RMM -Chapter 152 The Net of Heaven is Vast and Nothing Escapes It

Xi Yuechen woke up early the next day as usual, went downstairs for his morning exercises, bought breakfast, tidied up the house—everything proceeded in a calm, orderly manner.

He was waiting for Long Ge’s call. Of course, at this point, all he could do was wait for that call.

Finally, Long Ge’s call arrived, fashionably late, around noon.

Xi Yuechen was on the phone with Gao Yunxiao when he heard the ringtone of the phone that had been silent all morning. His eyes flickered.

“Alright, that’s settled. I’ll call you later,” Xi Yuechen said without fuss, about to hang up.

“Yes, I’ll follow up,” Gao Yunxiao responded promptly and efficiently.

He didn’t ask why Xi Yuechen was hanging up mid-conversation, nor did he question the sudden ringing. At this moment, he was simply the perfect executor, a competent subordinate.

Gao Yunxiao knew that if Xi Yuechen disappeared at such a critical moment, he wouldn’t just be strolling around. From the information Xi Yuechen had inadvertently shared, one thing was clear: soon, the action team would finally have a real mission.

This prospect acted like a stimulant, invigorating them, while also heightening their sense of urgency.

Over nearly half a year, the action team had grown rapidly, now possessing the fundamental qualities necessary for special operations personnel. What remained was consolidation and accumulating more real-world experience.

Among all aspects, the action team excelled in one key area: mutual trust.

Xi Yuechen had spent only a few months with them, and later, he would often be absent. All team operations were fully entrusted to the deputy leader. Under such circumstances, forming trust among team members—especially toward the two team leaders—would usually be difficult, as mysterious movements often provoke doubt.

Yet they didn’t. From the very beginning, they showed no negative emotions. Over time, their tacit understanding grew so strong that they could even figure out Xi Yuechen’s whereabouts on their own—without mentioning it or acting on it. Instead, they all chose to train harder, preparing for the moment of real confrontation. This was undoubtedly the team’s greatest progress in that period.

Psychological maturity, more than any external skill, was truly rare.

Gao Yunxiao understood that the team members were beginning to trust each other. Xi Yuechen understood even more clearly that they trusted him.

It’s not easy to fully trust the comrades you fight alongside. Such trust can determine your fate in an instant on the battlefield.

For this invaluable trust, Xi Yuechen was extremely satisfied. He also began to gradually reveal some of his own information to Gao Yunxiao, allowing the team to be aware of these matters—a way of reciprocating their trust.

Gao Yunxiao naturally understood Xi Yuechen’s intentions. He was the first in the entire team to fully trust Xi Yuechen, which was also a key reason Xi Yuechen appointed him deputy leader.

After hanging up, Xi Yuechen quickly answered the ringing phone.

“Hello, Long Ge.”

He had moved Cheng Yue’s SIM card to another phone as soon as he returned.

Long Ge had called him over for lunch, saying he had missed him after a few days apart and wanted to catch up.

Xi Yuechen, naturally respectful in such matters, replied he would come immediately.

Since becoming familiar with Long Ge, Xi Yuechen no longer always rushed to the imperial city; their meeting locations had begun to vary.

This time, Long Ge invited him to a members-only entertainment club. Xi Yuechen didn’t have a membership card, but Long Ge had someone stationed at the entrance to bring him in.

“Long Ge, it’s been a while!” Xi Yuechen said loudly as he entered, extending his hand.

Long Ge was alone in the room, with some dishes already laid out. Seeing Xi Yuechen, he stood up from his idle seat.

“Ah, Brother Cheng, long time no see!”

Laughing heartily, Long Ge shook Xi Yuechen’s hand warmly.

“Come, haven’t eaten yet, right? The dishes here are good. Try them, you’ll be pleased.” Long Ge’s enthusiasm made it feel like a reunion with a long-lost friend.

Xi Yuechen smiled and sat down beside Long Ge, going along willingly.

The dishes were not fully served yet, and waiters kept coming in and out, so it wasn’t the right time for serious discussions. Long Ge chatted casually, as he had said on the phone—just to “catch up.”

Long Ge had ordered many exquisite dishes, clearly expensive. The meal, along with a few drinks, likely cost tens of thousands. Dining at an entertainment club like this was quite a luxury.

Perhaps due to his upbringing, Long Ge always valued appearances and extravagance in everything. Even a simple meal would be done to the highest standard. Fortunately, Yanmen’s business was large and profitable; otherwise, with Long Ge’s habits, they could have quickly drained Yanmen’s finances.

Many people in Yanmen were like Long Ge—flashy and extravagant. Bai Xiong knew this and, in theory, should have reined them in. Any large group risks internal decay if such individuals go unchecked.

Over the years, Bai Xiong had advisors who disliked this behavior, but he consistently turned a blind eye. He understood the risks but also recognized that these were loyal old subordinates who had fought alongside him through life-threatening situations. Now, enjoying the fruits of their labor wasn’t unreasonable.

Yanmen was prosperous, making daily profits enormous. For these subordinates, spending lavishly was only a fraction of their gains. Bai Xiong’s tolerance also ensured their loyalty remained intact for future contingencies.

Moreover, the existence of a few extravagant figures like Long Ge wouldn’t collapse such a large organization. Even big groups have members who overspend; these people took risks for a better life, after all.

Thus, as long as Long Ge and his peers didn’t go overboard, Bai Xiong allowed it, trusting his loyal old subordinates to remain dependable in crucial moments.

However, Long Ge had talent but a shallow vision and often overlooked details. Big matters couldn’t be entrusted to him; he was only suited to manage minor operations. In essence, he was somewhat of a “figurehead.”

Wealth and leisure are fine for a day or two, but too long and one gets restless. Seeing others thriving and taking credit before the big brother spurred Long Ge to seek opportunities to prove himself, hoping to gain promotion and influence.

Xi Yuechen’s appearance was perfectly timed, the ideal opportunity—Long Ge could hardly pass it up.

One wonders, when Yanmen eventually falls to the military, what Long Ge would think—having personally introduced Cheng Yue, who would inadvertently be the harbinger of Yanmen’s downfall.

And Bai Xiong, who trusted his loyal subordinates, would discover that they had brought the military’s influence into Yanmen, leading to its collapse—how would he feel?

As the saying goes, the more you walk at night, the more likely you meet a ghost. Or perhaps, “The net of heaven is vast, yet nothing escapes it” is more fitting.

Returning to Xi Yuechen and Long Ge: once all the dishes were served, Long Ge waved the other people out.

“Everyone out, everyone out! Why are you all just standing here? We know how to eat.”

Once the room emptied, only Xi Yuechen and Long Ge remained.

Xi Yuechen understood it was time to get to the point. He put down his chopsticks, wiped his mouth with a napkin, maintaining perfect etiquette.

Long Ge noticed and couldn’t help but think that scholars really paid attention to such details—the actions were graceful and pleasant to watch.