Chapter Ninety-Six: Consolidating Power

To be honest, Yi Shen was dumbfounded by Zhu Qing’s words.

During this period, he had actually been thinking about matters concerning Zhu You and the others, but his ultimate decision was to gradually distance himself from them. After all, his abilities now far surpassed theirs. Even if he could bring Zhu You and Zhu Qing along to level up, it would undoubtedly be a troublesome affair. Now that Yi Shen had sufficient funds, anything dropped from monsters was simply dismantled for materials; he no longer needed assistants. In terms of resources, Zhu Qing and her sisters had little value to him. As for other aspects of value, Yi Shen felt he had no time to consider them.

One point weighed on his mind: with his identity as a black mage, enemies could surface at any moment. They might not be able to harm Yi Shen directly, but his mother was a weakness—an easy target. If Zhu You and the others were added, his vulnerabilities would only multiply. This was not a situation he wished to see.

He hadn’t expected Zhu Qing to bring up the matter so directly at the dinner table, nor to speak so frankly.

Yi Shen glanced at Zhu You and Zhu Ke, pondered for a moment, then replied, “Let me think about it.”

“Honestly, you shouldn’t underestimate yourself. You’re one of the most talented girls I’ve met. You don’t need to depend on anyone; you can live well on your own,” Yi Shen said to Zhu Qing.

“But I don’t have much time left, do I?” Zhu Qing laughed softly.

“Well, maybe you should ask your sister if she agrees.” Yi Shen was somewhat helpless.

Zhu Qing looked at Zhu You, whose gaze flickered evasively. “I’ll do as my sister says,” she murmured.

She had never been particularly assertive, having grown up under her sister’s shadow.

Zhu Qing then turned to Zhu Ke and said, “If Zhu Ke isn’t willing, we’ll drop it. I don’t really know what she thinks, but anyway, Zhu You’s heart is set on you.”

“Huh?” Zhu Ke was taken aback. “I’m fine with it, Yi…Yi Shen. He’s actually been very nice to me. I’m happy to help out at his shop.” She nodded, cheeks flushed.

Working at Yi Shen’s shop had been a source of joy for her these past few days.

“Let’s eat first,” Yi Shen said. He had considered these matters before, but now that he faced them directly, he wasn’t sure whether it was a blessing or a burden.

The rest of the meal was eaten in silence. Zhu Qing quietly placed food on Yi Shen’s plate; he did not resist. Zhu You and Zhu Ke quietly ate, not daring to speak much.

That night, for Yi Shen and the three Zhu sisters, was another sleepless one.

Zhu Qing spent the evening talking with her sisters, sharing thoughts.

Yi Shen, on his side, remained in a state of hesitation.

Yet after two hours, Yi Shen gritted his teeth and made up his mind.

“What am I hesitating for? With strength like mine, isn’t it precisely to protect my family and let them enjoy life more? Can’t be strong and yet act cowardly at the end.”

“At worst, find some time to help them level up. Once Peach Blossom Manor stabilizes, there shouldn’t be many people looking for trouble.”

Yi Shen would always prioritize his own affairs; strength was the ultimate guarantee. But to care a little for these girls was not unreasonable. Zhu Qing’s words had been honest; it was impossible for Yi Shen not to be moved by the three girls.

Of course, his primary concern remained the improvement of his own abilities.

Lately, materials in Jingmen Safe Zone had risen in price, but Yi Shen believed the major guilds still had plenty in stock. After the turmoil in Peach Blossom Manor, the area still retained great strength. The other guilds were even better prepared. As for those who temporarily monopolized materials or held out for higher prices, Yi Shen was considering ways to extract their supplies.

He planned to discuss this with Zhanyu and the others. If they weren’t willing to act, he would do it himself. Yi Shen was curious to see just how deep the waters of Jingmen Safe Zone were.

The second matter was the defense lines of Jingmen Safe Zone. With the new defensive perimeter, the guilds faced much less pressure, but the number of monsters hadn’t decreased—they could charge toward the city at any time.

Yi Shen had promised Zhanyu to help with city defense, and he would certainly contribute, but his focus was not on defense but offense. With his mobility, he could perfectly deal with the beasts from Moonlight Land and obtain Moonlight Essence along the way.

Third was the issue of Blood Pills. From Zhanyu’s reaction, it seemed these were more complicated than they appeared. Yi Shen needed to have a deep conversation with Zhanyu, especially to clarify matters surrounding his father.

Fourth, Yi Shen wanted to find time to explore the Moonlight Land’s secret realm. Several mirror entities had appeared, including Uncle Zhao’s, which deeply worried Yi Shen about his father’s safety. He had a premonition that his father might already have met a tragic end. With so many monster attacks, Yi Shen could barely fend them off with unlimited teleportation; his father, alone, might not have survived.

But he needed proof—alive or dead, he had to find out.

Fifth, the integration of forces in Peach Blossom Manor. With Anqing dead and Zhanyu’s support, Yi Shen felt this should not be too difficult.

Sixth, his mother’s safety and the matter of the three sisters. For the moment, security within Peach Blossom Manor was sufficient, so there was no special concern. As for the sisters, if Yi Shen were to accept them, it would be inappropriate for them to continue living in the shabby alleys of the southern city. He owned several properties; arranging a place for them would not be hard, and it would allow him to be closer and respond more quickly in case of trouble.

Seventh, Yi Shen was considering studying “formations.” Formations were a special kind of energy field, mainly used for detection and defense. It was said that some northern cities had already begun constructing city-wide defensive arrays.

There were two types of formations: those learned as a secondary profession, and those of the rare Formation Master class. Yi Shen wasn’t sure if he could acquire Formation Master skills, but he could try learning them as a secondary profession, which would better protect his family.

There were other concerns: dealing with the blacklist troublemakers at his shop, continuing to collect skill books, advancing his Mage’s Heart, and many other issues he hadn’t yet anticipated, requiring him to act on the fly.

With so many matters mixed together, Yi Shen suddenly felt the weight of responsibility on his shoulders.

Time flew by, and another day passed in the blink of an eye.

Last night, the beasts did not attack, allowing the defense staff at Jingmen Safe Zone to breathe easier.

Yi Shen began to implement his plans step by step. He was now living with his mother near the villa at Peach Blossom Manor’s guild headquarters—a guild property, though many houses nearby had already been vacated.

He did not tell his mother about sheltering the girls; instead, he claimed that some friends from his shop needed a place to stay. The city was becoming unsafe, with many explorers leaving and inevitable conflicts arising.

So, the next morning, Yi Shen had the three Zhu sisters move in, along with their mother. The location was closer to the central street and his shop, making it easier for Zhu Qing to commute.

Zhanyu’s progress was also much faster than Yi Shen had expected.

By noon the second day, Zhanyu had already sent him a message.

(End of Chapter)