Chapter 124: The Will of Heaven Is on My Side

Chapter 124: Heaven's Will Upon Me

Chen Yi returned home unexpectedly late this time, undoubtedly causing genuine worry among the members of the Xiao family.

By the time he emerged after washing up and changing into fresh clothes, Xiao Wanzhen could no longer help but speak a few extra words.

First, to explain the events: "When Muzhi, Huatang, and the others returned in the evening, I waited and waited but never saw your figure, so I had to find you."

Second, to shift the blame elsewhere: "I thought you wouldn't be in any trouble, but because Wu Ge was somewhat anxious, they sent Huatang and the others to look for you."

Xiao Wu Ge: ???

Xiao Wanzhen ignored his puzzled expression, continuing to remind him:

"Next time, remember to take the main road. After all, you don't often leave the manor, and there are always the manor's guards with you. Walking around the streets at night can easily lead to getting lost."

When she reached the end of her words, her tone inevitably carried a trace of regret.

"If anything were to happen to you, how could I possibly account for it to your second sister? After all, it was I who sent you to the Bai Caotang."

Chen Yi nodded assentingly, obedient and sincere.

At such moments, saying something else might only irritate those who cared for him.

It was best to remain silent, then offer a smile.

Not long after, Zhang Touyun and Shen Huatang returned, and upon seeing his figure, both of them exhaled in relief.

But upon learning he had gotten lost in unfamiliar streets, Zhang Touyun, with his bold and outspoken nature, spoke plainly:

"Master, it's best if you stay indoors more often. The manor's roads are not something you're familiar with."

Chen Yi smiled and nodded, his eyes instead fixed on Xiao Wanzhen.

Behold, he was thinking, I should stay within the manor.

Xiao Wanzhen noticed his gaze, and for a rare moment, she flicked her eyelids and turned her head away.

"The night is late, let's eat first."

Chen Yi smiled, immediately picking up his chopsticks and starting on a bowl of rice.

The evening's activities had been quite strenuous, and he had been starving all day, his chest pressed tightly against his back.

Even Xiao Wanzhen, Xiao Wu Ge, and Xiao Die, perhaps due to disturbances in their spiritual energy, had eaten more than usual.

Only Pei Muzhi, who had long known of Chen Yi's martial prowess, ate as usual.

During the time they waited for Chen Yi's return, it was Pei Muzhi who was least worried.

They all had their dinner.

The others dispersed.

Xiao Die and Xiao Wu Ge retired to the residence to rest.

Chen Yi, carrying the teapot, went to the pavilion, basking in the summer night breeze.

It had probably been a long time since he'd been out this late, those golden-finned koi fish seemed to remember him, darting about playfully, their tails flicking water onto his clothes.

"You're holding a grudge, aren't you?"

"I'll wait for you..."

Chen Yi muttered softly, his mood finally settling into peace.

Martial arts, after all, were a killing art.

During his cultivation, he had long understood this, and had prepared his mind accordingly.

Besides, he had killed Liu Jing this evening, so it was as if he had eliminated a menace for the people.

However, Liu Jing's death in Shuzhou might likely alter the course of events.

Even if the Execution Inspection Office or the Liu family didn't discover his body, they would suspect that the Xiao family was responsible.

This was certain.

The Xiao and Liu families had just experienced a minor clash.

Though it was merely an initial probe by the Liu family, and aside from the deaths of Qian Kuang and others, neither side had suffered significant losses.

But in this situation, the sixth son of the Liu family in Jingzhou had died in Shuzhou.

Thus, the development of events would be beyond what those in the know would anticipate.

"Originally, the Xiao and Liu families should have mutually agreed to downplay this matter..."

Chen Yi watched the koi fish in the pond, sipping his tea leisurely.

On the surface, he appeared calm, but in his mind, waves of thoughts crashed against his chest.

On that invisible chessboard, he lifted one white stone after another from the box and placed them down.

The positions of the black stones were ever-changing, as he considered various possibilities.

"The worst outcome would be becoming the spark that ignites a war between the Xiao and Liu families."

"The next would be the Xiao family bowing slightly, joining forces with the Execution Inspection Office to find the killer of Liu Jing, which would be me."

"Thenceforth, the Liu family would acknowledge the truth, actively retreat, temporarily storing this grudge in their hearts, waiting for an opportunity to make a comeback."

"The best outcome would be the Xiao and Liu families shaking hands and reaching an agreement..."

Yet Chen Yi knew clearly.

The Liu family in Jingzhou sought to exploit this matter to their advantage, and the left director of the Shuzhou Affairs Office and Pacification Commission, Liu Hong, was their sharpest blade.

Though the Liu family in Jingzhou had previously been dissatisfied with Liu Hong's handling of Lingran Xuan's case, there was no way to write it down without using two "Liu" characters.

The Liu family in Shuzhou, or the Liu family in Jingzhou, to deal with the Xiao family, they had to be each other's oxymorons.

"Therefore, if the Xiao and Liu families were to truly clash in the future, the critical point would be Liu Hong."

Chen Yi placed a "black stone" representing Liu Hong on the board, while recalling the recent political climate in Shuzhou.

The Shuzhou Affairs Office, Pacification Office, and all Commanding Offices were each divided into two departments.

Though nominally the left director was first, the right director was second, their official ranks were the same.

The Affairs Office directors were from the second rank, overseeing the civilian affairs and taxation of the prefecture, with subordinate departments of "Tax Curriculum Office" and "Household Registration Office."

This arrangement allowed the left and right directors to check each other. However, the current Shuzhou Affairs Office had another issue: Yang Zhe, the right director, was already elderly and on the verge of retirement, acting as if he no longer cared for governance.

Thus, the prime opportunity for someone like Liu Hong, who was of the right age to act, would be to dominate the Affairs Office.

"It must be necessary to exert pressure on Liu Hong."

"Otherwise, without restraint, he would pose a great threat to the Xiao family in Shuzhou."

After some thought, Chen Yi placed the most crucial white stone onto the board.

It was—Shuzhou Affairs Office, right director Yang Zhe!

An elderly figure who had nothing to do with this matter, might well become the key piece determining the fate of the Xiao and Liu families' conflict.

With this general outline in mind, Chen Yi set down the teapot, took a deep breath, and looked up at the night sky.

Under the once-luminous full moon, a thick veil of shadow had gathered.

Soon, raindrops pattered steadily against the pavilion.

Chen Yi barely raised an eyebrow. "It seems the heavens are on my side."

Beneath the rain’s cover, the courtyard’s lingering aura—along with the traces of his exit from the Baiya Hall—would be wiped clean.

What kind of "heavens" was he referring to?

After standing still for a moment, Chen Yi set down his tea cup, retreated to the wooden building for rest, and several thoughts surfaced in his mind:

"To make Yang Ye align with the Xiao family… it’s difficult, yet not impossible."

"Impossible. I’ll need to spend some time walking around with Li Huizhou."

No way out.

To move the chess piece that was Yang Ye, going through Li Huizhou was the most direct path.

After all, his wife was Yang Ye’s adopted daughter.

Still, the swiftest way to command Li Huizhou would be through his old master—Master Yue of Baiyun Academy.

As he pondered this, Chen Yi’s teeth ached, and he grimaced.

Round and round he went, circling back to the problem he’d been avoiding these past two days: whether to accept the post as tutor at Baiyun Academy.

"It seems I’ve already made up my mind not to go."

……

As the hour of Yin passed, thunder rumbled overhead, and lightning flashed in quick succession, illuminating the night.

Yet in this torrential downpour, passersby remained shrouded in the rain’s veil, their vision blurred.

In a courtyard five miles beyond Dingwu Hou’s mansion, however, over a dozen executioner cadres—dressed in raincoats, belts cinched with long blades, boots splashing through the storm—hurried about in the deluge.

"Damn it, this rain shouldn’t have come so late. Why now, of all times?"

A thin, wiry executioner strode through the courtyard, cautioning his comrades to watch their steps.

"All of you, mind where you’re going—don’t slip!"

"Everything’s already a mess. Go on, stamp around all you like—I’ve got no case to solve!"

Laughter and scolding echoed around them, and the others left them to their bickering.

They hurried to the main hall and bowed before a woman who had shed her raincoat, now clad in crimson brocade.

"Your Worship, I’ve questioned all the villagers, and none saw any suspicious figures last night."

"Only one person heard noises from this direction, but it was too far away—I thought they were arguing."

The woman in red nodded, her gaze fixed on the five corpses in the hall, her eyes tracing the residual spiritual currents and the lingering aura around them.

But the passage of time had dulled any traces.

Still, from the bodies alone, she discerned a few clues.

"The murderer struck decisively—each kill was a single, lethal strike. Clearly, his cultivation and techniques far surpassed theirs."

"At least mid-third rank… or perhaps even seventh-grade."

"Moreover, he favored palm techniques and body methods, wielding immense force."

"He must be a towering, robust individual—strong in bones and sinews, with a physique built for strenuous cultivation."

The woman in red had someone record her observations, then descended to the upper study.

She stepped over two elderly invalids and gazed at Liu Jing, lying motionless on the floor, letting out a soft whistle.

She crouched, studying him for a moment, then gently touched his neck, her brow furrowing.

"The killer and this man share a grudge."

At this, one of the executioners frowned. "Your Worship, how can you tell he had a dispute with these people?"

The woman in red straightened, sweeping her gaze around. "The killer first crushed his windpipe, then slaughtered the others—he wanted to give him more time to live."

She paused, then spoke gravely to the executioner: "At this moment, living only worsened his suffering."

The executioner’s eyes widened in realization, immediately falling to his knees in reverence. "A detective of Shuzhou’s fame—Master Fang!"

"What would you like us to do, then?"

The woman in red fell silent for a moment. "First, we must determine the identities of these victims."

"From their attire and the setting here, they clearly have a background."

(The chapter ends.)