86: Successfully break the situation

The Cao Gang Headquarters was located in the most prosperous area of West Lake City's Wharf District, within an extraordinarily imposing mansion. At this moment, the atmosphere inside the Deliberation Hall was suffocatingly oppressive.

Gang Leader Li Kui, the Late Stage Martial King known as "River-Flipping Dragon," sat on a tiger-skin armchair with a face full of fury, his thick fingers nearly crushing the backrest. Below him, Steward Qian and the other leaders involved in the operation were silent and terrified, not daring to breathe loudly.

"Trash! A bunch of trash!" Li Kui's roar made the roof tiles hum. "A small branch of the Hundred Flowers Palace, a mere fledgling youngster who just popped up, managed to run circles around all of you! Liu the Fourth betrayed us, the Four Seas Merchant Guild defected, and the duck that was already in our mouth flew away! We even lost so much principal for nothing! You have utterly disgraced the Cao Gang!"

The angrier he got, the harder he slammed the table, and the sturdy Ironwood desk instantly became covered in cracks: "Damn Liu the Fourth! And that Qin Feng! He's just a Gold-Medal Deacon, yet he dares to pull the Cao Gang's tiger whiskers! I must make them..."

Before he finished speaking, a gang member rushed in, frantically holding a letter, his expression terrified: "G-Gang Leader! An urgent letter sent by President Jin of the Four Seas Merchant Guild!"

"Jin Wanguan?" Li Kui frowned, took the letter, and tore open the wax seal. The content of the letter was simple, but the tone carried an unprecedented sense of distance and firmness:

"To Gang Leader Li: I, Jin, am fully aware of the recent events. Deacon Qin Feng has shown great kindness to my Four Seas Merchant Guild and is a distinguished guest of our guild. Effective immediately, our Four Seas Merchant Guild has formed a commercial alliance with the Hundred Flowers Palace, advancing and retreating together. I hope Gang Leader Li will consider our past relationship, act wisely, and refrain from causing further trouble for the Hundred Flowers Palace. Sincerely, Jin Wanguan."

"Bastard!" Li Kui was so furious he crumpled the letter into a ball and violently smashed it onto the ground. "Jin Wanguan, that old fox! Has he forgotten who pulled him out when he was drowning? To turn against me for the sake of a youngster! It seems too few of his ships have sunk!"

His chest heaved violently, clearly enraged by Jin Wanguan's sudden betrayal. The Four Seas Merchant Guild was financially strong and widely connected; losing this "ally" was a significant blow to the Cao Gang.

Before he could catch his breath, another gang member stumbled in, also holding a letter, his voice trembling: "G-Gang Leader! A personal letter from Fāng Master Su of the Wonderful Sound Workshop!"

"Su Xiaoxiao?" Li Kui's heart skipped a beat, and an ominous premonition rose in his mind. He forcefully suppressed his anger and took the plain stationery, which emitted a faint fragrance. Upon opening it, the handwriting was delicate, but the content was even more alarming than Jin Wanguan's letter:

"To Gang Leader Li: I hear West Lake City has recently seen much disturbance concerning Deacon Qin Feng of the Hundred Flowers Palace. Deacon Qin once turned the tide during a national crisis, and even Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager know his name; he is a pillar of the Imperial Court. The Phoenix Soaring Pavilion is concerned about the stability of the Southeast. I hope Gang Leader Li will prioritize the greater good, stick to his duties, avoid creating trouble, and cease harassing the Hundred Flowers Palace. Written by Su Xiaoxiao."

"Phoenix Soaring Pavilion!" Li Kui's hand holding the letter trembled slightly, his face instantly turning deathly pale. The Empress Dowager stood behind the Wonderful Sound Workshop! Su Xiaoxiao's letter, seemingly a piece of advice, was actually a warning! Although the tone was calm, phrases like "Pillar of the Imperial Court," "Phoenix Soaring Pavilion is concerned," and "avoid creating trouble" were each heavy as a thousand jun! This meant that if he dared to move against the Hundred Flowers Palace and Qin Feng again, he would likely invite intervention from the Imperial Court!

No matter how powerful his Cao Gang was, he absolutely dared not openly oppose the Imperial Court, or the Phoenix Soaring Pavilion, which represented the will of the Empress Dowager!

Just as Li Kui's mind was reeling and cold sweat was pouring down, the third letter arrived. It was from—the Green Robe Tower!

The messenger was an expressionless man in black, who silently vanished after handing the letter to the guard.

Li Kui almost trembled as he opened this third letter. It was personally written by Leng Yue, the Tower Master of the Green Robe Tower, and the content was even more direct:

"Gang Leader Li: The commission entrusted by your gang is unilaterally terminated by the Green Robe Tower. We have received formal notices from the Four Seas Merchant Guild, the Wonderful Sound Workshop, and even the Hundred Flowers Palace, clarifying the stakes. After assessment, the risk of this commission far outweighs the benefit, and antagonizing multiple parties is unwise. Therefore, according to the force majeure clause of the contract, we are abandoning the commission. The five hundred thousand Gold Coins paid as a deposit will not be refunded as per regulations. We hope Gang Leader Li will understand. Leng Yue."

"Pfft—"

Li Kui felt a sweetness in his throat; a mouthful of rebellious blood almost spurted out, but he forcibly swallowed it back. His face turned from white to green, then from green to purple, before he finally collapsed limply into the chair, as if all his strength had been instantly drained.

The Four Seas Merchant Guild cut off relations! The Wonderful Sound Workshop (Phoenix Soaring Pavilion) stepped forward to warn him! The Green Robe Tower unilaterally broke the contract and swallowed the deposit!

Three forces, almost simultaneously, delivered three fatal strikes in three different ways!

All his schemes, all his advantages, crumbled at this moment, utterly gone! Continue suppressing the Hundred Flowers Palace? Forget about succeeding, the Cao Gang itself might fall into a Place of Eternal Damnation!

That Qin Feng... what exactly is his background? How could he, in such a short time, get three major forces to stand up for him simultaneously, even at the cost of antagonizing the Cao Gang?

Helplessness, anger, frustration, and a hint of indescribable fear intertwined in Li Kui's heart. He knew he had failed this time, completely and utterly. The Hundred Flowers Palace was untouchable for the time being.

"Pass... pass down the order..." Li Kui's voice was hoarse and dry, filled with exhaustion. "All actions targeting the Hundred Flowers Palace... are to be stopped immediately. Without my command, no one is allowed to provoke the Hundred Flowers Palace... or that Qin Feng again."

After speaking, he looked as if he had aged ten years, and weakly waved his hand, signaling everyone to withdraw... That night, at the Hundred Flowers Villa, Green Bamboo Courtyard.

Qin Feng sat cross-legged, his mind sinking into his consciousness.

[Daily Intelligence Refreshed]

[yellow intelligence: Cao Gang Leader Li Kui consecutively received warning and contract withdrawal letters from the Four Seas Merchant Guild, the Wonderful Sound Workshop, and the Green Robe Tower. Realizing the general trend was lost, he ordered a complete halt to all suppression actions against the Hundred Flowers Palace, and he dares not act rashly in the short term.]

[White Intelligence: Wonderful Sound Workshop Fāng Master Su Xiaoxiao learned of your performance in the Gambling Match and the details of facilitating the Four Seas Merchant Guild alliance through her channels. She admires you even more, believing you are both wise and brave—a promising talent—and her desire to recruit you has intensified. Favorability +20.]

[yellow intelligence: Hundred Flowers Palace West Lake City Branch Master Su Yuetang personally witnessed you using decisive means to resolve the branch's greatest crisis, turning the tide, protecting its assets, and turning the tables. She highly approves of your capabilities, and her trust and reliance have greatly increased, mixed with a hint of indescribable admiration and affection. Favorability +60.]

Looking at these three pieces of intelligence, Qin Feng let out a long sigh, a helpless, wry smile appearing on his face as he shook his head.

"It's finally... over."

The exhaustive effort and careful planning over the past month were finally not in vain. The Cao Gang, the biggest threat, was temporarily neutralized; the Four Seas Merchant Guild became an ally; the Wonderful Sound Workshop showed goodwill; and the Green Robe Tower chose to retreat. The Hundred Flowers Palace West Lake City Branch finally won a space to breathe and develop within the complex network of forces.

Su Xiaoxiao's admiration was within his expectations, as he had shown sufficient value. But Su Yuetang's soaring Favorability... Qin Feng rubbed his temples, feeling a headache coming on. This seemed to be more than just a superior's appreciation for a subordinate.

He temporarily cast aside these distracting thoughts. The crisis was resolved, meaning he could put aside external troubles for a while and dedicate more energy to his own Cultivation.

Mid-stage Great Martial Master is still not enough! In this world where Martial Kings constantly emerge, and where Martial Emperors might even exist, he must quickly gain greater strength. Whether for self-preservation or to deal with future enemies potentially stronger than the Cao Gang.

He closed his eyes and began operating the Primordial Unity Qi Art. Pure Internal Energy slowly flowed through his Meridians, nourishing his Sword Heart and Sword Bone. In his mind, the essence of the Finger Sword Among Flowers and the sword principles of the Hundred Flowers Sword Canon mutually verified and continuously deduced each other.

This chapter in West Lake City was temporarily turned. But Qin Feng knew that the Martial Dao Path was endless. Brief tranquility was merely for accumulating strength, preparing for the next, perhaps even more magnificent, voyage.