Chapter 151: Bowing to Factions, Bowing to Gods and Buddhas, Bowing to Vicious Ghosts

Chapter 151: Bowing to the Mountain Peak, Bowing to the Buddha, Bowing to Evil Spirits

Grade 151, Lower Category.

Beyond the intelligence reports that had long since vanished from sight—reports of such a rarefied grade—Chen Yi found himself more preoccupied with their substance.

At this juncture, aside from the grand schemes that the Hidden Guard could orchestrate, such as the “Burning of the Three Towns,” there likely existed no other.

“Ge Lao San extricated himself from the Xiao Family, offering assistance to Xiao Dongcheng without even seeking recognition.”

“He truly spares no effort.”

“Yet I’ve always felt that Ge Lao San’s methods, in certain respects, have grown peculiar compared to before.”

Chen Yi recalled distinctly: Ge Lao San’s assignment should have been entrusted to his own “chick.”

But lately, Ge Lao San had not merely vanished from Hou’s mansion; he scarcely appeared before Chen Yi at all.

As he pondered this, a subtle tremor stirred within him.

“Could it be that my appointment as a teacher at Guiyun Academy aligns with the Hidden Guard’s arrangements?”

“Yet according to prior assumptions, my ‘chick’ was meant to make his debut within the Xiao household, gradually consolidating his influence.”

“To achieve this, he would inevitably require equivalent status, power, reputation, or prestige…”

“Prestige?”

A flicker of realization crossed Chen Yi’s face, his mouth twisting into a strange grin.

“It’s quite possible.”

If he remained inconspicuous at Guiyun Academy, merely instructing in calligraphy as an ordinary teacher, he would naturally garner no fame or distinction.

At best, he might earn the label of “diligent and responsible.”

Far more likely, some malicious souls or those displeased with him might brand him as “one who has passed through” or “unambitious.”

Under no circumstances could he amass any notable reputation.

Yet the present circumstances were starkly different—he had, in a single lesson, cultivated students who had achieved mastery in the Way of Calligraphy.

Not only had he earned the recognition of figures like Yue Mingcheng of the academy, but he had also drawn the attention of countless noble families across Shu Zhou, who came to pay their respects.

For instance, Zhang Mrs. Tang of the Tang family, Sun Mrs. Pu of the Pu family, and others of the same ilk.

Moreover, the various noble families that had recently sought the Xiao clan’s favor also arrived in droves.

To enable their offspring to study under him, they spared no effort.

Not only Xiao Wanyue came to him, but even the patriarch, the elder duke Xiao Wang, and the third elder duke Xiao Shen sought his instruction.

In such a manner, Chen Yi could no longer deny that any achievements in the Way of Calligraphy were entirely his own.

“A single thought, yet it granted the Hidden Guard the illusion that I was leveraging Guiyun Academy to elevate my reputation.”

Upon grasping this, Chen Yi could not help but let out a bitter smile.

His original intent had merely been to impart genuine knowledge, allowing his students to glimpse the essence of the Way.

He had never anticipated such an outcome.

After a moment’s reflection, Chen Yi shook his head inwardly.

“It’s not a bad thing, after all.”

“If it allows the Hidden Guard to divert their gaze from me, for now, it serves my purpose well.”

“At least it’s better than the previous three or four times they’ve come knocking on my door.”

Most crucially, he could now carry out other endeavors in secret, cloaked in this misapprehension.

With this, he confirmed the time for the coming night—at the stroke of 23:00—and resumed his cultivation of the Four Symbols Technique.

After all, he needed to see it with his own eyes to feel at peace.

…

Half an hour later.

The night sky, shrouded in dark clouds, indeed unfolded just as Chen Yi had anticipated—thunderbolts flashed, followed by a torrential downpour.

The scorching heat that had plagued Shu Zhou for days was finally relieved.

The thunderous sound of rain pattering against eaves and cobblestones filled the air, a cacophony of dripping and splashing.

Yet Liu Rong stood at the window, gazing upon the storm outside, his lips curled in admiration.

“What fine weather.”

Such a relentless downpour, in the days of his wanderings in the northern desert, he could not have even dared to imagine.

Most often, the northern desert blazed under a scorching sun, then, upon a gust of heat, sent up endless waves of golden sand.

Even a dust storm was a blessing from the heavens.

Yet it was precisely under such harsh conditions that Liu Rong’s blade had achieved true mastery.

As he reflected on the past, Liu Rong let out a sigh.

“Alas, I’ve been sitting in a well, watching the sky.”

“It’s fitting that I was struck down by someone.”

That night, Xiao Jinghong struck him not merely with a single blow but shattered his arrogance entirely.

Recalling the fleeting beauty of his blade, Liu Rong felt a mixture of nostalgia and melancholy, muttering to himself, “What use is dwelling on the past?”

In all things, one must look forward.

As his master, the “Blade Ghost,” had once said, “When young, stride the world with your feet, walk far and see much.”

If fortune favored him, he might try a path free of obstacles.

If he encountered setbacks, it was no disgrace—so long as he remained alive, surpassing that hurdle would lead to a smooth journey ahead.

“Master, you should have given me a blade back then, so I wouldn’t have grown so reckless.”

When Liu Rong recalled his words to Hei Ya, the thick-skinned face of the wall seemed to flush with a hint of shame.

“Victory means life, defeat means death—this is the proof of the Way.”

What Way was that?

He had previously basked in favorable winds, scoffing at the might of heroes across the land, dreaming of an invincible path.

“When Hei Ya next sees me, he’ll surely mock me.”

Liu Rong grimaced, his teeth aching, and pulled on his raincoat and cloak, stepping out into the night.

At this moment, his appearance had returned to its former state, though the carefree, arrogant smile had vanished, replaced by a calm born of his recent defeat.

Even as he strolled through the rain, he walked steadily, no longer swaying like before, gradually fading into the darkness.

About half an hour later,

the willow waves swept past the western market and entered a narrow, dimly lit alley near the Xinhua Lane in the western outskirts of the Shu Zhou prefecture. This was a place of moral decay within the city walls.

Here dwelled bandit members who had come from the damp and sweltering lands of the Guo Kingdom, long-time peddlers who roamed between the barbarian tribes and the Wei dynasty, and other villains wanted by the authorities across the land.

In contrast, those from the east who had come to Shu Zhou to eke out a living were decent enough folk.

Yet these evil ones managed to hide here, evading the net of the magistrates' offices.

Naturally, there were those who had special reason to keep them fed.

A saying goes: Money can make ghosts grind stone.

Given enough silver, not only could one find shelter for these villains, but one could also engage in far more nefarious deeds—some of which required no small amount of human effort.

Black Tooth was among them.

He was not merely the overseer of this den of iniquity, but also a respected elder of the notorious "Mingyue Tower."

Moreover, he was no ordinary member, but the one responsible for all intelligence in Shu Zhou.

Because of his reputation for trustworthiness, many knew that when strangers came to Shu Zhou seeking his audience, even members of noble families and those with official connections would visit him.

Just as when the Liu family of Jingzhou, Liu Jing, had relied on him to find Liu Lang and the Huan Yin Monastery's disciples.

Similarly, Liu Lang had come here seeking Black Tooth, who had connections both dark and light.

In the torrential rain, Liu Lang looked around and then knocked three times on a nearby wall.

Three knocks, long and short, seeking an audience with Black Tooth.

After a moment, a detached voice echoed through the alley: "Where is the mountain gate?"

"North of the desert, Liu Lang."

"Do you seek refuge at the mountain gate, or do you call upon the gods and Buddhas, or perhaps the evil spirits?"

Liu Lang paused, then bowed his hand: "Evil spirits."

Seeking refuge at the mountain gate meant seeking protection; calling upon the gods and Buddhas implied matters involving officials or nobles. Seeking evil spirits meant matters of life and death—murder, arson, massacre, plunder.

These were the rules of the Mingyue Tower, and Black Tooth's rules as well.

Upon hearing Liu Lang's words, the surroundings fell silent again, save for the sound of raindrops falling.

About half an hour later,

someone arrived without a word, merely waving at Liu Lang.

Liu Lang followed silently, walking through the streets and alleys.

They left this squalid, dilapidated quarter and reached the bustling, well-lit Xinhua Lane.

Liu Lang surveyed the area, his expression calm but thoughtful: "Black Tooth is truly Black Tooth—he even has interests here."

Upon reflection, it made sense.

For those hiding in the shadows, the qin floors and gambling halls were not only their sources of income but also their hideouts and public faces.

When the cloaked man led him to the Chunyu Building, Liu Lang couldn't help but smile more broadly.

"Damn it, thank goodness I had skimmed off a bit earlier, or I'd have lost a fortune."

Not long after,

Liu Lang slipped through the back door of the Chunyu Building and climbed to a secluded room on the upper floor.

Along the way, he saw no woman, not a single figure.

"How hidden," he mused, admiring the place. "Black Tooth, I waited half an hour in the rain—surely that's not your hospitality."

No sooner had he spoken than the smooth wall beside him slowly opened, revealing a tall figure in black silk robes.

When the wall closed again, the man spoke: "Who are you, exactly?"

"I told you before—don't go looking for Xiao Jinghong. You ignored my advice, and now the Liu family's scheme has failed, costing me a fortune."

Liu Lang removed his hat and placed it aside, smiling: "When the mountain sect's Xie Tingyun assisted Xiao's side, it was impossible for the Liu family's plan to succeed here."

Yet in his heart, he was thinking of the mysterious boss at the Bai Caotang.

With that person's medical prowess, surely he could find someone even stronger.

Black Tooth hummed, examining him from head to foot: "Has your injury healed?"

"Have you heard of any 'divine physician' passing through Shu Zhou lately? Who treated your wound?"

"You guess."

"Ha, your brain was broken by Xiao Jinghong."

Liu Lang shook his head, neither confirming nor denying: "I won't tell you about his identity."

After a pause, he continued: "I came not for idle chat—let's get to the point."

"Very well. You're the employer—you speak, I obey. So, who do you want dead?"

"No one."

Black Tooth's eyes turned cold instantly, his voice dropping to a chilling whisper: "If you emerge from the shadows unkillable, I'll kill you myself."

Liu Lang smiled, calmly producing a silver note from his sleeve and slamming it on the table: "Is there more? Money can make ghosts grind stone."

Black Tooth said nothing, didn't look at the note, but his gaze grew colder.

Seeing this, Liu Lang didn't beat around the bush: "I want to burn the summer grain in three cities—name your price."

Black Tooth hesitated, surprised: "Three cities in Shu Zhou?"

"Of course."

"I refuse."

"Why? You're the type to demand payment for taking lives—how could you refuse?"

"Because someone has already paid more than enough to burn the summer grain in those three cities."

Liu Lang furrowed his brow: "Is that true?"

Black Tooth nodded, his eyes lingering on the silver note, then reached out to take it and held it up: "Now I ask you—who is paying?"

"Would you be willing to take a direct hand in this matter?"

"(End of chapter)"