Chapter 25: White Jade Capital

I got ripped off!

Su Haoming snapped back to reality, his expression grim.

Who knew that in this world, Di Renjie was a staunch atheist—even when he found no trace of that master, he firmly believed no immortals existed.

Su Wuming paid no heed to his cousin’s reaction; he frowned and said, “So you mean that master is still alive today, and gave you this firearm?”

Su Haoming nodded listlessly. “Something like that.”

“Unbelievable!” Su Wuming exclaimed. “What kind of master could forge such a divine weapon?”

Su Haoming recalled the image of Lin Yu from the group chat and said casually, “Let’s just say he’s someone you can’t even imagine.”

Su Wuming nodded. “I can choose to believe what you’ve said—but how do you plan to convince Lu Lingfeng?”

“Simple!” Su Haoming smiled. “You don’t believe in ghosts and gods, but that doesn’t mean others won’t. Just disguise this as a Five Thunder Talisman—tricking a few soldiers should be easy.”

Su Wuming shook his head. “Lu Lingfeng isn’t some lowly soldier. He’s not that easy to fool.”

Su Haoming glanced at him. “So what? Even you, my wise elder brother, if I hadn’t told you everything, wouldn’t you have assumed it was some immortal or Buddha?”

“...That’s true.”

Su Wuming had to nod in agreement.

Indeed, before something beyond its time, even the cleverest mind cannot break free of its own understanding.

“Anyway, I’ll find a way to get the materials—you prepare some gunpowder for emergencies.”

“You’re truly thoughtful, elder brother!”

Su Haoming bowed seriously. “Then I’m counting on you, elder brother!”

Su Wuming nodded, glancing at the gun in his hand, hesitating. “Is it safe leaving this with you?”

...What do you mean?

You want to steal my gun?

Su Haoming silently ejected the magazine, engaged the safety, then handed it over, his face serious.

“This weapon recognizes its master—only I can use it!”

“Is that so?”

Su Wuming took it, skeptical yet intrigued, gripping it as Su Haoming had shown him.

“How do you use it?”

“Pull this trigger—yes, right here. Don’t worry, it’s off now, won’t fire.”

“Huh? Why won’t it budge?”

“That’s because it recognizes its master!”

Su Haoming took the pistol back, disengaged the safety where his brother couldn’t see, then pulled the trigger. “See? Now it fires.”

“So it really does recognize its master!”

Su Wuming sighed softly, then examined it again and praised, “A marvel of craftsmanship!”

He then turned serious again. “Earlier, I didn’t let you stay here because I feared for your safety. But now that this case is becoming clearer, and you possess this divine artifact, staying here is fine.”

“I’ll have Qian Shu pack your belongings from the inn. Until Lu Lingfeng has results, you’ll stay here.”

Su Haoming bowed. “I leave it entirely to your judgment, elder brother.”

Not long after, in the group chat.

【Su Haoming: Finally resolved...】

【Fan Xian: Oh?】

【Xiang Yunye: What happened?】

Fan Xian and Xiang Yunye rushed over immediately to get the gossip.

Lin Yu was also deeply interested in Su Haoming’s experience.

Su Haoming organized his thoughts and laid out everything that had just happened.

【Fan Xian: So... you fired it in front of them?】

【Su Haoming: No choice. Big Brother said Yin Vice Minister will kill Qian Shu in the future—I couldn’t just let him escape.】

【Xiang Yunye: Good thing the Ghost Market was dark, and you thought fast, disrupting the scene. Shouldn’t be a big problem.】

【Lin Yu: Even if there is a problem, it doesn’t matter—you’ll hit 100 points in at most two days!】

Big Brother really never stops thinking about our points!

Su Haoming was speechless, but after this incident, his resistance to inviting Lin Yu into his world had lessened.

After all, the gun Lin Yu gave him had helped him eliminate a threat—he was truly grateful.

【Xiang Yunye: More than that, I think your story about an immortal granting you the method could be refined.】

【Su Haoming: ...】

【Su Haoming: Brother Yun, you’re not seriously suggesting I fabricate a White Jade Capital too, are you?】

In the Tang Zhuan world, Xiang Yunye had invented a master named Xiaoyaozi and a sect or place called White Jade Capital to explain his past-life knowledge.

But who knew the legend of White Jade Capital actually existed in the Tang Zhuan world.

Because of this fabricated title of White Jade Capital heir, Xiang Yunye had been tormented endlessly by those seeking immortality.

【Xiang Yunye: What do you mean, fabricated?】

【Xiang Yunye: I ask you—isn’t our group chat just like White Jade Capital?】

【Su Haoming: Uh...】

【Fan Xian: You want to turn fiction into reality?】

【Lin Yu: Not impossible.】

【Lin Yu: But is the name White Jade Capital really the best choice?】

【Su Haoming: I think it sounds great...】

【Su Haoming: But you’re the big leg now—you decide!】

【Lin Yu: ...】

【Fan Xian & Xiang Yunye: ...】

【Lin Yu: @Su Haoming, stop calling me Big Brother—it’s too formal. Learn from Yunye and call me Brother Lin.】

【Su Haoming: Yes, Brother Lin!】

What a quick change!

【Xiang Yunye: Names aren’t important. My point is, let’s build the organization first.】

【Xiang Yunye: Even if we don’t have many points now, won’t we eventually visit each other’s worlds?】

【Xiang Yunye: With this organization, everyone can have a plausible identity in other worlds.】

【Xiang Yunye: Like in my world—I’ve already laid the groundwork. When you come here later, you’ll be my fellow disciples from White Jade Capital.】

【Xiang Yunye: With that identity, not only can you live in the Yun Mansion—you could walk into the imperial palace and be treated as an honored guest of Li Er!】

【Su Haoming: That does make sense.】

【Su Haoming: But it seems meaningless for Brother Lin.】

【Fan Xian: Only meaningless for Brother Lin.】

【Fan Xian: For the three of us, a plausible identity is still very useful.】

【Fan Xian: It’s decided—I’ll form a White Jade Capital in my world too!】

【Fan Xian: @Xiang Yunye, using this name directly should be fine, right?】

【Xiang Yunye: Of course!】

【Su Haoming: What about me?】

【Su Haoming: Old Yun already has his own faction, Old Fan has Wu Zhu as an elder member, but I’m just a scholar with no influence. Even if I fabricate such a faction, I can only tell my cousin—it’d bring trouble if others found out.】

【Fan Xian: That’s true.】

【Fan Xian: Your gun has limited ammo and can’t be used lightly—you really need other ways to protect yourself.】

【Su Haoming: Exactly!】

【Lin Yu: Speaking of which, I haven’t told you something yet.】

【Xiang Yunye: Brother, please speak!】

【Lin Yu: Over the past two days, I downloaded Fan’s ‘Dominant True Qi’ and, using my knowledge, slightly improved it—I created a method replacing radiation with mana.】

【Everyone: ...】

【Su Haoming: That’s possible?】

【Lin Yu: Why not?】

【Lin Yu: Whether it’s mana or true qi, at its core, it’s all energy!】

【Lin Yu: I won’t elaborate on the mechanics—you can read it yourself.】

【Lin Yu: Wait a moment...】

After sending this message, the group fell into brief silence.

A moment later—

【Group member ‘Lin Yu’ has uploaded file: ‘Meridian Rune Matrix and Mana-Modeled True Qi’】

(End of Chapter)