......

Lu Ding stared at his tightly clenched fist.

A smile played on his lips.

"Still playing these games at your age?"

He'd really forced you to swallow your pride.

He immediately added fuel to the fire: "If you've got nothing to say, then get lost. You're blocking my view. Just wait for me to come find you in three months."

In a one-on-one fight, Lu Ding wasn't afraid of him - he just wasn't completely confident of victory.

Now that their side held the advantage, why not be arrogant?

Should they imitate the others and just stand there posturing?

That was what the weak did.

As stated in [Spring's End Casual Talks]: 'Beasts of prey walk alone;

cattle and sheep move in herds. Wild oxen form ranks with their horns to fend off enemies, but separate one from the herd and it can only moo pitifully...'

Great Han was strong enough to play by whatever rules it wanted within the established limits.

But nations like Tai Island and Wei Gao weren't that strong, while countries like Hetu and Zhenla were downright weak.

They could only play by the minimum rules, at most banding together to fight for slightly better standing.

Given this contrast, the constraints of the rules naturally differed.

Kaminoue Kazuo swallowed his anger again and again, grinding his back teeth to powder.

In all his years, he'd never imagined being humiliated by a Qi Refiner who hadn't even reached Heavenly Perception level.

Yet he didn't dare retaliate.

Anywhere else, he'd have leapt up shouting "How dare you challenge a Heavenly Perception cultivator!?" and attacked immediately.

But here, he didn't dare.

Forcing down his rage, he spat out: "Understood. Then in three months, we'll... welcome... Corpse! Shattering! Taishui's! illustrious visit!"

With that, he turned and led his people away without another word.

He didn't even glance at Kunisada Kazuma's corpse.

How pathetic.

With Tai Island gone, Wei Gao's forces naturally wouldn't stay either.

Seeing them prepare to leave,

Chu Gexiao called out: "Leaving just like that?"

The Wei Gao Heavenly Perception cultivator's heart nearly stopped. Even if they joined forces with Tai Island's people who'd just left, they wouldn't stand a chance against Great Han.

If Great Han decided to make trouble now...

Of course, Great Han wouldn't be so uncouth.

And provoking them now would turn the battlefield into complete chaos, forcing desperate measures that would only increase casualties below.

There was no need.

Gradual advancement, boiling the frog slowly - that was the best strategy to minimize losses while securing victory.

"Does Director Chu have any other brilliant suggestions?" the Wei Gao Heavenly Perception cultivator asked.

Chu Gexiao sheathed his spear: "No brilliance here. Just telling you to prepare - we'll be settling accounts regarding Tai Island soon."

"Make sure your Heavenly Perception forces come to the upper battlefield then."

The Wei Gao Heavenly Perception cultivator who'd initially been amused seeing Tai Island embarrassed - happily watching another scapegoat take the heat - wasn't smiling anymore.

Now he remembered he was drowning too.

"Understood!"

The Wei Gao Heavenly Perception cultivator left with a dark expression.

What to do now? Fuck it.

They'd have to approach Tai Island again.

Though Wei Gao had screwed them over this time, if they didn't want mutual destruction, they'd have to keep allying.

After all, they were grasshoppers tied to the same string.

If Great Han picked them off one by one, it'd be over.

With matters settled for now,

Lu Ding rose into the air and saluted Chu Gexiao: "Thank you, Director."

"None of that between family - too formal."

Lu Ding smiled.

As he turned to speak again,

Guan Zhongsheng raised a hand: "Don't. We just exchanged a few moves without real consequences. The island was your doing, the kill was yours - the spoils are yours too."

"Just remember to share drinks with us."

His bandit-hunting instincts were sharp.

One look at Lu Ding and he knew the kid wanted to split the loot.

But since they hadn't contributed meaningfully, claiming shares would be shameless - they had principles.

Family didn't operate on finders-keepers logic anyway.

Besides, as Heavenly Perception cultivators whose cultivation had stagnated, any resources given to them would barely make ripples.

Better to let Lu Ding use everything for his breakthrough.

If Lu Ding could become the youngest third-tier Heavenly Perception cultivator in Great Han's history, they'd all share in that glory.

With things put so plainly, further hesitation from Lu Ding would be unseemly.

"Then thank you, leaders all."

As they finished,

Chu Gexiao approached: "Lu Ding, come with me. We need to talk."

The two stepped aside.

Chu Gexiao explained: "Wei Gao recently floated the idea of attacking Huang River First Dam to distract us."

"749 Headquarters decided we should repay them in kind."

"The importance of Huang River First Dam to Great Han needs no explanation. Even suggesting such an attack is unacceptable!"

This truly required no elaboration.

Lu Ding understood perfectly - his education hadn't been wasted.

If Huang River First Dam were actually attacked, millions could die immediately, with incalculable long-term consequences.

Though Wei Gao's threat was just posturing, the mere thought was criminal.

If such ideas weren't crushed, some fool might actually try it someday.

The results would be catastrophic.

Lu Ding guessed this briefing meant a mission was coming.

"Director, just tell me what you need me to do."

Such quick understanding was truly endearing.

Chu Gexiao felt fortunate - he must have accumulated great karma to have Lu Ding serving under him.

"Given your performance with Deputy Director in Huokang Village's barrier-free traversal, and today's demonstration of immunity to formations..."

"I'm asking if you'd volunteer to infiltrate Wei Gao and disrupt their national evil suppression site."

Lu Ding's barrier-piercing ability wasn't secret after Huokang Village.

The phrasing "would you volunteer" was deliberate, showing no coercion from above.

A considerate approach.

Chu Gexiao added: "Personally, I think your battlefield performance has been too conspicuous lately."

"Plus your three-month duel with Kaminoue Kazuo. To prevent desperate measures against you, I suggest temporary withdrawal until things cool down."

"Of course, this is just my opinion. Withdrawal doesn't necessarily mean the Wei Gao mission - you could simply rest."

"After all, the mission is risky - operating in hostile territory against their national evil suppression site's guardian wyvern won't be easy."