Chapter 205 - 204: Cooperation
Luo Pingyuan paused, his tone growing more menacing. "Besides, you engineered my appointment here in Mirror Mountain. Was it truly for my career? No. It was merely for revenge for your dead son—to have me cover up your crimes and clear your obstacles.
Between us, has there ever been a shred of a bond between father- and son-in-law? We were just using each other. To speak of affection... Father-in-law, at your age, aren’t you being a bit too naive?"
Rage surged through Jiang Hongyi. His eyes burned with fury, and he was about to curse again.
But he was suddenly overcome by a blinding rage. His vision went black, and he fainted from sheer anger, collapsing limply to the ground, motionless.
"Senior."
Luo Pingyuan turned to Chen Li, his tone once again respectful. "If I may be so bold, Senior, I would like to propose a partnership."
Chen Li watched him quietly, not responding immediately.
His gaze seemed to pierce one’s very soul, and Luo Pingyuan felt an intangible pressure.
Luo Pingyuan immediately sensed this distrust.
He took a step forward without hesitation, his gaze falling on the barely breathing Jiang Hongyi. A look of resolute ruthlessness flashed in his eyes. "I am well aware that words alone are no proof. If you still have doubts, Senior, I am willing to take this beast’s life to prove my sincerity."
At these words, the corner of Chen Li’s mouth curled into a barely perceptible smirk. With a casual kick, he sent the still-muttering Jiang Hongyi rolling in front of Luo Pingyuan.
A cold glint flashed in Luo Pingyuan’s eyes. Without a moment’s hesitation, he drew the Soft Sword coiled around his waist with a sharp SHING.
With a surge of Inner Strength, the blade instantly straightened, becoming a streak of cold light that pierced with unerring precision into Jiang Hongyi’s heart.
Jiang Hongyi’s body stiffened. His eyes flew open, glaring at Luo Pingyuan with venomous hatred before the light in them faded completely.
Luo Pingyuan withdrew the Soft Sword, a bead of blood sliding down its tip.
Without a glance at the corpse at his feet, he once again clasped his hands in a salute to Chen Li. "Senior, may we talk now?"
"You may."
Chen Li said lightly.
Luo Pingyuan took a deep breath, suppressing the excitement in his heart. In a low voice, he said, "I do not ask for much. I only hope that you, Senior, will lend me a hand to completely... take control of the Jiang Family!"
Chen Li’s reply was blunt. "Not interested."
Luo Pingyuan seemed to have expected this and immediately continued, "I understand! But I only need you to act once, Senior. Just kill Jiang Hongxin.
If you agree, Senior, then in return, all of the Jiang Family’s farmlands, shops, and mines in Jingshan County... any and all property to their name, I have the authority to give it all to you."
Chen Li replied calmly, "Magistrate Luo, you’re not the first person to offer me these terms."
’Is someone else in the Jiang Family also making a move?’
A chill ran through Luo Pingyuan, and his expression changed slightly. "But would you do me the honor, Senior, of hearing my humble plan?"
"Speak."
Chen Li was succinct.
Luo Pingyuan’s spirits lifted. He lowered his voice and quickened his pace. "After this battle, the Jiang Family’s Grandmaster Tributors have been all but wiped out. Of the main branch, both Jiang Hongyi and his son are dead, leaving only the second brother, Jiang Hongxin. As long as we can eliminate him, the main branch of the Jiang Family will have no male heir to carry on the family line."
A sharp glint flashed in his eyes. "According to the laws of the Court and clan customs, inheritance rights don’t typically fall to a woman. However, Jiang Hongyi had a daughter—my wife. I just need to have one of my sons take her surname, Jiang, and he can legally inherit the family estate. As for Jiang Hongyi’s third sister, she’s married to Governor Yan Wenlu. A man of his high station would likely not stoop to vying for this."
"At that time,"
A confident smile touched Luo Pingyuan’s lips. "I will be able to legitimately run the family in my son’s stead and gain complete control over the Jiang Family’s lifeline."
He had laid out his entire plan. It was audacious, to be sure, but also meticulously constructed and quite feasible.
’But a beast of that size doesn’t die so easily.’
’And a mere Spirit Realm First Level practitioner dares to dream of swallowing a whale whole.’
’Even if he gets his hands on it, he might not be able to hold onto it.’
Chen Li let out a cold laugh.
The sound sent an inexplicable chill through Luo Pingyuan’s heart.
The next moment, Chen Li suddenly pressed a palm lightly against the ground.
A searing wave of Inner Qi surged from his body. The dry wood chips and scraps of paper scattered on the ground instantly ignited, erupting in a shower of sparks.
Then, with a flick of his sleeve, a gentle yet immense wave of Inner Qi swept up the burning debris and scattered it across the wooden ruins of the Drunken Creek Pavilion.
It was late autumn, and the air was tinder-dry.
The sparks landed on the splintered beams and shattered pillars, and with a WHOOSH, flames erupted and spread.
Fanned by the wind, the fire quickly grew into a towering inferno that consumed the entire wreckage.
The blazing firelight illuminated Chen Li’s placid face, as well as the shock and suspicion that flickered across Luo Pingyuan’s expression.
"Secure your prize first. Then we’ll talk."
Chen Li’s figure wavered in the rising heat of the inferno, and then, like a phantom, he vanished silently into the heart of the flames.
"Thank you, Senior."
Luo Pingyuan remained in his slightly bowed posture.
He only straightened up slowly long after Chen Li was gone.
He stood alone before the ever-intensifying blaze.
The flickering flames cast his face in shifting light and shadow.
The towering flames lit up half the night sky over Jingshan County Town in a crimson glow.
Billowing black smoke, mixed with the CRACKLE of burning wood, rose to the heavens. The air filled with the acrid smell of scorching timber.
His Master approached cautiously, lowering his voice to ask, "County Magistrate, the fire... should we organize a team to extinguish it?"
"Are there any homes nearby?" Luo Pingyuan asked instead of answering.
"No."
The Master glanced around and shook his head.
In its heyday, the Drunken Creek Pavilion was a bustling place of nightly song and revelry, prompting many citizens to file complaints with the Government Office.
Back then, the Drunken Creek Pavilion was flush with cash and simply bought up many of the neighboring residences.
The surrounding shops had gradually moved away after the last death at the Drunken Creek Pavilion.
This entire area had been vacant for a long time.
"And are there any civilians left?"
Luo Pingyuan’s voice was so calm it betrayed no emotion.
The Master was taken aback. "To answer the County Magistrate, as per your orders, any civilians who appeared nearby have been... ’escorted’ to the jail."
"In that case."
A faint, cruel smile touched Luo Pingyuan’s lips. "Then why put it out? Let it burn. The bigger, the better. The brighter, the better. Let it burn... until nothing is left. A clean end to it all..."
His voice trailed off, becoming a quiet murmur.
The Master dared not say another word. He bowed his head and replied, "Yes, County Magistrate."
He quietly stepped back and ordered the government constables to block off all the intersections, preventing anyone from approaching. In effect, they became guards for the great fire.
Fanned by the wind, the blaze raged with increasing intensity, only beginning to subside at dawn.
By the end, it was nothing but a stretch of smoldering, blackened ruins, with only a few charred timbers pointing stubbornly at the sky, a silent testament to the terror of the previous night.
Luo Pingyuan straightened his slightly wrinkled official robes, brushed away the soot, and, carrying the scent of morning dew and smoke, walked slowly back to the County Magistrate’s Office.
The rear hall was pleasantly warm. His wife, Jiang Yuru, had just risen and was combing her hair before a mirror. She looked up in surprise as he returned. "My dear, you look exhausted. Your eyes are bloodshot. Were you up all night?"
Her voice was gentle, tinged with an unconcealable weakness. Her face was pale and wan, with faint dark circles beneath her eyes.
Luo Pingyuan gave a gentle smile, stepped forward, and naturally took the comb to smooth his wife’s hair at her temples. His voice was hoarse. "There was a fire in the eastern part of the city last night. It was a big one. I was overseeing the firefighting efforts and was busy all night. Did you not sleep well either?"
Jiang Yuru’s slender brows knitted together as she sighed. "You’ve worked so hard, my dear. I don’t know why, but I’ve been so drowsy and lethargic lately. I have no energy during the day, and I feel terribly drained."
She covered her mouth with a handkerchief and coughed lightly twice before continuing, "I slept poorly last night as well. I was plagued by nightmares, waking up several times drenched in a cold, clammy sweat."
Luo Pingyuan put down the comb and felt her forehead. "More nightmares and cold sweats? Have you been taking your medicine on time? I’ll go prepare Divine Doctor Li’s tonic for you."
Jiang Yuru tugged his sleeve gently. "My dear, you’ve been working all night. Let a servant do it. You need to rest."
As she spoke, she couldn’t suppress a yawn, her eyes watering. It was clear she was forcing herself to stay alert.
"Nonsense," Luo Pingyuan said, taking her pale hand in his. "The servants don’t practice the Martial Dao. They can’t control the heat properly, which will reduce the medicine’s potency. You’re weak and need careful treatment. I’ll prepare it myself so you’ll recover faster."
A blush rose on Jiang Yuru’s pale cheeks, her eyes shining with happiness and gratitude. She nodded gently. "Thank you, my dear."
Luo Pingyuan patted the back of her hand.
Just as he was about to rise, Jiang Yuru remembered something. "Oh, my dear, if you’re free this afternoon, could you accompany me home? I dreamt of my brother Chaoshan again last night, and I feel uneasy. I want to see Father and talk to him."
Luo Pingyuan froze for a fraction of a second, then smiled naturally. "Silly me, I’ve been so busy I completely forgot to tell you. Father-in-law received an urgent message from home in Songjiang last night during the banquet and had to return at once. He already left."
"What?"
Jiang Yuru sat bolt upright, her face a mask of panic and worry. "Father left? But he said he was going to stay for a while. Why was he in such a rush? He didn’t even have time to tell me? Has something terrible happened at home?"
Luo Pingyuan quickly put an arm around her shoulders, his tone light and reassuring. "Don’t panic, my love. Think about it. What kind of trouble could the Jiang Family possibly face in Liyang? Father-in-law has led the family for many years; what storms hasn’t he weathered? It was probably just some clan business that required his immediate attention. Rest assured, he can certainly handle it."
His tone was firm and carried a convincing calm. "He asked me to tell you not to worry, and to focus on recovering here in Mirror Mountain. He’ll come back to see you soon, after he’s taken care of things."
Hearing her husband’s explanation, Jiang Yuru thought it over and realized he was right.
Her family was like a great tree with deep roots, a veritable giant in Songjiang. What danger could they possibly face?
She was indeed worrying too much.
Feeling a little more at ease, she leaned her head on her husband’s shoulder and murmured, "Perhaps I am just being foolish. I just can’t shake this feeling of unease..."
"It’s all right. I’m here for you."
Luo Pingyuan gently stroked her back, his voice soft. "You just rest. I’m going to prepare your medicine now. When you’re feeling a little stronger, I’ll take you for a walk outside the city."
"Mm."
Jiang Yuru nodded obediently, pushing her unease to the back of her mind for the moment.
Luo Pingyuan carefully tucked the blankets around her, then turned and left the room.
The moment he turned, the tenderness on his face vanished, replaced by a placid stillness as deep as a dark pool.
He walked through a covered walkway to a secluded kitchen in the rear of the County Magistrate’s Office.
The kitchen was far from the main courtyard. Normally, only a scullery maid would be here to boil water, but right now it was empty.
He closed the door behind him, shutting out all light and sound.
The stove was cold, and the faint smell of firewood lingered in the air.
Without calling for a servant, he rolled up his own sleeves, lit a small charcoal stove, and set an earthenware pot upon it, filling it with water.
From a cabinet, he took out the restorative prescription Divine Doctor Li had written for Jiang Yuru.
Then, he produced another small, oil-paper packet from his robes. He took out a few herbs and, with a release of Inner Qi from his palm, instantly pulverized them into dust.
As the water in the pot began to boil, he carefully sprinkled the powder into it. A pungent, medicinal odor filled the air for a moment before quickly dissipating.
Luo Pingyuan watched the pot with a blank expression, stirring the concoction lightly with a bamboo chopstick.
Soon, the medicine was ready.
He carefully strained the dark brown liquid into a white porcelain bowl. Then he picked up the bowl and returned to his wife’s side.