Chapter 493 - 416: Identity (3)
Chapter 493: Chapter 416: Identity (3)
...
By the time they returned to Jiangkou County Town, the sky had grown completely dark, and the city gates were long since closed.
Chen Li vaulted silently over the city wall, landing inside.
Feng Qingxuan followed close behind.
One after the other, they threaded through the streets and alleys until they reached the Chen Family Silk Shop.
The shop had closed for the night long ago, and the back courtyard was silent.
Chen Li walked straight into an empty guest room and tossed Mu Wanqiu onto the bed.
His gaze swept over the woman who had followed him. "Since you didn’t leave, you’d best behave. Work for me, and I won’t treat you unfairly."
Feng Qingxuan pressed her lips together. Her cold eyes met Chen Li’s for a moment before she lowered her gaze, remaining silent.
She didn’t answer, but she didn’t refute him either. She simply walked to the bedside, checked on Mu Wanqiu’s condition, then sat down, closed her eyes, and assumed an air of someone unwilling to speak further.
Chen Li paid her no mind and turned to leave the guest room.
Just as he closed the door, the door to the east wing opened with a CREAK, and Feng Guolin hurried out, an outer robe draped over his shoulders.
"Patriarch?"
A flash of joy appeared in Feng Guolin’s eyes upon seeing Chen Li. He rushed forward and reported in a low voice, "Patriarch, a message came this afternoon. It was said to be urgent."
As he spoke, he retrieved a black iron tube, about three inches long, from his robes and presented it with both hands.
The tube was exquisitely made, its surface covered in fine threads. One end was sealed shut, while the other had a locking mechanism, clearly a device for delivering secret messages.
Chen Li took the tube. He didn’t bother trying to solve the mechanism, simply applying a bit of pressure with his fingertips.
"CRACK."
The iron tube shattered, revealing a tightly rolled strip of paper inside.
Chen Li unrolled the paper and read it by the light of the oil lamp in Feng Guolin’s hand.
Last night at midnight, the Celestial Sword Sect ambushed the Netherworld Ship. This morning, they rented a Treasure Ship in Thunder Shock County for a period of three days. Destination: Jiangkou. Estimated arrival in one to two days.
In the place of a signature were two simple symbols.
It was the secret mark agreed upon by Li Sanli and Peng Anmin.
After reading it, Chen Li felt a sense of certainty.
’My initial choice to conduct the transaction in Jiangkou was, in reality, a gamble. I bet that after seizing the Netherworld Ship, and especially after getting that batch of Opium, the Celestial Sword Sect would never transport it back to their mountain headquarters.’
’The Celestial Sword Sect, after all, carries the reputation of a righteous and prestigious sect. Secretly dealing in a business like Opium is something that can’t see the light of day.’
’The safest method would be to transport the goods to the nearby Hidden Emperor Castle for concealment, processing, or distribution.’
’It seems my gamble paid off.’
"Go to Hongyan Pavilion and bring Bai San and Gossip here."
"Yes, Patriarch."
Feng Guolin accepted the order and hurried away.
Before long, Bai San and Gossip returned to the shop’s back courtyard.
Both of them reeked heavily of cheap perfume and alcohol.
An unnatural flush colored Bai San’s sallow, dark-complexioned face, and his gaze was still unfocused. He had clearly just been dragged from the pleasure quarters, not yet sober.
Gossip, on the other hand, had a pale face and an unsteady gait, looking as if he’d been completely drained.
When Bai San saw Chen Li, his heart skipped a beat.
He knew this master of his disliked subordinates who indulged in wine and women, neglecting their duties.
He had a long history of prior offenses. Although he was technically stationed at Hongyan Pavilion on orders this time, the enjoyment he’d partaken in was very real.
His eyes darted about. Deciding to seize the initiative, he scrambled forward before Chen Li could question him and lowered his voice, adopting an air of someone eager to claim credit.
"Sir, you’re finally back! I have major news. The Jiangkou County Magistrate, Feng Zijing, died last night in the study of his private residence behind the County Magistrate’s Office. He was only discovered this morning."
As he spoke, he snuck glances at Chen Li’s expression. Seeing that it was calm, he continued, "Old Bao and I have been mingling with all sorts of people, just to dig up some inside information."
"It’s said that before Magistrate Feng died, a government constable vaguely saw a woman in a conical hat and a white dress in his room. Her attire was exactly the same as the two women we dealt with!"
He grew more and more excited as he spoke. "Sir, we just need to find that middleman, Zhou Xuanzi, pry his mouth open, and find out the identities and origins of those two women. Then we can report them to the Government Office. It’s the murder of an official! When the time comes, no matter what their background is, they’ll be put on the wanted list once the Government Office investigates."
Gossip nodded in agreement beside him. "Sir, last night... you fought with those two women. What happened afterward? Which... which way did they flee?"
The two of them secretly sized Chen Li up.
They had naturally heard about the fight between Chen Li and Mu Wanqiu in the county town last night, which had become the talk of the town.
They didn’t know it was a ploy by Chen Li to feign weakness. The information they’d received was naturally that Chen Li had been outmatched and forced to retreat.
Chen Li didn’t explain. He simply asked, "How have the government authorities responded?"
"They have! Of course they have!"
Bai San said hurriedly, "The Governor of Linjiang and the County Captain arrived in Jiangkou in person this evening. The County Magistrate’s Office is now on lockdown, and a thorough investigation is underway."
"I heard that the Linjiang Commandery Magistrate’s Office has already sent a six-hundred-li express report to the Jiangzhou Government Office. Before long, I’m afraid the State Government Office will also send people down to investigate."
Chen Li nodded.
’He had chosen to fight Mu Wanqiu in the county town and create such a huge commotion precisely to spread the news, loud and clear, that Grandmasters were fighting within the city.’
’The County Magistrate was murdered, and Grandmasters were fighting in the city... ’
’The Court could not possibly ignore such major events.’
’The stronger the experts who came, and the more people who arrived, the more advantageous it would be for his plan.’
’Only when the water was muddied could he fish with ease.’
’As things stood, everything was proceeding according to plan, with no unexpected deviations.’
’This was, without a doubt, the ideal situation.’