Chapter 313: with translation of chapter title

Cao Family → Cao Family (glossary: Cao Family → Cao Family). Also Chen Wuji → Chen Wuji.

Cao PoPo Meat Pie → Cao PoPo Meat Pie (glossary: Cao PoPo Meat Pie → Cao PoPo Meat Pie). Also maybe Chen Wuji again.

ordinary breakfast shop (no term), Yunan City → Yunan City (glossary: Yunan City → Yunan City). Also massive thing (not in glossary). Cao Family again.

This strong sense of dissonance gives one the feeling that, since everyone is opening shops in the city, I too reluctantly open one, just to make up the numbers and go along with the trend.

Others have indeed succeeded in opening this shop.

Cao PoPo Meat Pie is very famous in the city, and its daily meat pies are almost in short supply.

For an ordinary commoner, having such a shop cannot bring great wealth, but a modest prosperity can be achieved.

"How could it not be intense?" Chen Wuji asked, wrapping his arms around Qin Zhanhong's slender and soft waist.

Qin Zhanhong, however, pouted and said, "I'm busy with important matters, don't bring this up, it's a buzzkill."

Smack!

Chen Wuji raised his hand and delivered a crisp slap to Qin Zhanhong's highly elastic buttocks, saying, "We're not talking about this, why are you bringing it up? Hurry up and speak."

Qin Zhanhong coquettishly exclaimed, her eyes flashing with charming allure, then said, "I encountered two experts at the Cao Family; they are very strong."

"How strong?" Chen Wuji asked.

"... Very strong."

Chen Wuji was speechless, "Really, listening to your words is just like listening to your words."

Qin Zhanhong, however, suddenly giggled, "They're only slightly weaker than me, each being a one-against-a-hundred existence."

Chen Wuji suddenly doubted, "You really are that strong?"

"Are you doubting me? If I weren't strong, could you willingly let me ride you?" Qin Zhanhong shouted, glaring with her eyes.

Chen Wuji chuckled, "Yes, yes, yes, if you put it that way, you are indeed very strong."

Then he scooped Qin Zhanhong up in one motion and placed her on the bed.

Attack-Defense Easy Form

Chen Wuji didn't say anything like "now it's my turn"; he simply proved it with his actions.

Qin Zhanhong was also clever; she instantly understood Chen Wuji's meaning and laughed hysterically, "You're also very strong."

After joking a couple of sentences, Chen Wuji got back to the point, "Why are you so certain from this that the Cao Family is off, that we'll run into big trouble? Experts in the Yunan area don't seem lacking at all, and there are plenty of one-against-a-hundred types."

He even has two such people by his side, and possibly more.

Up to now, Chen Wuji still hasn't seen Chen Bushi and Chen Luozi make a move.

Logically, as the two leading rams of the Chen clan, their strength shouldn't be far off.

Qin Zhanhong snorted a few times, then said, "They don't have the local accent… Well, that probably can't serve as evidence, since Yunan's accent is mixed; not having the local accent really isn't strange."

"Actually, it's just a feeling; do you understand?"

Chen Wuji shook his head; he wasn't really clear on it.

Qin Zhanhong thought seriously for a moment, then said again, "The Cao Clan people are quite respectful toward those two, and they carry an air of outsider arrogance."

"If you had said that earlier, I would have understood." Chen Wuji said, "You mean the Cao Clan might have gained external support, or are acting as someone's vanguard?"

"Pretty much that. I also discovered that the Cao Clan is forging weapons and armor, with at least a thousand people hidden on the manor." Saying this, Qin Zhanhong's eyes turned wistful, "Cherish me well, little rascal. If I hadn't run in time tonight, you wouldn't get to enjoy my warm, tender body."

Chen Wuji had long grown accustomed to her licentious remarks that rolled off her tongue, and he calmly considered the problem.

The Cao Clan indeed has a problem.

Without mentioning what Qin Zhanhong said, just the detention of Xu Zengyi alone already gives a clue.

Xu Zengyi went with the purpose of negotiation, yet they directly detained him.

Why would they do that?

Refusing would actually be more profitable than detaining someone, and it could also conceal their intentions.

Unless…

They also learned the secret on Xu Zengyi's person.

"Hey! You can think what you want, but don't affect other things." Qin Zhanhong said.

Chen Wuji came to his senses, lay down, embraced Qin Zhanhong, and shifted into a relatively less strenuous posture.

"I'm wondering why they detained Xu Zengyi." Chen Wuji said.

Qin Zhanhong said in surprise, "What's there not to understand? This is exactly the big trouble I told you about."

"Xu Zengyi is the envoy you sent; they detained an envoy—could that not already indicate the problem? Detaining an envoy, forging weapons and armor, and very likely having an expert from the other side stationed there—this clearly shows they intend to break relations and seize Yunan."

"Seizing Yunan at this time…" Chen Wuji muttered softly.

"The news of my great victory over six thousand Qiang troops in the mountains should have long reached their ears; they didn't pick a moment when my side was weak, or during the big battle with the Qiang, but instead act after the victory to seize Yunan—don't you think that's somewhat unwise?"

Information is delayed for ordinary commoners, but for these people, it's an exception.

Perhaps from the moment he emerged from the mountains, those in Yunan City who ought to know the news already did.

"Never mind whether it's wise or not, they've clearly made up their minds to do this!" Qin Zhanhong muttered, puffing her lips, "Turn up the intensity."

Chen Wuji naturally agreed, but his mind was racing.

This matter sounds somewhat strange.

Among the several forces in Yunan City, the Cao Family keeps the most Jianghu people, yet its own household troops are the fewest.

At this critical juncture, they chose to mobilize troops; unless they have already allied with several other families and possess absolute strength, they simply cannot succeed.

If they have not allied with allies, and yet dare to do this, they wouldn't even need Chen Wuji to act; the other forces within the city could tear the Cao Family to shreds in the shortest time, dividing it up so that not even a feather remains.

But if it's not for Yunan City, what else could they be doing by mobilizing such forces?

Chen Wuji, upon thinking this, suddenly felt a jolt in his heart.

Perhaps, he cannot limit his gaze solely to Yunan City.

"How much do you know about the news from Nan Jun and Hezhou?" Chen Wuji asked.

Qin Zhanhong turned his head, passionately bit Chen Wuji's lips for a moment, then gave a light mocking smile, "You shouldn't overestimate the abilities of the Imperial City Department. North of Shenxian Ling, any city indeed rarely has anything that can escape the notice of the Imperial City Department, but south of Shenxian Ling in these six prefectures, it's extremely difficult for the Imperial City Department to extend its reach."

"If you want any information, I can send people to look into it, but there is none known."

Chen Wuji shook his head, "Going to investigate now might be a bit late."

"'What have you thought of?' Qin Zhanhong asked."

"'Perhaps someone wants to do something extra.' Chen Wuji said."

"'What does that mean?'"

"'For now I can't be certain; I'll need to go see Xu Zengyi later.' Chen Wuji said."

"'The possibility of the Cao family raising troops to rebel is not great, but the chance of them being someone's dog is extremely high; after we meet Xu Zengyi later we'll know, let's get busy with our affairs.'"