Chapter 406 - 371: The Dagger is Revealed, Part 2

Chapter 406: Chapter 371: The Dagger is Revealed, Part 2

"That’s enough."

Chen Li stopped the furious Chen Pi. Without another word, he pointed two fingers like a sword and gently tapped the space between Cai Shangzhuo’s eyebrows.

Cai Shangzhuo’s body stiffened abruptly, his gaze instantly turning blank and vacant.

"What were you so flustered about?"

"I... I just stuffed something... in the Master’s study..."

"What did you put there?"

"I don’t know. I never opened it to look."

"Who told you to put it there?"

"It was someone from the Shen Family."

"The Shen Family? Which Shen Family?"

"The family of Hundred Households Chief Shen, from the Liyang Government Office."

"What else did he have you do?"

"N-nothing else..."

Chen Li’s eyes narrowed slightly. He knew instantly who it was.

’Hundred Households Chief of the Jingwu Bureau, Shen Yichuan.’

"Master, I deserve to die! I am guilty!"

Chen Pi dropped to his knees, kowtowing forcefully to Chen Li until his forehead bled. "I was blind to let this ungrateful, treacherous wolf sneak into the estate. I beg you, Master, punish me severely. Beat me or kill me, I will accept it! I only ask for your mercy... spare Dalin!"

Chen Li’s gaze fell upon the pale-faced youth standing beside Chen Pi, his lips pressed into a thin line. "Break all four of his limbs and throw him into the Jisi Kiln on the back mountain."

A collective, stifled gasp rose from the surrounding crowd. Many of the servants and maids turned ashen, instinctively taking a half-step back.

Chen Dalin shuddered, the conflict in his eyes lasting but a moment.

"Yes, Master!"

He strode forward and seized the limp form of Cai Shangzhuo from the ground.

Without hesitation, he raised his right leg and brought it down with savage force.

Cai Shangzhuo let out a shrill, inhuman scream, his body convulsing violently.

Chen Dalin clenched his left fist and, with vicious resolve, slammed it into the back of the man’s neck.

THUD!

The screaming stopped abruptly.

A flicker of pity crossed Song Ying’s eyes. "Husband," she urged, "Chen Pi has served our family diligently for so many years. At worst, this was a failure of oversight. Fining him three years’ salary as a warning to the others should be enough."

But Chen Li knew today’s events were no small matter.

If he didn’t establish his authority with a severe public punishment, the Chen Family’s rules would become meaningless, and disaster would not be far behind.

This was no time for soft-heartedness.

"Chen Pi, for your failure to judge character and for bringing a wolf into our home, in light of your many years of diligent service, I will allow you to buy your freedom. From this day forward, you will have no further ties to our Lingxi Chen Family."

He paused, his gaze fixed on Chen Pi’s face. "Do you accept this punishment?"

"I do, I accept! Thank you for your mercy, Master!"

Chen Pi pleaded mournfully, "Punish me however you wish, Master. But... Dalin is innocent. I beg you, show him mercy and let him stay."

Chen Li’s gaze shifted to the young man at his side. "Chen Dalin."

"Here."

The young man raised his head.

"You will go to the Jisi Kiln and guard Cai Shangzhuo for three years. You are not to leave for any reason during that time. The estate will continue to supply you with the Medicinal Cuisine required for your Cultivation."

Chen Li looked at him. "Do you have any objections?"

Chen Dalin gritted his teeth. "I am willing, Master. I have no objections!"

"Good."

Chen Li said coolly, "Then take your father and this man, and go."

Chen Dalin helped his father to his feet.

He then bent down and grabbed Cai Shangzhuo, preparing to drag him away like a dead dog.

His youthful temper, suppressed anger, and frustration found an outlet. He dragged Cai Shangzhuo a few steps, then violently slammed him to the ground and landed several more vicious kicks.

"Urgh...!"

The intense pain jolted the unconscious Cai Shangzhuo awake, and he let out an even more wretched howl.

Only then did Chen Dalin spit on the ground. He hauled Cai Shangzhuo up again and began walking, step by step, toward the Jisi Kiln. 𝘧𝓇ℯℴ𝓂

The intermittent, inhuman screams sent a chill down the spine of everyone who heard them.

Chen Li’s gaze swept over the large crowd behind him.

Everywhere he looked, heads were bowed, and many were trembling slightly.

He knew in his heart that he had achieved his goal of establishing his authority.

"The Chen Family is clear about rewards and punishments. Merit will be rewarded, and faults will be punished. Anyone, for any reason, who violates the family rules will receive no leniency. I hope you all take today’s events as a warning."

"You are all dismissed."

As if granted a great pardon, the crowd dispersed quickly.

...

Chen Li and Song Ying returned to the study.

A single glance was all it took to spot the package Cai Shangzhuo had hidden.

When he opened it, surprise flashed in his eyes at its contents.

A dagger, about six inches long and broken in the middle, and a thread-bound book.

Chen Li picked up the book and casually flipped through it.

It was a ledger, recording business transactions and financial details. It was clearly from the Jiang Family.

’The Jiang Family’s ledger? And this broken dagger... What does this mean?’

Chen Li’s brow furrowed, his mind awash with suspicion.

As he looked through it more carefully, he found a blank sheet of letter paper tucked inside the ledger.

An idea struck Chen Li. He picked up the paper, lit a candle, and slowly heated it over the flame.

On the originally blank surface of the paper, several lines of elegant script gradually appeared.

"To Brother Chen: I have only recently arrived in Liyang and am not yet well-informed, making it difficult to distinguish friend from foe. What’s more, the Garrison Command’s Star Monarch, the Water-Participating Ape, follows me like a shadow. Resorting to this crude method and taking the liberty of writing to you was truly a last resort.

I bear no ill will toward you or the Chen Family. I have come with an important matter to discuss. If you still harbor doubts, you may deliver the government constable who falsified the land records and the Jiang Family ringleader responsible for vandalizing your shops to the Commandery Magistrate’s Office. I will personally ensure a thorough investigation and see that justice is served. If you trust me, then I shall await your esteemed presence at the summit of Mirror Mountain, at midnight on the fourteenth of the sixth month.

Gao Changhe, with deepest respect."

The letter was short and to the point, but it contained a massive amount of information.

Seeing the shifting expressions on her husband’s face, Song Ying couldn’t help but ask, "Husband, what does the letter say?"

Chen Li handed her the letter.

Song Ying took it and read carefully, her expression turning to one of disbelief. "The Governor? What is he planning?"

Chen Li shook his head. "This new Lord Governor... is no simple man."

Song Ying asked worriedly, "Then are you going to meet him, Husband? Could it be a trap?"

Chen Li did not answer, lost in thought.

...

「Nightfall.」

Chen Li was in his study.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK.

Liu Zongying’s voice came from outside. "Patriarch, I’ve returned."

"Please come in, Third Master."

Chen Li set down the Jiang Family ledger he was holding.

Liu Zongying pushed the door open and entered. "Patriarch, by the time I reached the Iron Alliance headquarters, the place was already deserted. I only found the five captive Guests in a secret room."

Chen Li’s eyes narrowed. "Where are they now?"

"In a carriage outside the estate," Liu Zongying replied.

Chen Li stood up and went outside with Liu Zongying.

Outside the estate gates, Liu Zongying lifted the carriage curtain. Five young men were slumped inside the carriage, their clothes bloodstained and their faces covered in bruises. They looked exhausted, but their eyes were still lucid. Upon seeing Chen Li, they struggled to rise and bow.

"You have all suffered. There is no need for such formalities."

Chen Li waved his hand to stop them. "Just focus on resting and recovering in the estate. You will be handsomely rewarded for your troubles."

The Guests looked ashamed. "Patriarch, you are too kind," one said. "It was our own lack of skill and incompetence that burdened you with this worry. We are truly unworthy."

Chen Li said no more. He beckoned for servants to help the men to their rooms and sent a maid to fetch Li Jinru to treat their injuries.

After the five men had been led away, Chen Li cupped his hands toward Liu Zongying. "Thank you for all your trouble, Third Master. I must ask you to make another trip tomorrow. Please go to Jing Mountain Bamboo Forest Village and bring my children back to the estate."

"It is a small matter. Rest assured, Patriarch."

Liu Zongying nodded in agreement. Without another word, his figure flickered and he vanished, returning to his own courtyard.