Chapter 409 - 258: Fu... Isn’t Dead?
Chapter 409: Chapter 258: Fu... Isn’t Dead?
Asutai wasn’t thinking about the bigger picture. He wasn’t worried about the overwhelming odds.
He hadn’t even figured out if Zeng Zhifeng had anyone backing him up.
All he had was the ferocity of his Barbarian Race and the hatred born from watching his people brutally killed before his very eyes.
His only target was Zeng Zhifeng.
"Revenge. I... revenge!"
"He... must die!"
With a low growl, Asutai slammed another punch into Zeng Zhifeng’s body.
His gaze, fixed on Chen Yi, was like that of a wild beast.
It was fierce and bloodthirsty, yet held a faint plea. His entire being was focused on killing Zeng Zhifeng.
Chen Yi raised a hand, signaling for him to be quiet. He smiled and said, "I can help you, but you must understand, this is a deal."
Asutai nodded forcefully. "I... know. Deal."
"Like... we... burn the grain. That was... a deal."
Chen Yi raised an eyebrow. Pointing to Lv Jiunan on the other side, he asked, "Was he the one who made the deal with you?"
Asutai followed his finger and looked over. A blank look appeared on his face, a curious mix of the juvenile and the mature, and he shook his head. "Not... him."
Chen Yi thought for a moment, then described Ge Muxiao’s features.
Asutai shook his head again. "Was... *fuduo*... a friend."
"’*Fuduo*’? A friend?"
"Yes. He was outside cage. Told me... burn grain, can escape."
"Then do you remember what he looked like? His height? His age?"
"This... tall. Looked... thin. White clothes. Very... gentle..."
Asutai gestured as he haltingly described the man’s appearance.
It wasn’t a clear picture, but a rough outline still formed in Chen Yi’s mind.
A man in white robes, about his own height, thin, and somewhat older than him—likely a middle-aged man.
’A gentle middle-aged man? This feels familiar...’
Chen Yi suddenly thought of Guiyun Academy, and his eyes flashed with realization.
’A scholar?’
’No wonder it felt so familiar.’
Chen Yi’s first suspect was the Mr. Lingchuan who had previously appeared at Lin Huai’an’s residence with Liu Taofang.
—Zhu Lingchuan.
’If it’s Mr. Lingchuan, then that would explain how Liu Hong knew so much about Liu Taofang’s dealings.’
’And Mr. Lingchuan likely had a hand in Lin Huai’an’s death as well.’
Although Chen Yi couldn’t be one hundred percent certain, when he connected all the recent events, Mr. Lingchuan emerged as the prime suspect.
’Interesting.’
’If Mr. Lingchuan is in league with Liu Hong, does that mean his backer, Deputy Commander Zhu Hao, is also mixed up with Liu Hong?’
’If that’s the case, it’s no wonder Liu Hong looked down on the paltry old grain Liu Taofang was messing around with.’
’How could a man who uses the power of the Ji State Trading Company to secretly smuggle ironware possibly care about such chicken feed?’
Chen Yi muttered to himself for a moment, but he had to marvel at Liu Hong’s caution and meticulousness.
He clearly had connections with the Poshisu Country’s Peacock King Banner and King Landu, yet he still chose to trade with King Landu through Zhu Lingchuan and the people from the Ji State Trading Company, all while hiding behind the scenes.
If he hadn’t found out about his son’s collaboration with Lin Huai’an, he probably wouldn’t have killed Lin Huai’an and cut off the Ji State Trading Company’s business.
At this thought, Chen Yi shook his head. Perhaps Liu Hong had other, deeper reasons for his actions.
He pushed those thoughts aside and looked at Asutai. "Let’s put other matters aside for now and talk about this deal."
"I can let you kill Zeng Zhifeng, and I can even let you kill the man behind him with your own hands."
"But in return, you need to do something for me. And, I’ll say this up front: it’s very dangerous. I can’t guarantee you’ll survive."
Asutai nodded firmly. "Okay!"
He then immediately moved to smash his fist into Zeng Zhifeng’s head. "I will... kill him!"
THUMP.
Before the heavy fist could land, Chen Yi sent him flying with a flick of his hand.
"Don’t be so impatient. I still have some questions for him."
"And of course, I have a few questions for you, too."
Struck by the blow, Asutai flipped back to his feet. "Ask."
He might have a blunt and straightforward nature, but he knew he was no match for Chen Yi. His eyes remained fixed on Zeng Zhifeng.
Seeing this, Chen Yi couldn’t help but chuckle.
This barbarian was just as the rumors described—fierce, savage, and uncivilized.
Fortunately, he didn’t need Asutai for anything complex, or it would have been quite the headache.
With that thought, Chen Yi began his questions unhurriedly. "I hear you’re the son of the Barbarian Left King, Mu Hage?"
Asutai nodded, his gaze never leaving Zeng Zhifeng, as if they were talking about someone else entirely.
"Then how did you end up being captured by Poshisu Country horse bandits and made into a barbarian slave?"
"I... was herding. Someone knocked me out."
Chen Yi made a sound of surprise. "Oh?" he asked, a little taken aback. "The son of a Left King has to herd livestock?"
"King-father... has six... sons. My mother... is dead. No power. So... I herd..."
As they went back and forth, time passed quickly.
Chen Yi gained a better understanding of Asutai, Left King Mu Hage, and the general situation of the Barbarian Race.
Unlike the Wei Dynasty, the Barbarian Race was a confederation of many tribes.
The Celestial Wolf Tribe, led by the Great Monarch of the Barbarian Race, Ligelu, was the most powerful.
After them came the Black Bear Tribe and the Cyan Wood Tribe, commanded by Left King Mu Hage and Right King Errisen, respectively.
Further down were the five kings of the continent’s southernmost region. Each commanded an army of hundreds of thousands of barbarian soldiers and possessed formidable tribal strength.
The dozens of other tribes, both large and small, were each allied with either the Great Monarch or one of the seven kings of the Barbarian Race.
Beyond that, the Barbarian Race also had Shamanism.
Its ranks were filled with countless masters who were nominally under the Great Monarch’s command but also stood apart from his authority, specializing in rituals, divination, medicine, and other such matters.
Some of the most powerful among them were said to possess world-shattering might, capable of moving mountains and filling seas.
However, the current Great Monarch of the Barbarian Race was old and near death, and several of his sons were locked in endless battle for the throne.