Chapter 401 Each With Conspiracy

The grand hall of the White Crane Hall felt uncomfortably heavy. Incense smoke drifted past the carved white pillars, but it did nothing to ease the gloom hanging over the room.

Tu Hengshan stood by the wide stone balcony, staring down at Flying Eagle City. Behind him, Grand Elder Deng paced with folded hands, holding a stack of communication talismans that had just flared out.

"Hall Master, the news is verified," Elder Deng said with a heavy sigh. "The Ironback Crocodile Clan and the Thunderbird Clan have already started swinging blades at each other in the south district. Two trade streets are already blocked, and blood has been spilled."

Tu Hengshan pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling a massive headache coming on. "Those overgrown lizards really think Nie Fang killed their young master? Even a fool can tell someone set them up."

"It doesn’t matter if they know it is a setup or not," Elder Deng replied grimly. "Old feuds run deep. So much dry grass in this city, only a small spark is needed for fire. And this event gave that spark, blazing the inferno."

" What worries me more is the Azure Scale Clan. If they lose their patience and join the chaos, the delicate balance of Flying Eagle City will completely break down. If all three ancient families go to war, the entire city system will collapse before the Silent Stone Tower even surfaces."

"It’s Prince Jinyan," Tu Hengshan said coldly, his eyes darkening. "He arrives with his imperial carriage, sits in the banquet hall, and suddenly the underground currents turn into an open fire. He wants this city burning. Once it burns, he can bring in his outside troops under the pretext of maintaining order, effectively snatching control away from our White Crane Hall."

"Should we send out the disciplinary enforcers to suppress both sides?" Elder Deng asked.

"Not yet," Tu Hengshan muttered. "If we show our hand too early, Jinyan will claim White Crane Hall is taking sides. Station enforcers near the Azure Scale Clan’s borders. We keep them out of it first. As for Jinyan, we keep watch on every movement coming from his estate."

Meanwhile, inside a luxurious courtyard in the upper district, Feng Jinyan sat leisurely enjoying fine wine.

A cloaked guard knelt before him, reporting in a hushed tone. "Your Highness, the plan is proceeding smoothly. The Ironback Crocodile Clan is currently raiding the Thunderbird Clan’s docks. The entire city has been turned into a battlefield."

Feng Jinyan smiled with satisfaction, swirling his cup. "Good. Let them bleed each other dry. What about the shopkeeper matter? Has that useless scholar Long Ming been dealt with?"

The kneeling guard hesitated, sweat beading on his forehead. "Your Highness... there is a problem. The third squad sent to monitor and handle the Cloud Wing Antique Shop... all four of their soul lamps were extinguished an hour ago."

Feng Jinyan’s smile vanished. His wine cup cracked beneath his fingers, splashing wine across the wooden table. "What did you say? Extinguished? Four Harmonization Realm experts couldn’t handle a mortal cripple?"

"We don’t know the exact details, Your Highness," the subordinate stuttered, trembling under the prince’s chilling gaze. "No battle commotion was heard from the shop. Furthermore, our scouts dug deeper into the shop owner, Bing Luoyan."

" While she appears to be just a wealthy widow in the market, her ancestral lineage seems to have ties to Feng Imperial Family. Her detailed records in the Imperial Registry have been locked and suppressed by high authority."

Feng Jinyan narrowed his eyes dangerously, letting the cold wind blow his red robe. "A suppressed imperial record... and an ordinary scholar who can extinguish my men without making a sound? Flying Eagle City really has too many rats hiding in the mud."

The sun was dipping low when Long Ming and Feng Xinye finally made their way back to Bing Luoyan’s estate.

As soon as the wooden courtyard door opened, they saw Bing Luoyan sitting beside the stone pavilion, holding a small account ledger in her hand. Her cool, elegant face didn’t hold a trace of warmth as her sharp gaze landed directly on Long Ming.

"You are late," Bing Luoyan said coldly, closing the book with a sharp snap. "Leaving the shop unattended, skipping your chores, and wandering around outside all afternoon. You really think being a shop clerk means you get paid to sleep and chase after women?"

Long Ming immediately put on a miserable, pained face. "Shopkeeper Bing, have a heart! I was working outside! I was spreading our shop’s glorious reputation among the high-ranking customers of the city!"

"Oh? Is that so?" Bing Luoyan gave a dry sneer. "Then to reward your hard work, this month’s salary is deducted. If you slack off again tomorrow, next month’s is gone too."

"What?! Again?!" Long Ming whined dramatically, holding his chest like he had been stabbed. "Madame Bing, this is blatant tyranny! Even wandering beast-tamers feed their donkeys, yet you won’t even give this poor scholar a handful of copper coins!"

Bing Luoyan ignored his whining entirely, turning her gaze toward the petite girl standing beside him. She stood up gracefully and offered a polite, measured bow.

"This humble merchant greets Her Highness, the Fourteenth Imperial Princess."

Feng Xinye blinked in complete surprise. She looked down at her simple orange silk dress, then looked back at Bing Luoyan, puffing out her cheeks in frustration.

"What is going on today?! I deliberately changed out of my flashy imperial robes before coming out! Situ Yan recognized me, that scary tattered man recognized me, and now you recognize me too! Why does everyone know who I am?"

Bing Luoyan gave a wry, faint smile. "Princess Xinye’s portrait has been shown across many merchant networks. Besides, this humble one had the fortune of seeing Your Highness during an imperial banquet in the capital years ago. Your aura is quite memorable."

"Forget it, forget it," Long Ming muttered, waving his hand lazily as he headed straight for the small brick kitchen in the back. "You two royal and noble figures can chat all you want. This unpaid mortal slave will go make dinner, or else Ah Fu and I will starve to death tonight."

Once Long Ming walked away, the courtyard quieted down.

Feng Xinye did not leave. Instead, she took a seat across from Bing Luoyan at the stone table, her sharp, pale golden pupils studying the older woman with deep curiosity.

"You know, Shopkeeper Bing," Feng Xinye leaned forward, her voice dropping into a serious tone, "Grandpa Blue Bamboo told me that Flying Eagle City hides many retired dragons and crouching tigers. But seeing a woman like you, possessing such calm composure, exquisite bearing, and hidden imperial connections... What is someone of your caliber doing running a small antique shop in a backwater city like this?"