Chapter 382: Where is Chen Yu? (Requesting Monthly Tickets)

Chapter 382: Where Is Chen Yu? (Please Vote for the Moon Ticket)

Shuǐ hé tóng, being one of the masters of the Storm and Rain Pavilion, had indeed heard of the name of the Ji Zhou Trading Company.

Not merely had he heard of it, but his dealings with the Storm and Rain Pavilion spanned across the nine provinces and prefectures of the Daliang Empire, and he had once interacted with those from Ji Zhou.

The result was, as can be seen—far from friendly.

For the Storm and Rain Pavilion, being a martial arts sect, was hardly to be taken seriously by the affluent clans of Ji Zhou.

Even though the Storm and Rain Pavilion had the venerable immortal Bai Da Xian as its patron, in the eyes of the great imperial families, it remained a place of nine schools and ten thousand evils.

No different from the Clear Moon Pavilion or the Five Poison Sect.

Thus, their encounters were always awkward, and on one occasion, they even came to blows.

Both sides suffered injuries.

Had it not been for the intervention of the Canal Boss, the Horse Boss, and the Beggar Boss, the masters of the Storm and Rain Pavilion, including Shuǐ hé tóng, would have been forced to retreat.

Since that time, Ji Zhou had clearly understood the strength of the Storm and Rain Pavilion, and on the surface, they never clashed with them.

But behind the scenes, there were still some who harbored resentment and defiance.

Inevitably, they would meddle in the affairs of the Storm and Rain Pavilion, creating trouble here and there.

Shuǐ hé tóng knew of these things, yet he had found no opportunity to seek trouble with Ji Zhou.

After all, Ji Zhou was too mysterious, especially the core members who remained hidden behind the scenes, rarely showing their faces.

The so-called managers, patrol officers, and other officials in various prefectures and counties were merely the eyes, ears, and claws that Ji Zhou had placed in the open.

Money could move mountains.

Those managers could be killed, and with Ji Zhou's wealth and power, so many people would die for their sake—those from the Canal, Horse, and Beggar Gangs.

Their disciples were numerous, countless others relied on Ji Zhou to survive, not to mention their families and children.

This was one of the reasons why the Storm and Rain Pavilion had not yet found an opportunity to exact revenge.

Shuǐ hé tóng, while observing the situation within the boat, noticed that Zhang Da Bao remained in a state of agitation.

"Master, we must get out quickly, hurry out!"

At that moment, a voice came from within, "Master?"

"Isn't that Li San Yuan?"

As the smoke gradually cleared, Pei Yonglin was seen gripping the throat of the One-Finger sect member, his expression cold and indifferent towards both him and Shuǐ hé tóng.

The One-Finger struggled, tilting his head, straining to force a smile despite his predicament:

"Come, leave."

Zhang Da Bao immediately grew alarmed. He rushed to Shuǐ hé tóng's side, "My lord, pray, my lord, please come to my aid!"

At that moment, Shuǐ hé tóng recalled that he was no longer his original self, but the owner of the Bai Cang Tang, Chen Yu.

He was quite troubled, yet he had no intention of revealing his identity. He raised his hand to signal Zhang Da Bao to remain calm, then took a step forward.

"Pei Yonglin, son of the old hag, is he?"

"Indeed, I never expected you to be from Ji Zhou."

Pei Yonglin surveyed him from head to foot, his voice cold and indifferent: "Who are you?"

"Chen Yu."

Shuǐ hé tóng's gaze swept over Liu Zhao Xue and the others, lingering briefly on Liu Zhao Xue.

Shuǐ hé tóng remembered Liu Zhao Xue.

Earlier, when he and Song Jin Jian had been drinking, he had once seen Liu Zhao Xue.

All of this now made sense.

The Clear River family and those from Ji Zhou had conspired together, plotting some great treachery.

When Pei Yonglin first arrived in Shu, he had not heard of "Chen Yu."

Liu Zhao Xue, standing beside him, opportunely reminded him: "The owner of the Bai Cang Tang, a close associate of the Xiao family."

"Bai Cang Tang?"

Pei Yonglin furrowed his brow slightly, his heart filled with some disbelief.

He could discern from Shuǐ hé tóng's display of sharp, domineering martial skill that it surpassed that of Xiao Hua Yang, the minor road lord.

How could a mere pharmacy owner possess such martial prowess?

"You're from the Xiao family?"

Shuǐ hé tóng shook his head, but said on the surface, "It can be said so."

He then looked toward the One-Finger, his expression calm: "Since this matter was handled by someone from Ji Zhou, it must involve something significant."

"Do you intend to make this public, or would you prefer to step back, each of us taking a step back?"

Before Pei Yonglin could answer, Liu Zhao Xue's face had already turned cold and stern: "We cannot let him go."

She then explained: "This person's skills are profound, surely having overheard your conversation."

Upon hearing this, Pei Yonglin tightened his grip on the One-Finger's throat, his eyes growing venomous as he stared at Shuǐ hé tóng.

After a moment of silence, he finally spoke, his voice hoarse: "Li San Yuan, where is he now?"

Shuǐ hé tóng smiled lightly: "It seems you have a better plan?"

"Indeed."

Pei Yonglin slightly nodded, his eyes pointing toward the One-Finger: "Hand him over in exchange for Li San Yuan."

"If you agree, I have no objection to temporarily sparing his life."

Zhang Da Bao, upon hearing this, changed color slightly, looking pleadingly at Shuǐ hé tóng, "My lord?"

Shuǐ hé tóng, though he had guessed Pei Yonglin's plan, upon hearing such a proposal, felt a certain curiosity about Li San Yuan.

With his understanding of Ji Zhou, he knew that those people were not above using suicide bombers, some even going so far as to sacrifice themselves.

Especially those like Pei Yonglin, a virtuous official, who killed without hesitation.

What secret did Li San Yuan hold that they valued him so highly?

What secret lay within the damp and swollen territory of the envoy?

Shuǐ hé tóng did not know, yet he was clear that if he were to act now, his identity would be exposed.

This would indirectly affect Chen Yi.

After all, his techniques and martial arts differed from Chen Yi's.

A slight movement, and Pei Yonglin would uncover his true identity.

At this juncture.

Shuǐ hé tóng glanced at him, gestured, and said, "There’s still a Wuhe curse on him; perhaps we should lift it first?"

Pei Yonglin remained unmoved. "Bring Li Sanyuan to me, and the Wuhe curse on Yizhi will be lifted."

He added, unspoken but clear, "Should this reach the mountain clans, you know the consequences."

Liu Zhaoqing, hearing this, scowled but dared not speak further, silently retreating into the depths of the boat.

Shuǐ hé tóng glanced at him, nodded, and said, "Since that is the case, I agree."

Pei Yonglin set down the finger, and the man in black behind him led it back to the cabin.

"At the witching hour, five hundred li east of the city, I shall await you there."

"Understood."

Shuǐ hé tóng nodded, pulled the large treasure that had been suspended in midair two steps away, and watched the boat drift into the distance.

Though the treasure trembled with unease, it understood there was no other way to influence events below.

"My lord, you—"

Shuǐ hé tóng lifted a hand, gazing at the boat as it sailed calmly away. "No need to speak further; your master is safe for now."

After a moment, the boat vanished from sight, and he hurried toward the city with the treasure.

"The pressing matter is this: we must make him understand."

"The schemes of the Ji Zhou trading house are no small affair; were they mishandled, who knows what might unfold?"

The treasure also grasped this truth, its thoughts a tangled web of Yizhi’s safety.

"May my lord rescue his master from this predicament…"

Shuǐ hé tóng smiled, his gaze toward the Xiao family’s domain tinged with complexity.

"Let him decide for himself."

Shuǐ hé tóng did not deem Chen Yiyu heartless or merciless; the tangled web of this affair was too intricate.

Pei Yonglin of the mountain clan, had he been slain, would surely ripple through the mountain clans and the Xiao family’s ties.

Yizhi’s life, too, hung in the balance of Chen Yiyu’s single thought.

And Li Sanyuan.

Moreover, Shuǐ hé tóng and his party had only just revealed themselves to Liu Zhaoqing, Pei Yonglin, and others, and even then, under the guise of the Biancong tea house’s proprietor.

He could not be certain this would not bring trouble to Chen Yiyu. In short, a chaotic tangle.

As Shuǐ hé tóng mused on these matters, his steps quickened, first delivering the treasure to Liu Lang, then rushing straight toward the Xiao family’s residence.

Meanwhile, in the boat by the Red River.

Pei Yonglin sat in silence, his expression cold.

Liu Zhaoqing mirrored his stillness.

The "Yizhi," now a fallen master, crouched on a chair, devouring meat and drinking wine with hearty gusto, unperturbed.

*Chomp, chomp…*

Pei Yonglin snapped out of his reverie, glanced at him, then turned to Liu Zhaoqing.

"Speak of the Biancong tea house."

Liu Zhaoqing paused, recalling, "The Biancong tea house was established only recently…"

Upon hearing this, Pei Yonglin mused, "So it seems the Biancong tea house may indeed be the Xiao family’s pawn."

"That Chen Yuixiu is no minor figure; he must be the Xiao family’s ally."

"Do you know his background?"

Liu Zhaoqing shook his head, though Chen Yiyu’s face lingered in his mind.

For years, he had harbored suspicions that Chen Yiyu lurked behind the scenes.

Yet without concrete proof, he could not validate his suspicions.

All he knew was that Chen Yiyu was no simple, kind-hearted man as he appeared.

After a moment, Liu Zhaoqing said, "I’ve heard the Biancong tea house has expanded to Guanyuan County."

"And with the Xiao family’s backing, they plan to spread across all counties in Shu Zhou; their ambitions are considerable."

Liu Zhaoqing, who had overseen the Xinglin Tea House’s operations in Shu Zhou, had noticed the Biancong tea house early on.

Whether selling low-priced herbs or their unique, affordable teas, they stood apart from other apothecaries and clinics.

Upon further investigation, he realized such a tea house held great promise.

Most importantly, bypassing the need to cultivate physicians allowed them to amass silver swiftly.

Combined with their distinctive, inexpensive teas, the venture was highly lucrative.

Had he not been constrained by the Song-Jin regime, and had Xinglin Tea House not been sealed by the authorities, he might have tried opening a similar establishment.

Pei Yonglin chuckled, his coldness surging. "In business, the trading houses excel."

"Since he intends to clash with us, let him pay the price."

Liu Zhaoqing blinked. "What do you intend to do?"

"Not yet."

"Decide after tonight."

Pei Yonglin said, then looked at Yizhi, his smile darkening.

"Your disciple has learned many arts from you, yet even you failed to notice his disguise techniques."

Yizhi belched, smugly saying, "My disciple’s no ordinary fellow."

Had Li Sanyuan not subtly warned him—revealing the password that only the two of them knew—he might not have realized Li Sanyuan was impersonating Zhang Daibao.

That alone was enough to swell Yizhi’s pride.

Pei Yonglin hummed, saying, "You’ve lost, and in doing so, drawn the Xiao family’s attention. Think on that."

Yizhi wiped the grease from his hands, unbothered. "I’d rather die than live like this."

He turned his head toward Pei Yonglin, smiling. "As for you."

"Your exposed identity will bring trouble to the mountain clans. How do you intend to resolve it?"

Pei Yonglin’s tone was cold. "I’ll handle it myself."

"A life for a life?"

"Pei, you take yourself for a piece of meat, don’t you?"

Yizhi shook his head. "Your deeds have crossed paths with Ma Shuhuan, Hua Feiyang, and the Xiao family."

"You’ve offended the court, the martial world, and the noble clans in turn."

“If they should join forces, perhaps you might yet escape death. What of the others in the mountain clan?”

“They have lived for generations in the Wumen Mountains; they cannot run away. The days ahead will be… *hssshhshh*…”

A finger regarded Pei Yonglin, his tone tinged with bitter satisfaction: “You make a fine leader, truly.”

Pei Yonglin’s face grew cold, understanding these matters all too well.

He fixed his gaze on the smiling figure of the finger, then a breath of qi flickered through his frame.

In an instant, the finger let out a cry, clutching his chest and falling to the ground in pain.

“Pei, you… you must not be allowed to die well!”

Liu Zhao Xue, standing nearby, thought for a moment, then approached: “My lord, would you like me to send word to Song…?”

Pei Yonglin waved a hand to interrupt: “I have already said I will resolve this.”

He rose, cast a look down at the fallen finger, his expression regaining calm, then turned and left the boat.

“I will return shortly.”

As they watched, Liu Zhao Xue bit her lip in silent frustration, and stepped out of the boat without a word.

She glanced around, saw no trace of Pei Yonglin, and once more donned her veil, speaking in a cold voice:

“Keep watch over the finger; I’ll be back soon.”

“Yes…”

……

They spoke not of the events upon the Chu River.

As the hour of Chen approached, Chen Yi and Tong had not yet returned, so he led Chen Yunfan and others toward the court.

The surroundings teemed with busy maids and servants, some bearing dishes, others wine, and a few holding gifts that seemed to be return offerings, all hurrying to the court.

Whenever they passed Chen Yi, the servants paused to bow in salute:

“Sir Chen, the swift boat!”

“Sir Chen, the swift boat…”

Chen Yi, as always, nodded and pressed onward.

Chen Yunfan watched, then smiled softly: “Your brother’s reputation grows, and life in the Xia family must be better now.”

He recalled the time he first met Chen Yi in Shu Zhou, standing at the Xia family’s doorstep.

Then, Chen Yi had but one ally behind him—Xia Jinghong—and only a handful of servants in Hou courted him kindly.

Even the servants behind him whispered idle gossip.

How different from now, when they all bowed with such respect!

Chen Yi offered no reply, merely smiling: “It matters little.”

He could not help but notice the subtle jabs, but cared only for those close to him.

“Listen, listen, Zhong Huan, Chun Qing, hear this.”

“The Yi brother has truly risen—he is, after all, the renowned Sir Chen, the swift boat!”

Lin Zhong Huan and Chun Qing smiled but said nothing, yet agreed.

Chen Yi discerned the bitterness in Chen Yunfan’s words, smiled and shook his head: “His brother’s name will resound across the lands one day.”

Chen Yunfan paused, “Do you think so, Yi brother?”

“Of course.”

“I simply know Yi brother understands me…”

They spoke and laughed as they approached the court.

At that moment, the hall was already full of people.

Like the banquet for Master Xiao’s birthday, round tables lined the pond’s edge, guests smiling broadly, their faces showing great joy.

Even the eldest master of the Xiao family was so.

He scanned the room, saw Chen Yi enter, and beckoned: “Sir Chen, come sit here.”

Chen Yi had planned to take Chen Yunfan’s place at the table, but upon hearing this, let the thought pass.

He approached the elder, his gaze sweeping over the dignitaries now in Shu Zhou’s court:

There, the Censor Tang Zi Xin; there, the Magistrate Yang Ye; there, the Fu family’s representatives…

Chen Yi bowed respectfully and took his seat beside the elder.

Xiao Laotai glanced at him, then at the gathered guests, and asked with a slight smile:

“Where is Chen Yu?”

(Chapter Complete)