Chapter Thirty-Eight: The Beginning of Turmoil!

“If Peach Blossom Nook were to throw in its lot with Jingbei Industries, it would no longer be called Peach Blossom Nook.”

“I’m here today because I want to continue our cooperation. Even if it weren’t you, even if Zhao Weimin were here, I’d have come all the same.”

“These past few years, Jingbei Industries has already monopolized resources in several sectors, constantly suppressing rival businesses. If I remember correctly, Peach Blossom Nook’s operations have been restricted everywhere, haven’t they? Their people are in every administrative district and the Patrol Division, and the Jingmen Safe Zone is nearly under their sole control. If Zhao Weimin dies, it’s almost certain that at least half of Peach Blossom Nook will be swallowed up.”

“This project to establish a new district may look on the surface like a joint venture between the major guilds, but in reality, Jingbei Industries intends to take the lion’s share. You know the ins and outs as well as I do—once they develop the new district and shift the safe zone’s center of gravity, they’ll be the absolute ruler.”

“What are you suggesting?” An Qing understood there was a deeper meaning behind her words.

“Exactly as I said.” Jiang Jinying continued, “I’ll arrange for people to spread the word that Jingbei Industries is the true mastermind behind this incident. There are always those who resent them.”

“Why not communicate more within Peach Blossom Nook? Surely someone will take the fall for you.”

The woman spread her hands. This matter was An Qing’s responsibility from the start. She had only intended to use his position in Peach Blossom Nook to gain some benefits, but had not expected him to directly set up the president, costing him his life—a man who had fought side by side with him for years. It was remarkable how ruthlessly he could act.

After hearing her words, An Qing fell silent, lost in contemplation, weighing the feasibility of her proposal.

When the Bloodslaughter Guild was first founded, everyone thought it was just a joke—an immature name, no promising recruits, relying only on picking up members at the Gate of Dimensions. How could they amount to anything? Yet now, they had grown influential enough to shake the three great guilds. According to Jiang Jinying, they even aspired to challenge the reigning kingpins.

“But I don’t know if Yi Qinfeng is dead. If he escaped the secret realm, I’ll be in serious trouble. Besides, his wife and child have vanished. I have no way to counter him,” An Qing said.

He had actually sent people to stake out Yi Shen’s home, but they were too late—the house was already empty.

So many things had happened so suddenly lately, making it impossible to keep track of everything. If he had planned this out in advance, he would have arranged everything before making his move.

“His child is missing, probably already left Jingmen, but I’ve found his wife—she’s at the Bloodslaughter Guild’s headquarters.”

“Of course, don’t even think about making a move on her. You know as well as I do how valuable a high-level priest is—she’s worth far more than you.”

The woman said, “So you really have no retreat. If she speaks, she could sway half the people in Peach Blossom Nook. All you can do now is listen to me, stir up conflict between Peach Blossom Nook and Jingbei Industries, muddy the waters.”

“Don’t worry, there will be people designated to cooperate with you. All you need to do is guide things in your capacity as president. Jingbei Industries will have insiders working with you, too,” Jiang Jinying continued to entice him.

After a long silence, An Qing finally nodded.

This time, some vampires in Jingbei Industries had simply gone too far—not even waiting for the dust to settle before carving up Peach Blossom Nook’s spoils. Many already resented them, and with Peach Blossom Nook so fragmented, if he could redirect hostility toward Jingbei Industries, it might unite the members and give him more leverage in negotiations.

Jiang Jinying and An Qing spoke at length. Though she held little respect for him, with An Qing as Peach Blossom Nook’s president, there was no better candidate.

Once everything was settled, Jiang Jinying slipped from the meeting room as quietly as she had come, as if she had never been there at all.

...

Shortly after Jiang Jinying’s departure, strange posts began appearing on the Jingmen Safe Zone’s internal forums—some new, some resurrected from obscurity. There were analyses of the current situation, complaints about the state of affairs, and exposés on the Peach Blossom Nook Guild.

Without exception, these posts quickly rose to the top of the front page.

Two major media outlets even questioned why, for such a large guild as Peach Blossom Nook, no whistleblower had ever revealed inside scandals—were certain people silencing the public?

The subtle guidance of these posts all pointed to a single target: Jingbei Industries, the great guild established at the very inception of the Jingmen Safe Zone.

In truth, Jingbei Industries had made tremendous contributions to the safe zone’s founding, but as time passed and the older generation faded or withdrew from the stage, self-serving individuals rooted themselves within, amassing resources far beyond their due.

The most explosive post, “Clear Prices: Admission Fees for Jingmen Safe Zone’s Major Martial Academies Exposed,” tore away the last pretense. The divide between those living in comfort in the city center and those scraping by in the slums had always been vast. The admission scores for the martial academies were already high, and students from the city’s outer districts received fewer slots each year. The academies were meant to be arenas of fair competition, yet now, prices were openly listed—greasing the right palms would guarantee admission. The post pointed straight at certain mid-level managers in the guilds.

In response, Peach Blossom Nook Guild issued a statement, claiming that recent actions were forced by circumstances, promising to reform soon, and urging everyone to mourn President Zhao’s passing. They vowed to uphold their founding principles.

Within an hour, the public opinion campaign had exploded, poised to ignite an invisible war. Simultaneously, multiple conflicts flared up across the Jingmen Safe Zone for the first time in ages, overwhelming the city’s Patrol Division.

In several secret realms, people received the news and began to act.

Some were independent adventurers, fed up with Jingbei Industries or the high cost of living, launching attacks. Others were members of Jingbei Industries, swaggering about, collecting protection money and secret realm fees, provoking further conflict.

Some could sense which way the wind was blowing; they realized that the brewing storm was finally about to erupt into the open. They grew nervous, thinking it best not to venture out for now.

Others sought to profit from the chaos—for crisis always brings with it opportunity.

Only Yi Shen remained unaware.

Soloing the secret realm, he knew nothing of the tumult outside.

He simply continued grinding experience in obscurity.

In fact, after slaying a rare elite monster, he even obtained a rather decent D-rank Ranger skill book.