Chapter 223: Chapter 193: If Brother-in-Law Is Unwilling, I...

Liu Zhaoxue might not actually want to harm Xiao Wan’er.

But regardless of Liu Zhaoxue’s intentions, he had to take precautions to prevent any mishaps.

Fortunately, Xiao Wan’er still had Xie Tingyun and Shen Huatang by her side.

Even if the Five Poison Sect were to make a move, they probably wouldn’t try to assassinate her in broad daylight.

Liu Lang, unaware of Chen Yi’s thoughts, paused for a moment before beginning his detailed account.

"The Five Poison Sect excels in Poison Skill and raising venomous creatures. I’ve heard that some of their potent poisons can kill an Upper Three Grades Martial Artist within a few breaths."

"Furthermore, their hidden weapons are extremely special, comparable to the hidden weapons of the previous dynasty’s Tang Sect. Combined with their potent poisons, they pose a significant threat..."

Poison Skill, poison, and hidden weapons.

Chen Yi silently committed this to memory, his mind racing as he considered various countermeasures.

The Poison Skill wasn’t a major concern. He had his Martial Arts and his Great Success Medical Dao, so even if he were poisoned, he could find a way to deal with it.

Poisons were even easier to handle; he himself had researched some poison formulas.

As for the last item, the hidden weapons...

Chen Yi looked at the night outside the window, muttering that he should get a sturdy, iron-ribbed Oil Paper Umbrella for Xiao Wan’er.

Liu Lang, unaware of his thoughts, finished his long-winded explanation. Seeing that Chen Yi hadn’t spoken, he couldn’t help but ask:

"Boss, do you have a plan for the Five Poison Sect as well?"

Chen Yi gave a noncommittal reply, "Tomorrow, find someone to deliver a message to Granny Shan. Just say that the Five Poison Sect has reemerged in the Jianghu, has come to Shu State, and is plotting a great revenge."

"...Boss, I appreciate your high regard for me, but I have no standing to speak with Granny Shan, nor can I find anyone to deliver a message to her."

Liu Lang was a Desert North Swordman who had only just arrived in Shu State a few days ago. How could he possibly have contact with a figure like Granny Shan?

Chen Yi considered this. ’He has a point,’ he muttered.

It seemed he would have to find a way to reach Granny Shan through Pei Guanli. In any case, he had to make sure the Mountain Race knew about the Five Poison Sect’s presence in Shu State first.

A short while later, the carriage stopped in an alley outside the East Market, near Jishi Medicine Hall.

The sky had completely darkened.

Most of the medicine halls, taverns, and inns had closed their doors for the night.

Few people passed by.

This made the alley all the more secluded.

They waited for about an hour.

As the Hour of Xu drew to a close, and with no one in sight, Liu Lang couldn’t help but say, "Boss, I’m afraid he isn’t coming."

Chen Yi said nothing more, replying with a single word: "Wait."

After nearly two more hours of waiting, as midnight approached, the faint sound of footsteps finally emerged from the silent shadows.

Liu Lang’s ears twitched, and he glanced over.

Chen Yi had noticed as well, but he did not leave the carriage, simply calling out coolly:

"Your caution is admirable, Lord Xiao."

From the shadows, the figure paused, revealing the faint outline of a set of simple Night Clothes.

But from his features, it was easy to see that he was from the Xiao Family’s second branch: Xiao Dongchen.

He studied the distant carriage and asked in a hoarse voice, "You aren’t Liu Wen? Who are you?"

Chen Yi replied coolly, "I am merely a pawn for my young master, a nobody."

"I have come only to ask a single question of Lord Xiao on my young master’s behalf."

"What question?"

"Does Lord Xiao wish to be a pawn for the Xiao Family, or does he wish to become the Patriarch of the Xiao Family?" 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Xiao Dongchen’s eyes flickered. "What of being a pawn? And what of being the Patriarch?"

"If the former, I will leave at once. Lord Xiao can simply act as though I was never here today."

"If the latter..."

Chen Yi paused, a hint of a smile in his voice. "Then I shall, of course, present Lord Xiao with a generous gift."

Xiao Dongchen frowned slightly, his mind reeling with suspicion.

After a moment of silence, Xiao Dongchen asked, "Is your young master not afraid that I will report this to the Old Marquis?"

Chen Yi chuckled. "My young master would not have sought you out if he weren’t confident. Wouldn’t you agree?"

"...Tell me about this generous gift."

"Three hundred thousand taels of silver."

At this number, it wasn’t just Xiao Dongchen whose breath caught in his throat; even Liu Lang, sitting at the front of the carriage, was stunned by Chen Yi’s sheer audacity.

’So that’s why the boss scammed three hundred thousand taels of silver from Liu Wen! It was all to lay a trap for Xiao Dongchen?’