Chapter 278: Chapter 155: Killing Spree
After inspecting the Snow Silkworm, Shen Qingyao carefully put it away. She noticed Chen Cheng smiling dazedly and, her curiosity piqued, snatched the Secret Manual from his hands.
"The Sleeve Universe Skill? You spent three hundred taels of silver on this? Do you really believe Bi Ziqian when he said this is the Hundred Treasures Studio’s greatest treasure?"
She gave the Secret Manual a quick glance before handing it back to Chen Cheng, giggling uncontrollably.
Chen Cheng said casually, "It’s good for a bit of fun when I’m bored."
"Spending so many silver taels on a useless Secret Manual just for fun, and you still say you have no money?" Shen Qingyao raised an eyebrow, teasing him.
Chen Cheng just smiled, not bothering to explain.
...
「Hundred Treasures Studio.」
A masked man in a brocade robe, a longsword hanging from his waist, hurried up to the second floor and walked straight into the Cloud Pavilion.
"Greetings, Young Master Tang."
Seeing the man, Bi Ziqian hurriedly bowed with respect.
"Shopkeeper Bi, there’s no need for such formalities."
Young Master Tang gave a casual wave, then asked, "You were in a hurry to see me. Do you have something to report?"
"Indeed." Bi Ziqian then gave Young Master Tang a detailed account.
He recounted the matter of Chen Cheng and his companion coming to the Hundred Treasures Studio to purchase the Snow Silkworm.
After listening, Young Master Tang fell into deep thought. After a long moment, he finally said, "Spending nine thousand taels of silver on a Snow Silkworm... a young master with that kind of money shouldn’t be common in Linji City. I fear they must be scions of the Four Great Clans of the Inner City.
"And among the Four Great Clans of the Inner City, only the Shen Family practices Cultivation Techniques with an ice-cold aura."
Bi Ziqian nodded. "I suspected as much. The two of them must be from the Shen Family."
"Did you try to recruit them as Tributors for the Hundred Treasures Pavilion?" Young Master Tang asked.
Bi Ziqian nodded. "I brought it up, but they said they needed to go back and consult with their family elders."
"In my opinion, since they are from the Four great Clans of the Inner City, I’m afraid it will be very difficult to recruit them."
"However, nothing is set in stone. Although the two of them are clever and alert, they seem just as sheltered and inexperienced as the scions of other great clans."
"Oh?" Young Master Tang’s eyes held a probing glint as he asked, "What makes you say that?"
Bi Ziqian smiled. "Although they drove a hard bargain on the price of the Snow Silkworm, they still spent three hundred taels of silver on my Sleeve Universe Skill Secret Manual."
"Hah!" Young Master Tang was taken aback, but his eyes filled with a mocking smile. "Shopkeeper Bi, you actually managed to sell that ’crown jewel’ of yours for three hundred taels of silver!"
"Don’t you normally sell a copy for just twenty taels of silver?"
Bi Ziqian gave an embarrassed laugh. "When I saw how skilled they were at haggling for the Snow Silkworm, I thought they were exceptionally clever. So instead of the handwritten copy, I offered them the original Secret Manual."
"The handwritten copy of the Secret Manual sells for twenty taels of silver, but the original, naturally, must go for three hundred taels of silver."
"I even threw in that Star Essence Gold Ring to sweeten the deal."
"Hmph! Don’t act all modest after getting such a steal."
Young Master Tang snorted, calling his bluff. "Even the original Secret Manual isn’t worth much."
"Others might not know, but how could I not? That so-called Sleeve Universe Skill is nothing more than a parlor trick."
"As for that Star Essence Gold, while it is indeed extraterrestrial and quite rare, it can’t be smelted or used to forge a Weapon. It’s worse than scrap metal."
"The fact that they bought the Sleeve Universe Skill Secret Manual and the Star Essence Gold fits perfectly with the profile of the spoiled scions of the Inner City’s Four Great Clans."
Young Master Tang said this as he walked to the counter, tapping his fingers lightly on its edge before continuing.
"So, they’re the spoiled scions of the Inner City Shen Family, are they? Compared to recruiting them as Tributors, they might have a much greater use."
Bi Ziqian asked, "Young Master Tang, you mean...?"
Young Master Tang said in a low voice, "Our Hundred Treasures Studio has been unable to recruit anyone precisely because Linji City is too peaceful. Those Jianghu Martial Artists have grown accustomed to a quiet life and feel no need to seek our protection."
"We need to fan the flames and get the Four Great Clans of the Inner City to fight amongst themselves. Once the situation descends into chaos, plenty of people will flock to us."
"When the Sect establishes its presence here in the future, you and I will have achievements to show our superiors."
"Young Master Tang, are you thinking of making a move on those two from the Shen Family?" Bi Ziqian was startled, voicing his concern. "I sensed that while they may be spoiled, their Qi Blood Power is quite profound. They’re very likely Perfect Martial Artists of the Muscle Strengthening Realm."
"Besides, the Shen Family has a strong presence in the Cold Crow Village Black Market. Isn’t it too risky to go after their people?"
Young Master Tang chuckled. "We won’t be the ones doing it, so what risk is there to speak of?"
"I just so happen to have received news that the Shadow Eighteen Bandits near the Cold Crow Village Black Market are short on funds and are looking for rich targets to prey on."
"We just need to leak the information, and they’ll be the ones taking the risks."
"The Shadow Eighteen Bandits once ambushed and killed a Bone Forger Realm Martial Artist, so their strength is indeed formidable. But would they really dare to make a move on people from the Shen Family?" Bi Ziqian asked.
Young Master Tang replied, "The Shadow Eighteen Bandits have been constantly hounded by the Protectorate Army, and yet, aren’t they still alive and well?"
"In the eyes of those notorious bandits, as long as the reward is great enough, is there anything they wouldn’t dare do?"
"If they have a chance to plunder enough silver coins, forget the Shen Family—they’d even make a move on the Jiang Family, who control the City Lord’s Mansion."
"Besides, the Protectorate Army has never been able to find the Shadow Eighteen Bandits’ lair. It’s highly likely that a major power is backing them."
"In any case, this has nothing to do with us. We just need to wait and watch the show."
Bi Ziqian nodded. "Young Master Tang’s words are wise. This subordinate will arrange for someone to spread the word at once."
"This is too important. I’ll arrange it myself." Young Master Tang waved his hand dismissively, then quickly strode out of the Hundred Treasures Studio, melting into the crowd of the Black Market and disappearing from sight.
...
Meanwhile, Chen Cheng and Shen Qingyao were in a tavern, summarizing the information they had gathered that evening.
The Demon Suppression Department already had intelligence that Le Wuji was affiliated with the Sutra of Ultimate Sect.
However, Chen Cheng had discovered that the Pianist, Qiluo, was a Perfect Martial Artist of the Muscle Strengthening Realm. This information was valuable to the Demon Suppression Department.
As for the Hundred Treasures Studio, the fact that they were recruiting Tributors everywhere was also not mentioned in previous intelligence reports, making that information valuable as well.
Having found two useful pieces of intelligence in one go, it was a fruitful harvest. Chen Cheng and Shen Qingyao had no intention of reporting everything at once.
Instead, they would report only one piece of information and save the other for next time.
This way, of course, it would be easier to coast through their next assignment.
After their discussion, the two drank some tea in the tavern, wandered around the Black Market a bit more, and then leisurely made their way to the exit to head home.
After leaving the Black Market, Shen Qingyao glanced behind them and asked in a low voice, "Brother Chen, did you notice?"
Chen Cheng gave a slight nod. "We’re being followed."
In fact, they had already been tailed inside the Black Market, and not just by one group, but by several.
He had a wealth of experience in counter-surveillance, after all. Though these people were being secretive, how could they possibly fool him?
"Are you getting scared?" Shen Qingyao asked, batting her eyelashes.
As the saying goes, skill begets boldness. Most people frequenting the Black Market were Skin Grinding Realm Martial Artists; someone at Muscle Strengthening Realm Perfection was already considered an expert. With her cultivation at the Small Success in Bone Forging Realm, Shen Qingyao was naturally fearless.
Besides, if the Shen Family was comfortable letting her come to the Black Market, how could they not have made arrangements? They must have sent experts to protect her in secret.
Chen Cheng knew this as well. "If some lowlifes dare to try anything," he said coolly, "then we’ll just have to slaughter them."
"Heh, you’re not flustered at all, are you!" Shen Qingyao raised her eyebrows, then asked, "I just can’t figure out how they spotted us."
"That would be because of the Snow Silkworm you’re carrying. I can feel its cold aura from a long way off."
Chen Cheng said coolly, taking off at a run back the way they came.
"Hey..." Shen Qingyao sighed softly and hurried to keep up.
’This Chen Cheng... it’s so hard to get the better of him! I hope the bandits who show up tonight have some real strength.’
’If Chen Cheng is about to be defeated, I can come in as the beauty who saves the hero. That should make him fall for me completely.’
’I’m really looking forward to seeing him thank me so meekly. It’ll definitely be fun!’
As she ran, Shen Qingyao thought these things to herself, secretly overjoyed.
