Chapter 83: A Single Word Reveals the Intent to Kill

In just a day and a night, the caravan of the Wang Family of Xishan Prefecture had already traveled more than a hundred miles away from Changping County.

The caravan, including the person in charge, Wang You, consisted of about forty people. Leading them was a golden-threaded luxury carriage capable of holding over ten people, pulled by four fine horses; its speed far exceeded that of an ordinary carriage, though it was still quite a bit slower than riding on horseback.

Inside the carriage, Wang You leaned sideways on a silk-covered low couch, eyes closed for a brief rest, while two maidservants knelt to the side with lowered heads, carefully massaging his leg muscles.

On the other side of the carriage, that elderly cultivator was sipping fine wine and suddenly spoke with a smile: "I thought this trip would have some twists and turns, but I didn't expect it to be quite smooth. With this Spirit Spring Medicine Field, in two or three years, the family's medicinal herb business will be able to reach another level. It is truly a cause for celebration."

This elderly cultivator was named Guo Hongtao, one of the retainers recruited by the Wang Family. Although he was of a different surname, his status within the Wang Family was not low. Despite being a loose cultivator from a miscellaneous background, his cultivation level ranked among the top in the Wang Family.

"This matter has only taken the first step. We still have to return to the prefecture to see if the Prefect is willing to pull some strings for our Wang Family."

Wang You slowly opened his eyes and sighed: "In recent years, the supplies the family has been sending to Quanshan have increased more and more. If we don't open up some new sources of wealth, I'm afraid the family won't even be able to afford servants. However, considering the face of my Third Uncle and the official letter from Changping County, it shouldn't be much of a problem."

Every family has its own difficult scriptures to recite.

Just like the Wang Family of Xishan Prefecture; to outsiders, they appeared glorious, with family elders cultivating under Longhu Mountain. If one could attain an Upper Grade Dao Foundation and become an Inner Sect Disciple of Longhu Mountain, the Wang Family's rise to prosperity seemed just around the corner.

But the actual bitterness was known only to the few managers in the family. To support that Third Uncle's cultivation, the family had been sending tens of thousands, sometimes over a hundred thousand taels of silver to Quanshan every year for decades. Not only had the businesses the family had operated for over a hundred years been nearly hollowed out, but the silver in the account books was no longer healthy, and many businesses had been affected as a result.

This is what is called "shallow water cannot raise a dragon."

Therefore, a Medicine Field like Qingquan Village, which was already mature and could produce results with the investment of manpower, was no different from sweet dew to the current Wang Family; it not only quenched their thirst but might even save their lives.

Wang You had brought Guo Hongtao along on this trip for this very reason; it was a matter he was determined to win.

"It is fortunate that Master Guo was willing to make this trip with me. You have worked hard, sir."

Wang You composed his thoughts and smiled: "Originally, I heard that the one surnamed Chen only had a cultivation of twenty-some apertures, so coming alone would have been enough. I didn't expect that fellow's cultivation to be much higher than mine. If Master Guo hadn't accompanied me, it really might not have gone so smoothly."

"Most disciples of the He Mountain Sect are alone, without any kin to support them. To him, that Qingquan Village is like a chicken rib; naturally, he wouldn't hold onto it."

Guo Hongtao also smiled: "But it is more likely that he was intimidated by the reputation of the Wang Family. As a mere He Mountain Outer Transmission, how would he dare to stroke the tiger's whiskers?"

"Haha~"

Wang You tapped his thigh slightly and was about to speak, but the carriage suddenly stopped. Some noise came from outside, which immediately made him unhappy.

When a cultivator travels with servants, it is firstly to show status and bearing, and secondly to handle mundane affairs. If the servants under his command handle things unsteadily, it is his own face that is lost.

"Go ask what happened outside."

Wang You patted the buttocks of the maidservant beside him, letting her go out to inquire, but at this moment, a soft shout from outside the carriage interrupted his thoughts.

"Daoist Wang, please come out for a meeting."

The voice was somewhat familiar, but it didn't seem very familiar.

Wang You frowned. The person outside the carriage was clearly targeting him, but he shouldn't have provoked any trouble recently.

However, there was no avoiding it. Since the caravan had already stopped, Wang You glanced at Master Guo and simply pushed open the carriage door and curtain to head outside.

The sky was growing dark. Borrowing the afterglow of the sunset, Wang You looked at the person blocking the road in front of the caravan and was surprised. He cupped his hands in a salute: "Daoist Chen, why are you here? Is something the matter?"

Chen Ci had ridden hard for a day to catch up with this Wang Family caravan. Now that he had blocked the road and forced them to stop, he could only sigh and return the salute: "Daoist Wang, I have an unreasonable request. Please trouble yourself to give me the Changping County Official Letter, and this matter will be settled."

"Daoist Chen, what do you mean by this?"

Wang You was also puzzled: "I obtained this official letter from the County Yamen; it shouldn't have anything to do with you, Daoist, right?"

"Whether it has anything to do with me or not, give me the official letter, and you may pass this road."

Chen Ci narrowed his eyes, his tone turning cold: "If you do not give it to me, you shall not pass."

"Daoist Chen, are you intentionally trying to make things difficult for my Wang Family?"

Wang You's expression also turned cold: "This Qingquan Village Medicine Field is quite important to my Wang Family's grand-uncle; it was personally designated by him. Do not bring ruin upon yourself. I will treat what you just said as a joke. If you step aside, when you come to Xishan Prefecture in the future, I will personally sweep the couch to welcome you."

Chen Ci felt quite irritated; this matter was truly an unprovoked disaster for him.

He didn't even want that Spirit Spring Medicine Field in Qingquan Village, so why bother getting involved?

Chen Ci only needed Hutou Daoren to pass him the Superior Grade Qi Refining Method, the Yin Demon of the Five Elements, of the He Mountain Sect in the future.

But why would Hutou Daoren pass him the Yin Demon of the Five Elements?

It was nothing more than Hutou Daoren wanting to build his own base and cultivate a few usable people. Otherwise, without any kinship or friendship, why would he bother passing Chen Ci the Great Art? It would be too much trouble.

And what is "usable"?

Someone who knows how to handle things and can take responsibility.

The behavior of the Wang Family, reclaiming land and expanding under his nose, had no great impact on Chen Ci, on Hutou Daoren, or on the Fuhu Altar.

But it could affect Hutou Daoren's evaluation of Chen Ci—not only lacking insight but also not daring to take responsibility. If cultivated later, he would be of no great use.

Chen Ci only sought the Dao and Longevity. Unless this Wang You could pull out a Superior Grade Qi Refining Method for him right now, or his cheap uncle appeared in person, this Changping County Yamen official letter must absolutely not reach Xishan Prefecture today.

"Actually, it can be considered a lucky strike."

Chen Ci suddenly thought that, in fact, whether he had figured it out yesterday or not, there were only two options: agree or refuse. Even if he refused sternly, what use would it be to face two cultivators of the Wang Family alone?

Could he tell Hutou Daoren later at the Fuhu Altar that he had refused this matter very forcefully, and would that cheap senior brother think he was great?

Instead, by teaming up with Lin Banshan and borrowing each other's strength, this matter could be resolved.

"Brother Wang, give me the official letter and you may return to Xishan Prefecture. Whatever the Wang Family does with Qingquan Village afterward, whether you get an official letter from the Prefecture Yamen or otherwise, it has nothing to do with me."

Chen Ci slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air: "But today, the Changping County official letter must be left with me. There is no room for discussion."

Since things had reached this point, Wang You also understood what Chen Ci meant.

Regarding the Wang Family's involvement in Qingquan Village, Chen Ci's attitude was "not allowed."

Although he didn't know the reason or the cause for this change in the one surnamed Chen, the attitude was already laid out: it was simply not allowed.

But without the official letter from Changping County for reclaiming land and expanding, the matter would be without a legitimate name, and it would be very troublesome to handle. Even with the face of his Third Uncle, it would be difficult to succeed. Although the Wang Family had considerable influence in Xishan Prefecture, they were still somewhat incapable of occupying an enclave so far away.

"Daoist Chen, you are a mere He Mountain Sect Outer Transmission, blocking the road and seizing an official document. Do you think my Wang Family is afraid of you?"

A cold light flashed in Wang You's eyes: "Regarding today's matter, even if we take the lawsuit from the Prefecture Yamen all the way to Quanshan, my Wang Family is in the right. If you suffer any mishap here, you cannot blame others."

In a battle between cultivators, there is no such thing as stopping at the point of contact.

Being brave and fierce, the slaughter is tragic; unless there is a crushing difference in realms, who dares to hold back?

If you don't make a move, fine; once you make a move, it is to strike to kill.

The words were spoken, and the intent to kill was born.

"The path of the Dao is difficult to travel, and extraneous matters are hard to discuss."

Chen Ci felt a strange sense of emotion, yet a trace of killing intent surged onto his face; he asked coldly, "Daoist Wang, your caravan has exactly forty-seven people, I haven't missed any, have I?"

The setting sun gradually dipped low, and a cool breeze blew past; starting from Wang You, the people in the caravan inexplicably shivered.

Although Chen Ci had not killed many cultivators, he had killed prisoners to refine swords and livestock to refine techniques, with hundreds of human lives and thousands of animal lives on his hands; as this killing intent gradually arose, it also exerted an inexplicable influence on his opponents.

"Insolent!"

Inside the carriage, the Wang Clan retainer Guo Hongtao also stood out, steadying his Hunyuan Crown as his True Qi flowed, and sneered, "This old man would like to see if you truly dare to make a move; left and right iron cavalry, go and clear the road!"

This old man surnamed Guo was truly a veteran of the world; he first ordered the mortal guards to test Chen Ci, which could both see if Chen Ci truly dared to act and also let Chen Ci make the first move.

The two of them were not poor wretches like ordinary miscellaneous rogue cultivators; one had a cultivation of over thirty apertures, the other over fifty, and they both had Dharma Artifacts on their persons, so they were not truly afraid of facing an Outer Sect Disciple of the He Mountain Sect; just as they had said, even if they killed this person, if a lawsuit were brought all the way to Quanshan, they would still be guaranteed to win.

"This Daoist, since you are not a member of the Wang Family, why be so agitated? Why not calm down a little and let the two of them chat some more, is that possible?"

On a small slope by the road, a figure appeared at some unknown time, wearing a brown mask and standing with hands behind his back; although he had no intention of attacking, he locked his gaze onto the old man surnamed Guo, his attitude clear at a glance.

Not good!

The eyes of both Wang You and Guo Hongtao narrowed, their expressions heavy; if it were only Chen Ci, the two of them would dare to say their chances of winning were quite high, but with one more person added, if a magical battle broke out, they would truly have to risk their lives.

Wang You took a deep breath, suppressing the churning emotions in his chest, his hand already reaching toward his personal Dharma Artifact, his resolve gradually hardening.

Chen Ci did not retreat a single step, and he, too, could not retreat a single step.

If this official document had not reached his hands, it would be one thing, but since it had already entered the possession of the Wang Clan, if he were to hand it over like this, he would never be able to hold his head high in the family again.

But the eyes of the old man surnamed Guo flickered, as if he found it hard to make a decision.

Risking his life was not his wish.

How much money did he make in a month? Although the Wang Family's salary was high, it was not enough to make him sell his old life.

But looking at the situation, once that man surnamed Chen made a move, he intended to kill the entire caravan, and he himself had nowhere to escape; if Wang You lost, he would die even faster, leaving him in a dilemma.

"Everyone, I have a word, may I be heard?"

That masked man, who was Lin Banshan, suddenly laughed, causing the atmosphere on the scene to ease slightly.

Seems like there's a bit of poison, haha, turning the page, turning the page~

(End of this chapter)