Chapter 75: Secret
Chapter 75: Chapter 75: Secret
Zhang Chengzong!
The adopted son of County Magistrate Zhang Heming.
’What’s he doing here?’
And in the dead of night, in secret.
Doubt crept into Chen Li’s eyes. ’Is he involved with the Sect?’
But he didn’t know the full story behind the Ten-Mile Tavern, so he dared not act rashly. Suppressing his impulses, he became even more cautious and continued to wait patiently.
「Two more days passed.」
During the day, several dozen men carrying weapons suddenly appeared at the Ten-Mile Tavern. They played drinking games, drank, and made a racket.
What was even stranger was that the group drank in the tavern and still hadn’t left by nightfall.
Night.
Chen Li was meditating when the sound of carriage wheels reached his ears.
Peeking through a crack in the window, he saw that familiar green-canopied carriage appear once again in the back alley.
This time, besides Zhang Chengzong, another person stepped out of the carriage. He wore a dark cloak with the hood pulled low, almost completely obscuring his face.
After getting out of the carriage, the two of them quickly entered the side door.
’It’s him?’
Chen Li’s pupils contracted sharply.
Although the man was thoroughly covered and it was impossible to see his face in the dark, Chen Li’s Divine Sense was exceptionally sharp after cultivating the Prajna Glaze Heart Sutra of the Self-Viewing. He had only ever sensed this aura from one other person.
The Magistrate of Mirror Mountain County, Zhang Heming.
The very same Magistrate of Mirror Mountain County who was rumored to be bedridden from grave injuries, on the verge of death.
Yet here he was, appearing secretly in the dead of night at this Sect stronghold, the Ten-Mile Tavern.
Furthermore, from his gait and figure, Chen Li could not sense any sign of injury.
A fine layer of cold sweat instantly broke out on Chen Li’s back.
Zhang Heming’s injuries were definitely much lighter than publicly announced; he might not even be injured at all.
The Sect was an evil, unorthodox organization that the Court was aggressively suppressing. As a Court-appointed official, he was actually colluding with them.
’What on earth is he planning?’
’I have to get out of here!’
Without a moment’s hesitation, Chen Li made a swift decision, packed his things, and left Zhuoyan Collection under the cover of night.
That scene alone was shocking enough.
He had no intention of venturing into the viper’s nest that was the Ten-Mile Tavern.
...
「Not long after Chen Li left.」
The heavily cloaked Zhang Heming emerged again from the Ten-Mile Tavern’s side door, his gaze turning toward the Feiyan Inn where Chen Li had been staying.
"Uncle, what’s wrong?"
"It’s nothing. Let’s go."
Zhang Heming frowned slightly. Just as he was entering, his Spiritual Sense had detected a slight anomaly, but he wasn’t sure where it had come from.
The two of them soon arrived at a hidden secret room in the Fengyu Grain Store.
The oil lamp burned with a tiny, bean-sized flame, casting dim light that threw their shadows onto the walls, stretching and shortening them in a fickle dance.
Zhang Heming had removed his cloak and was wearing a set of dark, everyday clothes. His complexion was indeed somewhat pale and his breathing a little heavier than usual, but he showed no signs of being bedridden and infirm.
He leaned back in a Grandmaster’s Chair, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the armrest. "How is the grain collection progressing?"
Zhang Chengzong looked a little uneasy. "Uncle, last month, we only collected three thousand shi of grain."
"We need to speed things up."
Zhang Heming’s brow furrowed. "It might happen in the next year or two. The higher-ups won’t give us too much time."
Zhang Chengzong complained, "Uncle, those mud-legged peasants in the villages don’t even grow enough to feed themselves, so there’s no way they’ll sell any. Only the rich landowners have surplus grain. But every one of them is as crafty as a demon; none are willing to sell their grain easily.
He snuck a glance at Zhang Heming’s face, and seeing no displeasure, he grew bolder and continued, "What’s more infuriating is that County Magistrate Tian’s Ming’s Grain Shop has also been buying up large quantities recently, and their offered price is even higher than the market rate. They have well-established channels, and they’ve intercepted the surplus grain from many large households. This... this is clearly competing with us, undermining our efforts! It’s truly difficult for your nephew."
Hearing this, Zhang Heming did not get angry at County Magistrate Tian as expected. He merely fell silent for a moment, the tapping of his fingers pausing, before he suddenly said, "I have my own plans for County Magistrate Tian. You need not concern yourself with it."
"Okay." Zhang Chengzong gave an awkward smile, then changed the subject, turning his verbal assault on Chen Li. "And then there’s that Chen Li from Lingxi Village! He’s feigning compliance while acting in defiance—utterly detestable! I told him to help pressure the landlords and push the grain collection forward.
At first, he paid me lip service, but later he started avoiding me completely, leaving me hanging! Uncle, that man clearly has no respect for your orders. He absolutely must not be forgiven!"
At the mention of Chen Li, Zhang Chengzong practically gnashed his teeth, as if all his troubles were caused by him.
After listening, Zhang Heming still showed no anger. His tone was placid, yet it carried an undeniable authority. "Go to Lingxi again another day. Take a message to Chen Li. Tell him that I said he will help you gather at least thirty thousand shi of grain before the end of the year at the latest."
"Yes! Your nephew understands!"
With his uncle backing him up, Zhang Chengzong was overjoyed and immediately agreed.
His eyes darted about as he lowered his voice. "Uncle, that Chen Li is just a rich country bumpkin. Why be so polite to him? Why not find some pretext to seize his property? In your nephew’s opinion, we could confiscate at least a few thousand shi of grain from his granary. It would be a perfect chance to make an example of him!"
"You don’t understand!"
Zhang Heming glanced at him, his eyes turning cold. "This man is not as simple as he appears," he said lightly. "Even I... have some trouble seeing through him."
Zhang Chengzong was stunned into silence.
"The illness of Liu Wende’s son is no secret in the County Magistrate’s Office. Hmph. When those women from the Xiang Sect—the kind who devour a person without spilling a drop of blood—make a move, nothing short of the Spirit Realm can undo it. The fact that he could cure it proves he’s no simple character. And if he’s in the Spirit Realm, then Tu Sandao’s death would also make sense."
Zhang Heming fell into deep thought, muttering to himself. ’A Spirit Realm master, hiding out in a village to farm? It’s simply unbelievable! And I can’t detect any trace of martial training from him. Could his Cultivation be higher than mine?’
After a moment, he shook his head gently. ’No, that can’t be it! If that were the case, why would it require so many treatments? Unless... he also just broke through recently? And he just happened to obtain a Qi Concealment technique, which is how he hid it from me...’
’Spirit Realm?’
Standing to the side, Zhang Chengzong didn’t dare to interrupt. Hearing this, he was struck dumb and subconsciously shrank back.
’Wait, what?’
’Uncle, you know he’s a Spirit Realm Powerhouse, and you’re still telling me to go force him to give up his grain? Aren’t you just sending me to my death?!’
The secret room was silent for a long time, with only the faint CRACKLE of the lamp’s wick occasionally flaring up.
After a long while, Zhang Heming finally sat up straight. "We must prepare for the worst. A hidden Spirit Realm master, right under our noses. Even if he knows nothing of our plans, his very existence is a massive variable."
With that, he stared intently at Zhang Chengzong. "Chengzong, when it comes to variables, you either win them over and make them your own... or you eliminate them. I’m leaving this matter to you."
’Me?’
’Eliminate a Spirit Realm Powerhouse?’
Seeing his uncle staring at him, Zhang Chengzong was completely stunned!
He simply couldn’t believe that such cold words could come from his uncle’s mouth!