Chapter 50: A Man Could Not Grow Rich Without Unexpected Wealth (I)

"I've heard that title before, too. With so many outsiders in the city and so many rumors swirling around, I once heard it from a group of them, though at the time, I didn't think much of it. Now that I hear you all talking about it, I feel this rebel army must be closely connected to this so-called Celestial Emperor," said Xie Jiang after a moment's thought.

"You mean the rebel army may have started plotting more than ten years ago?" asked Jia Yanyong.

"Isn't that obvious? Without ten or twenty years of planning, who would dare to rebel?" Xie Jiang curled his lip. The Great Wei Dynasty was unimaginably powerful.

The contempt in his tone made Jia Yanyong itch to roll up his sleeves and fight. Xie Jiang was sharp-tongued and loved provoking Jia Yanyong, and every so often the two would end up brawling. Yet once the fight was over, they would always fall back in together like old companions.

"If the City Lord hadn't destroyed those two families back then, wouldn't our Songyi City have been in grave danger?" said Ning Hui with lingering fear.

"If it truly was the City Lord who acted, then his strength must be unimaginably terrifying," said Jia Yanyong, his eyes filled with shock.

As someone only at the Bone Forging Realm, he simply couldn't comprehend what kind of divine means it would take to silently annihilate two entire families, both of which had experts at the Blood Qi Realm, in a single night.

"Killing doesn't rely only on strength; poison can be used as well. Blood Qi Realm warriors are still human. Many poisons can kill them just as easily. Perhaps the City Lord used some lethal poison to wipe them out back then," Xie Jiang analyzed aloud, unwilling to believe the City Lord had personally struck them down.

Unfortunately, more than a decade had passed. No records remained, no bodies were left to examine, and much of the truth had long since been lost to the river of time. If not for hearing it from Ning Hui, they would have thought it was some terrifying plague that wiped out two entire families in a single night. After all, over a thousand commoners had also perished.

At the time, panic spread everywhere, and people feared the plague would continue to spread. Later, the so-called plague was brought under control. A few hundred more died sporadically, then it subsided, and no more mass deaths were reported. Thinking back now, there had been many hidden intrigues behind that incident.

"Stop talking about this. If word gets out, we might be executed. Drink, drink. Let's talk about women instead. Times are hard, and many people have sold their daughters to the Hundred Flowers Pavilion. All of them are still untouched. Are any of you interested in buying one to keep as a servant girl at home?" Xie Jiang chuckled as he spoke.

The topic drifted off to who knows where. After chatting idly with them for a while, Lin Zheyu excused himself. These fellows could talk endlessly about ladies, from the girls at the Hundred Flowers Pavilion to the charming widows next door, going on for a whole day and night.

He wandered around the city for a bit. The marketplace was much quieter, yet it still carried the festive atmosphere of the Little New Year. The bustle of the Little New Year belonged to the people of Songyi City; it had nothing to do with him.

Senior Brother Han Mo was still away on a bandit-suppression mission. Master Liang's whereabouts were also unknown. The only people he was familiar with were Jia Yanyong and Manager Wu, but they both had their families to be with.

With nothing else to do, Lin Zheyu spent his time practicing fists in the courtyard, pondering the intent behind the Barbaric Ox Fist. When tired of training, he would go out for a stroll, listen to songs, enjoy some good food, or chat with Jia Yanyong and the others. Life was rather comfortable.

"

Hm?

" Walking along Baiwei Street, Lin Zheyu frowned.

Now that his strength had reached the Blood Qi Realm, and with the Tortoise Breath Grand Method cultivated to the third stage, his perception had greatly improved. His senses far surpassed those of other Blood Qi Realm warriors. Sharpened to a frightening degree, they allowed him to faintly detect hostile gazes.

As he walked, he noticed several people whose eyes fell on him, carrying faint malice within their gaze. If it had been one or two, that would have been normal, but for more than ten days now, he had kept noticing people secretly watching him. That was definitely not normal.

Were these men sent by Xing Jinglong?

wondered Lin Zheyu.

In Songyi City, the only people he had grudges with were Xing Jinglong and Xing Penghai. This time, he didn't pretend not to notice. He walked straight toward the man, whose face showed panic as he tried to flee. Lin Zheyu's figure flickered, moving at incredible speed, and in an instant, he appeared beside the man. He reached out with his right hand, seized the man's collar, and lifted him up.

"Why are you running?" asked Lin Zheyu coldly.

"Spare me, young master! I haven't done anything wrong. I didn't steal or rob, I was just dazing off here," pleaded the man.

He could feel the frightening strength of the young man before him. The grip on his collar was so tight that it nearly choked the breath from him.

"

Hmph!

Zhou Dali, come here."

Lin Zheyu didn't waste more words and instead beckoned to a Feihong Gang underling patrolling nearby. Baiwei Street was Feihong Gang territory, and every day its members patrolled the area to maintain order.

Zhou Dali ran over quickly before speaking with respect. "Brother Yu, you called for me?"

He was as burly as Jia Yanyong, though untrained in martial arts. All he had was farming strength and brute force.

"Take this man back and investigate. Find out which family or faction he belongs to and what he's trying to do here," said Lin Zheyu.

"Brother Yu, I know this guy. He's from the Wuding Gang. I've forgotten his name, but if you want to know, I can call Zhou Tuo over. He knows the Wuding Gang people better," replied Zhou Dali.

"Wuding Gang?" At the mention of the Wuding Gang, Lin Zheyu immediately understood who was targeting him. The only person connected to the Wuding Gang with whom he had enmity was Xing Jinglong.

"Was it Xing Jinglong who told you to watch me?" he asked.

"Young master, I was only here shopping. I didn't do anything, I swear! You're wronging me! Brother Long never gave me any orders. I really was just strolling around. Even though this is Feihong Gang territory, there's no rule saying people from other gangs can't buy things here, is there?" explained the man, wearing the expression of someone wrongfully accused.

"Brother Yu, do you need me to take him back for interrogation?" asked Zhou Dali.

"No need." Lin Zheyu shook his head and flung the man aside, saying, "Get lost, and stop sneaking around like a rat."

"Yes, yes, I'll change right away," the man stammered, scrambling to his feet and hurrying off.

"Go on with your duties. Patrol properly," said Lin Zheyu.

"Yes, young master," replied Zhou Dali with excitement, who then turned back to his patrol, or rather, his leisurely wandering.

Watching the man's retreating figure, Lin Zheyu thought to himself,

I need to find a way to deal with him. Being targeted all the time is no solution.

After strolling around Baiwei Street and buying some food, Lin Zheyu returned home.