Chapter 91 - 86 The Fishing Guild Traitor

Chapter 91: Chapter 86 The Fishing Guild Traitor

Chapter 91 -86 The Fishing Guild Traitor

Xiantao Town, Hua Mei Tea House!

This was a very small tea house. Mianshui people were fond of drinking tea, so whether in the countryside or in the city, tea houses were never in short supply.

The Hua Mei Tea House was just a small teashop in Xiantao Town.

It was divided into two parts: the front hall and the private rooms. The front hall generally sold large bowls of tea for passing travelers, small merchants, and vendors to drink.

The private rooms served the town’s more prominent figures for their tea-drinking pleasure.

At this moment, in one of the private rooms of the Hua Mei Tea House, Captain Zhao Xun sat heavily burdened with thoughts.

In front of him was a plate of preserved plums and a cup of excellent Biluochun tea.

One of his greatest pleasures was savoring preserved plums, drinking Biluochun, and listening to the noises from outside, enjoying his life.

However, today, the preserved plums did not entice his appetite.

The fragrant Biluochun could not arouse the tea craving in his belly either.

*Why?*

*Confliction!*

Tap, tap, tap…

Just as Captain Zhao Xun found himself lost in thought, footsteps echoed, and someone walked in slowly.

The person sat down opposite him and instructed the staff to bring a pot of Iron Buddha tea.

The newcomer poured himself a cup of tea and did not rush things, sipping the tea while watching Captain Zhao Xun.

Zhao Xun remained silent.

In this silence, as the newcomer’s second cup of tea was consumed, Zhao Xun finally spoke.

“Aren’t you curious why I invited you here?”

“Haha, I thought I’d have to finish this pot of tea before you opened your mouth. You asked me, naturally for your own reason, could it possibly be for mine?”

“So I’m in no rush. If you’re anxious, speak up, otherwise, let’s drink another cup and then talk.”

The newcomer took another sip of tea and said, “This tea here, it’s this Iron Buddha indeed, do you know why?”

Zhao Xun did not answer.

The newcomer chuckled, “Because this Iron Buddha is also known as Oolong, and Oolong just has more flavor.”

“What kind of nonsense is that.”

Zhao Xun retorted without any politeness in response to the newcomer’s words, and followed up quickly, “Yu Biao, you really can keep your cool, huh? Soon there’s going to be the Village Chief contest, and you haven’t even broken through to the Refining Body realm. Can you defeat Wu Zhong?”

Yu Biao replied, “I’m just one trigger away from the Refining Body realm, and I’ve made two preparations. Before the Village Chief contest, I can definitely break through to the Refining Body realm.”

“Besides, even if I can’t, aren’t you there to help me?”

Yu Biao said with a smile to Zhao Xun.

Zhao Xun angrily said, “Cut the crap. I only agreed to help you get rid of Wu Zhong, but I never said I’d betray the Fishing Guild. I won’t do anything to betray the Fishing Guild.”

“Haha, sure, sure, just getting rid of Wu Zhong is enough!”

Yu Biao nodded and then looked at Zhao Xun, “So, tell me, what do you have to share with me? If there’s nothing important, you wouldn’t risk seeing me privately!”

Zhao Xun fell silent, and after a long pause, said, “There’s an opportunity to finish off Wu Zhong now!”

“Oh?”

Yu Biao put down his teacup, instantly interested. Was it possible for such a pie to fall from the sky?

“Tell me in detail.”

Zhao Xun fell silent again, refraining from speaking further, as if deeply conflicted.

*He knew that if he spoke of it, it would mean betraying his guild and plotting against his superiors. If the guild found out, according to the underground rules, a “three blades six holes” punishment would be inevitable.*

*But did he have a way back?*

*His ambition had become too hard to suppress, he so desperately wanted to be the Fishery Manager, he wanted progress so badly, was wanting progress wrong?*

Yu Biao was in no hurry, picking up a preserved plum from the table to savor the taste.

*Zhao Xun coming to him already indicated that he had made a decision inside. It was just a sort of posturing that he hadn’t acted on it yet.*

Indeed, Zhao Xun finally spoke up.

“Wu Zhong went up Dahei Mountain this noon…”

“Oh, you mean, the last time we followed the Hall Masters into that gray fog, he discovered that Blood Ganoderma with a hundred years?”

“Mm.”

“And Wu Hong is injured, now urgently needing nourishment, and that Blood Ganoderma is the best tonic?”

“Correct.”

Yu Biao’s lips curled up, “That gray fog isn’t an easy place to enter. This Wu Zhong has lost his head, or he’s just overly concerned for his child!”

Zhao Xun didn’t speak, while Yu Biao said, “Mm, this is indeed a good opportunity, but could Wu Zhong really return from the gray fog?”

Hearing this, Zhao Xun said, “What if he returns alive?”

“True enough.”

Yu Biao nodded and then proposed, “Tonight, let’s wait outside the gray fog on Black Mountain. If we spot Wu Zhong, we’ll kill him on the spot.”

Zhao Xun said, “Then throw him into the gray fog, and pretend he died inside, without a witness.”

Yu Biao smiled, “Zhao Xun, I have to admit, you have a cruel streak. Wu Zhong was good to you, yet you can still make a move?”

Zhao Xun’s face darkened as he said, “Anyone in my way must die!”

Yu Biao’s grin widened with delight, “Great, I like that, kill Wu Zhong and you become the Fishery Manager, and I get the Xiantao Town Village Chief for free, haha… great.”

Zhao Xun then said, “The position of Xiantao Town Village Chief I can give to you, but if Wu Zhong really brings out that Blood Ganoderma, it must be mine!”

Yu Biao responded, “That won’t do, the value of the Blood Ganoderma surpasses that of the Village Chief’s position, giving it all to you is unacceptable, half for each of us.”

“Half for each?”

Zhao Xun frowned, appearing unwilling, but in the end, gritted his teeth and said, “Fine, half for each.”

Finishing, Zhao Xun got up, “At the end of the afternoon, see you at the back mountain.”

Yu Biao laughed, “See you at the back mountain!”

The two exchanged a knowing smile before Zhao Xun left the tea house.

Just then, a new person entered from outside, it was Yu Sanliu.

“Father, are you really giving him half of the Blood Ganoderma?”

Yu Biao chuckled, “What does it matter if I give it, what does it matter if I don’t, it’s not important.”

“Father, is that really not important?”

Yu Sanliu asked in confusion, but Yu Biao continued sipping his tea, “From now on, Zhao’s family will be a dog for our Yu family. If I tell him to go east, he won’t dare go west. From now on, Xiantao Town will bear our Yu name!”

“Ah, Father, is that what you mean?”

Yu Sanliu instantly understood and also smiled.

“Yes, it’s not important anymore. If today’s plan works, that Zhao’s son will be their Yu family’s dog!”

This game seemed like Zhao Xun and Yu Biao were conspiring to kill Wu Zhong.

Yet, afterwards?

If Yu Biao’s act of killing Wu Zhong became known, the Guild Cao would likely step in to protect him. It wasn’t uncommon for private fights between guilds to result in casualties. While the Fishing Guild would seek revenge, Yu Biao had about a fifty percent chance of surviving.

But as for Zhao Xun?

He was from the Fishing Guild and plotted with Yu Biao to kill Wu Zhong.

What did that mean?

It meant colluding with outsiders to harm superiors, a crime of betrayal and rebellion!

This severely violated the Fishing Guild’s rules, sentencing him to certain death with no chance of survival!

So this matter, Zhao Xun feared exposure more than Yu Biao.

This leverage granted the Yu father and son the upper hand, enabling them to manipulate Zhao Xun for a lifetime!

Did Zhao Xun not foresee this?

*He might have, but his untethered ambition drove him to madness, betting it all on this one move!*

…

Chen Jie reassured the Bai Family’s three members and returned home with a bowl of chicken stewed with mushrooms.

Before he left, Doctor Bai repeatedly emphasized that Chen Jie was to wait outside the gray fog, absolutely forbidden to enter the black fog. And if midnight passed, Chen Jie shouldn’t wait any longer, as Wu Zhong most likely would not return.

Chen Jie asked why.

Doctor Bai did not state the reason, only insisting not to let curiosity lead to confusion.

Chen Jie felt confident about this. Being cautious about the world itself, the existence of martial arts was already mysterious, perhaps those strange and supernatural things existed too.

Therefore, although he was intrigued by the gray fog, wanting to know what lay inside, he didn’t want any involvement.

The thing felt inherently sinister, better to keep a respectful distance.

Chen Jie fully accepted Doctor Bai’s advice.

He would not actively enter the gray fog.

Wu Hong also said, “Jiu Si, we owe you for this. It should have been me going, but my condition…”

He sighed afterward.

Bai added, “Jiu Si, I won’t say much. Just be careful. Don’t let anything happen to you while you attempt to rescue Ah Zhong.”

Chen Jie responded, “Master, Brother Hong, Auntie, don’t worry, I have it under control. However, I do have one request.”

“Jiu Si, speak.”

Chen Jie then said, “Here’s the thing, I’ll be climbing the mountain tonight, and I’m not very comfortable leaving Yunjin and Yunrui home alone. Could they stay at your place tonight?”

“Oh, I thought it was something serious. Auntie has plenty of vacant rooms. How about this, Auntie has made lunch already, and you can call Yunjin and Yunrui over to eat with us, and this afternoon they can keep me company.”

“Don’t worry, they will be completely safe here with us.”

Bai wholeheartedly agreed.

Wu Hong added, “Jiu Si, rest assured, even though I’m physically weak and unable to travel far, if a thief came here, even a Ming Jin Martial Artist would not get the best of me, I’ll protect your siblings without fail.”

Doctor Bai said, “Jiu Si, you need not worry. Although I’m just a useless physician, I do have some juniors within the Fishing Guild. If an accident occurs outside, they might not intervene, but if anyone dared to make trouble at the mansion, that would challenge the guild’s authority.”

“At that point, the Fishing Guild would turn Mianshui County upside down to nab the culprit, otherwise where would its pride go?”

“I am, after all, one of the Guild’s Eight Great Sitting Physicians. If they cannot ensure my safety, then the guild has no face to dominate in Mianshui County!”

Despite Doctor Bai’s low profile, and apparent lack of power, he was of high seniority within the Fishing Guild, respected even by the gang leader!

After hearing Doctor Bai’s assurance, Chen Jie felt relieved.

For some reason, after learning about the event, Chen Jie always felt something seemed off, fearing a change.

Therefore, he decided to cover his bases.

With Doctor Bai’s assurance now, Chen Jie understood clearly: anyone daring to lay a finger on the Bai Family, using underhanded tactics without a shred of evidence, might get away. But to storm into the Bai mansion boldly?

Doctor Bai had mended illnesses for the Fishing Guild his whole life, forging friendships even with the Old Guild Leader and many within the Inner Hall’s Eight Great Sitting Physicians, building up countless connections over the years.

Doctor Bai retired in Xiantao Town, so shouldn’t something happen to him, that would be a tremendous affair.

The Fishing Guild’s leader would probably intervene personally. At that point, anyone committing such an act wouldn’t be able to sidestep the thousand men search by the guild!

In a way, the Bai mansion in Xiantao Town was the safest place.

With Doctor Bai’s renowned reputation hanging, unless they were a major criminal like Ni Wenjun, no one in Mianshui County would dare pick a fight or cause disturbances here.

Listening to Aunt Bai’s words, Chen Jie returned and invited Su Yunjin and Su Yunrui to the Bai Mansion for lunch.

Su Yunjin, upon hearing Chen Jie, said, “Mm, Jiu Si, we ought to help with this. However, let’s skip lunch at Auntie’s place, we can go after eating.”

Su Yunrui, on the other hand, said, “Sister, there’s chicken to eat.”

Su Yunjin glared at Su Yunrui, and Daisy dared not say more. However, just then, someone suddenly entered from outside.

“Is Yunjin home?”

Su Yunjin was stunned and stood up to see it was Bai who had arrived. Su Yunjin quickly said, “Auntie, what brings you here?”

Bai said, “As soon as Jiu Si left, I realized, inviting people for a meal couldn’t lack a family member from our side. My old man has trouble getting around, and Hong’er hasn’t healed yet, so only this elderly woman could come. That’s why Auntie personally invites you—won’t you give face to Auntie?”

Bai warmly smiled at Su Yunjin.

Left with no choice and unable to refuse any further, Su Yunjin finally said, “Auntie, I’m not prepared, it’s my first visit and I can’t go empty-handed!”

Bai smiled, “What gift would people bring? Jiu Si is my father’s apprentice, just like family. How can a family member returning home bring stuff along? Alright, Yunjin, gather yourself; come with me. Recently my vision’s not great, and I have two needlework tasks this afternoon but can’t thread the needle. You must help Auntie with that…”

With these words, half cajoling and half coaxing, Bai took Su Yunjin by the hand, leading her to the Bai mansion.