Chapter 253: Heroes Have a Hard Time Passing the Pass of a Beautiful Woman (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Chapter 253: Heroes Cannot Pass the Beauty's Barrier (Please Vote for the Monthly Ticket)

It was no wonder Xingxing thought so.

Once before, he had overheard "The Hawk" Ge Lao San and "The Female Tiger" Liu Yuxue reporting:

"The Liu family of Jingzhou claimed to be the person of Liu ZhaoXue."

"Killing Liu Wen was to clear the path for Liu ZhaoXue, so she could rise swiftly within the Liu family's main house."

"Yet, considering the burning of summer grain in the three towns, it seemed the Xiao family benefited the most."

Xingxing watched Liu ZhaoXue enter the residence, his expression deep in thought.

If only Liu Wu had told the truth back then?

He truly was Liu ZhaoXue's person?

If that were the case, then the truth would be—

Liu Wu had passed those thirty thousand taels of silver through Xiao Dongcheng to the Xiao family, ostensibly easing their desperate need for funds.

In reality?

In truth, he had concealed the matter, making the Liu family of Jingzhou believe Liu Wen had been killed by the Xiao family.

Thus, no one would suspect that the mastermind behind it all was Liu ZhaoXue.

Xingxing exhaled softly, silently murmuring: "What is false is true, and what is true is false."

"Liu Wu's calculations were meticulous!"

Though Xingxing had never truly met Liu Wu, from all directions he had gathered information, this Liu Wu's martial arts talent and intellect were unparalleled in his lifetime.

Especially regarding the matter of "burning the summer grain in the three towns."

It seemed their White Tiger Guard had gained some advantage, achieving a certain goal, yet the greatest benefactor was "Liu Wu."

The Xiao family, who had managed to avoid the destruction of their summer grain, was, in a sense, the loser.

Only this "Liu Wu" had first deceived the Mingyue Tower, securing the opportunity to go to Tiebi Town.

Then, using Liu Wen's name to lure Xiao Dongcheng into a trap, leading him to his death.

Finally, he killed Liu Wen in Tiebi Town, framing the Xiao family.

In every instance, Liu Wu had nearly wiped clean all traces of his actions.

If not for the several banner officers of the White Tiger Guard who had participated and had contact with Liu Wu, it is likely no one would have fully uncovered what he had done.

"No wonder the Host mentioned that chaos had arisen within the Liu family."

"With 'Liu Wu' aiding Liu ZhaoXue, how could she not gain power within the Liu family's main house?"

Now, among the heirs of the Liu family's main house in Jingzhou, the one with the greatest chance was the eldest son, Liu Yong.

The second son, Liu Ben, had also had a chance to become the head of the Liu family due to his mother, yet he died in Shu Zhou.

The third daughter, Liu ZhaoXue, who claimed to be the first beauty of Jingzhou, was deeply favored by her father.

The fourth son, Liu Wu, was a disciple of the Lingyue Mountain in Jingzhou, with exceptional martial arts talent, now having reached the fourth rank.

The other heirs had little chance.

Xingxing thought of this, glanced once more at the "Liu Family" written on the mansion, then faded into the rain and shadows.

He could not help but wonder why that "Liu Wu" had helped Liu ZhaoXue.

Could it be... that heroes could not pass the beauty's barrier?

It was not impossible.

Xingxing's probing, Liu ZhaoXue could not have known.

Upon returning to this mansion, her face, usually prone to a liking for scolding and pouting, still bore a faint, cold expression.

"I have returned to Shu Zhou."

Though it had only been twenty days since her return to Jingzhou, standing here again, she felt as though a lifetime had passed.

Especially when she thought of her experiences in Jingzhou these past days, she felt the difficulty of this opportunity, the difficulty of this return.

Liu ZhaoXue looked at the servants and household staff kneeling inside, her mind recalling her father's words:

"My son, you may not be pleased, but you were born into the Liu family; some things cannot be done according to your own desires."

"This time, I give you half a year; whether you succeed or fail, you must return to Jingzhou."

Half a year.

Liu ZhaoXue sighed, gently waved her hand: "Everyone, get up and attend to your duties."

"Yes, Third Miss."

After those servants and attendants had departed, Liu ZhaoXue turned to the steward sitting there in a cotton-cloth robe and commanded:

"Brother Fu, go summon several merchants to come, in half a cun, we will discuss matters here."

The steward, about fifty years old, nodded, bowed and said: "Third Miss, would you like to summon the accountant and the masters of the several drug shops as well?"

"Have them come too, and remember to bring the ledgers from these past few days' drug shops."

"Yes..."

Liu ZhaoXue watched him leave, then led several close attendants into the main hall of the western residence.

Three young guards stood at the entrance.

Two maids stood quietly behind her.

After a moment of silence, one of the maids looked around, then suddenly spoke:

"Third Miss, this place is quite nice."

Liu ZhaoXue paused, ordered another maid to brew tea, then calmly said:

"Liu Hong brought it, what else could it be?"

The maid, though wearing a short yellow-and-orange tunic, her round face held no warmth, her eyes and brows instead carried a cunning edge.

"Close to the Mu Lake, near the North City Gate, convenient for retreat."

"Near Kangning Street, where scholars live, mostly descendants of great families from Shu Zhou, their information is quite sharp."

She paused, looked at Liu ZhaoXue, smiled and continued: "What do you think?"

"You are satisfied then."

"Third Miss, you speak too boldly."

"My servant Ling'er is your maid; of course, everything is under your command."

The maid named Ling'er blinked her lively eyes, knowingly asking:

"After all, my Five Poison Sect has already died a senior for you; why are you still so cautious?"

Liu ZhaoXue turned her head, examined her thoroughly, then said: "You should know the reason."

My purpose, you understand well.

But what your purpose may be, no one has ever revealed to me.

The elder Yan Fushasha before only said one sentence—'You wish to seek the aid of the Xinglin Monastery.'

Liu Zhaoxue paused, seeming to observe Ling'er's reaction, and seeing her expression unchanged, continued to ask:

"So, miss Ling, might you enlighten us on a few matters?"

Ling'er regarded her with a half-smile, half-serious expression, "My lady, rest assured, whatever the Five Poison Sect does, it will not involve you."

Liu Zhaoxue turned her head and did not look at her again.

"Not necessarily.

The previous elder Yan Fushasha had taken Pei Wenli of the mountain clan, and now you've made another attempt—yet you dare not invite the mountain clan's wrath?"

Ling'er's smile faltered, then she flipped her hair and spoke sharply, "They will.

So this time, besides me, there are other elder leaders and masters coming with them."

"And where are they now?"

"My lady, there's no need to rush. Your most important task is to expand the Xinglin Monastery smoothly. The rest, I shall report to the elder leader in due time."

Liu Zhaoxue murmured softly, "That would be best."

She understood her position clearly.

Had her father not lent his influence, she could not have returned to Shu Zhou this time.

Even, she had nearly been taken by her second brother Liu Wen and his mother, along with several clan elders, to Kyoto Fu for a warm bed.

Thus, Liu Zhaoxue cherished this opportunity.

Though she knew the situation in Shu Zhou was perilous, she would not abandon it.

In a sudden moment, the image of Chen Yi surfaced in her mind, and she thought softly, "If someone like Master Qiao were here to assist me, how could any great undertaking fail?"

She recalled seeing, before her departure from Jingzhou, a cultivated gunslinger and Liu Rong rescuing Chen Yi and Pei Wenli.

In her estimation, those two people must have aided the Xiao family because of Chen Yi.

Liu Zhaoxue inwardly chided, "Such a pity..."

For she had no one like that by her side.

Otherwise, she would never have allied with the Five Poison Sect.

At that moment, Ling'er, far away, heard footsteps in the courtyard. She glanced around, then stepped forward to bow and say, "My lady Ling, I am new to Shu Zhou and wish to venture out for a while—might I have your permission?"

Liu Zhaoxue looked at her, nodded slightly, and said, "Go ahead, miss Ling."

"Very well."

After the person left, several shopkeepers and their accountants arrived at the Western Residence.

Liu Zhaoxue composed herself, rose, and greeted them.

"Good day, miss three."

"Good day, gentlemen. No need for much courtesy, please come in..."

In the midst of these pleasantries, within the partitioned Eastern Palace,

Chen Yi and Liu Rong exchanged a glance, then waited a moment before speaking.

"Boss, Liu Zhaoxue has returned."

"Indeed, she'll return eventually."

Chen Yi thought of that day, and a smile touched his lips.

It was perhaps just in time for Liu Zhaoxue to return.

If he had seen Xing Shang, he might have been able to mislead his judgment.

Liu Rong looked at his smile, and instinctively shivered, then whispered, "When do we leave?"

"Not yet, let's hear what miss Liu Zhaoxue plans next before we go—no need to rush."

Chen Yi said so, but more than anything, he sought to avoid Xing Shang and any potential pursuers from the Western Market.

After all, he cared not for the Xinglin Monastery's expansion in Shu Zhou.

He cared about how great Liu Zhaoxue's ambitions were, and what the Five Poison Sect's purpose was in coming to Shu Zhou.

"Listening to what Liu Zhaoxue said just now, the Five Poison Sect seeks to leverage the Xinglin Monastery to achieve some purpose—this is rather strange."

Chen Yi had previously assumed the Five Poison Sect came to Shu Zhou to seek vengeance against the mountain clan.

Now, it seemed their target had never been the mountain clan.

Upon careful thought, it made sense.

The previous group brought by elder Yan Fushasha, though capable, were no match for the mountain clan.

Their seizure of Pei Wenli was merely a stroke of luck.

Should they have encountered the formidable Mountain Mother, their fate would have been far worse.

Conversely, this time, as Ling'er had said, the Five Poison Sect had brought stronger individuals.

"Elder leader, masters... I wonder what strength these people from the Five Poison Sect possess."

Chen Yi pondered for a moment, then shook his head silently, no longer dwelling on it.

Regardless of their cultivation, he could never ally with the Five Poison Sect.

Right now, Liu Hong was the one he truly needed to confront.

Silence fell.

Chen Yi carefully listened to the conversations from the Western Residence, and his understanding of the Xinglin Monastery grew a little more complete.

Should he speak?

The Xinglin Monastery, having been passed down for a century in Jingzhou, indeed had its unique merits.

Even without those few medical saints, its internal systems and personnel were far superior to other pharmacies.

The Xiao family's pharmacy, having taken a different path, needed no mention.

It could be said that the Xinglin Monastery had already formed a system from scratch that could be replicated in other prefectures and states.

From the procurement of medicinal herbs, the escorting of armored carriages, to the methods of developing and expanding the Apothecary Halls—every aspect, every detail, is subject to meticulous regulations. Not a single point is overlooked. Even the specific duties each person in every Apothecary Hall must perform, and the abilities they must possess, are all meticulously documented in the statutes. It is indeed a matter of profound thoroughness.

Liu Lang, standing beside, had listened to all the content yet harbored few thoughts. He tugged at the windowpanes, peering through the gaps outside, and whispered softly: "Boss, why hasn't Liu Zhaoxue moved into this residence?"

Chen Yi chuckled, replying, "In the east, she's always been favored, yet she's remained in the western compound. Now that Liu Wen is dead."

Chen Yi smiled and continued, "That's precisely where Liu Zhaoxue's cleverness lies. She has ambition, a sharp mind, and the kind of contributions that can be leveraged. Before that, she had to rein in all her thoughts, not overstep boundaries, so she could quietly rally people to her side. That's how she managed it."

Liu Lang nodded slowly. "I see..."

But there was more.

Chen Yi understood all too well the plight of those low in the family hierarchy. Like himself, a son-in-law in a precarious position. Within the Xiao family, Xiao Wanniu and Xiao Jinghong, even the elderly Patriarch Xiao, held him in some regard. But in the Liu family, he feared he would have been driven out of the Xiao household with a stick during the wedding escape.

Imagine the difficulties and disgrace Liu Zhaoxue must have faced to achieve her goals. Thus, Chen Yi could fully comprehend her alliance with the Five Poison Sect. What he could not forgive was this: she had placed her scheme upon Xiao Wanniu, and left the Five Poison Sect to act freely against him and Pei Yinglei.

Just these two points alone, he believed, would prevent Liu Zhaoxue from succeeding.

After a moment, when the proprietors and accountants of the Xinglin Pavilion were about to depart, Chen Yi finally shouldered Liu Zhaoxue, and dismissed Liu Lang.

"Boss, where are we heading?"

"First, to the residence on Chuanxi Street."

Though Chen Yi was unaware of where Lingxing and others were, the street was crowded with onlookers, so he chose the eastern and northern exits. Returning to Chuanxi Street was the most fitting path.

Not long after, Chen Yi and Liu Lang moved silently, avoiding notice, to the residence on Chuanxi Street. Listening carefully, they found only Zhang Daobao inside. They crept in quietly.

Zhang Daobao saw them and immediately bowed respectfully: "Your Excellency."

Chen Yi nodded, set Liu Zhaoxue aside, and glanced around the room, raising an eyebrow: "Has the quiet chamber been prepared?"

"The proprietor has personally arranged for several disciples from Mount Tai to set it up," Zhang Daobao replied. "They completed the preparations in just one hour, installing partitions on the doors, windows, walls, and roof. The proprietor also said he will send guards tomorrow to reinforce it further."

Chen Yi waved his hand dismissively: "Tell them to stop using it."

Now that Liu Zhaoxue was here, the fewer people who knew, the better. Especially since he intended to let Pei Yinglei and Ashi Tai hide here as well, they couldn't afford to be discovered.

In the course of idle chatter, after Zhang Daobao had finished treating Liu Lang, Chen Yi sent him ahead to the Bai Caotang. Once Zhang Daobao removed his disguise, he ordered:

"In recent days, try not to venture out. Guard this place well."

He pointed to the quiet chamber: "Let the people inside provide him with food and drink daily. If he shouts or screams, plug his mouth to keep it quiet, lest anyone discovers what's happening here."

Zhang Daobao glanced toward the quiet chamber and nodded: "Your Excellency can rest assured. I will definitely hold this post."

Chen Yi smiled and patted his shoulder: "For now, thank you. Once peace settles over Shuzhou, I'll allow you to make one request."

"Your Excellency, I—"

"Don't refuse. Consider it compensation for not achieving the 'Two Fingers' title in your service to me."

"Many thanks, Your Excellency!"

Chen Yi nodded and smiled, then lifted his oil-paper umbrella and left the residence, heading straight for the Xiao family's compound.

By then, the sky had grown dark. But since the rain had ceased, the clouds and hues of the sky formed a beautiful, gloomy scene. Travelers on the road were no longer hurrying; they moved leisurely after a day's toil.

Chen Yi was the same. Yet when he reached the Xiao family's gate and saw the anxious little butterfly waiting at the entrance, he couldn't help but quicken his pace.

The little butterfly saw his approach and instantly brightened, patting his chest: "My lord, you've finally returned!"

Chen Yi pretended to look at the sky: "It's not yet dark."

"It's not the darkness, it's—Miss has been worried about you."

"Oh? What happened?"

"Earlier, news came from the west market that there were bandits committing crimes and murder on the streets. The miss and I were both very concerned about you..."

(Chapter Complete)