Chapter 183: Simple, Just Desperately Greedy for Money

Chapter 183: Simple, Just Need Money

As evening fell,

beneath the gathering clouds, rain began to fall of its own accord.

Though not as heavy as the downpours of the past two days,

it was a gentle rain, refreshing compared to the sweltering daylight.

At least the breeze mingling with it was cool,

preventing the stifling heat and irritation.

Chen Yì felt none of this.

He had long been versed in martial ways,

and after reaching sixth rank,

he was no stranger to the extremes of cold and heat.

Rain, snow, scorching sun, or biting frost—

none of these weathered could disturb him.

Yet he preferred clear skies to overcast ones.

Precisely, he favored the sunny days of spring.

At that time, the sun was gentle,

the breeze came softly, the waves rippled,

and even the fish in the lakes and ponds stirred more lively than in other seasons.

Alas, now it was the rainy season of summer.

Rain fell incessantly, the heat persisted,

and countless entanglements piled upon him,

making it hard to find peace.

Not good. Not good at all.

Chen Yì stood by the window,

watching the rain fall within the Lotus Pond Garden,

murmuring to himself in the dim light,

then shook his head and opened the wardrobe.

After rummaging through it,

he selected a robe similar to the one he had worn the day before—

black with a bone clasp—

and swapped his daytime attire for it.

Before the mirror, he combed his hair into a style reminiscent of a wandering swordsman,

tying it loosely at the shoulder.

Tonight, he would pose as Black Needle

to meet Liu Wén and discuss matters of great consequence.

There could be no room for the slightest negligence.

As he prepared,

Chen Yì also revisited the events of the past two days,

reconstructing the schemes behind the "Burning of the Three Towns’ Summer Provisions."

The Xia family’s responses,

the role Hidden Guard played in fanning the flames,

and the arrangements they might make when they took action—

the involvement of Liu’s clan in Jingzhou,

and so on.

These scattered threads of thought,

which had always hovered at the edge of his mind,

now formed a clearer picture than ever before.

He knew this was because his strategic acumen had matured,

making him all the more adept at planning and positioning.

Add to that the new clues he’d uncovered—

about Black Needle, the demonic forces,

Hidden Guard, and Liu’s faction,

and so forth.

Unraveling their schemes was no longer difficult,

nor was it hard to discern a path to victory.

As he pondered these things,

Chen Yì couldn’t help but chide himself for being late in refining his strategic prowess.

Compared to martial, literary, or medical paths,

strategy seemed frivolous, yet it held profound value.

Luckily, he realized it was not too late.

Once dressed,

he donned a conical hat,

completed his transformation with haste,

and, taking advantage of the rain-soaked night,

circled the back mountain path,

heading straight for the residence on Chuwei Street.

He had already instructed Zhang Da Bao to await him there,

and also given orders to Luo Lang.

He could not yet venture to the western market,

lest he encounter the magistrate’s investigator,

or Chen Yunfan and Cui Qingwu.

He nearly forgot—

the old patriarch had likely dispatched someone to investigate "Chen Yu" at Bai Caotang.

In fact, during the day, the old patriarch had spoken to him about the Xia family’s apothecary.

Both overtly and subtly,

he meant for him to assist Xia Wan’er when time permitted.

Chen Yì had agreed wholeheartedly.

He understood clearly that this was a test by the old patriarch,

and that he was already being regarded as one of the Xia family.

As long as he kept his true identity hidden—

his official or military aspirations concealed—

the old patriarch would not demand too much of him.

At least, not before he revealed his true self as the owner of Bai Caotang.

Should the old patriarch learn that,

the consequences would be dire.

So he remained ever cautious.

After walking for less than a minute,

he arrived at the courtyard.

At that moment, Luo Lang had not yet arrived,

so he first had Zhang Da Bao perform the disguise.

Beyond the mask representing "Chen Yu,"

he also added half a mask bearing "Liu Wǔ."

After carefully checking the mirror for any flaws,

Chen Yì took a black iron mask and placed it over his face.

Instantly, his aura shifted.

Under the flickering candlelight,

he became a half-light, half-shadow figure,

exuding a chilling detachment.

Seven parts cold, two parts cunning, one part cautious—

such was the impression Black Needle left on others.

Like a venomous serpent lurking in the shadows,

ready to strike at a moment’s notice.

Zhang Da Bao, beside him,

suddenly met his gaze,

and a chill raced down his spine from the base of his tailbone,

traversing his back to the crown of his head.

“My lord, you—you’re here to…”

Chen Yì’s eyes flickered,

his voice a low, gravelly murmur:

“How? Do I not resemble a seasoned demon of the roads?”

To which Zhang Da Bao paused,

then shook his head hesitantly.

“Like… but not quite.”

“Oh? Then tell me.”

“Your coldness, your venom—

all present. But you lack the aura of ruthless killing.”

Upon hearing this,

Chen Yì nodded knowingly.

“You’re right.”

No sooner said than his aura shifted again,

his eyes now gleaming with a disdain for life itself.

“Hss—!”

Zhang Da Bao glanced at him,

then quickly turned away,

unable to bear the stare.

“My lord, your talent in disguise is truly remarkable!”

In just a few words,

the man had transformed into someone else entirely,

leaving no trace of inconsistency.

Not even a novice like Zhang Da Bao could discern the flaw,

let alone those who roamed the roads themselves.

Before Zhang Da Bao could recover his composure,

he offered some praise.

Soon, footsteps echoed outside,

and Luo Lang rushed in,

pushing the door open.

He glanced around,

about to speak,

when his face contorted in shock,

and he bellowed, “Black Needle?!”

Not only that, his hand rested upon the hilt of his blade, intent on fighting to the death without a single word spoken.

Chen Yi, upon seeing this, nodded satisfactorily and smiled, saying, "Relax a bit—it’s me."

"Boss?"

Liu Lang glanced at him, then at the nearby Zhang Daobao, letting out a breath he’d been holding: "At first glance, I thought Black Fang had discovered our little secret."

"Should Black Fang come sniffing around now, I reckon he’ll be busy collecting our corpses."

"Ha… Boss, you’re a man of good fortune—no harm will come to you."

This flattery hadn’t yet reached Wang Ji Yuan’s ears.

Chen Yi, too lazy to bother, waved a hand, signaling him to sit and speak. "Tell me what happened last night."

Liu Lang’s spirits lifted instantly, his brows flying and eyes bright as he recounted his encounter with Liu Wen in detail.

There was Liu Zhao Xue attending a midnight banquet at the Five Poison Sect.

Liu Wen had delivered a message to Liu Zhao Xue, stating clearly that he would visit Old Duke Xiao today.

By the time he finished, Liu Lang had narrated every nuance of his meeting and conversation with Liu Wen with meticulous precision.

Chen Yi listened, yet said nothing at once.

Instead, he leaned back in his chair, fingers drumming against the wood, recalling the sights and sounds from his daytime visit to the Xiao household—the lingering traces of Liu Wen and Liu Zhao Xue’s brother-sister bond.

"It seems the Liu family isn’t as united as one might think."

This much was evident from Liu Jing’s actions.

After all, Liu Jing, too, hailed from the eldest branch of the Liu clan, yet upon his arrival in Shu Zhou, he couldn’t even hang his own portrait in the Xinglin Pavilion.

And to top it off, the Liu family harbored suspicions toward Liu Hong, the third branch’s overseer…

Chen Yi deduced with ease—the Liu family’s internal strife wasn’t confined to the eldest, second, and third branches; it even spilled over into the next generation, like Liu Wen.

"On the other hand, that’s not a bad piece of news."

Liu Lang nodded with a smile. "I figured as much."

"For they’re a ruthless bunch, the Five Poison Sect—cruel to outsiders, and even crueler to their own. Their methods demand it."

"Before Mountain Grandmother arrived and wiped them out, their power was considerable, and they’d committed several heinous acts."

Chen Yi arched a brow. "Mountain Grandmother? The Five Poison Sect was destroyed by the mountain folk?"

Liu Lang nodded, his hand gripping his long blade. "The details, I know only in broad strokes."

"They say the Five Poison Sect, while active in Shu Zhou, somehow offended Mountain Grandmother, prompting her to bring her followers to their doorstep."

"Legend has it that the clash raged for two days and two nights, until Mountain Grandmother, in a move of supreme strategy, combined her Wei Gu sorcery with the mountain clan’s three most fearsome poisons, uprooting the Five Poison Sect from its roots."

Liu Lang glanced at him, adding, "Don’t let appearances fool you—though the mountain clans are rare in Shu Zhou these days."

"Yet her name in these lands? She’s no minor figure."

"Especially her Wei Gu techniques—sorcery so arcane, even the highest-tier martial masters would cower before her."

Chen Yi mused for a moment. "If the Five Poison Sect was vanquished by her, why do they still linger in the world?"

Liu Lang paused, spreading his palms. "I’m unsure. Perhaps some escaped the net. But I’ll admit—they’ve got guts, daring to show their faces in Shu Zhou, unafraid she’d return."

Chen Yi nodded thoughtfully, yet let the matter slide.

"Come on."

"To avoid sleepless nights, let’s pay Liu Wen a visit soon, so we can return home and rest."

Liu Lang rose, falling into step beside him. "Boss, tonight’s feast—I’ve got over a hundred pounds of meat to serve you."

"They’d never suspect a thing if Black Fang knew. If he finds out, we’ll be chased to the ends of the earth and sea."

Speaking of which, he hesitated, a hint of worry in his voice. "Boss, you won’t embarrass yourself, will you?"

Chen Yi’s aura flickered slightly, his eyes narrowing at Liu Lang, his voice gravelly: "Simple—just need to settle a debt. Death will come for the price."

Liu Lang chuckled, "Thinking it over, Black Fang does love money more than life itself."

They stepped out of the courtyard.

No more words passed between them as they walked, pausing now and then, until they reached the courtyard where Liu Wen dwelled.

Chen Yi didn’t rush to enter. Instead, he circled the compound, taking in every detail of its surroundings. Only then did he signal for Liu Lang to lead the way.

"This way…"

As Liu Lang prepared to slip them in through the eastern back gate, Chen Yi raised his hand sharply, cutting him off.

"Someone’s coming!"

(The chapter ends.)