Chapter 407 - 372: The Dagger is Revealed

Chapter 407: Chapter 372: The Dagger is Revealed

Chen Li had just returned to his study when he heard the faint sound of footsteps outside the door.

"Father."

The voice of his daughter-in-law, Li Jinru, came from outside.

"Come in."

The door was gently pushed open. Li Jinru walked in, followed by another person—one of the five Guests.

Chen Li remembered this man. His name was Hong Xiaochuan, the senior martial brother of his eldest son, Shouheng. He immediately asked, "What is it?"

Li Jinru said, "Father, Senior Brother Xiaochuan said that while he was imprisoned, someone shoved something into his mouth and forced him to swallow it. He wants to expel it, but the family has no laxatives. He came to ask for your help, hoping you could use your Inner Qi to force the object out."

Chen Li’s gaze fell on Hong Xiaochuan as he asked, "What happened?"

Hong Xiaochuan replied, "Patriarch, while the few of us were locked in a secret room, someone came in to deliver food. When the others weren’t looking, he stuffed what seemed to be a pill into my mouth and forced me to swallow it. As he did it, he had a strange look in his eyes and even gave me a meaningful glance."

His voice was a little weak. He took a breath before continuing, "After I swallowed it, I didn’t feel any discomfort, but I can’t shake the feeling that something is odd. I tried several times to force it out, but my injuries are too severe. I can’t muster my Inner Qi, and trying only aggravates my wounds. I had no other choice but to come trouble you, Patriarch..."

Chen Li nodded. "Sit. Relax your Heart Spirit. Don’t resist."

Hong Xiaochuan did as he was told, with difficulty sitting cross-legged on the floor.

Chen Li gently pressed a single palm against the Spirit Platform on his back.

Primordial Qi slowly flowed in, carefully probing his abdominal cavity.

In just a few breaths’ time, he sensed a round, hard object below his stomach.

He manipulated the Primordial Qi, enveloping the Wax Pill and lifting it, guiding it up the esophagus.

"COUGH... COUGH COUGH!"

Hong Xiaochuan felt a strong sensation of a foreign object rising in his throat and couldn’t help but cough violently.

Suddenly, a Wax Pill the size of a longan fruit fell onto the floor with a SPLAT, mixed with stomach fluids.

Chen Li’s brow furrowed slightly. He took the cold tea from the table, rinsed the pill clean, and with a grasp through the air, the Wax Pill flew into his hand.

With a slight squeeze of his two fingers, there was a soft CRACK, revealing a small, tightly rolled slip of paper inside.

Unfurling the slip of paper, he saw it contained only a short message.

Luo Pingyuan is imprisoned in the secret jail of the County Magistrate’s Office. Send help.

Chen Li was struck speechless.

’Luo Pingyuan? He’s been imprisoned?’

’Then what on earth is going on with the Jiang Family?’

In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through Chen Li’s mind.

Thinking of Gao Changhe’s secret letter requesting a meeting made the situation feel even more bizarre.

A moment later, Chen Li lit the slip of paper in the candlelight, burning it to ash. Then he looked at the two of them and said, "Jinru, take Xiaochuan down for treatment."

"Yes, Father."

Li Jinru assented.

Although Hong Xiaochuan was full of questions, since Chen Li didn’t elaborate, he didn’t dare ask any more. After thanking him, he withdrew from the study with Li Jinru.

...

「The fourteenth of the sixth month, at midnight.」

「The summit of Mirror Mountain.」

A cold moon hung high in the sky, its clear light scattering down, bathing the half-acre clearing in a ghastly white.

The area was filled with jagged, strange rocks. Not a blade of grass grew, and even the ground was hard rock, exuding an air of desolate stillness.

In the dead silence, there was only the sound of the wind.

Gao Changhe’s closed eyes suddenly snapped open. A sharp glint flashed within them and was gone as his gaze shot toward a misty cliffside path under the moonlight.

There were no footsteps, no rustle of clothes cutting through the wind, not even the slightest fluctuation of Qi.

A gray figure had, at some unknown point, appeared there in utter silence.

The newcomer wore an unremarkable long robe of gray cloth and walked into the moonlight at an unhurried pace.

But Gao Changhe’s pupils contracted slightly, and his expression instantly grew solemn.

With his Divine Intent Cultivation at the Divine Embryo with Spirit level, his senses were incredibly sharp; within a radius of dozens of yards, not even a falling petal, a drifting leaf, or a crawling ant could escape his perception.

But this person had walked to within mere yards of him, and if he hadn’t seen him with his own eyes, Gao Changhe wouldn’t have sensed his existence at all.

There was only one possibility.

The other man’s Cultivation was far above his own!

Gao Changhe took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in his heart.

His figure floated up like a falling leaf, landing lightly about ten feet in front of the newcomer.

He clasped his hands in a salute, his posture deferential, and his tone was probing as he sought confirmation. "Might Your Excellency be the Patriarch of the Lingxi Chen Family, Chen Li himself?"

The newcomer was, of course, Chen Li.

He stopped and returned Gao Changhe’s gaze calmly. "Governor Gao, with your Divine Intent Cultivation, for you to condescend to take a post in this minor county of Liyang is something of an underutilization of your great talents."

A carefree expression appeared on Gao Changhe’s face. "Patriarch Chen, you jest. To serve a term as an official is to bring prosperity to a region. No matter where one is, it is all in service to the Court. Besides, the Jiangnan region has been prosperous and wealthy since ancient times, a land of outstanding people. It is far better than toiling away in chaotic places like the Northern Border or the Southern Border."

Chen Li remained noncommittal and cut to the chase. "I am but a humble man from the countryside. I wonder why Lord Governor has summoned me so late at night. What guidance do you have for me?"

"I wouldn’t dare offer guidance."

Gao Changhe’s smile didn’t fade, and his tone was quite sincere. "I have taken the liberty of inviting you, Patriarch Chen, because I wish to discuss a partnership."

"A partnership?"

Chen Li feigned surprise. "Lord Governor, you must be joking. I am a timid man with no great abilities. I only seek to live my days in peace and wouldn’t dare speak of partnerships with the Lord Governor."

Gao Changhe smiled. "It seems, Patriarch, that you still deeply misunderstand me. Surely you don’t believe that I, Gao Changhe, came a thousand miles to Liyang specifically to deal with the Chen Family?"

"Did you not?"

Chen Li looked at him with a calm gaze. "Surveying fields, smashing shops, seizing property. In Governor Gao’s eyes, could this possibly be for the good of my Chen Family?"

Gao Changhe explained unhurriedly, "Patriarch Chen, you’ve misunderstood. Please, hear me out. This matter may seem to be targeting the Chen Family, but in reality, it is a grand gift that I have painstakingly prepared for you."

"Oh? I’d like to hear what kind of grand gift this is supposed to be."

A glint of coldness flashed in Chen Li’s eyes.

But Gao Changhe was not afraid. He said seriously, "If not for this, how could the Chen Family justifiably and righteously demand compensation from the Jiang Family in the future? By establishing yourselves as the victim, you will hold the moral high ground. The Jiang Family has a century of accumulated wealth; their compensation will surely not disappoint the Chen Family."

Chen Li’s eyes narrowed slightly. "I am a simple man. I don’t understand what the Governor’s true intentions are."

The smile vanished from Gao Changhe’s face, his expression turning serious. He spoke frankly, "Patriarch Chen is a straightforward man, so I will no longer be evasive. You need not be suspicious, Patriarch. I am by no means a fool like He Mingyun. The Chen Family is the most prominent in Liyang County. I came a thousand miles to be an official, not to make enemies. Making an enemy of the Chen Family would bring me nothing but harm. Everything I’ve done so far was because I had no other choice."

He paused, then lowered his voice. "The main reason is that I am accompanied by the Water-Participating Ape Star Monarch of the Garrison Command."

Chen Li’s brow furrowed slightly. "Who is that?"

Gao Changhe explained, "Patriarch Chen may not know, but within the Garrison Command, aside from the Lord Governor, there are the Celestial Monarchs of the Four Constellations: Cyan Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise. Each one is a mighty expert of the Dharma Realm. Below the Four Celestial Monarchs are the Twenty-Eight Star Monarchs, all of whom are first-class powerhouses above the Grandmaster realm, strong enough to oversee a region on their own.

"The one who accompanied me to Liyang is the Water-Participating Ape Star Monarch, one of the White Tiger Seven Stars. Although his ranking among the White Tiger Seven Stars is not high, his strength is extremely formidable.

"The White Tiger governs slaughter and excels at combat. It is said he has an appalling battle record of single-handedly killing seven Grandmaster Guiyuans of the same realm.

"The depths of his Cultivation are truly beyond my ability to fathom. Fortunately, he has an aloof personality and is a martial arts fanatic, which makes him relatively easy to... speak with."

Chen Li asked, "Why would such a figure come to Liyang?"

Gao Changhe said, "Last year, three Thousand Households from the Garrison Command’s White Tiger Guard mysteriously vanished in Liyang—no sign of them, dead or alive. This matter shocked the Inner Court, so the Water-Participating Ape Star Monarch was dispatched to personally investigate and handle it.

"I was ordered to cooperate with his operation. In addition, the cases of the successive deaths of Liyang officials, including the former Governor He Mingyun and Governor Zhou Bo’an, have also been included in the investigation."

Chen Li feigned surprise. "Oh? Such things have been happening? That is simply appalling."

Gao Changhe stared at Chen Li meaningfully. "We came south to take up our posts with the Duke of England. Before that, the Cao Family privately approached us and revealed the past grievances between He Mingyun and the Chen Family, and also that Governor Zhou Bo’an seemed to be secretly investigating the Chen Family before his death.

"The subsequent investigation also produced many clues that faintly pointed towards the Chen Family, but... there was no concrete proof. Even with suspicions, we cannot disregard the laws of the Court and take action against the Chen Family without any evidence.

"Therefore, I suggested to the Water-Participating Ape Star Monarch that since there was insufficient evidence, we should use the Magistrate of Mirror Mountain County, Luo Pingyuan, and his wife’s Jiang Family as bait to lure the Chen Family into retaliating. At that point, we could justifiably arrest and interrogate them, which led to the subsequent events like the land surveys and the Jiang Family’s provocations."

At this point, Gao Changhe’s tone became sincere, even carrying a hint of helplessness. "Of course, this was merely an expedient measure, not my true intention. I want to cooperate with you, Patriarch Chen, not be your enemy."

Chen Li was silent for a moment before pressing on, "Then what specific plans does the Governor have for inviting me here tonight?"

Gao Changhe didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he abruptly changed the subject. "Does Patriarch Chen know why the Court has been pushing so hard to convert rice paddies to mulberry fields and requisitioning large quantities of silk in fertile regions like Jiangzhou, Shuzhou, and Yuezhou in recent years?"

Chen Li shook his head. "I am but a humble man from the countryside. My eyes and ears are closed to the affairs of the court, so I truly do not know."

Gao Changhe lowered his voice and shared a secret. "Since the Holy Emperor ascended the throne, he has shown great ambition and strategic vision, expanding his influence in all directions. He has repeatedly sent envoys to the Northern Border and the Western Heaven. Nine years ago, the Barbarian Race of the Northern Border fell into civil strife, and their power was greatly diminished.

"At the same time, the Marquis Xichang, Ren Shu’an, returned from the Far West Land after enduring great hardships. He brought news that the Thirty-Three Western Heaven Countries are all willing to submit and pay tribute to our Celestial Dynasty.

"Besides offering fealty and tribute, they also mentioned establishing trade. The nations of the Western Heaven are utterly obsessed with our dynasty’s silk, porcelain, and other goods, viewing them as priceless treasures. That is why the Court is determined to push for the conversion of rice paddies to mulberry fields in the three prefectures of Jiang, Shu, and Yue to meet the demands of trade..."

Chen Li listened quietly, but in his heart, everything suddenly became clear.

’So that’s how it is.’

’He had long suspected that there had to be a reason for the Court’s policy of converting rice to mulberry.’

’After all, in an agrarian society, grain is the foundation of the nation.’

’Back then, his speculation had leaned more toward an empty national treasury; he’d never imagined it was related to trade.’

Gao Changhe continued, "The nations of the Western Heaven are located in remote and barren lands. They are small and have few resources, so they have little to offer in exchange. Furthermore, in the Northern Border, although the Barbarian Race has been defeated, remnants still remain, and soldiers and bandits run rampant. The trade route to the Western Heaven has always been fraught with peril, with nine out of ten merchants never returning.

"For this very reason, there has always been a great deal of opposition to this trade initiative within the Court. Many believe that it’s a drain on national resources and that the losses outweigh the gains.

"The turning point came last year, when the Marquis Zhenbei personally led experts at the Grandmaster realm and above on an expedition to the Northern Border, wiping out the Demon Sect entrenched in Lion-Eagle Ridge in one fell swoop. Since then, the trade route has gradually become stable. It was only last year that the Court pushed past all objections, formed an official merchant caravan, and formally began trade."

At this, Gao Changhe’s gaze burned as he looked at Chen Li. "With the trade route just opened, can you imagine the sheer volume of demand from the Western Heaven countries for a luxury item like silk? This first pot of gold is bound to be the most profitable. How could the Court not be in a hurry? Add to that the recent string of major cases involving assassinations of court-appointed officials in the Jiangzhou region, and the resulting instability—that is why we are here."

Chen Li got straight to the point. "So, Governor Gao wants a piece of the pie as well?"

"Patriarch Chen’s insight is like a torch."

His thoughts exposed, Gao Changhe was not annoyed. Instead, he admitted it freely. "Patriarch Chen must also know that for cultivators like us to reach our current Realms, there isn’t one who hasn’t been supported by their entire clan and a massive amount of resources.

"To be frank with you, Patriarch, for me to secure this position as the Governor of Liyang, the gold I spent on bribes and connections up and down the ladder was no less than several thousand taels.

"Therefore, I’ve repeatedly stated that you need not be so wary of me, Patriarch Chen. To put it bluntly, I came to Liyang for resources, and for the Great Dao!

"As for old local grudges, as long as they don’t get in the way of my career or my fortune, I have absolutely no interest in getting involved."