Chapter 59: The Rising Wind (Part Five)

Night. Top-floor conference room of Cardless Dominion.

“So, their reaction was within our expectations?” After listening to Sasaki’s report, Long Yin leaned back in his chair, propping his chin on his hand, eyes half-closed. He looked weary, his voice tinged with languor.

“Boss, you look exhausted. You haven’t rested for three days. Should you take a break?” Sasaki said with concern, watching Long Yin.

Long Yin lifted his legs onto the chair, slumping deep into the seat. He shook his head slightly, covered his mouth as he yawned, and the waves of drowsiness washed over him. It had been three days since the vote, and for every hour since, Long Yin had submerged himself in the Cardmasters’ Guilds on the Federation Network. To prevent anyone from tracing his whereabouts, he rotated between several guilds, staying a few hours in each. He had only one purpose there: to make money.

He hadn’t checked the final sum, but judging from reactions on the network forums, it was substantial. His relentless money-making spree over three days opened everyone’s eyes—clearly, the richest weren’t scions of great families, but the cardmasters; the best at raking in wealth weren’t resident merchants, but cardmasters. The Federation’s Wuning was undoubtedly the king of gold among them. Normally, the higher the cardmaster’s rank, the more they spent, but Wuning’s gold-extracting feats proved that high-level cardmasters not only spent plenty—they knew how to amass fortunes as well.

“I can hold on a bit longer. I just converted the funds into real currency; the money’s already in your account. This time, we must see through our strike against the Bai and Ni families. They reacted quickly when you first made your move—now it’s their turn to counterattack. But the thing you fear most will not happen; the Texas clan is far from unified. The Crown Prince didn’t expel me from Dexin, not even a slap on the wrist—that’s his greatest mistake. The Bai and Ni families will resent him, and their compliance will be much diminished. Moreover, when it comes to dealing with me, there will be no compromise!”

Sasaki frowned. “But doesn’t that mean more danger for you, Boss?”

“Danger?” Yuan Shaolin shook his head at this point. “Danger is inevitable, Uncle, but you can limit the damage they might cause.”

Sasaki’s eyes narrowed, his thumb and forefinger rubbing together thoughtfully—a habit when pondering. Seeing this, Yuan Shaolin held his tongue, knowing that realization strikes deeper when one comes to it alone.

Suddenly, Sasaki’s eyes flashed with insight. He clapped his hands and laughed. “Boss, this move is brilliant! Sowing discord among them.”

“The Bai and Ni families will act on their discontent with the Crown Prince, while he, in turn, will be dissatisfied with them. Neither side will cooperate fully. That makes it much easier for me to quietly align with a few families that maintain good relations with the Sasaki clan to finish off Bai and Ni. The other families are always jostling for advantage—there’s no way they’d ignore Bai and Ni’s slice of the pie. Once the wall starts to crumble, everyone will push it over.”

Long Yin nodded, then added, “But there are two key points. First, since you’re working with other families, it’s best to keep it in the family—after all, it’s better to enrich your allies than outsiders, and it strengthens our bonds. Second, the next action must be swift and decisive—leave the Crown Prince no time to react.”

Sasaki nodded. As for “family,” he looked to Yuan Shaolin. “Your Highness, any recommendations?”

Yuan Shaolin shook his head. “My people don’t need extra incentives. It’s your side that should consider this carefully.”

“If Your Highness puts it that way, I won’t be modest—this is a good chance to bring people in.”

Soft breathing filled the room. Whatever the two meant to say next faded as they looked toward Long Yin, who, drained by exhaustion, had fallen fast asleep during the discussion. Sasaki whispered, “I’ll handle things. Boss is in your care.”

Yuan Shaolin nodded, then lifted Long Yin in his arms. The boy was so tired he didn’t stir even at being moved—quite unlike his usual alert self. Clearly, these three days had worn him out. For his relentless efforts online, Long Yin had earned the title “Money-making Maniac.” Yuan Shaolin couldn’t help shaking his head, though his eyes softened.

Because deep sleep was possible on the Federation Network, Yuan Shaolin didn’t wake him but let him rest in a private room before quietly departing.

Arriving at the main hall, Yuan Shaolin didn’t leave immediately. Instead, he opened his personal panel, searched out a codename, and added it to his contacts. Moments later, a notification confirmed the addition, followed by a request for connection. Yuan Shaolin paused, then approved it. In the next instant, a figure in a cloak materialized before him.

“Uncle Ke!” Yuan Shaolin called out.

Ke Yifei pulled back his hood, revealing an unchanged face. He nodded. “Master Shaolin!” Then, with a look of surprise, he surveyed the surroundings and sighed, “Truly, the waves of the Yangtze drive the old ashore—the young surpass the old. So it’s you, Master Shaolin, who stands behind Cardless Dominion. That’s quite unexpected. I’ve been investigating this rising force on the Federation Network, but I never guessed you were involved.” After a moment, Ke Yifei asked, almost incredulously, “Is Federation Wuning also from Cardless Dominion?”

Yuan Shaolin looked at him, nodded slowly, but when Ke Yifei seemed about to press the point, he shook his head. “Uncle Ke, it’s not a matter of trust, but caution. I can’t reveal who Wuning is—all you need to know is that he’s one of us.”

Ke Yifei’s brow twitched. He forced a smile, a bit stiff—Shaolin, after all, still kept some distance from the old Linghuo Squad. It stung, but he quickly suppressed the feeling, chewing over Shaolin’s words, then nodded. “If that’s the case, I won’t ask.”

Yuan Shaolin understood the weight of his own words. Bringing Ke Yifei into Cardless Dominion was already a great show of trust. Given all the waves the boy had stirred in the Federation Network lately, Yuan Shaolin instinctively kept his real identity a secret—even from family. It was a question of life and death: the fewer people who knew, the safer he’d be.

Ke Yifei worked intelligence on the Federation Network, but with the presence of the “Messenger,” most other intelligence organizations were obsolete—anyone with money could buy perfectly accurate information. Thus, Ke Yifei’s network wasn’t deep. This meeting came up almost by chance, and he was startled by the revelation—more frightened than delighted. Just what sort of people had Shaolin gotten involved with? And that mysterious Wuning, whom even Shaolin kept hidden… The thought gnawed at him.

Yuan Shaolin had called Ke Yifei to train new recruits in intelligence work. Once the surprise faded, he got to the point.

“You want me to train your rookies?” Ke Yifei frowned slightly. “I’m happy to oblige, but…”

Yuan Shaolin replied, “Uncle Ke, speak freely. I wouldn’t have called you if I didn’t trust you absolutely. I won’t reveal Wuning’s identity, even to my own uncle, but I’ll be open about everything else. You can review Cardless Dominion’s entire setup.”

This explanation put Ke Yifei at ease. If Wuning’s identity was so critical, so be it. He surveyed Cardless Dominion’s structure and couldn’t help but marvel. “Quite ambitious, aren’t you?”

Thinking again of Cardless Dominion, the mysterious Wuning, and recent developments, Ke Yifei’s blood surged. Perhaps, just perhaps, they might really stir the Federation itself.

“Master Shaolin, I can train your rookies, but you’ll need to recruit a few more. Linghuo Squad’s methods are distinctive—if you don’t want your agents recognized at a glance, you’ll need a mix. Then you can devise training with a Cardless Dominion flavor.”

“Every force has its own particular temperament, which its members inevitably acquire. The two influence each other. Don’t underestimate the impression your people give—often, it represents the whole organization.”

Yuan Shaolin nodded. Uncle Ke was sharing his hard-won experience, and Yuan Shaolin accepted it with humility. Indeed, age brings wisdom—when one’s youth fades, and vigor wanes, what remains precious is the distilled experience of a lifetime.

Not long after Ke Yifei left, Long Yin emerged from his room, rubbing sleep from his eyes. He yawned hugely—three days of exhaustion, and a few hours’ sleep was hardly enough, even if he’d managed deep rest on the Federation Network. Still groggy, he stretched and asked, “I must have been really tired, falling asleep like that. How did things go with Uncle and Your Highness?”

Yuan Shaolin gave a brief summary of the arrangements and recounted his conversation with Ke Yifei nearly word for word, then looked at Long Yin.

Long Yin raised an eyebrow. “Your Highness, you could have told Uncle Ke about my identity.”

“No.” Yuan Shaolin shook his head firmly. “You need to be more careful—never reveal your information to just anyone. If even one of your identities falls into the wrong hands, your life could be forfeit.”

Long Yin smiled and said nothing. He wasn’t so open with just anyone—only with Yuan Shaolin. But he said nothing more. After logging off, they grabbed a quick meal and went their separate ways to rest.

The next day.

Long Yin’s dormitory received a pair of siblings.

He directed his people to move Jian Ming into the spare room. The medical staff, as if seeing a ghost, hurried out of the dorm, not daring to utter a word. Long Yin sighed—he truly was a demon king in their eyes now.

But when he turned to the little girl, her next action caught him off guard.

After Jian Ming explained, Long Yin watched as the girl knelt stubbornly before him. He sighed, stroked her soft hair, and spoke gently. “Following me will be dangerous.”

The girl shook her head, her gaze unwavering, her dark eyes glimmering with strange light.

“You’re not afraid?” Long Yin smiled faintly, but his expression turned serious. “But what can you do for me?”

She gestured with both hands. The bandaged Jian Ming explained, “Anything!”

Long Yin looked at Jian Ming, brow furrowed. “Jian Ming, do you understand what you’re doing?” He tried to lift the girl, but she wouldn’t budge. Long Yin was helpless. “You’re putting your sister in harm’s way.”

But the girl only clung to his hand, shaking her head. Her mouth opened as if she wanted to speak, but, tongue cut out, she could only give up. Her eyes pleaded.

“Get up.” Long Yin’s voice grew a bit sharper. Every time he tried to help her up, she knelt again, and finally, rubbing his brow in resignation, he relented. “Get up. I promise, you can stay with me—and your brother, too.”

The girl’s face lit with delight, and she threw herself, sobbing soundlessly, onto Jian Ming’s stretcher. Tears streamed down her face, full of unspoken emotions. Long Yin turned away, exhaling. Whenever he looked at her, he felt a pang of pity and regret. If not for this life, just the story of his past would have been quite carefree.

It had only been four days since Jian Ming was wounded. Given the severity of his injuries, he should have been bedridden, unable to move. But thanks to Yuan Shaolin, the Linghuo Squad had called in a card repairer specializing in healing. So, aside from needing to remain in bed for three months, Jian Ming was already well on the way to recovery.

Long Yin didn’t know exactly what had happened, but ever since these siblings arrived, they’d been resolute in following him. He’d expected Jian Ming to work for him, but he couldn’t understand why the girl was so determined to stay.

Long Yin could have demanded an explanation, but whenever he met the girl’s eyes, his curiosity faded. Finally, he turned to Jian Ming. “What’s your sister’s name?”

“Jian Zhen,” Jian Ming replied.

Long Yin nodded, then spoke gravely. “Jian Ming, I don’t know why you insist on placing your sister with me. You don’t have to explain now—maybe I’ll learn the reason in time. But I need to know one thing: will you ever betray me?”

Jian Ming gritted his teeth, propped himself up, and shook his head solemnly. “I’d rather die than betray you.”

“Good.” Long Yin nodded. “With your word, I’ll do my best to keep you both safe. But understand, that’s all I can promise—the rest is up to you.”

Only now did Jian Ming’s heart settle. “We won’t let you down, Boss!”

There was a deeper meaning in his words, but since Long Yin hadn’t pressed, he didn’t ask now either. “This room is yours. You can’t move around for now, but on the Federation Network, there’s no such limitation. Tonight, log in with your sister—someone will meet you there. For now, learn from Uncle. Any problem with that?”

Jian Ming trembled with excitement. “No problem at all! We’ll study hard, I swear!”

Satisfied, Long Yin left the room. Jian Zhen’s gaze held an emotion he couldn’t quite decipher, but he sensed it was nothing bad, so he let it be.

Returning to his own room, he found Yuan Shaolin waiting by the door, unsurprised. Once inside, Long Yin asked, “What is it, Your Highness?”

“Those siblings…” Yuan Shaolin searched for a word. “Strange.”

Long Yin nodded. “They are strange. Otherwise, why would a minor family attract such trouble? But as long as they’re loyal, I accept them. If there’s more, they can tell us when they’re ready. Their silence means they don’t fully trust us yet.”

Yuan Shaolin nodded. As long as they were sincere, the peculiarity didn’t matter. Long Yin’s words were as much an instruction—no need to investigate the siblings further.

As Yuan Shaolin was about to leave, Long Yin stopped him. “Your Highness, how is Xiao Chui these days?”

He realized how long Xiao Chui had been gone. Whenever he slept poorly, Long Yin found himself thinking of the boy, especially lately—was he well? Eating enough? Growing? Even these trivial concerns worried him.

“Xiao Chui…” Yuan Shaolin recalled that since Uncle Ke told him Xiao Chui was with him, he hadn’t checked in. Perhaps he should pay a visit. He met Long Yin’s anxious gaze and said calmly, “I can go see him.”

“He’s with Uncle Ke?”

Yuan Shaolin nodded. “Yes.”

Long Yin hesitated, then sighed. “Better not. We’re under surveillance—any visit risks exposing Uncle Ke’s base. The Crown Prince’s mysterious faction might be watching, too. Let’s not risk it.”

Seeing Long Yin’s expression shift from hope to disappointment, Yuan Shaolin said, “I can be careful.”

Long Yin shook his head.

“As long as Xiao Chui is safe with Uncle Ke, that’s enough.”

Yuan Shaolin nodded.

“Then don’t go. You’re heading to the Wanderers’ League, aren’t you? Go ahead. I’ll log into the Federation Network to prepare a few things.”

With that, Long Yin ushered Yuan Shaolin out, offering a final word of caution. “Be careful.”

After Yuan Shaolin left, Long Yin returned to his room, donned his personal terminal, and logged in. But this time, the teleport location made his eyes widen. Surveying his surroundings, he realized he’d landed here again. He groaned—he should have logged in as Federation Wuning. What did they want from him this time?

As he wondered, Bai Ze appeared. The look in Bai Ze’s eyes made Long Yin involuntarily take a step back.

“What do you want?” he asked.

“What do I want?” Bai Ze’s lips curved coldly. “You’ve been gone so long—don’t you think you owe me an explanation?”

Long Yin paused, rolling his eyes inwardly. An explanation? Who do you think you are? But outwardly, he pulled out a perfunctory excuse. “Something came up in reality—I was delayed for a few days.”

It was a flimsy excuse, and obviously not one Bai Ze would accept. Anger flashed in Bai Ze’s eyes as he asked coldly, “Is that all?”

Otherwise, what did you expect? Long Yin frowned, wondering what exactly the other wanted.