Chapter 478 - 408: Scheming (3)

Chapter 478: Chapter 408: Scheming (3)

’Thinking of backing out now? It’s not that simple.’

After a long silence, Chen Li looked at Gossip. "How’s that matter I assigned you?"

Gossip reported, "Sir, that fellow agreed to the trade. But he’s making an outrageous demand. On top of the Divine Sense treasure you already promised, he’s insisting on an Elixir or one of the Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures that can nourish or repair one’s Divine Sense. He won’t make the exchange without it."

"Insatiably greedy," Chen Li snorted.

A True Intent Map was precious, to be sure, but he highly doubted the other party could produce one that was completely unclaimed and untraceable.

Such an item was fine to keep hidden away, but daring to publicly use the True Martial Dao within it would inevitably invite endless pursuit from the original owner’s faction.

Therefore, its practical value was significantly diminished.

Chen Li wanted the True Intent Map primarily to awaken the Spirituality of his Second Primordial Spirit.

As for the True Martial Dao it contained, it wouldn’t be a problem if he never used it.

"Do we know their background?" Chen Li asked.

Gossip shook his head. "Extremely cautious. He’s never shown his face. All contact is handled by that old fox, Zhou Xuanzi, who just relays messages. And Zhou Xuanzi is as tight-lipped as they come. No matter how I tried to fish for information, he wouldn’t breathe a word."

"Zhou Xuanzi?"

Chen Li paused, taken aback.

Gossip chuckled and explained, "He’s the man in the iron mask you dealt with on the third floor of the Black Market last time, sir. We go way back; he can’t hide who he is from me."

Chen Li nodded, recalling the middle-aged man in the iron mask on the third floor of the Netherworld Ship. "Contact Zhou Xuanzi," he said. "Arrange a time and place. Tell him the trade will happen in five days at Jiangkou. You two can settle on the exact location."

"Yes, sir." Gossip acknowledged the order.

Chen Li then turned his gaze to Peng Anmin. "Those eighty thousand boxes of Opium—where are they hidden?"

Peng Anmin answered quickly, "Patriarch, I hid them in an abandoned kiln in my hometown in Heitan County. No one knows about it but me."

Chen Li nodded. "Get ready. You’re coming with me tomorrow to retrieve them."

Peng Anmin was taken aback and hesitated. "Sir, it takes two days to reach Heitan County from here, even at a full gallop. And those eighty thousand boxes of Opium are packed in eighty large wooden crates. Even if we use water transport, the round trip would take at least seven or eight days. I’m worried... you’ll miss your trade five days from now. Should I go alone, or perhaps we could transport them back at a later time?"

Chen Li smiled. "It’s fine. It’ll be faster if I go get them myself."

He possessed the Treasure Basin, which contained a storage space a full mu in size—more than enough for eighty crates of Opium.

All he had to do was ride there at top speed, load the goods into the Treasure Basin, and return. It would be far faster and more discreet than hiring boats and men for transport.

Although Peng Anmin didn’t understand the source of Chen Li’s confidence, he saw his resolute expression and didn’t press the matter. He bowed and said, "I’ll go and prepare at once."

After settling these two urgent matters, Chen Li’s gaze finally fell upon Li Sanli.

After a moment’s thought, he said, "Give the order: as of today, the Netherworld Ship Black Market is to be temporarily shut down. For at least... three days. It can be longer, but no less."

A troubled look appeared on Li Sanli’s face. "Patriarch, for three days? I’m afraid those other three will..."

Chen Li cut him off. "Three days is a direct order. If, after three days, those three insist on reopening the market, don’t argue with them. Just take the core members of the Tuo Long Bang and temporarily pull out of the Netherworld Ship. As for our contact points, continue to operate as usual. In fact, you can even be a little more lenient; it won’t be an issue."

Li Sanli was stunned.

He thought about the Opium Chen Li had just mentioned and asked uncertainly, "Patriarch, are you planning to...?"

Chen Li just smiled, offering no explanation.

"Since the Celestial Sword Sect has its eyes on the Netherworld Ship," he said, looking up as a cold glint flashed in his eyes, "then let them have a good look."

"As it happens, I have a big gift for them."

The Tower Ship swayed gently in the reed marsh, candlelight throwing flickering shadows across the cabin walls.

Standing to one side, Bai San, Gossip, and Peng Anmin all felt a sudden, inexplicable chill.

’Someone was about to suffer greatly...’