Chapter 144: A Common 'Enemy'

Chapter 144: The Common "Enemy"

Crazy?

Chen Yi was not crazy.

But that did not stop him from pretending to be mad for a while.

"So the mighty 'Blade Maniac,' is this a plan to speak without meaning it?"

Liu Liang opened his mouth, then sighed bitterly after a pause: "Boss, you really gave me a tough problem."

"Burning the three towns—well, even if it's just one town's summer grain, it's a death sentence."

"If the Marquis of Distant is angered, not to mention the Emperor and the entire realm, they might all be alarmed. Then Liu Yi would be doomed, though not beyond death. But you..."

Liu Liang looked at Chen Yi's calm face, hesitated: "You too won't be able to escape the consequences."

"Afraid?"

"This isn't about being afraid or not..."

"Hmm, admitting you're afraid isn't a bad thing."

"..."

Liu Liang began to understand. The young medical sage was determined to burn the three towns' summer grain.

He let it all out, grimacing: "Since you've made up your mind, Liu Yi won't argue further."

"Tell me plainly. When do you need me? Which military town should I burn first?"

When Chen Yi heard him speak such grave words with a pout, his calm expression finally cracked into a smile: "Not bad for the 'Blade Maniac,' daring to plot such a conspiracy. I admire that."

Liu Liang saw his smile and realized he'd been tricked, his anger flaring: "You're mocking me, truly."

Chen Yi nodded while laughing: "Not exactly mockery. Burning the summer grain is real."

"Ah."

Liu Liang was utterly confused by his two or three words. "Do you mean burn it or not?"

To his surprise, Chen Yi shook his head: "No."

Then he explained: "Not to actually burn it, but to send someone to find people and spread the word that the three towns' summer grain will be burned."

"Of course, to make it believable, proper preparations are necessary."

"Like the reward after it's done, which corrupt forces will take the task, and the approximate time. We should make this incident as big as possible."

After hearing this, Liu Liang couldn't grasp his intention, though he knew Chen Yi wouldn't actually burn the three towns' summer grain.

"But you doing this, won't it bring trouble upon you?"

"Even if it's not real, once this spreads, the Xiao family will investigate. If it's hard to trace back to us, we'll have to move our brains."

Chen Yi looked at him, smiled, and nodded: "That's one of my goals. I want the Xiao family to be alert."

Since Xiao Dongchen and Geo San have been plotting to burn the three towns so secretly, he naturally wanted to warn the Xiao family.

After thinking it over, the most public way would alert them the most.

He didn't believe that in this situation, those Shadow Guards would dare to risk such a massive cover-up, facing the Xiao family's defenses to burn the three towns' summer grain.

Liu Liang gradually understood, exclaiming in surprise: "You mean someone else is really plotting to burn the three towns?"

"My God, who would be so reckless? They've lost their minds!"

Combined with his knowledge of the vast connection between the Bai Caotang and the Xiao family, he knew Chen Yi's actions were for the Xiao family's sake.

So it wasn't hard to deduce that someone would attack the three towns' summer grain.

But as he said, this kind of act is unthinkable for ordinary people.

It must be groups like the Yinyin Sect, who slaughter entire families, that would devise such evil plans.

Yet the outcome is the same: once the rumor spreads, it will inevitably draw thunderous wrath.

Even martial arts masters would die under the feet of the palace and the Xiao family's iron hooves.

The consequences are too severe.

Chen Yi smiled: "They're all people who fear chaos."

He didn't say much more, instead reminding him: "But this matter isn't simple. Be careful when you act, don't really expose yourself."

Liu Liang nodded: "Rest assured."

"Before coming to Shu Zhou, I've encountered many of the Nine Schools of Thought and the Eight Paths of Evil."

"Though their martial skills are sparse, in schemes and plots, few can match them."

Chen Yi nodded, finished his business, then poured two cups of tea, adding details about the matter and chatting casually.

He had only revealed one purpose.

In fact, his other purpose was to stir up more chaos in Shu Zhou.

The more confused the situation, the more cautious malicious people become, buying time.

Even if the Shadow Guards take risks, with the Xiao family prepared, they won't easily succeed.

Seeing the time was late, Chen Yi reminded Liu Liang to be careful, then left the Bai Caotang, heading west to a residence.

Wang Ji watched him leave, then looked at the others in the hall, thought for a moment, smiled, and said:

"The Patriarch just said this month, you all have worked hard. At month's end, I'll give you a big red envelope as your reward."

The doctors and disciples were delighted, quickly saying: "Thank you, Patriarch, thank you, Master."

But Liu Liang stared peculiarly at Wang Ji, feeling a sense of admiration.

No wonder that Chen Yu, the boss, trusted him to manage the Bai Caotang. He was indeed capable.

Liu Liang admired him, but also pondered the matter of burning the three towns.

"To make it believable, yet let the Xiao family know and prepare, it must not be doubted as real."

"Whether it's hard or easy is another matter. The key is finding the right person."

Suddenly, Liu Liang thought of one person—Black Tu, who had once brought him to Shu Zhou from the northern desert.

"With his nature of killing for money, he won't refuse such a 'good deal.'"

...

As expected.

After Chen Yi left the Bai Caotang, some unknown people followed him.

It took him some time to escape from the crowd still dispersing in the Western Market. By the time he changed his clothes and shed his disguise, the sky had grown completely dark.

“It seems he’ll need to find Wang Ji another place to stay.”

Chen Yi thought of returning to the Western Market streets, mingling with the slightly crowded throng, and walking outward.

At this moment, the hour of 11 had just passed.

On both sides of the Western Market, many merchants remained, mostly selling cheap rouge and face powder, along with jewelry.

They drew the attention of some maids or women dressed simply.

Occasionally, small food stalls were also surrounded by people.

The sizzling fried millet cakes, though not particularly refined in appearance, released the intoxicating aroma of roasted wild game.

It made Chen Yi’s stomach, which had not yet eaten dinner, growl loudly.

In desperation, he stopped an old man selling candied haws, buying a piece of ice candied haws to whet his appetite.

He took it as a pre-dinner snack.

Chen Yi was about to eat it while heading back to the Xiao family when he suddenly noticed two people nearby, their faces bearing an odd expression.

Those two were none other than Chen Yunfan and Cui Qingwu.

In the distance, he could still make out their conversation.

“Yunfan, I heard the owner of the Bai Caotang showed up today, his name is Chen Yu.”

“Chen… Ah, it turns out the young master is still the same as before.”

“Hmm?”

“Do you think that person is him?”

“Not really.”

“The young master also thinks so. Earlier, Ning Yu saw him, but he was just an ordinary man without any martial arts.”

“Oh, looking at him, he doesn’t seem ordinary either. His attire and bearing are clearly from a major family.”

“Is that so…?”

Listening to their hushed words, Chen Yi’s mouth twitched slightly. How could they not realize they were talking about himself?

Yet it puzzled him—how could these two, who had previously harbored resentment toward this marriage and whose expressions had seemed to match their words, now be conspiring together?

Why were they now colluding to trouble him, the owner of the Bai Caotang, as if they were sworn enemies?

After a moment’s thought, Chen Yi suddenly understood. “The Immortal’s Intoxication.”

Last night, Cui Qingwu had consumed the Immortal’s Intoxication, and today she had appeared in the Western Market, clearly having used the elixir he had once given to Chen Yunfan. Thus, the two of them now shared a common “enemy.”

Chen Yi thought this over, shrugged his shoulders, and pretended not to have seen them, taking a detour to leave the Western Market from another direction.

He didn’t realize, however, that all his movements had been observed by Ning Yu and Huang Er, who had followed Chen Yunfan and his companions.

Huang Er huffed unhappily: “Where is he everywhere? The son-in-law from the Xiao family.”

“We met once at the Fengchun Tower earlier, and now we saw him again in the Western Market.”

Ning Yu glanced at her, then looked away at Chen Yi’s retreating figure, calmly saying:

“Your lady’s quick recovery is thanks to Master Shi’s medical skills.”

“You…”

Huang Er turned her face away, clearly still resentful over Chen Yi’s scolding her the other day.

Ning Yu, however, paid no heed to her lingering resentment. After a moment’s thought, she leaned over to whisper something to Chen Yunfan.

“Hmm?”

“My younger brother was also in the Western Market just now. Did you see him?”

Chen Yunfan paused in his steps, turning his head to look in that direction.

In the crowd, he naturally noticed Chen Yi’s figure.

Not because of his sharp eyesight, but because Chen Yi’s composed posture and straight back were unmistakable.

Even in the dim night, amidst the bustling crowd, one could still discern a certain exceptional aura about him.

After a moment of silence, Chen Yunfan smiled faintly but did not pursue him, turning instead toward the deeper parts of the Western Market.

Cui Qingwu had also seen Chen Yi’s figure. Following Chen Yunfan’s steps, she sighed:

“Compared to you, Chen Yi has changed more over the years.”

Chen Yunfan smiled: “The little boat has indeed changed quite a bit.”

“It seems becoming part of the Xiao family has cut his desire for fame and fortune, making him more low-key now.”

Cui Qingwu nodded thoughtfully, recalling their meeting at the Listening Rain Pavilion, naturally thinking of Chen Yi’s scolding over the peach tree.

“Yet one thing remains unchanged—his sharp tongue.”

“Do you mean he’s still sharp-tongued?”

“Yes, though Yunfan, you needn’t be so direct about it.”

“Haha, because I also think his mouth is too relentless, even me…”

Chen Yunfan immediately began rambling on about their several encounters with Chen Yi in Shu Zhou.

It was an apt comparison to the delicate touch of a needle against sugar.

Seeing him so animated, Cui Qingwu listened attentively.

Yet as he spoke, she knew Chen Yunfan harbored no resentment toward Chen Yi, just as in their childhood.

“Do you remember when I visited Chen’s mansion at ten years old?”

“How could I forget? You brought many people with you, and your younger brother, who was quite dull.”

“I’m not talking about him. I’m referring to when you and your brothers complained about Chen Yi’s punishment.”

Cui Qingwu paused, looking at the smiling Chen Yunfan:

“If I recall correctly, when others complained about Chen Yi, you not only defended him but also scolded your cousins for it.”

“Ah, that’s just because brothers should stand by each other, and little boat he is…”

“Hah, talking about such things, we’re getting into trouble with the Chen family.”

Chen Yunfan casually dismissed it, then pointed to a nearby stall with interest:

“Come on, let’s buy some rouge.”

“Spring Rong has been busy handling affairs at the mansion for the young master. Let’s give her a treat.”

Cui Qingwu's footsteps stilled, and in his eyes fixed on the fading silhouette, a spark of annoyed amusement flickered.

This fellow is usually not in the right form.

(End of Chapter)