124: Chapter 124 The Game Begins

"Countering action with stillness?"

Tang An was very confused by this solution. "Are we just going to endure it like this? Brother Feng, this isn't your style at all!"

"You killed Song Ming on the spot before."

"That was then, and this is now."

Chu Feng shook his head, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. "Back then, we had nothing; we were the barefooted who didn't fear those with shoes."

"But things are different now. I have this position on Duobao Peak, the trust of my Revered Master, and too many eyes watching me. One wrong step could lead to eternal damnation."

He stood up, walked to the window, and gazed at the distant, rolling mountains, slowly saying, "I am now the First Deacon of Duobao Peak. I represent not only myself but also Duobao Peak and even my Revered Master's reputation."

"If I make a big fuss over a small matter, it will only make people think I'm impulsive and unable to handle great responsibilities."

"Those Elders who are watching and those neutral Disciples will all be disappointed in me."

Tang An fell silent. He understood Chu Feng's meaning, but he still felt aggrieved.

Chu Feng turned to look at Tang An and said in a heavy voice, "What they're doing now is just minor squabbling; the real killing move is still to come."

"What we need to do is wait for them to reveal a weakness, then strike for a certain kill."

"What you need to do now isn't to act impulsively, but to stabilize the situation, collect evidence, and figure out our opponents."

Tang An was still a bit confused but couldn't help asking, "Then what exactly should we do now? We can't just do nothing, right? The brothers are all waiting anxiously!!"

Chu Feng walked back to the desk, took out a Jade Slip, quickly recorded some content, and handed it to Tang An.

"First, go back and tell the brothers to be patient for now and not to clash with others easily. For the injured brothers, send them Medicinal Pills and Spirit Stones so they can recover well."

"Second, secretly investigate who is truly with us and who are the fence-sitters. A moment of crisis is the perfect time to see people's true hearts."

"Third, report it to the Law Enforcement Hall."

"Remember, the evidence must be solid. Time, place, people, and the sequence of events—not a single detail can be missing."

"Records of the injured Disciples' wounds, an appraisal list of the damaged items, witness testimonies, and even footage from Recording Stones—organize and file everything, then categorize and label them according to the Sect's laws and regulations."

"Oh! I get it! Brother Feng, you're the brilliant one!"

After hearing Chu Feng say so much, Tang An finally reacted, giving a thumbs up as a look of realization flashed in his eyes.

"Once these enemies make a mistake, we can use the Law Enforcement Hall to deal with them! When the Law Enforcement Hall acts, it's reasonable, fair, and follows the rules. No one will be able to find fault with it!"

"Why didn't I think of that before? I was thinking of taking people to fight them head-on. That was so stupid! Why should we do it ourselves? Isn't it even better to let the Sect's rules deal with them?"

Chu Feng looked at Tang An, the corners of his mouth curling slightly, but his gaze remained serious, his tone carrying an unquestionable firmness. "Old Tang, you must remember that a true hunter is never in a hurry to strike."

"They only wait patiently for the prey to walk into the trap themselves."

"And now, we only need to wait for the enemy to step into the trap we've set, one step at a time."

He sat back down, took a sip of tea, and continued, "Look at this Duobao Sect. It seems calm on the surface, but in reality, there are surging undercurrents."

"Every peak and every faction has its own schemes."

"If we lose our composure and act impulsively, we'll become the target of public criticism and be besieged by everyone."

"But if we counter action with stillness, let them move first and let them make mistakes, then the situation will be completely different."

Chu Feng's gaze became sharp. "The Law Enforcement Hall is our blade."

"This blade is held by the Sect; it's incredibly sharp, but it needs someone to provide a proper reason before it will be unsheathed."

"What we need to do is provide that reason—a reason they can't refuse and must act upon."

"Alright!"

Tang An's eyes were full of admiration. "Brother Feng, you're amazing. This is one link after another; you've calculated everyone into your plan!"

He intentionally shivered, acting scared. "Fortunately, you're a man of loyalty and friendship. Otherwise, I'd be afraid of you selling me out one day! I'd probably still be helping you count the money!"

"Hahaha!"

Hearing Tang An's words, Chu Feng laughed. "Sell you to whom? Who could afford the price of the Tang Family's young Revered Master?"

"Could it be that some Young Miss has taken a fancy to you and wants to trade Spirit Stones for you? Then I'd have to set a high price—it wouldn't work for less than a hundred thousand Top-Grade Spirit Stones!"

Seeing Chu Feng's relaxed manner, the last bit of worry in Tang An's heart dissipated.

It seemed Brother Feng really didn't take the current predicament seriously; everything was under his control.

This composure and confidence made Tang An feel involuntarily at ease as well.

"Alright! It's settled then!"

Chu Feng smiled, then restrained his smile as his expression turned serious. "The evidence must be solid to give the Law Enforcement Hall a legitimate reason to act."

"Remember, we aren't making false accusations; we are merely stating the facts."

"Stating the facts of how those people violated the Sect rules and oppressed their fellow Disciples."

"Understood!" Tang An nodded heavily.

"By the way, what has your Elder brother been busy with lately?"

Chu Feng suddenly changed the subject and asked about Tang Chuan's situation.

This seemingly casual inquiry was actually very meaningful. Tang Chuan was the third-ranked Heaven-Grade True Disciple and also a competitor for the position of Saint. Chu Feng needed to know the movements of all potential rivals.

"Hehe!"

At the mention of his Elder brother, Tang An's eyes flashed with excitement, and he clenched his fist. "My big brother is still at the front lines! A few days ago, he single-handedly took down an outpost of the Outer Boundary Demon Sect and killed seven Golden Core Demonic Cultivators."

"He's now just one step away from the Nascent Soul stage!"

Having said this, Tang An immediately began to state his neutral stance. "When the time comes for him to compete with you for the Saint position, I won't take sides!"

"Of course!"

Chu Feng patted Tang An's shoulder and laughed. "Don't worry! My competition with your Elder brother for the Saint position will be a fair one, open and honorable. I'll never use the kind of underhanded, petty tricks those wretched people use!"

At this point, a hint of disgust flashed in Chu Feng's eyes.

In his view, although the Duobao Sect was inclusive of all sorts of Artistic Daos and factions...

...the practice of using insidious means against fellow Disciples really shouldn't appear among the Sect's upper echelons.

For a Sect to develop long-term, it relied on strength, the Legacy of its Dao, and an environment of fair competition.

"This simply lowers the class of the Duobao Sect."

Chu Feng shook his head, his tone tinged with regret. "If everyone plays at conspiracies and schemes to crush one another, then this Sect isn't far from decline."

"True strength lies in open strategy and crushing opponents with honorable power."

"Mm! You two compete fairly!" Tang An nodded, but his mind was on something else.