Chapter Sixty-Nine: Half of the Entertainment Industry!

The woman was stunned.

Jiang Yu’s words made it clear: to destroy Huating Entertainment, he was even prepared to start a war between martial artists and the Hidden Gate. This declaration also plunged her into deep thought.

China’s territory is vast, with a population in the billions, one of the great nations of the world. Within such immense numbers, masters of the Harmonized Force are rare, yet not unheard of. But these masters are not terrifying—after all, the Hidden Gate, as China’s tool to restrain secular martial artists, possesses overwhelming power, able to crush any Harmonized Force master.

What is truly frightening is a young master, not yet twenty years old. If the Hidden Gate were to become enemies with Jiang Yu, he would need only to flee once, hide deep in the mountains, and vanish from the world. In this sprawling land, if such a master wished to conceal himself, the Hidden Gate would be powerless.

Then, the Hidden Gate would face a drawn-out war of martial artists, lasting years or even decades, and their adversary would be a living legend. If this person broke through his shackles and entered the realm of the Earth Immortal, it would spell disaster for both China and the Hidden Gate. The rage of an Earth Immortal—who could anticipate its consequences? The Hidden Gate could hardly fight such a being in the alleys of a major city.

The battlefield would shift wherever Jiang Yu went, changing constantly. The scope of the conflict was so vast that the woman frowned deeply.

In the end, it would be the millions of citizens who suffered. Such a price—even the Hidden Gate could not bear it.

She shuddered at the thought; the potential of the man before her was immense.

“Jiang Yu, I hope you measure your actions carefully. Before making any decision, consider whether you can withstand the wrath of China.”

Since stepping into the ranks of grandmasters, she had never humbled herself before anyone. She appeared strong, yet in this conversation, she was retreating step by step.

Only now did she realize that she could not stand against this youth.

Jiang Yu smiled. “When I act, I need no one’s guidance. My authority is established, my warning delivered. Wherever you came from, return there. Once Huating Entertainment is dealt with, I will leave Yuzhou.”

Today’s purpose was to test the waters; Jiang Yu was not yet strong enough to confront the Hidden Gate head-on. Unless he advanced to the Foundation Establishment stage, mastering supernatural powers and forging an innate body—whether the True Demon Immortal Body of the ancient sects or the Daoist Five Emperors United Body—he could roam the world unhindered. Even the deadliest nuclear weapon would not harm him.

At that level, Jiang Yu would no longer need to care about the Hidden Gate’s stance.

The woman gazed at Jiang Yu and suddenly grew calm. “What if the Hidden Gate mediates and gives you a satisfactory resolution regarding Huating Entertainment?”

Jiang Yu asked with interest, “What kind of resolution?”

She chuckled, her allure captivating. “I’ll have Xu Changming, chairman of Huating Entertainment, host a banquet and invite you. You can state your demands, and we’ll negotiate. There’s always a way to resolve things. This is the Hidden Gate’s final concession.”

She had been yielding repeatedly, and Jiang Yu could see it; he had reached the Hidden Gate’s limit.

“Very well. If the answer satisfies me, I will leave.”

Jiang Yu nodded in agreement.

The woman inclined her head. “My name is Qin Huishi, taken from Du Fu’s poem ‘Twenty Rhymes for Li Bai’—‘When the brush falls, it stirs wind and rain; when the poem is finished, ghosts and gods weep!’”

Such a name, its meaning understood, truly commands respect.

“It’s settled. Tomorrow night, I await your noble arrival.”

With that, Qin Huishi turned and departed.

Just as Jiang Yu said, her task was complete; her visit was merely to warn this decisive, ruthless master. The massacre of twenty-five Shadow Assassins last night had already spread through Yuzhou’s elite circles. If there were someone in this world who could kill without facing any consequences, it would lead to a climate of universal fear.

No one wanted to see the murderer live freely after their own death.

Order exists to be obeyed.

Outside the door, Ma Tianzong and the others entered.

“Teacher, who was that woman just now?”

Ma Tianzong inquired.

Jiang Yu frowned. The Hidden Gate seemed to stand behind China, representing imperial authority. In ancient times, its function was like the Imperial Sword—executing nobles above, corrupt officials below. But the Hidden Gate’s targets were secular martial artists.

“Have you ever heard of the Hidden Gate?”

Jiang Yu asked, curious.

Ma Tianzong, Li Hao, and Gu Feifei all shook their heads in confusion. They only knew the Hidden Gate was like the Shadow Assassins—a group beyond ordinary understanding.

Liu Shao, for his part, stared with wide eyes, not comprehending at all.

Lin Wangtian spoke up: “I’ve heard of the Hidden Gate before. It was established by China, with Gu Changsheng as its master. It oversees secular martial artists. When ordinary people become powerful enough, someone stronger is needed to set rules and restrain them.”

“Why are there thousands of martial artists, yet so few reports of them harming others or dominating the market? Because, in vast China, there is still the Hidden Gate as a deterrent. Furthermore, the martial world has stricter rules. If the offense is serious, execution is swift, no second chances. Those who rise above the Hidden Gate are so few, you can count them on one hand.”

“In short, the Hidden Gate is China’s sword against martial artists. It’s said there are several masters among them—unless they encounter an Earth Immortal, they can sweep the martial world.”

Jiang Yu nodded. No wonder Qin Huishi had been so forceful—she had China’s backing, with Gu Changsheng supporting her.

“After today, the Hidden Gate will likely keep a close eye on me,” Jiang Yu mused, and his guess was correct. For the entire day, he was under their surveillance.

Wherever he went, several Harmonized Force experts followed. At first, they were discreet, then, after a phone call, they followed openly.

The Hidden Gate must have realized that a few Harmonized Force experts could hardly monitor a master. If Jiang Yu hadn’t permitted it, these men would have died a thousand times over. It was like ants trying to lift an elephant—reality would see them crushed beneath its feet.

The next evening, Qin Huishi arrived as promised.

She wore a fiery red dress, lips painted a blazing scarlet, her wavy hair cascading, exuding a raw, primal beauty.

“Master Jiang, I’ve arranged with Huating Entertainment’s chairman. Tonight, you’re invited to the top floor of Huating Tower. Xu Changming asked me to tell you that there seems to be some misunderstanding between you.”

Jiang Yu sneered.

“A misunderstanding?”

If it were truly a misunderstanding, he would not be in Yuzhou.

Gu Feifei, seeing the situation escalate, felt uneasy. She clung to Jiang Yu’s hand. “Big Fish, maybe let it go. If worst comes to worst, I’ll just leave the entertainment industry. If I don’t work here, I won’t have to endure Huating’s abuse.”

Jiang Yu replied calmly, “My disciple will not be subjected to bullying.”

His disciples knew he was fiercely protective, but they didn’t realize the extent. Years ago, the Mi clan’s discord led to disaster—betrayed by treacherous ministers, she took her own life in the army tent. In his fury, Jiang Yu slaughtered a million soldiers, staining the Qin rivers with blood, forcing the Seven States to sue for peace, and the emperor to kneel.

Ma Tianzong held a list of a hundred names.

It spanned many fields—from actors to singers, from singers to journalists. Everyone involved in blacklisting Gu Feifei was listed, including those who kicked her when she was down.

Du Yanran had been staying with everyone these past days. When writing that list, she was terrified. There were even heavyweight singers among them, names familiar to the public.

She knew almost half of those on the list, which represented half the entertainment industry.

“Madness, sheer madness. Is China really allowing Jiang Yu to act so recklessly? If this goes through, the entertainment industry will face its largest purge ever. It could set the industry back twenty years—who knows how long it will take to recover?”

Yet Jiang Yu seemed unconcerned.

“Jiang Yu, do you realize what consequences will follow?”

When Qin Huishi saw the list, her eyes widened in shock.

Was this man planning to reshuffle the entire entertainment industry?

Gu Feifei pursed her lips, no longer trying to persuade him. She was a smart woman—the smarter, the more she knew that when a man has made up his mind, it’s better to silently support him than to oppose him.

“From now on, I don’t want to see a single person on that list ever again!”

The purge had officially begun.