Chapter 352: Chapter 235: Unexpected Visitor (2)

To avoid disturbing Chen Yi and the others, they moved as quietly as possible, placing the prepared luggage onto the carriage outside the garden.

Wang Lixing and Liu Si’er were waiting by the carriage, chatting idly from time to time.

"I heard first thing this morning that a big fire broke out in the East Market last night. It was just put out."

"Besides a few grain storehouses, several neighboring buildings were also hit, especially the cloth merchants."

"I heard a warehouse storing medicinal herbs was also affected. Most of the herbs are gone."

Wang Lixing watched the entrances to Jiaxing Garden and Spring Lotus Garden as he asked in a low voice:

"Has the price of grain gone up?"

Liu Si’er grinned. "Do you even have to ask? With those bastards’ personalities, after a loss this big, how could they not raise the prices?"

"That’s true..."

As they chatted, Xiaodie, Juan’er, and Cui’er came over, each carrying a few small boxes.

Liu Si’er and Wang Lixing went forward to take them and placed them all in one of the carriages.

Xiaodie wiped the sweat from her forehead and said with a smile, "The Young Master didn’t bring many things, this is all of it."

Beside her, Juan’er and Cui’er also said they were finished.

"Thank you both for waiting. We’ll go back to attend to the Miss and Young Master now."

Wang Lixing nodded, gave the carriage a final check, and locked it.

"Brother Si, the journey isn’t far, but it’s outside the city. Keep a careful watch."

Liu Si’er hopped onto the carriage and said, "With Miss Xie and Miss Shen following, ordinary bandits won’t be able to get close."

"I’m talking about the Second Young Master."

"Don’t worry, I’ll keep a close eye on him."

Just then, Xiaodie, who had just gone back inside, emerged from Spring Lotus Garden with Xiao Wuge.

Wang Lixing said no more. He patted Liu Si’er on the shoulder and led Xiao Wuge toward the Martial Arts Arena.

Liu Si’er watched them walk away, then turned his head and asked with a smile, "Miss Xiaodie, is the Second Young Master awake yet?"

Xiaodie was on her way to the rear kitchen. Hearing his question, she replied, "Not yet. Are you looking for the Young Master?"

Liu Si’er thought of the secret letter he received yesterday and said with a nonchalant smile, "Just asking."

Xiaodie, unsuspecting, hurried to the rear kitchen.

In fact, Chen Yi was already fully dressed and had calmly taken a seat in the living room.

He had naturally heard the voices outside, but his expression didn’t change at all. His eyes were fixed on the screen of light before him:

[Daily Intelligence · Profound-rank Top Grade: In the third quarter of the Si Hour, Chen Yunfan will duel Cui Qingwu in swordsmanship inside Tingyu Pavilion. A small amount of Opportunity can be obtained.]

Chen Yi read it twice and mused to himself.

’They’re dueling with swordsmanship... Tsk. I’m afraid Cui Qingwu has found out that my brother has been hiding his Martial Arts skills.’

’I just don’t know if he’s aware of Cui Qingwu’s identity. He probably is, right?’

In their previous few meetings, although Chen Yi didn’t have a good impression of Cui Qingwu, he could still tell how she felt about his brother, Chen Yunfan.

—In those eyes, there was room for no one but Chen Yunfan.

Under these circumstances, Chen Yi found it hard to believe that his brother truly disliked his fiancée, Cui Qingwu.

’Or maybe Chen Yunfan’s issue isn’t with Cui Qingwu, but with the Cui Family?’

That was also a possibility.

Chen Yi chuckled. "It feels a bit like a case of bickering lovers. A pity I won’t get to see them duel."

He had to accompany Xiao Wan’er outside the city today to look at potential sites for the Medical Dao Academy. He might not even be back by the Xu hour, let alone the Wu hour.

With these thoughts, he closed the screen of light and his gaze shifted to the world outside his door.

The sky was just beginning to brighten as the stars and moon faded. Within Spring Lotus Garden, only the crisp chirping of insects could be heard.

The scenery was quite pleasant.

However, fallen petals and leaves were scattered across the garden.

Chen Yi watched for a moment, and his thoughts inevitably drifted to the events of last night.

A chessboard materialized in his mind, and one by one, Heizi fell onto the board.

They seemed as scattered as the fallen petals and leaves, but no matter where the Heizi were placed, they all surrounded a single, gleaming black piece in the center.

That piece represented none other than the Jing State Liu Family.

Or rather, Liu Hong.

Chen Yi casually picked up a white stone and moved it forward two spaces, placing it next to the white stone representing Elder Master Xiao.

’Yang Ye... If this Right Governor doesn’t act, it will be impossible to deal with Liu Hong.’

As he thought, he added another white stone. ’It just so happens that Li Huai’gu has been facing difficulties from Liu Hong recently, and Mr. Yue Ming is going to visit Right Envoy Yang.’

Chen Yi looked at the final board position forming in his mind, a slight smile gracing his lips:

’I’ve gone in circles, only to end up back where I started.’

He had originally planned to use Yang Ye to help the Xiao Family counterbalance Liu Hong, but Liu Hong’s repeated, proactive concessions had left him without an opening.

Now that he was certain Liu Taofang had made a move, he could no longer allow the Xiao Family to remain in such a passive position.

However, he also knew that Liu Hong would not be easy to deal with.

Liu Hong was the Governor of Shu State, and he had the Jing State Liu Family backing him. Trying to deal with him through ordinary means was clearly impossible.

At the very least, he couldn’t be as crude as he was when he eliminated Liu Wen and Xiao Dongchen.

With a plan solidifying in his mind, Chen Yi let out a long breath.

’Fortunately, Liu Hong isn’t invincible.’

’Liu Taofang is one of his weaknesses.’

’And so is the Jing State Liu Family.’

The faces of the Five Poison Sect, King Landu of Poshisu Country, and others appeared in Chen Yi’s mind, and the smile on his face widened.

’Even if I don’t manage to eliminate Liu Hong this time, I can use this opportunity to cut off a few of his claws.’

If the plan went smoothly, he might even reap greater rewards.

Just then, the JINGLE JINGLE of a bell could be heard.

Chen Yi snapped back to his senses and saw Pei Guanli peeking her head in from outside the door, a mischievous expression on her face.

But when she saw that Chen Yi’s expression remained unchanged, Pei Guanli stuck out her tongue and said, "Aw, I didn’t even scare you, Brother-in-law."

Chen Yi couldn’t help but laugh. "How old are you? Why are you still acting like a child?"

Pei Guanli, displeased, walked over and tugged on his arm, insisting, "I am not a child!"

"Yes, yes, you’re not..."

As he spoke, Chen Yi reminded her to look after Xiao Wuge in the residence.

Pei Guanli readily agreed, chattering on about how her Martial Arts had improved a lot recently and that she would teach Xiao Wuge a Palm Technique tonight.

Chen Yi thought for a moment and said, "That Hundred Flowers Palm of yours isn’t quite suitable. Why don’t you teach him some Step Technique first?"

The Hundred Flowers Palm required too much flexibility, which was clearly something a boy like Xiao Wuge, who hadn’t even started Pile Skill Cultivation, couldn’t learn.

In comparison, the Meteor Butterfly Step was something Xiao Wuge could learn first.

Even if the effect wasn’t significant, it would still improve his Step Technique.

Pei Guanli heard this and nodded. "Okay, I’ll listen to you, Brother-in-law."

「Not long after.」

Xiaodie returned with breakfast.

Chen Yi had a few quick bites, then took them to Jiaxing Garden to meet up with Xiao Wan’er.

Xiao Wan’er had already finished her meal by this time. Seeing him approach, she smiled and waved him over.

"Brother-in-law, the things were prepared and loaded onto the carriage this morning. Let’s get going."

Chen Yi looked her over, then smiled, nodded, and said, "Alright."

Perhaps it was his imagination, but although Xiao Wan’er was still wearing the same white cloak that covered her body, her figure seemed a bit more upright and proud today.

It even added a certain radiance to her stunningly beautiful face.

Xiao Wan’er, of course, was unaware of his thoughts as she walked out of Jiaxing Garden side-by-side with him.

As they walked, she said, "I already had my people scout out a few locations in advance. We can go check them out directly."

"If all goes well, we can finalize the location for the Medical Dao Academy today."

Chen Yi grunted in acknowledgment and was about to reply when he saw an Armored Warrior leading someone into the central courtyard.

The man was plain-looking, but tall and sturdy. He wore a black short-sleeved shirt and shorts, and was barefoot.

’A member of the Mountain Race?’

Before Chen Yi could ponder it further, he heard Pei Guanli exclaim in surprise from beside him, "Brother, what are you doing here?"

The newcomer paid her no mind, his eyes fixed forward. He walked over with stiff, formal steps and bowed to Xiao Wan’er.

"Pei Qian of the Mountain Race greets the Eldest Miss."

However, his movements were very stiff, not at all as natural as those of the people from the Prefecture City.

Xiao Wan’er nodded lightly, gesturing that he didn’t need to be so formal, then turned to Pei Guanli and asked with a smile, "This is your brother?"

Pei Guanli nodded repeatedly. She walked over carefreely and slapped Pei Qian hard on the back.

SLAP.

Pei Qian staggered, grimacing at her. "Little Sister, this isn’t the clan."

Pei Guanli paid that no mind, laughing as she said, "Brother, so you get scared too."

"Who’s scared?"

Pei Qian muttered, then took a letter from his robes and presented it to Xiao Wan’er with both hands.

"A letter from General Jinghong. Please accept it, Eldest Miss."

But as he said this, his eyes were fixed on Chen Yi, who was standing nearby, and his gaze held a hint of scrutiny.

Chen Yi saw his expression and secretly raised an eyebrow.

’If I recall correctly, Tiger Girl mentioned her brother was fond of Xiao Jinghong.’

’Sure enough, there’s no love or hate in this world without a reason.’

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