Chapter 184: Whom Heaven Wishes to Destroy, It First Makes Mad

Chapter 184: When Heaven intends to destroy, it must drive one mad.

Creak. Creak.

The two aging wooden doors of the old gate creaked open slowly, a guard in a blue short jacket poking his head out to scan the surroundings.

After a moment, having confirmed there was nothing amiss behind the backdoor, he waved his hand:

"Come out, no one’s here."

Then, two guards each carrying a burlap sack emerged from the courtyard, glancing left and right.

Seeing no one around, their tense expressions eased slightly.

"Liu, don’t go far—stay by the door. When we return, remember to open it for us."

"Quickly, don’t dawdle."

"While it’s raining on this overcast day, finish off these two servants girls."

"Understood."

The two guards nodded, saying nothing more, and departed toward the northern city gate.

When they had gone far enough,

Liu, the guard, shut the wooden door, muttering to himself:

"This is the fifth time now."

"Hmph, how Xaio Yuan still hasn’t died yet..."

Though his voice was low, it reached the ears of Chen Yi and Liu Rong, hiding in the shadows outside.

Liu Rong’s face twisted into an odd expression as he glanced at the calm Chen Yi, hesitating slightly:

"Liu Er Gongzi must have struck out at Hou Fu today—this explains why he’s sulking."

Chen Yi glanced at him and nodded: "Good news."

"Ah?"

"Never mind, lead the way."

Chen Yi offered no further explanation, gave a curt order, then set his gaze on the two guards disappearing in the distance.

Somewhere in the air lingered the faint, dissipating stench of fresh blood.

Today, the fifth one...

Heh, it seems Liu Wen has driven old Grandfather Liu to distraction.

At least it’s good.

When Heaven intends to destroy, it must drive one mad.

That Liu Wen deserves to die in Shu Zhou!

Though Liu Rong didn’t grasp the meaning behind "good news," he knew Chen Yi was displeased.

In truth, Liu Rong himself held no respect for Liu Wen, a scion of a minor family who abused his servants.

After all, he wasn’t a member of some mercenary group, nor did he kill indiscriminately.

Like when he and Huan Yin Sect had gone to pillage Xiao family medicinal herbs.

For those escorting goods, he never even drew his blade—he scorned preying on the weak.

Otherwise, Shen Huatang of Mount Tai wouldn’t have lived to flee.

In contrast, Liu Wen.

During the day he was abused by the Xiao family, at night he took out his rage on his own servants. What a difference that made from the ways of demons and bandits!

After a while,

The two reached the eastern wing of the mansion.

Liu Rong focused his spirit, confirmed the area was clear, then pointed to a nearby wooden pavilion.

Chen Yi nodded in acknowledgment, leaning in to listen.

"......Old dog, dare you reprimand your young master for finishing work on the wood?"

"My young master paid you a visit—did you not show him respect?"

"Disrespectful!"

"And Xiao Wan Er, dared to reject my kindness!"

"How dare you, given the Xiao family’s current state? Hah?!"

The voices carried faintly, making Chen Yi’s eyes shift toward the pavilion with a hint of killing intent.

He waved his hand, signaling Liu Rong to knock on the door.

Knock, knock.

The sharp sound of the knock made the shouting inside the pavilion cease.

Liu Wen asked coldly: "Who is it?"

Liu Rong whispered: "It’s Liu Er."

"Has your master arrived?"

Chen Yi stepped forward, each step piercing the ancient wooden door with strands of killing intent.

"Visiting at midnight—hope you’ll forgive my intrusion."

Before his words faded, the wooden door creaked open as if welcoming him.

Chen Yi strode in without hesitation.

Liu Rong followed, glancing around, then closed the door quietly.

Standing beside the main hall, Liu Wen’s long, narrow eyes fixed on Chen Yi, his fair face softening into a smile:

"Black Fang?"

Chen Yi glanced at him, removing his hood and placing it on the table, nodding calmly: "Indeed it is."

He then looked at Liu Wen’s long sword in his hand, gesturing: "Liu Gongzi, does this mean you don’t welcome me?"

Liu Wen paused, then sheathed his sword, smiling and bowing: "The name Black Fang resounds like thunder—your arrival is most welcome."

The legacy of human names and their shadows.

Even though he was a direct descendant of the Liu family of Jingzhou, he had ways to deal with Black Fang and Bright Moon Pavilion.

But at this moment, his cultivation paled in comparison to Black Fang’s.

Naturally, he couldn’t risk placing himself in danger.

Moreover, Liu Wen was, in some ways, curious about what deal the Bright Moon Pavilion elder had made to find him.

Chen Yi, noticing this, nodded: "I’ve long admired Liu Gongzi—this meeting is truly a once-in-a-lifetime encounter."

Liu Lang listened to their flattery with a slight smirk.

He didn’t know whether Liu Wen welcomed the Black Tooth, but he did know the boss had little regard for Liu Wen.

Thank goodness the boss could openly say something like “a dragon and a phoenix among people.”

As he pondered this, Liu Lang pretended to be oblivious, turning toward the door where someone stood guard.

They exchanged a few polite words.

Chen Yi and Liu Wen took their seats in turn.

“I wonder what the elder of Black Tooth has come to see me for? If it’s about the death of Liu Jin, I have no interest.”

When Liu Wen spoke so directly, Chen Yi understood he was making it clear that Liu Jin’s death was no accident.

At the same time, there was a hint of warning and threat—Liu Wen wasn’t as easily deceived as Liu Jin.

Chen Yi paused slightly. “There’s a matter here I’d like to invite you to participate in.”

Liu Wen’s lips curled with disappointment.

Still, he knew the Bright Moon Tower’s affairs well enough to ask, “What matter?”

“The Xiao family.”

“If it’s about the Xiao family’s apothecary, I’m not interested.”

Such small deals wouldn’t even catch the eye of a gentleman like you.”

Liu Wen raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Say, then.”

But Chen Yi shook his head. “Liu Wen, the rules here are strict.”

“If you wish to take part, you must show sincerity.”

Liu Wen hesitated, his gaze sharp. “You mean I have to pay money first to know the details?”

“Exactly. But I assure you, once you hear it, you won’t mind the cost.”

“…What if I have no interest?”

“Silver—non-refundable.”

“…”

Liu Lang couldn’t help but laugh.

In his mind, the Black Tooth elders were indeed ones who “saw money and opened fire,” but they never came straight demanding cash without revealing anything.

What was the difference between this and outright coercion?

Still, upon deeper thought, he mostly grasped the boss’s plan.

After all, it concerned something as monumental as burning the summer supplies of three military garrisons. If they’d revealed it outright, Liu Wen might grow suspicious.

This apparent “mystification” in demanding silver, in hindsight, could be dismissed as mere “caution.”

Indeed.

Liu Wen and Chen Yi glanced at each other for a moment, then Liu Wen pulled a wad of silver notes from his sleeve and placed them on the table, smiling.

“I hope the Bright Moon Tower won’t disappoint me.”

“It won’t.”

Chen Yi took the silver notes, counted a few, then returned them to the table. “Not enough.”

Liu Wen stared at him, “Two thousand taels of silver… not enough?”

Chen Yi remained unmoved. “Indeed not enough.”

“Let me put it plainly, the matter involves sixty thousand taels of silver. If you wish to know the details, at least ten thousand taels are required.”

Liu Wen stared at him for a long moment, then burst into laughter.

“Sixty thousand taels… a grand scheme!”

He stood and walked back to the study.

After he left, Liu Lang couldn’t keep track of what was happening outside, and leaned sideways, whispering to Chen Yi, “Wasn’t it thirty thousand taels?”

Chen Yi glared at him, signaling him to be quiet, then turned away.

Liu Lang sulked, truly puzzled about what the boss had in his sleeve.

Surely it wasn’t to make Liu Wen pay another thirty thousand taels of gold?

Hmph.

The boss, indeed.

Opening with a deal worth thirty thousand taels.

Not long after, Liu Wen returned with the full payment, placing the silver notes on the table, a sly smile on his face.

“If you dare deceive me, you know the consequences.”

Chen Yi said nothing, took the silver notes, and secured them, covering what he’d previously given to Black Tooth.

Then, without hesitation, he leaned close to Liu Wen and whispered something.

Liu Wen’s eyes widened, then he turned his head toward Chen Yi. “Really?”

Chen Yi sat upright, nodding slightly. “If you’re interested, the matter is yours.”

Liu Wen’s expression grew strange—shock, cruelty, madness, all mingling.

He was truly taken aback by what Black Tooth had revealed.

How dare they?

They dared to plan burning the summer supplies of three military garrisons, and they weren’t afraid of the Xiao family hunting them to the ends of the earth?

Still, Liu Wen finally understood why Black Tooth had asked for ten thousand taels.

Such a grand scheme, even if carried out, would spread rumors and bring death upon them.

As he thought this, Liu Wen forced his complex emotions down.

“This matter is indeed beyond my expectations.”

“I wonder why the elder of Black Tooth sought me out?”

Chen Yi had anticipated his reaction, speaking calmly, “This matter is of great importance. If Liu Family assistance is involved, it would be easier to grasp.”

When he said that, Chen Yi paused, staring directly at him. “It also benefits you.”

“Once it’s done, whether you wish to marry the Xiao family’s daughters, or have other plans, it’ll double your success.”

Liu Wen exclaimed, “You know I want to marry Xiao Wan’er?”

"If there's no word from the Bright Moon Tower, how dare I come to disturb you, my lord?"

Liu Wen nodded, understanding fully what Black Tooth had said.

He knew well that once this deal was done, the Xiao family would be in ruins.

The summer grain of the Three Towns had been burned, the Dingyan army faced shortages of silver and grain, the Xiao family was in distress, and there were inquiries from the court...

Under such pressures, the Liu family saw their chance.

When the time came, he could take advantage of the chaos—whether by looting from the burning buildings or by delivering charcoal in the snow—to complete his objectives.

"But I'm not taking part in this; you and the Bright Moon Tower will still be involved in this deal, won't you?"

Chen Yi smiled, "Liu Gongzi, you're asking on purpose, knowing it's wrong."

"If my information is accurate, tomorrow within the walls of Shouzhou, news will spread that you've been humiliated by the Xiao family. Additionally, your second uncle's visit to propose marriage was rejected, and how would Shouzhou's people view that? How would Jingzhou's Liu family be perceived?"

Liu Wen's face darkened instantly, his eyes growing cold as he stared at him: "This isn't the reason I'm involved!"

"You don't want to hand over the Xiao family yourself?"

"As far as I know, the possibility of the Jingzhou Liu family's head position falling to your elder brother... is even greater!"

(End of Chapter)