Chapter 200 - Yuan Hao (2)

After those apprentices left the Calm Sky Martial Halls and entered the Blackscale Army as a collective, that subtle influence would be carried out in even greater detail. When most of them saw a direct descendant of the Chancellor's Manor, they would kneel.

Lou Ji’s Blackscale Guards, however, were different from the Blackscale Army. Most of them were bound together by shared goals, shared interests, the threat of death after betrayal, and all sorts of other methods.

After the game had become reality, and after Xu Yuan had come to understand these things, he had always felt that this old father of his was a pure, Heaven-sent monster. A world’s protagonist completely different from Qin Mo.

No wonder that fellow Xu Changge usually did not dare let out so much as a fart in front of Xu Yinhe. To think Xu Yinhe had started with a small clan from Stillwater and, step by step, built it into the behemoth it was today...

Xu Yuan looked at the half-white-haired middle-aged man before him and smiled. “Where is Commander Yuan?”

“Commander Yuan is this way.” Bai Zhao smiled and made a welcoming gesture.

Xu Yuan was the first to start forward, with Bai Zhao walking beside him.

After a brief pause, Xu Yuan looked at the servants in the courtyard and asked softly, “Is it fine for these servants to see us?”

Bai Zhao smiled when he heard this and said, “It is no issue. They are either illiterate deaf-mutes from nearby, or trusted people this lowly one has trained over the years.”

“Deaf-mutes?” Xu Yuan asked, surprised.

Bai Zhao smiled with complete honesty. “It earns me a bit of a good name, and they cannot leak secrets.”

As they walked, Xu Yuan gave him a deep sideways look and asked, “Did you build the Calm Bay Gang all by yourself?”

Bai Zhao smiled modestly. “It was only luck. This lowly one could not have come this far without Lord Yi Tian’s support.”

Xu Yuan raised an eyebrow. Yi Tian. One of that old Lou Ji’s subordinates, and a minor early-game boss on the evil-path route in Azure Point.

Clearly, this man’s status within the Blackscale Guards was not high. He was not yet qualified to contact Lou Ji directly.

But that did not stop Xu Yuan from appreciating him, because he could sense that the man before him was only seventh rank.

A seventh rank in his 40s. When he was younger, he had most likely been even weaker. The Blackscale Guards would never pour too many resources into a seed they had scattered so casually. And without martial strength, for him to build such a large gang here meant he had only one thing to rely on.

That was methods.

Thinking this, Xu Yuan said, “Not bad.”

When Bai Zhao saw this reaction from him, a trace of surprise flashed through his eyes. Then he cupped his fists respectfully and said in a low voice, “Thank you for your praise, Third Young Master.”

Xu Yuan shook his head and continued forward, asking softly, “How many people did Commander Yuan bring into the town this time?”

“More than 3,500.” Bai Zhao answered without hesitation.

Although that commander had only told him that Xu Yuan would come, and had not said exactly what he was here to do, in a situation like this, there was no way someone of that noble status would come here just to idle around.

He concluded Xu Yuan was here to take command. After all, it seemed there was going to be a war.

Hearing the number 3,5000, Xu Yuan was somewhat surprised by how many there were. Then he raised an eyebrow. “How did you settle them?”

“Most are hidden here in Calm Bay. The rest were arranged by this lowly one in inns throughout the town. The spirit blades, arms, and armor this lowly one has accumulated over the past 20 or so years are barely enough.” Bai Zhao answered truthfully.

Xu Yuan opened his mouth, but before he could speak, he suddenly saw a little girl with a topknot pigtail run out from the rear courtyard. A flustered woman followed behind her.

As the little girl ran toward Bai Zhao, she called out happily, “Daddy...”

When Bai Zhao saw the little girl, a tender fondness appeared between his brows, but he did not immediately go to her. Instead, he first glanced tentatively at Xu Yuan beside him.

Xu Yuan shook his head to show that it was fine. Only then did Bai Zhao hurry forward.

Father and daughter laughed and played for a while. Bai Zhao coaxed his daughter away, then returned to Xu Yuan. “I had a daughter late in life. I have made a fool of myself before you, Third Young Master.”

“No matter.” Xu Yuan smiled faintly, then asked, “You did not send your family away in advance?”

“Too dangerous,” Bai Zhao answered truthfully.

Xu Yuan watched the woman carry the little girl away and asked, “Isn’t it more dangerous to keep them here now?”

Bai Zhao’s eyes narrowed slightly. “No, Third Young Master. I meant the plan. This lowly one’s identity is special, so my family usually lives in the town. There may be eyes on them. If I sent them away at a time like this and someone noticed, it might damage Lord Chancellor’s plan.”

Xu Yuan narrowed his eyes and looked the half-white-haired middle-aged man up and down once more.

The 3,500 Blackscale troops who had entered the town, regardless of whether they truly made a move, were swords that had to be shown at the negotiating table.

In other words, after this was over, the Myriad Manifestations Sect would absolutely investigate.

Bai Zhao and his people had not been discovered yet because the Myriad Manifestations Sect had not noticed any signs of large-scale troop movement, and so had not become alert. But once they truly started investigating, there was a high chance they would trace it back to the Calm Bay Gang. And if a sect really wanted to deal with an underground gang like this, it was no different from crushing an ant.

At that thought, Xu Yuan raised a hand and patted Bai Zhao on the shoulder. He said nothing, only continued walking forward in silence.

After having his shoulder patted, Bai Zhao merely followed quietly. But in his lowered eyes, there was a faint, almost imperceptible smile.

When they arrived before a courtyard, Bai Zhao bowed to Xu Yuan once more. “Commander Yuan is inside. This lowly one will take his leave first.”

Xu Yuan nodded and said, “Arrange a courtyard for the two of them.”

He did not intend to let Xu Xinyao take part in this discussion.

Ran Qingmo said nothing, only nodded quietly.

Xu Xinyao, however, looked somewhat opposed. “Third Brother, I also...”

“Be good.” Xu Yuan looked back at her. His eyes allowed no refusal.

In the end, Xu Xinyao left together with Ran Qingmo.

Xu Yuan watched the two women’s slender figures gradually walk away, then slowly pushed open the courtyard gate before him.

Inside the courtyard was a pond. Brocade carp swam through the clear green water, and in the middle of the pond stood a pavilion.

As soon as Xu Yuan stepped inside, his gaze locked onto the man sitting in that pavilion.

The man had delicate features and looked extremely young. Dressed in a scholar’s robe, he sat in the pavilion with a small stove burning before him, warming wine and drinking alone.

A Confucian scholar? Surprise flickered through Xu Yuan’s eyes. He instinctively glanced around, wanting to see whether there was anyone else in the courtyard.

At that moment, the man had already set down his cup. He rose and bowed from afar toward Xu Yuan at the courtyard entrance. “Third Young Master, there is no need to look. I am Yuan Hao.”

Xu Yuan withdrew his gaze and looked again at the man in the pavilion. As he walked toward him, he said, “Commander Yuan’s appearance is somewhat different from what I expected.”

The refined-looking man smiled faintly. “Is that because I don’t match the rumors about my love of killing?”

“A little.” Xu Yuan nodded. He entered the pavilion and studied the man before him. “Compared to a general who leads soldiers, you look more like a scholar from the Hanlin Academy. And you are too young.”