Beginning with the Ubume Bird-Chapter 206 - 43: Refusal and Dismissal

Chapter 206: Chapter 43: Refusal and Dismissal

After he finished speaking, the expressions of the various faction leaders had calmed down. Li Yan was right—the Demon Thief and the Red Flag Gang had a feud, and several of the leaders had suffered at the hands of Demon Thief Zhang He. At the moment, to beat a dog when it’s down, naturally, everyone was eager to make a move.

However, now that the Red Flag Gang had its own problems, it had to be treated as a separate issue.

The Red Flag Gang sustained itself by plundering the merchant ships of the Red Haired Devils and was at odds with the East India Company, so rashly getting involved in the war in An Nan would make them an easy target.

Moreover, many leaders recalled the Western machinery that Tianbao had brought back a few days ago—it was a true treasure, perhaps not even less valuable than the Taiping Document. Eyes had gleamed with avarice at the sight of them. With this machinery, even without Madam Shi to maintain order, the Red Flag Gang would still have the means to dominate the pirates of the South Seas.

Taking into account the experience of “Heavenly Mother Crossing the Sea” from a few days ago, if the Red Haired Devils were gearing up for war this time, it wouldn’t be for…

If that was the case, then they must stay out of these troubled waters even more.

...

“Ah, that’s truly a pity.”

Cai Qian sighed, and all the faction leaders wore expressions of regret.

Because of Madam Shi’s connection, the Taiping Document had special significance for the Red Flag Gang, and indeed, it was an excellent opportunity to eradicate the Demon Thief. Apart from anyone else, even the usually composed Chaoyi couldn’t help but wish to obtain the Taiping Document to commemorate Madam Shi’s spirit in heaven.

“My Cai family has worshipped the Fiery Cauldron Couple for generations; the Taiping Document is of the heretics for me, not much use. If Tianbao doesn’t want it, I’ll have to keep it for myself.”

Suddenly remembering something, Cai Qian said, “Right, Brother Tianbao, no hard feelings over the failed deal. There’s something I’d like to ask you. When you broke through Humen a few days ago, did you happen to kill any civilians besides the official soldiers, or, did you bring anyone back?”

“Oh? Yes, there is!”

Li Yan glared, perfecting the look of a rough and boisterous man.

“I must be frank with you, Brother Cai. When I broke through Humen, I accidentally captured a big fish—a high-ranking official, no less than the Governor-General of Guangdong and Guangxi himself, Lin Yuanfu.”

“Oh?” Cai Qian was greatly excited, his face flushed as he pulled out a portrait, “Is it this man?”

Li Yan glanced at it, “Exactly, it’s him.”

“Wow!” Cai Qian stood up in excitement, as if he had just learned of Lin Yuanfu being captured by Li Yan.

“Brother Tianbao, let me put it bluntly, if you are willing to hand this old man over to me, I’ll give you the Taiping Document with both hands.”

“Is that true?” Li Yan also appeared very surprised, the leaders excitedly looking around—they hadn’t thought that the old man who freeloaded meals could be exchanged for such a benefit.

“I swear there’s no falsehood!”

Cai Qian clutched Li Yan’s sleeve, both men’s expressions full of excitement.

“Hahaha~”

After laughing for a while, Li Yan’s face turned serious, “No deal, show the guest out.”

…

The moon was cold and the stars sparse, the large ship moored by the shore, the sea shimmering with waves.

“I feel bad for not being able to help Brother Cai this time, my heart aches~”

Li Yan sighed while pulling the expressionless Cai Qian along, sending him towards the dock, speaking as he did, with Zheng Xiu’er and a host of faction leaders following behind, looking at Li Yan’s long sighs with strange expressions.

In life, one should have a stiff spine and also have several extra layers of skin. Li Yan was certainly resolute; even at first, didn’t he chase Judy around with a smiling face and lie through his teeth to Taizi Le?

Cai Qian had planned from the start to exchange Lin Yuanfu for the Taiping Document, deliberately digressing into sending troops to fight Zhang He. This was a negotiation tactic.

As for Li Yan’s thoughts, if you play, I’ll play along; if you blabber, I’ll entertain it, but releasing the hostage wasn’t an option. After all, letting the authorities pay was about building a reputation as a bandit who kidnapped high officials—a matter that concerned an additional Yan Fu incident.

If the Taiping Document were really brought before Li Yan’s eyes, perhaps he would consider it. If Cai Qian offered two hundred thousand taels of silver, it was highly probable that Li Yan would agree. But to try to take advantage without offering anything, did you really take me for a fool?

“Brother Tianbao, won’t you reconsider? Gold, silver, delicacies, weapons, fair ladies—you name it.”

“I do want them, all of them indeed, but there is one thing,” said Li Yan, holding up a thumb.

“I don’t want it from you, Brother Cai, I want to send a message to the officials—let that General of Guangzhou, Fulin, pay this amount in the name of the government.”

“Brother Tianbao, that request is too much, you’re slapping their faces.”

Li Yan curled his lip, “It’s not too much. I’m not asking for your money, how can you say I’m being too much?”

Cai Qian’s face, handsome as jade, did not show much annoyance, but rather bore a trace of a smile.

He took a few steps forward, looked at his ship docked at the pier, and saw that someone had already come down to meet him.

The one who came to pick up Cai Qian was a beautiful woman with braided hair hanging to her waist, a tear mole by her eye, and a pretty face.

“Boss.”

Cai Qian nodded in acknowledgement, then turned around and clasped his hands in salute.

“Brother Tianbao, speaking from the heart, I originally thought that the Red Flag’s Tianbao was nothing more than a pretty boy wielding power through ‘Mrs. Yan,’ or else just a brute who knows nothing but how to flaunt his courage. But today, I realize that I was mistaken. I apologize to you.”

Li Yan raised his eyebrows and cursed inwardly, calling him a damnable cheap trickster.

He then changed the subject, “Today I’ve gained a brother and a niece on the island, and I can’t let that go unmarked. Ajiu, bring over the parting gifts for my brother and niece.”

The woman bowed her head in acknowledgment, carried two gift boxes, and presented them to Li Yan and Zheng Xiu’er.

Li Yan’s brocade box, when opened, revealed a dagger inlaid with red gems, pricey and sharp enough to score 50 in sharpness. It was also convertible into one hundred Yan Fu points.

In Zheng Xiu’er’s brocade box, there was a blue cloth-bound book.

“There are two branches of Defying Skill, one passed down from Chu Sermon, another from Lu Ban. This book here is Lu Ban’s Ward-Off Victory, intended originally as a present for Madam Shi, but now I am gifting it to my niece Xiu’er.”

Zheng Xiu’er cried out in delight, her face filled with surprise, but Li Yan’s face suddenly darkened.

The ghastly death of Madam Shi, a result of her misuse of Defying Skill, with rotting flesh and chilling white bones, along with her mangled torso, flashed before his eyes like a revolving lantern.

“Brother Tianbao, we shall meet again another day.”

After speaking, Cai Qian left with an air of grace. The woman named “Ajiu” tailed him closely.

A thought flashed through Li Yan’s mind that Cai Qian seemed to only have “Ajiu” for protection.

A Fleeting Glimpse.

Unexpectedly, the woman turned her head abruptly, her eyes fierce like a female leopard, meeting Li Yan’s dark ripples head-on.

[Yan Ajiu]: The opponent possesses counteracting skills; your Fleeting Glimpse cannot reveal specific details.

“Ajiu.”

Cai Qian called out.

Yan Ajiu squinted her eyes and turned to follow Cai Qian, no longer looking at Li Yan.

“…”

Cha Xiaodao squatted on the beach smoking, Cai Qian and Yan Ajiu passing by him, their gazes clashing briefly with a hint of gunpowder.

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Li Yan’s gaze lingered on Cai Qian’s retreating figure, his fists clenched and then relaxed.

This number one tycoon of Guangdong and Guangxi, and perhaps even of the entire world, was truly no simple man.

…

“Xiaodao~”

Watching Cai Qian’s ship sail away, Li Yan called out to Cha Xiaodao.

“The matter of seeking the Exotic Beast Map in Quanzhou needs to be expedited. Now that Cai Qian has left, the next to arrive might be the official navy.”

Just as Li Yan was about to discuss the matter with Cha Xiaodao, a man with a bare back, covered in blood, approached them. Li Yan recognized him as Heizai, whom he had originally sent with Zhang Wei to investigate and assassinate those plotting against him.

“Find a doctor!” Li Yan hurried over in a few steps, supporting Heizai who could barely stand.

“Who did this? Where is Zhang Wei?”

Upon seeing Li Yan, Heizai seemed to finally relax and with a roll of his eyes, he fainted…