Chapter 217: Chapter 190: No, No, Impossible

If Chen Yi hadn’t intervened, the Old Master would have been left with only two paths.

Either suppress everyone, regardless of friend or foe.

Or strike one side with lightning speed to deter anyone else with ulterior motives.

The first option would cause too much of a stir. It would not only require mobilizing the Dingyuan Army but would also be self-destructive, essentially sacrificing the network of connections the Xiao Family had built over two hundred years.

The second option would cost less, but it would bring its own considerable set of problems.

Chen Yi’s role was to secretly relieve some of the pressure on the Old Master and the Xiao Family, preventing them from being left completely in the dark.

After all, he couldn’t just stand by and do nothing.

’I’ll definitely make Xiao Jinghong pay me back for this later.’

With this thought, Chen Yi subconsciously glanced toward Jiaxing Garden, mumbled a few words, and sat cross-legged on his bed to cultivate the Four Symbols Skill.

Five days had passed since he broke through to the Sixth Grade Realm.

With the empowerment of the Four Directions Divine Position’s Spiritual Essence, his Cultivation progress was no slower than before.

In fact, it had even increased.

Previously, in the Seventh Grade Realm, it had taken him five days to advance a minor stage. Now, in the Sixth Grade Realm, it still took him five days to break through a minor stage of his Cultivation.

Even now, as True Essence circulated through his body, the mercury-like substance was further compressed by the Four Directions Divine Position.

Not only did this expel the impurities from his body, but it also doubled his True Essence.

As his Cultivation advanced to the Middle Sixth Grade, the figures of the Cyan Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise atop the Four Divine Positions within the Sea of Qi in his Forehead Acupoint grew more solid.

Their whiskers, feathers, and scales looked utterly real, covering the surfaces of their bodies.

Upon careful inspection, one could see they possessed an increasingly divine air. Even the effects of the Spiritual Essence flowing from them had improved slightly.

The most noticeable result was with the Four Symbols Skill—his Cultivation speed was faster.

He could now complete a major circulatory cycle in just one hour, which was twice as fast as before.

As Chen Yi vaguely perceived these changes, he became even more immersed in cultivating the Four Symbols Skill.

Wisps of a faint glow circled the space between his brows, flickering in and out of sight as they drew the Heaven and Earth’s Spiritual Mechanism into his body.

Gradually strengthening his Cultivation.

...

But while Chen Yi cultivated in peace, some were destined for a sleepless night.

First and foremost among them was Lady Tiger Lou Yuxue.

She tossed and turned, unable to stomach the humiliation.

’To think that I, a distinguished Hidden Guard Silver Banner Officer who commands several Iron Banner Officers and successfully infiltrated Bright Moon Building in Shu State... my ability and temperament are beyond question.’

’Yet tonight, some damn bastard had completely gotten the better of me.’

’He not only overpowered me at every turn but also threatened me, forcing me to back down.’

’That would have been one thing.’

In the past, to complete orders from her superiors, Lou Yuxue had feigned civility with difficult people before.

But at least she had known their identities and backgrounds.

It was nothing like now, where she didn’t even know the background or residence of this "Liu Wu."

’This is too passive!’

Thinking of how that "Liu Wu" had taken liberties with her and overpowered her, Lou Yuxue gritted her teeth and slammed her fist on the bed.

She then sat up and looked out the window at the moonlight breaking through the scattering clouds, an icy expression on her face.

"After I deal with Black Tooth and Xiao Dongchen, I will make you pay!"

「Kangning Street.」

Liu Wen was too excited to sleep.

He had spent a huge sum of real money today—300,000 taels—and he couldn’t help but feel a thrill of excitement.

As he lay on his bed, visions of him trampling the Xiao Family and taking control of the Liu Family filled his mind, making it difficult for him to contain his excitement.

"Just you wait, you old bastard. You’ll pay the price for provoking me!"

Meanwhile, in the West Mansion, just a wall away.

Liu Zhaoxue was not idle, either.

She was quietly discussing their next steps with a black-robed Yan Fusha.

"Making Second Brother die suddenly in such a short period of time is impossible. It will certainly draw suspicion from Father and the others, even if their true target is the Xiao Family."

"Rest assured, Miss Zhaoxue. I have already planned for everything."

Yan Fusha took a porcelain vial from his robes and said with a low chuckle, "This is the Five Poison Powder I prepared for you. You only need to have your Second Brother ingest it for seven consecutive days. He will surely die without a trace."

Liu Zhaoxue glanced at the porcelain vial but did not take it. She shook her head again.

"You don’t understand what I mean."

"Even if there are no clues surrounding Second Brother’s death, even if all evidence points to the Xiao Family, I will still be a suspect."

Yan Fusha’s expression flickered. "Your father is that suspicious?"

Liu Zhaoxue nodded. "My father doesn’t believe in coincidences. His greatest talent is making his own schemes look like accidents."

"It’s just like when he arranged for my aunt to marry into the Imperial Palace. He seized an opportunity when the Holy Emperor was away from the palace to orchestrate a ’chance encounter’ between them. That’s how she was able to rise to the rank of Noble Consort so quickly after entering the Imperial City."

Yan Fusha rubbed his chin. For a moment, he too felt this was becoming a headache.

"If that’s the case, then we can’t just frame the Xiao Family. We need someone from the Xiao Family to actually kill Liu Wen."

Liu Zhaoxue agreed. "Only then can I remain in Shu State and have a chance to take charge of Xinglin Hall."

"Fine!"

"I will return and begin the preparations at once. Await my good news!"

As Yan Fusha turned to leave, Liu Zhaoxue stopped him. A flicker of hesitation crossed her beautiful face as she asked:

"Can you tell me first? What is the Five Poison Sect’s true purpose for coming to Shu State?"

Yan Fusha glanced back at her and gave a sinister smile. "The grand ambitions of my Five Poison Sect have nothing to do with your Liu Family."

"Unfortunately for you, however, we need to borrow your Xinglin Hall."

"Hm?"

"Rest assured, Miss Zhaoxue. We are only borrowing it, and it will not be a difficult matter for Xinglin Hall."