[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign":3,"chapter-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-32":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Eternal Green Immortal Sovereign",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2270040,4432,"Chapter 32: Human Relations","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-32",32,"\u003Cp>“Are you referring to Kong Xianian of Huaqing Sect?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Tu froze at the name, then quickly pressed: “Did he act against you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui shook his head: “He just asked me some questions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He concealed the fact that Kong Xianian had used mind-distorting art on him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Tu exhaled in relief: “I’ve heard of him. This time, Huaqing Sect sent two enforcers to Qinghe County—Kong Xianian is one of them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Enforcers?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Tu explained: “Those like Zhu Yue who join Huaqing Sect are outer-disciples. Huaqing has a strict evaluation system: every three years, if you fail, you’re expelled—but there’s another path: serve Huaqing Sect externally, known as an enforcer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If an enforcer performs well, there’s still a chance to rejoin as a disciple.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In plain terms, it’s a temporary worker with a chance at permanent status.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Tu continued:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This time, Kong Xianian is tasked with capturing Huaqing disciples who fled. The other is gathering evidence against the Ghost Ming  Sect.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m working for Liu Enforcer.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Tu: “Brother Li, as long as you’re upright, you needn’t fear Zhao Wei or that man Kong. If trouble arises, go to Vice-Commander Zhang.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui: “Thanks for the warning, younger brother.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wu Tu told him much more about the Heaven-Earth Alliance, still eager after a full hour.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui left Wu Tu’s gambling den.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He went straight back to Tianyi Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tianyi Hall remained as desolate as ever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Occasionally, a disciple from the Scripture Transmission Hall would come to collect copied techniques—Zhou Shulin and Liang He could handle it easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hall Master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Shulin rose and bowed upon seeing Li Rui.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui waved him off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Carry on.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tianyi Hall had only three people, one of whom was a super-connection. If Zhou Shulin and Liang He left, he’d have to personally handle registrations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Li Rui had often checked on them warmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The two young men, inexperienced in the world, were deeply moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They’d drunk together several times.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Shulin and Liang He felt their Hall Master was a kind, understanding older brother, and after drinking, they poured out their hearts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui remembered every word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Might come in handy someday.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though preferably never needed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the world of martial cultivation, the greatest taboo is revealing too much too soon—he did this simply to keep tight control over Tianyi Hall’s only two laborers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui wouldn’t harm anyone on purpose, but he understood the value of keeping a backup plan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearts are hidden behind ribs—who can say for sure?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui returned to his single “office” in Tianyi Hall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as he picked up the unfinished Shangshan Dao Jing from yesterday, Liu Tong unexpectedly knocked on the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Liu Tong, what is it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui regarded Liu Tong with concern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With connections, the best strategy is to build goodwill—you never know what unexpected benefit might come.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether he showed up for roll call didn’t matter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was merely an uncle’s concern for his nephew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A month had passed, and Liu Tong still looked like a kidney-deficient young master. He chuckled: “Hall Master, my brother-in-law wants me to work at the Civil-Military Hall. The transfer order will arrive in a few days. I thought I’d invite you, Hall Master, and the two brothers for a gathering.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui wasn’t surprised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyone could see Liu Tong’s departure from Tianyi Hall was inevitable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fine. Why wait? Tonight?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Perfect.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tong agreed immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Evening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huaye Pavilion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Old Man Li’s come a long way—two visits to Huaye Pavilion in a row.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at the familiar room, the familiar plump girls,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui felt a pang of reflection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Clearly, his understanding of feudal decay was still shallow—live and learn.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Shulin sat beside a beautiful woman, his face flushed, clutching his crotch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for Liang He,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was on duty, so he could only regretfully miss tonight’s free feast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tong was a veteran of brothels—he felt more at home here than at his own house. Most of the women knew him; at least a dozen courtesans greeted him warmly as they ascended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Shulin was envious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both were connections, yet their treatment was worlds apart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tong raised his cup: “Lately, I’ve been grateful for your tolerance, Hall Master and Brother Zhou. Brother Liang isn’t here, so I’ll remember his share and repay him another day. Tomorrow I start at the Civil-Military Hall—my brother-in-law’s order—but our bond remains.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sorry, I’ve said too much. Let me drink this first—you two do as you please.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before he finished speaking,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He tilted his head back and drained the cup.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though ancient wine had low alcohol content, it contained many impurities; after a few cups, both Liu Tong and Zhou Shulin were seven-tenths drunk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Brother Zhou, I was wrong before—I beg your forgiveness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Shulin, flushed, waved his hand: “Minor things, Brother Liu, don’t worry.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui listened quietly to the two youths’ conversation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He silently shook his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the surface, Liu Tong appeared to be flattering Zhou Shulin, in a weak position—but in truth, he controlled everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To join the Civil-Military Hall, Liu Tong needed an evaluation. If Li Rui, Zhou Shulin, or Liang He obstructed him,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if he still got in,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His brother-in-law would forever see him as incompetent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tong was indeed skilled in human relations.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or you could say he was deeply calculating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui didn’t mind—it was easier dealing with clever people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, another reason was that Liu Tong’s brother-in-law was surnamed Zhang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Same surname as Wu Tu’s patron.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since Zhao Wei couldn’t be relied on, Li Rui needed new allies within the Heaven-Earth Alliance—Wu Tu’s connection wasn’t enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He needed more ties to that Vice-Commander Zhang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gradually, he’d naturally become part of Zhang’s faction—so if Zhao Wei ever moved against him, someone would stand by him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, that didn’t mean Zhao Wei would act.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui had long grown accustomed to preparing for the worst.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tong grew seven-tenths drunk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He waved his hand; the courtesans beside him wisely withdrew. Zhou Shulin looked reluctant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tong lowered his voice: “Hall Master, Brother Zhou—we’re family, so I won’t hide anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Our Alliance Master has reportedly broken through. The Heaven-Earth Alliance’s status will soar, and ours will rise with it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qinghe Branch is newly founded—this is the perfect time to claim positions. Once the Master publicly announces his strength, it’ll be too late to grab spots.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I truly treat you both as brothers—that’s why I say this. Don’t tell anyone else.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhou Shulin’s eyes widened, nodding eagerly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Rui suddenly understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He realized why Zhu Ping, a patriarch of a great clan, had suddenly shown him favor—it was all because of this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1119,"2026-06-19T22:01:09.077Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","24eba962ea6d65c8b180a2f151333da55258e7aff25219ba47dba762423d16e0","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-33","eternal-green-immortal-sovereign-chapter-31",866,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Feternal-green-immortal-sovereign-cover.jpg"]