Star Trace Gate

Chapter 982 The North Wind Brings Acquaintances, and the Tug-of-War Between Two Princes

Inside the inner palace, in a quiet courtyard.

Wang Tudou felt a mix of emotions upon hearing Yang Sanhai's reply, and he didn't know how to respond.

The two remained silent for a long time before Yang Sanhai finally broke the awkward silence. He picked up his teacup somewhat nervously, seemingly trying hard to appear more composed.

"Ugh."

He let out a long, quiet sigh, and holding his teacup, said, "Potato... please don't overthink it, I'm just really a little tired."

"Hmm." Wang Tudou nodded calmly.

"Brother, to be honest... if I, Yang Sanhai, hadn't met you, I would never have reached my current level, nor would I have the capital to gamble so lavishly. I know my own talents and personality... the fact that I've survived so many secret realms is simply because I was lucky enough to follow the right person. You are meticulous, intelligent, and composed enough... following you, all I need to do is contribute my strength and maintain a good atmosphere within the team."

Yang Sanhai took a sip of tea, his voice trembling, and said, "But in this world... there is no banquet that doesn't end."

Wang Tudou listened quietly without interrupting.

“Following you brings prestige, status, and a lot of Star Source to earn. Now, it’s not just my buddies at the gambling table who envy me… even many of Huangling City’s prodigies look at me with more respect after learning that I’m the vice-captain of your team.” Yang Sanhai’s gaze froze, and he sighed again: “Alas… but these past ten years of relentless fighting and running… have really made me feel a bit tired.”

"Our team's motto is that each member must fulfill their responsibilities and not owe anyone anything in terms of tasks. Everyone must play their part, not make mistakes, and certainly not hold anyone back at crucial moments, or they will be kicked out... This kind of team atmosphere has indeed greatly increased our chances of successfully exploring the secret realm, but it also keeps everyone on edge at all times...!"

"The eight of us are like a finely crafted magical artifact forged by immortals, each link tightly connected to the next, operating endlessly and without ceasing. Especially after entering the migration area, we practically had to throw ourselves into preparations for the next expedition the moment we finished one mission. We won't even mention the life-or-death crises and anxieties we faced during our missions; just the fact that we've maintained composure, objectivity, and peak performance for over a decade is exhausting enough. Especially me, as the vice-captain... others can be a little careless or make minor mistakes... but I can't. I have to set an example to gain respect and help manage team relationships."

"Here, the team members are both comrades-in-arms and competitors. Everyone wants to perform well, contribute more, and earn more money, so they are all working like they're on steroids, striving to improve themselves. So... as the vice-captain, watching them break through to the next level and stand shoulder to shoulder with me... the feelings in my heart are hard to describe. On the one hand, their advancement in level improves the overall combat strength of the team, and I should be happy; but on the other hand... they've caught up, so I have to keep up too, I can't be left behind, and I can't become the only weakness."

"To be honest, even when I got the 'Heavenly Nine' card at the gambling table, I was thinking... Will your Blood Soul Orb light up right now? Will there be any unexpected events that I need to deal with?"

"Potato, I'm not saying this to complain; I wholeheartedly agree with your leadership approach. In this day and age, mortal lives are worthless, but ordinary cultivators are like ants. In a battle or on a journey, someone who was just alive in front of you could easily lose their life without you even realizing it. Our team's rigorous approach is precisely a reflection of respecting our own lives and the safety of others."

"But I'm getting old, and it's really getting a bit difficult for me to keep up with the rapid progress of the other members of the team."

“Brother, if I were a gifted individual, I would never leave. I would stay with you through countless secret realms, seeking opportunities and exploring the Great Dao. But I know that after reaching the fourth rank, my potential is essentially fixed. One must truly believe in one's own limits. I will definitely leap to the fifth rank, and I will definitely succeed in condensing my intent… but that requires the accumulation of years. It might be thirty years, it might be fifty years… or it might be the final step before death…!”

He turned to Wang Tudou, his voice trembling, and said, "I don't want to be voted out by my teammates and then slink away in disgrace... I don't want to force you to say what I'm struggling to say today someday. Tudou, life is like climbing mountains... For the past ten years or so, I was just like you, holding onto a stoic belief that one shouldn't underestimate a young person's potential! I believed that heroes can emerge from humble backgrounds, and that human will can overcome anything!!"

"But now that I'm this age, I've lost my ambition... I want to go down the mountain."

"I want to find a low-class secluded place where I can while away the days without any dangers, get married, start a family, drink tea, play cards, rise with the sunrise and rest with the sunset... and just live out the rest of my life in a daze."

Yang Sanhai finished speaking in one breath, and then seemed much more relaxed.

"Over the years, all the Star Source you've accumulated has been given to the gambling den. Leaving the team... can you really live the life you want?" Wang Tudou asked softly.

"I haven't accumulated much Star Source, but fortunately I have some rare magic treasures and precious items on me. In addition, I am already a fourth-rank cultivator. If I choose a low-rank secret realm and become a long-term retainer for some wealthy family, teaching their newly enlightened children, it shouldn't be too difficult to earn some money to support my family." Yang Sanhai grinned.

Wang Tudou hesitated for a moment, then replied decisively, "After the errand at the Divine Monk's Mansion is over, I'll settle the accounts, and you can leave. You don't need to repay the Star Sources you owe me for now. Once you find a low-grade secret realm where you can settle down and your income is stable, you can repay me slowly. But we need to make some things clear: you can repay very slowly, but you absolutely cannot default on your debts."

"Furthermore, until this task is completed, I will take over your command responsibilities. In other words... from now on, you will be a backup member of the team, only responsible for the duties of a new recruit. In case of unforeseen circumstances, you do not need to be at the forefront; you can simply help Qin Heizi with some logistical matters, and you do not need to get involved in the team's decision-making."

"When we get back to Tianzhao City, I'll throw you a farewell ceremony. After more than ten years of fighting side by side, let's part ways amicably."

He spoke calmly and composedly, as if he were dealing with a routine public incident within the team, without any expression of personal emotion.

"Isn't that necessary?! I haven't even gotten off the bus yet... Then let's just do what we're supposed to do." Yang Sanhai frowned and said, "I got a good share of the money this time... If you take such good care of me, people will have something to say."

“I’ll do your job, what could they possibly say?!” Wang Tudou said without room for argument. “…If you leave, this deputy captain position will be vacant…Then when I go back to Tianzhao City this time, I really need to rest for a few days and carefully select new recruits. As for the requirements, they should at least be at the fifth rank.”

Yang Sanhai looked at his expression, his lips moved a few times, but he didn't know what to say.

"It's getting late, you should go back and rest...!" Wang Tudou waved his hand gently: "I still need to think about the evacuation from Beifeng Town."

"Ah."

Yang Sanhai slowly got up and started to walk outside.

A cold wind blew as he stepped over the smooth bluestone steps and stood before the empty gate. A pang of reluctance gripped his heart, and he glanced back with a look of guilt in his eyes. Then, with mixed emotions, he asked, "Potato...am I being too selfish?"

Wang Tudou turned to look at him: "You did the work, and you did it better than anyone else. How can that be considered selfish?! Everyone has their own ambitions. Some people want to make a name for themselves and be remembered for eternity; others want to have a wife and children and a warm bed, and live a carefree life... What's wrong with that? Third Brother, don't take yourself too seriously. If this team loses you, there will be others. According to my selection criteria, the newcomers will only be stronger... If you're going to leave, leave gracefully and don't look back."

Yang Sanhai gave him a complicated look, then simply nodded and left.

As soon as he left, Wang Tudou, who was lying alone in the rattan chair, seemed to have his soul sucked away in an instant. His tense body relaxed without warning, like a lump of mud that had been plastered onto the chair.

He curled up as much as possible, letting the night wind brush against his face and his clothes flutter...

When Yang Sanhai was still there, his words were calm and collected, purely businesslike, without a trace of any intention to persuade him to stay; but after Yang Sanhai left, he felt empty inside, as if his entire body was floating in mid-air, and when he looked down carefully, he couldn't find a single foothold...

Without a doubt, Wang Tudou is an extremely utilitarian and cold-hearted person. He never believed in the existence of genuine human kindness, only that he himself knew he was hungry... The purpose of forming this team was actually to find a group of people who were both obedient and eager to make money, and who would completely obey his commands. Then, like a pack of wolves, they would huddle together for warmth, share the profits, and ultimately achieve their goal of steadily improving themselves...

Therefore, Yang Sanhai's departure wasn't necessarily a bad thing for him. He could easily leverage his current reputation to find an even more outstanding vice-captain to join him. As he said, the starting requirement could even be a fifth-grade expert.

However, it wouldn't be difficult for him to find another expert to join him, but it would be impossible for that expert to completely replace Yang Sanhai...

Who is Yang Sanhai?

Those were his "old acquaintances" who had accompanied him from his humble beginnings when he couldn't even afford enough to eat, all the way to his current fame in his new home!

Together, they set traps for merchants in low-grade secret realms, swindling them out of both money and goods, which led to the merchants making them two large coffins and relentlessly pursuing them. In the freezing cold, to save money, they sneaked into the dining room of a brothel at night to escape the cold, and to avoid being discovered, they had to take turns sleeping in an empty water vat. When Wang Tudou was on the verge of reaching the second rank, his third brother sold all the magical treasures and rare items he could, and spent more than a month squatting in the bustling market, specifically to buy alien blood essence and corpse blood essence for him...

More than a decade has passed in the blink of an eye, and my third brother says he's going down the mountain...

Wang Tudou was extremely upset, but there was nothing he could do to stop him. It wasn't that the other person lacked status or star resources; he was simply tired, demoralized, and wanted to rest.

How can we keep them?! We can't keep them...

"The north wind blows across the south, and eventually the clouds will disperse." Wang Tudou looked at the bright moon and the starry sky, curled up, and said with a bitter smile, "Hehe, I really am like a cursed lone star... The more I care, the less I can hold on to it."

“Demon monk, I’ve heard you’re the same way… Hahahaha… Could I be your true successor?”

"Hahaha!"

He sat alone in the courtyard, and inexplicably burst into laughter that lasted for a long time.

……

The place of migration in 251 years, the Heavenly Capital Divine Court.

Today, at least several hundred cultivators have arrived at the Qiaogong Building of Fulong Pavilion. They stand in the inner hall, separated into men and women, waiting in line for the examiner's inspection.

As the name suggests, Qiaogonglou is a place dedicated to making hidden weapons, high-grade magic treasures, and items for spies. It can be considered the "scientific research and development" site of Fulong Pavilion.

Today, on the first basement level of the Qiaogong Building, there are a total of six verification rooms, three for men and three for women, specifically responsible for verifying the identities of cultivators who come here to report. After entering the verification rooms, all of these hundreds of cultivators must remove their clothes and project a wisp of their senses onto a special soul-examination stone to raise their aura as beings of order, and then undergo soul-questioning to prove their identity.