Chapter 582 - 281: Setting a Trap
But the Four Outer City Districts cover a vast area. The Wang Clan Members were spread out, and their subordinate Jianghu Gangs had numerous members.
Wiping them out completely in a single night would be easier said than done.
Shen Mingyuan snorted angrily. "The Jiang and Qin Families are truly sinister and cunning. If something had happened to our Shen Family last night, I’m afraid they would have been the ones to wipe out the Jianghu Gangs under our control.
Fortunately, they are still wary of you, and the Shen Family’s manpower is intact, so they didn’t dare to move against our gangs. They even ordered their own Jianghu Gangs to cede some territory and businesses to compensate the Shen Family for our losses.
However, the lion’s share of the businesses controlled by the Wang Family’s Jianghu Gangs has been seized by those two families."
"It seems the Jiang and Qin Families have been plotting this for a long time," Chen Cheng said in a low voice.
As the saying goes, "When the snipe and the clam grapple, the fisherman profits."
The Shen and Wang Families fought, and in the end, it was the Jiang and Qin Families who benefited!
From the perspective of the Jiang and Qin Families, this was clearly an open conspiracy. Chen Cheng and the Shen Family had no good way to make them spit out the prize they had already swallowed.
"Sigh... Among the Four Great Clans of the Linji City Inner City, the Shen Family has always been the weakest, which is why we became a target for the other three."
Shen Mingyuan sighed softly, but his expression immediately brightened with relief.
"But now, Ah Cheng, your Martial Arts Power has advanced by leaps and bounds, suppressing all of Linji City.
My father is also a few years younger than the Ancestors of the Jiang and Qin Families.
The Shen Family’s situation will only get better and better."
"You are absolutely right, Grandfather-in-law." Chen Cheng nodded slightly. Then he asked, "Have we secured Cui Liu Manor in the Dongcheng District?"
Cui Liu Manor was on the shore of Jishui Lake. It was an estate belonging to the Wang Family and also the secret stronghold of the Black Lotus Sect—information Chen Cheng had interrogated out of Wang Tinghuan.
Since Ghostly Wound had come to Linji City, he had clearly abandoned the sect’s headquarters deep within the Great Wilderness Mountain Range.
The treasury the Black Lotus Sect had accumulated over so many years was very likely moved to Cui Liu Manor.
Therefore, controlling Cui Liu Manor meant they could likely obtain the Black Lotus Sect’s treasury.
Speaking of this, a look of apprehension appeared on Shen Mingyuan’s face. "Last night, I personally led men to Cui Liu Manor, secured everyone inside immediately, and interrogated the Black Lotus Sect’s Incense Master, who was disguised as the steward.
The Black Lotus Sect’s stronghold is in a cave in the mountain behind the manor. However, I’m told there are two powerful Green-haired Corpses inside.
A Green-haired Corpse is covered in poisonous Corpse Qi. Even a Martial Artist at the Bone Marrow Cleansing Realm wouldn’t dare to touch it.
Additionally, there is a Corpse Demon that is nearly finished being refined. Its strength might even surpass that of a Perfect Martial Artist of the Organ Refining Realm.
I was afraid something would go wrong, so I didn’t dare to enter rashly."
"A Corpse Demon?" Chen Cheng couldn’t help but frown slightly.
Chen Cheng had learned from the Demon and Monster Atlas that even the weakest Corpse Demon was comparable to a Tier Six Demon.
The Demon Qi of a Tier Six Demon and the Demonic Qi of a Demon were both on the same level of power as the Innate True Qi of an Innate Realm Martial Artist.
This far surpassed the Primordial Gang True Force of a Perfect Martial Artist of the Organ Refining Realm, as well as the aura of a Second Layer Realm.
Even an unfinished Corpse Demon was not something an ordinary Perfect Martial Artist of the Organ Refining Realm could contend with.
Shen Mingyuan sighed. "The Corpse Demon is too terrifying. I’m afraid we won’t be able to get in."
Chen Cheng fell into a thoughtful silence. After a long moment, he asked, "Who else knows about this?"
Shen Mingyuan’s expression turned serious. "This matter is of great importance. I was the only one who conducted the interrogation; not even the rest of the Shen Family knows.
However, Cui Liu Manor is a Wang Family property. Now that it’s under our control, it will easily attract the attention of the Jiang and Qin Families.
I’m afraid we can’t keep this a secret for long. After all, with Ghostly Wound dead, the Jiang and Qin Families are bound to be after the Black Lotus Sect’s stronghold as well."
Chen Cheng’s eyes lit up. "I’ll go take a look first."
"Go now?" Shen Mingyuan looked puzzled.
’Going over in broad daylight, isn’t that just openly telling the Jiang and Qin Families that the Black Lotus Sect’s stronghold is at Cui Liu Manor?’
’If Chen Cheng wants to try dealing with the Corpse Demon, he should be more secretive about it.’
"We’re going now." Chen Cheng nodded slightly and stood up, walking toward the door.
Shen Mingyuan was momentarily stunned, but then a look of understanding dawned on him. He rose and followed Chen Cheng, lowering his voice to ask,
"Ah Cheng, are you thinking..."
"Grandfather-in-law, it’s best if we just have a tacit understanding." Chen Cheng turned around, a mysterious smile on his face.
Shen Mingyuan chuckled. "Right, right! A tacit understanding!"
The two left the rear courtyard, went to the main front yard, and boarded a carriage. They headed straight out of the Shen Family residence toward the Dongcheng District.
Along the way, the carriage curtains remained tightly drawn. Aside from the servant driving the carriage, they had no other men following them.
This made it look more like a casual outing for the Shen Family members.
Acting so secretively was, of course, just for show. It was unlikely they could hide from the eyes and ears of the Jiang and Qin Families.
But it would draw more of their attention, making them notice Cui Liu Manor right away and then naturally discover the Black Lotus Sect’s stronghold.
Given the way the Jiang and Qin Families operated, they would surely come to get a piece of the pie.
This was a perfect opportunity for Chen Cheng to set up Jiang Huaijin and Qin Hongbin, letting them serve as cannon fodder!
With these two veteran Perfect Martial Artists of the Organ Refining Realm scouting the way, it would be relatively safer for Chen Cheng to enter the Black Lotus Sect’s stronghold.
The carriage left the Inner City and circled the Dongcheng District a few times, visiting several Jianghu Gang strongholds under the Shen Family’s control, putting on the appearance of the Shen Family inspecting their subordinate gangs.
It was nearly Noon when they finally left the east gate of the city and headed toward Cui Liu Manor.
Cui Liu Manor was located right next to Jishui Lake. The shore was a large expanse of sandy shallows where many willows grew.
It was early winter now, so the willows were all bare. In other seasons, however, with the green willows, the scenery would surely be beautiful.
The area near the shallows was unsuitable for farming; there was only a small, abandoned sand quarry.
Behind the manor was a connected range of rather steep, rocky mountains, which were also bare.
The carriage followed the gravel path until it finally stopped at the manor’s entrance.
Chen Cheng and Shen Mingyuan disembarked from the carriage one after the other, only to be startled by the sight of a large group of people and horses standing at the entrance!
There were also more than ten cargo carriages of various sizes.
The smiles on their faces instantly froze when they saw the crowd at the entrance. They both looked quite displeased.
In contrast, everyone at the manor entrance was beaming.
"Young friend, we meet again!" Jiang Huaijin chuckled and clasped his hands in a polite greeting.
"Elder Jiang, you’re too kind," Chen Cheng replied noncommittally with a slight nod.
Qin Hongbin stroked his beard and said to Shen Mingyuan, "Worthy nephew Mingyuan, what a coincidence! You and young friend Chen Cheng are out for a stroll, and this old man and Old Jiang just happened to step out for some fresh air and ended up nearby. What a stroke of luck."
The old rascal had gotten the seniority between Chen Cheng and Shen Mingyuan all mixed up, though it was unclear if he was doing it on purpose!
Shen Mingyuan said, "Elder Qin, Ah Cheng and I just came to the manor to rest our feet and have a cup of tea before heading back to the city."
"What a coincidence! The two of us are parched as well. We were hoping to impose on the manor for a cup of tea," Qin Hongbin said with a smile, winking at Jiang Huaijin.
"Old Jiang, what do you think?"
Jiang Huaijin chuckled. "That’s exactly what I was thinking.
Young friend Chen Cheng, worthy nephew Mingyuan, we’ll have to impose on you!"
Shen Mingyuan looked at Chen Cheng with a troubled expression, as if asking for his decision.
Chen Cheng’s gaze swept over Jiang Huaijin and Qin Hongbin’s faces, then over the men they had brought with them. He hesitated for a moment before saying,
"Since that’s the case, then I invite you two Elders to come in and sit for a while.
However, I was planning to use this manor as a private villa to enjoy the scenery. It hasn’t been tidied up yet, so it can’t accommodate too many people."
"No matter," Jiang Huaijin laughed heartily. "Just the two of us old men will go in."
"In that case, please, come in!" Chen Cheng gestured with his hand and led the way into the manor.
Once inside, Chen Cheng led the two men to the main hall to be seated, while Shen Mingyuan ordered his subordinates to serve tea.
Before the tea even arrived, Chen Cheng stood up. "Please wait here for a moment, you two Elders. I need to relieve myself, so I’ll be excusing myself for a bit."
"What a coincidence. This old man needs to relieve himself as well. I’ll go with you, young friend," Jiang Huaijin said, also rising to his feet.
Qin Hongbin naturally stood up as well. "Young friend, this old man will go too."
Chen Cheng shot them both a look, then left the main hall and headed toward the rear courtyard.
When he reached the rear courtyard, he stepped onto a small path leading to the mountain behind the manor.
Jiang Huaijin and Qin Hongbin, of course, followed his every step.
"You two, the Black Lotus Sect’s stronghold is guarded by an incomparably powerful Corpse Demon. You’d better not follow me." Arriving in front of a huge stone cave in the back mountain, Chen Cheng suddenly turned around, his face completely serious.
Hearing this, Jiang Huaijin and Qin Hongbin were both startled!