The second one is Kim Yeon-ju. Smart, and barely qualifies as a genius herself, plus she has the backing of a small sect. Such a person will definitely be greedy—whether it’s her own desire or that of her sect. ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ novel★fire.net If she can climb higher, she would never settle for mediocrity. As long as Lu Ding shows enough strength, everything can be negotiated, and then everyone gets what they want. The last one is Kim Gyeong-joo. She hasn’t awakened yet, and seems to be younger—just an ordinary person with great potential for growth. An Wuyang, who was still caught up in his curiosity, asked: Lu Ding shook his head: “They have a close connection. If it weren’t for that connection, I wouldn’t choose either of them.” “What kind of connection?” Lu Ding drove while explaining: “According to the intelligence records, although the current Tianxing Group ruler captured the mother of Kim Yeon-ju and Kim Gyeong-joo, the sisters reacted very differently afterward. Kim Yeon-ju’s mother is strong-willed. After failing to find the Tianxing Group ruler, she treated that relationship as a fleeting affair and stayed in the Diancang Sect, raising Kim Yeon-ju on her own. As for Kim Gyeong-joo’s mother, she developed feelings for the Tianxing Group ruler and went down the mountain searching for him. Maybe because of these feelings, the ruler sensed something different. So the Tianxing Group ruler met her again... you understand, right? This is also why Kim Gyeong-joo was born a month later than Kim Yeon-ju. Later, after discovering she was pregnant, Kim Gyeong-joo’s mother went back to the Diancang Sect once and accidentally revealed that she had met the Tianxing Group ruler again. Then she was resented by Kim Yeon-ju’s mother out of jealousy. After all, both had children by the Tianxing Group ruler. Why did he only meet one once but meet the other twice? The sisters fell out. Kim Gyeong-joo’s mother was framed and severely injured, then expelled. Later, because she never saw the Tianxing Group ruler again, she became increasingly depressed every day. Coupled with untreated old injuries, she passed away in the summer when Kim Gyeong-joo was ten. Obsessed with love, ultimately trapped by love.” After listening patiently, An Wuyang said, “So Kim Yeon-ju and Kim Gyeong-joo are cousins?” “Yes, precisely because of this relationship and those events, I chose them.” “Kim Yeon-ju listens to her mother a lot, and her mother is emotionally resentful toward the Tianxing Group ruler. When we go, after showing our strength, we say we want to push her daughter as heir, making the Tianxing Group ruler regret his previous coldness. Then add a line like, ‘We’ll prove to him that even without him, you alone can raise your daughter excellently.’ Wouldn’t she beg to cooperate with us? Even if Kim Yeon-ju herself has any objections, her mother will help persuade and suppress her. Women are more emotional, men more rational. Both have their pros and cons. A strong woman nursing grudges is utterly crazy.” An Wuyang felt something was off: “But from this, it seems Kim Yeon-ju’s mother does have feelings for the Tianxing Group ruler. What if, in the end...” “You mean a redemption storyline?” An Wuyang got up and, having been exposed to many modern things, could understand that. Although it can’t make up for the modern values and perceptions cultivated over more than ten years for an ordinary person, he understood the concept of redemption. He nodded in agreement, but Lu Ding shook his head to reject it. “Doesn’t matter. Even if some ridiculous redemption drama happens, it’s fine. We’re doing a one-time deal, playing a speedrun strategy. Before they reconcile, we will have finished all the procedures and tasks. We’ll just leave, and whatever happens after—whether they weep together or reconcile—it’s none of our business. Fast mainline progress leaves the side quests behind. Simple and direct. Lu Ding and An Wuyang two against one, leaving no time for dumb teammates to mess up. Once done, they’re done. Side quests? We’ll patch those up later ourselves. Pace is fast, success is the only option.” An Wuyang felt very strange. “Then, what about Kim Gyeong-joo?” “Kim Gyeong-joo is even simpler. If bringing along Kim Yeon-ju is like two against one—she has some independent thoughts and might be weak and noisy, but she has a foundation and good talent— bringing along Kim Gyeong-joo is like each of us holding one hand, lifting her up without letting her feet touch the ground.” This made a spark light up in An Wuyang’s mind. “Is this like that young protector in the Jing Dynasty, one hand holding a sword and the other carrying the young Emperor Shunjing, fighting the regent for the throne?” “We’re just as domineering?” Lu Ding glanced at him with surprise in his tone: “Didn’t expect you to know history, but is that really true?” An Wuyang realized he might have said too much, hurriedly laughing it off: “Just a metaphor, I don’t really know.” Lu Ding turned back: “But don’t say it—if it really happened, that would be pretty badass.” He imagined himself covered in enemies’ blood in the palace, left hand holding the ‘little weakling,’ right hand holding a long sword with a notch cut out, staring down all, pointing the blade at the throne. ‘Today, I will send him up. Let’s see who dares to stop me!’ This excited Lu Ding. An Wuyang didn’t dare let him continue thinking. “Keep talking about Kim Gyeong-joo.” “Kim Gyeong-joo... getting her to cooperate is even easier. She might even be more proactive than Kim Yeon-ju, as long as we show her the evidence. Tell her that in her mother’s death, the Diancang Sect and Kim Yeon-ju’s mother played a big role, and her father—the Tianxing Group ruler—never cared about them. I believe she will be furious. After all, her mother didn’t not love her, she loved her deeply. Then we show our sincerity: wipe out the Diancang Sect and strike the Tianxing Group with a decisive blow. If she doesn’t join us, who else will?” An Wuyang thought about it and realized it really made sense. Most importantly, he and Lu Ding had strong fists, tough bones, and powerful backgrounds. If they say wipe out a sect, they wipe it out. If they say strike, they strike. And with Kim Gyeong-joo’s legitimate claim, they won’t face a life-or-death fight with Tianxing Group’s Heavenly Perception. Because that’s Tianxing Group’s own rule. Moreover, Lu Ding added a little more to make the plan even more perfect. “After we win the national war, Kim Gyeong-joo, as one of the heirs, can help Great Han develop the economic special zone.”