The night in the City of Chaos was long and drenched in blood.
The flames at the Myriad Treasures Pavilion, having incinerated all its luxury and filthy conspiracies, were finally extinguished by a sudden summer downpour. Yet the ashes it left behind remained, smoldering and acrid.
The next morning, as the first feeble rays of sunlight illuminated the city of sin, the entire City of Chaos was truly shaken. News of the grand battle last night, and of the Vô Sect wiping out the enemy's lair right under their noses, became a massive earthquake.
The Crazy Sand Gang, after having their Vice Boss assassinated, their largest casino robbed, and suffering catastrophic losses in a chaotic melee, had completely collapsed. Gang Boss Manh Tam, it was said, upon sobering up and learning that his life's work had gone up in smoke, violently coughed up blood. His cultivation base was severely damaged, reducing him entirely to a paper tiger.
The Phantom Shadow Pavilion and the Black Dragon Stronghold, the two old foxes, finally regained their senses after a night of biting and tearing at one another. To their absolute horror, they realized that from the very beginning, everyone had been led by the nose by an invisible hand. That person had exploited their greed and paranoia to set up a flawless chessboard, turning them all into mere chess pieces in his grasp.
The name "Vô Sect" and the mysterious Lord bearing the character "VÔ", in the span of a single night, had transformed from a newly risen faction into an existence that made everyone feel deep wariness and terror. No one knew who he was, no one knew where he came from. He was like a phantom emerging from the void, stirring up the entire chessboard, and then vanishing back into the void, leaving behind only a chaotic battlefield.
Within the safe house in the blacksmithing district, Tran Kien sat cross-legged, quietly regulating his breathing. Although the grand upheaval and his subsequent escape did not involve drawn-out, grueling combat, the sheer expenditure of his mental energy and Primordial Chaos Qi was immense.
After a day and a night of silent meditation, when his cultivation base had fully recovered to its peak state, he slowly opened his eyes.
He didn't immediately rush to review his plans. He was doing something else.
He was "digesting".
Within his mind, the entire chessboard of the City of Chaos was clearly replayed. He analyzed his every move and every reaction of the enemy. The stratagem of 'Maliciously Framing Another' at the open-air market. 'Muddying the Waters to Catch the Fish' at the Myriad Treasures Pavilion. And finally, 'The Guest Usurping the Host' and 'Draining the Pond to Catch the Fish' to raze the Black Dragon Stronghold's lair.
He recognized his successes, but he also saw the flaws and the elements of sheer luck involved. Although his stratagems were brilliant, they still contained too many openings. If Blood Shadow hadn't been so arrogant, or if the Blood Demoness hadn't been so greedy, the plan wouldn't have succeeded so easily.
He knew that against true old foxes like Marquis Vinh An, or old monsters like Elder Ve, these schemes were still far too immature. He needed to become more cautious, to calculate with even greater profoundness.
Having concluded his reflection, Tran Kien finally brought out his true spoils of war.
First were the ledgers of the Black Dragon Stronghold. Inside were recorded countless filthy transactions, vicious conspiracies, and most importantly, a list of Imperial Court officials who had been bought off by Marquis Vinh An and the stronghold. This wasn't just a ledger of debts; it was a lethal saber capable of severing the heads of countless officials and causing a true earthquake in the political arena of Dai Viet. Tran Kien carefully stored it away.
This saber must wait for the most opportune moment before it is drawn.
Second, all the Spirit Stones and bank notes seized from the treasuries of the Crazy Sand Gang and the Black Dragon Stronghold. An astronomical sum, sufficient to build a true, standing army.
Finally, he looked toward Thiet Phu and the ten Blood Fiend Guard Captains standing silently in the corner of the room. This was his greatest harvest. An army that knew only absolute obedience, the sharpest of daggers concealed in the shadows.
"Lord," Thiet Phu stepped forward respectfully. "The Crazy Sand Gang is completely dissolved. Their territory in the eastern district is an ownerless piece of meat. Should we..."
"There's no rush," Tran Kien shook his head. "Spoiled meat will only attract vultures. Now is not the time for us to reveal ourselves and fight over scraps. I want you to do something else."
He brought out a large portion of the bank notes. "Use this money to do two things. First, buy out all the shops, taverns, and gambling dens in the eastern district whose owners are looking to sell. But do not use the name of the Vô Sect. Use the guise of ordinary merchants. I want us to soundlessly seize control of the economic bloodline of this entire district."
"Second," he continued, "use the remaining funds to recruit. Not Cultivators. Recruit the orphans and the helpless beggar children in this City of Chaos."
"Recruit them?" Thiet Phu was astounded. "Lord, those people don't even have the strength to tie up a chicken. What use is there in recruiting them?"
"Only a blank sheet of paper can paint the most beautiful picture," Tran Kien replied, his gaze profound. "I do not need those who are accustomed to slaughter. I need absolute loyalty. I need eyes and ears that can slip into every nook and cranny of this city without anyone noticing. I will train them myself, turning them into a true intelligence net and a reserve force for the future Blood Fiend Guards."
Sowing seeds. He was beginning to plant the very first seeds for his underground empire. A stratagem looking far into the future, a preparation for the even grander chessboards yet to come.
Thiet Phu froze. He finally understood. The vision of this Lord had already far surpassed the confines of this small City of Chaos.
"This subordinate obeys the command!" he replied solemnly, a feeling of ultimate reverence surging in his heart.
After Thiet Phu left to execute the plan, Tran Kien was left alone in the secret chamber.
He knew that from now on, he wouldn't have much time to undergo bitter cultivation alone. He was now a hegemon of a domain; his every decision concerned the life and death of hundreds.
He raised his head, gazing toward the distant Imperial Capital.
Uncle Sword, Lam Vy, wait for me, he thought to himself. When I return, I won't just bring a saber. I will bring a tempest.
The wind in the City of Chaos had already risen. And that tempest was beginning to form from the darkest alleyways, rising straight out of the ashes of war.