Chapter 428 - 267: Shattering Their Invincibility
Chapter 428: Chapter 267: Shattering Their Invincibility
"So ’Dragon Spear’ really is you, Liu Wu!"
Cui Qingwu knew "Liu Wu."
She’d know him even if he were burned to ash.
Not long after she first arrived in Shu State, "Liu Wu" had knocked her out with a vile poison, causing her to lose all face in front of Chen Yunfan. How could she possibly forget?
Of course, at the time, she didn’t yet know the man was "Liu Wu."
It wasn’t until after the Three Towns’ summer grain was set ablaze and reports on the situation in Shu State trickled into the White Tiger Guard that she finally confirmed her attacker that night was indeed "Liu Wu."
However...
As the name "Dragon Spear" resounded throughout the Shu State Jianghu, she grew uncertain again.
’How could a man whose Cultivation and Fist Dao were inferior to hers just two months ago possibly elevate his Spear Dao to the Perfection Realm in such a short time?’
Even when Lou Yuxue had told her this before they came to the Spring Rain Building, she had remained skeptical.
But now, with "Liu Wu" standing right before her, Cui Qingwu had no choice but to believe.
With that thought, she took a deep breath. "Since it’s you, this deal is off!"
Chen Yi smiled. He wasn’t surprised by Cui Qingwu’s attitude.
Their previous encounter had led to a bit of a misunderstanding.
Both had suffered some damage.
Originally, Chen Yi hadn’t planned on letting her go. Unfortunately for him, she was Chen Yunfan’s betrothed.
His "sister-in-law," in name at least.
With no other choice, he could only act as if their previous encounter had never happened.
’What could he do? He and Chen Yunfan were two peas in a pod.’
"Miss Cui, you’re worrying needlessly. This deal was struck with Miss Yuxue."
"Lou Yuxue is buying the grain from me! Without me, you won’t get a single kernel!"
"Miss Cui..."
Before Chen Yi could speak, Lou Yuxue, who was beside them, rubbed her brow and said, "Simurgh Phoenix, you’ll get thirty percent of the profits from this deal."
The moment she said it, the displeasure vanished from Cui Qingwu’s face.
She tilted her chin up slightly. "You should have said so from the start. I accept."
Next, she looked at Chen Yi and snorted. "Don’t think I’m just going to forget how you humiliated me."
"If the Lord Pavilion Master didn’t value you so highly, I would never have forgiven you, not even if Lady Tiger had pleaded until she was blue in the face."
Chen Yi gave a wry laugh and shook his head. "Then I thank Miss Cui for her forgiveness."
’The Pavilion Master again.’
’I can’t believe it. The White Tiger Guard’s Pavilion Master has put me in his debt twice without even showing his face.’
’Luckily, I still have my ’Fledgling’ identity.’
’—When you weigh the two, the White Tiger Guard owes me more!’
Seeing that the tension had eased, Lou Yuxue invited them both to sit.
She then caught Chen Yi’s eye and said, "You needed that batch of grain rather urgently."
"Plus, the grain inside Shu State has already been snapped up by the major trading companies. I had no choice but to ask Miss Cui for help."
Chen Yi was inwardly amused.
’He already knew from their last meeting that Lou Yuxue had to buy the grain through Cui Qingwu.’
’Lou Yuxue bringing it up again now was clearly a reminder not to let the cat out of the bag.’
’Looks like these two Silver Banner Officers from the White Tiger Guard really are at odds with each other.’
With that thought, Chen Yi smiled and nodded. "Thank you, Miss Yuxue."
He paused, then looked to Cui Qingwu. "And thank you as well, Miss Cui."
Cui Qingwu glanced between the two of them. Suspecting something fishy was going on, she said with feigned annoyance:
"We’re all in the same boat now. Why the need for all this secrecy?"
Chen Yi smiled but said nothing.
Lou Yuxue remained unfazed. "You’re exaggerating, Miss Cui."
"My partnership with Liu Wu is simply to take advantage of the major trading companies’ price manipulation and make a profit."
"I haven’t hidden anything from you."
Hearing this, Chen Yi inwardly shook his head.
’It would have been better if she hadn’t tried to explain. This would only make things worse.’
Sure enough, a breathtaking smile spread across Cui Qingwu’s slightly haughty face.
"Lady Tiger, don’t forget... I’m a Silver Banner Officer too."
"If it were just a small matter of making money, would you have sought my help so readily?"
Lou Yuxue realized her mistake and inwardly cursed her own shortsightedness.
But before she could salvage the situation, Cui Qingwu cut her off.
"Think carefully before you speak again. If I’m not satisfied with what you say, I won’t take thirty percent of the silver. I’ll take all of it."
With the grain as her leverage, she had both Lou Yuxue and Chen Yi right where she wanted them.
They were stuck.
Lou Yuxue had no choice but to look at Chen Yi.
When he gave a slight nod, she sighed and said resignedly, "This matter involves a mission from the Lord General. I can only tell you the part I discussed with Liu Wu."
Cui Qingwu had no objections. "Do tell," she said, her interest piqued. "I’m dying to know what you two are planning."
"A word of warning first: this is no small matter. You must not breathe a word of this to anyone."
"Alright."
Once Cui Qingwu agreed, Lou Yuxue began to selectively recount the information she’d gotten from Chen Yi.
She mentioned the Ji State Trading Company’s various schemes—burning the Three Towns’ summer grain, manipulating grain prices, framing the Xiao Family, and the like.
However, she completely omitted any mention of matters involving Commander-in-Chief Zhu Hao and Lin Huai’an.
After she finished, Cui Qingwu looked at the two of them with an unreadable smile.
"So, your target is the Ji State Trading Company? This isn’t just about making money, is it?"
Chen Yi shook his head. "Not at all. Dealing with the Ji State Trading Company is also about earning some silver."
"Heh. If it’s all about making money, wouldn’t it be easier to take it from the common folk?"
"You’re mistaken again, Miss Cui."
"A gentleman loves wealth, but he acquires it through righteous means."
"It’s easy enough to take money from the people of Shu State, true. But wouldn’t you agree it’s far more interesting to take it from the Ji State Trading Company?"
Chen Yi paused, then added meaningfully, "Besides, it’s not like your White Tiger Guard is fond of the Ji State Trading Company either."
Cui Qingwu’s gaze flickered. She turned her head and fixed her eyes on Lou Yuxue.