Chapter 366: Vermilion Bird Pavilion
Chapter 366: Chapter 366: Vermilion Bird Pavilion
The next morning, Yu Mingche was supposed to handle the inner residence’s affairs and the various industries under Ning Xuan’s name as usual, but Yan Fuzhen had been waiting in the assembly hall for an hour, and Yu Mingche still hadn’t shown up.
Yan Fuzhen went to Yu Mingche’s courtyard to find him. Feng Linran, his face dark, glared at Yan Fuzhen and said that Yu Mingche was unwell and couldn’t handle his duties. Any matters that were difficult to decide today should be reported directly to the Family Head.
Ning Xuan looked at the ledgers and various documents needing approval that Yan Fuzhen had delivered—it was a thick stack. She picked them up and flipped through a few files. While she recognized the words, she couldn’t understand most of the content.
"These all need to be handled today? Can’t we deal with them in a couple of days?" Ning Xuan asked hesitantly.
"Family Head, these all require urgent approval. They relate to project execution, important personnel appointments and dismissals, and so on. They can’t be delayed," Yan Fuzhen said with a troubled expression.
Among Ning Xuan’s Contractors and Contracted Slaves, Lan Xin had no industries to her name, and Chen Nan had only two pharmaceutical companies. However, Di Youlin, Lin Mo, Yun Han, and the others all had many industries. Ying Yaoshi and Yu Mingche in particular held numerous private assets. All of these industries were now under Ning Xuan’s name. They had previously been jointly supervised by Yan Fuzhen and Yu Mingche, but after Yu Mingche moved into the villa, he had taken primary responsibility.
Although professional managers ran each company, so they didn’t require much day-to-day effort, the things Yan Fuzhen had just mentioned—executing major projects, formulating key strategies, and approving important personnel changes—all required authorization from Yan Fuzhen and Yu Mingche.
"Just leave them here. I’ll look at them first," Ning Xuan said, a headache beginning to form.
After Yan Fuzhen left, Ning Xuan forced herself to pick up the files and start reading. She only got through a few pages before she felt dizzy and overwhelmed. Shoving the stack aside, her attention was suddenly caught by a file folder with a black and red cover.
Ning Xuan pulled out the file folder. It was quite thick and felt heavy in her hand. Written on it in large, red words was "Vermilion Bird Pavilion."
Seeing the file, Ning Xuan froze. A while ago, she had mentioned to Yu Mingche that she wanted to form an organization that would handle security, assassination, intelligence gathering and trade, as well as the escort, collection, and auction of rare and valuable items. After listening to Ning Xuan’s preliminary ideas, Yu Mingche discussed them with Ying Yaoshi and quickly gave her an affirmative answer. They came up with three potential names for the organization, all centered around one of Ning Xuan’s personal characteristics. In the end, Ning Xuan chose the name Vermilion Bird Pavilion.
Ning Xuan opened the folder. Inside was a thick stack of data cards, each detailing the identity of a potential recruit. Most of these candidates were between six and ten years old and typically came from C-level or lower Low-class Stars. Their spiritual power had awakened before they turned six, and their initial Spiritual Power Level was measured at E-level or higher.
After a quick glance through the files, Ning Xuan estimated that the thick stack contained information on at least several hundred people. She hadn’t expected them to gather so many candidates in such a short time. ’Yu Mingche and Yan Fuzhen are certainly efficient and reliable.’
Although these candidates had good aptitude, most came from resource-poor regions and were orphans with no family to rely on. Before being selected for the Vermilion Bird Pavilion, they lived in poverty, often struggling to secure even three basic meals a day. In such barren lands, poisonous miasma was often dense, and the more talented an individual, the more susceptible they were to its corruption. Therefore, if the Vermilion Bird Pavilion hadn’t chosen them, it was likely none of them would have survived to adulthood.
’Raising and training so many people is far more complicated than simply providing them with food. They also need various Cultivation resources, all of which cost a fortune. Plus, during the training of these hundreds of recruits, there will inevitably be attrition. A large number will be eliminated, leaving only a small fraction who will ultimately succeed and be deemed worthy of service.’
According to Ning Xuan’s original plan, a new batch of candidates would enter the Pavilion each year. As they developed, the recruits would be sorted into different ranks and assigned to various divisions to serve the organization.
The training process involved repeated indoctrination, implanting a single thought deep within their minds: once they entered the Vermilion Bird Pavilion, they belonged to it for life and were sworn to serve its Master until death.
’This is my very own Direct Lineage force, which I’m building from the ground up. It’s still in the cash-burning preparatory phase, but its future is full of promise.’
’I should also personally go to the Vermilion Bird Pavilion to teach once preparations are further along. If there are any promising talents, I want to start cultivating them early.’
Beneath the thick stack of data cards lay a transfer order for a large sum of money.
This fund transfer order required her personal seal and signature to be finalized.
Only then did Ning Xuan remember—her personal seal was with Yu Mingche. She gathered all the documents into her Space Button, then stood up and headed for Yu Mingche’s courtyard.
Ning Xuan had just arrived at the entrance to Yu Mingche’s courtyard when Feng Linran blocked her way, his expression tense and angry. "Miss Ning, the Governor is unwell and needs to rest. Please do not go in and disturb him."
"Is that what he requested?" Ning Xuan asked, feeling a little guilty as she recalled what had happened last night.
"Yes, Miss Ning," Feng Linran replied coldly.
"Alright. Give him these two bottles of Healing Potion, and tell him I’ll come see him tomorrow." Ning Xuan handed the two potions to Feng Linran and turned to leave.
Currently, the security and service staff in and around Ning Xuan’s villa were divided into two main factions: a large portion belonged to Ying Yaoshi, and the rest belonged to Yu Mingche.
Somehow, word got out. The organizations and families who understood Ning Xuan’s true circumstances and followed her closely—such as the Starry Sky Academy and the Star Sky Council—soon learned of the unseemly conflict between Yan Fuzhen and Yu Mingche.
Yan Fuzhen’s authority in managing Ning Xuan’s industries had been curtailed, and Yu Mingche had been secretly disciplined by Ning Xuan. The struggle between Ying Yaoshi and Yu Mingche was now out in the open. At the moment, it seemed Yu Mingche still had the upper hand.
Upon learning this, the major organizations that had long been covetously eyeing the industries belonging to Ying Yaoshi and Yu Mingche began to secretly deploy their people and make their moves.
Ning Xuan’s attempt to see Yu Mingche had been blocked by Feng Linran. Yu Mingche, however, was currently on a video call with Ying Yaoshi.
"You’re surprisingly fragile, aren’t you?" Ying Yaoshi said disdainfully, looking at Yu Mingche’s weak form as he leaned against the bed.
Yu Mingche rolled his eyes. "I’m no match for you. Just say what you came to say. I was put through the wringer all last night and need to catch up on sleep."