“Back then, you said you wanted this school to become a hidden blade, and I disagreed. I want to make it a knife held against their necks, so they feel fearful and anxious, like walking on thin ice, at every moment,” Xiao Shun said.
Then he changed the topic and continued: “However, I want to be the one holding the knife. You can’t interfere, because I don’t want to become your knife.”
Song Qingzhou was stunned for a moment, then solemnly said: “Then how can we ensure that the school under your command won’t become another Old School Society?”
Xiao Shun smiled and said: “I have no interest in fame or fortune, nor any desire to become immortalized. After I avenge this blood feud, I will naturally hand over the knife to you. As for how you plan to deal with it, that will be your business.”
“You know, power can lead people astray, just like desire, it will grow more and more inflated. The vast majority of people, once they obtain power, will not want to let go of it.” Song Qingzhou cautiously said.
“Mr. Song can believe it or not, but without your school, I would still overthrow them on my own. And I’m confident I can do it.” Xiao Shun said firmly.
As someone from the system, Song Qingzhou would find it much more convenient to utilize his energy. Xiao Shun hoped to openly contend with the Old School Society.
Song Qingzhou hesitated for a while, then said: “This matter is too big. I need to consult my superiors.”
“If possible, I hope I can meet the person behind Mr. Song in person.” Xiao Shun said earnestly.
Song Qingzhou was slightly stunned. After working together for years, even he rarely saw the boss. Still, he promised: “If there is a chance, I will consult my boss.”
Xiao Shun had lost to Gu Baiyi. Song Qingzhou would not underestimate him.
Because Gu Baiyi was ranked in the top ten within the Old School Society, possibly not even tenth place. Losing to someone like him did not mean Xiao Shun was weak.
From Song Linger’s words and the scene, one could imagine how fierce the battle must have been. At least it looked like Xiao Shun could contend against him.
The Feng family was in power and extremely wealthy. Yet they still struggled to recruit high-level cultivators. The most important reason was their inability to provide what cultivators needed most – pills and cultivation techniques to improve their skills.
In this regard, the Old School Society held an absolute monopoly. Many important pills could not be bought even with money. This was the main reason the Old School Society could recruit so many powerful cultivators.
Song Qingzhou had seen the warehouse in the compound and asked Song Linger about it. So he knew Xiao Shun was capable of producing pills. He also witnessed Song Linger’s rapid cultivation improvement. This alone was enough for the Feng family to give sufficient consideration.
However, handing full control of the school to Xiao Shun still required careful consultation with the Feng family. The Feng family in power naturally understood the attraction power held over an individual.
If they handed over children recruited from all over the country for their cultivator potential to Xiao Shun, giving him full authority, would it nurture disaster and birth another Old School Society? This was something the Feng family needed to consider carefully.
Xiao Shun did not know who Song Qingzhou represented exactly. But the other party clearly represented the government, or at least a part of it. He did not want to be constrained by all their rules and regulations. So he had to fight for the greatest autonomy.
Seeing Song Qingzhou’s difficulty, Xiao Shun smiled and said, “Mr. Song, I actually have a proposal. You can suggest it to your boss when you return. As an institution for you to cultivate core cultivators, I can provide full support. But I want to establish an organization similar to the Old School Society myself. You need to provide the necessary support.”
“You operate in the shadows, I in the open. Your trained forces are for precaution. My organization is to recruit existing cultivators and weaken the Old School Society’s strength.”
“We support each other yet don’t interfere. Isn’t that a win-win?”
“Of course, my organization has only one purpose – to overthrow the Old School Society. Our goals align in this. Once the goal is achieved, I will hand it over to you.”
He could establish an organization like the Old School Society himself. But without government backing, it might face many obstacles. Especially with the Old School Society precedent, the government would unlikely welcome another similar organization.
Song Qingzhou pondered and said, “Your proposal sounds good. If we can weaken the Old School Society as soon as possible, I believe my boss will consider it carefully.”
Xiao Shun’s proposal was clearly more effective. Establishing a school was to compete with the Old School Society for new cultivator resources, a passive and lengthy process.
If Xiao Shun could really weaken the Old School Society proactively, it was indeed a good suggestion.
After chatting for a while, Song Qingzhou left.
He originally wanted to take Song Linger with him, worried there would be no one to look after her here. But Song Linger insisted on staying. Song Qingzhou could only let it go.
“Master, are you really going against the Old School Society?” Song Linger asked.
“Didn’t you say to rebuild another Old School Society to defeat them?” Xiao Shun said with a smile.
“I was angry then. Why should they expel you? That’s why I said that.”
“I took it seriously. You said to defeat them, so we’ll defeat them.” Xiao Shun looked at her and casually said, “You were injured for no reason. They must pay for this debt with their lives.”
From his tone, although spoken lightly, Duan Jia and Song Linger could sense the immense determination contained within. He was serious.
Song Linger felt a warmth surging in her heart. She knew Xiao Shun made this decision partly because of her.
“Master, once I recover, I will diligently cultivate and blast them in the future.” Song Linger stubbornly lifted her chin and said.
She believed Xiao Shun could do it, though unsure where this belief came from. They had just experienced defeat together.
That Gu Baiyi was only one person in the Old School Society. From Song Qingzhou’s words, the Old School Society was clearly a behemoth, an extremely powerful one. There were likely many more as strong as Gu Baiyi they encountered that day.
Yet she still believed.
“When is Tang Shishi coming?”
Xiao Shun smiled and asked. Seeing the darkening sky, it was almost dinner time. He should head home too. Leaving Song Linger alone here was inappropriate.
“What? Mr. Xiao misses me?”
Right after Xiao Shun spoke, Tang Shishi’s voice rang out from outside. His body was still recovering, his senses much weaker than before.
And Tang Shishi’s footsteps were light. He hadn’t heard her enter the yard at all.
Soon he saw her walking in carrying bags of snacks.