Chapter 187: The Nine Scrolls, One Cauldron to Rule the Realm

The Li family's night banquet went smoothly, with Ma Yunfeng personally pleading and Chu Danqing seated beside him.

All the wealthy gentry and aristocratic families of Lin Yuan City obediently paid their dues, none daring to resist.

No matter how renowned you are locally, can you rival the current Grand Coordinator?

What about promising verbally but delaying or reneging afterward?

Ma Yunfeng is willing to negotiate with you in good faith—that's giving you face.

If you dare play petty tricks, you'll be crushed without mercy.

It's all about stability; Ma Yunfeng doesn't want to shed blood, but that doesn't mean he can't kill you.

He holds full military and political power in Lin Yuan City—he already has sufficient leverage.

Otherwise, why would he need Chu Danqing to delay the Black Flag Army? It's to control Lin Yuan's troops.

Though Lin Yuan's soldiers aren't as elite as the Black Flag Army, they're still a force to reckon with.

As Grand Coordinator, he knows the weaknesses of the Reformists and the Zhao Ming Society: the capital is a solid bloc under the Empress Dowager's control, and every region is a web of shared interests.

If even a Grand Coordinator finds it this hard to break open Lin Yuan City's situation, how great must his disadvantage be?

After the banquet ended, Ma Yunfeng finally expressed condolences over Li Yutang's daughter's death.

And that was the end of it—he's a Grand Coordinator; he's seen countless joys and sorrows.

How can one truly empathize when it hasn't happened to them?

"Grand Coordinator, my payment." Chu Danqing spoke up to claim it.

Earlier, while he was working, Chu Danqing hadn't dared to mention it outright; now, privately, only the three of them remained.

There was little risk in saying it now.

"Huh? Didn't you ask Li the Merchant himself?" Ma Yunfeng feigned confusion.

Hearing this, Chu Danqing wondered what game he was playing: "You asked me to handle this—why should I go to Li the Merchant for payment?"

Li Yutang was speechless at Ma Yunfeng's words.

He can thank Chu Danqing, but you can't saddle your own deal onto him.

"I recall Li the Merchant's household possesses a Shanhe Geography Map, correct?" Ma Yunfeng didn't answer Chu Danqing but shifted the topic to Li Yutang.

"There is indeed such a map in our home," Li Yutang didn't hide it, continuing: "It was acquired by my ancestor by chance, kept as a collection."

"That's right—I saw it when I played with Jin Chu back then," Ma Yunfeng said, referring to Li Yutang's deceased father, Li Jinchu.

Li Yutang and Ma Yunfeng were leveraging their old schoolmate bond.

"Young Master Chu, my payment is simply informing you that Li the Merchant's household possesses the Shanhe Geography Map you need," Ma Yunfeng said with a smile.

Chu Danqing narrowed his eyes but said nothing.

Li Yutang, hearing this, rose and personally fetched the so-called Shanhe Geography Map, placing it in the center of the table.

"Is this what you need?" Li Yutang asked, then added: "If so, consider it my personal gift to Young Master Chu."

The Shanhe Geography Map resembled Chu Danqing's Pao Lao Scroll—Maritime Class, but recorded mineral veins, forestry, and other resources.

Its patterns formed the shape of a tortoise with its head raised and legs braced—the Dragon Son Baxia.

"It's exactly what I need—I'll take it." Regarding his assessment task, Chu Danqing didn't refuse.

【Baxia Scroll·Shanhe】

【Type: Equipment·Scroll】

【Quality: Excellent】

【Durability: 100/100】

【Earth Veins Bear Heaven (Passive): Restores 50 HP per second while standing still】

【Weight of Shanhe (Passive): Increases non-combat stamina consumption by 50%】

【Equipment Requirement: None】

Seeing this passive, Chu Danqing didn't hesitate—he immediately tossed it into his storage space.

It complemented the Pao Lao Scroll: one restores 50 MP per second after combat, the other restores 50 HP per second while standing still.

Their utility? Both are mediocre.

The conditions here are far stricter than the Pao Lao Scroll's.

You must stand still—no movement at all—to activate the effect.

Chu Danqing had Bai Long—he had no shortage of HP recovery; he didn't need to sacrifice 50% more stamina for this effect.

He wasn't fighting nonstop; non-combat time vastly outweighed combat time—the cost-benefit ratio was poor.

The best outcome was for it to gather dust.

Yet with another Scroll of the Nine Cauldrons acquired, his task progress rose to (8/9)—only one scroll remained.

It was likely the Yazi Scroll.

Chu Danqing guessed it was in Zhao Tiechuan's hands, since Yazi governs warfare, and Zhao, as Regional Commander, fit perfectly.

"Are you satisfied with this payment?" Ma Yunfeng asked after seeing Chu Danqing take the Baxia Scroll.

"You take something from Li the Merchant and pass it off as a favor—your calculations are indeed precise," Chu Danqing said, satisfied yet feeling he'd been outmaneuvered.

"Ordinary items rarely satisfy Young Master Chu; this one is appropriately fitting," Ma Yunfeng explained.

"Fine, you've passed," Chu Danqing didn't dwell on it—if Ma Yunfeng hadn't pointed it out, acquiring the Baxia Scroll would've taken him considerable effort.

This was information asymmetry.

Ma Yunfeng glanced at the time, then said: "Li the Merchant, it's late—you still need to set up the altar and hall. We won't disturb you further."

He rose and turned to Chu Danqing: "Come, Young Master Chu—the meal is done, the item is taken—it's time to leave."

Chu Danqing naturally didn't refuse; he bid farewell to Li Yutang and departed with him.

Li Yutang saw them off outside the Li residence; Chu Danqing was about to go his separate way when Ma Yunfeng called out to him.

"Young Master Chu, the night is cold and the moon is bleak—your war chariot is drafty and uncomfortable."

"Why not ride with this old man in my carriage? I'll escort you home," Ma Yunfeng said.

Clearly, he had something to discuss with Chu Danqing.

Chu Danqing naturally didn't refuse—he entered Ma Yunfeng's carriage.

Once seated, the carriage began moving slowly, and Ma Yunfeng spoke: "Tomorrow, the Black Flag Army enters the city."

"I've successfully won over Zhao Tiechuan—he's willing to support our actions in Lin Yuan City and is ready to march on the capital to purge the court."

Chu Danqing wasn't surprised by these two statements.

With Ma Yunfeng's methods, ample time, and no constraints, achieving this wasn't difficult.

So Chu Danqing cared more about the Yazi Scroll he suspected Zhao Tiechuan held.

"So what do you want me to do?" Chu Danqing asked bluntly.

"The Black Flag Army's movements haven't escaped Qi Qianshan's notice," Ma Yunfeng continued: "You killed Hong Chengyue and delayed things by a day or two, but it's not enough."

"You mean I should kill Qi Qianshan?" Chu Danqing understood his intent.

But Ma Yunfeng suddenly changed the subject: "How many Scrolls of the Nine Cauldrons do you currently hold?"

"Why do you ask?" Chu Danqing didn't answer directly—Ma Yunfeng's topic shifts seemed designed to pressure him.

"When the founding Emperor established the dynasty, it was with the aid of the Nine Cauldron Scrolls," Ma Yunfeng steered the conversation toward them: "Their origins are mysterious and unknown."

"Yet whenever a dynasty nears its end or warlords plunge the land into chaos, the nine scrolls scatter across the realm."

"Whoever gathers all nine scrolls ushers in a new dynasty."

"The last person to unite all nine scrolls was our dynasty's founding Emperor," Ma Yunfeng stared fixedly at Chu Danqing.

Hearing this, Chu Danqing felt speechless—even an Excellent-grade item couldn't achieve such absurd effects.

"So you suspect I intend to rebel?" Chu Danqing had no such idle ambitions.

Besides, dynastic change depends on military strength and popular support—not a single piece of equipment.

"I want you to distract Qi Qianshan," Ma Yunfeng abruptly returned to the topic.

He knew perfectly well what a ruler's foundation was—but the matter still inspired dread.

"I'm afraid I don't have time," Chu Danqing refused this time.

It wasn't unwillingness—he needed to stay in Lin Yuan City to obtain the final Scroll of the Nine Cauldrons.

Notice that the Paradise didn't even grant a corresponding side quest.

Side quests supplement trial tasks—if this condition isn't met, no such quest will generate.

This means Qi Qianshan doesn't possess the final Yazi Scroll.

The difficulty level should be sufficient—he's universally recognized as the top martial artist in the realm.

But other factors are lacking; no side or hidden quest triggers.

"Don't refuse so quickly—I'll offer a reward you'll find satisfactory."

Ma Yunfeng produced a brocade box but didn't open it.

"How satisfying could it be?" Chu Danqing sensed Ma Yunfeng's killing intent.

Ma Yunfeng concealed it well—but his strength was too low.

Even if Chu Danqing was poor at combat, his stats weren't just for show.

A commoner, no matter how well he pretends, still radiates intent.

"The final Scroll of the Nine Cauldrons you need," Ma Yunfeng said, pushing the box before Chu Danqing.

He didn't open it, instead pressing his hand on it: "Actually, you have another path."

"Hand me your remaining eight Scrolls of the Nine Cauldrons—I'll ensure your safety and recommend you for rapid promotion."

In that instant, Chu Danqing understood what Ma Yunfeng intended to do.

He knew the Nine Tripods Map was a taboo, yet he helped Chu Danqing collect it—all to draw attention.

As for why attracting the Shuo Dynasty's attention was necessary, Chu Danqing could only think of clearing the emperor's court of corrupt ministers.

It seemed that although Ma Yunfeng spoke of the matter as serious, he truly believed the emperor should rely on strong armies rather than the nine scrolls.

"The Empress Dowager won't believe that," Chu Danqing said, prying Ma Yunfeng's hand off the brocade box and taking the scroll inside without hesitation.

It was a military treatise, its characters forming the shape of a beast with a jackal's body and a dragon's head—the Yazi Scroll that Chu Danqing needed.

"I will leave LinYuan City the day after tomorrow. Release the news then," Chu Danqing said, looking at the new trial task.

Ma Yunfeng came to LinYuan City to enact reforms and raise arms; his presence alongside the Yazi is only natural.

(End of Chapter)