Chapter 469: Zhiduoxing and Timely Rain

After staying another day in Stone Stele Village, finalizing the specific matters of cooperating in the transport and sale of the waterfront's special products with the Ruan brothers, and leaving behind the guard named Zhao Si as a contact, Chen Wen left Stone Stele Village with Shi Dun.

The preliminary wedge has been driven in, a contact channel has been established with the Ruan brothers; next, we need to contact the more central figures around Beam Mountain.

"My lord, where are we headed next?"

Shi Dun led the horse, walking along the slightly muddy village path outside, and asked in a low voice.

"Should we go directly to find Chao Gai of Dongxi Village, or……"

Chen Wen's gaze was calm as he looked toward Dongxi Village, but in his mind arose the star power he had sensed yesterday, faintly resonating with the Ruan's star power, carrying change and calculation, and another, more complex and gloomy aura, faintly entwined by a web of dark energy.

"Chao Baozheng certainly needs to be seen, but before that, there are two people we must first probe to ascertain their reality."

He said slowly.

"The 'Zhiduoxing' Wu Yong of Dongxi Village, and the 'Timely Rain' Song Jiang of Yuncheng County."

Shi Dun raised his thick brows.

"Wu Yong? Is that the professor who teaches village studies? A scholar, what's so special about him?"

"As for that Song Jiang… I saw him yesterday at the teahouse; he seemed enthusiastic, but I just feel… something awkward about him."

Chen Wen smiled faintly, without directly explaining.

"What you hear is false; what you see may not be true either. Go see for yourself and you'll know."

The two did not go directly to Dongxi Village, but first returned to Yuncheng County.

Still posing as merchants, they found an inn in the city to stay at.

After settling in, Chen Wen had Shi Dun guard the inn, while he himself changed into a plain blue cloth robe, and alone, seemingly strolling casually through the city, actually with a clear goal, heading toward the bookshops and teahouses near the county office where people gather.

What he wanted to hear were more detailed rumors about the 'Zhiduoxing' and the 'Timely Rain'.

At the entrance of a bookshop, he pretended to browse books while listening to the idle chatter of a few seemingly scholarly people.

"... I've heard that Scholar Wu recently obtained another rare copy, and is studying it at home, even taking a few days off from the academy."

One spoke with a tone of envy.

"Mr. Wu is erudite and versatile, especially skilled in strategy; it's a pity he remains in the countryside, unable to fully display his talents."

Another sighed.

"However, he is on intimate terms with Chao Baozheng, often offering him strategies; in this Yuncheng area, he counts as a notable figure."

"Speaking of offering strategies, in the lawsuit the day before yesterday where the Li brothers disputed inheritance, if not for Clerk Song mediating, it might have led to bloodshed."

The conversation quickly turned to Song Jiang.

"Clerk Song is eager to help the needy; in Yuncheng County, who doesn't feel indebted to him?"

"Yes, Clerk Song has a dark face but a warm heart, especially fond of making friends with martial heroes, aiding the endangered and relieving the distressed. But……"

The earlier speaker lowered his voice.

"Sometimes he's overly enthusiastic, associating with all sorts; recently, he seems to have had some unclear dealings with the people from Beam Mountain."

"Shh! Speak cautiously!"

His companion hurried to stop him.

"Clerk Song has his own reasons; how could we presume to guess?"

Chen Wen listened silently, his mental image of Wu Yong and Song Jiang gradually filling out.

Wu Yong, a talented strategist unrecognized, closely related to Chao Gai, was the mastermind behind the early Liang Mountain uprising.

Song Jiang, righteous and generous, widely connected, able to navigate both the licit and illicit realms, yet behind his actions there always seems to be an unseen hand pushing, causing his 'righteous deeds' to carry a certain deliberation and calculation.

That afternoon, Chen Wen went out alone from Yuncheng County town, strolling toward Dongxi Village.

He did not go directly to Chao Gai's manor, but instead stopped on a small hill outside the village with an open view, sat on a clean stone, seemingly admiring the pastoral scenery, while secretly circulating Fortune Momentum and Karma Fragments, remotely sensing the direction of Dongxi Village.

First detected was a vigorous, upright star power within the village, blazing like the sun and full of heroic and generous spirit—this must be the Pagoda-bearing Heavenly King Chao Gai.

Next to Chao Gai's blazing star power lay a relatively gentle yet ceaselessly flowing star power, like a stream, its interior containing countless changes and schemes.

This star power is lively and independent; although attached to Chao Gai's blazing yang, it is not without its own views.

Chen Wen could even faintly 'see' that around the light point representing this star power were countless tiny threads of light representing thoughts and calculations, flickering and extending, as if constantly simulating various possibilities.

This is the 'Zhiduoxing' Wu Yong.

On Wu Yong's star power light point, Chen Wen found no obvious traces of dark energy from the Iron Crow Army.

This indicates that, for now, Wu Yong's thoughts and actions are still primarily based on his own judgment and choices, not yet deeply controlled or guided by the Iron Crow Army.

This is an excellent sign.

However, when his perception turned toward Yuncheng County to try to capture Song Jiang's aura, the situation was completely different.

The cluster of star power representing Song Jiang is quite complex in its brightness: it has some brightness from his righteous generosity, also the gray accumulated from navigating officialdom, and furthermore a deep-hidden current of ambition unwilling to be inferior.

But what concerns Chen Wen most is a cold, viscous filament of dark energy, like a bone-deep infection, tightly entwining that cluster of star power, especially where it connects to the core area of his ambition and calculation.

This dark energy filament continuously feeds him some suggestion and guidance, causing his 'righteous deeds' to lean toward accumulating personal fame, and his ambition to lean toward the path of appeasement and surrender.

The Iron Crow Army has indeed invested heavily in Song Jiang!

Just as Chen Wen focused his perception, a person came walking up the path below the hill.

This person wore a headscarf, dressed in a dark cloth robe, about thirty years old, with delicate eyebrows and bright eyes, a pale face and long beard, holding a feather fan, his steps composed, bearing the air of a scholar.

He evidently also noticed Chen Wen on the hilltop; seeing his extraordinary bearing, not that of an ordinary villager, he stopped, clasped his hands, and asked with a smile:

"Sir, you look unfamiliar; are you waiting for someone while enjoying the view here?"

Chen Wen felt a stir in his heart; observing his appearance and demeanor, he matched the rumors of the 'Zhiduoxing' exactly.

He rose, returned the salute, and replied calmly:

"I'm not waiting for anyone; I merely passed by, saw the beautiful scenery and simple customs, so I paused. May I ask who you are, sir?"

The scholar smiled slightly, gently swaying his feather fan.

"I am surnamed Wu, given name Yong; I teach a few children in this village just to earn a living."

Sure enough, it's him!

Chen Wen's face showed just the right amount of surprise and respect.

"It turns out to be Master Wu! I am Chen, a merchant from the northern lands. I have long heard of Master Wu's name 'Zhiduoxing', erudite and talented, deeply versed in strategy. To meet you today, how fortunate!"

A fleeting hint of pride flashed in Wu Yong's eyes, but was quickly replaced by caution.

"Master Chen, you flatter me; it's just an empty reputation, not worth mentioning. Rather, your bearing is extraordinary, not that of an ordinary merchant."

The two were on this hillside, seemingly chatting casually.

From the mountain and water scenery, they talked about the local customs and products of various places;

From the people's difficult livelihood, they vaguely touched upon corrupt governance.

Chen Wen's words were reserved, yet each time hit the nail on the head; his insights into the situation and his perception of the lower classes' suffering left Wu Yong secretly astonished.

"Master Wu, you harbor strategies; could you really be willing to spend your life in these village wilds?"

Chen Wen suddenly shifted his tone, his gaze shining brightly as he looked at Wu Yong.

"Nowadays, the world is ruled by wolves and jackals, the people suffer. Someone of your talent, Master Wu, ought to rise up—either to cleanse the universe, or… to carve out a realm of one's own, to protect the people, so as not to waste your learning."

Wu Yong's feather fan paused for a moment, his eyes flickered; after a moment of silence, he then spoke slowly:

"What Master Chen says is indeed what I have in mind. However… the world is fraught with difficulty; a lone tree cannot stand. Even with great ambition, one needs opportunity and like-minded companions."

"Opportunity must be sought; like-minded companions must be guided."

Chen Wen spoke meaningfully.

"Take Liangshanpo, for example—eight hundred li of water marsh; could it only be a bandits' den, and not… a piece of pure land for the poor?"

"The key lies in what the person holding the pieces intends—whether for personal gain or for the greater good of the world."

His words, like a heavy hammer, struck Wu Yong's heart.

Wu Yong abruptly raised his head, looking at Chen Wen, sharp light bursting from his eyes.

He felt that this person before him seemed to see through certain long-hidden thoughts in his heart.

Their gazes met, as if an invisible spark flashed in the air.

"Master Chen… is no ordinary person."

Wu Yong slowly exhaled, his tone turning solemn.

"Today's meeting has been most beneficial. If the opportunity arises another day, I will certainly come again to seek your advice."

"That is precisely what I wish."

Chen Wen clasped his hands with a smile.

Wu Yong gave Chen Wen a deep look, then turned and left; his steps seemed a bit heavier than when he came, yet also a bit firmer.

Watching Wu Yong's receding back, Chen Wen knew that a different seed had already been planted in the heart of this 'Zhiduoxing'.

As for that 'Timely Rain' already entangled in the Iron Crow Army's spiderweb…

Chen Wen gazed toward Yuncheng County, his eyes slightly cold.

That will be the next, even more difficult contest.