Chapter 134 - 133: Ransom

Chapter 134: Chapter 133: Ransom

After dismissing the Bai Family messenger, Chen Shouheng’s expression didn’t relax in the slightest.

He turned and summoned a long-term servant, Chen Pi, whispering, "Chen Pi, I need you to make a trip to Zhuoyan Collection."

"Yes, Young Master." Seeing Chen Shouheng’s solemn expression, Chen Pi dared not delay and responded immediately.

Chen Shouheng took out a jade-like Duck Head Stone and handed it over. "Remember, once you get to Zhuoyan Collection, look for a man with a peculiar appearance near the Hundred Herbs Aromatherapy Shop. He’s skinny and has a rat-like mustache. You just need to let him see this stone, then say, ’The Patriarch commands your immediate return.’ That’s all. Go and come back quickly, and be discreet."

"I understand."

Chen Pi took the Duck Head Stone. Seeing how serious the Young Master was, he knew this was no trivial matter.

He immediately set off for Zhuoyan Collection.

A few hours later, Chen Pi found the Hundred Herbs Aromatherapy Shop with its modest storefront.

He entered the shop and saw a skinny, middle-aged man lounging in a Grandmaster’s Chair, picking his teeth with a toothpick. The two whiskers at the corners of his mouth twitched with his movements, and his small, beady eyes darted about, sizing up the passersby.

This man was Shu Qi.

Chen Pi walked into the Aromatherapy Shop and seemed to trip on something. "Oof!" he cried, stumbling forward as the Duck Head Stone in his hand "happened" to fall at the whiskered man’s feet.

"Hm?"

Shu Qi instinctively glanced down. His eyes swept over the Duck Head Stone, and his hand, mid-pick, froze.

Chen Pi hurriedly bent down to pick up the Duck Head Stone and whispered, "The Patriarch has an order. He requests Master Shu’s immediate return."

Shu Qi’s eyes darted around. Seeing that no one was paying attention, he let out a barely audible, cold snort and said in a hoarse voice, "Got it. I... will be there shortly."

Chen Pi breathed an inward sigh of relief. Not daring to linger, he gave a nod and quickly turned to leave.

At sunset, a figure moving with ghostly speed appeared outside the Chen Family courtyard. It was Shu Qi.

His face showed a hint of impatience at being disturbed, but it was overshadowed by his fear of the one who held his life and death in their hands.

Chen Shouheng personally led him into a side hall and cupped his hands in respect. "Master Shu. I am Chen Shouheng. My father once said that if we ever faced trouble, we could seek your assistance. I have taken the liberty of summoning you today out of sheer necessity."

His words showed him every courtesy.

Shu Qi squinted, sizing up Chen Shouheng. Of course, he knew who the young man was; after all, he had investigated him thoroughly for the previous scheme.

Seeing his respectful tone, Shu Qi’s impatience subsided a little. He grunted, "You’ve got a smooth tongue, kid. So, what’s so important it required me to make a trip?"

Chen Shouheng briefly explained the situation with the Bai Family, concluding, "...Therefore, I would like to trouble Master Shu to secretly escort these ten thousand taels of silver to the Bai Family and ensure they can successfully ransom the hostages. As for what comes after... I’d like to ask you, with your sharp eyes, to find out the origins of those three bandits."

After listening, Shu Qi’s beady eyes darted back and forth.

The task wasn’t too difficult for him; it was mostly just legwork and surveillance.

He thought of Chen Li’s unfathomable methods and dared not refuse, agreeing on the spot. "Alright! Since you’re a kid who knows his manners, I’ll take the job."

...

The next day, Shu Qi, along with a few of the Chen Family’s servants, drove an ox-cart and delivered a large, heavy wooden chest to Elder Bai.

Staring at the neatly stacked, gleaming silver ingots inside, Elder Bai’s eyes stung and his heart bled.

After all, this money was borrowed from the Chen Family, and it would have to be paid back.

’What sins did my family commit over the years to deserve all these unexpected disasters!’

But for the sake of his son and daughter-in-law’s lives, he could only grit his teeth and accept it.

「1:45 PM, as the sun began its descent.」

Elder Bai, accompanied by his eldest son and three or four servants, arrived trembling at the appointed abandoned temple.

Many years ago, this had been Lishui’s River God Temple, a place once bustling with worshipers, but it had fallen into ruin after the river changed its course.

Elder Bai swallowed hard, forcing himself to remain calm as he called out in a trembling voice toward the temple gate, "My... my good sirs! The silver... I’ve brought the silver! Ten thousand taels, every last bit! Please... please let my son and daughter-in-law go!"

His shouts echoed.

After a moment of dead silence, three figures emerged from behind the gate of the dilapidated River God Temple, appearing as silently as if they had risen from the earth itself.

It was the three kidnappers.

Their faces were masked, revealing only three pairs of cold, wary eyes that scanned Elder Bai’s party and the mule cart behind them as if they were sizing up prey.

Their gazes lingered, carefully scanning the road far behind the Bai Family party, as if to check for an ambush or any followers.

The leader’s voice was deep and hoarse, issuing a command that brooked no argument: "Open the chest! Everyone, back up ten paces!"

A trembling servant stepped forward and struggled to pry the chest’s lid open with a crowbar.

Immediately, an alluring silvery-white sheen filled their vision in the dimming sunlight.

But instead of joy, a flicker of deep disappointment and agitation flashed in the three men’s eyes.

The leader’s sharp gaze swept the area again. The wilderness was silent, save for the wind and a few startled crows. There was no other movement.

The man beside him, the second-in-command, couldn’t help but curse under his breath, "Damn it! Is that little bastard a turtle? He’s willing to part with ten thousand taels of silver but still won’t show his face?"

The leader was silent for a long moment. He looked down at Elder Bai’s terrified expression, which didn’t seem feigned, and finally said hoarsely, "Release them."

"Boss!" the second man protested indignantly.

"Shut up!" the leader barked.

From the shadows of the temple gate, the third man pushed out Bai Shixuan and Chen Yao, their hands tied behind their backs and their mouths stuffed with rags.

Their clothes were in disarray, their faces pale, and their eyes filled with terror. Upon seeing their family, they became agitated, making muffled whimpering sounds as they stumbled toward Elder Bai.

The Bai Family members rushed forward to help, untying their ropes. With no time for words, they helped the pair onto the mule cart, and with a crack of the whip, they fled as fast as they could.

Watching the Bai Family’s mule cart hastily retreat into the distance, the second-in-command furiously kicked a broken stone monument nearby, sending rubble scattering to the ground.

"Boss, are we just going to let it go? That spot..."

"What else can we do?"

The leader cut him off, his voice dripping with venom. "The real target never showed his face. The little pup is slippery as an eel."

He took a deep breath, suppressing the faint unease in his heart. "This bait isn’t going to catch the big fish. Our mission is a failure. We’ll take this silver as compensation and report back to our superiors. Let’s go!"

Without another word, the three men lifted the silver box and sped away to the north.

「About the time it takes to burn an incense stick after their departure.」

A small, thin figure appeared silently at the River God Temple.

Shu Qi gazed in the direction the three had vanished, a mocking sneer touching his lips. ’Three idiots.’

He pulled a tiny, pocket-sized mouse from his sleeve. Its fur was white as jade, but its eyes were as red as blood.

The jade-white mouse twitched its pink nose, then suddenly began to squeak excitedly. SQUEAK, SQUEAK!

With a flicker, Shu Qi was gone, moving at an astonishing speed. He silently gave chase from a distance, heading straight for the north.