Chapter 244: Chapter 201: All Men Must Die

Since the Jing State Liu Family had sent Liu Wen to Shu State to manage Xinglin Hall, he was naturally no fool.

Though Chen Yi’s story was baffling at first, Liu Wen caught on the moment he heard "brother" and "on his deathbed."

The man before him had killed Liu Jing.

Then came a second thought—’This person definitely isn’t Black Tooth!’

"Who... who in the world are you?"

Before Chen Yi could answer, Liu Wen started rambling, as if he had finally pinpointed what had felt so wrong earlier.

"His wife, his sister-in-law..."

"A scholar, forced to come to Shu State..."

As Liu Wen muttered these phrases over and over, a look of stunned disbelief spread across his face as he stared at Chen Yi.

"You, you you... you’re..."

Chen Yi smiled. "Have you guessed?"

"But then, I never intended to hide it from you."

"After all, a Financier as generous as Young Master Liu, willing to part with three hundred thousand silver at once, is a rare find. It wouldn’t feel right to let you die without knowing the truth."

"Don’t you agree?"

But Liu Wen seemed deaf to his words, still reeling in disbelief.

He was too stunned to even think of begging for his life again.

"How could it be you?"

"But you’re just an outcast from the Chen Family! A despised live-in son-in-law! Nothing more than a scholar who got a little famous from his calligraphy...!"

"I’ve seen plenty of parasites like you. They all come to a bad end. But why... why is it you?"

"Why is it you, you bastard!?"

Liu Wen now understood everything completely.

His sixth brother was dead, and the Xiao Family didn’t know who the killer was. To stop the Jing State Liu Family from causing more trouble, they had no choice but to find a scapegoat.

But this man before him, Chen Yi, had been hiding in the shadows all along, scheming and plotting.

Liu Wen couldn’t accept it.

He had been meticulously plotted against while completely unsuspecting, and a bellyful of rage and indignation welled up inside him.

If he didn’t let it out, he would go mad even if he managed to survive this.

Seeing this, Chen Yi just smiled and shook his head. "Perhaps it’s because I’m luckier."

Then he took off his black iron mask, revealing a handsome face, and continued: 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"I was indeed lucky. I met a few people here that I care about, and it’s given me a bit of a sense of belonging."

Chen Yi paused, looking at the still-dazed Liu Wen, and said in a serious tone:

"I don’t want what I’ve worked so hard to get to be taken away, and I especially don’t like my peaceful life being disrupted."

"So, I’ll just have to work a little harder to make sure you, and everyone else who wants to drag this place into the mud, all die."

Liu Wen snapped back to his senses at those words. Staring at the unfamiliar face that seemed completely disconnected from the man he’d seen during the day, a crazed look appeared on his own.

"Who do you think you are!?"

"You’re just a live-in son-in-law to the Xiao Family! You’re their dog!"

"After all you’ve done, do you think they’ll appreciate you? They won’t! In their eyes, you’re still just a dog used to keep Xiao Jinghong around!"

Chen Yi gave a noncommittal nod. "Perhaps."

His calm demeanor drove Liu Wen to the brink of madness. He roared, his face twisted in a snarl:

"Don’t get cocky!"

"Even if you got lucky this time, my Liu Family will definitely make you—and the Xiao Family—pay the price!"

"And even if my Liu Family doesn’t succeed, there are the other Noble Families of Shu State, the great families of Jing State, Jiao State, and other places! They all want to see the Xiao Family fall, and they’re all waiting to carve up the Dingyuan Army!"

"Even your own Jiangnan Prefecture Chen Family, do you think they don’t have the same idea?"

With that, Liu Wen began to laugh maniacally, as if he’d struck a nerve.

"When that time comes, what will you do? What can you do? Will you destroy the Chen Family too?!"

Chen Yi watched him in silence. After a moment of serious thought, he sighed and said again, "Perhaps."

’I’ve never considered that question before.’

’I had assumed I’d have no more dealings with the Jiangnan Prefecture Chen Family.’

’Even with Chen Yunfan there, I only ever figured we’d just be able to sit down for a chat.’

’I never imagined I might end up on the opposite side of the Chen Family.’

’But if that day really came...’

’Heh. I’ve always been the type to side with my own, right or wrong.’

’What does the Jiangnan Prefecture Chen Family have to do with me?’

With that thought, Chen Yi steadied himself. He glanced toward Iron Wall Town and saw Liu Lang and his men about to return. "Alright," he said.

"The hour is late. It’s time to send you on your way."

The wild, crazed smile on Liu Wen’s face froze, replaced by the terror of impending death, mingled with faint traces of regret and anger.

Immediately after, Liu Wen began to plead in a panic, "Mr. Qingzhou, please forgive me! Please let me go, spare my life."

"I... I’m useful. I can help you."

"Silver, men, or anything else. As long as you spare me, anything is fine."

"I can even help you fend off the Liu Family! No, I’ll even help you destroy the Liu Family if you want! You’re only one person, and the Xiao Family won’t help you. I’ll help you..."

Watching him, Chen Yi smiled and shook his head. "No."

"If you had only intended to kill me, or only offended me, I might have spared you, seeing as you still have some use."

"But you had to go and provoke someone you never should have."

Chen Yi recalled Xiao Wan’er’s panic when she first heard of the Liu Family’s marriage proposal, and her shock when Liu Wen had accosted her that day. The memory soured his mood.

"I’ll apologize, I’ll compensate, you..."

This time, however, Chen Yi had run out of patience.

In one swift motion, he thrust his spear into Liu Wen’s chest and slowly began to twist the tip.

Liu Wen felt no pain, but he could feel the unnatural stirring inside his chest.

"No, no, I beg you, I beg you to spare my life..."

Hearing this, Chen Yi paused slightly, as if remembering something, and said with a smile:

"I almost forgot. There’s one more thing I haven’t told you."