Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8567 8567: Giving up _1

The retreat was complete. Every member of the Ghost Shadow group had fallen back. While they could have stood their ground, Zhao Hai had commanded this withdrawal for one critical purpose: to signal to the various sects that they lacked the strength to engage in open conflict. It was a calculated display of humility, shedding any perception of arrogance to minimize their profile.

This sudden disappearance caught the attention of the major sects. Their clandestine surveillance had become impossible; it was as if the Ghost Shadow group had vanished into thin air. These major powers were left to conclude that their targets had indeed fled the stage.

Of course, this strategic retreat was also driven by turmoil elsewhere. The commercial house managed by the Lady Boss had hit a snag. They had been facilitating a trade of faithful slaves with smaller sects, a venture that had already yielded two successful transactions and a decent number of subordinates for Zhao Hai. However, he had always been wary of the risks. Given their identity as the Ghostwind Bandits, any discovery of these operations by a major power—especially the Dark Ghost Sect—would trigger a lethal response.

Zhao Hai’s instincts proved correct. After completing the third transaction, the Lady Boss sensed something amiss. It wasn’t just the slave trade coming under scrutiny; their legitimate trading front was being probed as well. Acting on intuition, she made the swift decision to abandon all storefronts and pull her entire staff back into the shadows.

The execution was immediate. Shops were shuttered and personnel recalled. Because these bases were mere logistics hubs, no outsider could trace the connections back to the Lady Boss herself.

Yet, disaster struck. The moment the staff returned to their stronghold, it was besieged by the Dark Ghost Sect. The sect launched a sudden, overwhelming assault on this facility situated in the outer market of the Corpse Devil Sect. Everyone present was slaughtered, and the sect began a systematic hunt. Their investigation was chillingly precise, rapidly closing in on the central hub of the trading house.

Sensing the encroaching danger, the Lady Boss reported the situation to Zhao Hai while simultaneously initiating an internal probe. She suspected a high-ranking traitor had been bribed to leak their secrets to the Dark Ghost Sect.

After reviewing the report, Zhao Hai sank into contemplation. He had accounted for the possibility of betrayal—large sects offered more status than the hidden life of a Ghostwind Bandit—but the audacity of the perpetrator was staggering. He had placed restrictive spells on those he trusted; if someone had actually betrayed him, their courage was truly immense.

This betrayal forced Zhao Hai’s hand in recalling the Ghost Shadow group. He needed to lie low until the immediate danger subsided and he could resolve the internal rot within the trading network. Withdrawing them for now was the safest course of action.

The trading firm had been a vital asset, specifically designed to infiltrate various sects. By acquiring disciples as informants, they had gained access to high-level intelligence that would otherwise remain unreachable.

However, once the Dark Ghost Sect initiated their purge, they dragged other sects into the fray. Every organization began scrutinizing itself, followed by a coordinated, ruthless crackdown on all suspected Ghostwind Bandit activity. Even the Yin Yang Sect joined the hunt—a development that took Zhao Hai by surprise.

Observers throughout the blood sea realm were bewildered. The focus of the major sects had shifted abruptly from the Ghost Shadow group to the Ghostwind Bandits, and their resolve seemed unyielding. The shifting winds of the political landscape moved with frightening speed.

Unlike the common folk, Zhao Hai understood the situation perfectly. The sects had never abandoned the goal of eradicating the Ghostwind Bandits; they had merely been feigning indifference. They had been playing a long game, staying relaxed on the surface while tightening their grip in silence, constantly monitoring for any weakness to strike the final blow.

The Lady Boss had inadvertently provided the spark. The major sects interpreted the clues they found as their long-awaited opening. Thankfully, they had not yet established a link to Zhu Yong’s side, preventing a wider catastrophe.

Zhu Yong’s network was primarily composed of rogue cultivators, a segment usually beneath the notice of the major sects. This oversight remained their greatest tactical advantage.

Zhao Hai commanded the Lady Boss to relocate immediately. Despite her discretion, her safety could not be guaranteed. By doing so, he lost his entire established information network, essentially burning every bridge she had built. For her protection, Zhao Hai pulled her directly into the Origin Space.

As it turned out, Zhao Hai’s move was just in time. Shortly after she vanished, her previous hideout was swarmed. Everyone left behind was captured, effectively gutting her intelligence apparatus. It was a crushing blow to their operations.

In his study, Zhao Hai convened with Laura, Chang Jun, and the Lady Boss. The latter, still in her familiar stout form, sat with fury in her eyes, nursing the loss of her network. The young paparazzo remained quiet, lingering in the shadows behind her.

Zhao Hai offered a reassuring smile. "Do not fret, Lady Boss. This is a minor setback born of my own hubris. We grew too fast, and I underestimated the nine great sects. They have survived in this blood sea realm for eons for a reason. They keep hidden cards up their sleeves, and our arrogance had to be paid for in blood. Consider this a lesson learned."

The Lady Boss spoke in a gravelly tone, "It is my fault as well. We expanded too aggressively with new recruits. I failed to realize that the sects would plant moles among them. They have ways of bypassing our restrictions that we were too slow to anticipate. We must be far more cautious moving forward."

Zhao Hai nodded, turning his gaze to Laura. "Laura, what is your assessment? How should we proceed?" He wanted his wives and inner circle to vocalize their analysis, reinforcing their authority and presence within the group.

Laura, understanding his intent, spoke with gravity. "I believe we must prioritize discretion. While their focus is currently elsewhere, we must conduct a clean sweep of Zhu Yong’s operations to head off any future vulnerabilities. We cannot allow ourselves to be exposed. As for the Lady Boss, we must sacrifice her current assets for now. Once the political turbulence dies down, we can slowly rebuild. The network isn't entirely severed, as only she knows the true structure of it. We must not, however, seek immediate revenge. The sects are baiting us; their purge is a trap intended to force us into the open. If we strike now, we risk them uncovering our true strength or our secret vessels. We must absorb this insult and wait for a better moment."

The room went quiet as everyone digested the reality of the situation. The thirst for retaliation was real, but Laura’s logic was undeniable; falling into the enemy’s trap would be a fatal error.

Zhao Hai agreed, "Laura is correct. We cannot risk a confrontation now. If we expose ourselves, the tranquility of our current existence will vanish. For now, we wait. Zhu Yong, I am tasking you with an immediate, deep internal security sweep. Ensure it is done in total secrecy. Do not leave a single trace for the sects to follow."