Chapter 405 - 256: He Is My Son
Chapter 405: Chapter 256: He Is My Son
Countless eyes were currently on the Xiao Family.
This included the Dingyuan Army of the Three Towns and the Noble Families close to the Xiao Family.
Any move they made would be instantly detected.
Elder Master Xiao and Xiao Jinghong were under particularly intense scrutiny.
Furthermore, the Xiao Family’s ranks were thin; the old were old, the young were young, and talent was scarce.
Fortunately, Xiao Jinghong was struggling to hold things together. Otherwise, their situation would be even worse.
Chen Yi knew this, which was why he had chosen to abduct Asutai and Lv Jiunan and hide them away.
Only by doing so could he throw Liu Hong into disarray, thereby pushing the situation in Shu State toward chaos.
And such a situation, conversely, would benefit the Xiao Family.
They had long been at the center of the storm, growing accustomed to such circumstances over the years and preparing for the day they would be besieged on all sides.
When everyone sensed that something was amiss and found a knife hanging over their own heads, leaving them scrambling to save themselves, who would still spare a thought for the Xiao Family?
’Liu Hong must believe Lv Jiunan is dead, and that no one else could possibly discover his connection to King Landu.’
’Furthermore, Lv Jiunan’s death has, to some extent, covered up the fact that the East Market Grain Storehouse was burned down.’
’Therefore, Liu Hong’s next move will definitely be to focus on finding Asutai.’
As Chen Yi contemplated his next moves, he finished practicing his fist and step techniques, such as the Mountain Shattering Fist and the Hundred Flowers Palm.
He slowly concluded his practice, exhaled a long breath, and tilted his head up to the night sky.
Moonlight and starlight filtered through the branches and leaves of the Purple Bamboo, scattering specks of brilliance that coated everything in a silvery sheen.
A cool breeze rustled by, causing bamboo leaves to drift down in a scene of serene, natural beauty.
Chen Yi looked away, tidied up the Purple Bamboo Forest, and returned to his room.
’It’s still not enough.’
’Even Elder Master Xiao can barely hang on for two or three years, let alone an ambitious man like Liu Hong.’
’I need to add more fuel to the fire.’
The closer people came to death, the more desperate they became.
Such was human nature, unchangeable by any external force.
Liu Hong was no exception.
Just as he was thinking, midnight arrived, and a golden light flashed before him:
[Daily Intel - Yellow-level Middle Grade: At noon, a disturbance will break out at the East Market Grain Store. Reward: A minuscule amount of Opportunity.]
Chen Yi glanced at it, a slight smile appearing on his face.
It didn’t take much to figure out.
With grain prices in Shu State having skyrocketed severalfold, it was indeed time for some chaos.
’Everything is ready; all that’s missing is the east wind.’
’Heh, but it won’t be long now.’
’That wind... is about to arrive.’
Smiling, Chen Yi finished cleaning up any traces of his presence in the Purple Bamboo Forest, returned to his room, and sat cross-legged on the bed to begin cultivating the Four Symbols Skill.
After more than an hour of contemplation, he had thoroughly perfected his plans, allowing him to finally immerse himself in Cultivation.
Ever since he broke through to the Fifth Grade, his Cultivation had continued to advance rapidly.
However, compared to his previous pace of advancing a minor stage every five days and breaking through a major Realm every half a month, his current rate of progress had slowed somewhat.
Six days had passed since he broke through to the Fifth Grade Realm, yet he still hadn’t reached the Middle Stage.
Fortunately, Chen Yi wasn’t impatient for quick success.
His Spear Dao had now reached Perfection, and he had also mastered the Dragon-Falling Spear Technique, which was more than enough to deal with Martial Artists in the Middle Three Grades Realm.
Even against someone with an Upper Three Grades Cultivation, he still had a fighting chance.
Of course, that was assuming their Technique Realm had not surpassed Minor Success, or had only just entered Great Success.
As Chen Yi’s mind sank into his Cultivation, strands of Heaven and Earth’s Spiritual Mechanism surged toward him from all directions.
It poured into his meridians, flowing into his Dantian and Chest, all the way to the Forehead Acupoint Sea of Qi.
There, the four Divine Beast Spiritual Essences continuously refined it, gradually strengthening his True Essence.
Fluorescent light of red, gold, blue, and green swirled around his body, gradually enveloping him like a misty cloud.
...
While Chen Yi was cultivating peacefully, many others were destined for a sleepless night.
Elder Master Xiao was one of them.
However, aside from sensing the unrest in Shu State City and ordering the household to be on high alert internally while maintaining a relaxed outward appearance, he made no major moves.
The only reason he had not yet rested was because news had arrived from Guangyue Prefecture.
There were no surprises.
Duke Qian, Zhang Xuan, had readily agreed to lend them grain, promising to have it delivered to Shu State Prefecture City within half a month.
He was also sending an additional two hundred thousand in silver.
Elder Master Xiao looked at the letter in his hand, his old heart filled with relief.
"At a critical moment, I must rely on an old friend’s help. I... SIGH."
Xiao Jing, who was by his side, consoled him, "Marquis, you need not be so troubled. Desperate times call for desperate measures. Besides, you are doing this for the good of Shu State."
"That may be so, but ever since I inherited the Marquis Position, I have never once asked another for help. I can’t help but find it unsettling."
Xiao Yuan had spent his life in the military, and he had almost always been the one helping others.
To suddenly be the one asking for help felt deeply awkward for a man of his proud nature.
Xiao Jing knew this well. He sighed inwardly and said quietly, "I am incompetent and unable to share the Marquis’s burdens."
Elder Master Xiao put down the letter. "This has nothing to do with you."
"As the Commander of the Xiao Family’s Hidden Guard, your duty is to focus on gathering intelligence on everyone’s reactions and to guard the family. That is all."
"If I sent you out to find silver, I can’t imagine you’d find any other way than to rob people."
Xiao Jing pressed his lips together. "If the Marquis were to permit it, I..."
Before he could finish, Elder Master Xiao shot him a glare. "You dare?!"
Xiao Jing hastily dropped to his knees. "Forgive me, Marquis! I would not dare."
Elder Master Xiao snorted. "The Xiao Family’s situation is indeed difficult, but we have not yet fallen so low as to resort to such dishonorable deeds!"
"If I were to truly do such a thing, wouldn’t the Xiao Family’s centuries of reputation be ruined in an instant?"
"When my time comes, how could I possibly face my ancestors?"
Shame crossed Xiao Jing’s face. "I misspoke. I beg the Marquis’s forgiveness."
Elder Master Xiao stared at him for a long moment before finally sighing. "Enough, enough."
"Our Xiao Family’s two-hundred-year foundation has always been supported by the fief our ancestors conquered. It is indeed a bit shameful."
"Fortunately, Wan’er is a capable manager. The few Medicine Halls we own bring in a considerable profit each month, so the family does not want for food, clothing, or daily expenses."