Chapter 101: Poisonous Scheme

Shi Tong and his three underlings were carousing, while the girls on Wu Chengyu's side had already sung five or six songs in a row. Seeing Wu Chengyu ignore him, one wore a look of grievance.

At this moment, these men were immersed in wine and women, yet suddenly remembered business.

That Cheng Wuji, seeing Shi Tong no longer as angry as before amid the cluster of girls, spoke up to advise him.

"Young Master, this Wu family has some roots in Gusu City. For over a hundred years they have intermarried with several great families of Gusu, their connections are deep and tangled, and they have many ties in the Hangzhou court."

Especially the zhuangyuan of the previous imperial examination, named Wu Chenglian, who is of the Wu family direct line. His chief examiner at the time was Zheng Qingzhi, Zheng Ren, and Wu Chenglian was highly valued by Zheng Ren, carefully cultivated.

Although Zheng Ren's qualifications are still shallow, his foundation is extremely deep, and he and Shi Ren assist each other in the court. If you truly ask Shi Ren to move against the Wu family, causing a rift between Zheng Ren and Shi Ren, I fear Shi Ren would not be pleased.

Moreover, this zhuangyuan is a student of the Hangzhou Academy, and his mentor is the academy's headmaster, Xishan Xiansheng. Xishan Xiansheng is an orthodox successor of Neo-Confucianism; he once held high office, and later, through his teaching, his students spread across the land.

He not only took this Wu Chenglian as a disciple, but also married his youngest daughter to him as his wife. Speaking of this Xishan Xiansheng's prestige, even Shi Ren would have to perform the rites of a disciple upon seeing him. Therefore, I, Cheng, believe that dealing with this Wu family requires caution."

Hearing this, Wu Chengyu suddenly understood. He knew the Wu family had roots, but usually focused on martial arts and rarely inquired. It turned out that Fourth Uncle and the others, though wary of Shi Miyuan, were not very afraid, and this confidence came from here.

He had long heard of Wu Chenglian. Of the Wu family direct line, Cheng generation, he ranks third. He prefers literature and dislikes martial arts, but has great talent for reading, and went out to study early. His previous self had only met him a few times in childhood, and in the five years since returning home, they had not met once.

Speaking of which, Wu Chenglian is the great-grandson of the hundred-year-old ancestor, General Wu Da. When they first learned he had become a juren, they never expected he would now be a zhuangyuan.

However, the late Southern Song court was corrupt. First Shi Miyuan controlled the government, then Jia Shidao appeared. This Third Brother of Wu Chengyu either colluded with them or drifted with the tide, so he left no name in history.

But Wu Chenglian's current roots are enough for the Wu family to protect themselves. At least Shi Miyuan would not oppose the powerful figures behind Wu Chenglian over a few properties in Suzhou.

Hearing this, Shi Tong also had a headache. Although he had no scruples, he knew he absolutely could not bring trouble to his clan uncle.

"Then what is to be done? This Wu family is extremely disrespectful to me, and today they have humiliated me. If I do not vent this anger, how can I, Shi Tong, let it rest?"

At this moment, Cheng Wuji wore a cunning expression. First he had the four girls present leave, then said: "Not hiding it from Young Master, Cheng once fought side by side with that Wu Chengyu."

"But he and his two senior brothers are arrogant and overbearing, not putting us in their eyes at all. I deeply hate them."

"But this Wu Chengyu's martial arts are extremely high, and his strikes are exceptionally ruthless. Hence the nickname Lasa Wuchang. So we cannot use force. Cheng has an idea."

"Today, upon entering Wu Family Slope, I discovered that the Wu clan does not usually take water from Taihu, but has dug several wells within Wu Family Slope."

"I have a friend in Gusu. This person is also a figure of the jianghu, extremely skilled in poison."

"Wait a few days until everyone forgets today's conflict between us and the Wu family. I will sneak into Wu Family Slope late at night and put poison in the well water. With my lightness skill, no one will discover it. By then, many in the Wu family will surely die, and I will vent this anger for Young Master."

After hearing this, Shi Tong laughed heartily. Poisoning, such a vicious act, suited his taste: "Brother Cheng indeed knows my heart."

"The more Wu family members die, the better. Especially this Wu Chengyu, and that woman. I wish they would die before my eyes right now."

"By then, even if they suspect me, I am after all a Shi family member. Without evidence, they can do nothing to me. The people in Hangzhou cannot say anything either."

"Other families in Gusu, seeing the Wu family fall on bad luck, will surely bow their heads before me, Shi Tong, in the future."

"Uncle Ren originally arranged for me to come to Suzhou to receive the adults from the north. Now I am suppressing these local snakes in Suzhou and taking over many properties. In the future, I will surely rise rapidly before Uncle."

"No time to lose. Since your friend is in Gusu City, why not ask Brother Cheng to go now? Invite him to drink and discuss matters together. How about it?"

"Excellent. My brother has long known the Shi family's prestige and wanted to join Young Master. Since it is so, Cheng will go and return shortly."

As soon as he finished speaking, Cheng Wuji did not delay, turned, and left.

At this moment, Wu Chengyu couldn't help but say, "How close." Fortunately, he had come tonight to cause trouble for Shi Tong, and just happened to overhear their conspiracy.

Wu Family Slope is not small. If a lightness skill expert really sneaked in at night to poison, it would be impossible to guard against, and the Wu family would suffer a great loss.

"Girl, you sang this song very well tonight. This is your reward." Saying this, Wu Chengyu took out one tael of silver and handed it over.

"I am a bit tired tonight. I will rest at Hongxiu Zhao tonight. You may go down. Tell them, once I fall asleep, I do not like to be disturbed."

The girl bit her lip lightly, seeming unwilling, and said softly: "Young Master, truly no need for this concubine to serve you in bed?"

Wu Chengyu said nothing, only placed the silver before her, and looked toward the door.

"Since it is so, this concubine dare not disturb Young Master."

"Young Master, this concubine's boudoir name is Cui Nong. Please, Young Master, do not forget this concubine."

After the girl with a typical courtesan name closed the door and left, Wu Chengyu slid the door bolt into place. At this moment, Cheng Wuji had just left Hongxiu Zhao.

Wu Chengyu opened the window and leaped out, closely following behind Cheng Wuji.

Late at night, quiet everywhere, leaving the bustle of Changle Fang, Wu Chengyu soon followed Cheng Wuji to a quiet street.

Making friends by day, plotting poison by night. If this man does not die, how can Wu Chengyu be at ease.

At this moment, Cheng Wuji was somewhat excited. As long as today's matter succeeded, he would surely become Shi Tong's confidant, and in the future could also rise with the Shi family.

But after walking a few steps, he suddenly discovered someone standing before him. Sturdy build, dim night, features unclear, but Cheng Wuji knew he absolutely did not know this person.

"Which expert is this? Report your name."

"You already have a path to death. Wouldn't it be better to be a confused ghost?"

Cheng Wuji immediately drew his sword. The sword tip trembled slightly, flourishing a few sword flowers, then he lunged at Wu Chengyu, a thrust straight at Wu Chengyu's throat.

"Lightness skill not bad, swordsmanship also fast. Worthy of being the Chasing Wind Swordsman. But why don't you call yourself One Sword Breaks Light and Shadow? Naturally because you are still not fast enough."

Wu Chengyu sneered, his feet lightly touched the ground, his figure retreated. He raised his chin, exposing his throat completely under Cheng Wuji's sword tip. But no matter how Cheng Wuji used lightness skill to pursue, he was always three inches short.

However, Wu Chengyu was not here tonight to show off expert style. After Cheng Wuji's move was spent, he tapped his feet again. His retreating figure remained, while simultaneously splitting into two figures, left and right, pouncing at Cheng Wuji.

This body movement technique of dividing into shadows, Cheng Wuji had seen only on Wu Chengyu in his life. He immediately knew who he faced: Lasa Wuchang. He turned deathly pale and was about to beg for mercy.

The two figures split left and right by Wu Chengyu suddenly disappeared. Cheng Wuji felt severe pain in his back. A finger force immediately crushed his heart.

(Chapter End)