Chapter 404 - 370: A Ghost Has Entered

Chapter 404: Chapter 370: A Ghost Has Entered

A moment of quiet had just settled in when a burst of hurried footsteps sounded from outside the courtyard.

Stewards Chen Daifu and Chen Yougui hurried inside.

The expressions on their faces were complex, a mixture of lingering anger and incredulous confusion.

"Master, Madam."

Chen Daifu bowed and reported, "Those... Lord Officials from the County Magistrate’s Office came to us first thing this morning. They said they discovered they’d used the wrong rope to measure the fields yesterday—they’d mistakenly grabbed a Fifty-foot Rope instead of the Official Rope. All of yesterday’s measurements are invalid, and everything must be remeasured today."

Chen Yougui, standing to the side, added, "Master, Madam, they let me go politely before it was even light out. They were so respectful, a complete one-eighty from yesterday when they looked like they wanted to eat me alive. I have no idea what happened."

After hearing this, Song Ying turned to her husband in astonishment.

She had been so worried about this yesterday that she had barely slept all night.

’To think that this incredibly thorny problem would be resolved so easily, so nonchalantly, overnight?’

Chen Li, however, wasn’t surprised. He instructed, "Just arrange for our people to cooperate with the remeasurement."

"Yes, Master."

The two men bowed in acknowledgement and departed.

Once the two had left, Song Ying asked curiously, "Husband, what on earth happened? How did you get them to back down?"

Chen Li said, "I used a little trick, just a minor Skill. It’s not much use for fighting enemies, but it’s simple and remarkably effective for dealing with these petty annoyances."

A look of understanding dawned on Song Ying’s face. "Husband, your profound methods are truly beyond my imagination."

The mention of Cultivation sparked an idea in Chen Li. He asked, "Ying’Er, how has your progress been with the Five Grains Spirit Nurturing Technique lately?"

Song Ying shook her head gently. "Please don’t laugh, Husband. My aptitude is poor; I’m afraid I have no talent for the Martial Dao. I’ve been practicing the Five Grains Spirit Nurturing Technique for years with barely any progress. I fear I’ll never even manage to grasp the basics in this lifetime."

Her voice was tinged with disappointment.

Chen Li comforted her, "Don’t be so hard on yourself. Inner Qi Cultivation relies on a solid foundation and a tranquil mind. The young, whose Innate Primordial Qi is still intact, can achieve twice the results with half the effort. You’ve borne our children and managed this household; it’s only natural that your Heart Spirit is taxed and your progress is slow."

Song Ying raised her eyes, a hint of playful grievance in them. "Why did you suddenly ask about my Cultivation today, Husband? Is it because you think I can’t even handle such a small matter?"

Chen Li was taken aback for a moment, then chuckled. "Where is your mind wandering? That’s not what I meant at all! It’s just that while I was in seclusion recently, I created a new Cultivation Technique. This technique... it’s a bit of a shortcut. It doesn’t require years of painstaking practice, and with my help, your progress could be very rapid. It just occurred to me, so I asked on a whim. If you’re willing, why not give it a try?"

The trace of pique in Song Ying’s heart vanished instantly. "It was my mistake for overthinking things. I’ll do as you say."

Seeing his wife agree, Chen Li wasted no time and imparted to her the mantras for the Righteous Wealth Cultivation Method and the Dragon Phoenix Harmony Celestial True Skill.

However, things did not go as smoothly as Chen Li had anticipated.

Song Ying could vaguely feel a warm current flowing into her from behind. But when she tried to follow the Technique, using her Intention to capture and guide this wisp of warmth, it felt like trying to scoop the moon’s reflection from the water—ethereal and intangible, giving her nothing to grasp.

The warm current seemed to both exist and not exist. It slowly diffused through her meridians until it became imperceptible and impossible to coalesce.

In the time it takes an incense stick to burn, Song Ying already felt mentally exhausted. She had no choice but to open her eyes. "Husband, I truly can’t sense it clearly, let alone figure out how to refine it..."

"It’s alright. This can’t be rushed. It’s perfectly normal not to be able to sense this qi on your first try."

Chen Li’s eyes grew pensive as he sank into thought.

This attempt, however, had also shown him a major flaw in the Righteous Wealth Cultivation Method with much greater clarity.

Qin Yirong herself possessed a Spirit Realm Cultivation; her Eight Extraordinary Meridians had long been opened, and she had vast experience in sensing and controlling Inner Qi. That was why she had been able to master it so quickly.

His wife, Song Ying, on the other hand, had almost no foundation in the Martial Dao. She had never even truly developed the most basic Qi Sensing.

’Is it truly impossible for her to sense and control Wealth Qi?’

This meant that even with his help, the foundational requirements for a Cultivator to even begin the Righteous Wealth Cultivation Method were far higher than for techniques like the Five Grains Spirit Nurturing Technique.

’No, that’s not right!’

Chen Li quickly realized the true nature of the problem.

This Cultivation Technique seemed like a shortcut, but in reality, it was a castle in the sky.

An ordinary person couldn’t cultivate it at all.

’How could he solve this?’

Chen Li couldn’t help but think of the Celestial Fragrance Scripture and the Seven Kills Heart Sutra. 𝘧𝓇ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝘣𝓃ℴ

’How did they solve the problem of getting started?’

Just as Chen Li was about to seek out Qin Yirong for answers, his thoughts were shattered by a frantic, disorderly clatter of footsteps from the courtyard.

Two men burst into the courtyard carrying a stretcher, making a beeline for the entrance to the main hall.

Lying on the stretcher was a man, his body covered in blood and his clothes in tatters. It was Qian Laibao.

"Patriarch... Patriarch!"

Seeing Chen Li standing in the hall, Qian Laibao struggled to lift his head, a movement that pulled at his wounds. He grimaced in agony, his face a miserable mask of blood and dirt. "You have to get justice for me!"

Chen Li’s Divine Sense swept over Qian Laibao’s body, revealing multiple fractures in both his arms and legs. His internal organs had also suffered from the impact. The injuries were so severe that if it weren’t for his Spirit Realm Cultivation propping him up, he would already be dead.

"What happened? Who did this to you?"

Chen Li motioned for the servants to set the stretcher down.

Lying on the stretcher, Qian Laibao hissed in pain and began to sob out his story in fits and starts.

As it turned out, just five days ago, the Iron Alliance of Jingshan County Town had attacked the Chen Family’s two silk shops without any warning.

They went on a rampage of destruction and looting. The shops suffered devastating losses; the entire stock of silk was stolen, and even the silver from the counters was cleaned out. What was even more detestable, they kidnapped all the shop clerks.

"Iron Alliance..."

A cold glint flashed in Chen Li’s eyes.

He certainly remembered that name. The predecessor to the Iron Alliance, the San Dao Bang, had a Gang Leader named Tu Sandao who had died by his very hands.

Gangs entrenched in the county town were usually just lackeys for local powers, incapable of amounting to anything significant.

Qian Laibao was a Spirit Realm expert. He also had five of his martial brothers from the Tiger Subduing Martial Arts Hall—all at Qi Realm Perfection, recruited by Chen Shouheng—assisting him. Logically, that should have been more than enough to suppress any underworld faction.

And indeed, that had been Qian Laibao’s thinking as well.

When Qian Laibao got the news, he was both shocked and furious, feeling utterly humiliated.

Confident in his own strength, he immediately gathered his martial brothers and stormed the Iron Alliance’s headquarters, intending to teach them a brutal lesson.

However, the moment the fight began, the situation took a drastic turn.

It turned out the Iron Alliance had several hidden Spirit Realm experts.

Their leader’s Cultivation had even reached the Spirit Realm Seventh Level: Inner Mansion Pass.

The disparity in strength was immense. In a matter of moments, Qian Laibao and his men were utterly defeated and captured.

Their opponents were ruthless. After capturing them, they didn’t just imprison them; they escalated things, sending men to ransack the rest of the Chen Family’s silk shops.

They stole over two thousand bolts of silk and more than forty-seven thousand taels of silver.

It wasn’t until yesterday that they finally released Qian Laibao, his limbs broken and his breath faint, with a single message.

If the Chen Family wanted to save the other five, the real person in charge had to come negotiate in person before the day was out.

Otherwise, they could come collect their five bodies tomorrow.

"Patriarch... I was wrong. I’ll accept any punishment you see fit!"

Qian Laibao grew agitated, coughing up a mouthful of bloody foam, his face a mask of regret and fury. "But that Iron Alliance... they’ve gone too far! Patriarch, I beg you to take action, rescue our martial brothers, and avenge us!"

Chen Li listened in silence, his expression grim as still water.

’A gang of local thugs in a county town has several Spirit Realm experts, including one at the Inner Mansion Pass?’

’That’s absolutely impossible!’

’Someone must be pulling the strings from behind the scenes.’

’And they’re powerful. Their target is the Chen Family.’

He immediately recalled that the Iron Alliance had been under the Jiang Family’s control for a time.

It was highly likely that Luo Pingyuan now controlled it.

From this perspective, the government constables causing trouble over the land survey yesterday and Qian Laibao being beaten and the shops robbed today—though seemingly independent incidents—both targeted the Chen Family. This was no coincidence.

Chen Li asked, "Who were the assailants? Do you have any idea what their objective is?"

Qian Laibao shook his head, panting. "I was careless and didn’t investigate before I went. While I was held captive, I vaguely heard someone being addressed as Mr. Jiang. It must be related to the Jiang Family. As for their specific goals, I truly have no idea."

"Jiang Family..."

Chen Li nodded slightly. This matched his suspicions.

And yet, the more it matched, the deeper his suspicion grew.

’What is Luo Pingyuan trying to accomplish by using such tactics one after another?’

’Is it merely to provoke the Chen Family?’

’Or does he have some other scheme in mind?’

Seeing Qian Laibao’s face twisted in pain, Chen Li instructed a servant, "Go and have Jinru help treat his injuries."

"Patriarch, my injuries don’t matter!"

Qian Laibao said urgently, "The Iron Alliance only gave us until the end of today. If no one goes to negotiate, they’ll kill the five captive martial brothers. Patriarch, I implore you to go save them quickly."

"Focus on your recovery for now."

Chen Li’s tone was placid. "I have a plan for this matter."

He waved his hand. The servant understood and carefully lifted the stretcher, carrying Qian Laibao to a room in a side courtyard to be settled.

Song Ying, who had been listening quietly all this time, now had a face filled with worry and confusion. She took a step forward and asked softly, "Husband, if we don’t go, won’t those five Guests be in danger?"

Chen Li slowly shook his head and uttered three words: "This is strange."

"’Strange?’"

Song Ying froze.

Chen Li颔首.

The orders Li Jishan received and this sudden incident with Qian Laibao... both felt like a ploy to lure the tiger from its mountain.

’What are they trying to accomplish by going to such lengths?’

Chen Li mulled it over for a moment, but couldn’t figure it out. He said decisively, "Ying’Er, go and personally ask Liu Tributor to come here."

"Alright."

Song Ying nodded and left.

Before long, Liu Zongying stepped into the main hall and cupped his fist. "Patriarch, you sent for me?"

"Master Liu San," Chen Li asked with concern, "have your injuries fully healed?"

"Thank you for your concern, Patriarch. They’re no longer a problem."

Liu Zongying took a piece of Jade Bone from his robes and handed it to Chen Li. "This old man has no more use for this. My thanks, Patriarch."

Chen Li accepted the Jade Bone. Then, his expression turning serious, he briefly and concisely recounted to Liu Zongying what Qian Laibao had told him about the Iron Alliance.

When Liu Zongying heard the story, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. "Does the Patriarch wish for me to go rescue them?"

"Yes."

Chen Li nodded. "I must trouble you to go, Third Master. If you sense an ambush or that they have hidden experts, do not engage. Simply return at once. Your safety is the priority."

Liu Zongying wasted no words. "This old man understands. I’ll leave at once."

After seeing Liu Zongying off, Chen Li stood in silence for a moment. Then, he turned to a maidservant standing nearby and gave a grim command, "Pass on my orders. All servants, maids, and hired hands in the residence, regardless of what they are doing, are to stop their work immediately and gather outside the main gate. There will be no exceptions!"

Not daring to delay, the maidservant quickly acknowledged the order and ran off to relay it.

Song Ying’s heart leaped in alarm. She asked in a hushed voice, "Husband, has something terrible happened?"

A sharp glint vanished as quickly as it appeared in Chen Li’s eyes, leaving behind an icy chill. "Yes. I suspect... we have a ghost in the house."