History Has Fallen Ill-Chapter 122 : Hangzhou Shaken, Faith of All Beings and the Actor Tree

Chapter 122: Hangzhou Shaken, Faith of All Beings and the Actor Tree
"Arrogant!"
In a mountain-water villa in Yuhang, Hangzhou, a furious roar echoed, scattering flocks of birds.
Inside the villa, a group of History Walkers in suits—men and women—sat around a massive tea table in the courtyard.
A full twenty people.
"Jiang Yan is just a greenhorn, and he dares demand that we attend the meeting on time. What does he mean by that? Setting rules for us? Or wanting benefits? Damn brat!"
The speaker was a man around thirty, dressed casually. The teacup before him had been overturned, and tea spilled across the ground.
As his emotions stirred, dust and sand began to swirl around him.
Beside him, a woman dressed in an actor's costume with enchanting long hair was applying makeup. She picked up a fallen small square mirror and glanced at the spilled tea, speaking with exasperation:
"Tan Jie, it's a waste for the Dust Society to send you as a representative. If you're that capable, why don't you go deal with Jiang Yan yourself and make him behave? What's the point of all this fuss? What a pity, this fine tea is ruined by sand."
Though she spoke, it was a man's voice.
That single line left Tan Jie speechless.
He was at the peak of the Foundation Establishment Stage.
But Jiang Yan had earned his title as the top newcomer in Jiangnan Province.
Even if it was just an internal competition within the Bureau of Historical Revision—Tianxia's most powerful organization, rich in heritage and talents—every champion was considered the strongest of the younger generation in Jiangnan.
And the new strongest...
Would naturally be the first-place winner of the next competition.
Jiang Yan came from a humble background, but his reputation was anything but small.
He reached Foundation Establishment in a week, and a month later defeated a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator. With the help of the Earth Serpent, he slew a Flood Dragon on the verge of transforming, and shattered the elite dark faction "Wild History Club's" plan for their twelfth Xiang Nu.
There were even rumors that the siege of Divine Sakura Bio was orchestrated by him.
Daring, strong, and fearless.
He was undoubtedly the leader of Jiangnan's younger generation, even ranking among the top across the entire Tianxia Alliance.
Tan Jie had once faced Ge Xianyao of the Baopu Daoist Institute—and been instantly defeated.
But Jiang Yan had crushed Ge Xianyao.
Big fish eat small fish. And Tan Jie barely qualified as shrimp.
His father was a peak Mid-stage Law Seed cultivator, capable of defeating Jiang Yan, but...
Jiang Yan was the Bureau's prized talent, young yet holding multiple posts, destined to become an Ancient Talisman True Person.
Unless one could kill him without a trace...
Otherwise, expect divine retribution!
Still, Tan Jie couldn’t let his aura falter and sneered: "Heh, Zou Ming, stop being so sarcastic. Your Ancient Yue Theatre Troupe only needs to perform, gather the faith of all beings, and cultivate the Actor Tree. You barely clash with other factions.
In the past two years, you've leveraged Hangzhou’s internet infrastructure to build a massive MCN network, nurturing numerous viral streamers and taking your stage online nationwide—blazing a whole new trail.
But we don’t have such fancy skills. We’re not one of those big-time factions with Cave-Heavens who can ignore worldly affairs. We must root ourselves locally, and that foundation was earned with blood and sweat. Otherwise, who would feed our entire clan? You? With your seductive tricks? Or hooks—"
Before he could finish, he was interrupted.
"If you’re picking a fight, I’ll oblige!"
Zou Ming stared coldly, mysterious pigments spreading across his eyes and face, forming a unique "mask."
Colorful ribbons fluttered behind him like a stage goddess descending.
"Yue Opera’s ‘Heavenly Fairy Union’? Wearing a mask so long you really think you’re the Seventh Fairy? Then I must be the old ox!"
Tan Jie wasn’t intimidated either. Yellow sand whirled around him, shattering nearby glass windows.
"Try me," Zou Ming sneered.
The atmosphere froze—like a powder keg, ready to explode.
The rest of the group just watched, amused.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
Just as the two were about to clash, a gentle breeze swept through, forcibly dissolving their killing intent and suppressing their supernatural energies.
‘This is... the Wind of Resentment Dispersal!’
Both men's pupils shrank as they turned toward the entrance.
A chubby middle-aged man in a modern Chinese long gown entered, twirling walnuts in his hands. His expression was kind, his eyes smiling:
"We’re all transcendent factions from Hangzhou. Who knows, maybe we were family five hundred years ago—no need for hostility. Harmony brings wealth!"
"Boss Yu!"
The two saluted, and the others greeted him as well. This was Yu Lingchuan, heir to the Jiangnan Red Dust Chamber of Commerce, nicknamed the "Many-Treasure Fish."
He was also the mediator behind this pre-meeting among factions.
The breeze just now was the Red Dust Wind, capable of dissolving grudges and transforming conflict into peace.
Though it looked like wind, it touched the soul.
Its core principle: harmony brings wealth.
With excellent product quality and branches across Jiangnan, supplying countless transcendental materials, their commerce was a goldmine.
Untouchable because behind them stood an Ancient Talisman Grandmaster.
If backed by a Heavenly Official, they’d be top-tier.
And a Saint with a Blessed Paradise could dominate the ages.
‘Good thing it’s just a chamber of commerce. Otherwise, if such a powerhouse chose to dominate a region or central zone, it’d be a nightmare,’ Tan Jie thought, then said:
"I didn’t want to argue, but this guy’s mouth... Anyway, for Boss Yu’s sake, I’ll let it go."
Zou Ming sneered, "I just can’t stand people who act tough."
The two bickered again, but Yu Lingchuan sighed: "Alright, stop it. I was indeed late—my apologies."
"Fine, for Boss Yu’s sake."
Their voices echoed simultaneously, and they returned to their seats.
Zou Ming even casually sipped the sand-contaminated tea.
No one was surprised. After all, the Dust Society and Ancient Yue Theatre Troupe’s founders were close friends—these two wouldn’t really fall out.
This performance? Conveniently timed—half a minute after the agreed meeting time.
A clear signal to Boss Yu: don’t try to throw your weight around. They couldn’t afford to offend the Chamber, but they could walk out.
Their insults were thinly veiled.
Surviving the Historical Long River and advancing past countless instances—none here were fools.
Boss Yu played dumb with a smile and apologized to the group:
"I swear, I wasn’t deliberately late. I just received some interesting news."
"This Commander Jiang is unlike the Bureau’s old-timers. Not only did he notify all twenty registered transcendental factions in Yuhang, but even unregistered, non-criminal organizations—and he even made announcements to the dark side. As long as you haven’t committed major crimes, you can register and receive amnesty."
"Black and white alike? Does he want to be a local emperor?"
Tan Jie sneered. These geniuses were always arrogant.
Zou Ming frowned: "Too naive. The dark factions are well-hidden—what’s the point of notifying them? Who would care?
Especially with the Bureau under immense pressure lately. They can barely maintain order, let alone help him search the whole city. In the end, this might become a joke."
He had initially admired Jiang Yan—brave, resourceful, extraordinarily gifted.
Now it seemed hollow. Was Jiang getting drunk on praise, becoming conceited, thinking he was the world’s center?
"Just Jiangnan’s number one. You’d think he was the nation’s top talent."
"Even if he were, it means nothing until he matures. This world belongs to the strong."
"Indeed. When he reaches Ancient Talisman level, maybe then he can speak. Right now, it’s just foolish antics. If not for the Bureau’s face, I wouldn’t bother with him."
"He only bullies honest transcendents like us. Let him try cleaning up a few dark factions instead of playing bureaucrat!"
"Boast all you want—talk to me when you reach Law Seed Stage. Foundation Establishment is nothing. Even we backwater Yuhang folks have high-stage Law Seed cultivators."
"..."
Everyone discussed fervently, but their stance was united:
They weren’t optimistic.
Nor did they want to get involved.
They preferred the old ways—the Bureau ignoring them as long as they behaved.
As beneficiaries of the status quo, they hated disruptions.
"May I say a word?"
Seeing the mood reach its peak, Yu Lingchuan spoke:
"This gathering was just a pre-meeting to get everyone on the same page. After all, this young man is the Bureau’s chosen representative. No need to clash with the government—if we embarrass them, none of us will come out clean."
"You want us to obey a brat?" someone protested.
"Of course not."
Yu Lingchuan smiled: "Just put on a show. Privately, we stick to our ways. Obey in appearance, defy in essence. He’s young—his enthusiasm will fade. If no one cooperates, he’ll quiet down."
The crowd nodded.
The Bureau might act nice, but if provoked, they’d strike hard.
Cold treatment was best.
Tan Jie smirked, thinking it was all nonsense.
No real transcendent would oppose the authorities.
And the shady ones? You couldn’t manage them.
If they didn’t cause trouble, that was already a blessing.
Zou Ming shook his head. He feared this new Commander was about to fall flat.
As the meeting concluded and they prepared to leave, a suited bodyguard rushed in and whispered to Yu Lingchuan.
Yu’s smile vanished; his expression grew grave.
Zou Ming asked, "What happened?"
"We truly underestimated this new Commander..."
Yu Lingchuan took a deep breath and said solemnly:
"Just now, two dark factions in Yuhang were located and eradicated."
"Moreover, one unregistered major faction—the Yuhang branch of the ‘Ou Tide Secret Society’—was sealed for conducting flesh-and-blood sacrifices and feeding live organs to idols. The authorities have ordered the main branch in Ou Yue City to come prove their innocence—or their leader, an Ancient Talisman True Person, will be listed in the Tai-bai Record."
With those words, the room fell silent.