Chapter 355: Secret Discussions of Stone Gate

“He’s human. At least, everyone thinks he’s a living human. And I heard from one of those from the Gan Family’s merchant caravan that the reason they even managed to make it out of the Demon Nest Swamp alive was that Steward Zhao begged that young man for mercy. Only then did the Spider Queen let them go.” The servant’s voice then dropped as if he were sharing an especially juicy detail as he continued, “And I also heard that the token that allows people to enter and leave the Demon Nest Swamp is in that young man’s hands. Once they got out of the swamp, he kept it.”

So the travel token’s no longer in the Gan Family’s possession?

The eyes of both bosses lit up. “Where is that young man now?”

“He should’ve been invited to the Gan Residence by Steward Zhao.”

“Wait, why Zhao Fu?”

“Chief Steward An Xing was killed along with Master Gan. Steward Zhao took over as the new chief steward.”

The big boss rubbed his hands together, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. “An Xing is dead? That makes things a lot easier. Zhao Fu listens to reason. Second Brother, send someone to invite him over.”

The servant blinked. “However, he might be at the Gan Residence right now.”

The second boss waved it off and said, “Simple. I’ll have his brother-in-law go invite him.”

The big boss could not hold back his excitement. He paced several rounds around the hall, almost buzzing with energy. “Gan Qing dropped dead! Our chance has finally come!”

The second boss smiled, relaxed and confident. “The Gan Family isn’t worth worrying about.”

“They’re nothing.” The big boss let out a low chuckle. “What matters is we move fast. Fast enough to get what we’re after before anyone else!”

* * *

He Lingchuan was on his second pot of wine when he suddenly spotted two men hurrying out of a back alley behind the Gan Residence. One of them was Steward Zhao.

He Lingchuan thought Steward Zhao was coming to find him. But Steward Zhao passed right by the tavern without going in and kept walking.

Where would he be rushing off to at a time like this?

A thought stirred in He Lingchuan’s mind. He reached into his sleeve, drew out a small, pitch-black pebble the size of a goose egg, and murmured under his breath, “Stick close to Zhao Fu. Go.”

The smooth little stone instantly sprouted a head and eight legs. It scuttled across the tabletop, slipped out the window, and vanished into the night.

Steward Zhao had not gone far. The spider gave a light hop, landed on Steward Zhao’s back, then slid down along his clothes and tucked itself into his waistband.

The spot it hid was perfect, hidden and snug. Unless Steward Zhao undressed, he would never find it.

He Lingchuan rubbed his eyes. When he lowered his wine cup again, what his left eye and right eye saw were no longer the same.

His left eye’s view was faintly unreal, always shifting, and wider than any human field of vision, nearly a full panorama. If Steward Zhao’s own body did not block so much of it, the experience would have been downright exhilarating.

So this is a burrow spider’s perspective. Well, they do have twelve eyes, so I guess it’s only to be expected.

He Lingchuan finally got to taste what the Spider Queen saw.

Yes, this was his first time testing the “eyeball spider” Zhu Erniang had given him. With the Spider Queen’s monster energy still sustaining the gift, he could borrow the eyeball spider’s sight and hearing. Sitting in a tavern, he could monitor Steward Zhao’s every movement as if he were right there.

He had spent more than ten days trapped in the swamp. Now that he had stepped back into the human world, he could not resist treating himself to something decent. Unfortunately, the food and wine at this particular place were mediocre. Only one plate of braised pressed tofu and one dish of smoked rabbit suited his palate.

He had just torn off a strip of rabbit when, through the spider’s ears, he heard Steward Zhao say to the man beside him, “You go back. I can handle this myself.”

The other man agreed and left.

Steward Zhao walked through a few more alleys, then stopped before a black door. He glanced left and right, making sure no one was watching, and then knocked.

With a soft creak, the door opened immediately.

The spider’s vantage point was low, lower than a person by a good distance. At most, it could see people’s chins. Judging from clothing alone, the one who opened the door seemed to be a shop hand. He led Steward Zhao inside, then guided him into a hall where an ornate shelf display held several pots of orchids.

Two men sat at the head of the hall, where their authority was best displayed.

Steward Zhao addressed them at once, “Big Boss, Second Boss.”

The big boss lifted a hand in polite greeting. “Steward Zhao, please take a seat.”

He was offered a seat, and tea was poured.

The moment Steward Zhao saw how formal this was, he understood that these two had not called him here for small talk. He sat, lifted the cup, and took a sip. “If you have something you need, please simply say so.”

The big boss began with a solemn sigh. “I heard Gan Qing met with disaster. A great misfortune for Wuze County.”

All three men sighed together, as if sharing the weight of public grief.

Then the second boss spoke. “And what will Steward Zhao do next? Where will you go from here?”

“Me?” Steward Zhao had not expected the topic to swing toward him so abruptly. But after a beat, he understood exactly what they were probing for.

“With Boss Gan gone, the entire Gan Family Merchant Guild has no one to steer it. Steward Zhao, what are your plans?”

Steward Zhao gave a dry chuckle. “Boss Gan left too suddenly. I haven’t had time to think about that yet.”

The second boss leaned in, pressing, “Then who do you think will inherit the Gan Family’s business?”

This time, Steward Zhao fell quiet for a long time before answering. “Perhaps, it should... probably be Third Master Gan?”

It was not that the choice was difficult; it was that it was hard to say aloud.

There was not a single truly suitable candidate.

“Gan Laosan[1]?” The second boss burst into laughter. “That Luo Xunyi fellow, who follows him around all day, has always loved tripping you up and giving you grief. If Gan Laosan becomes the head of the house, who do you think he’ll appoint as chief steward? You or Luo Xunyi?”

The eyeball spider could not see Steward Zhao’s expression up above, but He Lingchuan could guess it was not pretty. Steward Zhao stayed silent for quite a while before finally answering, voice tight. “It will most likely be... that petty Luo.”

“When An Xing was around, at least things stayed fair.” The second boss’s tone was almost conversational, but every word dug deeper. “Once Third Gan takes charge, then paired with a Luo Xunyi, well... I can only say that the Gan Family will be lively.”

Steward Zhao stood up and bowed to each of them in turn. “Bosses, if you have something to say, please speak plainly.”

“Good.” The big boss nodded. “We’d like to invite Steward Zhao to join Stone Gate. If you accept, then we will give you the post of deputy chief steward.”

Steward Zhao hesitated, just enough to look sincere, then said carefully, “Boss Gan has only just passed. If I turn around and join Stone Gate immediately, my reputation won’t look good.”

Wuze County was small. Merchants shared news rapidly. He did not want to stain his name.

The second boss said, “Then come after forty-nine days, after Gan Qing’s mourning period. The position will be waiting for you. However, you’ll have to help us secure the travel token for the Demon Nest Swamp.”

So that’s what they’re after.

Steward Zhao understood perfectly, and he did not dodge. “The token isn’t with me. It’s in the hands of Young Master He, the one who left the swamp with our caravan.”

The big boss chose that moment to speak, as if casually steering the conversation, “Then tell us about this Young Master He.”

Steward Zhao nodded. “The Spider Queen designated Boss Gan as the trade liaison, so every Demon Nest Swamp run had to be led by Boss Gan. But not long after we set out this time, we ran into bandits...”

He then told the entire story from beginning to end.

The two bosses listened closely, interrupting now and then to ask sharp questions.

“So, although this Young Master He is from Yuan, his background is unclear,” the big boss summarized crisply. “He wants to obtain a local identity here, so he can go to Beijia’s capital and search for a treasure for the Spider Queen. Is that correct?”

“Exactly.”

“And the Spider Queen handed the travel token to him.” The big boss’ eyes narrowed. “That means she no longer trusts the Gan Family. In other words, whoever this young man chooses to hand the token to becomes the Demon Nest Swamp’s designated trade partner.”

Steward Zhao did not respond, but he did not deny it either, and that was as good as agreement.

The second boss said, his voice hardening, “We can’t afford to miss this opportunity.”

Then he asked the key question. “Is Young Master He already at the Gan Residence?”

“Ah, no. He’s still at Yuanzhi Tavern. He’s waiting for me to introduce him to the Gan Family.”

The moment he said “still,” the big boss snapped his head toward his brother. “Second Brother, go. Now.”

“No need to tell me twice.” The second boss rose at once.

Steward Zhao also stood, bowing politely. “I claimed I had urgent business just to get away. I must return to the Gan Residence now and discuss Boss Gan’s funeral arrangements.”

* * *

A street vendor was calling out along the road, hawking licorice-soaked fruit[2] Some diners on the second floor of the tavern called him up and bought an entire large bowl.

It was a local street snack of washed wild peaches, crabapples, and starfruit soaked for an hour or two in a licorice syrup. The syrup was blended with hawthorn, plums, and other herbs, giving the fruit a sweet-tart, cooling taste that flooded the mouth with freshness, perfect for cutting through the heaviness of wine and greasy dishes.

He was enjoying himself when he suddenly heard the rhythmic clatter of hooves below. He looked down and saw a group of more than ten riders coming down the street. In the middle, surrounded and protected, was a young man not yet twenty, and he was wearing bright clothes, riding a fine horse, and radiating swagger.

They talked loudly and laughed without restraint. Wherever they went, pedestrians immediately made way. Vendors lifted their baskets and retreated. Everyone moved fast, and no one argued.

He Lingchuan’s mouth twitched slightly.

Tsk, that kind of pomp, that kind of aura. He’s some spoiled young noble out parading through the streets, no doubt.

Ahead was the entrance to the marketplace. A hunter happened to be leading his horse. Two large gazelle[3] were strapped across the horse’s back. A yellow dog trotted at his heels.

By the look of it, the hunter had just returned from the wild and was heading into the market to sell his catch. Mutton, hide, horns, someone would buy it all. In fact, even the beard hairs had value.

The former He Lingchuan had also liked hunting. With one glance, He Lingchuan could estimate that those two gazelles could sell for at least one or two taels of silver.

Then the market suddenly stirred. People pressed to the sides. Before the hunter could even react, his horse let out a terrified whinny, and the dog barked furiously.

The hunter turned his head just in time to see one of the gazelles being yanked off the horse’s back.

He did not have time to think. He grabbed the gazelle’s leg and hauled back. But the force dragging it was enormous, slamming him hard against the horse’s belly. The horse spun in panic, nearly stepping on him.

The dog rushed in to protect its master, barking wildly as it lunged and tried to bite the attacker.

Only then did the hunter, as well as He Lingchuan, who was up on the second floor of the tavern, get a clear look at who or what was taking the gazelle.

The thief was a huge, pure-white tusked boar!

Most wild boars were gray, but this one was snow-white, and oddly enough, slightly smaller. It looked to be a bit over a hundred kilograms, but it was packed with muscle, thick and dense, built like a living battering ram. Its eyes were an eerie, bright blue.

The dog sank its teeth into the boar’s hind leg.

The tusked boar instantly enraged. It surged forward and flung the dog away with a violent jerk of its body.

Its curved tusks were curved like the crescent moon, their tips ground sharp as awls. If it gored someone, it would leave two gaping holes. The dog was struck through the belly and let out a strangled yelp.

Next, the boar drove at the horse.

The hunter was both terrified and furious. He whipped out an axe and hacked down with everything he had.

However, the axe blade bounced off the boar’s back as if it had struck stone. The boar’s hide did not even split, and the edge of the axe curled.

The boar’s hide was absurdly thick and sturdy.

The tusked boar turned its head and lunged at the hunter, goring and biting in a frenzy.

In only a few breaths, the hunter was covered in wounds.

People around them screamed, but who dared step forward?

From his angle above, He Lingchuan’s eyes narrowed. Then, seeing the perfect angle, he tossed the licorice-soaked fruit aside, drew two throwing knives, and flicked his wrist.

With a target that big, missing would be embarrassing.

His throwing knives were nothing like the hunter’s crude axe. The knives struck cleanly, one sunk into the boar’s nape, the other into its abdomen.

The tusked boar shrieked in pain.

And then it shockingly seemed to think.

It spun twice in place, then abruptly lifted its head and stared up at the second floor of the tavern, staring straight into He Lingchuan’s eyes.

Eh, it actually spotted me?

The tusked boar flared its nostrils, then kicked off with all four hooves and charged straight for the tavern entrance.

Panic exploded in its wake. People scattered, shrieking. From the ground floor came the sound of tables and chairs overturning, bowls and plates shattering, and terrified voices rising together in a single, deafening chaos.

1. If you’re wondering, Laosan is (老三), which is literally Old Three. In other words, he was simply given the name Three. ☜

2. This licorice-soaked fruit (甘草水果) is different from the more popular licorice fruit from Taiwan. This should be the much older version that comes from Chaozhou (潮州), and it should also be the more TCM-oriented version. It’s said to aid digestion, quench thirst, promote saliva production, detoxify and reduce phlegm, moisten dryness and the lungs, and help relieve coughing—at least, that’s what I got after a quick search lol. ☜

3. If you want the specific type, then search up Mongolian gazelle as that’s actually what the author wrote here. ☜