With the joint efforts of the residents and the shopkeepers, they soon cleared the streets.

Unwilling to get caught up in the aftermath, Ikasa and the company left the scene without any more delay. They had a smooth journey to the Villa after the initial hiccup.

However, this relative normalcy did not lull Ikasa into relaxing. Throughout the journey, he was mulling over his options.

‘This city is less like Sal City and more like a tamer version of Beech City.’

The more he thought about it, the more he felt like he had jumped from steaming water into a hot pan. The silent glower from the person he had reassured just a few days back didn’t help.

Since he had already made his choice, he could only endure it with a smile.

As he was counting breaths to avoid Xin Ruo’s intense glare, the carriage came to a halt. He jumped out of the carriage with haste. Before him, he saw a majestic Villa, much more extensive and spacious than his mansion in Sal City.

Zhu Zan was excited to guide these newcomers and show off the wealth bestowed upon them by his master. But, except kids, no one took him up on his offer.

Ikasa instructed Caretaker Han to unpack his luggage in one of the corner bedrooms of the right-wing of the Villa.

Feng Yan, Xin Ruo, and Ikasa gathered in the Study and began their brainstorming session with grim faces.

“The situation here is much more volatile than we imagined on our way. Now, we can either stay and support City Lord Zhen, giving him an edge, or try our luck at some other city.”

Ikasa revealed the two options he had come up with on the way. His two companions were unimpressed with both of them.

“Did either of you know the dire state of the situation in this City before we set sail?” Xin Ruo queried, looking at the two of them with suspicion.

“Xin Ruo!” Feng Yan gritted his teeth at his daughter when he saw her doubt them even in such a precarious situation.

Ikasa also sighed. He knew where she was coming from, but that did not justify her cynical outlook. There was only one way to make her like Donna; Giving her the power and means to make informed decisions.

What better way to empower her than being in charge of intelligence gathering?

“No, we did not. I shared all the information we had on Birch City with you. Today’s incident was as much a surprise for me as it was for you.”

He gently placed his hand on the back of her hand.

“I am about to assign you a vital job. Since you always want to be in the know, work with Yin Ying. She is building an information network on my orders. If you can get her to trust you, you will be the one providing me information and not the other way round.”

Xin Ruo looked at him with gratitude. She knew her paranoia was unfair to Ikasa, but she couldn’t help it. Nevertheless, she now had a goal to strive towards because of this solution.

If she kept being suspicious of the two, she would end up alienating them. This way, she had a chance to become indispensable in the decision-making process.

A shine returned to Xin Ruo’s dispirited eyes. She was now focused on finding a solution instead of becoming a problem herself.

Feng Yan saw Ikasa in a new light after this interaction. He appreciated Ikasa for what he had done till now. But the gentle way he handled Xin Ruo caused alarm bells to ring in his head.

‘At this rate, he really might become my Son-in-law!’

His thoughts were given a break after Ikasa cleared his throat to draw attention to the topic at hand.

“I weighed the pros and cons of staying in this City.”

He brought out a slip of paper from his pocket sleeves. He began to advocate the benefits of staying in the City.

“This City is undergoing a conflict of power. Thus, my manuals will be in great demand in the group of commoners as well as the competing powers. So we will earn well…”

Feng Yan quickly saw through the problem when he saw the young man take a brief pause. He completed the unfinished sentence.

“But safeguarding the profits we make will be a problem.”

Ikasa nodded, admitting the glaring security issue. The three sat in silence for a few breaths, trying to think of possible solutions.

His assessment of the lucrative conditions indeed tempted the father and daughter duo. Nonetheless, they had their reservations. They looked at each other, trying to decide who would tie the bell on the cat’s collar.

Xin Ruo lost her patience and voiced what was on her mind.

“You are right. This City is not secure. Except, what is our other option? Moving? If so, where? I don’t even want to think about moving to a new city and be met with the same or new problems.”

She made her stand clear with her evident reluctance to move again. Unaffected, Ikasa took this chance to present his plan to benefit from the current upheaval.

“That brings me to the next upside of staying. By supporting the right candidate, we will have a stable foothold. If we team up with City Lord, who is direly in need of our help, we can have a reliable partner until we outgrow the need for backing.”

His eyeballs moved back and forth between the father and daughter. They were not enthused by his plan. Yes, Feng Yan wanted to fight, but not with his daughter and everyone else at risk.

At this time, Xin Ruo asked the question she had been trying to answer since they decided to leave for Birch City.

“If we wanted to fight, why didn’t we stay back in Sal City? Thanks to the Xue Family’s support and my father’s reputation, we wouldn’t have to worry about Li Family’s retaliation.”

Feng Yan interjected to answer.

“No. Impossible. I cannot act freely in Sal City. My name would not only protect you but become a reason for everyone to gang up on you.”

He immediately refuted his daughter’s incorrect assumptions about himself.

Ikasa took the chance to explain the other variable she mentioned.

“Xue Family declined to protect us from the Li Family because the Li’s are in an alliance with the City Lord Du. The Xue’s didn’t want to jeopardize their recent peace by poking the sleeping bear.”

“Not to mention we have killed Li Fan. The Li Family would not rest until the murderer is dead.”

Feng Yan bluntly added the fact everyone was avoiding speaking. Ikasa looked away guiltily while Xin Ruo flinched at his words.

But with that, the final piece of the puzzle fell in place. Xin Ruo had a look of enlightenment. Now she knew why the Xue Family wouldn’t support them. And even with their support, they couldn’t stay in Sal City.

All her questions regarding the need to move were answered.

Ikasa returned their attention to the topic at hand.

“If we are to get involved, we must assess the danger levels of all the powers involved in this struggle before I meet City Lord Zhen tomorrow.”

Turning to Feng Yan, he requested him.

“Old man, can you please collect the necessary information in time?”

“Sure,” he replied without batting an eyelid.

Ikasa stared at the older man skeptically at his quick answer, but he had no choice but to believe.

Accepting the answer, he looked at Xin Ruo.

“You need to work with Yin Ying to establish reliable sources of information as soon as possible. The data your old man can get will most likely be outdated. You will have to verify and update it using people at your disposal. Understood?”

“Yes, but I will need something to incentivize them.”

“Got it. I will provide you with a Hundred-Use Dumb Belle’s Guide to Strength. Also, tell them they can exchange their merit points for our Battle Techniques. As for merit points…”

Xin Ruo had a look of understanding.

“They will gain these merit points by providing information!”

She completed what Ikasa was thinking. They shared a smirk, much to Feng Yan’s displeasure.

Ikasa gave her a few words of advice.

“You can decide how you want to organize the system. Just make sure it is fair. Here, you can use the manuals in this list as rewards.”

Ikasa handed her the list of all manuals available to print. The Top-grade Cultivation Manual and High-grade battle technique were conspicuously absent.

Still, the sixteen low and mid-grade combat skills were a considerable number. The high-grade cultivation manual alone was eye-catching and would cause anyone to drool.

The best  example was Feng Yan who was salivating just by looking at the number of manuals on the list.

“Wipe your drool, old man. The force you create will get better techniques than on that list.”

Ikasa scolded jokingly. Feng Yan’s eyes lit up.

“Where did you even find so many manuals?”

Feng Yan asked, wondering about Ikasa’s never ending source of manuals.

“That’s a secret. And don’t even think about uncovering it!”

He replied as he packed up his documents and left the study. The other two followed behind.

They had already discussed everything that needed to be addressed. All that was left to do was explore the abode they’ll be living in for the foreseeable future.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep