**Red Heart Patrolling the Sky**

Jiang Wang stood amidst the whipping wind, his thoughts a chaotic tempest.

If he were truly Yu Songhai, and acknowledging Chi Lu as his adoptive father, it would indeed be an exceedingly fortunate path. From an outsider who had joined halfway, he could soar to become a true core figure within Qingyun Pavilion. Below the Sect Master, the four Sect Guards held the highest authority. Chi Lu, moreover, had no offspring, so from this day forward, Yu Songhai’s status would stand on par with Feng Ming’s.

But the crux of the matter was, Jiang Wang was not that pitiable last scion of the Xiyun Sword Sect, not the one who even now languished trapped in a cave, awaiting rescue from Jiang Wang. He was a contemporary Heavenly Pride, the foremost among Qi Country’s Tenglong cultivators, possessing two divine powers within his Inner Mansion. Among those of his generation throughout Yong Country, almost none could reliably defeat him. How could he possibly be content within a minor Qingyun Pavilion, acknowledging a mere Outer Building cultivator as his adoptive father? A shallow pool could not confine a dragon! Even Sect Guard Chi Lu himself, in a true life-and-death confrontation, might not be his match.

Yet, if he refused, a Sect Guard within Qingyun Pavilion tripping him up would only push the Lost Building further and further out of reach…

“This junior has what virtue or ability to receive such high regard from the Sect Guard?”

Jiang Wang carefully chose his words. “However, I share a congenial spirit with Young Master Feng Chi, and Sect Guard Feng has always held me in high esteem. It was they who brought me into Qingyun Pavilion. To then shift my allegiance elsewhere would truly weigh upon my heart. This is not the conduct of a gentleman, and I believe you would not wish to see such a thing.”

“As a senior, perhaps my words are improper. But how can I bear to see a bright pearl hidden in the dust?” Chi Lu looked at Jiang Wang with great earnestness. “A talent such as yours should not be beholden to others.”

These words were somewhat excessive, falling just short of explicitly labeling Feng Ming a waste. In other words, Chi Lu was certain that Feng Ming’s recent spate of lauded performances was due to the influence of this “Yu Songhai.”

At that time, outside Weining Marquis Manor, Feng Yue and Feng Ming had spoken of having everything. They had not only meant that Feng Ming had become sensible and promising, but also that their entire family’s fortune, spent in payments, had garnered recognition from the Weining Marquis. Weining Marquis Manor would, to some extent, support Feng Yue. And within Qingyun Pavilion itself, they would exclusively support Feng Yue.

One only needed to recall Chi Yue’s fawning over Jiao Xiong to understand the magnitude of this support. Thus, Feng Yue, having suffered immense financial losses, had instead flourished within Qingyun Pavilion during this period, his influence growing day by day. This waxing and waning meant that with Feng Yue’s rise, the ones whose power diminished could only be the other several Sect Guards.

Chi Lu was either truly driven by a love of talent, or perhaps vying for power and gain, and had thus taken notice of Jiang Wang’s potential. In any case, he had named his price. Even if he did not succeed, the words spoken in this moment, if they reached Feng Ming’s ears, would likely be very difficult for someone of Feng Ming’s character to disregard. It had almost entirely blocked Jiang Wang’s normal path to reclaiming the Lost Building of Cloud Top Immortal Palace.

*Might as well… at least you’ve helped me make a decision.* Jiang Wang mused inwardly, a bitter smile playing on his face. “You speak too highly, Young Master Feng Ming possesses restrained divine talent, I am actually far inferior…”

“Do not utter these empty pleasantries with me.” Chi Lu directly interrupted him, his tone utterly overbearing. “Songhai, geniuses of any generation are typically unwilling to be subordinate. You are very intelligent, and exceptionally talented. But within Qingyun Pavilion, it is either Chi or Feng, two lineages stand opposed. You, a person of a different surname, will not reach the mountain peak. However highly Feng Yue values you, can you compare to Feng Ming under his wing? Become my adopted son, and from then on you are a member of the Chi family. Consider it carefully, how boundless your future could be?”

One could not say that Chi Lu lacked sincerity; his sincerity was already overflowing. But Jiang Wang simply wished to flip the table. He had merely come seeking the Lost Building of Cloud Top Immortal Palace, not genuinely seeking development within Qingyun Pavilion. Why was it so endless?

Just as he was pondering what excuse he could find to muddle through, he suddenly heard Feng Ming’s distant shout.

“Songhai! Songhai!”

Truly a timely downpour!

“I’m here!” Jiang Wang hurriedly responded. It was the first time he felt that this fellow Feng Ming was rather endearing.

The interrupted Chi Lu clearly did not think so. He directly ignored Feng Ming’s approaching figure, gazing deeply at Jiang Wang. “I have spoken with you; consider it well.”

“Consider what?” Feng Ming flew down, having just overheard half the sentence, and casually inquired.

“Nothing.” Chi Lu turned his head to look at him. “How did the matter I assigned you go?”

“Already done!” Feng Ming hurriedly replied. “Father told me to come find Songhai, said he had an important matter to assign.”

“What matter?” Chi Lu asked.

“He didn’t say!”

“Good, then you two go.” Chi Lu made no further difficulties, stepping onto the air and directly flying far away.

“What did he want with you?” Feng Ming looked at his retreating back, casually asking.

“Some issues with sword techniques.” Jiang Wang also responded casually. But in his heart, he was already pondering the matter of sneaking into Qingyun Pavilion’s secret area tonight. After Chi Lu’s words today, he had decided to delay no longer. To linger any further would only lead to being entangled in Qingyun Pavilion’s higher echelons! A force of this scale held no real attraction for the current Jiang Wang; on the Cheng Country side, there was still a Lingkong Hall being nurtured.

He looked at Feng Ming. “Sect Guard Feng has a matter to assign to me?”

“Actually, no!” Feng Ming suddenly smiled cunningly, hooking one arm around Jiang Wang’s shoulder, a very intimate gesture. “The surname Chi wants to win you over, ah?”

“Just casual talk!” Jiang Wang smiled bitterly. “I’m not that sought after.”

Feng Ming hooked his shoulder, half serious, half joking. “Following him might not be such a good choice. The next Sect Master is definitely my father, no suspense. Follow us, and that’s called eating well and drinking heartily, big mouthfuls of fish and meat. Another ten years or so, perhaps you’ll also be a Sect Guard. Need to look at his expression?”

*Another ten years to just become a Qingyun Pavilion Sect Guard… if that’s the case, I’m truly a failure…* Jiang Wang muttered inwardly, yet firmly stated, “I actually don’t think that much, power and wealth are like fleeting clouds. I dedicate myself to seeking the Dao; having a place to settle and cultivate properly is enough.”

The junior’s attitude clearly greatly pleased Feng Ming. He smiled, then suddenly said seriously, “There really is a major matter!”

Facing Jiang Wang’s questioning gaze, he looked left and right, then said very mysteriously, “Weining Marquis has already quietly set out for the front lines. They’ll be attacking Jiao within these two days!”

This news was indeed sudden. Jiang Wang had been mingling in Qingyun Pavilion for over half a month, and Yong Country’s tide of reform was also surging forward. After the Weining Marquis’s birthday banquet, as expected, all one Duke and seven Marquises of the entire Yong Country had, in the time that followed, expressed their stance on various occasions, firmly supporting the new policies and pledging loyalty to Han Xu.

The confrontation between old and new power holders, under the solitary suppression of Yong Emperor Han Xu, had not stirred up much chaos. The reason why only one Duke and seven Marquises had successively expressed their stance was because, previously, a Marquis had been used as the “chicken” to warn against the new policies. Huaixiang Marquis Yao Qi, having indulged his family members in evil deeds and forced the death of people in his fief, was directly stripped of one rank of title and demoted to an Earl, told to “reflect on himself.”

Not to mention the profound meaning of the title “Reflecting Earl,” even Shenlin Marquis was stripped of his title just like that, proving Yong Emperor’s determination for reform beyond doubt. Thus, within the court and the country, there was no obstruction, and politics flowed smoothly throughout the nation. During this period, Weining Marquis Manor had also been very low-key. They had closed their doors to visitors, seldom socializing. It had the meaning of washing their hearts and reforming, changing their old ways. Yet, suddenly rushing to the front lines, actually personally leading troops, and the troops were heading towards Jiao Country!

Jiang Wang instantly understood why Feng Ming was so excited. “Looks like your family’s wealth wasn’t spent in vain.” Jiao Wu truly led troops to attack Jiao, and Feng Yue had also truly dispersed his entire family fortune to donate. Then, in the war against Jiao, the contributions of Feng Yue and his son would naturally be significant. It was just like how, initially, Qi Country’s Autumn Kill Army attacked Yang, and Ju Bao Chamber of Commerce bet on the Zhong Xuan family; they could also scheme for the spoils of war.

“Do you think I should go to the front lines?” Feng Ming asked. This was the question he truly wanted Jiang Wang to help him decide. He wanted to participate in this war and maximize the benefits, yet he was also worried about the prospects of this war… After all, Yong Country had just experienced a major defeat, and many Yong Country people had lost their previous blind confidence.

The reason he did not directly discuss this with Feng Yue, but first came to discuss it with Jiang Wang, was precisely so that he could have a better performance in front of Feng Yue. During this period, Feng Yue had become increasingly satisfied with his son, and his attitude was no longer as harsh as before. Feng Ming was tasting the sweetness of it.

Looking at Feng Ming’s eager eyes, Jiang Wang understood that he was now being used completely as a strategist. He hadn’t expected that one day he too would mingle as a “strategist”… he also didn’t know if, the next time he spoke of this matter with Zhong Xuan Sheng, that fatty would laugh or not.

Casting aside the messy thoughts, Jiang Wang thought seriously for a moment, then said, “I think it’s feasible. Firstly, Zhuang Country is already full and needs a period to digest; unless necessary, they will not take any action. If Zhuang Country doesn’t move, Luo Country, being primarily naval, also won’t move. Jing Country’s last attempt to force their way failed, and they probably won’t be willing to make another futile attempt in a short time. The war then is left to the confrontation between Yong Country and Jiao Country; victory and defeat have become simple. Even with the addition of a Chen Country, could Yong Country possibly lose?”

This analysis was spot on. After listening, Feng Ming only felt that this Yu Songhai truly possessed wisdom that could calculate thousands of miles, seeing the world situation as clearly as the lines on his palm. He was simply “my Wang Xi Xu!” Qin Emperor had Wang Xi Xu and then dominated the western border, attacking Chu and taking Jing. *I have Yu Songhai, can I not take down a mere Sect Master position?*

“You are right!” He nodded repeatedly.

“This is the external situation,” Jiang Wang continued his analysis. “From an internal perspective, whether it’s our Yong Country or the Mohist School now supporting His Majesty, everyone needs a victory to prove their choice. So this war allows for victory but not defeat. In terms of momentum, strength, spirit, and reputation, we have no reason to lose. As for Jiao Country, I simply cannot find their reason to win.”

He spoke of “our Yong Country” and “our His Majesty” in a very natural substitution, possessing the pride of a Yong Country citizen to the extreme.

Feng Ming became more and more excited the more he listened. “Great opportunity?”

Jiang Wang nodded heavily, giving him affirmation. “You just need to protect yourself on the battlefield; this war is almost like picking up merit for free!”

*Just treat it as a final benefit for getting along during this period,* he thought inwardly. Because tonight, he had decided to act. And after this action, whether successful or not, it was almost impossible for him to interact with Feng Ming as he did now.