Chapter 85: Extra Payment and Sharpening the Blade Before Battle (Two Chapters, 9K Words, Seeking First Subscription)

In the shadow of the wall, Xu Jin sank his thoughts into the Can Dou Platform, exchanging the protection offered by the three-tiered serpent spirit beneath its altar for the “Star-Cloaking Rune.”

Star-Cloaking Rune—can absorb all life signs; if motionless, nearly undetectable; if moving slowly, effectiveness diminishes; if moving quickly, it vanishes entirely.

Xu Jin switched to the Star-Cloaking Rune, seeking an opportunity for a single, lethal strike.

Yet Xu Jin did not act immediately.

Instead, he carefully planned responses to every possible scenario—such as what to do if his ambush failed and guards responded.

In the breeze, Xu Jin crept along the wall, approaching the Mealcloud Sixth-Stage guard at the courtyard gate with excruciating slowness.

Ten meters.

Seven meters.

Six meters.

Suddenly, the guard named Lao He showed signs of turning around.

In an instant, Xu Jin moved.

Starlight exploded beneath his feet; the Star-Flying Step surged to its peak—just as Lao He turned, Xu Jin shot behind him like lightning.

Xu Jin saw Lao He’s eyes snap wide—but at that same moment, Xu Jin’s iron fist slammed into the back of his skull, starlight erupting instantly!

Boom!

Lao He’s skull shattered into pieces.

As he fell heavily, Xu Jin hooked his foot to muffle the sound, then activated the Mingji Star Rune to listen intently.

No movement from afar; no disturbance within the courtyard.

Lifting Lao He’s corpse, Xu Jin leapt lightly over the courtyard wall and soon spotted four people.

Two maidservants; Zhao Weiqing lay on the bed, being attended by a woman.

Xu Jin slipped forward silently, struck both maidservants with a palm-strike, and tossed them into the side chamber.

Then, Xu Jin calmly pushed open the door to Zhao Weiqing’s bedroom.

“Who?”

The woman on the bed had barely spoken when a shadow flashed before her—before she could scream, a palm-strike knocked her unconscious.

At the same instant, Xu Jin stamped on Zhao Weiqing’s mouth, silencing his cry, crushing his lips until blood filled his mouth, his face twisted in terror.

At that moment, Xu Jin realized Zhao Weiqing had cultivation.

Mealcloud Fourth-Stage—but extremely weak.

Probably had a terrible Star-Spark talent and forced his way up through brute force.

A punch slammed into Zhao Weiqing’s Star Rune, making him curl like a shrimp, his starlight scattering, writhing in agony.

“I ask, you answer. Otherwise—”

Xu Jin brutally snapped one of Zhao Weiqing’s fingers; Zhao Weiqing screamed in pain, thrashing wildly—but Xu Jin clamped a hand over his mouth, stifling all sound.

“Where is the Weaving Hall?”

“I—I don’t know!”

Snap!

“Are the weavers brought here under false employment still alive?” Xu Jin asked.

“They’re alive—they should still be alive!”

“Should?”

Snap!

“Alive! Alive!” Zhao Weiqing, a lifetime of luxury, wept and sniveled from pain, his crotch soaked—he was terrified of more pain.

“Ten days ago, a ship arrived with supplies—mostly grain.”

“Ship? Where did it go?”

Five minutes later, Xu Jin’s face was grim, almost terrifying.

Zhao Weiqing, the master of the Zhao household, didn’t even know where the Weaving Hall was.

But many things were done by Zhao Weiqing.

People were taken away on two ships, departing from the West City dock, drifting downstream along the Jinshajiang—where to, Zhao Weiqing didn’t know.

But every twenty days, two ships arrived to collect supplies.

Grain and daily necessities.

Where the two ships went, Zhao Weiqing didn’t know; the crew were always the same, never left the ships—he only needed to replenish supplies as listed.

People were sent away in batches a month ago.

Over fifteen hundred in total.

Zhao Weiqing cooperated so thoroughly because all this was arranged by Zhao Bo, the former head of the Zhao household.

Seeing Xu Jin’s grim expression, Zhao Weiqing, a lifetime merchant, had sharp eyes—he knew the signs. “Brother, I’ve told you everything I know. Please don’t kill me—I haven’t done much wrong!”

“Not enough! What are you Zhao family doing with so many people?”

“I—I don’t know. But a month ago, when my father left with the fleet, he muttered something.”

“What?”

“Everything is for survival.”

“Everything is for survival?”

“Can you contact the fleet?” Xu Jin asked.

“The fleet only arrives on schedule. Three days before each arrival, someone comes ashore to tell me what to prepare.”

“When is the fleet’s next arrival?”

“Probably ten days from now.”

Ten days!

Xu Jin’s mind raced with possibilities.

Could he perfectly control the Zhao household for ten days, keeping silence until the fleet returned and he found the Weaving Hall?

After thinking, he rejected the idea.

No.

The Zhao household was too large—who knew what hidden measures Zhao Bo had set?

If word leaked, the Weaving Hall might kill everyone to cover their tracks.

So, move fast!

“Where are your father’s letters?”

As Zhao Weiqing pointed in one direction, Xu Jin unleashed a burst of force, killing him instantly.

This man could not be left alive.

As for the Weaving Hall’s location, Zhao Weiqing might truly not know—he’d had his toes broken and still didn’t know.

Xu Jin then found the letter Zhao Bo, head of the Zhao household, had written to Zhao Weiqing: aside from instructions to prepare grain, it ordered him to use silver to appease the families of the weavers.

The excuse: star-beasts had attacked the Weaving Hall.

From this, even if the thousand-plus female weavers—including Jiang Er—were still alive, they’d likely be killed later.

To save them, speed was essential!

After switching back to the Spirit-Scent Star Rune, Xu Jin sniffed three distinct scents from the letter—Zhao Weiqing’s was weakest, likely from brief contact.

Before leaving, Xu Jin ransacked the room and found one thousand taels in gold notes, over two thousand taels in silver notes.

But Xu Jin’s purpose wasn’t to loot—he was creating misdirection.

The murders within the Zhao household couldn’t be hidden long.

Likely, the incident would surface within half an hour.

Xu Jin did this to mislead the Star-Patrol and County Guards—make them think it was a robbery-murder.

Then, Xu Jin slipped out of the Zhao household silently, no umbrella, drenched in light rain.

Rainy night—the perfect killing night.

Rain would wash away all traces of Xu Jin’s scent, all signs of his passage.

Leaving the Zhao household, he circled around and arrived at Niu Gui’s home.

This former comrade, having lost an arm, had left the Star-Patrol and now served as Chief Hunter in the government office.

“Brother Niu, I need your help with something.”

“Speak. What is it?” “Brother Niu, in the county seat, who’s the best person to ask for intelligence?”

“Who are you looking for? Do I know part of it?”

“You probably don’t. Just recommend someone trustworthy who knows all kinds of rumors.” Xu Jin realized this matter might be dangerous; his old comrade Niu Gui had lost an arm—he didn’t want to drag him in, and Niu Gui likely knew nothing relevant.

Niu Gui’s expression turned sharp. “Routine rumors? About wandering cultivators? Or movements across factions—even the Dao Academies?”

“It’s related to faction movements—something obscure.” Xu Jin said.

“If it’s that kind of intelligence, you can only go to one person.”

“Who?”

“I’ll write you an address. Go to her. Bring plenty of silver.”

“Alright, thank you, Brother Niu.”

“Brother, if you need anything, just shout—I won’t flinch!” As Xu Jin stepped out, Niu Gui gripped his shoulder.

“Don’t worry, Brother Niu—nothing will happen.”

Fifteen minutes later, Xu Jin arrived at the address Niu Gui gave him.

A small shop called Qingqing Tavern in Qingshui Alley, north of the city, is looking for a female shopkeeper named Guan Yiqing.

Xu Jin had initially doubted its reliability, but Niu Gui uttered just three words—and Xu Jin believed him: Chunyu Office!

“Looking for the shopkeeper? She’s not here—she’s very busy.” The shopboy, handsome but a bit slow-witted, replied.

“I’m here on Niu Ge’s recommendation—we’ve got a big deal!”

A woman in a long skirt, curvaceous and wrapped tightly, her head covered with a green silk scarf, stepped out from the back room, lifting the curtain.

She had a delicate oval face, smiling softly, making anyone who saw her feel an irresistible urge to smile back.

“Then let’s see how far Madame Guan’s business can reach.” This was the coded phrase Niu Gui had given him.

“Esteemed guest, please come upstairs!”

A fragrant breeze swept over him; as Guan Yiqing drew near, her slender eyebrows twitched slightly—she smelled a faint trace of blood, diluted by rain but still detectable to her, given her special cultivation.

“A month ago, two large ships departed, carrying over fifteen hundred people in batches. Ten days ago, two more ships left with massive supplies. I need to know their exact destination,” Xu Jin asked.

“Two thousand taels!” Without hesitation, Guan Yiqing held up one finger toward Xu Jin.

“Done!”

“But that’s two questions!”

Xu Jin froze, then slapped down two thousand taels in silver notes.

Guan Yiqing counted the notes one by one, giggling, “This young sir is quite generous—just a moment, please.”

Guan Yiqing left; time crawled by agonizingly slow.

Just as Xu Jin began to wonder if she’d tricked him, the fragrance returned—Guan Yiqing was back.

With a fingertip dipped in tea, Guan Yiqing drew a map right there on the table for Xu Jin.

“West of the city, follow the Jinshajiang River downstream two hundred li, turn into Qiuye Lake, and it’s on the largest island there—Qianye Island.”

“Sister Guan is amazing!” Xu Jin gave a thumbs-up.

“Little brother, such sweet talk—but if you ask more, you’ll still have to pay!” Guan Yiqing laughed.

“Sister Guan, do you know who’s behind this? Do you know the Zhao family’s background? And how strong are the guards on Qianye Island?” Xu Jin fired off three questions at once.

“Same rates as before—but the last question requires extra payment!” Guan Yiqing smiled.

“How much more?”

“Another thousand taels!”

Xu Jin slapped down four thousand taels in silver notes.

“Sweet-tongued and straightforward—how delightful!”

Guan Yiqing giggled softly, “Rumor has it, it’s connected to the Baidou Divine Cult.”

“I don’t know who backs the Zhao household in Juncheng, but they’re extremely close to the Yangdu Marquis of Chen Guo. Oh, and Qianye Island—including Qiuye Lake—is part of the Yangdu Marquis’s fief. The Yangdu Marquis, you see—he’s one of Chen Guo’s Three Princes and Seven Marquises.” Guan Yiqing smiled.

Xu Jin’s heart sank steadily.

Yangdu Marquis.

Chen Guo always grants marquis titles for battlefield merit; each of the Three Princes and Seven Marquises is a war hero of supreme cultivation.

“Scared?”

Seeing Xu Jin’s expression, Guan Yiqing laughed.

Xu Jin didn’t answer. Instead, he asked, “Sister Guan, what’s the answer to the third question?”

“I don’t know.”

Xu Jin raised an eyebrow, about to speak, when Guan Yiqing continued, “A month ago, nine-star celestial phenomena erupted over Qiuye Lake—that means a fourth-rank cultivator with nine Star-Condensing formations appeared nearby.”

Such phenomena indicate either battle—or breakthrough.

A fifth-rank Gather-Dou cultivator isn’t out of the question either.”

Xu Jin fell silent.

Fourth-rank—even fifth-rank—this intelligence left Xu Jin with a strange sense of suffocation.

If it were only third-rank cultivators, Xu Jin would have immediately set out in his small boat; his four talismans would surely have worked.

But fourth-rank—or worse, fifth-rank? He didn’t know if he’d even get a chance to strike against them.

“Scared?” Guan Yiqing laughed again.

“Sister Guan, will the Xunxing Guard handle the Baidou Divine Cult matter?” Xu Jin asked.

Seeing Guan Yiqing remain silent, Xu Jin reached for his silver notes—but she said, “That’s just chatter—not information.”

“Qiuye Lake lies within Yangdu Commandery. The Yangdu Academy of Chen Guo probably won’t dare intervene. The Yanzhou Academy? Unclear.” Guan Yiqing said.

“Thank you!”

“Goodbye!”

With that, Xu Jin walked out of Qingqing Tavern without looking back. Watching his retreating figure, Guan Yiqing shook her head. “Clever lad—he won’t do anything foolish, I hope?”

Walking through the autumn rain, Xu Jin felt a boulder pressing against his chest.

For a moment, he hesitated.

Was it worth risking certain death to save them?

But in that same instant, the memory of countless younger sisters hugging his head, brushing his hair, swept away all doubt.

If he didn’t save them, he’d never forgive himself.

Huh!

Xu Jin exhaled deeply in the autumn rain—and made his decision instantly.

He would save them.

Whether or not he could succeed, he must go to Qiuye Lake.

His current strength was clearly insufficient to rescue them.

To save them, Xu Jin had two options: either call for help—or rapidly increase his own power.

Only these two choices.

He ran through possible allies in his mind and could think of only two: Ning Yuchan and the man in green, Qi Shanye.

He couldn’t reach anyone else—and even if he could, it wouldn’t help.

Whether he could even get them to come, he wasn’t certain.

But before calling for help, he wanted to boost his power quickly.

Cultivation base couldn’t be rushed—but Xu Jin had a small trick to rapidly enhance his combat power.

With his decision made, Xu Jin hurried back to the Academy, heading straight for the quarters where his second master, Zhang Han, was recovering.

Just as Xu Jin reached Zhang Han’s courtyard gate, a crimson alert flare erupted into the sky from the southern part of Juncheng.

The case had broken out.

The Zhao household case had broken out.

The Commandery Guards must have arrived, realized the gravity, and summoned the Xunxing Guard!

(End of Chapter)