Chapter 107: Winds Rise over the Northern Island

"You really think you're some big shot."

Baili Feihong shook his head. He had been watching this Young Master Qian and his companions for quite some time. In fact, he had discovered them early on, but since he couldn't gauge their true identities, he had refrained from taking action. If these people hadn't come out acting so arrogant and condescending toward him, Baili Feihong wouldn't have bothered with them at all.

Those who came from the Great Yuan Empire always possessed some status or standing, and they were bound to bring trouble. However, at his level of cultivation, many things no longer mattered. Only by becoming strong oneself could one walk the path of dominance.

"What a troublesome time this is," he mused. "First, I'll raid the Cloud Rise Hotel, the owner of the Chen Family Rice Shop, and the Kanda Ichiyue Kendo Dojo. The Demon Suppression Division is short on funds; raiding these three will bring in a decent amount of revenue."

Feiyuan Island was located overseas, and the main headquarters provided little support. Requesting cultivation resources was difficult, and even when they were sent, it took a long time to reach the island. If he wanted others to risk their lives for him and rebuild the local Demon Suppression Division, he had to establish an effective incentive mechanism. Otherwise, he couldn't attract experts, nor could he form a self-sustaining cycle of resources.

If he left now, the Demon Suppression Division would soon wither away—and end up in an even more miserable state than before. The arrogance the Division showed today would come at a heavy cost in the future, unless a powerful force was established that could suppress everything on Feiyuan Island. Once he left, he didn't want to fear anyone causing trouble. Through this battle, he had finally secured his footing on the island.

The mission of the Demon Suppression Division was never to vie for power with the Southern Naval Fleet. If things reached that point, it only meant that something was fundamentally wrong with Feiyuan Island. Now, that problem was solved. It was time to return to the true duties of the Demon Suppression Division: slaying demons and eliminating monsters.

Feiyuan Island was vast, consisting of three cities: Zhennan, Yongsheng, and Baili. Zhennan City stood as the leader, while Yongsheng and Baili were its satellite cities. All power was concentrated in Zhennan City, which together formed the Feiyuan Prefecture.

"Many thanks for your help, Guardian," Wang Qinniang said with a complex expression. She was a woman with a tainted past. Now that these three young masters from the Empire had arrived and happened to discover her identity, and given their high status, her future looked bleak once again. With Mother Wang gone, she was managing the Yihong Brothel, relying on the support of Governor Yan on the surface. But in the shadows, with Lai Qing gone, she found it difficult to maintain control and resist harassment from other underground forces.

*Am I to flee abroad?* she wondered. For a beautiful woman to flee abroad, the outcome would be tragic. Many of the girls in the Yihong Brothel had met such fates, and she feared that would be her destiny too. For now, the best strategy was to wait and see. If things became truly untenable, she would have to seek out Governor Yan again and have him help her leave Feiyuan Island.

"Who exactly are these three young masters?" Baili Wudao asked in a deep voice. He had beaten them, and if he didn't understand the forces behind them, he wouldn't even know how he died if trouble arose later. Baili Wudao never fought a battle unprepared.

"Reporting to you, sir, Young Master Qian comes from a prominent clan in the Imperial Capital. He once held a key position in the Great Yuan Shipping Department and is a member of the Grand Princess's faction," Wang Qinniang said, after a moment of silence. She decided it was best to reveal the truth to the Guardian.

"The Shipping Department, eh?" The department that controlled the vital waterways of the Great Yuan Empire. Having investigated the Shipping Guild before, Baili Wudao naturally knew the responsibilities of that department.

"And the other two?"

"The other two are officers of the Imperial Guard and descendants of Great Yuan military nobility. One is called Lin Zhongjun, and the other is Lin Zhongshu; they are both of the Lin family." Wang Qinniang recalled the details. She had grown up in the Imperial Capital and had once been a well-known daughter of an aristocratic clan. When her family was purged and wiped out, few escaped. Being young, she was sent to the Music Bureau and became a government courtesan. Later, she found an opportunity to flee the capital, left the bureau, and drifted to Feiyuan Island.

"Shipping and the Imperial Guard... these three possess military knowledge. They must have been sent by the imperial court to monitor the Southern Naval Fleet," Baili Wudao mused, rubbing his chin. He had now thoroughly offended three noblemen from the capital. If the Demon Suppression Division were to be taken over by Young Master Qian in the future, he would surely seek revenge. But by then, he wouldn't be easy to push around either. With his current cultivation, he would soon be promoted to a Garrison General. Any Garrison General was a backbone of the Demon Suppression Division; they wouldn't fear these men, nor even the military department. As for the Grand Princess, her hand reached too far. The Demon Suppression Division could afford to ignore her. After all, the Grand Princess could never become Emperor. Even if a female sovereign were to ascend, it wouldn't be her; there were plenty of princes and princesses with higher status than hers.

"Young Master Qian's father manages the Great Yuan Bank for the Emperor. He is the keeper of the Emperor's purse, and his status is no less than that of a Minister of the Six Ministries," Wang Qinniang noted, sensing Baili Wudao's shallow understanding of the imperial power structure. She didn't mock him, however. She was safe for now, but if this Guardian decided to make an example of her to threaten the others, things would become extremely dire.

"No wonder they spoke so arrogantly." The Great Yuan Bank was equivalent to a central bank in his previous life. Clearly, Young Master Qian’s connections reached the highest levels of power.

"This is for tonight's expenses. Make sure to entertain the officials of the Demon Suppression Division well," Baili Wudao said, tossing a coin purse to Wang Qinniang. He returned to the Demon Suppression Building, where Inspector Yang was still directing the patrol guards to send the desperate attackers into the crematorium. Baili Wudao's return went unnoticed.

The next morning, the Demon Suppression Division issued a formal document officially classifying the four as members of the heretical White Heaven Sect and ordered their assets seized. The samurai from the Sakura Kingdom resisted to the death and were slaughtered by Baili Wudao.

"The samurai of the Sakura Kingdom cannot be left alive." Driven by personal sentiment, he destroyed the city's famous Kendo Dojo, leading to a long trail of severed heads. The wealth seized was deposited into the Division's treasury to fund the reconstruction.

"I don't believe it, I don't believe it! How could Brother Qingyi be an apostle of the White Heaven Sect? Teacher Liu, please, take me to the Dean. This must be a misunderstanding! Let the Dean step in and help Brother Qingyi!" Among the four believers, only Kanda Ichiyue was confirmed dead. Liu Yansheng looked at Teacher Liu with a pleading expression.

Teacher Liu looked grave and was deeply troubled. Chu Qingyi was one of his most promising students, yet now he was a wanted criminal in the Great Yuan. Not only was he involved with the heretical White Heaven Sect, but he was also the son of the primary mastermind behind the Great Smoke Case.

"Daqing, Qingyi went to the Flower Alley last night," Jia Renyi said, trying to comfort her.

"Teacher Liu, Uncle Liu, I beg you!" Liu Yansheng ignored him, continuing to plead.

"Daqing, listen to your uncle's advice. Do not get involved in Chu Qingyi's affairs. Otherwise, you will implicate the Zhou family and your father," Teacher Liu urged patiently.

"You taught us that the spirit of the rule of law is to rely on evidence. The Demon Suppression Division has no proof that Chu Qingyi is a member of the White Heaven Sect! Besides, there is freedom of belief. We all have the right to pursue our own inner worlds. By what right can the Demon Suppression Division pass judgment in a single word?" Liu Yansheng argued.

Jia Renyi remained silent. Having traveled to many countries, he had seen many political systems and the new ideas sprouting across the world. He understood that this nascent philosophy would surely sweep the world in the future. Yet, waking from his dreams and looking at this world, he suddenly realized that individual martial power was still superior to the freedom of the masses, acting as an obstacle to the awakening of the people's consciousness. He had disseminated his ideas cautiously, but in the end, his own student was questioning his actions.

"Fine, I will take you to see the Dean." If he couldn't even stand by his own principles, how would his students ever see the light?

"Thank you, teacher."

***

In the North Island, at the Lin Family Manor:

"Bad luck! A lifetime of hard work to acquire wealth, and upon waking, it's all for nothing," Chen Tao, the owner of the rice shop, complained bitterly.

"It's the luckiest of misfortunes, old Chen. Kanda Ichiyue died under Baili Wudao's dragon claw. If we hadn't been blown away and fallen into the sea, and if the Guardian's eyes hadn't been solely on the Apostle, do you think we three would still be alive?" Wang Ma said, his body emitting a chill of extreme yin.

"Kanda Ichiyue is dead for certain. That we survived might mean the Guardian is setting a trap, hoping to catch the three of us as tails to dig up more secrets of the sect," Zhou Xiaoqing squinted, his eyes fierce like a hungry wolf. The Cloud Rise Hotel had been raided, and his family had been transferred to the prison by the Patrol Division. His only hope now was that his family had been sent to the North Island Prison. Even though the prison had a fearsome reputation, he could break in and rescue them.

"Old Jia, what you say makes sense. Our situation is very precarious. Our failure to protect the Apostle is enough to get us killed. If someone within the sect believes we have been exposed, they might use us to find the White Heaven Sect... I have a premonition we are going to be purged," Chen Tao said with a solemn face.

"It's not a premonition; it's a certainty," Wang Ma said. He was the only one of the three who had come from a sect. The White Heaven Sect didn't fear the Demon Suppression Division; they feared the mysterious sect world finding their lair through them and exterminating them. The sect had been driven out of the Central Plains and forced to flee overseas, surviving in hiding. Their fear and hatred for the sect world had never changed.

"Reviving the White Heaven God is the mission of the White Heaven Sect. To ensure the plan is completed, the sect will destroy everything," Wang Ma added. He had joined the White Heaven Sect to seek protection from the pursuit of the Flower Sect. Among the three, he was the one who kept the clearest understanding of the sect's ideology.

Chen Tao and Zhou Xiaoqing struggled with this. Even though they guessed the sect's future methods against them, they had been devoted to it for so long, and their minds had been imbued with the aura of the White Heaven God.

"Wait! As long as we find the ruins and obtain the stone tablets within, we will surely gain the God Official's reward and ascend to become Apostles," Chen Tao said, his expression becoming frantic. Zhou Xiaoqing’s eyes lit up. Wang Ma also understood that this was their only way to save themselves.

"After round after round of searches, no traces of the ruins were found on the North Island. Should we give up and focus on the islands to the west?" Chen Tao asked, recalling Chu Qingyi's words.

"On the North Island, apart from a few forbidden zones, only the North Island Prison remains unsearched. Why don't we start there? After we finish, we can probe some of the forbidden zones. With our strength, even if we encounter danger, we can escape," Zhou Xiaoqing said, a strange light flickering in his eyes. He hoped his family had been sent to the North Island Prison. It would be perfect to use Wang Ma and Chen Tao's strength to break them out.

Wang Ma and Chen Tao looked at each other and immediately understood Zhou Xiaoqing's intent. Especially Chen Tao, whose rice shop had also seen many people arrested. Fortunately, his family was not on Feiyuan Island, but his key confidants had been moved to the prison. If the trip to the North Island could rescue them, it would be a win-win.

Wang Ma suddenly gave a cold laugh. "The North Island is known as a ghost den, but there are many heinous criminals locked up in the prison. If we release them, they could tie up a huge portion of Feiyuan Island's power. At the very least, it would prevent Baili Wudao from concentrating all his strength on hunting us down."

In a few words, they set their strategy. The North Island Prison was now in their sights. Releasing the villains of the North Island would greatly benefit their next move. Only by causing a massive disturbance could they cover their tracks.

"The appearance of the Guardian has already broken the balance on Feiyuan Island. Many old monsters are not happy to see this," Wang Ma muttered to himself. He was now concerned about Wang Qinniang. She had actually been practicing the Divine Field, and her talent was excellent, but she lacked resources. Now that she had left the brothel, she would have to face many things on her own.

***

"Has the recruitment for the Demon Suppression Division been arranged?" Baili Wudao asked Hu Zuowei. Feiyuan Island was different from Dongbin City, where the atmosphere for martial arts among the common people was poor due to the Great Yuan’s strict bans. On Feiyuan Island, many people practiced genuine martial arts, and various other cultivation methods had flowed in as well. It was a chaotic mix, but none of it caught Baili Wudao's eye. The Divine Field was the most authentic Great Dao, the best way to strengthen the body, and the most effective method for suppressing demons.

"Sir, your subordinate suggests recruiting from the Feiyuan Academy. The 'Six Arts of a Gentleman' include martial arts, which are popular there," Hu Zuowei said, suddenly recommending the academy.

"Feiyuan Academy? The one where Chu Qingyi was hiding?"

"Yes. The academy doesn't just teach scriptures; it involves knowledge from all walks of life. Moreover, through teachers sent to travel to various countries, the students produced have broad horizons and extensive knowledge. I believe that recruiting a group of students as Demon Suppression apprentices—or even as Guardians—will be of great help to the future of the Division."

Hu Zuowei's insights impressed Baili Wudao. Knowledge was power; this was a truth in any world. The Divine Field was a profession—the profession of exploring the human body and the heavens. To learn it, one first had to be a learned person. Otherwise, even if one were given a supreme technique, one wouldn't understand its mysteries. The deeper the martial art, the more sophisticated the thinking required. What was called "aptitude" was simply the formation of inspiration and logical thought. Learned people had already formed their own learning mindset; once supported with cultivation resources, they would progress faster than an illiterate person.

"Feasible. Go and contact the Feiyuan Academy."