—Victory, after all, brooks no substitute.
As night descended, word of East Bamboo’s change of ownership spread among the villagers.
Yet, surprisingly, no one fled under the cloak of darkness.
Life continued as it always had, seemingly undisturbed.
Many among them had endured the ravages of war, just as the East Bamboo Immortal had recounted.
A significant number were former citizens of Can Shang Star, having sought refuge in East Bamboo following the White Crane Spreads Wings offensive.
The Polaris Star had once laid waste to their homes.
Now, the Polaris Star had reappeared, this time within their new sanctuary.
Perhaps it was resignation to fate, or perhaps a glimmer of hope, that kept them from fleeing.
Regardless, the Polaris Star showed no intention of harming them.
More than a decade had passed since the end of the Great World War.
Reconstruction efforts were underway everywhere, a stark testament to the nature of war itself.
Before its conclusion, it wrought indiscriminate destruction, only to be followed by a relentless, all-consuming drive to rebuild.
Whatever allegiances the local populace may have held in the past—whether they had opposed the Polaris Star or served Can Shang Star—no longer mattered.
The crucial aspect was the future, not the bygone days.
Under the administration of the Academy of Sciences, they would embark on new lives.
East Bamboo was destined for extensive construction over the next decade, perhaps even several.
Such ambitious undertakings would require a vast workforce, and while the Polaris Star might be known for its ruthlessness, it would not indiscriminately slaughter everyone it encountered.
As for the East Bamboo Immortal…
She had been driven away.
For Director Ji, this outcome was hardly a cause for boasting; rather, it represented the most favorable resolution possible.
He had never intended to harm the East Bamboo Immortal.
Disabling Yin Cunxin’s martial arts was merely a minor punitive measure, designed to ensure the East Bamboo Immortal would not renege on their agreement and would concede defeat gracefully.
Though it was regrettable that both the East Bamboo Immortal and Yin Cunxin had their martial arts crippled, their lifelong cultivation rendered moot, the East Bamboo Immortal’s martial prowess had already reached a bottleneck.
Her understanding of ‘hardness and softness’ had, in fact, strayed onto a misguided path.
Bound by her concern for East Bamboo’s people, she had been unwilling to cripple her own cultivation and start anew.
Now, with her powers completely lost, should she choose to resume her martial arts training in the future, she would undoubtedly reflect on her past deficiencies, steer clear of her former errors, and, in doing so, break through her previous limitations to achieve unprecedented heights in martial cultivation.
Logically, to eliminate a potential future threat with such inherent uncertainty, he should have pursued the East Bamboo Immortal to her absolute end.
Yet, in the end, he refrained.
He firmly believed that after her powers were abolished, the East Bamboo Immortal would come to terms with everything.
Her ideals and actions, fighting for the people, were ultimately her own wishful thinking.
Whether it was she or the Polaris Star protecting East Bamboo held no real significance, as both were fundamentally similar, save for the fact that the Polaris Star could accomplish it with greater efficacy.
If East Bamboo had been without this ‘Immortal,’ would its people truly have ceased to live?
Throughout history, ruling dynasties had risen and fallen countless times, yet the populace always endured, did they not?
If a faction were to vehemently resist such changes, would it not ultimately lead to nothing but increased casualties?
As times progressed and the world evolved, the advance of the Academy of Sciences was an unstoppable force.
He hoped that from now on, she would fight for herself, and no longer oppose the Academy of Sciences—be it the Polaris Star or the Southern Dipper Star.
For her, protecting the common people was not a sweet ‘mission,’ but rather a self-imposed ‘shackle.’
Director Ji had already dispatched Zhu Peiqi to send word; official personnel from the Polaris Star would soon arrive.
For now, all they could do was wait.
Scattered across the courtyard, the crowd murmured amongst themselves, occasionally glancing towards Director Ji.
However, their gazes would quickly dart away after a brief look, resuming their hushed conversations.
Only Le Sishu held court, engaging in animated discussions and constantly bantering with others.
He could walk normally today, though his internal injuries had not fully healed, preventing him from engaging in combat.
The others, however, were reluctant to converse with him at length.
Whenever he raised a few points, his interlocutors would simply close their mouths and steer clear, lest he continue his endless arguments.
Despite the Polaris Star’s resounding victory today, a heavy air hung over everyone.
They felt an inexplicable strangeness pervading their very beings.
“Director Ji, your foresight is truly divine!” Yu Wusheng approached Director Ji, speaking in a low voice.
“So you had it all planned out from the very beginning, laying the groundwork since you penned that letter…”
“Our victory owes entirely to Daoist Master Chuanyun’s ‘Thousand Rolling Waves of Cloud Sea’ technique.
“What has it to do with me? How can you speak of divine foresight?”
Director Ji looked at Yu Wusheng, a smile still gracing his lips.
“In truth, anyone in my position would have achieved the same result…”
Yu Wusheng lowered his voice even further.
“Director Ji, why do you not claim this credit for yourself?”
“Such accolades are not something I require.”
Listening to Director Ji’s words, Yu Wusheng merely smiled, offering no further comment.
He still could not fathom how the East Bamboo Immortal had been defeated by a single punch from Chuanyun.
Yin Cunxin’s words had sparked a thought, yet based on his assessment of the East Bamboo Immortal, her protective divine art should have been potent enough to ward off internal poisons.
How Director Ji had managed to succeed remained an utter enigma to him.
One thing, however, was certain: this triumph was not solely Director Ji’s doing.
Ren Du of the Southern Dipper Star had undoubtedly played a part.
‘It seems Director Ji and Ren Du share an unusually close relationship in private…’
Yu Wusheng’s conclusion was based on a ‘glance.’
When the East Bamboo Immortal was injured, everyone, himself included, was utterly astonished.
Yet, among the Southern Dipper Star contingent, only Ren Du had shown not the slightest surprise.
Yu Wusheng would never believe that Ren Du had not been involved.
Although Director Ji was nearby, Yu Wusheng dared not press for more information.
This might well be Director Ji’s ultimate stratagem to counter individuals like them, the Jianghu figures.
He would never divulge it, and any further questions would undoubtedly arouse his suspicion.
Director Ji cast a swift glance at Mr. Yu, intuiting his thoughts.
‘Without Ren Du, my plan would have been difficult to execute successfully.’
‘It’s like a play, requiring not just someone to play the villain, but also someone to play the hero…’
To ensure Ren Du withdrew from the conflict over East Bamboo, he had offered the Southern Dipper Star sufficient incentives.
Ren Du himself might have been unwilling to participate in his scheme, but as long as the interests of the Southern Dipper Star were involved, he would join without hesitation, no matter how reluctant he was.
This was especially true for a plan that would bring significant benefits to the Southern Dipper Star through his mere assistance.
‘As long as the benefits are substantial enough, there is nothing that cannot be negotiated.’
‘If something cannot be negotiated, it simply means the benefits offered are insufficient…’
He directed his gaze towards the distant mountains.
Occupying East Bamboo represented a significant victory for the Polaris Star.
The fact that Ren Du had brought only a few individuals to East Bamboo precisely indicated the Southern Dipper Star’s lack of interest in the region.
Their attention remained fixed on Xuanji Star, which posed a substantial threat to the Southern Dipper Star’s northern border.
East Bamboo’s geographical location posed no threat to the Southern Dipper Star, but for the Gouchen Star Academy of Sciences, it was a different matter.
It was akin to a nail embedded beneath their opponent’s foot: inconspicuous in normal times, yet ready to pierce and catch them off guard at the slightest disturbance.
With his hands casually tucked into his pockets, Director Ji strolled into the courtyard and engaged in light conversation with the crowd.
He acknowledged that while they had been defeated by the East Bamboo Immortal during this expedition to East Bamboo, it was undeniable that everyone had contributed significantly, and the promised rewards would not be diminished in the slightest.
He distinctly perceived that these Jianghu figures, though nodding profusely, were subtly shifting their attitudes towards him internally.
Their boisterous discussions ceased, as did their critical remarks; instead, a palpable sense of awe and restraint settled upon them.
This was precisely the effect Director Ji had intended.
During the Great World War, the Polaris Star had indeed suffered some losses, leading many to perceive it as a spent force, a fragile paper house on the verge of collapse.
Even these Jianghu figures had been unwilling to pledge their loyalty to the Polaris Star.
However, the events of today had effectively silenced their doubts, making them realize that even if the Polaris Star was, in their eyes, a spent arrow, dealing with a few Jianghu figures like themselves was utterly effortless.
Was the East Bamboo Immortal not powerful? She was, indeed; so many Jianghu figures were no match for her.
Yet, in the end, had she not still fallen before the might of the Polaris Star?
To disregard them now, allowing them to be swayed and recruited by the Southern Dipper Star, would be the true sign of the Polaris Star’s decline.
Finally, Director Ji approached He Shouwú, observing Ma Yan’s wound as he inquired,
“Mr. He, how is he?”
He Shouwú did not immediately reply.
Only after thoroughly examining Ma Yan’s wound did he respond.
“He is unharmed.”
He rose to collect items from his medicine chest, with Director Ji following behind him, saying,
“Any injuries sustained on this journey were entirely reliant on your meticulous treatment, Mr. He.
“My sincere gratitude.”
He Shouwú was not skilled in martial arts, so there had been no intention for him to participate in the contest from the outset.
He had merely accompanied the group to provide medical assistance, preventing any mishaps during the competition.
As Director Ji had predicted, Xiao Zhang, Le Sishu, and Ma Yan had all sustained injuries.
Without He Shouwú’s presence, many more complications would have arisen.
Thus, Director Ji would not renege on the benefits he had previously promised him.
He Shouwú’s desires were simply a few rare medicinal herbs and some lost ancient prescriptions, none of which posed a challenge for the Polaris Star.
“My thanks, Director Ji.”
He Shouwú cupped his hands in a gesture of thanks to Director Ji, a faint trace of bewilderment subtly appearing in his expression.
“Director Ji… I overheard a few things about today’s martial arts contest.
“For Daoist Master Chuanyun to effortlessly defeat the East Bamboo Immortal, you must have contributed significantly, wouldn’t you say?”
“Mr. He, what leads you to such a conclusion?”
He Shouwú subtly shook his head, then walked over to the ground nearby.
He plucked a chicken leg from Tian Qi’s hands, who was engrossed in gnawing on a chicken neck and paid no mind to the missing limb.
“It begins with this chicken leg.”
He Shouwú held the chicken leg before Director Ji, who couldn’t help but smile.
“Mr. He, this chicken leg appears crispy on the outside and tender within, rich in color, aroma, and flavor.
“I wonder what profound meaning it holds.”
“Director Ji, the gravy on this roasted chicken contains traces of ‘Flavor Enhancing Grass’ powder.”
Director Ji took a deep sniff, involuntarily giving a thumbs-up.
“Mmm! Truly fragrant.”
He Shouwú knew at a glance that Director Ji’s expression was feigned, a clear indication that he was unwilling to reveal his secrets.
Not wishing to press him, He Shouwú turned, returned the chicken leg to Tian Qi, and continued,
“Given the East Bamboo Immortal’s level of cultivation, I doubt even direct contact with potent poisons would inflict any substantial harm upon her…”
“Mr. He, to my knowledge, ‘Flavor Enhancing Grass’ is not poisonous.
“Its roots, when ground into powder, can be used as a seasoning, and a small amount added to cooking can stimulate the appetite.
“There is nothing wrong with adding it to a chicken leg.”
Director Ji smiled and took a seat nearby, while He Shouwú pressed on.
“Unless, that is, the poison had not yet fully formed at the time of her contact…”
Director Ji regarded him with a cool gaze, his smile gradually fading.
“Director Ji, I have no intention of opposing you.
“I merely wish to examine your medicinal prescription…”
“Many years ago, I once chanced upon an exceedingly rare application involving ‘Flavor Enhancing Grass,’ ‘Aromatic Flora Tree,’ and ‘Moistening Stone’…”