Chapter 724 Extracting Information.
Elfie and Yun Xue arrived at a residential block where many of the Zhu Family disciples lived. The latter asked with spiritual communication, "This place is so shabby for a prominent family person to live, right? It is hard to imagine they mingled with someone from the lower part of the food chain."
Elfie replied, "The power chain is simple. The top operates and monopolizes the lower levels. The lower levels benefit if they are of use to the top order. They have been trained for generations to look at the top brass as gods. This is why the Zhu Family has been so stable. They do not allow anyone else to work with their family and vice versa."
Yun Xue raised her brow and said, "I once read in a book that a lone tree attracts more wind than the forest. However, the Zhu Family has a seven-century history. They must have been very tedious and cunning to reach this level."
Elfie nodded and said, "That is the fact. These people have been acting like one with the forest, standing at the back of the trees."
Yun Xue asked, "What other big trees are there?"
Elfie replied, "Meng's family are the merchant overlords. They trade in everything but their morals. They are a good family but very fiery people."
The snow maiden smiled and nodded. Elfie said, "Another big tree in this city is the Freelancer Inn. I will tell you about them later. Here, this is the courtyard where they should live."
They had reached a small courtyard. Yun Xue found that the place was covered with black banners. She followed Elfie to the door, and just when they were about to enter the place, a calm but decedent voice sounded, "Who are you? What do you need?"
Elfie and Yun Xue looked at the source of the voice and found a middle-aged woman. She was wearing a black armband and seemed to be grieving. Yun Xue noticed something and narrowed her eyes before she said, 'Elfie, tell her who we are and what we are here for.'
Elfie stepped forward and said, "I am the head attendant of the Heavenly Dragon Pavilion, Elfie. This is my colleague, and we have come here to express our condolences to you."
The lady was stunned, and Elfie continued, "Our Young Master feels guilty for this cruel outcome, and he wished he could go back in time to correct his mistake."
The lady finally understood what they were talking about. Her calm face changed, and she asked aggressively, "Why have you come here? Did you not feel good when my husband died? Did you both come here to make sure that I am having a miserable life? Tell me, why do all you rich and strong people take pleasure in the pain of the poor."
Elfie sighed and approached the lady silently. Her words had hit the string of her emotions, and she needed to calm them down before she could extract anything. She said, "Elder Sister, you are misunderstanding us. My Young Master is a kind person. He only punishes the wrong people. Your husband overstepped and offended him. My Young Master only punished him by severing an arm. He did not intend to kill your husband.?We are here with a small compensation that the Young Master has sent for you and your children."
The lady shook her head and said a few things, but Elfie's repeated persuasion calmed her down. Yun Xue was impressed. She understood why Shi Lang had appointed this girl for such a task. Elfie was a natural. She was handling the tragic wife with much ease.
Yun Xue waited till the situation calmed down and used her spiritual sense to guide Elfie, 'Ask her why she loves a man such as her husband.'
Elfie was shocked and turned to look at Yun Xue, but the latter nodded calmly. The young steward asked in a low voice, "Elder Sister Yuan, why did you love your husband? I heard that he was not a good man."
During the earlier confrontation, they discovered that the lady was called Yuan. The lady looked at Elfie with suspicious eyes. Elfie wanted to say something when Yun Xue said, 'Do not rush, be patient.'
Yun Xue was too experienced in reading a person now after her time in the mercenary group. Conversely, Elfie was about to witness something that would shock the core of her being.
Lady Yuan looked around carefully, and after a few minutes, she said, "I have never told anyone, but it is a good thing that scum has been removed from this world."
Elfie was shocked, and Yun Xue snapped her fingers to cast a small barrier around them. She nudged the Elfie and said, 'Ask her why does she say so?'
Elfie nodded and relayed the question. Lady Yuan revealed a bitter smile, "You also know that he was a greedy man. Often, he would come back home and beat me up after getting drunk. He would beat me up to even look at the visage of another man while he spent his nights in brothels. Zhu Xiameng was a bastard, but thankfully, he was injured in a battle and could not have children. Otherwise, I would have been forced to bear his sinful seeds. That thought alone appalled me to death."
Elfie was so shocked that her face had turned pale. Yun Xue smiled because she was expecting something like this. She had seen a fleeting spark of disdain when they earlier offered condolences. She did not tell Elfie any of this so the girl could gain real experience on her own.
Yun Xue again nudged the girl back to reality and told her to ask more questions. As the questions proceeded, the sky became darker. The amount of information they found out from Lady Yuan was shocking. Elfie began to enjoy the situation and wanted to dig deeper when Yun Xue said, "Head Stewardess, we should return. It is getting dark."
Elfie pouted in protest, but Yun Xue did not give her a chance. She took a small bag from her space ring and gave it to Lady Yuan, saying, "Elder Sister Yuan, please accept these hundred supreme-grade spirit stones. I hope you leave this place as soon as possible too. The Zhu family might likely act against you."
Lady Yuan was shocked to hear the amount of spirit stones in the bag. She snatched the bag and stuffed it in her bosom. She nodded and said, "I have been told to evict this courtyard for the next head guard. I will be gone by tomorrow morning."
Yun Xue nodded and then dragged Elfie out of the courtyard. The sky was still dimly lit, but Yun Xue did not wish to encounter any trouble in this area. After all, if they were to be apprehended inside this area, then Shi Lang would have huge trouble.
The two moved quickly but carefully through the slums and came to the city's main street. They reached the Heavenly Dragon Pavilion and came to find Shi Lang. Yun Xue had Elfie call over the Pavilion master Yang Tie as well. This information was not to be withheld, or it would spell disaster for them.
A few minutes later, Shi Lang and Yang Tie sat across each other in the library. The pavilion master was surprised by the pile of books on the side. He could not understand how someone could read so much in such a short time. However, he could not comment on such things. After all, in his mind, Shi Lang was not a normal human.
Shi Lang gazed at Yun Xue and asked, "Can you tell me now? I am reading an important chapter?"
Yun Xue nodded and said, "The Zhu Family is backed by the Titan sect in the north. Their patriarch is about to step into the peak of the Immortal Emperor realm. They do have every intention to attempt a coupe."
Shi Lang raised his eyebrow and asked, "And?"
Yun Xue smiled and said, "The Zhu Family has been hoarding up a lot of rare spiritual material. They are looking after a complete lockdown of the city by using Trigram Lock Array."
Yang Tie was so surprised that he stood up from his chair. Elfie placed her hands on the shoulders of the towering man and said, "The good news is that the lower level of the Zhu Family is not happy, especially the women. The men in their family are abusive, and they often beat them. These women meet in secret at a place every fifth day of the week."
Shi Lang nodded and said, "You can use this gathering to find more information, but so what?"
Yun Xue sighed and said, "Sir, you might not understand, but an upset woman can cause the end of the world. If we manage to use these women for our gain, not only will we get more information, but we will also be able to attack the enemy without drawing our swords. From the inside."
Shi Lang smiled meaningfully and asked, "So, you mean to tell me that you intend to guide all these knives inside the belly of the demon without knowing where to attack? Do you think that your knives will be able to gain eyesight and take down the Zhu?"
The two women, who had been very happy till now, suddenly stumbled upon a question they had no solution for. Shi Lang smiled and said, "Do not worry, go and rest. I will read this book before pondering on how to act. For now, calm down."
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