Chapter 392: Drive the Tiger to Swallow the Wolf! (Requesting Monthly Tickets)

Chapter 392: Drive the Tiger to Devour the Wolf! (Please vote for the monthly ticket)

Song Jinjun departed decisively, though a bit unexpected by Chen Yi, yet it was still within reason.

He was not bound by official status like Liu Hong, thus free from constraints.

His martial arts cultivation was not weak, moving with ease.

Moreover, his identity—as a guest of honor from the Cao family of Qinghe.

Whether high or low, whether it's said to be high or low, it all depends on whether others respect the Cao family of Qinghe.

In plain terms,

Song Jinjun was the chess piece displayed openly by the Cao family at present.

If he managed to botch things in Shuzhou, the Cao family could immediately distance themselves from all involvement.

Unless there were concrete evidence, to act against the Cao family, one had to first pass through the barrier of Cao Mae.

Chen Yi pondered this obstacle, and his thoughts turned toward Xiao Jinghong.

Regardless of anything, he could not let the Cao family have their way.

Shui Hetong glanced at him, realizing he was contemplating something, and after a moment asked:

"Is Song Jinjun difficult to deal with?"

Though it was a question, his tone carried a certain certainty.

Chen Yi blinked, smiled, and nodded: "Indeed, he is."

"Budaogrowth, advancing or retreating, one must be cautious."

He turned his head toward Pei Yonglin, who was being carried by Liu Rong, and after a moment asked: "Brother Pei, is Song Jinjun a person from the Jizhou Merchant Guild?"

Pei Yonglin glanced at him, saying nothing.

Chen Yi, undeterred, continued asking: "He frequently visits the Jizhou Merchant Guild, is that so?"

"Seems to be the case."

"Has Song Jinjun also been involved with the Mingyue Tower?"

"Not that I know of."

"Then..."

Chen Yi questioned and answered himself, asking over a dozen questions, Pei Yonglin remained silent.

Yet the more Pei Yonglin listened, the more surprised he became.

When Chen Yi finally asked about Song Jinjun's purpose in coming to Shu, he could no longer hold back: "You, you... how do you know?"

Chen Yi, of course, couldn't explain that he had inferred it through observing Pei Yonglin's subtle changes, so he casually shrugged it off.

Then he asked: "Is Song Jinjun's purpose in coming to Shu the same as Liu Hong's?"

Pei Yonglin's eyes slightly changed, before he could speak, Chen Yi nodded again.

"Seems so."

"You... what sorcery is this?!"

Chen Yi smiled: "It seems my guess was correct."

Having said that, he no longer asked further, having determined what he wanted.

Yet this time, not only Pei Yonglin was puzzled, but also Shui Hetong, Zhang Daobao, and "the One Finger" all showed incomprehension.

Only Liu Rong, unperturbed, muttered to himself: "The boss is scaring people again."

Shui Hetong couldn't figure it out, only to secretly admire him.

Once upon a time, he considered himself unmatched in talent, with few peers in the world who could enter his sight.

But now, after seeing Chen Yi, he realized he was a mountain higher than any other.

Even his own master, "White Daishi," was no match.

Facing such a person, he could only submit.

"Brother Chen, your talent is high, your martial arts progress swift, but how do you also have such strange and ancient things?"

Chen Yi smiled: "Just by reading more."

"..."

A single sentence, and all present were embarrassed and smiling, their minds rehearsing.

Chen Yi paid it no mind, returned to the manor, and bid each of them farewell, heading back to the Xiao family.

Before departing, he reminded them a few things:

"Watch over Pei Yonglin, and do not let outsiders find out, and so on."

Shui Hetong and the others watched him go, then returned to their residence in the Flower and Bird Alley.

The One Finger couldn't help but lean toward Zhang Daobao, asking: "Good disciple, what exactly is this person's background?"

"I think something's off with this gentleman."

Zhang Daobao patted him: "Master, what's wrong? Don't speak recklessly."

The One Finger glanced at Shui Hetong and Liu Rong, smiling: "Old man, don't take offense if I speak directly."

Shui Hetong shook his head: "Elder, you're a man of passion and emotion; the junior won't mind."

"As for Brother Chen... we'll wait until he tells you later."

Zhang Daobao quickly agreed: "Master, you just don't ask. After you've stayed here a while, you'll naturally understand the gentleman's character."

The One Finger raised an eyebrow: "So you intend to leave me here?"

"Master, the gentleman just saved you."

"Little rascal, whose disciple are you really? Why are you leaning this way?"

"Master, I'm telling you, you... hey, master, don't hit, don't hit..."

"Just you..."

At that moment, Pei Yonglin spoke up: "He's from the Fengyu Lou."

"Huh?"

The One Finger stopped, looked at him, then at Shui Hetong: "Is what Brother Pei says true?"

Shui Hetong's handsome face showed a touch of surprise, and asked Pei Yonglin: "How do you know?"

"Because of you."

"Me?"

"Besides your Fengyu Lou, I can't think of anyone else in the world who could match him."

"Such a person..."

Shui Hetong, Liu Lang, and Zhang Dabao exchanged glances, each of their countenances bearing a touch of strangeness.

They wanted to laugh, yet they had to hold it back.

Liu Lang’s shoulders trembled as he clenched his jaw and said, "Chief Pei is right, our employer is indeed... a member of the Wind and Rain Tower..."

Zhang Dabao turned his head away, not daring to utter a single word.

He feared that the moment he opened his mouth, he would burst into laughter.

After laughing silently to himself, Shui Hetong thought that if Chen Yi truly belonged to their Wind and Rain Tower, his eldest senior brother would probably wake up laughing from his dreams.

Though the Wind and Rain Tower was filled with a multitude of experts, there were few who, like himself and several of his fellow disciples, could hold their own independently.

There was no other reason.

Cultivation and mastery of techniques—neither could be lacking.

Otherwise, even if one reached the upper three ranks of cultivation, their prowess would remain at the bottom tier, unworthy of the grand stage.

"One Finger" took it as truth and remarked, "As expected of the world-renowned Wind and Rain Tower; that Jizhou Trading Company cannot hold a candle to it."

He cast a glance at Pei Yonglin. "You there, surnamed Pei, to lose to such a man—you should be thoroughly resigned to your defeat by now, shouldn't you?"

Pei Yonglin turned his head aside with a grunt. "Had I not shown mercy, you would be a corpse this very instant."

"Heh, you motherfucking..."

...

Chen Yi wound his way back to the Spring Lotus Garden.

He did not head straight for the wing room, but paused outside the purple bamboo grove, gazing at the figure not far off.

At this late hour, Pei Guanli had unexpectedly begun her cultivation early.

She wore a sharp, capable outfit of purple short-wear, the neckline slightly low, supporting that string of silver bells which jingled and swayed.

The cuffs of her trousers reached roughly below her knees, and her shoeless feet, treading upon the mud covered in bamboo leaves, were nevertheless clean and lily-white.

This was due to the spiritual Gu on her person.

According to her, that Gu insect named "Huahua" was a heritage of the Mountain Tribe spanning nearly a thousand years, having long since awakened its spiritual intelligence.

It detested filth above all else.

From childhood to adulthood, even if she did not bathe, her body remained immaculately clean, without a single speck of dust.

Pei Guanli did not perceive Chen Yi's arrival at this moment, believing he was still sleeping soundly in the wing room.

She was intently practicing a few techniques.

The Hundred Flowers Palm, the Meteor Butterfly Step, and the Mandarin Duck Swordplay.

Every move and stance flowed like running water and moving clouds; she must have already reached the level of mastery.

Yet, it must be said.

Pei Guanli had truly neglected her martial talent in the past, and trying to catch up now inevitably made her somewhat impatient.

Chen Yi watched for a moment and could not help but sigh inwardly.

The fierce girl possessed a straightforward nature, and it was uncertain what she would do once she learned the truth about her father, Pei Yonglin, and her mother, Qi Lingyin. Most likely, she would side with her kin rather than reason.

Not just her, but the rest of the Mountain Tribe would presumably do the same.

If Ma Shuhan was dead, then he was dead, a death richly deserved.

If the "Little Daoist Master" Hua Huiyang was dead, then he was dead; at worst, everyone in the Mountain Tribe would face death together.

Regardless of right or wrong, blood ties and camaraderie were enough to make them act this way.

It was precisely because Chen Yi understood this that he chose to revive Pei Yonglin.

—The Mountain Tribe was far too united.

If the people of the Mountain Tribe knew Pei Yonglin had died by his hand, regardless of the reason, it would inevitably affect the relationship between the Mountain Tribe and the Xiao family.

"Song Jinjian must have known this, which is why he struck without hesitation, intending to silence Pei Yonglin forever."

"For one, it could sour the relations between the Mountain Tribe and the Xiao family, and for another, it could extricate him and the Cui family of Qinghe from Shuzhou."

In this world, after all, it was those with the biggest fists who had the final say.

Justice, morality, and law, in the eyes of certain people, were merely tools used to restrict others.

Regrettably, though Chen Yi saw it clearly, he too was a mortal living in the secular world.

After a moment of silence.

Chen Yi let out a cough to catch Pei Guanli's attention, and before she could speak, he hissed:

"Keep it down, lest someone hears us."

Pei Guanli's face lit up with joy as she asked silently with her lips, "Where did brother-in-law go so late at night?"

Chen Yi naturally would not speak the truth, making up an excuse that he had gone to instruct Yuan Liuer in martial arts.

Pei Guanli harbored no doubts, but upon hearing this, she pouted and said, "Brother-in-law is partial; you clearly promised to teach me martial arts."

Chen Yi smiled and patted her head, saying, "Your few techniques are practiced with good form; master them thoroughly first."

"When you break through to the seventh rank, I will teach you something else."

By now, his own Hundred Flowers Palm and Meteor Butterfly Step had reached the Heaven tier, their moves far more refined and profound.

Teaching them to Pei Guanli could be considered a return for her kindness.

Pei Guanli immediately grinned and nodded. "Soon, soon, it should be within these next few days..."

After a few casual words, Chen Yi did not linger and went straight back to the wing room.

Changing into a dry, fresh robe, he looked out at the purple bamboo grove through the window.

With the fierce girl being so carefree, it was better for the time being not to let her know the truth.

Lost in thought, Chen Yi sat down upon the bed, his face bearing a contemplative look as he re-examined the situation in Shuzhou.

In his mind, the chess pieces moved one after another.

The Jizhou Trading Company, the White Tiger Guards, the Wind and Rain Tower, the Mountain Tribe, Mount Wudang, the Cui family of Qinghe...

The imperial court, the government offices, the Xiao family, and the Dingyuan Army...

Coupled with the people of the martial world...

All in all, the chaotic and intricate pieces upon the chessboard gradually resolved into a clear game.

Although the situation of the Xiao family had improved compared to before, substantial hidden perils remained.

The first lay within the Mountain Tribe.

If the matter of Pei Yonglin was not handled properly, the Mountain Tribe would bound to fall out with the Xiao family.

The second lay in Fu Wanqing's presence among the Barbarian Tribe.

If it truly matched his previous conjecture, that the Cui family of Qinghe intended to use this to force the Xiao family to stand against His Majesty, it would be equally troublesome.

The third was the Barbarian Tribe, the Kingdom of Poshiduo...

Thinking about all this, Chen Yi could not help but knit his brows.

While there was still a sliver of hope for a perfect resolution with the Mountain Tribe, the matter regarding Fu Wanqing was somewhat troublesome.

This was no baseless speculation on Chen Yi’s part.

Were he in their position, besides using her as leverage to pressure the Xiao family and the Dingyuan Army to march south against the barbarians, there was an even grander move to be played.

For instance, framing the Xiao family for defecting to the enemy...

As long as Fu Wanqing drew breath, this matter remained a blade suspended over the Xiao family's head, bound to breed disaster sooner or later.

Unless she could be rescued...

"How difficult."

"The barbarian heartland is not the Great Wei Dynasty; attempting to go there and save someone is as challenging as ascending to the heavens."

"And yet..."

Chen Yi could not resist glancing toward the south, a trace of a bitter smile gracing the corners of his lips.

"It would be well if Madam accepts Song Jinjian’s proposal, but if she refuses, I fear she harbors exactly this intention."

Xiao Jinghong was unyielding on the outside but tender within.

Though she appeared strong on the surface, she was in truth profoundly bound by affection and duty, prioritizing her family above all.

Presumably, the Old Master also knew this, which was why he had kept the matter of Fu Wanqing from Xiao Jinghong.

If she did not intend to let Shu Prefecture sink into the quagmire, she would inevitably choose to venture deep into the barbarian heartland, risking everything to attempt a rescue of Fu Wanqing.

This was precisely what caused Chen Yi such a headache.

Fortunately, however, there was still time.

Even if Xiao Jinghong wished to save her, she likely would not act rashly; at the very least, with her current cultivation, it was impossible for her to penetrate deep into barbarian territory merely to court death.

Reflecting upon this.

Chen Yi rose and went to the study, lifting his brush to compose two letters.

One was a family letter for Xiao Jinghong.

The other was addressed to the Old Master of the Xiao family.

Though these were merely his conjectures, judging from Song Jinjian’s movements, they were almost certainly accurate.

He had to make preparations as early as possible.

"If all of this is truly the scheming of the Cui family, then Cui Mao’s methods are genuinely terrifying..."

The last person to evoke such a thought in Chen Yi was that Pavilion Master of the White Tiger Guards.

A thought stirred in Chen Yi’s mind; having finished the two letters, he drew out a sheet of Cloud Pine paper to write a third:

[The mastermind behind the Ma Shuhan incident—Song Jinjian.]

[The person who murdered Ma Shuhan’s family and the "Little Daoist Master" Hua Huiyang is Pei Yonglin of the Mountain Tribe, who serves as the Clear Wind Emissary for the Jizhou Trading Company's Pingzheng Hall.]

Chen Yi weighed his words carefully, and upon finishing, 그는 text를 folded it up and tucked it away securely.

The enemy of an enemy is a friend.

Now that His Majesty already intended to launch a northern expedition, and the White Tiger Guards had also stepped in to eliminate Liu Hong’s faction, they were effectively standing in opposition to the Qinghe Cui family.

"Driving the tiger to swallow the wolf... I hope the White Tiger Guards are that tiger..."

...

The hour of the Rabbit had just passed.

The sky was a dull gray.

The downpour over Shu Prefecture had eased slightly, the rain falling in a gentle drizzle.

The cool breeze blew somewhat sharply, carrying a distinct chill.

Chen Yi had not slept all night, yet he remained full of energy; attended by Xiao Die, he changed into a fine brocade robe and came to the Jiaxing Garden to take his morning meal.

Xiao Wuge and Pei Guanli followed along.

Yesterday, the Old Master of the Xiao family had entertained guests, and though most had departed, some had remained overnight in the manor.

The Xiao family naturally had to show them proper hospitality.

Inevitably.

Early in the morning, Xiao Wan'er had sent Shen Huangtang to inform him that they would dine together, seeing off several guests from out of town.

Chen Yi naturally would not decline; bringing along a few calligraphy scrolls and paintings he had previously executed, he allowed Xiao Wan'er to use them as a smooth favor.

"Master Qingzhou’s calligraphy, such a precious thing, I, I... thank you so much."

"You are too polite."

Several ladies and young mistresses from prominent clans unrolled the scrolls, gazing at them as if entranced.

Though they hailed from distinguished backgrounds and possessed refined tastes, they had rarely beheld calligraphy pieces written with a consummate realm of mastery.

They could all envision the expressions their relatives and friends would make once they brought these back.

Naturally, they were overjoyed.

Seeing this, Xiao Wan'er could not help but pull Chen Yi aside, speaking in a low, gentle voice, "Brother-in-law, thank you for your trouble."

She understood Chen Yi better than she understood herself.

For the longest time, unless someone came to his door to beg, Chen Yi would never proactively gift anyone his calligraphy or paintings.

Even Grand Duke Zhang Xuan of Qian State had spent a considerable fortune just to obtain a piece of his writing.

Yet now, for the sake of the Xiao family's affairs, not only was Chen Yi busying himself back and forth, but he had even gone out of his way to write these scrolls...

It was inevitable that Xiao Wan'er felt a distinct stir of emotion.

Chen Yi smiled and shook his head, "We are family; there is no need for outsider talk."

Saying this, he took out the letter written to Xiao Jinghong and said, "Madam has not written back lately; I thought to send a letter to her."

"A letter for Second Sister?"

"Counting the days, her reply should be arriving soon..."

(End of Chapter)