The embers of the campfires flickered in the frigid night, casting long, wavering shadows across the snow-covered ground. The camp had begun to settle into a tense, uneasy quiet after the assassination attempt on Hui Jian, yet under the surface, suspicion and fear brewed like a pot on the edge of boiling over. The cold wind cut through the silence, whispering of dangers unseen, of plots unspoken.
Hui Jian's breath fogged in the air as he observed the camp from the shadows of his tent. His eyes, calm but calculating, took in every detail—the huddled survivors, the nervous glances exchanged between the council members, and the watchful eyes of the Rank 2 Gu Masters who had begun to stir from their complacency. He could feel the pulse of tension running through the camp. After the failed assassination attempt, the fragile sense of control that had held the group together was now fraying.
Yet Hui Jian's mind was a fortress, impenetrable and cold. He welcomed the unrest. It would only make his next move easier.
He had been careful to stay in the background, positioning himself as an unassuming figure, a silent supporter of the camp's so-called leaders. Even after his cunning elimination of Tao Xun, no one suspected the full depth of his ambition. The plotters who had tried to take his life were mere distractions, insignificant in the grand scheme of things. But now, with the rank and file of the camp on edge, it was time for Hui Jian to move with greater purpose.
The rank-and-file Gu Masters, particularly the Rank 2s, were far from ignorant. They were smarter, more resourceful than the others, and Hui Jian knew that their survival instincts had already set them apart from the common folk. They hadn't reached their position by sheer luck. Each of them had clawed their way up in this unforgiving world, whether through strength, cunning, or manipulation. Hui Jian had no desire to oppose them directly. That would be a fatal mistake. Instead, he would co-opt them, make them tools for his own rise.
Ren had proven himself a reliable ally, his loyalty forged in the blood of the beastman ambush. But Hui Jian had bigger plans. He needed to extend his influence to others within the camp—particularly the influential Rank 2 Gu Masters, like Mei Lin and Fang Ru. While they were cautious and calculating, Hui Jian knew they were also pragmatic. If presented with an opportunity to seize more power or resources, they would align themselves with whoever offered them the greatest advantage.
On this cold night, he was ready to make his move.
Hui Jian approached Ren first. The man sat by the fire, sharpening his blade, the flickering light reflecting off his focused expression. Ren had earned the respect of the camp after leading the ambush on the beastmen, but Hui Jian had been the architect of that victory. Now, he needed Ren to be the face of his next operation—while Hui Jian remained in the shadows, controlling the flow of power without drawing suspicion.
"We need to talk," Hui Jian said quietly as he approached, his voice low enough not to attract attention.
Ren glanced up, his expression unreadable, but he nodded. "What's on your mind?"
Hui Jian crouched beside him, his voice barely louder than the crackling of the fire. "The camp's still on edge after the attempt on my life. The leaders are losing control, and if we don't act soon, the camp will collapse into chaos. We can't afford that."
Ren's jaw tightened. "And what do you propose we do?"
"We don't have to take control ourselves," Hui Jian said smoothly, his eyes sharp as they met Ren's. "We let them believe they're in charge. Mei Lin, Fang Ru—they're influential, respected. If we bring them into the fold, we can control the camp without ever stepping into the spotlight."
Ren frowned. "You want to ally with them? They're as power-hungry as the rest. How do we know they won't turn on us?"
Hui Jian's smile was thin, cold. "They won't. Not if we play our cards right. Let them believe they're the ones gaining power. We'll make sure the real control remains with us. You and I will keep everything running smoothly from the shadows."
Ren considered this for a moment, then nodded slowly. "And how do we approach them?"
"I've already made the first steps," Hui Jian replied. "Mei Lin is frustrated with the lack of organization in the camp. She's been quietly taking charge of resource management. If we offer her support—primeval stones, Gu—she'll see the benefit of working with us."
"And Fang Ru?" Ren asked.
"Fang Ru is suspicious," Hui Jian admitted. "She's smart, and she's already questioning why everything seems to fall in our favor. But suspicion can be turned into loyalty if handled carefully. She values strength and cunning. If we show her that aligning with us guarantees her survival, she'll follow."
Ren's eyes flickered with doubt, but he trusted Hui Jian's instincts. After all, Hui Jian had saved the camp from the brink of destruction more than once.
The following day, Hui Jian moved swiftly. Under the guise of a casual meeting, he approached Mei Lin near the edge of the camp, where she was overseeing the distribution of food rations. The cold bit into his skin, but he didn't let it show. Mei Lin was sharp, calculating, and Hui Jian knew she wouldn't be easily swayed by empty promises.
"I've noticed you've been handling the camp's resources," Hui Jian said conversationally, his tone neutral but respectful. "It's not an easy task, especially with the council in disarray."
Mei Lin's eyes narrowed slightly. "And what's your point, Hui Jian?"
"My point is that you're doing the work of a leader, but you're not getting the recognition or the support you deserve," he said smoothly. "The camp needs someone like you to take charge, someone who can make the hard decisions. I can help you with that."
Mei Lin crossed her arms, studying him carefully. "And why would you help me? What's in it for you?"
Hui Jian smiled faintly. "I'm not looking for power or recognition. I'm looking for survival. If the camp collapses, we all die. You, me, everyone. But if we work together, we can make sure the camp doesn't fall apart. You'll get the recognition you deserve, and I'll help from the background."
Mei Lin didn't respond immediately. She was weighing her options, calculating the risks and benefits. Finally, she nodded. "Fine. But if you cross me, Hui Jian, I'll make sure you regret it."
"Fair enough," Hui Jian replied, his smile never wavering.
Later that night, Hui Jian found Fang Ru near the northern perimeter of the camp, her expression dark as she patrolled the area. She had been keeping her distance from the main group, watching, waiting. Hui Jian approached her cautiously, knowing that this conversation would require a delicate touch.
"You don't trust me," Hui Jian said bluntly as he approached, stopping a few paces away from her.
Fang Ru's eyes flickered with suspicion, but she didn't deny it. "You're too quiet, too calculating. I've seen men like you before. They always have a hidden agenda."
"You're not wrong," Hui Jian said with a shrug. "I do have an agenda. But it's not what you think."
"And what is it, then?" Fang Ru asked, her tone sharp.
"Survival," Hui Jian replied simply. "I'm not interested in ruling the camp or taking power for myself. I want to survive, and I want the camp to survive. But we both know that the current leadership won't last. They're too weak, too divided."
Fang Ru's gaze softened slightly, though she remained guarded. "And you think I'll just fall in line behind you?"
"No," Hui Jian said. "I think we can work together. You've survived this long because you're smart, because you see things others don't. I respect that. I'm not asking for loyalty. I'm offering an alliance. You keep doing what you do best, and I'll make sure you get the resources and support you need."
Fang Ru considered this, her eyes narrowing. "And what happens when the camp turns on you? When they realize you've been pulling the strings?"
"They won't," Hui Jian said confidently. "Because they won't even know it's happening."
After a long moment of silence, Fang Ru nodded. "I'll consider it. But don't think for a second that I'll let my guard down."
"I wouldn't expect anything less," Hui Jian replied, his tone smooth and calm.
In the days that followed, Hui Jian's influence over the camp grew. Ren took charge of the defense, Mei Lin handled resource distribution, and Fang Ru began subtly aligning herself with their group. The rest of the camp believed that Ren and Mei Lin were the ones in control, but Hui Jian knew better.
From the shadows, he manipulated events, ensuring that resources flowed through him, that decisions passed by his hands first. The camp's other leaders were too focused on surviving the day-to-day threats to notice the subtle shift in power. By the time they realized what had happened, it would be too late.
Hui Jian stood at the edge of the camp one night, watching the cold winds sweep across the frozen plains. His mind was calm, focused. He had made alliances, but they were temporary, fragile. He knew that true survival in the Northern Plains required more than strength or cunning. It required control—over people, over resources, over the very flow of events.
And control was something Hui Jian had mastered.