Chapter 204: Chapter 186: Oops, Something Dropped

While Chen Yi was immersed in his Cultivation.

Liu Lang, having changed his attire, once again slipped into the Liu Family’s residence on Kangning Street and headed straight for the western courtyard.

—Where Liu Zhaoxue was staying.

This time, Liu Lang was even more cautious than before.

This was not only due to Chen Yi’s warning and Liu Wen’s presence, but also because he was wary of the Five Poison Sect.

Although the Five Poison Sect had not been seen in the Jianghu for a long time, rumors held that their methods were utterly ruthless. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

Their sinister Poison Skills and Poisons, in particular, were still infamous throughout the Jianghu.

Once he sensed that the residence was silent, Liu Lang confirmed there were no guards nearby and no movement from the wooden building. Only then did he silently approach the side of the structure.

After concealing himself in a corner, he pressed his ear to the wall, listening intently to the sounds within.

The very first sentence he heard from inside made his eyes fly open.

’This Liu Zhaoxue’s ambition... is staggering!’

He heard Liu Zhaoxue’s voice coming from within, her tone tinged with ice.

"...As long as there is the slightest chance, I will not give up on the position of Liu Family Patriarch."

Then, he heard the person from the Five Poison Sect laugh and say, "It’s a good thing you’re ambitious, Miss Zhaoxue."

"If you weren’t, why would my Five Poison Sect have traveled thousands of miles to get here? Especially to Shu State, a place of painful memories for us."

"I almost forgot. Your Five Poison Sect was nearly wiped out by the Mountain Race. Aren’t you afraid that Granny Shan will discover you operating here?"

The member of the Five Poison Sect sneered. "Why should we be?"

"The Mountain Race has sided with the Xiao Family. They can barely protect themselves as it is."

"Even if my Five Poison Sect does nothing, others will surely move against them."

Liu Zhaoxue asked, sounding somewhat surprised, "You know about the Xiao Family’s situation?"

The member of the Five Poison Sect replied, "How could we not?"

"With the Old Marquis gravely ill and the Young Master still a child, the Dingyuan Army is propped up by Xiao Jinghong alone. Plenty of people are plotting against the Xiao Family."

"Your Jing State Liu Family is no different. Sending Liu Wen to marry Xiao Wan’er—isn’t that just a ploy to take over what’s theirs?"

Liu Zhaoxue grunted in agreement. "That’s true."

"The Xiao Family is besieged on all fronts. Even the Imperial Court is making things difficult for them here. It’s inevitable that other Noble Families will try to take advantage."

She paused, then continued, "But we’re getting sidetracked."

"Yan Fusha, let’s talk about how your Five Poison Sect plans to help me achieve my goal."

"Of course..."

’Yan Fusha?’

Liu Lang racked his brain for a moment. Certain he’d never heard that name in the Jianghu, he calmed himself and continued to eavesdrop.

He then heard the one called Yan Fusha from the Five Poison Sect speak in fragmented sentences, their voice intentionally lowered.

"To achieve your goal, Liu Wen must die. And your eldest brother..."

"If we handle it correctly, framing the Xiao Family for Liu Wen’s death won’t be difficult."

"Absolutely not! My second brother is not Liu Jing. If he dies in Shu State, the family will investigate this to the bitter end!"

"You can rest assured, Miss Zhaoxue. I have my own plans for this..."

Liu Lang arched an eyebrow, thinking to himself, ’This woman is vicious.’

He knew Chen Yi also wanted Liu Wen dead, but Chen Yi and Liu Wen were on opposing sides. Their animosity was to be expected.

But for Liu Zhaoxue to plot the murder of her own brother just for the position of Patriarch... that was truly ruthless.

’No wonder the boss dangled the position of Liu Family Patriarch to bait Liu Wen.’

’Looks like they both have the same idea.’

After muttering a few more thoughts to himself, Liu Lang quietly slipped away.

He had accomplished his goal for the trip.

There was no need to listen to the finer details of the murder plot Yan Fusha and Liu Zhaoxue were hatching.

As he left the rear courtyard, he was about to head back to the house on Chuansi Street to see if the boss had left, but he overheard a conversation nearby.

"...Liu Wu? The Second Young Master’s man? I’ve never heard of him."

"Think again. He’s handsome, with a slender build, and he’s highly skilled in the Medical Dao."

"Never heard of him. Maybe he’s the disciple of some Saint Hand from Xinglin Hall. It would be normal for us not to have any contact with someone like that."

’Liu Wu?’

A thought struck Liu Lang. He silently moved to conceal himself behind the two speakers.

Seeing they were both Guards wearing the blue attire of the Liu Family, he arched an eyebrow.

’The boss was right. Black Tooth came to the Liu Family to ask about him.’

After a moment of thought, a plan formed in Liu Lang’s mind, and a flicker of amusement crossed his eyes.

’I can’t let the boss’s cover be blown, no matter what.’

...

「Just after three in the morning.」

Amidst the gloomy, rainy weather, the sky remained dark.

With the rain obscuring the view, most early risers had to rely on candlelight to see their surroundings.

It was somewhat better inside the various state and county seats, where lanterns that burned year-round lit the streets and alleys.

But nearly a thousand li from Shu State Prefecture City, in the dense forest where Xiao Jinghong and the Mountain Race had established the "Wu Mountain Mutual Market," visibility was significantly lower.

Fortunately, torches had been lit around the foundations of the various shops.

At least the interior of the Mutual Market had some light.

Early in the morning, men dressed in short tunics and trousers, wearing bamboo hats, emerged from the wooden cabins in small groups. At the foreman’s call, they lined up to receive their breakfast.

Despite the rainy weather, the Mutual Market was a project of great importance, and both the Xiao Family and the Mountain Race had exacting standards.

—Two streets of shops, one street of warehouses, and five hundred residences had to be built within three months.

The schedule was extremely tight.

Thus, after breakfast, these dark-skinned men all set to work.

Before long, the entire site selected for the Wu Mountain Mutual Market was filled with a cacophony of sounds. The scene could only be described as bustling with feverish activity.

And while the laborers toiled, Xiao Jinghong was not idle.

She was dressed as impeccably as ever, though her attire was simple and practical: just a single long, blue robe.

Aside from the half-armor mask on her face, she wore no other adornments.

She looked just like a wandering knight from the Jianghu.

Compared to her, Su Zhenyue, in her long skirt, looked far more feminine.