Chapter 614: Sin (6/10, extra chapter for 'Ruichi Tianxia')

Regimental Commander Yang let out a heavy snort, his heart in turmoil.

Who wouldn't want everything to go smoothly, who wouldn't want Lord Ye to investigate the Phoenix Organization and win the top spot in the 【Martial Decision】 for changing districts.

But merely considering the present is useless—one must think long-term, avoid risks, and keep the Great Yang Merchant Caravan surviving; that is the true work of a commander!

The current Hong Xia may not understand, but once she grows a little more, once the years polish her and she settles down, one day when she looks back, she will surely understand his good intentions.

Reining in his emotions, Regimental Commander Yang planned to send people to place Hong Xia under house arrest for a month; as for Hai Guanjia, there was no need to worry.

Hai Guanjia is the person in the entire Great Yang Merchant Caravan who puts people most at ease.

He called the courtyard guards over, gave his orders, and Regimental Commander Yang considered whether he ought to start thinking about a backup heir.

He had assumed that once Hong Xia's temper and disposition were polished down, she would be the perfect heir.

Now it seemed that certain traits left behind by her deceased mother could not be polished away simply by going out to temper herself.

In his mind he was reviewing which of his children would be suitable.

Not counting his eldest daughter Hong Xia, the next in line would be his third daughter, Yang Qingqing.

Because his second son had died young—this boy who should have shouldered heavy responsibilities had perished before reaching adulthood, which was also one of Regimental Commander Yang's great regrets.

Thinking about his third daughter Yang Qingqing, Regimental Commander Yang walked up to Yang Qingqing's room.

Under the night sky, perhaps it was an illusion, but he felt the sensation beneath his feet was somewhat smooth.

He glanced down; there was nothing out of the ordinary.

He knocked lightly on the door and called out once; there was no response from inside.

Frowning, he pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The moment his front foot stepped out, Regimental Commander Yang suddenly felt his body tilt, his vision spin nineteen degrees, and he tumbled into the room and crashed to the floor.

It happened… what?

He looked down at his own legs in astonishment, and his pupils immediately contracted.

He saw that his legs had turned into glass legs, and they had detached from his body, rolling to the side with a thunk.

"Aaaaaaaaa!!"

Regimental Commander Yang screamed at the top of his lungs, but crystal-like cubes poured from his mouth, each cube inscribed with the character 'ah'.

Regimental Commander Yang scrambled out in terror on all fours, barely escaping past the doorway.

With a plop, it was as if he had fallen into deep water—he sank straight down through the ground at the doorway and was submerged by a sensation like seawater. His head slowly swelled into a round bulge, becoming a crystallized big-headed glass.

He was dead.

……

Fang Yue looked at the two people before him with a strange expression.

"You… want to help me investigate intelligence on the Phoenix Organization? And in exchange, I have to go participate in some 【Martial Decision】 for you?"

"Mm, what does Lord Ye think?"

Wait… I was getting ready to go out and right some wrongs in the middle of the night, and you're telling me this?

Uh, alright, I do actually need this.

Fang Yue pondered for a moment. Compared to natives of 【Chunuan City】 like the young lady and Hai Guanjia, he as an outsider would certainly have a harder time investigating intelligence on the Phoenix Organization.

With their help, naturally he could achieve twice the result with half the effort.

However, the prerequisite was to first know what the heck this 【Martial Decision】 was.

"The Martial Decision, full name the Heavenly Merchant Alliance Martial Arts Exchange Duel Tournament. It is held once a year by the Heavenly Merchant Alliance, and it decides that year's ranking of merchant caravans within the Heavenly Merchant Alliance. If the ranking is within the top hundred, one can receive a tilt of resources; if the ranking is toward the back, one must hand over a large proportion of tribute in exchange for the 【Heavenly Merchant Alliance】's protection.

Our 【Great Yang Merchant Caravan】 has been hovering outside the 300th place these past years, but after years of accumulation and operation, the caravan's true strength has long since outgrown that ranking.

The amount our Great Yang Merchant Caravan earns in a year is already equal to that of caravans ranked around 150th to 200th!

What we lack is a powerful martial artist to help us lay the foundation, raise our ranking, and reduce the 【Heavenly Merchant Alliance】's exploitation. Even without a tilt of resources, as long as we hand over less tribute, our Great Yang Merchant Caravan can formally get on the right track.

So all we lack is one chance, one chance. If we can fully keep the year's resources in our own hands, we can afford to hire strong experts, complete the cycle, stabilize the big picture, and firmly establish our footing!"

Fang Yue was taken aback: "If that's how it is, why didn't you hire someone to help earlier?"

"…No money. With our current ranking, after handing over resources, we can't afford to hire experts. And we still have to keep money for the base operation and procurement of supplies—we can't throw it all out. If it all goes down the drain, then it's completely over.

And if we don't hand over the tribute, we'll lose this year's protection from the 【Heavenly Merchant Alliance】. In 【Chunuan City】, any merchant caravan without the Heavenly Merchant Alliance's brand can't survive."

Fang Yue understood—this was a vicious cycle.

Earn money, hand over a portion, keep a portion as next year's capital.

Then no money to hire experts for the 【Martial Decision】, continue to be at the bottom.

If after handing over tribute all the remaining money is thrown at hiring experts, there's no capital to do business.

If one refuses to hand over tribute, one loses the qualification to participate in the 【Martial Decision】.

The 【Great Yang Merchant Caravan】, which to outsiders seemed to be doing quite well, now appeared to be nothing more than a wage-slave, a classic tool of a person.

After inquiring that the 【Martial Decision】 generally doesn't kill, that everyone stops at the point, and that there aren't many experts, Fang Yue set his mind at ease. Hearing that the first place even came with some mysterious reward, Fang Yue was even more tempted.

It's just fighting—invincible among peers, and getting a reward, why not.

"Fine, I'll fight for you, and you find me the whereabouts of the Phoenix Organization!"

Hai Guanjia and the young lady's faces lit up with joy.

As expected, cater to his tastes, and one can gain something.

As for the previously mentioned share of Xiantian Realm resources, naturally that wouldn't be left out either.

"By the way, do you have anything else?"

The delighted young lady and Hai Guanjia were stunned for a moment, then shook their heads.

"If there's nothing else, please step aside."

Fang Yue pushed past them and walked outward.

"Lord Ye, are you going out this late? I recall we mentioned that 【Chunuan City】 at night…"

"I know! But... a righteous me cannot sit idly by!"

Fang Yue paused, leaving behind a deep silhouette, gazing up at the night sky at a forty-five-degree angle.

A b-b-b-begood person!

Who would have thought that the decisive and resolute Lord Ye is actually a great philanthropist!

Both of them were a bit dumbfounded. From what Fang Yue meant, he was going to go out and punish evil, promote good, and save others from fire and water.

What kind of spirit is this? This is a noble spirit, a pure spirit!

The two of them were filled with respect.

If Captain Ye truly carried out nighttime patrols and protected others, the height of his virtue would be enough to make anyone feel utterly ashamed.

However...

"Captain Ye, it's dangerous outside. I think it's better to..."

"Miss! Miss!!"

Before the young miss could finish speaking, a servant came running over in a hurry from afar.

"What is it?"

"Bing Keqing is dead!!"

Bing Keqing?!

Someone silenced them by killing?

No! This happened right here in our Dayang Fu, which means there's a mole inside Dayang Fu!

"I smell the scent of evil!"

At some unknown moment, Fang Yue had appeared behind the young miss like a phantom, startling all three of them.

(End of chapter)