Chapter 472 - 287: Are These Two of Sufficient Weight?
Chapter 472: Chapter 287: Are These Two of Sufficient Weight?
’Familiar eyes?’
’What kind of identifying feature is that?’
Given Lou Yuxue’s position, she saw a staggering number of people every day in the Spring Rain Building alone.
Trying to find someone based only on their "eyes" was no less difficult than when he’d found Lv Jiunan based only on his voice.
It was no exaggeration to call it looking for a needle in a haystack.
Chen Yi thought for a moment. "Be more specific."
Lou Yuxue felt a wave of exasperation, but she also wanted to know who would commission the Bright Moon Building to find Asutai.
"The young man was slender, with a somewhat scholarly air about him. His Martial Arts Cultivation was average."
"His eyes."
"...They were very intense. What’s with that look? He... he didn’t even show his eyebrows, and I only saw him for a split second."
Chen Yi discreetly pursed his lips. "And the old servant? Was he the same?"
Lou Yuxue crossed her arms, her voice laced with displeasure and a hint of indignation. "They were dressed similarly."
"Which way did they go when they left?"
"West."
Chen Yi let out an "oh." "East, then."
"No, it was—"
Just as Lou Yuxue was about to correct him, she caught on. "Are you saying they were trying to throw us off?"
As he mulled over their identities, Chen Yi said snidely, "When you do clandestine things, you also try to lead people astray."
’Damn, I’m an idiot,’ Lou Yuxue cursed inwardly, ’letting this bastard mock me for nothing.’
However, her initial assumption hadn’t been entirely flawed—she had thought the two were members of the Evil Demonic Dao from West Market’s Heiyu Lane.
’On second thought, that bastard "Liu Wu" is right.’
Members of the Evil Demonic Dao were indeed skilled at concealing their identities, but their Martial Arts Cultivation was never weak.
Yet the old man and the youth who had come during the day possessed only average martial arts.
And a lucrative job like finding the "Barbarian Prince," worth a fortune, would normally attract some heavy hitters.
Like the previous "Financier" who had proposed the major job of "burning the Three Towns’ summer grain"—the Ji State Trading Company.
"Even if you rule out the area east of the Spring Rain Building, you can still figure out who they are?"
Upon hearing this, Cui Qingwu also looked at Chen Yi, a smile playing on her lips. "’Dragon Spear,’ she may not believe in you, but I do."
She had previously doubted that "Liu Wu" had the power to move heaven and earth.
But after personally witnessing Lin Zhenghong and his men arrive, she was certain that this man not only possessed immense Martial Arts Cultivation, but his intellect was also far beyond that of an ordinary person.
Lou Yuxue opened her mouth to retort, but just shot Cui Qingwu a glare and stubbornly held her tongue.
Chen Yi glanced between the two, paying no mind to their squabbling, and said thoughtfully,
"There is one person who fits the description."
"But if it really is him... then it seems he’s been backed into a corner."
"Who?"
"’Dragon Spear,’ do tell us."
"Liu Hong."
Lou Yuxue and Cui Qingwu froze. "Liu Hong?"
"But he..."
Just as Lou Yuxue was about to object, the memory of those familiar eyes suddenly surfaced in her mind. A look of astonishment spread across her face.
"It was him! It was really him!"
Seeing her confirmation, a faint smile touched Chen Yi’s lips.
He had a pretty good idea why Liu Hong had come—it must have been the result of his meeting with Du Cang.
It was a threat.
Du Cang had likely forced Liu Hong to find Asutai by a certain deadline.
As for the reason...
Either the Barbarian Race had gone to the Ancient Tea-Horse Road and given those horse bandits an ultimatum.
Or King Landu wanted to exchange Asutai for the Barbarian Race’s aid, allowing him to lead his army across the border and avenge Lv Jiunan.
In any case, all the pressure was now on Liu Hong.
After all, he was the one who’d lost Asutai.
As these thoughts flashed through his mind, Chen Yi couldn’t help but grow curious.
’Just what has Liu Hong, the Governor of Shu State, done for the Barbarian Race and Poshisu Country to make him so afraid that he’d risk coming to the Bright Moon Building?’
Seeing him fall silent, Lou Yuxue couldn’t resist asking, "You know something, don’t you?"
"Why would Liu Hong come here?"
"And why does he want to find Asutai?"
Based on the intelligence she had previously received from the General, it wasn’t hard to guess that Liu Hong was a man with deep secrets.
He not only maintained a private army but might also have ties to Poshisu Country.
But Asutai was the son of Left King Mu Hage of the Barbarian Race; he had nothing to do with Poshisu Country.
"Could it be... he wants to help King Landu find Asutai?"
Chen Yi considered this. "That’s a possibility."
"Remember what I said about Du Cang meeting with Liu Hong? I suspect that on that day, Du Cang threatened him, forcing him to find Asutai."
"Du Cang..."
Lou Yuxue relaxed slightly. "If that’s the case, then it’s understandable why he came to the Bright Moon Building."
After all, the Barbarian Race wasn’t on the same level as King Landu. They were the Great Wei Dynasty’s greatest threat, a matter that allowed for no carelessness.
Seeing her relax, Chen Yi decided not to mention Liu Hong’s connections to the Barbarian Race and changed the subject.
"Whatever his objective is, it doesn’t affect our cooperation."
"Right now, the most important thing is to deal with the people from the Ji State Trading Company."
Cui Qingwu had been waiting for these words. "So, tell us. How do you plan to make those grain Trading Companies take the bait?"
After learning why Lin Zhenghong and his men had come, and having prior knowledge of the "major event" Chen Yi was planning, she had already guessed his intentions.
—Before they faked an invasion from Poshisu Country and the Barbarian Race, the grain had to be back in the hands of those grain Trading Companies.
Only then would the Ji State Trading Company suffer a massive loss.
Otherwise, in the current situation, the grain Trading Companies controlled by the Ji State Trading Company would, at most, just make a little less silver.
Their foundation would remain unscathed.
Chen Yi smiled. "We’ll just let someone go and tip them off."
He then turned to Cui Qingwu. "When the time comes, I’ll have to ask Miss Cui’s subordinates... not to hold back."
A rare smile graced Cui Qingwu’s face. "You’re already forcing their heads onto the chopping block. How could I possibly hesitate?"
Seeing the two of them joking around, Lou Yuxue, who was standing to the side, remained preoccupied with Liu Hong.
"Enough chitchat. I’m going to find Lord General now."
But before she could even rise to leave the private room, a soft knock sounded at the door.