“Sister, let me call you sister one last time. Do you know, after I killed you, I felt no excitement, no joy, only loneliness, a deep loneliness from within. That’s when I realised I had lost the person closest to me. Jealousy can drive a person to lose their reason, to go mad. After becoming clan leader, I stopped envying you. It’s exhausting, truly exhausting. It’s all scheming and deceit. Everyone is plotting against you, not just outsiders but also those within the clan. It’s either you scheming against me or me against you. I’m so tired. Back then, I thought how nice it would be if you were here. Look at how selfish and despicable human nature is. When you were around, I was jealous and wanted you dead. But after killing you, I started to miss your kindness. I even disgust myself.”
Inside the academy, Taichu Jing looked at the letter in her hand, “Why should the Taichu Divine Body be the focus of attention? Why must the Taichu Divine Body be the clan leader? Why? I wasn’t convinced. All these years, I worked tirelessly to prove I’m no less than you. But later, I realised our parents couldn’t see my efforts anymore. Nor could you. Do you know how overjoyed I was when I learned you were alive again? I was truly happy, so excited I could hardly contain myself. I kept trying to assert my presence in front of you, just to show you how well the Taichu Clan has fared under my leadership. I really, really wanted to show off to you.”
Taichu Jing slowly closed her eyes.
After a long while, she continued reading the letter, “People are often selfish, caring only about their own thoughts and feelings. I was like that. But this time, I want to be selfless. The universe’s future belongs to the Guanxuan Universe. Only by aligning with it can the Taichu Clan reach new heights. Otherwise, the clan’s space to survive in this universe will shrink. After all, while Young Master Ye is reasonable, that doesn’t mean those around or under him are. There’s no choice. We can’t fight them, so we must join them. Because of the mistake I made back then, Young Master Ye dislikes me, so I can’t secure more benefits for the clan. But you can. He sees you as one of his own. If you lead the clan, its status in the Guanxuan Academy will be entirely different. Finally, sister, I killed you once, and now I’m dead too. Does that mean we’re even? Haha… Sister, I’m sorry. We’ll never meet again. I wish you well.”
In the academy, Taichu Jing sat quietly, the letter in her hand fluttering gently in the breeze.
Not far in front of her, a black-robed elder knelt.
The elder’s voice trembled, “Clan Leader…”
Taichu Jing slowly closed her eyes, “What else did she say before she left?”
The elder lowered his head slightly, “Not long ago, she said that after meeting the woman in the plain skirt, she understood something. When martial strength reaches a certain level, all wisdom becomes meaningless. The Taichu Clan has reached its limit under her leadership. She couldn’t take it to new heights, but you can.”
Taichu Jing fell silent.
The elder grew nervous.
If Taichu Jing refused to take over the clan, it would be doomed.
The elder quickly added, “She also said Young Master Ye hopes you’ll lead the Taichu Clan. The clan controls vast regions of the universe. If they join the Guanxuan Academy, it would greatly benefit Young Master Ye.”
Taichu Jing’s calm expression shifted subtly.
Helping Ye Xuan.
Seeing this, the elder breathed a sigh of relief.
Clan Leader Hazelnut truly understood Clan Leader Jing.
At that moment, Taichu Jing turned her head. Ye Xuan approached from nearby.
She stood and walked to him, handing him Taichu Hazelnut’s letter.
Ye Xuan read it for a moment, then asked, “Do you want to go back?”
Taichu Jing said softly, “I’ll follow your lead.”
Ye Xuan smiled, shaking his head, “That means you want to go back.”
Taichu Jing lowered her head, silent.
Ye Xuan asked gently, “Do you hate her?”
After a moment’s silence, Taichu Jing said, “I did. But after her death, the hatred vanished. Perhaps we weren’t suited to be sisters.”
Ye Xuan said, “Then go back.”
Taichu Jing looked at him. He smiled, “Go back.”
How could he not see? She wanted to return.
This girl was too kind-hearted.
If it were him, he couldn’t forgive. But Taichu Jing’s sense of clan duty was too strong.
He could tell that while she hated Taichu Hazelnut, she didn’t hate the Taichu Clan.
Taichu Jing suddenly said, “You know, my sister was better suited to be clan leader. I’m only interested in cultivation. But because of my Taichu Divine Body, I was the clan’s focus from birth. If I were her, I’d probably be jealous too.”
Ye Xuan smiled, “It’s all in the past.”
Taichu Jing nodded, “Yes, it’s in the past.”
She looked at Ye Xuan, “Then I’ll go back.”
Ye Xuan laughed, “Good.”
Taichu Jing hesitated, then said, “You’re not going to try to keep me?”
Ye Xuan laughed, “Silly, going back to the Taichu Clan doesn’t mean we’re not on the same side. You can have the clan join the Guanxuan Academy, can’t you?”
Taichu Jing thought for a moment, then said, “True.”
Ye Xuan smiled, “If you face any difficulties in cultivation, seek out Qingqiu. She’s formidable.”
Taichu Jing nodded, “I know. My strength has improved so much because of her. While you were away, I consulted her every day.”
Ye Xuan laughed, “That’s good.”
Taichu Jing said, “Then I’m going.”
Ye Xuan nodded.
She turned and left with the black-robed elder.
Ye Xuan watched them go, then said, “Anyou.”
Anyou appeared behind him.
Ye Xuan asked softly, “Is Miss Hazelnut really dead?”
Anyou nodded, “Confirmed. She has truly perished.”
Ye Xuan’s eyes showed a trace of complexity.
Taichu Hazelnut’s actions were wrong, but he had no right to judge her.
If anyone was to blame, it was the previous Taichu Clan leader’s bias.
A parent’s favouritism could ruin a child’s life.
Ye Xuan collected his thoughts and asked, “How many people are under you now?”
Anyou said gravely, “I directly oversee twelve. Each of them commands one hundred twenty. Each of those commands twelve thousand, and those twelve thousand…”
Ye Xuan interrupted, “How many in total?”
Anyou replied, “Over ten million. That’s our intelligence network. There are also many outside the official structure.”
Ye Xuan frowned, “Structure?”
Anyou nodded, “Those within the structure get higher salaries and various benefits, much better treatment overall. Those outside only get minimal wages with no security.”
Ye Xuan asked curiously, “How many are outside the structure?”
Anyou glanced at him, “Several billion.”
Ye Xuan was speechless.
Qin Guan’s intelligence network was terrifying.
Something occurred to him, and he looked at Anyou, “Are you the head of intelligence?”
Anyou quickly said, “I’m absolutely loyal to the Pavilion Master and Young Master Ye.”
Ye Xuan laughed, “I’m not doubting your loyalty. I mean, are you a big deal in the Skynet organisation?”
Anyou gave an awkward smile, staying silent.
He wasn’t just a big deal.
He was downright feared.
Not only in Skynet but across the entire Guanxuan Academy, Anyou’s status was terrifying. Except for a few academy heads, most instructors were beneath him.
Everyone knew he was Ye Xuan and Qin Guan’s trusted confidant.
While he seemed humble before Ye Xuan and Qin Guan, outside, he was a titan.
Ye Xuan suddenly laughed, “Anyou, what’s your annual salary?”
Anyou hesitated, then said, “My base salary is one million dao crystals a year, but with commissions, I make around two million.”
Ye Xuan asked curiously, “Commissions?”
Anyou nodded, “The Pavilion Master’s invention. Creators get a cut of the profits. Our intelligence network primarily serves the Guanxuan Academy, but other forces can buy intelligence from us. In this field, under the academy’s rule, Skynet has a complete monopoly.”
Monopoly.
Ye Xuan frowned.
Anyou quickly added, “Young Master Ye, rest assured, though we have a monopoly, we don’t act recklessly. The Law Department investigates, and anyone breaking the law is severely punished.”
Ye Xuan nodded, “Making money is fine, but there must be limits.”
Anyou bowed deeply, “Understood.”
Ye Xuan smiled, then said, “One more question. If Qin Guan and I disagree, who do you listen to? No saying both. No word games. Answer honestly.”
He looked at Anyou with a half-smile.
Hearing this, Anyou broke into a cold sweat.
Good heavens.
Why did Young Master Ye give him such a deadly question?
Anyou hesitated, then said, “Let me put it this way. In the academy, Young Master Ye is like the husband, the Pavilion Master like the wife. The man handles external affairs, the woman internal ones. So, for external matters, I follow you. For internal ones, I follow the Pavilion Master.”
Ye Xuan was speechless.
