79: intelligence

That night, as the lanterns were first lit in West Lake City, Qin Feng sat alone in a quiet room within the Hundred Flowers Villa. Outside the window, the lake shimmered under the moonlight; inside, the candlelight flickered. He needed to organize the chaotic information he had gathered during the day to find a direction for breaking the deadlock.

As the zi hour approached, he sank his consciousness into his mind.

【Daily Intelligence Refreshed】

A light screen emerged, with three pieces of intelligence clearly listed. Each one was like a key, attempting to unlock the shackles trapping the Hundred Flowers Palace branch.

【yellow intelligence: The Green Robe Tower (a specialized commission organization) recently received a massive commission from the Cao Gang, requesting continued cooperation in suppressing the Hundred Flowers Palace branch. The goal is to completely drive the Hundred Flowers Palace forces out of West Lake City. Once successful, the Hundred Flowers Palace's industries will be 'negotiated' and split between the Cao Gang and the Green Robe Tower. The Tower Master of the Green Robe Tower has doubts about the Cao Gang's integrity but has not yet found a reason to refuse.】

【blue intelligence: Jin Wanguan, the president of the Four Seas Merchant Guild, has been overwhelmed recently. Three of his cargo ships fully loaded with valuable goods sank in nearby waters due to storms, resulting in heavy losses. His only son, Jin Buhuan, not only suffers from 'Yin Marrow Cold Poison' but is also a profligate dandy who recently incurred a massive debt at a casino. Meanwhile, his main competitor in the neighboring city, 'Longchang House,' is taking the opportunity to squeeze his industries. The Four Seas Merchant Guild's cash flow is on the brink of collapse and is in a precarious state.】

【blue intelligence: Su Xiaoxiao, the proprietress of the Wonderful Sound Workshop, has a true background as the eyes and ears of the 'Phoenix Soaring Pavilion' under the current Empress Dowager, stationed in West Lake City. She is primarily responsible for monitoring movements in the Southeast Region, gathering intelligence, and maintaining relationships with the literati and gentry of Jiangnan. Generally, she does not directly participate in local power struggles.】

These three pieces of intelligence, combined with the information provided by Branch Master Su Yuetang during the day, were like scattered puzzle pieces instantly connected, revealing a clear picture before Qin Feng's eyes!

“So that's how it is!” A flash of realization crossed Qin Feng's eyes. All clues pointed to the same source—the Cao Gang!

· The Green Robe Tower is not an active enemy of the Hundred Flowers Palace; they were hired by the Cao Gang! Suppressing the Hundred Flowers Palace is a conspiracy launched by the Cao Gang to annex its industries. The Green Robe Tower is more like a borrowed blade; though sharp, the one holding the blade is the Cao Gang. Tower Master Leng Yue's doubts likely stem from a fear of the Cao Gang burning bridges after the job is done. This means that if the root cause—the Cao Gang—can be dealt with, or if the Green Robe Tower is given a more tempting offer, this 'blade' could potentially be turned or even retracted.

· The predicament of the Four Seas Merchant Guild is far beyond imagination! Sunken cargo ships, a prodigal son, and competitors' pressure... under these multiple blows, this commercial giant is already teetering. Their previous commercial suppression of the Hundred Flowers Palace was likely a case of the Cao Gang taking advantage of their vulnerability, promising great profits or using threats to force them to act as a vanguard, attempting to tear a piece of meat from the Hundred Flowers Palace to cover their own losses. Jin Wanguan is probably desperate enough to turn to anyone for help right now.

· The background of the Wonderful Sound Workshop is even more shocking; it is actually a branch of the 'Phoenix Soaring Pavilion' directly under the Empress Dowager! This means they are detached from worldly affairs and will not easily intervene in local struggles; their primary mission is stability and surveillance. However, because of this, if the Hundred Flowers Palace's plight affects the stability of West Lake City or touches the interests of the Phoenix Soaring Pavilion, their attitude might change. The key to befriending the Wonderful Sound Workshop lies not in ordinary exchanges of interest, but in how to align with their deep-seated needs for 'stability' and 'surveillance'.

The root cause lies with the Cao Gang!

The Cao Gang utilized the crisis of the Four Seas Merchant Guild to pull them into the fray to suppress the Hundred Flowers Palace together; meanwhile, they hired the Green Robe Tower to apply pressure from the side. The Wonderful Sound Workshop, due to its special status, remained neutral, which objectively condoned the Cao Gang's actions. Li Kui, the leader of the Cao Gang, wants to swallow the rich prize of the Hundred Flowers Palace in one go to further strengthen himself and dominate West Lake City!

Having figured all this out, Qin Feng did not feel relieved; instead, he felt even more pressure. The opponent was the powerful and deeply rooted local tyrant, the Cao Gang, and its leader Li Kui was a powerhouse at the Late Stage Martial King level! In a head-on conflict, the Hundred Flowers Palace branch had absolutely no chance of winning.

He must win through strategy!

His mind raced as a preliminary, bold plan began to take shape. This plan needed to be approached from several angles simultaneously:

1. Stabilize the Four Seas Merchant Guild: The Four Seas Merchant Guild is a key link in breaking the deadlock. They are not mortal enemies but 'fellow sufferers' used by the Cao Gang. Perhaps... he could try to contact Jin Wanguan? He wouldn't need to provide a massive amount of funds directly (which the Hundred Flowers Palace might not even have), but he could help solve some of his most pressing troubles, like... his son's illness? Or, provide some commercial information or channels that could help him stabilize his position? As long as Jin Wanguan sees a glimmer of hope to escape the Cao Gang's control and save himself, he would likely defect.

2. Divide the Green Robe Tower: The Green Robe Tower is an organization that works for money. If the Cao Gang can hire them, the Hundred Flowers Palace theoretically can too. Or, he could give the Green Robe Tower a reason to feel that continuing to help the Cao Gang is not worth the cost. For example, revealing the 'risk' that the Cao Gang might turn hostile afterward, or showcasing the strength of the Hundred Flowers Palace's headquarters and the potential for long-term cooperation? This would require contacting the mysterious Tower Master, Leng Yue.

3. Win over the Wonderful Sound Workshop: Since the Wonderful Sound Workshop represents the Empress Dowager's forces, maintaining the stability of West Lake City is their duty. If the Cao Gang's actions are about to trigger large-scale chaos and affect the prosperity and stability of West Lake City, they will no longer be able to sit idly by. Perhaps the Cao Gang's conspiracy and its potential consequences could be conveyed to Su Xiaoxiao's ears in an 'appropriate' manner.

4. Personal Strength: The foundation of all strategies is still strength. He must increase his cultivation as quickly as possible, at least to the point where he can maneuver and survive under a Martial King. Simultaneously, the strength of the Hundred Flowers Palace branch itself needs to be consolidated and unified.

His thoughts gradually became clear, but every step was filled with unknowns and risks.

Qin Feng took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart. He knew that starting tomorrow, he would begin to implement this plan step by step. This was no longer a simple Sect mission, but a gamble concerning life and death.

He sat back down cross-legged and began to circulate the Primordial Unity Qi Art. Internal Energy surged through his Meridians, and his Sword Heart rose and fell within his chest. He needed strength, and even more so, he needed to accumulate enough wisdom and courage in this silence before the storm.

The night at West Lake remained gentle. But Qin Feng knew that beneath this calm surface, the undercurrents were becoming increasingly turbulent. And he was about to become the one who would cast the stone to test the path, attempting to stir this deep pool of water.