Chapter Forty-Two: Separation and a New Beginning

Early the next morning, a procession of more than ten luxury sedans arrived at the entrance of the Northeast Branch of the Star Martial Administration. Director Luo Wu, Yang Ye, Long Xiaoqing, and other key figures from the bureau stood at the door to welcome the guests. The reporters’ cameras flashed incessantly.

A black-suited guard opened the door of a stretch limousine, and an elderly man, seemingly in his sixties, stepped out. Upon seeing him, Luo Wu hurried forward with a beaming smile. “Welcome, Chairman Tian! It is our honor that you could spare time from your busy schedule to visit our humble bureau.”

This old man was none other than Tian Zhong, Chairman of the China National Assembly.

Tian Zhong shook Luo Wu’s hand, then smiled slightly and looked toward Yang Ye. Maintaining a polite smile, Yang Ye extended his hand, and Tian Zhong grasped it firmly, refusing to let go. Laughing, he said, “Young man, well done! China needs people like you who can truly get things done…”

After praising Yang Ye at length, Tian Zhong finally released his hand. During this exchange, Tian Zhong also sized up Long Xiaoqing, who was standing behind Yang Ye. Long Xiaoqing gave Tian Zhong a peculiar impression, but he decided not to probe further. In this world, encountering strange people and events was now perfectly ordinary.

Long Xiaoqing had told Yang Ye that Tian Zhong was at the late stellar stage, with a dense star body, ready to break through to the super-stellar realm at any moment. In other words, Tian Zhong was deliberately suppressing his cultivation.

Yang Ye had already heard of Tian Zhong’s deeds, and the old man inspired his respect. In these times, cultivators like Tian Zhong were few and far between.

The proceedings that followed were mere formalities. In the auditorium, Tian Zhong personally took a purple medal of the Five-Colored Star from a box and pinned it to Yang Ye’s chest. This was the highest honor ever bestowed by the Star Martial Administration since its founding.

After pinning the medal, Tian Zhong made an unprecedented gesture, embracing Yang Ye for a brief moment. During that short embrace, Tian Zhong whispered in Yang Ye’s ear, “Young man, keep up the good work! As long as I, old Tian, am alive, no one can touch you.”

Before Yang Ye could react, Tian Zhong let him go. Tian Zhong then praised Director Luo Wu and encouraged Yang Ye’s subordinates before slowly departing.

As Tian Zhong left, the news quickly became the headline on all major networks. As Chairman of China, every move Tian Zhong made was closely watched, and the story immediately appeared in foreign news as well.

Now, not only in Xiajing, but throughout China—and even the world—the name “Ancestor Ye Tian” was known.

Tian Zhong’s high-profile appearance was clearly intended to shield Yang Ye. By doing so, the Chairman had effectively endorsed Yang Ye’s actions. Those who had planned to immediately expel Yang Ye, the “black sheep,” from the Star Martial Administration were forced to abandon their efforts—at least for now.

In Yang Ye’s office, Long Xiaoqing was playing games on Yang Ye’s phone while Yang Ye showed her how to play.

“Knock knock~”

The office door was rapped.

“Come in!” Yang Ye replied calmly.

“Inspector Ye, Director Luo has already left.” It was Mao Li, who entered with a respectful air to report to Yang Ye. At this point, Yang Ye treated Mao Li purely as an administrative assistant.

Yang Ye chuckled. “Looks like Director Luo is dissatisfied with me already.”

Mao Li said, “Wang Xiang hinted to me just now that we ought to hand over a portion of the money we collected from the Jiang family.”

“How much does he want?” Yang Ye smiled, the corners of his mouth twitching.

Mao Li replied, “They want half. With Wang Xiang’s methods, he likely knows exactly how much we got from the Jiang family.”

“Half?” Yang Ye sneered. “We took enormous risks for that money. They did nothing, and yet want half just for showing up? They can forget it!”

Mao Li frowned. “But if you refuse, Inspector Ye, you’ll surely face resistance within the administration.”

“Is that so?” Yang Ye muttered. “These people are all old foxes—good at ruining things, useless at making them happen. I won’t let them set me up. Maybe… it’s time to break off and do things our own way.”

He stroked his chin in thought, then started to smile.

He immediately instructed Mao Li, “Go outside and find a larger location as our new office. We’ll call it… Star Martial Administration Xiajing Inspectorate.”

Mao Li’s eyes lit up. “Inspector Ye, you’re truly a genius! This way, our inspectorate won’t be under the administration’s control, since we’ll have our own independent system. Even if Luo Wu wants to remove you, your backing now is Chairman Tian!”

“Glad you understand. Go on!” Yang Ye waved her off.

“Understood, Inspector Ye!” Mao Li saluted Yang Ye, excitement shining on her face as she turned and left.

...

Seeing Yang Ye refuse their terms, Wang Xiang, under Luo Wu’s instructions, began to make things difficult for Yang Ye.

For example, the accommodation for Yang Ye’s subordinates was refused by the logistics department, citing lack of funds. The weapons they’d received from the armory were all recalled. Even the vehicles previously assigned to Yang Ye were suddenly said to be malfunctioning and needed repairs.

These were minor issues, but enough of them made work inefficient—like sand thrown into well-oiled gears, ensuring a jam every cycle.

Yang Ye understood Luo Wu was trying to force him to submit.

Unfortunately, Yang Ye had no intention of yielding and was ready to break away.

At noon, Yang Ye gathered his team and left the administration building for good. From that moment on, Yang Ye resolved never to return to that foul, chaotic place.

With money, anything could be accomplished.

Combined with Yang Ye’s newly earned reputation, Mao Li quickly purchased a thirty-story office tower in the southern part of Xiajing. By her estimate, buying and renovating the building would cost over two billion Chinese credits, equivalent to more than one billion martial coins.

For Yang Ye, this was a trivial expense. He still had over three hundred billion left from the Jiang family, and more than a hundred other clans had yet to pay their taxes.

Of course, with overdue taxes, plus penalties and interest, the total would be two or three times the original amount.

With the Jiang family’s fate as a warning, Yang Ye doubted any other clan would dare defy him.

That afternoon, in the new office, Mao Li opened the account books and began calling each clan. Every family contacted by her promised to pay their owed taxes and penalties within twenty-four hours at the latest, and guaranteed there would be no more delays in the future.

During the notification process, Mao Li emphasized the Xiajing Inspectorate. If payments were sent to the administration’s account, the inspectorate would not recognize them.

After finishing the calls, at Yang Ye’s instruction, Mao Li hurried to the talent market to recruit staff.

Yang Ye’s requirements for new hires were strict: only ordinary civilians, no cultivators, no children of noble families.

The previous administration had been ruined by the scions of powerful clans, and Yang Ye had no intention of repeating that mistake.

There were countless miscellaneous tasks ahead, but Yang Ye was already considering how best to enhance his team’s combat abilities.