Chapter 117 : Chapter 117
Chapter 117. Slinging Mud
Outside the restaurant, the sun stood high.
As Xu Yuan walked back toward Changlin Ward, his mind replayed everything that had happened at the meeting just now.
Zhao Yan’s show of authority, Huo Gang’s contempt, Yuan Danqing’s distance, and the warmth in Xiao Han’s manner still carried a subtle sense of restraint.
Each of those people had plans of their own and patrons to rely on.
As for him, he was only an outsider who had clawed his way up from the ranks of the menial servants. In the eyes of those old hands, they likely could not even be bothered to give him a proper glance.
But Xu Yuan did not care.
How they saw him was unimportant. What mattered was how he himself would move forward.
In the distance, patrol squads of martial artists moved through the streets, their armor clanking sharply as they kept a wary watch.
Xu Yuan stood at the entrance of the restaurant and looked at it all. Suddenly, a strange feeling rose in his heart.
This prosperous marketplace, these crowds moving to and fro, this territory of Shangyang Residence that he was responsible for guarding... in two days, it might well turn into a battlefield.
Would the Bai Family strike back?
Perhaps they would. Perhaps they would not.
But he could not gamble on it.
Xu Yuan turned and headed toward Changlin Ward, his steps steady and unhurried.
No matter what, the truth would be known in two days.
And all he could do in the meantime was bring himself to the best possible condition and sort out the forces under his command.
...
This meeting had been no more than a brief interruption.
Over the following two days, Xu Yuan all but shut himself indoors and immersed himself entirely in cultivation.
Occasionally, he exchanged information with Xiao Han and finalized the details of the offensive planned for the night of the tenth.
The rest of his time was spent refining his stance art, familiarizing himself with the berserk power, and simulating various combat scenarios.
He could feel that the qi and blood within his body had grown stronger than when he had first broken through, and his meridians were continuing to widen.
That steady sense of improvement brought calm to his heart.
And over on the Bai Family’s side, they naturally could not afford to sit still and wait for death.
Chen Donghai, the very man who had previously drawn up several covert ambush plans using spies, was now seated in his study, looking at the secret report he had just received.
“Shangyang Residence will attack on the night of the tenth. The vanguard will be Changlin Ward and Qingyun Ward.”
He set the report down, his brows knitting slightly.
Beside him sat a man in red robes. His features were utterly ordinary, but there was a sinister cast to his brows.
When he heard the words “Changlin Ward,” he raised his eyes. “Changlin Ward? Is it still that old thing, Xue Zhan?”
Chen Donghai shook his head. “Xue Zhan broke through to the seven-meridian level a few days ago and has already stepped down.”
“The one sitting in his place now is a young man called Xu Yuan. He has gained quite a name for himself recently and has ruined more than a few of my plans. Last time, I had men sent to ambush him, but instead I ended up being outplayed... Workshop Master He?”
As he spoke, he suddenly noticed the other man’s reaction.
The moment He Feng heard the name “Xu Yuan,” his eyes abruptly froze.
“So it was him?”
Feng's voice sank low, and his expression turned cold at once.
He was the very same six-meridian martial artist who had led the raid on Shangyang Residence’s medicinal fields.
Although he had ultimately seized the medicinal treasure from Bing Field and rendered great service, the moment he thought of the man who had caused him to miss his chance at breaking through to the seven-meridian level, a surge of hatred rose uncontrollably in his heart.
If Xu Yuan had not awakened that violet-gold eel, that exotic beast on the verge of its seventh transformation, then it would likely already have been in his grasp.
That single merit would have been enough to let him make a push for the seven-meridian level and raise his standing even further.
Feng muttered in a low voice, “...Interesting. That man has actually broken through to the six-meridian level?”
Seeing that something was off in his expression, Chen Donghai asked, “Workshop Master He knows him?”
Feng came back to himself and looked at him darkly.
“I forgot to mention it to Workshop Master Chen. The one who ruined my chance to seize the violet-gold eel was this Xu Yuan. I only learned his name later.”
“What?”
Chen Donghai was startled. “Was it actually him?”
Feng nodded. After a moment of silence, he added, “But from what I know, although he earned a great merit, his life has not been a smooth one.”
“Oh?” Chen Donghai’s brow rose.
“I have heard that Yang Cang swallowed his merit for himself, and the two of them developed bad blood because of it. What I did not expect was that even under those circumstances, he still managed to break through to the six-meridian level,” He Feng said slowly.
“Is there such a thing?”
Chen Donghai fell into thought. His gaze moved back and forth across the secret report on the table. After a while, he suddenly lifted his head, and a sharp gleam flashed through his eyes.
“If that is the case, then this is a rare opportunity.”
Feng looked at him. “What does Workshop Master Chen mean?”
“Send someone over later and sound Xu Yuan out.”
Chen Donghai spoke in a measured tone. “The ideal outcome would naturally be to win him over directly. Even if that fails, we can still use it to disgust him, make others suspicious of him, and deepen the rejection he faces within Shangyang Residence.”
Feng understood at once, and his eyes gained a trace of admiration. “Workshop Master Chen, that is an excellent scheme.”
“It cannot be helped.”
Chen Donghai let out a sigh and leaned back in his chair. “We are in a weak position right now. We have to seize every possible chance and slip the blade into every crack. Perhaps that alone may bring unexpected results.”
Outside the window, the sky gradually darkened as evening closed in from all sides.
Inside the room, the light was dim. The two men sat facing each other across the air between them, both wearing sinister smiles.
...
The next day, the ninth day of the ninth month.
Xu Yuan was in the front hall discussing the attack route with Xiao Han when a burst of footsteps suddenly sounded outside. A moment later, Xiao Qi pushed the door open and came in, leaning close to whisper in his ear,
“My lord, someone outside is asking to see you. He says... he has important matters to discuss.”
Xu Yuan’s brows shifted slightly. “Who is it?”
“A young man. The guards say he is at the second-meridian level. He looks unfamiliar, not someone from our ward.”
Xiao Qi lowered his voice further. “He says he came from the other side.”
The other side?
A glint flashed in Xu Yuan’s eyes, and his mind filled with questions.
Xiao Han sat nearby. Seeing the situation, he smiled and rose to his feet. “Do you need me to step out for a while?”
Xu Yuan shook his head. “No need. Just sit there and drink your tea.”
Xiao Han arched a brow, asked nothing more, sat back down, and slowly sipped from his cup.
A short while later, Xiao Qi led in a young man.
The man looked clever and alert, his eyes lively. The moment he entered, his gaze swept across the hall before finally landing on Xu Yuan in the seat of honor.
Then he glanced at Xiao Han, who had just risen to refill the water, and hesitated, as though he wanted to speak but did not quite dare.
Xu Yuan took it all in and said flatly, “Do not mind him. He is only here to pour tea.”
At those words, Xiao Han’s teacup trembled slightly in his hand, and he nearly failed to suppress a laugh.
The young man, however, believed it completely. Relaxing at once, he stepped forward and cupped his hands in greeting.
“Workshop Master Xu, I hope you are well.”
Xu Yuan leaned back in his chair and looked at him calmly. “What is it? Speak.”
The young man took a deep breath.
Then his very next sentence struck like a thunderclap.
“Workshop Master Xu, I came here to invite you to join our Bai Family. With your talent, techniques and medicinal treasures would all be yours for the taking!”
“Why should you keep enduring the moods of your superiors any longer?”