Chapter 894 - 894: Ingenious Strategy
"You don't need to worry about this!" Chen San said with a smile. "Bone-Piercing Tendon-Softening Powder, I have my own way to deal with it. This poison won't harm me!"
Ye Qing was slightly surprised. Bone-Piercing Tendon-Softening Powder was an exceptionally potent toxin. Last time, both the Shen Family and the Sha Men members were incapacitated by it, demonstrating the power of this toxic mist. Yet, Chen San had a method to counter it—what exactly was his secret?
But after a moment's thought, Ye Qing realized that the Shen Family's Ziyu Chenxiang Pill could neutralize the Bone-Piercing Tendon-Softening Powder, and the Meng District General Helian Tiehua's reputation was not inferior to the Southern Fist King Shen Tianjun. It wouldn't be surprising if he possessed antidotes. Since Chen San was Helian Tiehua's disciple, he was bound to have access to such things.
"In that case, that's good." Ye Qing said. "However, you still need to be cautious of Wang Tian'an. He's not someone who will give up so easily; he must have other plans up his sleeve!"
"Don't worry. I've already sent someone to tail him. This man once killed so many members of my Chen Family—there's no way I'll let him off so easily!" Chen San paused and then added, "However, what you just mentioned is indeed something worth paying attention to. So many people coming at once—there might indeed be spies of Wang Tian'an among them. I'll need to screen these people thoroughly."
"If you feel that the screening process is too cumbersome, I might have a quicker way to identify these individuals," Ye Qing suggested.
"Oh? What's the method?" Chen San asked immediately. By now, he had utmost confidence in Ye Qing's strategies. After all, past events had repeatedly proven how wise it was to cooperate with Ye Qing. If not for their collaboration, Chen San might still be engaged in a stalemate with Wang Tian'an. Most critically, relying solely on the Ludong Resounding Horse's capabilities, he might not even stand a chance against Wang Tian'an, who had been amassing power in the Western Province for twenty years!
Ye Qing said, "Gather these people and inform them that we've found a method to expel the Heart-Devouring Bugs and that we can help them remove it."
"Huh?" Chen San was stunned. "You found a way to do that?"
"No!" Ye Qing replied.
"Then… why did you say that…" Chen San was even more puzzled.
Ye Qing calmly explained, "You just need to inform them of this. However, you should also warn them about one thing: expelling the Heart-Devouring Bugs comes with a price. To completely rid themselves of these bugs, they would have to give up all their martial arts abilities. But, we can provide them with a means of survival. We can arrange jobs for them in factories, where they can live like ordinary people."
Chen San caught on and said, "Ah! So you're trying to scare them?"
"Exactly!" Ye Qing nodded. "If these people are truly sincere about betraying Wang Tian'an, then their martial arts abilities wouldn't matter to them. Being controlled by these Heart-Devouring Bugs for so many years, their greatest wish would be to live a normal life, free from constant anxiety. So, for those without ulterior motives, giving up their martial arts for a peaceful life wouldn't be a problem. However, for those harboring ill intentions, they would likely refuse because martial arts mean everything to them. They are not after a simple life; they crave the wealth and glory that comes with following Wang Tian'an. They wouldn't easily trade their martial arts for normalcy!"
"That makes sense." Chen San nodded and added, "But what if some of them are willing to sacrifice their martial arts just to gather information from us and remain undercover?"
Ye Qing replied, "I've already consulted a doctor friend in this area and developed a drug. Once ingested, this drug temporarily numbs the meridians, making it feel as if they've lost all their inner strength. You just need to make them take it, and they'll believe their martial arts abilities are gone. Then, you can assign them work in the factory and prevent them from coming into contact with any sensitive information for several months. Over time, even if there are spies among them, they'll grow disillusioned and will likely try to escape the factory. That's how we can identify them."
"Brilliant idea!" Chen San couldn't help but exclaim, his spirit lifting. "Ye brothers, your plan is truly ingenious. Let's proceed as you suggested!"
Sorting out spies from such a large group was no easy task. Ye Qing's plan alleviated Chen San's greatest headache, leaving him both relieved and thrilled. He couldn't help but marvel again at Ye Qing's remarkable cunning.
In truth, Ye Qing had devised this plan long ago. He had explicitly sought out Lin Tianyou to create a formula capable of numbing the meridians. While under the effect of this drug, a person would temporarily lose touch with their internal breath, making it appear as though their martial arts had disappeared. However, in reality, the drug's effects would wear off completely in three days without causing any lasting harm to one's martial arts abilities.
After news broke that Wang Tian'an's men had retreated, the anxiety among those gathered inside the house began to dissipate. Chen San continued to pursue Wang Tian'an, who was now so preoccupied with ensuring his own safety that targeting Ye Qing again seemed impossible. Moreover, with Chen San keeping a hawk-like watch on him, any moves Wang Tian'an attempted against Ye Qing would surely be discovered. The real danger now lay in the group of mercenaries, hidden and far more elusive than Wang Tian'an's forces.
The next morning, Ye Qing first visited the orphanage before heading to Dongzhou. Life at the orphanage appeared unchanged—its construction, the children's routines, and the people's activities continued as they always had. A few individuals were gathered, though, discussing the health condition of the venerable old principal Wu Yian, their faces overtly somber. The staff held great respect for Wu Yian.
Observing the scene at the orphanage, Ye Qing couldn't stifle a sigh. Just as he was about to leave, a thin, dark-skinned six- or seven-year-old boy timidly approached him.
The boy, frail and visibly weary, seemed frightened as he cautiously neared Ye Qing. His eyes darted around nervously before finally settling on him. After hesitating, the boy softly asked, "Uncle, is this the orphanage?"
Ye Qing furrowed his brow slightly. The boy bore a striking resemblance to the street urchins he had seen before. But in Shenchuan City, there hadn't been vagrant children on the streets for quite some time. How did this boy end up here?
"This is the orphanage. Do you need any help?" Ye Qing crouched down and said gently, "Tell me; Uncle will help you with anything."
The boy lowered his head, clutching tightly at the hem of his ragged shirt. In a voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz, he whispered, "I… I'm… I'm an orphan…"
Ye Qing froze for a moment. The child was only six or seven years old at most. Even if he truly were a wandering orphan, how could he grasp what being an orphan meant? Yet, the boy had run straight to the orphanage and straightforwardly declared himself an orphan. This raised some suspicion in Ye Qing's mind.
These words were clearly something someone had instructed him to say!
Ye Qing studied the boy closely. "Do you know what 'orphan' means?"
"Yes!" the boy replied. "It means a child without a father, mother, grandparents, or siblings."
Ye Qing continued, "Did you used to have a father, mother, grandparents, or siblings?"
"Yes!" the boy said.
"And where are they now?" Ye Qing asked.
The boy answered, "Daddy said they've all gone to Heaven."
"Daddy said so?" Ye Qing gazed at the boy. "Then where is your daddy?"
"He... he said he's going to Heaven too..." The boy's lip quivered, and with a choked sob, he added, "But Daddy said he couldn't take me. He said I'd be an orphan from now on and told me to come to the orphanage. I want to go to Heaven with Daddy, but he wouldn't let me. He pushed me away... I… I miss Daddy..."
The boy could no longer hold back his tears, sobbing uncontrollably. Seeing this, Ye Qing felt a pang in his heart. He pulled the boy closer, gently wiped away his tears, and asked softly, "Do you know where your daddy is now?"
The boy's expression immediately grew guarded, and he shook his head. "I don't know, I don't know. Daddy said I mustn't bring anyone home, or he'll never let me go to Heaven with him!"
Ye Qing frowned. Was the father the one who had driven his child out of the house? But why? Why cast his child away? And what did he mean by "going to Heaven"? Were the rest of the family truly dead? The boy's father was clearly alive, so why did he insist on this talk of Heaven?
Ye Qing said, "It's okay. Just tell me where you live. You don't have to take us there; your daddy won't be mad."
The boy shook his head again. "Daddy said I mustn't tell anyone where our house is. He told me to be obedient at the orphanage. Uncle, can I stay at the orphanage? Daddy said if I'm good here, he'll come take me to Heaven. Uncle, I want to go to Heaven. I miss Mommy, my sister, Grandpa, and Grandma. I want to be with them..."
The boy's tearful voice tugged at Ye Qing's heartstrings. He didn't know what tragedy had befallen the boy's family, but the child was innocent in all this.
"Don't cry, it's okay, it's okay." Ye Qing comforted softly. "Uncle will help you find your mommy, sister, and everyone else. Don't worry."
"Okay!" The boy nodded earnestly, then glanced pitifully at the orphanage and murmured, "Uncle, I… I'm so hungry..."