Chapter 388 - 249: You are Lv Jiunan?
Chapter 388: Chapter 249: You are Lv Jiunan?
Chen Yi had a good idea of how Liu Hong would react.
If he were in Liu Hong’s shoes and learned that Asutai had vanished, he too would do everything he could to find him.
He might even turn the entire Shu State Prefecture City upside down.
And yet, this was exactly what Chen Yi hoped to see.
The more chaotic the situation became, the clearer he could see, and in turn, seize benefits for the Xiao Family.
As for Liu Hong’s Fifth Grade Realm subordinate, Chen Yi hadn’t given him much thought. He couldn’t be bothered to plant false clues to make Liu Hong suspect his own men of betrayal.
’Strike the mountain to startle the tiger, and in doing so, probe for the truth.’
’Only by staying hidden in the shadows can I find the evidence of Liu Hong’s treason.’
While Chen Yi mulled this over, he arrived at the West Market.
To avoid drawing attention, he didn’t make an appearance at Hundred Herbs Hall.
He simply had Zhang Dabao switch to a more ordinary carriage and drive him through the West Market, straight toward Heiyu Lane in its deeper recesses.
The sky was dim, and the rain was starting to fall harder.
Rain lashed down, drumming a ceaseless PATTER against the roof tiles and flagstone roads.
Yet the West Market was still bustling with pedestrians.
Shop attendants stood under the eaves on both sides of the street, calling out greetings and respectfully welcoming customers.
Inside, a handful of customers browsed, pausing to inspect the wares and occasionally ask a question.
Hundred Herbs Hall and Yunqing Building, located near the entrance of the West Market, were doing even better business than usual.
The crowd was a mix of wealthy gentry, rich merchants, young masters and ladies from noble families, and common folk, their chatter and laughter rising and falling in waves.
No one was sure who thought of it first.
Yunqing Building, which had only recently opened, had also started selling tea drinks from Hundred Herbs Hall.
Almost every other day, the Yunqing Building’s steward would purchase ten cartloads of tea from Hundred Herbs Hall.
While they didn’t get the fifty percent profit share that the Xiao Family Medicine Hall did, even selling the tea at cost helped draw customers to Yunqing Building.
At the very least, it saved people the time they would have spent waiting in line outside Hundred Herbs Hall.
It proved to be just as much of a draw for customers as Yunqing Building’s signature Lang Wine.
This was something even Chen Yi hadn’t anticipated.
He had originally planned to wait until Hundred Herbs Hall was established across Shu State, then absorb other medicine halls before opening new sales channels in restaurants, Qin Buildings, and the like.
He never expected Cui Qingwu to figure it out on her own and implement the idea first.
Watching the bustling scene at Yunqing Building from his window and hearing Huan’er’s calls from within, the corners of Chen Yi’s mouth curled up slightly.
He could imagine other restaurants in the Prefecture City following suit in the future.
It was a pleasant surprise.
After the carriage had traveled a bit further, he lifted the curtain on the other side, his gaze sweeping over a tailor shop.
Aside from the shopkeeper, whom he had confirmed to be an Iron Banner Officer of the Hidden Guard, he focused more on a slightly older attendant.
The attendant had plain features and a tall, thin frame. Dressed in simple linen, he didn’t stand out at first glance as he welcomed and saw off customers like the others.
But upon closer inspection, Chen Yi could easily spot something off about him.
His deep-set eyes were mostly scanning the passing pedestrians and carriages, and though his movements were nimble, he was sometimes out of sync with the other attendants.
Clearly, the man’s mind wasn’t on the business of tailoring.
Chen Yi studied him for a moment, and the light of his Qi Observation Skill flickered.
Once he got a clear look at the man’s aura, he calmly closed the curtain, a flicker of apprehension on his face.
’A General... Upper Three Grades Cultivation...’
’His aura is even more potent than Xiao Jinghong’s. He’s at least at the Upper Third Grade.’
Chen Yi recalled eavesdropping on the conversation between the General and Lou Yuxue at A Wonton Shop a few days prior, and a thin sheen of sweat broke out on his back.
Fortunately, he had the Black Tortoise Concealment Technique, bolstered by his Martial Arts·Body at the Great Success Realm.
Otherwise, at such a close distance, the General would have surely detected him.
Just then, the General, clad in his linen clothes, glanced at Chen Yi’s carriage for a moment before looking away.
A mere Fifth Grade Realm Martial Artist wasn’t worth his attention.
After observing for a moment, the General looked toward Yunqing Building. His expression was unchanged, but a hint of displeasure flashed in his eyes.
He was clearly thinking about his meeting the previous night with the Simurgh Phoenix, Cui Qingwu.
He had originally arranged the meeting with Cui Qingwu to discern the young lady’s purpose for coming to Shu State.
He also meant to use the opportunity to issue a warning.
But to his surprise, Cui Qingwu had the temper of a spoiled aristocrat and showed him, a Golden Banner Officer of the White Tiger Guard, absolutely no respect.
Her every other word was dripping with sarcasm, and she nearly drove him mad with anger.
If she hadn’t come from the Qinghe Cui Family—with its Patriarch, Cui Mao, being one of the Nine Ministers of the Great Wei Dynasty—the General would have already given her a personal lesson on the rules of the White Tiger Guard.
’Hmph. I’d like to see what you’re really up to in Shu State.’
’If you dare interfere with the Pavilion Master’s plans, I’ll make sure you never leave this place alive, even if Cui Mao himself is protecting you!’
With these thoughts, the General retracted his gaze. He scanned the area once more, then leaned over to the Shopkeeper and whispered:
"Any word from the Lady Tiger?"
"Not yet."
"Send word for her to speed things up."
"I don’t have much time left in Shu State. The Guangyuan Fu Family has been making moves lately; I suspect they intend to help the Xiao Family."
"Yes..."
...
「Deep in the West Market, Heiyu Lane.」
The place lived up to its name—the word ’black’ seemed to define the houses and roads.
Dilapidated black courtyard walls were choked with vines. Rain washed over the muddy roads, yet it was still difficult to see the flagstones beneath.
It looked like an old alley abandoned for a century; everything the eye could see was a scene of ruin.
Even the people who lived here were mostly dressed in black, some in coarse linen, others in fine brocade.
The only difference was in the newness of their clothes.
Those in tattered garments were mostly gaunt beggars, young and old alike, each clutching a broken bowl as they huddled under the eaves, staring blankly at passersby.