Cha Ming licked his lips, only partially feigning greed. Though he was deep in enemy territory, should he choose to, he could steal the Gold Source Marrow right here and now. There was little anyone could do to stop him. He could even rob the Wang family’s vault while he was at it before fleeing. He thought better of it, however. While doing so would further his own personal goals, they would destroy his chances of incriminating the Wang family. He’d ruin them, of course, but ruining was far from pitting them against the South. Especially since they’d committed so many resources toward ingratiating themselves with the enemy.
“I think I have enough to work with for today,” Cha Ming said. “There are a lot of expensive materials here, but there’s no point in biting off more than I can chew. At least, not until we bring the Breaker to the peak of core grade.”
“You’re thinking you might be able to use some of these to boost it to half-step transcendence?” Tian Zhi asked.
“It’s the only way,” Cha Ming said solemnly. “In my experience, the right treasure, in the right circumstances, overdrawing itself in the process, can destroy a treasure up to two or three grades higher than itself. Any more than that, and it’s almost impossible. If we’re to stand any chance at breaking Southhaven Wall, a half-step-transcendent treasure is what it’ll take. Even then, it might not succeed.”
“It had better work,” Tian Zhi said, his jaw stiffening. “Otherwise we’ll all be held responsible for the result.”
“I can build many things, Boss Tian,” Cha Ming said. “Many of them even seem impossible. But they were never impossible, only dreams that no one had dared have yet. Miracles are fairy tales for the weak-hearted.” He looked to the Gold Source Marrow. “At least you have insurance. That will save some of you, I’m sure.” He had little doubt that this protection didn’t extend to himself.
Someone had to take the blame, after all.
“Why do you keep coming here?” Shao Qiang asked from across the table. Their tight-knit research group was taking a well-deserved break after a few intense days of progress. The contemplative man picked up a strange piece of purple broccoli and gave it a careful bite. “The food here is nutritious, sure, but it’s barely magic grade. It doesn’t get rave reviews either. You could always try many of the other vegetarian restaurants if that’s what you want.”
Cha Ming shrugged. “When it comes to food, I’m a creature of habit. I keep eating at the same place until I’m sick of it.” He grabbed one of the purple broccolis and stuffed it into his mouth. It was both crunchy and spicy, a strange flavor for a vegetable. “They’ve yet to disappoint me so badly.”
He would never confess the truth, of course. Coming here was just a pretense for supervising the now-thriving shop across the street. Both the shop and workshop had gained several employees since he’d left. Mo Ling had made excellent use of her skills. She was succeeding.
Her belly was well rounded now, which was no surprise given that she was seven months pregnant. Despite this, however, she’d spurned most outside help. Something in Southern culture, or the Ji Kingdom’s culture, he noticed, had wanted her to give up on the child early in the pregnancy. She had refused, which had driven a wedge between her and several of her first friends here.
Now, most people simply spoke behind her back. She ignored them and kept close company with a couple she’d befriended several blocks down the road. They helped her with more difficult things in this late term of her pregnancy. Those in her workshop were also very helpful.
“Well, there’s no changing this place, I guess,” He Yin said. “Next time, you’d better ask us first. We’ll settle on a good place together. And it better have meat.”
Cha Ming smiled. “Sure, sure. Though I warn you, I tend to go years without changing places.”
He Yin scoffed. “What are years to cultivators like us? I’m two hundred myself. I’ll wait.”
“Two hundred?” Pan Su scoffed. “Usually it’s women who lie about their age. There’s no way you’re less than two hundred and fifty.”
In her defense, He Yin did look middle aged. Then again, he also had a timeless look in his eyes, a youthfulness that couldn’t be banished. It was very possible that he just aged quicker than most, despite his cultivation.
“I’m pretty sure I’m the youngest here,” Cha Ming said, stretching himself out comfortably.
“But you look old, because you broke through so late,” Pan Su said, sniffing.
“You might look young, but you like to coop yourself up while you research,” Shao Qiang said with a light chuckle. “You’re essentially a curmudgeon, an honorary member of our retirement home.”
“To old age, and wonderful company,” Cha Ming said, holding up his cup of wine. The three others cheered and drank. How am I going to deal with these three? he thought. They’re not like Tian Zhi or Director Yong. They didn’t betray the North. They’re just researchers trying to make a living.
That being said, how was he going to instigate the Spirit Temple and the Wang family in the first place? Sparking a fight between them and the Ji royal family would be easy. All it would take was a disastrously unsuccessful trial with many casualties. But when it came to the Spirit Temple, he couldn’t infiltrate them or even see many of their members. If they wanted to run away from him, he’d have no chance at catching them. More to the point, they’d see the truth behind his infiltration in the blink of an eye if he did anything brash.
I suppose I could just kill a bunch of them. Or destroy their temple, he thought. Though they would know who was behind it almost immediately, the Blackthorn
