Chapter 465 - 283: A Broken String, a Sorrow Unresolved
Chapter 465: Chapter 283: A Broken String, a Sorrow Unresolved
"In Martial Arts, I could knock his teeth out with just one finger."
"And background? Since when are we of the Mountain Race inferior to those Noble Families from the Central Plains?"
"Besides, I hear that Chen Yi is just an out-of-favor illegitimate son of the Chen Family."
"And as for knowledge... well... your brother has read a few books, as you know."
Pei Guanli let out a pfft, then burst into laughter.
"Brother, you can’t compare to brother-in-law in a single one of the things you just listed."
"No way! You think he can beat me?"
"Of course... he can’t beat you."
"Hmph. I knew you were just trying to get a rise out of me."
"Because it’s true..."
Seeing how lively the conversation inside was, Chen Yi took the black iron mask from the satchel at his side and put it on.
After confirming no one was around, he slipped into the residence.
Just as Pei Guanli was about to keep arguing with Pei Qian, she saw him arrive, and a look of delight spread across her face.
"Brother-in— I mean, isn’t it Lord ’Liu Wu’?"
"Why do you have time to come over today?"
Pei Qian also noticed Chen Yi’s arrival. Forgetting all about his argument with Pei Guanli over who was better, him or Chen Yi, he bowed and said,
"This junior, Pei Qian, greets you, Senior."
Chen Yi gave an impassive nod. "No need for such formalities," he said with a smile, then walked straight into the main hall.
Overjoyed, Pei Guanli followed him.
As her fair feet skipped along, the Bell on her necklace jingled incessantly.
Pei Qian glanced at her, wondering privately.
’Could my sister have really fallen for Senior "Liu Wu"?’
Then again, he thought they were a good match.
After all, Senior "Liu Wu" had earned the title "Dragon Spear" and had even displayed his mastery of the Spear Dao outside the city a few days ago.
His Cultivation and Technique were truly formidable.
As Pei Qian’s mind raced, he followed them and said with a smile, "I didn’t have much to do in the city today, so I came to chat with my sister. I hope I’m not disturbing you?"
After taking a seat, Chen Yi said, "Not at all."
"It’s just... now that Liu Zhaoxue is back in Shu State, are you... investigating them?"
Pei Qian nodded with a smile. "To be honest with you, Senior, yes, we are."
"The day Liu Zhaoxue returned to Shu State, we sought her out at once, but we only found her with a few juniors from the Five Poison Sect."
"Therefore, after discussing it with the clan elders, this junior decided we should hold off on making a move for now and see if Elder Demon Yan shows up in Shu State."
"Are you confident?"
"You jest, Senior."
"If we knew about them ahead of time and still fell into their trap, we’d bring utter disgrace to the Mountain Race."
Chen Yi chuckled. "Good to hear."
"I’ve been quite busy lately and truly haven’t had time to deal with the Five Poison Sect."
"If you need anything later, Brother Pei, just have Guanli notify me in advance."
These days, he truly hadn’t had the time to concern himself with Liu Zhaoxue.
He hadn’t paid much mind to the people from the Five Poison Sect, either.
He would wait for Pei Qian and the Mountain Race to get a solid lead, then he would act as he saw fit. After all, he couldn’t simply let go of his grudge with Yan Fusha.
Upon hearing this, Pei Qian stood and clasped his fist. "You are most righteous, Senior. This junior would not dare refuse your help."
He could tell Chen Yi had private matters to discuss with Pei Guanli, so he didn’t linger. He continued,
"This junior will return now to confer with my third grand-uncle and the others. We’ll see if that band of heretics from the Five Poison Sect’s Evil Demonic Dao has made a move."
Chen Yi nodded and didn’t press him to stay.
After a few more pleasantries, Pei Qian left the residence.
After waiting a moment, just as Pei Guanli was about to speak, Chen Yi gestured to her. She instantly understood that her brother hadn’t gone far yet.
She couldn’t help but pout, muttering under her breath about her "stinky brother" daring to eavesdrop.
Chen Yi couldn’t help but chuckle. Once he was sure Pei Qian was gone, he signaled that she could speak.
Pei Guanli came forward excitedly, leaning over the tea table to gaze at him without blinking.
"Brother-in-law, did you come today with a new assignment for me?"
"I—I’m not trying to rush you."
"It’s just so mind-numbingly boring here. All I do all day is either Cultivation or space out."
"And also! That Dabao person you arranged to come... he hasn’t been here in days! I almost starved to death..."
Pei Guanli chattered on endlessly.
Though her words were full of complaints, her tone was brimming with delight.
Chen Yi listened patiently before taking off his mask. He shook his head and said, "You’ll have to put up with it for a few more days."
Pei Guanli pouted, but a moment later, her smile returned.
"Okay, brother-in-law. I’ll do as you say."
Chen Yi, of course, saw her expression. He chuckled and patted her on the forehead.
"Don’t worry. In five days at most, I’ll have you go stay at the Xiao Family’s estate."
’He wasn’t comfortable letting Pei Guanli stay here alone any longer.’
’Pei Qian came today; he could come again tomorrow.’
’There was no telling when Pei Guanli might let something slip and reveal his true identity to Pei Qian.’
"Okay, I’ll listen to you, brother-in-law."
After a bit more small talk, Chen Yi put his black iron mask back on and went to the underground meditation chamber in the inner room.
Inside, Lv Jiunan and Asutai were still deep in a slumber.
However, their conditions were worlds apart.
Due to his prior injuries and not having eaten for days, Lv Jiunan was little more than skin and bones.
Asutai, in contrast, was physically unchanged, as if completely unaffected.
Chen Yi clicked his tongue in amazement, then used two Silver Needles to wake Asutai.
The moment he regained consciousness, Asutai immediately sat up.
When he saw Chen Yi wearing the black iron mask, a wary look flashed across his face as he slowly recalled the previous events.
"You... Wei man... is it time for the transaction?"
Chen Yi gave a slight nod, a hint of a smile in his voice. "I’m ready on my end."
"Now it just depends on whether the Young Master will agree to this transaction."
Asutai gritted his teeth, a flicker of hatred showing on his square, slave-branded face.
"No matter wha— I agree!"
Hearing this, Chen Yi cut to the chase. "My offer is this: I will help you return to the Barbarian Race."
Asutai was visibly stunned and stared at him in astonishment.
"I... return to my tribe? But... but they... my revenge... I..."
"Your revenge," Chen Yi said, raising a hand to cut him off, "will be yours."
"But you need to understand something. Your enemy isn’t some commoner. He’s Liu Hong, the Left Governor of the Shu State Governor’s Office."
"Do you think you can get your revenge all by yourself?"
"Governor... Liu Hong? He... he’s that Wei Dog’s master?"
Chen Yi knew he meant Zeng Zhifeng. "That’s right," he confirmed with a nod.
"The reason I didn’t rush to help you with your revenge was that certain necessary conditions weren’t yet in place."
"Now, everything is ready. If you agree, the day you return to your tribe will be the day he dies."
Asutai listened, clearly not understanding the connection between the two events. He asked stiffly,
"Then... doesn’t that mean I can’t be the one to kill him?"
Chen Yi chuckled. "My apologies, Young Master. My abilities can only guarantee his death, not that you’ll be the one to kill him with your own hands."
"Besides, if you were to do it, you wouldn’t leave Shu State alive, even with my help."
Asutai stubbornly shook his head. "I just want him dead."
He didn’t even care about his own life.
Chen Yi understood his implication and couldn’t help but feel a bit more admiration for him.
’If Asutai weren’t one of the Barbarians, he wouldn’t have minded letting the kid suffer less.’
"Do you remember what you promised me before?"
"My condition for letting you kill Zeng Zhifeng was that you had to promise to do a few things for me."
"Having you return to the Barbarian Race is the first."
"Having Liu Hong die in Shu State—but not by your hand—is the second."
Asutai froze again. He opened his mouth to speak, his dark face instantly flushing red.
He wanted to argue or refuse, but he couldn’t get a single word out.
「After a long while.」
He seemed to deflate. "My teacher taught me that a gentleman’s word is his bond."
"Barbarians must also be true to their word."
"I... I gave you my promise. I won’t go back on it."
After a pause, Asutai looked Chen Yi straight in the eyes and said, enunciating each word, "You just have to promise me... that Liu Hong will die."
Chen Yi gave a noncommittal nod. "I promise you."
He added with a smile, "Even if you weren’t involved, I wouldn’t let him live anyway."
At this, Asutai nodded emphatically.
"What... do you want me to do?"
"Don’t be in such a hurry. I still have a third and a fourth thing for you to do..."