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Chapter 75: Lord of the Marquessate
"Hmph!" the girl huffed softly.
"If you help me find my older sister, I, Xiaoyu'er, would be very grateful. But if you deceive Xiaoyu'er, you will be Bad Guy Number Two and Bad Guy Number Three, and I'll never forgive you," she threatened them loudly.
However, her restless eyes revealed her uneasiness.
"Bad Guy Number Two and Bad Guy Number Three?" Lin Bei asked curiously. "Who is Bad Guy Number One?"
"Bad Guy Number One is a cultivator who keeps disturbing our lives in our home," Liu Xiaoyu'er said resentfully. She glanced at Chu Liang. "He looks a bit like you, but uglier, with a thin and tall body but fat and twisted.... He is like a very terrifying big monster.
"When I gain more magical powers, I will definitely beat him up if I ever see him again!"
"Alright." Chu Liang smiled. "If we meet that big bad guy in the future, we'll help you beat him up. We assure you that we, the disciples of the Mount Shu Sect, will never be bad people."
That night, they called the people of the Li Family Estate to arrange a room upstairs for the young girl so that she could get some rest.
Chu Liang still kept an eye on the movements upstairs, wondering if the girl might be lying or attempting to escape overnight. However, she slept soundly until dawn.
Clearly, this koi fish was quite carefree.
The next day, they sought out Manager Cui.
"Ohhhh!" Manager Cui exclaimed.
He was ecstatic when he found out upon waking up that the two young heroes had caught not only one monster but two.
Manger Cui praised, "You young heroes truly embody the exceptional spirit of the Mount Shu Sect! In just one night, you solved the issues at our Li Family Estate. Truly remarkable!"
"We were just lucky," Chu Liang said with a smile.
He went on to provide a detailed account of the events from the previous night.
Upon hearing about the cultivator pretending to be a demon, Manager Cui scowled furiously. "That Jingyue Pavilion is truly despicable! They couldn't compete with us so they resorted to such deceitful methods."
When the older sister of Liu Xiaoyu'er was mentioned, Manager Cui looked puzzled. "A fish demon? We've never encountered such a creature. In all these years, this is the first incident involving a demon."
"It might not be a demon. Her sister might not have revealed her true form and came here in the guise of an ordinary woman," suggested Chu Liang.
"Alright. I will look into it," Manager Cui agreed very cooperatively.
Lin Bei then inquired, "Now that the matter with the monster is resolved, does this mean the Li Family Estate will have a chance to host the South Melody Conservatory's performance?"
Manager Cui chuckled. "Hehe! That's pretty much for certain."
"Then we will stay a few more days and enjoy the performance before we leave," Lin Bei suggested with a smile.
"Of course," Manager Cui quickly agreed.
Chu Liang glanced at Lin Bei's face, shaking his head. He had figured it out from the beginning; this guy had come on a business trip under the guise of dealing with monsters.
What a cover!
Demon slaying? Oh, that was just to make it convenient for him to come here.
...
Jingyue Pavilion was an establishment offering beautifully decorated boat rides on the Qinnan River as well as food, drinks, entertainment, and even brothel services. It catered to literati and scholars seeking a place to gather and indulge.
On this particular day, the largest boat at Jingyue Pavilion had been entirely reserved. A grand feast was in full swing within an exquisitely adorned private room.
Despite the numerous attendees, there were only two main guests.
Seated in the host's position was a seemingly young teenager, dressed in a brocade robe with a jade belt. With red lips and white teeth, his features were strikingly handsome.
Opposite him sat a tall and robust man exuding a rugged demeanor. Despite the opulent robe he wore, his strong martial aura was extremely strong, especially accentuated by a deep scar on his weathered face.
Apart from these two figures, the rest were attendants and companions.
"I've heard of the Eastern Whale Division for a long time. Meeting Brother Xue today truly reveals the heroic demeanor of the martial world. Admirable indeed," the young man said with a smile, raising the jade cup in his hand for a toast.
The robust man responded with hearty laughter. Without hesitation, he downed the wine in one go.
Then, the robust man said, "Lord of the Marquessate, I am a vulgar man. I do not know how to speak those flowery words. If I say anything inappropriate, I hope you won't take it to heart."
"Eh? Big Brother Xue, you're my guest. How can a guest do anything wrong?" the young man, addressed as the Lord of the Marquessate, replied with another smile. His voice exuded a gentle and elegant tone.
"Recently, there has been a lot of tension within the Four Seas Whale Gang. The Chief's subordinates have been keeping a close eye on us. The Eastern Whale Division's leader, Vice-Chief Jiang, has ordered us to restrain all clandestine activities. This is why Master Cheng didn't dare to show up and has instead sent me over to discuss things," explained the man with the surname Xue.
He continued saying, "We have absolutely no intention to disrespect the House of the Mountain-Subjugating Marquess."
The Lord of the Marquessate nodded. "We have heard about the situation with the Four Seas Whale Gang, and we understand."
The recent tumultuous changes in the Four Seas Whale Gang had been reported in the Chronicles of the Nine Provinces and were naturally known by all. Jiang Shenting of the Eastern Whale Division led the Four Great Guardians that served as his right-hand men. They were prominent figures in the Eastern Regions of the Yu Dynasty. One of the Four Great Guardians was named Cheng Gan.
The guy present here was named Xue Hu, one of Cheng Gan's trusted subordinates.
"But..." The Lord of the Marquessate suddenly changed the topic. "We asked you to deliver the goods to Jiangnan, and you claimed that the wind or the rain have been a problem. How long has it been already...?
"Shouldn't you give us an explanation? Could it be that Master Cheng is embarrassed to show up, so he asked you to be present here to bear the responsibility."
"Master Cheng meant to say that after this final delivery, we will temporarily put our business with you on hold," Xue Hu said with a smile. "This is a crucial moment, and we can't give the chief any chance to threaten us. If that happens, both the chief and Vice-Chief Jiang will not hesitate to hold us accountable."
Xue Hu made it very clear.
Currently, the Chief of the Four Seas Whale Gang was entangled in a power struggle with Jiang Shenting of the Eastern Whale Division. Cheng Gan, as a subordinate of Jiang Shenting, needed to ensure that every move made would not leave room for exploitation, given the potentially serious consequences.
However, the Lord of the Marquessate wore a slightly puzzled expression.
"Big Brother Xue, isn't this critical juncture the time when you need support?" The Lord of the Marquessate spoke slowly. "If you stop working with us at this moment, it wouldn't be advantageous, right?"
"We are not permanently terminating our collaboration. This is only temporary. When this matter is resolved, and Vice-Chief Jiang takes on the position of chief, Master Cheng will reach out to the marquess again," Xue Hu replied.
"If Vice-Chief Jiang successfully ascends to the leadership, won't Master Cheng find himself in a more favorable position? Perhaps, at that point, he will look down on the businesses we are doing?" the Lord of the Marquessate asked with a smile.
Xue Hu immediately shook his head. "How could that be?"
"Master Cheng is well aware that our business has flourished in recent years, involving over a dozen royal nobles in the Southern Regions of the Yu Dynasty. The House of the Mountain-Subjugating Marquess is just one representative," the Lord of the Marquessate said.
He added, "If the Eastern Whale Division were to suddenly terminate this collaboration, finding another business partner as big as your faction would be challenging. This would certainly make things very challenging for us, wouldn't it?"
"Haha, please forgive me, Lord of the Marquessate." Xue Hu wore a pained expression as he spoke. "Master Cheng tasked me with this final trip to discuss matters with you. Given the current situation, our business has to be temporarily halted.
"However, there's a possibility of resuming collaboration after some time. If we persist against the wind, no matter who apprehends us, the outcomes won't be favorable. You should also consider our challenges. If you pressure me, it will be very challenging for us."
"Challenging?" the Lord of the Marquessate sneered. "Then, let's not work together anymore."
He abruptly stood up, saying, "Brother Xue, you'd better write back to Master Cheng and relay our intentions clearly to Master Cheng. Business isn't something you can casually engage in or withdraw from as you please. It's not that easy to leave so suddenly."
With that, he turned and left the table, leaving Xue Hu sitting with an inscrutable expression.
...
The Lord of the Marquessate, accompanied by his entourage, disembarked and later rode a carriage all the way into the city, arriving at a mansion in South Gate City.
It was the manor of the Mountain-Subjugating Marquess. The manor was imposing and majestic, with a clean street in front of the gate.
The Lord of the Marquessate entered the courtyard and, upon doing so, inquired, "Has my father returned?"
"The marquess has yet to return," someone promptly responded.
The Lord of the Marquessate nodded without saying much. He headed straight to the backyard garden, turned down a corridor, and arrived outside a room. He then gently knocked on the door.
"Xia An? Is it you?" a joyful female voice called out from inside.
"It is I, " the Lord of the Marquessate answered.
With a creak, the door opened, revealing a surprised face. The young woman inside had fair skin.
"Why have you been gone for such a long time..." The young woman welcomed the Lord of the Marquessate inside and spoke with a tone of coyness. "I don't know anyone here, and I want to leave to find my younger sister..."
"Be a good girl. The affairs of the marquess household are hectic and South Gate City is big. If you went by yourself, it would be like searching for a needle in the ocean. I've already dispatched people to inquire about your sister's whereabouts throughout the city. We will have news soon," the Lord of the Marquessate comforted softly.
"Alright..." the young woman uttered, nodding gently. She asked with concern, "You have been out for such a long time every day. Did you meet many girls? Have you become fond of someone else?"
"How could that be? Silly girl," the Lord of the Marquessate said softly as he held her hand. "You are the most special girl I have ever met, and I will love you for the rest of my life."