“Ah, Wang Yiwu’s side truly possesses cunning minds!” Chong Xuan Sheng sighed, his words laced with admiration.

Jiang Wang offered no verbal response, instead silently delving into the Taixu Illusion Realm. Within moments, he sent forth a volley of challenges to Chong Xuan Sheng on the Sword Discussion Platform.

Sensing this unspoken prodding, Chong Xuan Sheng could no longer maintain his air of mystery. Clearing his throat, he spoke, “Wang Yiwu’s actions against Bao Zhongqing’s businesses – think on it, what drawback could there possibly be?”

Unwilling to play along and feign ignorance to inflate the fatty’s ego, Jiang Wang remained silent.

Undeterred by the lack of response, the fatty continued, oblivious to any awkwardness, “None, is there? He’s reaped the benefits he sought. As for gaining an enemy… the Chong Xuan and Bao families are already sworn adversaries, are they not? His actions, performed on Chong Xuan Zun’s behalf, bring only gain, no loss. And his aim, I assure you, is far beyond such meager interests.”

“So, what is his true purpose?”

Chong Xuan Sheng, both posing the question and answering it himself, seemed quite pleased with his own analysis. “Perhaps we should approach this from a different angle. From Bao Zhongqing’s perspective, if he sought to retaliate against Wang Yiwu, where would he best begin? Who is Wang Yiwu’s primary adversary at present?”

Understanding dawned upon Jiang Wang. “You mean, Wang Yiwu is deliberately forcing Bao Zhongqing to seek alliance with you? Compelling him to seek your friendship?”

Chong Xuan Sheng let out a cold laugh. “Bao Zhongqing’s side must also possess a so-called ‘cunning mind,’ one who would prompt him to consider this very direction.”

Jiang Wang’s thoughts had aligned with Chong Xuan Sheng’s. However, Fourteen, who had remained steadfastly upright, leaning on his heavy sword, subtly tapped its hilt.

Having been together since childhood, how could Chong Xuan Sheng not understand this companion?

Knowing in his heart that Fourteen had likely been wracking his brain over this, he decided to elaborate. “Setting aside the superficialities, let us examine the core of the matter. Given the fire-and-water relationship between the Bao and Chong Xuan families, what kind of person would the Bao family support as the Chong Xuan family head? An exceptionally capable one, or an incompetent one?”

Fourteen nodded, his understanding finally solidifying. So that was it!

If Bao Zhongqing were to visit and offer friendship, and Chong Xuan Sheng, unwilling to make an enemy or coveting powerful assistance, were to accept, he would fall straight into the trap!

Aligning oneself with the Bao family, during the contention for the Chong Xuan family head position, if not the most detrimental action, was assuredly among them. It wasn’t about engaging in a death feud with the Bao family from the Chong Xuan family’s standpoint, but rather that the Bao family’s support itself implied that you were not a significant threat to them!

Therefore, Chong Xuan Sheng, without a second thought, shut the door to visitors, leaving no room for pleasantries. He directly told Bao Zhongqing to depart.

Ostensibly, this was to declare his stance as a member of the Chong Xuan family. In reality, it was to subtly inform those ‘cunning minds’ who saw through the scheme that this was Wang Yiwu’s stratagem – for why else would I, Chong Xuan Sheng, be so incensed?

As for those who could not perceive this deeper layer, they would likely merely applaud Chong Xuan Sheng’s resolute stance.

Thus, Wang Yiwu’s offensive was easily and simply countered.

To be able to dissect such a complex situation is not the most astonishing feat. The most astonishing aspect is that while many still pondered the sudden arrival of Bao Zhongqing, this fatty could immediately grasp the intricacies of the situation.

Jiang Wang, mentally admitting that he was likely far from being able to outwit this fatty, found himself once again sending a barrage of challenges in the Taixu Illusion Realm. Surely, he needed an outlet to compensate for this intellectual gap, right?

Only…

Recalling Bao Zhongqing’s appearance as he finally drove away.

Jiang Wang mused, “Is Bao Zhongqing truly that simple?”

A person who, after losing face entirely, was still willing to personally drive the carriage to take his subordinates back amidst his anger… Was that rage genuine? And was he truly so easily provoked?

“Bao Mazi merely conceals his abilities; he is habitually fond of this charade,” Chong Xuan Sheng said with a hint of contempt. That air of arrogant superiority, its origin was unknown. As if he had completely forgotten that he himself had also spent a long time concealing his true capabilities.

The more time Jiang Wang spent with Chong Xuan Sheng, the more he felt that the first time he had met Chong Xuan Chuliang, this Dingyuan Marquis’s assessment of Chong Xuan Sheng was incredibly accurate. This child’s greatest advantage compared to Chong Xuan Zun truly was his thick skin.

“You understand Bao Zhongqing quite well?” Jiang Wang inquired.

“With aspirations for the family, it is impossible not to understand the Bao family. The same holds true for Bao Zhongqing,” Chong Xuan Sheng’s words suddenly carried a newfound dominance. “If he harbors ambitions to control the Bao family, it is impossible for him not to have studied me, Chong Xuan Sheng!”

“However, cleverness is something that cannot truly be hidden,” Chong Xuan Sheng tapped his temple with a bent finger. “Especially for someone like myself, who possesses intellect.”

Who was he mocking?

Jiang Wang seemingly casually glanced at Fourteen, only to find himself meeting Fourteen’s gaze.

Jiang Wang: ……

Fourteen: ……

Chong Xuan Sheng suppressed the laughter in his heart, but to avoid a potential beating, he continued his explanation in a low-key manner. “Often, do not look at the outward appearances, how he loses face, how he suffers setbacks. As long as you observe the ultimate impact of his every choice, whether it is truly beneficial or detrimental, then you can discern whether this person is genuinely foolish or merely feigning it.”

“Returning to the matter at hand,” Chong Xuan Sheng looked at Jiang Wang. “You did not kill Bao Zhongqing’s subordinates; I thought you had seen through it!”

Jiang Wang silently rolled his eyes.

This was Linzi! How could he act without any restraint? To casually kill this person or that person – how could he be so reckless?

Chong Xuan Sheng merely chuckled. “Bao Zhongqing’s visit to seek friendship – what did he truly lose?”

Jiang Wang tentatively offered, “Face? Materials?”

“What is face considered a loss!” Chong Xuan Sheng snorted with strange confidence, his disdain palpable.

He continued, “Was this batch of materials a loss? Left in my hands, it strengthens my hand against Wang Yiwu. In fact, it also achieved his objective of retaliating against Wang Yiwu, did it not?”

“Harm to others without benefit to oneself, and even willing to enrich you?” This time, Jiang Wang felt that Bao Zhongqing was indeed quite ruthless.

“Do you know what this indicates?”

Chong Xuan Sheng, full of resentment, answered his own question. “It shows that in his heart, I am still not as capable as Chong Xuan Zun. In the contention for the Chong Xuan family head position, he would indeed rather see me win…”

Ah, so that was it!

No wonder this fatty displayed such anger, such rudeness. It seemed not entirely a performance!

“Your meaning is, although I have severely offended Bao Zhongqing, I have also not worked against Chong Xuan Sheng?”

This voice was not particularly loud, yet it possessed an irresistible aura, making it impossible to ignore, demanding one’s full attention.

The owner of the voice had a long face and a high nose, sitting with a spine as straight as iron. At a glance, he appeared to be a person of extreme discipline.

And sitting opposite him, in casual clothes, with confident eyes, was Wen Lianmu, the military scribe of the Tianfu Army.

Wang Yiwu’s background was humble, his origins low. It was through the grand military martial arts performance that he was noticed by Jiang Mengxiong.

Of course, after being accepted as Jiang Mengxiong’s personal disciple, his origin was no longer an issue.

Like the protagonist in a storytelling saga, without reliance, he forged his own path with a pair of fists. Relying on the most basic military cultivation methods, he rose from ordinary troops to elite forces, and even reached the prestigious Tianfu Army, the first of the Qi Army’s nine battalions. He defeated countless descendants of military families, darlings of the military camp, and became the most dazzling new star in the Great Qi military.

Originally, becoming the closed-door disciple of the Great Qi military god, Jiang Mengxiong, was thought to be his peak.

But he again forcefully shattered historical limits in the Tongtian Realm, one could say he had already begun to inscribe his own legend.

Such a character, his brilliance was beyond question.

Thus, when he spoke so directly, even Wen Lianmu, who was also a rare talent in the military in recent years, felt a hint of unease.