Chapter 121 : Chapter 121
Chapter 121. Methods
When Chen Donghai and the other man fled, they sent word for their subordinates to retreat in haste. Shangyang Residence’s martial artists seized the opportunity at once, catching them off guard and earning a good deal of battle merit.
For a time, the Bai Family’s martial artists saw their morale plummet.
Inside the Bai Family’s rear encampment.
A Fifth Meridian Street Guard reported, “Workshop Master Chen, the retreat earlier was too rushed. We lost one Fourth Meridian fighter and nearly forty First- to Third-Meridian martial artists... The two wards of Shangyang Residence have also been extremely cautious. After taking two streets, they stopped and did not recklessly scatter their forces in pursuit, so there has been no opening to exploit...”
“I know. Tell them all to hold their positions and wait for the right moment.”
Chen Donghai sat in his chair with a livid expression, his chest heaving violently. He waved a hand, signaling the man to leave.
Feng stood to one side, his expression equally ugly.
Only after the Street Guard had departed did he turn a cold gaze on Chen Donghai. “Why didn’t you tell me earlier that brat was that strong?!”
Chen Donghai forced a bitter smile. “I only just found out myself. When I fought him before, he was strong, yes, but nowhere near as terrifying as he became later. That power... it was as though he had become a different person.”
Feng fell silent for a moment, then said slowly, “He has a secret on him.”
Chen Donghai froze. “What secret?”
“I don’t know.”
Feng shook his head, his gaze dark. “But that sudden burst of power is absolutely not something a normal martial artist should possess. Either it was some sort of secret art, or else...”
He paused there and did not continue.
But Chen Donghai understood what he meant.
Whether it was a secret art or an innate gift, it all pointed to one fact: this Xu Yuan was far more troublesome than they had imagined.
Feng rose to his feet, walked to the window, and stared into the depths of the night as he said, word by word, “This man... must be eliminated!”
Feng had dominated the Level Three zone for a long time, yet he had never suffered such a setback. From now on, whenever he practiced martial arts, he would likely be haunted by Xu Yuan’s shadow, and even his martial path would be affected.
At the thought of that, the killing intent in his heart swelled even more.
“Do not be anxious, Workshop Master He. Before that, let us first make him suffer a little.”
At that moment, Chen Donghai suddenly spoke, his tone deliberately mysterious.
Feng turned his head and gave a quiet exclamation. “What do you mean by that, Workshop Master Chen?”
Chen Donghai walked slowly back to the desk, took out a dossier from the drawer, and gently set it on the table.
“I did not run so many spy dens for nothing.”
He looked up at He Feng, his eyes gleaming sharply. “At the very least, I managed to turn three Fourth Meridian martial artists. And the one I have the firmest hold over just so happens to be on one of the streets under Xu Yuan’s command.”
Feng frowned, skepticism creeping into his voice. “In the current situation, Shangyang Residence is in the ascendant while the Bai Family is being pushed back step by step. Are there still people willing to work for the Bai Family?”
“Others might not.”
Chen Donghai smiled, and that smile carried the confidence of someone certain of victory.
“But this man was tainted by our Bai Family’s Five Joys Powder during one of our setups, and from that point on, he lost all control. Once someone gets hooked on that stuff, there is no chance of cutting themselves free.”
Five Joys Powder?
Feng's brow furrowed even more deeply.
Of course he had heard of it. It could make a person’s blood boil in a short time, letting them train with twice the result for half the effort. But once addicted, it was like falling into an abyss. When withdrawal came, life became worse than death.
And it drastically shortened one’s lifespan.
The Bai Family had used that thing to control many people, but He Feng had always disdained such methods.
“I have already looked into everything clearly.”
Chen Donghai continued, his tone growing ever calmer.
“The servants in Xu Yuan’s courtyard are all ordinary people, and the guards are lax. When the time comes, that man can secretly slip into the quiet chamber, or tamper with something in the kitchen... Even if Xu Yuan does not die, he will still be stripped of a layer of skin.”
After hearing that, the expression on He Feng’s face immediately turned indifferent, and he responded perfunctorily, “Workshop Master Chen truly has no shortage of clever schemes.”
He hated Xu Yuan, but he had always looked down on such underhanded tricks. Still, with the larger plan at stake, it was not convenient for him to say much.
Chen Donghai naturally noticed the other man’s coldness, but he did not care in the least.
It was the same old saying: now that the Bai Family was in a weaker position, they had to use every method available. That was what it meant to say that in war, deception was never too much.
As for open and honorable methods, they no longer suited their circumstances.
...
Late at night, on the tenth day of the ninth month.
On the two streets taken by Changlin Ward and Qingyun Ward, the sounds of battle had gradually faded. Only the occasional clash of weapons and dying screams still echoed through the night.
Xu Yuan stood atop a rooftop, looking down over the battlefield below.
By the light of the flames, squad after squad of Shangyang Residence martial artists were clearing out the remaining enemies and collecting the spoils of war.
The corpses left behind by the Bai Family lay strewn everywhere, and the air was thick with the stench of blood.
“Workshop Master Xu!”
A Fifth Meridian Street Guard hurried over, clasped his fists in salute, his face full of excitement.
“The count is done. On Changlin Ward’s side, we killed one Fourth Meridian martial artist from the Bai Family and twenty-three below the Third Meridian. We also captured nine wounded men alive and seized a number of weapons and medicinal treasures!”
Xu Yuan gave a slight nod and said nothing more.
“Pass the order down. Treat the wounded, tally the spoils, and withdraw back into the ward to rest and regroup before dawn.”
“Yes!”
The Street Guard accepted the order and departed.
Xu Yuan turned around, his gaze passing over the battlefield bathed in firelight and settling on the depths of the night.
That was the direction in which He Feng and Chen Donghai had fled.
He had gained quite a lot from today’s battle.
As Workshop Master, with the merit earned from occupying streets and the share he received from the enemy kills made by his subordinates, the total came to a full four hundred seventy-two points.
For someone who had only recently entered the Sixth Meridian, that was already an excellent figure.
Although a large portion of that merit came from the Workshop Master’s share, the subordinates who had directly joined the battle also received a fair amount.
And because they had tangibly tasted the benefits, and had also heard that Xu Yuan seemed to have even driven He Feng back, the several Street Guards who had previously treated Xu Yuan with lukewarm indifference were now all smiles. When they saw him, they practically wanted to revere him even more than their own fathers.
The corners of Xu Yuan’s mouth lifted faintly before his expression returned to calm.
He had noticed the change in those people’s attitudes, but he did not take it to heart.
In this world, human hearts have always been driven by profit.
And to him, only strength was truly reliable.
...
The next day, the eleventh day of the ninth month.
Changlin Ward withdrew to the far rear to rest and regroup.
Having just gone through battle the night before, the martial artists below rotated through rest shifts, releasing the pressure brought on by the slaughter.
In the rear courtyard of the Workshop Master’s residence, Old Madam Wang was still busy at the stove, while Chun’er and Qiu’er chatted softly beneath the corridor. On the surface, everything looked no different from usual.
In the afternoon, Chen Sanli came over.
Ever since learning that Xu Yuan had become a Workshop Master, he had been beside himself with excitement. He had volunteered to transfer over from the Level Three zone, insisting that he help with logistics.
In his words, everyone in Brother Xu’s courtyard was an ordinary person, so it was not safe. They needed someone trustworthy keeping watch.
When Xu Yuan heard that at the time, he had merely smiled and did not refuse.
Now, Chen Sanli stepped into the front hall, his expression somewhat grave.
“Brother Xu.”
Lowering his voice, he leaned close to Xu Yuan’s ear. “While making my rounds yesterday, I suddenly noticed some things that were not right...”
As Xu Yuan listened, his face gradually turned cold.
He did not speak immediately. He merely looked at Chen Sanli in silence.
“You did very well, Sanli.”
After a moment, he finally spoke, his tone so calm that no emotion could be heard in it. “Do not spread word of this for now.”
Chen Sanli nodded heavily. “Do not worry, Brother Xu. I know where the line is.”
Xu Yuan waved a hand. Understanding at once, Chen Sanli quietly withdrew.
Silence fell over the hall once more.
Xu Yuan leaned back in his chair, his gaze resting beyond the window.
The sunlight was just right. In the courtyard, flowers and trees flourished in luxuriant growth. Chun’er was out beneath the corridor hanging laundry to dry, a smile on her face. It was a scene of perfect peace.
But beneath that peace, how many undercurrents were hidden?
The Bai Family. Again, the Bai Family.
They had gained no advantage on the battlefield yesterday, so today they had turned to such despicable methods.
That did fit Chen Donghai’s sinister style.
Xu Yuan closed his eyes and sorted through his thoughts in his mind.
Anyone able to reach the rear courtyard of the Workshop Master’s residence had to be someone familiar with Changlin Ward.
And since this person dared to make a move, it could not possibly be merely a single test.
Who could it be?
He opened his eyes, and a trace of cold light flashed through them.
...