Chapter 56 : Chapter 56
Chapter 56. Something Fishy?
“Understood!”
After saying that, Hu Quanshui took Li Shun, Liu Yu, and Qi Li out on patrol. Just before leaving, he suddenly seemed to remember something, turned back, and said to Xu Yuan with a smile,
“Captain Xu, I reckon you just arrived on Changshun Street, so you probably haven’t finished getting bedding and other daily necessities, right?”
Xu Yuan looked up at him and nodded. “I haven’t had the time yet.”
Hu Quanshui’s eyes lit up, and he volunteered at once. “There’s no need for you to trouble yourself with such a small matter. I know where to get things that are cheap and practical. I can make sure everything is prepared for you properly... for just one tael of silver.”
Hearing that, Xu Yuan gave him a careful look and handed over one tael of silver.
The price was actually a bit high, but the area was in the middle of wartime turmoil, so it was normal enough for prices to have changed.
Not long after the group left,
Chen Sanli strolled into the little courtyard right behind them. He was in Yang Yan’s squad. Having just finished the meeting, he hurried over to curry favor with Xu Yuan.
“How is it, Brother Xu? Are you getting used to everything?”
Xu Yuan nodded with a smile. “Not bad. The information you gave me was all accurate.”
“Of course. Anything I pass to you, I verify over and over first. I’d never dare spout nonsense.” Chen Sanli immediately thumped his chest and boasted of his own merits.
Then, when he noticed the bed behind Xu Yuan was still completely bare, he promptly volunteered. “Brother Xu, you just got here, so you haven’t bought your daily necessities yet, have you? Don’t worry, leave it to me...”
“What? Someone’s already buying them for you?”
A look of surprise appeared on Chen Sanli’s face. Someone had actually snatched away his chance to earn credit. But after hearing it was Hu Quanshui, he frowned and said, “Brother Xu, you ought to stay on guard in your daily life. That Hu Quanshui... to me, he doesn’t look like a good man.”
Xu Yuan glanced at him without commenting.
Hu Quanshui looked like an honest, simple man. Although a person’s character could not be judged from his face, Xu Yuan also could not believe Chen Sanli after only a couple of sentences.
Seeing the suspicion on Xu Yuan’s face, Chen Sanli explained, “Last month, I saw that old bastard exchanging looks with people from the Bai Family all the time.”
“Later, when we launched the counteroffensive, everyone else in his squad died in battle, and he was the only one who survived. But I don’t have direct evidence, so...” At the end, he shook his head.
“Oh? That happened?” Xu Yuan’s brows lifted, and his eyes flickered.
Seeing that Xu Yuan had fallen into thought, Chen Sanli said no more. The reminder was enough. He then asked how much money Hu Quanshui had taken.
After hearing Xu Yuan’s answer, Chen Sanli immediately let out a scornful laugh. “I knew that old bastard was up to something.”
“Oh? What do you mean?” Xu Yuan raised his eyes to look at him. Could it be that the man had really pocketed some of his money?
“Brother Xu, you don’t know this, but even though the situation here is complicated, with our Shangyang Residence holding this place, just how chaotic can it get?” Chen Sanli continued.
“That Hu Quanshui is clearly taking advantage of the fact that you just arrived and don’t know the market.”
“That’s interesting.” A faint smile tugged at Xu Yuan’s lips. Then he turned to Chen Sanli and asked, “Sanli, let me ask you something. If you were sent to help a stranger buy things, would you skim money off him? Tell me the truth.”
Chen Sanli understood what he meant. After pondering for a moment, he answered frankly, “If I were buying things for a stranger, I’d first have to see what his cultivation and status were. If he were at my level, then, hehe... But if he were the captain, then I wouldn’t dare.”
What a joke. In this kind of environment, who would dare swindle his immediate superior? Was he not afraid that when the battle came, the other party would sell him out?
Besides, rank was crushing. Once exposed, he could forget about continuing to survive here.
“Exactly.”
Xu Yuan stretched his body, and cracking sounds erupted from all over him. Even someone as slippery and opportunistic as Chen Sanli did not dare fool his own captain, so what gave Hu Quanshui the confidence to do it?
To offend Xu Yuan for such a tiny bit of profit was far too poor a bargain.
‘So either he desperately needs money right now, or he’s certain I can’t deal with him?’
At that thought, Xu Yuan’s expression shifted slightly, and he suddenly asked, “When the Bai Family was hit by the counteroffensive last month, were their losses especially severe?”
Chen Sanli stroked his chin and thought for a while before saying, “Although our momentum was tremendous at the time, the actual blow to the Bai Family was... limited.”
Once he said that, he also understood what Xu Yuan meant and replied knowingly, “Brother Xu, don’t worry. I’ll investigate this matter properly.”
Seeing that Xu Yuan did not refuse, Chen Sanli secretly rejoiced. The more Xu Yuan asked him to do, the more it meant he valued him. Once Xu Yuan rose to prominence in the future, he would be able to bask in the reflected glory as well.
Watching Chen Sanli leave, Xu Yuan’s expression remained unchanged as he sat down and began to cultivate in earnest.
He understood very clearly that no matter how the situation changed, as long as his own strength was solid enough, all manner of vile tricks and schemes could be shattered by force alone.
What he needed to do now was break through to the Fourth Meridian first.
...
That afternoon, after Hu Quanshui returned with the others from patrol, he reported to Xu Yuan everything that had happened along the way.
Xu Yuan saw that Hu Quanshui’s expression was calm and composed, as if he knew nothing at all about pocketing the money.
After briefly hearing the report, Xu Yuan nodded and said to the group, “Street Guard Hong is hosting a banquet at Hesheng Tower tonight to welcome us. It’s about time, so let’s go.”
“Hesheng Tower? It seems Street Guard Hong thinks very highly of you.” When Hu Quanshui saw everyone looking at him, he smiled and explained, “What you may not know is that there aren’t any good taverns on Changshun Street. Only that Hesheng Tower next door amounts to anything...”
After listening to his introduction, the group learned that Hesheng Tower was not within either faction’s territory, but belonged instead to a small gang called the Hesheng Gang.
The Hesheng Gang was currently wavering from side to side. They had originally been preparing to defect to the Bai Family, but after Shangyang Residence launched its counteroffensive, they had returned to this neutral state. Most likely, they would submit to Shangyang Residence soon enough.
‘Isn’t this just a neutral inn?’
Xu Yuan mocked inwardly, then said politely with a smile,
“It’s not because of me. This banquet was specially arranged to welcome the newcomers.”
...
Hesheng Tower.
The moment Xu Yuan and the others stepped inside, they saw another squad arriving right behind them, led by none other than Zhou Yu.
What surprised him was that Wang Huan had actually been assigned to her squad.
“This guy?”
Watching him fawn over Zhou Yu with extreme attentiveness, Xu Yuan inexplicably found it absurd and was reminded of certain canine creatures from his previous life.
Zhou Yu stepped forward, swept her gaze over Xu Yuan and his group, let out a cold snort, and strode into the building first, as though even entering before someone else had to be turned into a contest.
Xu Yuan could not help finding it amusing. This woman’s thoughts were rather straightforward. She simply hated to lose.
When Wang Huan saw Xu Yuan standing at the head of the squad, every bit the little leader, a complicated look appeared on his face. Then he lowered his head and followed his captain inside.
“Brother Xu, did you see that?” Chen Sanli had also arrived at the tavern by then. Standing beside him, he wagged his brows meaningfully. “Who would have thought Wang Huan was into that sort of thing? Tsk, tsk.”
“According to the people in his squad, ever since that brat laid eyes on Zhou Yu, he suddenly became full of energy. He runs around for her all day long. He couldn’t be more attentive.”
Hearing that, Xu Yuan could not help laughing. “Could it be he wants to learn from Li Shan and settle things once and for all?”
“Isn’t that exactly it?”
Chen Sanli was grinning as well, but when he saw Yang Yan walking over, he quickly coughed and put on a serious face. “Brother Xu, see you later.”
Then he walked away.
Yang Yan paid Chen Sanli no attention. He nodded to Xu Yuan, and the two exchanged a few pleasantries as they walked forward.