Chapter 107 - 10: Do You Know How to Use Such a Talent? Let Me Use It

I really didn’t know about this, and when I was dragged in here, nobody told me this guy was cheating.

"..."

Ye Liuyun finally caught on.

Looks like this guy’s Thousand Skills were actually pretty damn good; he cheated and won so much money, and nobody noticed a thing.

The only reason he got exposed was pure greed—couldn’t stop when he should’ve walked away.

If he’d quit halfway, cashed out when the getting was good, maybe he’d never have been caught.

Anyone running a gambling den always has some kind of background, more or less connected to someone; tossing a guy into the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s Imperial Prison is just way too easy.

"It’s nothing. I just thought, with gambling, nine times out of ten you lose. If he wasn’t cheating, how could he keep winning?"

Ye Liuyun made up a random excuse and brushed it off.

Didn’t bother explaining further.

He just waved simply at the man standing by, signalling him to get on with it.

No need to keep introducing.

"Do it!"

Xiao Yongning standing nearby didn’t waste words either, directly commanding his guys to get moving.

When the whip was about to come down, the guy finally realized he should be scared, but it was too damn late—pleading and begging is useless now, so this guy—

If you’ve got no way to protect yourself, no matter how talented you might be in certain areas—

You still need to clamp down on your greed.

No strength, nothing you say matters.

Except for Thousand Skills, he really had no talent at all; just a regular, average guy.

A few lashes and he was basically done for, barely hanging by a thread.

Another few whips.

Ye Liuyun saw a faint light dot float up from the guy’s body.

Seeing the executioner about to go for another round, Ye Liuyun called out to stop him.

"Enough, the guy’s dead already, no point in continuing."

"Dead?"

They thought he’d just passed out from the pain.

When they went over to check, turned out—he really was dead.

"Ah shit!"

People who can’t survive even a few lashes are pretty rare in the Imperial Prison.

So they could only look to Xiao Yongning for help; honestly, since they’re working overtime executing prisoners, there’s no one left to swap in, and self-flagellation isn’t exactly an option.

So they’ll just give Ye Liuyun a show to lift his mood.

"Alright, dead is dead. Just take him away."

Ye Liuyun didn’t care much.

He casually pocketed the guy’s Thousand Skills talent.

As long as it’s not some negative talent, Ye Liuyun collects them all—after all, who knows, with a few more, maybe he’ll evolve a pretty damn good Talent Entry.

"Nicely done!"

He reached out and patted Xiao Yongning on the shoulder.

"If there are similar prisoners in the future, just notify me—and if anything comes up in the Embroidered Uniform Guard, you can always come to me."

If you want the horse to run, you’ve got to feed it some grass first.

If you want Xiao Yongning to play nice, you definitely need to toss him some goodies.

Anyway, all he’s asking is to be the go-to when trouble hits; as for actually helping, or whether he’s willing and able to help, that’s a different story.

"Yes, sir!"

But it was clear Xiao Yongning had no idea about Ye Liuyun’s little scheme.

After Ye Liuyun gave his promise, the guy was all smiles.

Turns out, his choices all along were right.

Now he’s got not only a Hundred-Man Commander’s friendship, but one who’s also hit the Innate Realm.

"Rest easy, sir—if anything like this pops up again, I’ll notify you first thing!"

Xiao Yongning couldn’t care less whether Ye Liuyun had some weird kink.

As long as there are perks in it for him, he’s game.

He watched Ye Liuyun leave, with proper respect.

...

And as soon as Ye Liuyun left the Imperial Prison—

Shi Sheng and Si Nan, who’d been waiting ages, immediately stepped up to greet him.

"Sir!"

Seeing them bow, Ye Liuyun waved a hand, telling them to rise.

Then, curiosity piqued, he asked:

"Did something happen?"

If nothing was up—

They wouldn’t be standing outside the prison waiting for him, would they?

"Uh!"

Si Nan scratched his head, still looking a bit odd.

"I think that Southern Governor genuinely got spooked by you, sir."

"What do you mean?"

Qi Yuanliang was scared off by me?

Ye Liuyun couldn’t really buy it.

But Si Nan didn’t waste time hemming and hawing, and got straight to the point:

"Just a moment ago, the Southern Governor sent word, handing us an assignment—a house raid case."

Everyone in the Embroidered Uniform Guard knows—

If you want to talk about cases with the most grease, that’s gotta be the house raid jobs.

Especially raiding one of those rich-as-hell officials at court.

Skim just a little off the top, who would ever know? As long as it looks legit on the surface, it’s all good, right?

Normally, people fight tooth and nail for this kind of case, and there aren’t enough to go around.

Si Nan’s tried for ages and never managed to snag one of these cases.

And now?

The Southern Governor Qi Yuanliang personally steps in, assigning a house raid case to Ye Liuyun. That’s basically a veiled compromise.

"Ha!"

Ye Liuyun suddenly laughed.

So, now that he knows my power is more than expected, he’s changed up his tactics, trying the soft approach?

Honestly—

I’ve heard my share of gourmet bullshit in the past.

This kind of kindergarten move, I don’t even have to think about it to know what it means.

"I just feel like that Southern Governor’s definitely up to no good."

Shi Sheng couldn’t help but mutter.

Even if he couldn’t guess exactly what Qi Yuanliang was up to—

Shi Sheng just had this gut feeling Qi Yuanliang was plotting nothing good.

"Who gives a crap what he’s up to, just grab the cash first. Free money—why say no? Who says if you take his payoff, you’re automatically on the hook for him?"

Si Nan looked totally unconcerned.

If you’re going to avoid anyone, don’t make it money.

Besides—

As long as you take the payoff and do nothing, it’s not really a problem, right?

...