Three days after Chen Xuan left, the air in the servant quarters felt tight—
like an invisible wire pulled to its limit.
Wang Duobao returned from the market with a face as dark as storm clouds.
"Brother Jiang," he said through clenched teeth, "our stall got smashed."
Jiang Muchen looked up from Introductory Array Theory.
"Tell me."
"They accused us of selling fake medicine," Wang said. "Three people from the Enforcement Hall showed up the moment I set up this morning. Confiscated everything. Said our supply was 'problematic' and needed investigation."
"Anyone hurt?"
"No. Just the stall gone." Wang wiped his face. "I asked around. Those three… they've drunk with Chen Xuan before."
As expected.
Jiang Muchen closed the book and stood. "Losses?"
"Barely twenty spirit stones in materials. But the real problem—" Wang hesitated, "—the market's closed to us. Other vendors won't touch us now. No one wants trouble with Enforcement."
Silence filled the courtyard.
Lu Hanshan's grip tightened on his blade. Zhou Xiaohuan and Zheng Xiaoqi looked pale.
"Brother Jiang… what now?" Wang asked.
"No rush." Jiang Muchen glanced toward the courtyard gate. In the shade beyond, a few Outer Sect disciples lingered, eyes drifting their way.
The watchers were still there.
He returned inside and dragged a wooden chest from beneath the bed. Inside: sorted herbs, bottled pills—and the intact Nine-Revolution Soul-Returning Grass.
"Duobao, suspend market business," Jiang said.
"Xiaoqi, stay away from the Refining Hall for now.
Hanshan, keep training. Don't leave the area."
"So we just… hide?" Lu Hanshan frowned.
"No," Jiang said calmly. "We wait."
"Wait for what?"
"For them to get impatient." Jiang shut the chest. "Chen Xuan smashed the stall to force us to bow. If we panic, we lose."
"But we can't wait forever—"
"We won't." Jiang smiled faintly. "You're forgetting something."
Everyone paused.
"The Soul-Stabilizing Pills," Jiang said.
"Chen Xuan's brother needs them. Zhang Yi needs soul-nourishing wood. And they're not the only ones. When you hold what others need, they are the ones who wait."
He poured himself water and turned to Zhou Xiaohuan.
"Go pass a message to Senior Brother Zhang. Tell him our stall was destroyed. We can't source ingredients. Next month's pills… might not be ready."
Zhou's eyes lit up. "Got it."
"Sound aggrieved," Jiang added. "Not angry. Say we're powerless."
She nodded and ran.
Wang slapped his thigh. "Brilliant. Zhang Yi owes us already. He won't sit still after hearing this."
"Exactly."
Jiang reopened Introductory Array Theory.
Yellowed pages. Clean diagrams. Basic formations—gathering arrays, barrier arrays, common illusion traps.
Simple. Practical.
His finger paused over a sketch: a Lost Path Array. Cheap materials. Small range. Infuriatingly effective.
Footsteps sounded outside.
Not Zhou.
A middle-aged man in a green administrator's robe entered, flanked by two attendants. Thin eyes. Sharp voice.
"You're Jiang Muchen?"
"Yes. May I ask—"
"Zhao, Task Hall administrator." He flashed a token. "Assignment for you."
He read from a slip of paper:
"Block C, East Third Alley. Three residences affected by spiritual disturbances. Night patrol and investigation required. Five days. Two hours nightly. Ten contribution points per person."
He handed it over.
Jiang scanned it.
Block C sat at the edge of the Outer Gate—poor families, servant households. Low spiritual density. Minor hauntings weren't unheard of.
But this task…
"Administrator Zhao," Jiang asked politely, "was this assigned directly by the Hall Master?"
Zhao's eyes narrowed. "Questions?"
"None," Jiang bowed. "We accept. We'll go tonight."
Zhao snorted. "Good."
When he left, Wang hissed, "This is a setup! That area's messy—night patrols there are asking for trouble!"
"I know," Jiang said calmly. "That's why we go."
"Why?"
"Because it's 'the Hall Master's order.'" Jiang folded the slip.
"When we obey orders and something goes wrong… who bears responsibility?"
Understanding dawned.
That evening, Zhou returned.
"Senior Brother Zhang looked furious," she whispered. "He said he'd handle it. Told you to be careful—especially at night."
Jiang smiled.
Debts were being paid already.
Night fell.
Five figures moved through the Outer Sect toward Block C.
The farther east they went, the poorer the buildings became. By the time they reached East Third Alley, moonlight barely touched the puddled dirt road.
The alley smelled of mold and rot.
Halfway in, a door creaked open.
A bloodshot eye stared at them—then vanished.
First house: a collapsed wall, broken talismans.
A well bound with rotting red rope.
"The aura's heavy," Lu Hanshan said.
Jiang listened.
"There's something in the well."
A pale hand clawed up.
A water corpse—bloated, soaked, resentful.
"Qi Refining, level one or two," Jiang said quickly. "Hanshan, main attack. Duobao, prep traps."
Steel rang. Flames burst.
The corpse only fell when its resentment core was pierced.
Second house: no corpse—only a child-shaped wraith.
"Fire… it hurt…" it whispered.
An Anima-Calming Talisman sent it on its way.
The third house stood at the end of the alley.
Two stories. Talismans layered thick—most expired.
Jiang halted.
Footsteps.
Voices.
"…He'll come tonight. Zhao confirmed it."
"Chen Xuan said make it clean. Fifty spirit stones each."
Jiang peered through debris.
Liu San. A scarred thug. Chen Xuan's dogs.
"They're setting a kill zone," Wang whispered.
"Good," Jiang said softly. "Let's see it."
Inside the building, an Yin Slaughter Array was being laid.
Jiang recognized it instantly.
He kicked the door open.
Black mist surged.
And then—
He calmly placed spirit stones in a counter-formation.
The black mist reversed.
Drained. Converted.
The array collapsed.
Silence.
"Now," Jiang said gently, "we talk."
Blades and crossbows came up.
Liu San broke fast.
"It was Chen Xuan! He paid us!"
Proof followed. Mid-grade spirit stones. His mark.
Enough.
"Want to live?" Jiang asked.
Liu San nodded frantically.
"Then do something for me."
When it was over, the night felt colder.
"Tomorrow," Jiang said, gazing out the window,
"the Enforcement Hall will investigate. Zhang Yi and the Mutual Aid Society will testify."
He smiled—humble, harmless.
"We're servants. Weak. Bullied."
"We cry for justice."
Moonlight caught his eyes.
Cold. Clear.
Dao of Leverage — Entry Fifty-Four
The sharpest blade is never the one in your hand.
It's the one you place in someone else's—
and point toward your enemy.