ranks and assist in barring others, you might secure a meager share when they graciously permit it," Ye Shun stated with bitterness.

Liling appeared uncertain of his point, but Rou? Rou nodded solemnly. Ye Shun realized that Rou was a man of rugged disposition. He observed callouses on Rou's fingers and a flicker in his green eyes—the glint of a survivor, capable of thriving in the wild without any backing. Here stood a wolf, well-fed and taut with muscle, yet still recalling the harsh, hungry winters.

"I comprehend. So, you feel compelled to join an organization, surrendering your freedom simply to procure food? And their conditions are objectionable?" Rou inquired.

Ye Shun reflected on his grandson. On the interest displayed. On the experience to be gained by sparring extensively with the younger generation. He didn't object to bowing his head quite so much, as there were definite advantages for him.

However, Ye Shun was old. Old and entrenched in his ways, he acknowledged. He had no Master but himself.

"To me, they are," Ye Shun affirmed.

“Then, if some place is unbearable… then you either fight to change it, or you leave,” Rou stated plainly. His voice carried an unusual weight, a genuine truth drawn from his own experiences. It lent him an aura… as if he were more than a mere mortal addressing someone he perceived as an elder.

“Which did you choose?” Ye Shun inquired, observing the young man who exuded such self-assurance. He was clearly a vibrant youth, and with his imposing physique, he likely had easily overcome any mortal who dared oppose him.

“The second,” Rou admitted without hesitation, and Ye Shun was taken aback.

“You?” he questioned, a part of Ye Shun’s very soul resisting the notion, yet he found himself intrigued by the unfolding narrative.

“I possessed insufficient power to alter circumstances; only suffering and humiliation awaited me. Thus, I departed. I left the city with naught but what I could carry. My journey spanned a considerable time across the provinces. I ventured away from coveted locales, towards a desolate tract of land deemed worthless by all others. And now, it is universally hailed as the most beautiful place imaginable,” Rou recounted.

“…from which province did you depart?”

“Raging Waterfall Gorge,” was the concise reply.

This mortal had traversed more of the Empire than Ye Shun himself. Ye Shun had never ventured beyond the Azure Hills. He meticulously examined the man’s attire. Though simple, the garments were crafted with exceptional skill. Both Rou and his wife were adorned in fabrics with thread counts rivaling Ye Shun’s most exquisite robes, each stitch perfectly placed.

His gaze drifted to the sharp, discerning eyes of Rou’s wife. An undeniable intelligence resided within them, far from any naive credulity.

…they had offered assistance because they themselves had once known destitution. They had spoken to those down on their luck and extended a helping hand, likely because they themselves had once been the recipients of such aid. It was still a rather naive act, and yet, the man clearly possessed ample wealth to provide food and drink.

“Is this place you wish to hunt in merely comfortable? Is it the path you desire simply because it is familiar, or do you aspire to take a daring leap, venturing beyond the boundaries they have defined, into uncharted territories unknown to them?” Rou posed the question.

Ye Shun remained silent, absorbing the young mortal’s pronouncements. He was correct. Ye Shun faced three distinct options. He could submit. He could confront this Azure Alliance, hoping for its dissolution without falling prey to individuals who were undoubtedly more formidable than those who had confronted his grandson.

Or, he could abscond. He could rely on his own capabilities, as he always had. He could brave the perilous unknown and carve out a new destiny for himself.

He had grown complacent, indolent, and overly comfortable under the contract with the Wu Clan. Paradoxically, his cultivation progress had lagged behind these impetuous youths who charged recklessly forward.

…perhaps that vixen-like demoness had been an instrument of fate. Or perhaps it was a severe trial ordained by the heavens, a consequence of indulgence when he should have been focused on his pursuits.

Each of the three paths was fraught with inherent risks, and only one could be chosen.

“…I thank you for your company. You have given this old man considerable food for thought,” Ye Shun conveyed.

When the bill arrived, Ye Shun settled the entirety of it. He then proceeded back to his manor, his mind occupied with contemplation.

Three paths lay before him. And yet, by the time he arrived home, two of them had already been decisively rejected.

===========================

We observed the old man’s departure.

“Huh, not exactly the way I envisioned spending my evening,” I mused aloud.

“I’m more astonished that you actually offered him counsel,” Meimei remarked. “And that he genuinely seemed to be contemplating it.”

“Eh. If it prevents him from undertaking a foolish action, then it was worthwhile,” I replied with a shrug. “We’ll instruct Rags to keep a watchful eye on him, just in case, and his ‘foolish associates’. I am quite certain he was referring to the Azure Alliance.”

“You thought so too, didn’t you?” she inquired, before we both fell into a comfortable silence, taking sips of our drinks.

“This is a pleasant establishment,” Meimei commented after a brief pause.

“I know, right? The tranquil ambiance is exactly what I needed…”