Chapter 214: Chapter 189: I Know Your Depth, You Know My...

He was obviously going to hide the silver notes, or perhaps gold ones.

Both Chen Yi and Lou Yuxue were well aware of this.

However, they felt very differently about it.

Chen Yi was completely relaxed, leaning back in his chair, perfectly at ease.

Although Lou Yuxue wanted to confirm where Black Tooth was stashing the silver, what had just happened made her focus shift to Chen Yi.

"Brother Liu, what message did your young master send with you?" 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Although Lou Yuxue asked the question with her usual charming tone, her face was a sheet of ice, and her eyes, fixed on Chen Yi, held a glint of killing intent.

At the same time, she dipped her finger in some water and wrote a few words on the table.

[Who are you, really?]

Chen Yi glanced at the words, a smile spreading across his face as he said:

"Why do you ask, Miss Yuxue? Such lovely handwriting."

"You?!"

Furious, Lou Yuxue gritted her teeth and wiped the water from the table. Suppressing her rage, she asked, "Lovely handwriting? Are you referring to your young master’s, Brother Liu?"

At the same time, she wrote another line.

[If you don’t talk, we die together!]

Chen Yi read the words, then nodded with a smile. "My young master was afraid I’d forget, so he wrote me a note before I came."

Then he, too, wrote two words on the table:

[West Market.]

Lou Yuxue’s expression flickered. While continuing to make small talk with Chen Yi, they began to communicate by writing on the table.

[Who are you?]

[Guess?]

[There’s no way you’re from the Liu Family!]

[And why not?]

[What’s your purpose here?]

[To burn the summer grain of the Three Towns, of course.]

[You...]

They went back and forth like this for ages, but Lou Yuxue couldn’t get a single straight answer out of him.

Her breathing grew ragged with anger, her chest heaving dramatically with each breath.

She suspected Chen Yi was from the Xiao Family.

But all signs indicated that the Xiao Family was still unaware of the Bright Moon Building’s plot.

The old patriarch even had the leisure to concern himself with matters between the Hundred Herbs Hall and the Xiao Family Medicine Hall.

It was the same story over at the Mutual Market; Xiao Jinghong had been there the whole time and hadn’t made a move.

’But if Liu Wu isn’t from the Xiao Family, then which faction sent him?’

’The Liu Family?’

’The Liu Family was a definite possibility.’

’But how did he appear in the West Market, and why was he following me?’

Right now, what Lou Yuxue wanted to confirm most was whether her identity as a Hidden Guard had been exposed. But the man before her was completely unyielding, making her seethe with frustration.

Finally, left with no other option, she wrote: [What will it take to make you tell the truth?]

Chen Yi raised an eyebrow slightly and wrote a few words: [Now that’s more like it.]

[But I have a very big appetite. I wonder if Miss Yuxue can satisfy it?]

Lou Yuxue gritted her teeth and wrote four words: [Let me hear it!]

[I want half of the silver from this deal. Is Miss Yuxue willing?]

[Dream on!]

[Then I have nothing to tell you.]

Lou Yuxue was fuming, but seeing the mocking smile in his eyes, she forced down her anger and wrote:

[Aren’t you afraid I’ll tell Black Tooth you’re not from the Liu Family?]

Chen Yi smiled, shook his head, and casually wrote two words:

[I am.]

[Impossible! If you were really from the Liu Family, why would you be after the silver?]

[Guess?]

Seeing Lou Yuxue’s eyes turning red with fury, Chen Yi, though secretly amused, knew that pushing her further would only make things worse.

After a moment of thought, Chen Yi wrote:

[Right now, who I am isn’t the most important thing. What’s important is ensuring this deal goes smoothly.]

[If Miss Yuxue is truly that curious, then do as I say: bring me one hundred fifty thousand silver.]

Lou Yuxue stared straight at him, weighing the pros and cons in her mind.

’Right now, I’m not sure of his identity, and I’m not sure if he knows I’m a Hidden Guard, but I can be sure of one thing—’

’—the Xiao Family is in the dark, and this man isn’t one of theirs.’

This judgment put Lou Yuxue somewhat at ease.

’At least the mission to burn the summer grain of the Three Towns can still proceed. Otherwise, I would never let Hawk take such a risk.’

’Even my own grand scheme, for which I’m hiding in the Bright Moon Building, would be affected.’

[If I find out you’re secretly sabotaging this, you will pay the price!]

Chen Yi watched her nervously wipe the words away as soon as she’d written them, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.

"Miss Yuxue, for an establishment as grand as the Bright Moon Building, surely you wouldn’t be too stingy to refill a cup of tea?"

When Lou Yuxue saw his smile, she had the sudden urge to scratch it right off his face.

But given the circumstances, she could only force a smile and say in a syrupy-sweet tone, "My apologies, Brother Liu. Allow me to pour you some right away~"

But as she held the teapot, she gave her wrist a flick, aiming the spout right at Chen Yi as she poured.

Although Chen Yi reacted quickly, some of the tea still splashed onto his clothes and legs.

He looked at Lou Yuxue, who was smugly pleased with her little trick, and said with a sigh that was half-amusement, half-exasperation:

"Miss Yuxue, you’re so..."

Before he could even call her "petty," Lou Yuxue had already set down the teapot and moved closer. She began patting at his clothes, her voice full of apology:

"Please forgive me, Brother Liu. I didn’t do it on purpose."

However, the force she used was clearly more than a mere "pat."

Seeing this, Chen Yi let out a soft snort, releasing and then retracting his Fist Intent in a flash.

While Lou Yuxue was momentarily stunned by the mountain-like pressure of the Fist Intent, Chen Yi used one hand to twist her arm behind her back and pin her against the table.

"Pardon my rudeness, Miss Yuxue."

Pinned by him, especially in such an undignified position, a flush of shame and anger crept onto Lou Yuxue’s face.

But her tone was still as charming as ever as she said:

"Brother Liu, what are you doing~? Aren’t you going to let me go?"

"You..."

But before Chen Yi could finish, a section of the wall slid open. Liu Lang appeared in the doorway.

When he got a clear look at the scene inside, a flicker of astonishment crossed Liu Lang’s eyes.

"What are you two...?"

He glanced at Chen Yi, then at Lou Yuxue pinned beneath him, and let out a sly chuckle.