Chapter 391: Commoner Ke Yi, Veteran Liang Diao

Chapter 391: Flattop Ke Yi, Veteran Liang Diao

"We collectively call this neighborhood Samurai-cho. The reason for the name is that when the Yamato District was newly established, many defeated Yamato people fled into the wasteland ruins between the grand cities. They took to the greenwood, turned into drifting rogue samurai, and plundered everywhere. This place was originally a market they used to fence stolen goods."

"Later, these rogue samurai were almost entirely wiped out by the Imperial suppression campaigns, but the market didn't vanish because of that. Instead, it gradually became a fixture, slowly forming into the Samurai-cho of today."

The youth with the flattop haircut, who had the Emperor of the Imperial Renaissance tattooed upon his skin, was named Ke Yi.

Not long ago, he had been pointing a muzzle at Li Jun, but now he followed Li Jun step for step, keeping close by his side. The two traversed quickly through the crisscrossing, maze-like streets of Samurai-cho.

"Don't look down on this place just because it's run-down. Among the ten grand cities of the entire Yamato District, it is actually quite renowned. Matsumoto City's current prosperity is inextricably linked to Samurai-cho."

Upon confirming Li Jun's identity, Ke Yi was like a opened chatterbox, rattling on incessantly throughout the journey.

Deep within Samurai-cho, there weren't many shops; it consisted mainly of low, cluttered residential houses.

Many robust men, their bodies sculpted with dragons and phoenixes or their faces entirely covered in tattoos, stood in groups beneath the eaves and along the roadside. At their feet were mountain-like piles of empty liquor bottles, and from the corners of their mouths dangled electronic cigarettes used for vaping afuyong, their eyes measuring Li Jun with vicious intent.

Sssss.

Li Jun lit a paper-wrapped cigarette—something that could be considered a luxury in a place like this—and threw back a domineering gaze, returning the favor.

"Motherfucker..."

A hot-tempered gang member lunged forward, only to be yanked back by a companion beside him, who pointed at Ke Yi following next to Li Jun and sneered, "Don't go messing with someone else's business."

These people spoke quite loudly, accompanied by waves of cold laughter, their mocking expressions resembling someone looking at a fat pig waiting to be slaughtered.

Along the way, there were quite a few similar interludes.

As the two ventured deeper, a massive amount of spray-painted graffiti appeared on the walls of the flanking alleys.

Although Li Jun could not read the Yamato language and the Embroidered Uniform Guard equipment he carried lacked a translation function, it did not prevent him from recognizing a Great Ming Empire dragon flag enveloped in fierce flames on a wall.

"Just a bunch of incompetent people venting their rage, that's all."

Noticing Li Jun's gaze, Ke Yi pointed at the words "Ming People" crossed out with a blood-red 'X' on the wall.

"After the Empire designated this place as a criminal district, a vast number of domestic merchants rushed in like sharks smelling blood, swarming all at once. Under the guise of helping the Yamato District with post-war reconstruction, they wantonly employed cheap labor to set up workshops and factories, operating all kinds of grey industries. Many people would receive their relief funds from the Pacification Commission office in the morning, only to spend every last cent in various dreamscapes by the afternoon."

"With this kind of situation, doesn't the Pacification Commission intervene?"

The moment Li Jun said those words, he shook his head and smiled.

The question was utter nonsense; if there were no Pacification Commission, or rather, the Confucian Sequence backing it up from behind, such things could never be established in the first place.

In fact, there were probably quite a few powerful clans holding shares in it, drinking the blood of the Yamato people while earning the court's money.

"These Yamato people believe the Empire destroyed their homeland, blocked their access to the Huangliang Dreamscape, and cut off their possibilities of breaking locks and advancing sequences. They even look at the Yamato District as the lowest-grade genetic breeding ground, treating them like penned pigs raised for slaughter, eating their flesh and drinking their blood."

"So for a period of time, the sentiment of resistance in the Yamato District was unprecedentedly high. Whether they were sequencers or ordinary people, they held deep resentment toward the Empire."

Ke Yi snorted coldly, his face betraying disdain. "These Yamato people completely think too highly of themselves. In reality, the Confucian Sequence doesn't care for this place at all, and even the powerful clans coming here to do business are the types that couldn't survive back in the Imperial mainland."

"Later, as the New Donglin Party enacted the edification policy, they withdrew the Yamato District's garrison forces and a large number of Ming people, granting the Yamato people enough survival and development space. The four major corporations most famous in the Yamato District today also rose to prominence during this process."

"As a result, their days didn't get any better; instead, they lived worse and worse, turning right back around to blame the Empire for ignoring whether they live or die. Fuck their mothers, when it comes to being shameless, these Yamato pirates are still the masters."

Li Jun looked with interest at Ke Yi, whose face was filled with righteous indignation, and asked, "Listening to the meaning in your words, you are a Ming person as well?"

"Of course, this humble one's ancestral home is in Chaozhou Prefecture, Guangdong."

Ke Yi tilted his head up proudly and continued, "Don't look at how this place is called Samurai-cho; almost all the profitable businesses are controlled by us Ming people. The Yamato people only have a share in running errands and risking their lives."

"Then when did you come here—"

Before Li Jun could finish his sentence, a sudden, urgent buzzing sound emitted from Ke Yi's chest. He bowed to Li Jun in apology, then quickly walked over to the side.

"Hey, I'm busy right now, speak quickly if you have something to say, fart quickly if you have gas!"

"You're asking about that batch of secondhand prosthetic eyes, right? I've already asked the people outside the city. The goods in their hands are still short of a portion, and they are rushing to stock up. Delivery will be made in three days at the latest."

With both hands on his hips and his spine straight, Ke Yi cursed at the wall in front of him.

"What do you mean overdue? If you're losing your patience, I also have goods from regular channels in my hands. The price isn't expensive either, just double, do you want them or not?"

"If you think it's expensive, don't make these complaints. Now the local offices are implementing new policies, the intensity of suppressing bandits is getting stronger and stronger, and the difficulty coefficient for others to dig them out fresh is rising higher and higher. You guys need to understand this point too!"

"Alright, stop talking nonsense here. When they have gathered the full stock, I will naturally contact you."

Ke Yi waved his hand fiercely at the air before him, then turned around to bow to Li Jun, lowering his waist. "Apologies, Master Yan, some minor matters needed to be handled."

Li Jun teased, "No matter, after all, you also need to earn money to feed yourself. The small amount of money we gave probably isn't enough to find a natural-born courtesan even once, is it?"

"That cannot be lumped together. Being able to do things for you, Master Yan, is my honor."

Ke Yi was all smiles. "You asked me just now when I came here. This should be a matter of over twenty years ago."

"Over twenty years?"

Li Jun's footsteps suddenly halted, and he looked at Ke Yi with a face full of surprise.

"This humble one is actually already over fifty years old. This face is all altered."

Ke Yi smiled sheepishly. "An ordinary person like me with poor genetics could never advance to a high sequence in a lifetime, so I could only use this method to experience the so-called 'immortal life and eternal youth'."

Li Jun nodded and smiled, "Continue."

"Back then, the Joi-go trans-sea train of the Yamato District hadn't even been built yet, and the court didn't allow small characters without background like me to enter the Yamato District without authorization. Helpless, I bribed an old veteran returning home to visit family, soaking under his camp-returning ship for two full days and two nights before successfully smuggling myself ashore. If I hadn't been lucky enough to become a mechanical soldier back then, I'm afraid I would have been buried at the bottom of the sea long ago."

With a turn of his feet, Ke Yi veered into another deep, dark alleyway, the words never stopping in his mouth.

"When I first arrived in Matsumoto City, it was right around August or September. The air was so damp it felt like you could squeeze water out of it, and a slight movement would leave your whole body drenched."

"Back then, there were no neon lights at night, nor were there the various projections of gods and buddhas filling the sky today. The defeated Yamato people drifted over the ruins like wild ghosts with staring, glowing green eyes. As long as you showed a slight sign of weakness, they would pounce up to stab you, and strip you completely clean."

"Later on, this humble one got into the business of prosthetic limb recovery and trading, which can be considered a pillar industry in Samurai-cho."

As he spoke, Ke Yi pulled a handful of flaky objects of varying colors and textures from his sleeve, presenting them before Li Jun with an ingratiating expression.

"This is alloy, this is plastic, and something like this is ceramic. I can currently produce prosthetic limbs of all these materials. Although the grade isn't high, they win out on being cheap and good."

Li Jun teased, "Listening to your transmission just now, these things probably aren't all produced, are they?"

"It's just that the sources of goods are different, that's all." Ke Yi's expression was open, without the slightest bit of awkwardness.

Li Jun nodded, expressing neither approval nor disapproval of Ke Yi's methods, and instead asked, "Then how did you establish contact with the Inuyama City side? The distance between the two grand cities is not short."

"Speaking of which, the reason behind it is quite complex."

Ke Yi led Li Jun to turn once more, and what appeared before their eyes was a dead-end alley, with a tightly shut iron door at the very end.

"Then just pick the crucial points to say."

"This humble one and Master Guiwang Da of Inuyama City are actually from the same town."

"You and Old Ghost have that kind of relationship?"

Li Jun blinked, and after pondering for a moment, he suddenly stopped his pace, turning his head to look at Ke Yi. "The matter I am going to handle this time carries no small danger. If you are unwilling to take risks, I can think of other ways."

Ke Yi furrowed his brows. "If you say it like that, then you are looking down on me."

"Don't misunderstand," Li Jun waved his hand. "I am afraid Old Ghost will trouble me in the future."

The flattop youth smiled. "Although I, Ke Yi, am not some grand figure who can take the stage, the four words 'requiting kindness with gratitude' do not differentiate between high or low sequences. Back then, if Master Guiwang Da hadn't helped me a great deal, I'm afraid I would have been killed by those Yamato pirates' hidden guns long ago."

Li Jun moved his lips, but in the end, he didn't say any other words, merely nodding his head heavily.

By now, the two had already walked to the front of that iron door. The person guarding the side of the door swept a cautious glance over Li Jun, then looked toward Ke Yi, asking, "Boss Ke, you are a rare guest. How do you have the interest to come here today?"

“I’m here to discuss business with your boss Liang.”

The doorman hesitated for a moment upon hearing this, but ultimately did not stop him, reaching out to grasp the doorknob. With a faint mechanical whirring sound, a carriage ladder no longer than ten feet was revealed behind the door.

The carriage ladder descended slowly, its pace unhurried.

“Who is this Liang boss you mentioned, and how does he know so much about the personnel in Bushi Town?”

In response to Li Jun’s question, Ke Yi offered a brief explanation.

“This Liang Zhiao was originally an imperial colonel who had fought in Siam, Annam, Goguryeo, and other criminal zones, achieving great military success. Later, he stationed his troops in Matsumoto Castle. In the first year of Jiaqi, the court had a case called 'Da Chao Bian'. The new Donglin Party successfully implemented a policy of civilizing the criminal zones and ordered the withdrawal of all troops.”

“Liang Zhiao knew very well that the royal family had been completely stripped of power by the new Donglin Party and had become a puppet. Once he returned to the imperial homeland, his military power would definitely be divided by the Confucian clan, and he himself would probably become someone else’s slave.”

“So Liang Zhiao simply took a group of trusted confidants and became a deserter. With his outstanding abilities and ruthless nature, he became the hegemon of Bushi Town in just ten years.”

Li Jun looked at Ke Yi’s back, his lips moving silently a few times.

The carriage ladder soon came to a stop. As the ladder door opened, Li Jun’s eyebrows twitched upward.

What lay before him was a bustling underground casino, with a height of about ten feet and good air circulation, without any sense of stuffiness.

Five long gambling tables were surrounded by guests, and the floor was covered with red carpets. Women in light white dresses were serving drinks and walking among them.

The overall luxury was no less than that of the casinos on the ground.

“I’ll take care of talking to him for a while. This is Liang Zhiao’s lair, so don’t be impulsive.”

Ke Yi walked ahead, his steps steady, his eyes fixed, and headed straight for a huge carved wooden screen deep in the casino.

Behind the screen was an eight-person table, with white mahjong tiles scattered on it.

A dark-skinned man with thick lips and a red robe wrapped around his waist, with a phoenix belt around his waist, sat by the table, his eyes lowered, rubbing a mahjong tile in his hand.

It was Liang Zhiao.

“Boss Liang, it’s been a long time. You’re still doing well.”

Ke Yi clasped his hands in a fist, smiled brightly, and walked up quickly.

“No wonder I’ve been touching this money-making tile all day today. It turns out it’s Boss Ke who has come to visit.”

Pfft.

Liang Zhiao turned the mahjong tile over on the table, and the red ‘fa’ character was particularly eye-catching.

“Please sit down.”

“My visit can’t be called a grand one, but making a little money is no problem.”

Ke Yi pulled out the chair opposite Liang Zhiao, and just as he sat down, Liang Zhiao asked, “I wonder where Boss Ke’s little money comes from?”

“Boss Liang is indeed straightforward.”

Ke Yi praised him in return, “This matter is as difficult as climbing to the sky for others, but for Boss Liang, it’s like sending money to the door. I came this time to ask Boss Liang about a person.”

“Let’s not rush into talking about business,”

Ke Yi’s words were interrupted by Liang Zhiao’s gesture, who looked at Li Jun, who was standing behind Ke Yi.

“This friend looks unfamiliar. I don’t think I’ve seen him in Bushi Town before. Won’t Boss Ke introduce him?”

Ke Yi smiled and said, “He’s just a new subordinate I’ve hired. I brought him out to see the market this time, so there’s nothing to introduce.”

“If Boss Ke has taken such good care of him, he must be a good material. He’ll definitely become a dragon or a phoenix in the future.”

Liang Zhiao’s tone was harsh, “So it’s best to introduce him.”

Ke Yi’s eyebrows were furrowed, and anger flared in his eyes, “Boss Liang, what do you mean? I’m here to do business with you, not to be interrogated by you.”

“Ha.”

Liang Zhiao laughed coldly, “Since it’s business, why haven’t I heard a single truth from your mouth since you sat down?”

“You”

Ke Yi’s face changed drastically, and he suddenly felt a weight on his shoulders.

Li Jun shook his head at Ke Yi, gesturing for him to stand up and sit down himself.

“Boss Liang, do we know each other?”

“You don’t know me, but I know you.”

Li Jun rubbed a mahjong tile with his thumb, his tone showing no joy or anger. “Oh? So you know a wide range of people.”

“There’s no choice. If you want to make a living in the Wa region, you can’t not know you guys.”

Liang Zhiao’s eyes were bright and fierce, “Isn’t that right, Lord Yama?”