Chapter 148: 147. Chapter 147: The Medicine Trade

147. Chapter 147: The Medicine Trade

After eliminating the Liu family of the grain transport, the overall situation in Sanyang City was nearly settled. Though the Sun family of the Medicine Trade still remained, they were no longer a threat. Zhao Ge also firmly believed that this Sun family, which had always kept a low profile, could not possibly produce a Qi-Opening expert today—if they could, then Qi-Opening experts would be too cheap.

"Meng De, have you settled matters over there?" Zhao Ge now began inquiring about the situation.

Li Yi said: "After killing the two masters there, I went to the city governor's mansion. The governor is Fan Zhizhou, a scion of a prominent family, some kind of bastard descendant, with some background and strength. Besides himself being a Qi-Opening expert, he had an old servant who was also Qi-Opening—but still no match for me. I beat them senseless, and they became obedient. In the end, I didn't kill them; it seemed too troublesome—there'd be revenge, reckoning, endless hassle. I just didn't feel like dealing with it."

"Just make them pay compensation. After all, the city governor didn't personally take part in this, and his hands aren't stained with the blood of the Zhao Martial Hall."

Zhao Ge nodded upon hearing this: "You did well, Meng De. Killing a Qi-Opening scion is indeed troublesome. Our Zhao Martial Hall still needs to consolidate and rebuild—we can't afford such disruptions. If he's willing to retreat and offer compensation, that's enough. If we wiped them all out, we wouldn't be able to establish ourselves in Sanyang City."

Martial arts aren't just about fighting and killing—they involve human relations and social nuance.

Now that our great vengeance is settled, we shouldn't obsess over the rest. If we strike too harshly, we'll inevitably invite backlash later.

"Where's Skinny Monkey? Why haven't I seen him? Did something happen?" Li Yi suddenly noticed someone missing.

Zhao Ge said: "Skinny Monkey is fine. The three district heads spotted the traitor's trail, so I sent him with several Blood-Cultivation martial artists to settle accounts with him. If all goes well, Skinny Monkey will return soon with the traitor."

"So that's how it is," Li Yi nodded. "Are those three the district heads? Are they also allies, like the Weiwu Escort Agency?"

"Correct. To take root in Sanyang City, we can't afford to lack allies. These three district heads have shown some loyalty—they didn't kick us while we were down; instead, they protected some of our Zhao Martial Hall disciples. So I'm willing to grant them some face, and join forces with them to secure Sanyang City. That's why they've put real effort into this, sending many Blood-Cultivation martial artists to assist." Zhao Ge stroked his beard and nodded.

Meanwhile, the three district heads nearby, having overheard the conversation, hurried forward.

"District Head of the Weaponry District, Zhang Tie Feng, greets Li Yi, Young Master Li."

"District Head of the Treasure District, Shen Shi, greets Young Master Li."

"District Head of the Flower District, Sister Hua, greets Young Master Li."

The three district heads bowed in unison, their demeanor respectful, daring not to show the slightest disrespect. After all, this was their first meeting—they didn't know his temper, and none dared to offend him by accident.

Li Yi, however, had no airs. He returned the bow with a fist salute: "You're too kind. Thank you for lending a hand—without you, our Zhao Martial Hall's revenge wouldn't have gone so smoothly."

"We're family—no need for such formalities. Young Master Li, should you ever need anything, I am at your command, utterly loyal. I only hope you'll remember my efforts and show me favor in the future." Sister Hua, the Flower District Head, stepped forward with a slender sway of her waist, speaking in a sweet, fluttering voice, her eyes brimming with allure.

Li Yi's expression remained unchanged, unmoved: "Flower District? What kind of place is that? A brothel?"

"The Flower District isn't just a brothel—we also run textile shops, restaurants, pastry shops, tea houses, and more," Sister Hua replied immediately.

Li Yi said: "I don't care for brothels. Such places have existed since ancient times, but they breed evils—trafficking women, forcing the virtuous into prostitution. There's plenty of such wickedness in the world, and I can't control it all. But I hope, Sister Hua, that in Sanyang City, you'll show some restraint."

"If Young Master Li commands it, how could I disobey? I'll manage things properly from now on and never do anything against heaven or humanity." Sister Hua bowed respectfully, but her eyes flickered with a strange glint.

Who would have thought this bloodthirsty Li Yi had a kind heart?

Li Yi nodded, then turned again: "Master, there's still the Sun family of the Medicine Trade. How should we handle them? Attack them outright?"

Zhao Ge fell silent for a moment. The Sun family of the Medicine Trade, of course, couldn't be spared. Just as he was about to speak, Shen Shi, the Treasure District Head, gathered his courage, stepped forward, and bowed respectfully: "Regarding the Sun family of the Medicine Trade, I have something to say—though I'm not sure if it's appropriate to speak."

"Your Treasure District has always been close to the Sun family. Are you trying to be their advocate now?" Zhao Ge glanced at him. "Say what you have to say—don't dither."

Shen Shi's face flushed with embarrassment, but he spoke plainly: "Just now, the chief steward of the Sun family asked me to deliver a message to Master Zhao: the Sun family is willing to withdraw from Sanyang City entirely and surrender all their mountain treasures, elixirs, silver, gold, and medicine shops—only asking to be allowed to live in peace."

"So handing over their property is enough?" Zhao Ge snorted heavily. "If we kill them, all those things become ours anyway."

"If Master Zhao does that, the Sun family will only destroy everything—the mountain treasures, the great herbs—and fight to the death," Shen Shi added. Sweat had already broken out on his forehead.

This pressure didn't come from Zhao Ge—it came from Li Yi beside him.

Zhao Ge's gaze shifted slightly, as if pondering, weighing. Then he turned to the side: "Meng De, what do you think?"

"The Sun family's various precious herbs are indeed crucial to our Zhao Martial Hall right now. These herbs can heal wounded disciples, help train new ones, even aid Master in recovering his injuries and advancing his cultivation. If gathered together, these treasures might even cultivate another Qi-Opening expert—beneficial, not harmful."

"If we simply kill them and force a last stand, the result is merely more blood on our hands—useless to the bigger picture," Li Yi said calmly.

"True. Meng De speaks wisely. The Sun family controls many elixirs and precious herbs—something our Zhao Martial Hall desperately needs," Zhao Ge nodded. "If we truly destroy the Sun family, we'll be the ones who lose. So Meng De suggests reconciliation?"

Li Yi's gaze turned cold: "No. Their sincerity isn't enough. To threaten us with destroying the herbs is naive. Shen Shi—you're connected to the Sun family. Tell them: if they want to live, it's simple. Surrender everything, and add ten Blood-Cultivation martial artists' heads. The chief steward's head must be among them."

"If they do it, the rest of the Sun family may leave Sanyang City alive. If they don't, in fifteen minutes I'll come to their door. If they want to destroy the herbs, let them. I, Li Yi, don't care."

At these words, the faces of the three district heads changed.

No one expected Li Yi to demand ten Blood-Cultivation martial artists' heads. The Sun family could never agree—lose ten such warriors, lose all their wealth, and they'd be utterly ruined. But if they refused, none of their disciples would escape Sanyang City.

Two Qi-Opening experts hunting them—no escape, no hiding.

Worse still, Li Yi's demand wasn't just about weakening the Sun family—it was about inciting internal chaos.

To gather ten heads, the Sun family would tear itself apart—no one would willingly give up their own head.

"Shen District Head, is what I said not clear enough? If you won't deliver the message, you can wait here. Waiting still counts as time." Li Yi's gaze fixed on the district head.

"Yes, yes! Young Master Li's reminder is spot-on—I'll send someone to contact the Sun family immediately." Shen Shi felt caught between two fires—this demand, if delivered, would make the entire Sun family hate him.

But no matter what, Shen Shi had to do it. Otherwise, angering Li Yi wouldn't just make him a non-person—it might make him cease to be human at all.

Nearby, Master Zhao Ge silently nodded, impressed by Meng De's move.

If they'd simply let the Sun family go, the Sun family could rise again—they'd lost no people, their morale remained intact. But with Meng De's scheme, they'd lose ten Blood-Cultivation martial artists and be riddled with internal strife. Even if they escaped Sanyang City alive, a family with shattered unity would never amount to anything.

The other two district heads now looked at Li Yi not just with respect, but with awe.

One sentence destroyed four generations of the Sun family's legacy, thwarting their plan to preserve their people while losing their land. This wasn't the act of some simple young martial artist.

Beside Li Yi, Rong Niang was unfazed. She had already witnessed how her senior brother shattered the Jin family's martial hall—twenty heads for survival, forcing the Jin disciples to slaughter each other. The brilliance lay in leaving immediately after the chaos began—leaving survivors to distrust and hate one another, never blaming the senior brother.

Such psychological warfare earned Rong Niang's genuine admiration.

In truth, Li Yi understood no strategy or tactics—he simply watched TV dramas about palace intrigue, power struggles, and war during his breaks from work. Absorbed by osmosis, and with his enhanced intellect, such schemes came naturally to him.

In ancient times, he might not have made a great strategist—but as a poisoner, he'd be perfect.

Sometimes Li Yi himself wondered: perhaps the Earth Prisoner was born evil. Good things were hard to learn; evil things, once seen, stuck instantly.

Still, Li Yi felt that compared to these factions trying to exterminate the Zhao Martial Hall, his actions were merciful.

At least each family had been given some leeway—no total extermination.

But he didn't know whether this mercy was good or bad.

About fifteen minutes passed.

Down the street, an old man with half-gray hair, around fifty, rode toward them, drenched in blood.

"That's the chief steward of the Sun family, Sun Yaoren," Sister Hua, the Flower District Head, recognized him at once.

Zhao Ge narrowed his eyes: "He's come to us. Clearly, Meng De's demand has driven Sun Yaoren to desperation—he's forced to appear in person. But what a pity for Sun Yaoren. When I first reached Qi-Opening, I met him—he was young, full of vigor, at the peak of Blood-Cultivation, on the verge of breaking through to Qi-Opening. But one trip into the mountains to gather treasures led to an encounter with ghostly troops. Like me, his spiritual essence was damaged. He later found a coffin mushroom and healed, but his vital energy never recovered. Even with great herbs to regulate him, he couldn't regain his peak. He failed three times to break through."

"Had it not been for that incident, Sun Yaoren would have been a Qi-Opening expert."

Li Yi also turned to look at the approaching man.

There was no hostility in him—only death.

After all, Li Yi had specifically demanded his head. Now, riding hard toward them, he wasn't coming to fight—he was coming to deliver his own head.

The chief steward reined in his horse, dismounted, then unslung a sack from the saddle. Calmly, he tossed it toward the group.

The sack hit the ground, spilling out nine bloody heads—all Sun family Blood-Cultivation martial artists, eyes wide with fury, dead without closure.

"You wanted ten heads. I've brought them. Young Master Li of the Zhao Martial Hall, do your words hold?" The chief steward called out loudly.

He needed Li Yi to answer publicly.

Only then would he not fear betrayal—after all, experts kept their word. Only then would others trust them. To break one's word before so many would ruin one's reputation.

"It holds."

Li Yi stepped forward: "Once your head is added, I, Li Yi, guarantee the Sun family may leave Sanyang City safely. As long as you never seek revenge against the Zhao Martial Hall, our grudge ends here. We will not pursue it further."

"That's good."

Sun Yaoren sighed in relief upon hearing Li Yi's promise, then let out a bitter laugh: "I never expected a young man like you to be so cunning. One sentence nearly tore my family apart."

Li Yi's gaze was calm: "This is the best outcome. Had I slaughtered openly, your family would have drowned in blood."

"Yes, this is the best outcome. A united, living Sun family leaving Sanyang City—Master Zhao wouldn't rest easy," Sun Yaoren looked at Li Yi, then at Zhao Ge.

Today's defeat was no injustice.

The Zhao Martial Hall had two Qi-Opening experts—one of them a young heir. For the next thirty years, no, at least fifty, Sanyang City would be dominated by the Zhao Martial Hall alone, with no rival.

"Chief Steward, did you kill these men yourself? With your current strength, you couldn't have killed nine Blood-Cultivation martial artists," Zhao Ge frowned, staring at the heads on the ground.

Sun Yaoren's vital energy had collapsed—he couldn't possibly have killed nine Blood-Cultivation experts so quickly.

Sun Yaoren laughed loudly: "I poisoned them—a poison even Blood-Cultivation martial artists couldn't resist. Then, before the younger generation, I cut off the heads of their fathers and elders. The blood debt of the Sun family from now on—I alone bear it."

"Great courage," Zhao Ge exclaimed. "A man like you, not reaching Qi-Opening—it's a pity."

The others now understood. Sun Yaoren had personally killed nine of his own Blood-Cultivation martial artists. The Sun family wouldn't collapse—but Sun Yaoren's branch was finished. The family's hatred now fell upon his descendants.

"My methods mean nothing. Zhao Ge, you've found a fine disciple. Sanyang City is yours now." Sun Yaoren roared, channeled his energy, and shattered his own heart.

A gush of blood spurted from his mouth. His body collapsed backward.

The final head was added.

The Sun family's demand was fulfilled.

Everyone stared silently at Sun Yaoren's corpse. The chief steward of the Sun family in Sanyang City had truly been a man of stature—only unfortunate that he hadn't reached Qi-Opening, lacked the standing to choose sides, and was swept into this slaughter, losing his life for nothing.