Chapter Twenty-Three: Achieving Great Deeds, Establishing Profound Trust
“Immortal Master, whether these foreign women are truly enamored with you remains uncertain. You are a Starhan immortal; if your bloodline were to inadvertently be scattered beyond our borders, wouldn’t that be—”
“In the past, envoys from the Tang Dynasty came to borrow seed, which led to the rapid transformation of the Easterners from barbarism to civilization.”
“If your bloodline, bearing even a fraction of your divine power, were to go astray and fall into the hands of scoundrels, would that not be a tragedy of kin turning on kin, bringing calamity upon Starhan?”
Nong Jinsun grew anxious, hurriedly trying to dissuade him, all the while cursing inwardly, showing not a trace of the refinement he ought to have acquired from his time abroad.
Damn these foreigners!
We haven’t even found a chance to offer women to the Immortal Master, to forge a marital tie, and you—an unlucky defeated general, favored by the Immortal Master out of sheer fortune—dare to get ahead of us?
He’ll deal with you! Tonight, he’ll have Yuanjia secretly do away with you!
Nong Jinsun no longer concealed the hostility in his eyes toward Kent.
Sensing the threat, Kent stepped back two paces, bowing his head meekly and respectfully to Lan Yi.
Lan Yi’s gaze, tinged with a hint of amusement, swept between Nong Jinsun and Kent.
Perhaps realizing he’d been too hasty, Nong Jinsun, now slightly calmer, understood he’d made a mistake. Bracing himself against Lan Yi’s naturally oppressive stare, he forced himself to speak.
“Immortal Master, I do not mean to hinder your lineage from flourishing.”
“It’s just that foreign women tend to have excessive body hair and strong odors—hardly suitable for the halls of elegance.”
“In the end, it is our Starhan women who—” Nong Jinsun’s words were abruptly cut off.
“For the sake of Master Huo, I won’t punish you today. Let me ask: are foreign women more important to me, or Starhan women?” Lan Yi’s hand reached back, and one of the twelve swords circling behind him dropped into his palm.
“…” This was a deadly question. Nong Jinsun broke out in a cold sweat.
“The answer is: neither matters to me. The only thing that matters, always, is what I tell you is important.”
With a casual toss, the sword in Lan Yi’s hand flew through the air with a sharp whistling wind that stung Nong Jinsun’s cheek. He almost believed his face had been sliced away by the Immortal Master’s sword, frozen in place, not daring to move.
Only when cold sweat trickled down his neck and soaked his collar did Nong Jinsun slowly recover from his extreme panic.
Terrifying! Dreadful!
Even though Lan Yi had not released his aura or punished him, facing such a powerful existence who could turn him to ashes or pulp at any moment, the very possibility of being caught up in his wrath left Nong Jinsun, an ordinary man, paralyzed with fear—especially now, when he could directly sense Lan Yi’s immense strength.
“This is the power you desire.”
“This sword can unleash thunder and sword energy. In terms you understand, it’s like a magic staff.”
“Perhaps you should find a martial artist to serve as your bodyguard.”
Kent was instantly overjoyed. He knew he had become a tool for this extraordinary being to discipline his subordinates, but it was all worth it!
Lan Yi had not made Kent a martial artist; granting such power directly to a foreigner would certainly provoke negative reactions from the martial artist group, whose interests were increasingly aligned. As their power grew, so would their ambition. Lan Yi remained silent, but he observed the changing attitudes of his martial artist subordinates.
This was a change Lan Yi welcomed.
Guiding this shift in a positive direction was beneficial for Starhan and for his own goals.
Nong Jinsun represented the martial artist interest group. They wished to be founding heroes, to leave their names in history, and to become the only subordinates Lan Yi could rely on. If Lan Yi depended solely on martial artists, even with absolute power over them, he would still have to consider the group he himself had created.
Granting martial power, granting arms.
Reward and punishment, swift and effective.
The Immortal Master could bestow martial power and arms, to Starhan people or to foreigners alike. It served as a warning to all proud warriors: follow the Immortal Master’s orders as your foremost duty.
Besides—
The Immortal Master still favored Starhan people; hadn’t he just suggested the foreigner find himself a martial artist bodyguard?
A budding issue was effortlessly dispelled by Lan Yi. This is the confidence that comes from having absolute power in your grasp—not fearing anyone overturning the table, for there will always be others willing to take up the task.
“If you do not speak, the enemy will speak for you. If you do not clarify history, the enemy will create history for you.” Lan Yi had already arranged a place for the detained reporters.
In this era, the quickest way to make one’s voice heard was through newspapers.
As a power with territorial control,
To propagate one’s ideals and positions, to display one’s strength—this is one of the swiftest ways to win the hearts of the people and unite the land.
Kent had given Lan Yi a reminder.
Newspaper interviews originate from the reporters themselves.
Content produced under threat and coercion is dry and uninspiring; nothing compares to the explosive, eye-catching writing reporters compose with genuine feeling.
“Restore their freedom. Whether they wish to stay or go is up to them. Whoever they wish to interview, get that person’s consent. If we are to accomplish great deeds, we must establish great trust. Great trust fears no exposure; it can withstand scrutiny from the world.”
Lan Yi patted Nong Jinsun on the shoulder.
Nong Jinsun was utterly convinced, bowing in shame.
Lan Yi’s move was indeed a masterstroke.
Up to now, the martial artist group had achieved actual control over the Pu Hai region, yet lacked a unified channel for public communication. If not for their sinking of the foreigners’ ironclad ships, their decisive blow against foreign armies, and the maintenance of city stability—winning the support and trust of the people—most under their rule would have fled.
The various strata in Pu Hai knew little about the martial artist group beyond the surface.
These reporters had not been mistreated and had personally witnessed supernatural miracles, as well as those miracles overwhelming imperial armies of powerful nations. They were bursting with words, eager to broadcast them to the world!
Once their freedom was restored, the reporters immediately began working overtime.
Interviews! They must interview!!
Especially the foreign female reporters—once released, these ladies of noble birth, now left with only spiritual pursuits, needed no hint from Kent. They directly declared their desire to interview Lan Yi, preferably in a private room where they could deeply explore each other’s souls; they were desperate to understand the heart of this Thunder Angel.
Was he a demon or an angel?
What fierce soul lay beneath his marble-like handsome visage?
Among these female reporters were: Miss Renka Uesugi, second daughter of Uesugi Commerce Bank of the East; Sayuri Nagano, heiress of Eastern Industries Corporation; Feliya, wife of the president of Sindhu Shipping Company; Alice, daughter of the Governor of Fragrant Harbor; Liz, elder sister of the chief executive of Royal Military Industries; and their attendant maids or bodyguards.
Their desire to interview him was urgent.
Compared to mundane matters of war and interest,
These pampered beauties had, for the first time in Starhan, encountered a man who perfectly embodied their romantic ideals. He was like poison, making them rush toward him despite knowing it was a transgression!
Soon, the female reporters received both good and bad news.
The good news: Lan Yi was quite willing to accept their interviews.
The bad news: it would not happen immediately.
At this moment, Lan Yi had already set out for the major power plants under martial artist control.