I Am Immortal in Great Yu

「More than two months passed in a flash.」

Zhen Daoji had not only established a firm foothold in the Divine Capture Bureau, but had also completely erased every trace of Zhou Changfa, leaving his own indelible mark. His level of control surpassed even that of Zhou Changfa at his peak.

And what of his attitude toward the Zheng Family?

He consistently feigned compliance with them, accepting plenty of benefits while restoring some of the Zheng Family’s positions within the Divine Capture Bureau. However, these were merely posts like Golden Seal Renowned Hunter and Silver Seal Chief Constable, keeping them far from the core of power.

In short, the Zheng Family’s prestige was merely superficial; they hadn’t gained much of any real substance.

Before that one meeting, Zhen Daoji had mentioned inviting Fang Rui for a drink, and he later followed through on his word. As a matter of courtesy, Fang Rui returned the favor.

After a few such exchanges, the two became well-acquainted. As they spent more time together, they discovered a mutual affinity and truly became friends.

In Fang Rui’s view, Zhen Daoji was a man of immense personal charisma. He was refreshingly direct, never bothering to conceal the truth. He was hardworking; despite his monstrous talent for Martial Arts, he still practiced for at least six hours every day. And he had an air of magnificence about him, which was reflected in his willingness to discuss high-level knowledge without reservation, as well as in his tastes in food, clothing, and daily life...

Of course, Zhen Daoji wasn’t intentionally ostentatious. His choices in food, clothing, and living were always guided by his personal preferences and comfort, with luxury revealed in the details.

For example, one day Zhen Daoji mentioned a craving for "Dragon and Phoenix Stew." The very next day, he procured an Exotic Fire-breathing Chicken and an Exotic Golden Dragon Fish—which, it was said, were farm-raised by his own family!

Not one to simply freeload, Fang Rui contributed his own part: his labor as a Master Level chef. He put his full Culinary Skill to the test, spending the better part of the day to prepare the "Dragon and Phoenix Stew."

The main ingredients were Exotic Beast Meat, seasoned with Exotic Fruit Golden Apple Seeds. Various Great Medicines, hundreds of years old, were merely added as minor enhancements...

When the dish was complete, the pot shimmered with a golden glow. The golden steam took the auspicious shape of a dragon and a phoenix, lingering in the air for a long time. Its exotic aroma drifted for nearly a mile, and could be smelled throughout half the neighborhood.

Countless people in the direction of the Zhen Mansion found their mouths watering. If not for the fact that the street’s residents were all either rich or noble—and more importantly, that they knew Zhen Daoji was the Director of the Divine Capture Bureau from a great State City Family—they probably would have brazenly shown up at his door to beg for a taste.

Even Zhen Yi, a man who always carried himself with an ethereal grace, followed the aroma just moments after the dish was ready. He used Magic to leap directly over the wall.

Fang Rui teased him about it, giving the dish the nickname "Immortal Leaping Wall." The name not only made Zhen Daoji clap his hands and roar with laughter, but it later spread throughout the city. The story became a popular anecdote, and the dish itself became famous.

Amusing incidents like this were too many to count.

However, Fang Rui could also see very clearly that Zhen Daoji’s personality had an extremely domineering, self-aggrandizing streak.

For now, things were fine. The difference in their status was too great, and they had no conflicts of interest.

Besides, friends, at a minimum, must be able to connect on an intellectual level.

Zhen Daoji possessed a vast breadth of knowledge, speaking of advanced topics and secrets as if they were common knowledge. Fang Rui, on the other hand, had an open and wildly imaginative mind, complete with a dialectical, scientific way of thinking, a firm grasp of logic, and the profound cultural foundation of his past life.

Sometimes, when Fang Rui and Zhen Daoji were chatting, even Zhen Yi couldn’t resist joining the conversation.

Fang Rui gained access to advanced knowledge, interesting stories, and secrets. In return, Zhen Daoji and Zhen Yi also benefited from their conversations with him. Often, Fang Rui’s bold hypotheses would give them pause, making them carefully consider the possibilities. His occasional astonishing statements also gave them much food for thought.

And so, a peculiar relationship formed: within the Divine Capture Bureau, Zhen Daoji was Fang Rui’s superior, but in private, they were friends.

Both Zhen Daoji and Fang Rui were intelligent men who understood the boundaries perfectly. They kept their public and private lives separate, and both knew exactly where they stood.

This arrangement was comfortable for both of them.

Neither man took undue advantage of the other, nor was one dependent on the other. They were equals, interacting on a level playing field.

But in the eyes of outsiders—especially their colleagues at the Divine Capture Bureau—it was a different story: Fang Rui had hitched his wagon to a powerful backer.

As a result, their attitude toward Fang Rui changed. The more reserved among them became friendly and eager to please. The more shameless ones verged on sycophantic flattery.

This was hardly surprising.

Previously, Zhou Changfa had valued Fang Rui because of his connection to Ge Changgeng. But now, Fang Rui’s friendship with Zhen Daoji was built entirely on his own merit.

Even if Zhen Daoji, as a friend, wouldn’t explicitly show favoritism toward Fang Rui, Fang Rui’s impressions of certain people, shared during their chats, would inevitably influence the Director’s own perceptions. This, in turn, could affect those individuals’ promotions and benefits.

—As the saying goes, even a prime minister’s doorman is a Seventh Grade official. How much more influential, then, is a friend?

Meanwhile, his relationship with Ge Changgeng hadn’t faded either. Fang Rui still frequently went fishing at Mochou Lake, and whenever they ran into each other, they would chat and share a meal.

Compared to his interactions with Zhen Daoji, during which he always felt a faint, underlying tension, being with Ge Changgeng was completely relaxing.

Beyond that, his life consisted of teasing the two little girls, Fang Ling and Nannan; chatting with Third Lady and the maids in his residence; occasionally sneaking out for a clandestine tryst with Liu Pan’Er; and tending to his farm at his secret base in the Peach Blossom Garden...

It was a leisurely and carefree life.

Of course, Fang Rui always kept a part of his mind focused on the city’s overall situation.

He observed as both an insider, wearing his "hat" from the Divine Capture Bureau, and as an outsider, with the detached mindset of someone watching a play. He watched the city’s shifting tides and the Zheng Family’s fluctuating fortunes with a smile, like a spectator watching a chess match between Zhen Daoji and Zheng Jinghan.

...

Fang Rui could afford to be patient, but the Zheng Family could not.

Zheng Jinghan had been deeply troubled lately. He couldn’t quite put his finger on how it happened, but his family’s influence in the city was steadily eroding. Though he didn’t know the expression about "boiling a frog in lukewarm water," he was certainly feeling its effects.