Chapter 235: Chapter 198: Liu Wu, the Most Suspicious (Part 2)

Ge the Third gave a slight nod. "The Xiao Family’s Hidden Guard were once top scouts from the Dingyuan Army’s Scout Camp, and they received extensive training from Xiao Fengchun himself. They’re highly capable. You need to be careful and keep a low profile from now on."

"I understand."

"That’s all for now. Head on to the Medicine Hall. I’m leaving."

Liu Si’er grunted in acknowledgment. He watched Ge the Third disappear into the West Market, then turned and walked toward the Medicine Hall to the north.

Soon after they parted ways, Ge the Third arrived at a tailor shop in the West Market. After exchanging some pleasantries, he walked into an inner room.

There, a bewitchingly beautiful woman in a long purple dress was already waiting inside.

It was none other than the Hidden Guard’s Lady Tiger, Lou Yuxue.

The two sized each other up.

Ge the Third said with a smile, "Lord Lady Tiger, my apologies. I’m late."

Lou Yuxue looked at him, her face devoid of expression. "I knew you would need time to get away."

However, after speaking, she glanced at the sun outside and frowned. "There isn’t much time left. You’d better inform them quickly."

Ge the Third paused for a moment, his expression turning serious. "Are we certain we’re making our move tonight?"

"Any delay invites complications. If that Hidden Guard from last night makes it back to the Xiao Family, our entire plan is doomed to fail."

"Fine. I’ll send word to them immediately."

Seeing Ge the Third immediately begin to write a coded message, Lou Yuxue still couldn’t relax.

She ran through the events of the last few days in her mind, a vague sense of unease prickling at her.

But she couldn’t quite pinpoint the source of this feeling.

As she mulled it over, the image of "Liu Wu" surfaced in her mind. ’Is he really the most suspicious one?’

Ge the Third heard her mutter and asked in a low voice, "Who’s suspicious?"

Lou Yuxue snapped back to the present. "Liu Wu," she said, watching him consult a codebook as he wrote.

"The one sent by the second young master of the Jing State Liu Family? Is there a problem with him?"

"It’s just a feeling I can’t quite describe..."

Lou Yuxue went on to recount what had happened between her and "Liu Wu" that night, finishing with,

"Even if the Xiao Family hasn’t been alerted and everything seems normal, I still have this nagging feeling that there’s a major problem with this ’Liu Wu’ character."

Ge the Third thought for a moment. "Perhaps," he said. "But as long as he has no ties to the Xiao Family, we can always find an opportunity to deal with him later."

"For now, that other matter is our top priority."

Lou Yuxue frowned at his words. After a moment, she put the matter of Liu Wu out of her mind.

"You’re right. After tonight, no matter how mysterious this Liu Wu is, I’ll have a way to drag him into the light."

Ge the Third nodded. "I’ll have to leave Shu State for a while. You’ll need to be careful."

"You’ve decided?"

"Yes. To avoid compromising the other hidden Banner Officers, I have to take full responsibility. That was the reason I disagreed with Gray Wolf’s scheme in the first place."

"But with you and that sum of silver coins here, I believe the situation in Shu State will become much more favorable for our operations."

Lou Yuxue’s eyes flickered in thought. "What do you need my help with?"

Although the Silver Banner Officers within the Hidden Guard usually operated independently, each responsible for their own affairs, the situation in Shu State was unique. She, Hawk, Gray Wolf, and Simurgh Phoenix maintained contact with one another to operate more effectively.

Unless it was a matter of someone having their own selfish agenda, like Gray Wolf, she didn’t mind lending a hand.

Ge the Third finished writing the three secret letters. He began to retrieve carrier pigeons and tie the messages to their legs, speaking as he worked.

"First, the matter concerning Gray Wolf can only be handled by you and Simurgh Phoenix."

"Second, Fledgling’s situation is fairly stable, so there’s no need to push things along for now. Wait for further instructions after I’ve consulted with the Lord Golden Banner Officer."

"Third, that sum of silver coins..."

He paused, released the carrier pigeons, and watched them fly into the distance before turning back to Lou Yuxue.

"You’ll have to make a trade-off. My men can’t withdraw empty-handed; they need silver coins to create new identities."

Lou Yuxue replied without hesitation, "Once I get my hands on those silver coins, I won’t forget you. It’s just that, right now..."

For some reason, the image of "Liu Wu" reappeared in her mind, and she recalled his words: "I want fifty percent of the silver notes."

Seeing her fall silent, Ge the Third couldn’t help but ask, "It’s just what?"

Lou Yuxue shook her head. "Nothing."

’As long as those silver coins end up safely in my hands, I refuse to believe ’Liu Wu’ has any way of prying them from my grasp.’

After a moment of silence, Ge the Third asked with a smile, "Are you sure you don’t need me with you tonight?"

Lou Yuxue paused, then stood up. "Your Martial Arts are too weak. You’d only be a burden."

"It’s better for you to get away safely than to put yourself in danger."

"...You’re right, of course, but that doesn’t make it any less harsh to hear."

"The truth hurts..."

"In any case, here’s to hoping everything goes smoothly."

... 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

「Nightfall.」

Perhaps it was due to the sweltering heat, or maybe because the Mid-Autumn Festival was approaching, but there were far fewer patrons than usual in Shu State City’s South City Yanhua Lane.

Even the famous Spring Rain Building had few patrons coming in or out.

Only a few idle libertines lingered in the main hall, admiring the forms of the dancing girls.

The Madam stood just inside the doorway, muttering to herself while craning her neck to peer outside, likely wondering where all the patrons had disappeared to.

Several Pimps stood by, cowering and not daring to speak for fear of saying the wrong thing and earning a reprimand.

Liu Lang observed all of this, finding it rather amusing.

He had been waiting in the Spring Rain Building ever since leaving Chuansi Street at noon.

Although he couldn’t guess the identity of the "distinguished guest" Chen Yi had mentioned, he knew clearly that Black Tooth and his men were about to make their move.

He was, at the very least, looking forward to the outcome—

would the mysterious, unfathomable Boss Chen prove to be one move ahead, or would the Bright Moon Building always be a step beyond?

However.

Anticipation was one thing.

Liu Lang also harbored some complaints against Chen Yi.

Even now, after having done so much under Chen Yi and having seen the ins and outs of certain events, there were still a few things he couldn’t grasp clearly.