Chapter 232: Some People Are Born Extraordinary

Chapter 232: Some People Are Born Extraordinary

Wasn’t Liu Liang watching Liu Hong?

Why had he come here?

No need to think further.

Chen Yi pulled a black handkerchief from his chest and wrapped it around his face, securing it tightly. He turned his head to glance over.

“Knife Madman?”

Liu Liang, too, wore a black handkerchief over his face, his shoulders bearing the blade Chen Yi had given him. He tilted his head slightly, eyes fixed on Chen Yi.

“Indeed it is I.”

“You, on the other hand, make no effort to hide your identity. That’s not the way of a true swordsman.”

Chen Yi frowned, realizing Liu Liang didn’t recognize him. He couldn’t help but feel a mix of amusement and exasperation. “Before you say that, perhaps you should look at yourself.”

Liu Liang glanced down at his own attire, paused, then spoke. “I am different from you, Liu.”

“Even in these night-cloaked robes, you remain as upright as a gentleman.”

Chen Yi: “……”

Damn it, how hadn’t he noticed that he was so poor before?

Liu Liang paid no heed to his thoughts. He lifted the knife and pointed it toward the rear. “Did you kill that demon of the Huanyin Sect over there?”

Chen Yi sighed, nodding. “Obviously.”

Upon hearing this, Liu Liang’s eyes brightened. “Your swordplay is impressive.”

“Earlier, I’d heard rumors of a cultivated swordsman’s aura appearing outside Shuzhou City. Some even suspected it might be me. It seems it was you after all.”

Chen Yi shook his head, offering no reply. Instead, he asked, “What then? What happened?”

“Try the blade.”

Liu Liang watched him with interest. “Shuzhou rarely sees a master swordsman. How could I miss this opportunity?”

Chen Yi, too weary to continue the charade, turned his back. He pressed the sword’s tip against his hat and stared straight at Liu Liang. “Let you guard the perimeter, and you come here to spar with me?”

Liu Liang blinked, taking in Chen Yi’s appearance from head to toe. Hesitantly, he asked, “Boss?”

“How is it you?”

“No, that’s not right! That’s not right at all!”

Realizing his mistake, Liu Liang’s eyes widened in sudden realization. “You—you’re a swordsman too?”

“Still, a master of the blade?”

Of course, Liu Liang hadn’t recognized Chen Yi. He hadn’t even considered that Chen Yi might wield a sword.

After all, a person who had already achieved mastery in gun, fist, and medical arts—how could he also master the sword? It was greed overreaching, wasn’t it?

Chen Yi twirled a sword move. “Is that so strange?”

Liu Liang opened his mouth, then closed it. “No, no, not strange at all.”

Gun mastery, fist mastery, sword mastery—all achieved, plus medical arts. Such a person couldn’t be strange?

Chen Yi let out a soft laugh, clearly understanding Liu Liang’s surprise but unable to explain further. “Some people are born extraordinary, like me.”

He blinked innocently, spouting nonsense. “Since birth, I’ve possessed a martial body. Not only were all my meridians open, but I also had a clear mind.”

“Any martial art? I only need to glance at it to understand. Practice once, and I master it. A hundred days of cultivation, and I break through.”

“Really?”

“Of course not. Such a person isn’t even found in legends and tales.”

Seeing Chen Yi’s expression of someone who’d gone mad, Liu Liang seethed with indignation. “Whether it’s true or not, I believe it.”

“Damn it, I’ve lived over twenty years and only now have I heard of ‘people beyond people, heavens beyond heavens.’”

“I always thought General Huo Hong, at only twenty, had already reached the pinnacle of sword and gun arts. I never imagined you’d surpass her.”

After a pause, Liu Liang leaned closer, staring intently. “Tell me the truth—is it true you’re a hundred-year-old monster who’s taken on this form just to tease me?”

“……Old fool.”

Chen Yi cursed, about to ask why he’d appeared here, when he heard voices in the distance.

“Master Bai, there’s a corpse here!”

“Search the area thoroughly—leave no stone unturned!”

The sword-wielding official?

A familiar face.

Chen Yi’s thoughts shifted. He signaled Liu Liang to wait a moment, then darted toward where the official was.

Liu Liang, too, heard the commotion. Seeing Chen Yi head that way, he had no choice but to follow.

Yet his mind kept muttering, How could such a person exist? A monster?

Chen Yi, however, cared not for his thoughts.

After all, they’d known each other long enough, and had killed Black Baby, Liu Wen, and Xiao Dongchen together. A few secrets were just secrets.

He didn’t mind them.

Soon enough.

Chen Yi arrived at the scene where the official and his men stood.

He took in the surroundings.

They were searching around the corpse of the Huanyin Sect’s demon. Chen Yi coughed once, drawing their attention.

“Master Bai, this search is pointless. It’s not going to uncover anything.”

Bai Hong, gripping his sword, stared at Chen Yi with guarded eyes. “Who are you?”

Chen Yi tugged at his hat, smiling. “Master Bai, so forgetful you don’t even recognize me anymore?”

Before Bai could reply, a young officer nearby reacted first.

“You—you’re the scum who’s made me sweep the streets of shame countless times! You brat!”

Bai Hong, too, recognized Chen Yi. He drew his blade.

“You dare show your face before me again?”

Chen Yi let out a light, knowing laugh. "Fang Baochu is so perceptive. I’ve always held the Ministry of Justice in high esteem."

"Respect? How dare you speak such words?"

"Are you doubting it?"

"If it weren’t so, how could Fang Baochu and the others have survived until now?"

"After careful thought, I’ve spared your lives three times already."

Fang Hongxi’s eyes flickered with irritation. "You? It was only twice!"

The moment the words left her lips, she realized her mistake, her face flushing. "You—son of a—!"

Chen Yi smiled gently. "This time counts as the third."

Yet as Fang Hongxi’s complexion grew increasingly pale, he shifted his tone. "I merely spoke plainly. I pray you’ll forgive me, Fang Baochu."

"Of course. But you’d better not think you can get away with this."

"As you know, you and your colleagues are no match for us."

Liu Lang, having heard this, relaxed slightly, grinning. "Try us then."

"…"

Fang Hongxi and the other execution officers exchanged glances, their expressions troubled.

Was Chen Yi truly a villain? They thought yes.

First, he’d slain Liu Erhu under their very noses. Then, he’d rescued that black-robed rogue who’d been butchering innocents in the Western Market and Bright Moon Tower. By law, the Ministry of Justice would have executed him.

Yet twice he’d escaped their grasp, and lived—truly, they had to admit.

Silence fell.

Fang Hongxi inhaled deeply. "What do you truly intend to do?"

Chen Yi smiled. "Fang Baochu finally grasps the point."

He gestured to the corpses. "I killed him."

"You—you—you—!"

A ministry officer was about to scold, but Fang Hongxi raised a hand, her gaze cold. "If you came to provoke us, I admit it—you’ve succeeded."

"But remember this: as long as I, Fang Hongxi, remain in the Ministry of Justice, I will never let you go!"

Chen Yi’s smile faded into a solemn nod. "Fang Baochu doesn’t want to know why I killed him."

"By the Great Wei laws, murderers forfeit their lives!"

"You killed a heretic from the Huanyin Sect—yet demand my life?"

"The… Huanyin Sect—"

Fang Hongxi blinked, then gazed at the corpse. "He was the one who’d helped those runaway slaves escape earlier?"

Chen Yi spread his hands, his eyes softening. "Indeed."

"Then killing him must count as removing a scourge from the people, yes?"

"…Hmph. I’ll confirm his identity first."

"Very well."

Finding the mood odd, Fang Hongxi tilted her head. "Earlier, you said we wasted our time searching here. Did you know something else?"

Chen Yi nodded. "That Huanyin Sect rogue had accepted a bounty from the Bright Moon Tower to rescue those slaves. And the one who ordered him—unsurprisingly—was a sorcerer from the Poshu Kingdom."

"Poshu Kingdom, sorcery—are you certain?"

"By examining the black-robed man with an experienced practitioner, the Ministry would surely see if my words hold truth."

Fang Hongxi pondered, then nodded. "Anything else?"

Chen Yi extended his hands. "Nothing more. That’s all I know."

"Why tell us this at all?"

"Must I answer that too? Never mind. I thought it best to inform you."

"I despise the Poshu sorcerers and the barbarians most of all. I pray you’ll bring them to justice."

Fang Hongxi studied him intently. "If you truly meant that, you shouldn’t have blocked our investigation earlier."

She couldn’t possibly trust him over a few words.

Yet twice he’d led them into traps—and still lived. It left her conflicted.

Chen Yi sensed her thoughts, smiled faintly, and bowed. "I bid you good day."

Liu Lang watched him leave, then turned to the others. "So, we just let him go?"

"What, and let him go? Go on, take him!"

"We can’t beat him, we can’t—after all, we should report this to the Grand Duke of the Thousand Households for a sea capture decree…"

As the execution officers muttered, Fang Hongxi watched Chen Yi and Liu Lang disappear into the distance, then drew a steadying breath.

"Enough chatter."

"Old Ma, take this… Huanyin Sect heretic back to the offices. Have Zhang Weizuo examine him thoroughly."

"Zhao Ming, you and Er go ask around at the granary about the situation."

"The rest of you follow me—see if we can find traces of those slaves or Poshu wanderers."

Complex thoughts lingered, but the case must go on.

As for Chen Yi…

Fang Hongxi would never abandon his capture.

…

Meanwhile,

Chen Yi and Liu Lang veered northward, searching for the runaway slaves, his brow furrowed with thought.

His confession to Fang Hongxi’s group wasn’t as simple as he’d claimed.

For now, he was trapped within the Xiao family, and had more urgent matters to attend to.

Ironically, the execution officers had reason to keep investigating—the slaves’ escape that night demanded answers.

Thus, Chen Yi decided to spill everything, letting Fang Hongxi’s team probe the culprits’ backgrounds.

At that moment, Liu Lang, seeing no one nearby, leaned close. "Boss, how did you master the blade path to such proficiency?"

Chen Yi paused, then smiled faintly. "Some things are best left untold."

He cared not a whit for the savage slaves of the Huan Yin Sect, his thoughts entirely fixed on the blade's path before him.

Chen Yi glanced sideways at him, his voice low, "Not I who spoke of your extraordinary talents?"

"Yet, yet—"

"Enough of that."

"Still, tell me—why did you come to the East Market? I specifically ordered you to keep watch on that one there."

Liu Liang halted mid-step, pressing a hand to his forehead with a muttered oath, "My sins—how could I forget?"

Chen Yi halted beside him, his brow slightly furrowed. "What is it?"

"The one you sent me to shadow, he’s been darting between the city gate and the mansion these past days without incident."

"Ah… I thought he’d arrive in the East Market tonight."

Liu Liang shook his head, "He did not come, but his son did."

Chen Yi’s lips tightened almost imperceptibly. He did not press for details at once but led Liu Liang to a secluded spot, then gestured for him to speak.

"That very night, I was stationed outside the residence when I chance upon his son meeting a man in secret…"

To be precise, it was Liu Hong’s younger son, Liu Tao, in a clandestine encounter—something that drew Liu Liang’s attention.

He had just begun to eavesdrop when Liu Tao vanished into a horse-drawn carriage, his figure slipping away like a wisp of mist.

Curiosity gnawed at him, and he resolved to trail the youth, to see where such a late-night visit might lead.

In but two turns and three streets, Liu Liang found himself in the southwest quarter of the East Market—a district thronged with merchants and nobles.

Before he could slip inside, however, he was drawn away by the commotion of Chen Yi’s blade technique.

"…Had your swordplay not stirred such a ruckus, I’d still be watching Liu Tao."

Chen Yi nodded, offering no reproach.

The affairs of this night reeked of oddity, yet none the more strange to Liu Liang.

Still, beneath it all, Chen Yi’s intuition whispered that this matter concerned those "patrons" of power.

The reason was simple—grain stores and supply lines.

That single thread sufficed to conjure memories of the recent rise in prices across Shu Province.

"When granaries burn and grain dwindles, prices naturally climb."

"But what of those savage slaves and the witches from the southern lands—how do they fit in?"

Chen Yi could not fathom the connection between these two threads, nor could he be certain his suspicions were true.

He resolved to lay the matter aside for now, to wait and see whether the grain trade would indeed follow his reckoning.

Fortunately, Master Xiao had a remedy for such troubles, sparing Chen Yi the burden of attending to the military’s coin and provisions.

Thinking this, Chen Yi nodded to Liu Liang, gesturing him onward toward Liu Tao’s residence, then cautioned, "This time, keep your distance. Afterward, I’ll need you to keep tabs on the Liu family—though as ever, that elder remains the priority."

Liu Liang stepped ahead, a sheepish smile tugging at his lips, "Rest assured, boss—if the sky should fall, I’ll hardly glance at it."

"Better still…"

A pause.

Liu Liang hesitated, then ventured, "Boss, you promised me something earlier, didn’t you?"

"A sparring match?"

"Yes, yes—"

"Rest assured, you’ll have your fill."

For one such as Liu Liang, ever eager to prove himself in battle, Chen Yi could not let the matter rest.

He had long known, post his clash with Yan Shuasha, the true measure of his own prowess.

Even should his blade art pale beside Liu Liang’s, his gun technique would surely prevail.

It would do, then, to plant a lasting memory in the man’s mind.

As he pondered thus, two golden characters blazed before his eyes:

[ witnessed the rebellion of savage slaves in the East Market grain trade. Reward: Huan Yin Sect’s martial art *Falling Soul Tune* [Yellow Level], fate points +16.]

[ Evaluation: A mediocre showing, though commendable for hearing the news. ]

A martial art of the Huan Yin Sect?

Chen Yi scoffed inwardly, binding the infernal text alongside the *Thousand Poison Skill* he’d acquired, consigning both to a high shelf.

To practice it? Never. At best, he might glance through it someday, to learn the ways of the Five Poison Sect and the Huan Yin’s dark arts, mere preparation.

Not long after, he and Liu Liang reached the southwest quarter of the East Market, arriving at a three-gated mansion.

As he prepared to enter, voices drifted from within. He quickly signaled Liu Liang to suppress his presence.

In an instant, the mansion’s gates swung open, and several horse-drawn carriages emerged, their drivers already stationed outside.

Yet within, figures stepped forth—among them, a young lord and three elder men.

Faint murmurs of conversation floated out:

"Lord Liu, I assure you, those grain stores of yours will fetch a fine price."

"If my brother-in-law says so, I have no doubt."

"Just a word—should any ill will arise, I pray you do not implicate me."

"Then surely he understands his father’s temper."

"Understands, understands—hahaha. Lord Liu, his integrity is beyond reproach. We all bow to such a man."

As they spoke, the group exited together.

Chen Yi observed each face, noting a young nobleman leading the way, flanked by three middle-aged men.

"A merchant’s kin?" he mused.

Then, his gaze locked upon the final figure to emerge—

Zhu Cheng, the esteemed master of Guanyin College.

"Could he be here too?"

Before he could ponder further, Liu Tao and Zhu Cheng exchanged farewells, mounting their carriages to depart.

Liu Liang tapped his shoulder, signaling the next move.

Chen Yi’s thoughts raced. "Keep watch on that one."

"And you?"

"I have matters to attend to. Go ahead—no need to mind for me."

Liu Liang bowed, then silently pursued Liu Tao’s carriage.

Chen Yi stood rooted in place, his gaze fixed on the house before him, his mind racing ceaselessly.

Liu Tao-fang, the son of Liu Hong, the governor of Shu Zhou.

Zhu Lingchuan, of the Zhu clan, a brother of the deputy commander of the military office in Shu Zhou.

As for the master of the house in front of him— the Lin family…… and Bao Mi……

Could these people be the ones manipulating grain prices? The main clients?

A flicker of coldness crossed Chen Yi’s eyes, and without a moment’s hesitation, he slipped into the residence.

He’d know the truth with just one question!

(The chapter ends here.)