Chapter 1394

Fan Shuang didn't understand: "What is cocoa?" "Oh, it's what you call fragrant joy beans." He Lingchuan corrected. "Cocoa is the name used outside."

The Yao Nation people called cocoa "fragrant joy beans" because the food made from it carried a rich, exotic fragrance, making people feel satisfied and happy after drinking it. From He Lingchuan's observation, the local production, processing, and preparation of cocoa were already quite mature, even being applied to pastries.

When merchant ships entering and leaving the Flash Gold Plain docked at the Yangshan Archipelago, He Lingchuan had also seen these "fragrant joy bean" products. The price was expensive, but it was said that demand exceeded supply, and it was deeply loved by high-ranking nobles in the Mou Nation and Ya Nation.

Since he had come to Zhuo'an, He Lingchuan certainly wouldn't let such a good thing go. High unit price, small volume, and high consumption—these were exactly the products most welcomed by long-distance ocean merchants.

"Do they produce this outside too?"

He Lingchuan smiled: "In a place very, very far away."

In his heart, he also felt some emotion; the wealth and peace of the Yao Nation already had a bit of the look of Spirit Void City.

At night, Dong Rui sneaked over to find him.

Wang Fubao and other Yangshan guards went outside to wait, appearing to be cooling off in twos and threes, but actually keeping watch at the door to prevent strangers from approaching.

Dong Rui closed the doors and windows. He Lingchuan used the Soul-Stealing Mirror to scan the room and confirm the surroundings were safe before placing a sound-insulation barrier.

"You have a plan, right?" Dong Rui asked him. "Are we really going to implement it in Zhuo'an?"

"Yes." He Lingchuan dipped his finger in some tea and drew a simple map on the table. "I originally planned several locations to act; Mangzhou was a second-rate choice, but since we've come here, there's no better option."

"First choice was Tao River?"

"Yes, but the incident with the Feng family at Tao River disrupted our plan." He Lingchuan always planned major events with several sets of schemes to avoid complications and being caught off guard. "Mangzhou is not impossible, it's just that the risk is greater."

"Looking at the sand table, Zhuo'an is about forty li from Mangzhou; the actual walk requires taking a slightly longer mountain road, seventy li. This distance is very suitable for the Snail Toad." He continued, "This area is also welcoming the rainy season, the soil is damp, which helps us come and go without a trace."

"But if we continue east, the plain ends and we enter mountainous terrain; it's no longer a landscape crisscrossed by water networks. If it doesn't rain there, the Snail Toad can't escape more than five or six li." He Lingchuan said sternly, "Aside from Mangzhou, there is actually one last location to act later on. However, one must leave a margin for error in doing things and try to avoid the 'last choice'."

The last choice means having no choice left, having to bite the bullet and go for it.

Missing Mangzhou, they might only have one last chance left, and it would be hard not to fall into impatience and worry about gains and losses psychologically.

Dealing with an opponent like Xue Zongwu, one cannot be impatient.

"On the night we act, we will be staying in Zhuo'an, under the eyes of Fan Shuang and the royal guards." He drew a circle on the table. "Xue Zongwu's death will have nothing to do with us. They are all our alibis."

"Xue Zongwu married his mentor's daughter. The sect where he learned his craft, Green Ridge Mountain, is very famous in the middle of the Flash Gold Plain. His mentor and father-in-law, Qi Yunsheng, came from a traditional noble family of the Yao Nation and was once the Chief Elder of Green Ridge Mountain. In his youth, he could be said to be unparalleled in glory, but I heard he was also a ruthless person. Several unsolved cases in the Yao Nation were related to him, and they even involved factional struggles among the noble clans. It seems Xue Zongwu is like a younger version of Qi Yunsheng. However, this Elder Qi retired honorably a few years ago and then moved back to Mangzhou to live."

"Whoa, his father-in-law's resume is also heavy."

Ever since He Lingchuan decided on the Black Armor Army plan, he began to ponder the big target of Xue Zongwu, spending a lot of effort to get his information mostly together. Sigh, if only there were a know-it-all informant.

It was hard for Lingshan to recommend a candidate to him, Tu Yuanhong, only for him to be killed by Xue Zongwu.

"So Xue Zongwu can't not enter Mangzhou; he has to come to pay a visit to his father-in-law?"

"Yes. Although Qi Yunsheng is retired, his connections in the Yao court and Green Ridge Mountain are still very broad, and it is said that the wealth he has accumulated is also quite astonishing. He and Xue Zongwu are a strong alliance between father-in-law and son-in-law. Without the father-in-law's financial resources, reputation, connections, and guidance, Xue Zongwu couldn't have been so rampant. So, Xue Zongwu passing through Mangzhou, by reason and logic, should go there."

"Many officials and nobles passing through Mangzhou will also go to visit Qi Yunsheng, so the entire Mangzhou must be very lively then."

He Lingchuan zoomed in on Mangzhou on the sand table: "Qi Yunsheng's villa is located on Little Peach Mountain in Mangzhou; it should be bustling with visitors then, and there will be many other powerful figures as well. Xue Zongwu going to visit his father-in-law, he can't possibly bring all two hundred elite soldiers into the mansion, otherwise, it wouldn't be a junior paying a visit, but a show of force."

"So, his guards will be at their fewest then?"

"By logic, that's the case. But his father-in-law is no pushover either; the Chief Elder of Green Ridge Mountain, even at over sixty, still has deep cultivation."

"Xue Zongwu himself is a hard bone to chew, plus a Chief Elder of Green Ridge Mountain, and Mangzhou is their territory." Dong Rui held up his fingers and counted one by one. "How about we just forget it? Changing the target is also quite good."

He Lingchuan smiled: "Back when we caused a scene at the Heavenly Palace, do you know why Fang Canran and Lingshan had to get involved?"

"Because the effect was good?"

"Because the Star-Plucking Tower burned down by Cuiju and the Spirit Void City destroyed by Lingshan were both brilliant battle achievements, and both had shocking effects!" He Lingchuan said softly. "Fang Canran told me that since then, the number of forces leaning toward Lingshan has skyrocketed. In just these two years, it has exceeded the past fifty! Even a few small countries under Beijia's control have wavered and are testing the waters."

If you are famous and raise the banner against Beijia, like-minded people will naturally come to join you.

"Killing Xue Zongwu is the same principle. To shock the Yao Nation and announce it to Flash Gold—this effect is something I cannot do without!" If he doesn't behead the great evil of the Yao Nation and doesn't chew on the truly hard bones, the Nine Nether Emperor cannot truly represent "justice," and the image of the Black Armor Army cannot truly take root in people's hearts.

Killing Xue Zongwu as a sacrifice to heaven is an important link in He Lingchuan's Flash Gold plan that cannot be bypassed.

To this, Dong Rui only asked: "Where to start?"

"Remember Huang Shen? Fan Shuang said his father was originally the garrison commander of Tianshui City, who was imprisoned and beheaded four or five months ago." He Lingchuan smiled. "Actually, according to the confession of Manager Qian Yu, Garrison Commander Huang was the middleman for several of Xue Zongwu's secret transactions. The amount involved... is huge!"

Qian Yu handled the core accounts for Xue Zongwu, and Garrison Commander Huang's name appeared several times, and he even withdrew many funds from Xue Zongwu. The two sides were in close contact, and Qian Yu recorded everything.

Dong Rui said in a strange tone: "General Xue is truly a man who does big business."

(End of chapter)