Chapter 160 - 135: Returning to Xiahe County (2)
So, he went to contact the go-between for this job, met with Liu Chuanzhi, and explained the situation.
Of course, he blamed the mission’s failure on Liu Chuanzhi’s inaccurate information.
He also pointed out that their attempt on that rainy night still counted as an engagement.
So not only did he make Liu Chuanzhi pay the balance, but he also increased the price for this new attempt, demanding an extra five thousand taels of silver.
"There had better not be any more accidents." Liu Chuanzhi snorted coldly. Without waiting for a reply, he turned to leave.
A fight was bound to break out here soon, and he had no intention of sticking around. If he got caught in the crossfire, it would be his own bad luck.
’My life and fortune are far more important than these bandits or Fang Yue and his men. I’m going to become a Civil Scholar, and then a Scholar!’
"Take care, Young Master Liu. I guarantee there won’t be any accidents this time."
The scar-faced bandit said with a chuckle.
Then he hurried over to where the other Black Wind Thieves were lying in ambush.
~~~~~~
A while later, another group of customers arrived at the teahouse. There were about twenty of them, all dressed plainly like farmers.
But the aura they gave off, whether intentionally or not, was fierce.
"Welcome, sirs. What can I get for you?" The teahouse’s Shopkeeper, an old man with graying hair, beamed as he saw the new arrivals, his wrinkled face blooming like a chrysanthemum.
"We’ll have what they’re having," the leader, a burly man with a dark complexion, said in a booming voice.
"Right away! Please wait a moment." The Shopkeeper left with a cheerful laugh.
Soon, the same tea, pastries, and pickled radishes were brought to their table.
"Boss, something’s not right about these people."
At this, Elder Zheng the Darts Master leaned close to Fang Yue and whispered.
"They may be dressed like farmers, but the air about them is anything but ordinary."
"Besides, they’re all burly and look powerful. They clearly have some martial arts training."
"There’s no way these men are farmers."
"They look more like bandits!"
"I know. Tell everyone to be careful."
Fang Yue nodded. As soon as the dark-faced man had spoken, he had recognized his voice. It was the same as one of the men in black they had encountered in the woods near the ruined temple that night.
’These aren’t farmers, they’re the Black Wind Thieves!’
’But what are they doing here? Don’t tell me... are we their target?’
’Running into this gang of thieves twice can’t be a coincidence.’
Fang Yue’s guard went up.
A little while later, the caravan members had more or less finished eating and drinking. They paid their bill and began to pack up, preparing to leave.
"Heh heh, now!"
Taking advantage of the caravan’s preparations, the Black Wind Thieves who had been eating on the other side finally made their move.
They flipped their tables, and an immediate CRASH and BANG of shattering bowls and plates echoed through the teahouse, joined by the sound of tables and chairs smashing together.
Then, they all drew their weapons, ready to charge at Fang Yue and his men.
But they had barely taken a few steps before they started collapsing one by one, as if drunk.
"What! The food and drink were poisoned!"
Seeing this and feeling his own limbs grow weak and limp, the leader of the Black Wind Thieves knew instantly that they had been poisoned.
The Executioner, his hands stained with blood, immediately clenched his jaw and turned to flee. But after just a dozen steps, he too collapsed.
He just couldn’t understand why the target caravan’s members were completely fine!
"What’s happening?"
Fang Yue was dumbfounded. The Black Wind Thieves had looked ready to charge them as they were leaving, so how had they all collapsed after only a few steps?
’Was the food poisoned? Then why are we okay?’
As he was pondering this, about ten of the caravan members near him also collapsed limply to the ground.
Soon, the only ones left standing were Fang Yue, Elder Zheng the Darts Master beside him, and one other Darts Master.
Fang Yue’s gaze immediately shifted to the teahouse’s Shopkeeper—the old man and his two sons.
And at that very moment, the three of them were also looking back at him.
Their eyes were filled with confusion, as if asking, ’Everyone else is down, so why are you few still standing?’
"S-Sirs, what’s happening? What’s wrong with them?"
In the span of a breath, the confusion on the Shopkeeper’s face vanished, replaced by a look of terror as he rushed toward Fang Yue.
The next moment, he flicked his sleeve, and a glint of cold light shot out from within.
"Hmph, just as I thought!"
Fang Yue had been wary of the old man all along and wasn’t fooled by his clumsy acting.
The moment the old man fired the sleeve arrow, Fang Yue moved. He easily dodged it and landed a punch on the old Shopkeeper’s stomach, doubling him over like a shrimp.
A few moments later, the three from the teahouse were tied up.
After some interrogation, Fang Yue learned that the three were indeed running a "black shop."
Neither the tea nor the pastries were poisonous on their own, but they became toxic when consumed together.
Fortunately, it was a knockout drug, not a lethal poison.
But as for why Fang Yue and his two companions weren’t poisoned, the old Shopkeeper had no idea.
The next steps, naturally, were to treat the caravan members and interrogate the Black Wind Thieves.
~~~~~~
「An hour later.」
Fang Yue slit the throat of the Black Wind Thieves’ leader with his blade. The remaining bandits met the same fate, sent to accompany their leader in death.
’Someone from Shanyang Prefecture hired them to deal with me... but who could it be?’
Fang Yue mused, thinking about the information he had extracted from the leader of the Black Wind Thieves.
’I was very cautious during my time in Shanyang Prefecture City. I shouldn’t have offended anyone.’
’Other than that minor conflict with someone from some chamber of commerce when I entered the city, I don’t think I made any other enemies.’
’Could it be that Sanfu Chamber of Commerce?’
’It’s a shame I didn’t catch their second-in-command, the one who acted as the contact. Otherwise, the whole truth would have come to light today.’
As for the three from the teahouse who had poisoned the food, Elder Zheng the Darts Master had, of course, taken care of them.
Although they had dealt with the Black Wind Thieves so easily today, it was really thanks to the poisoners’ drugs.
But those people had been running a black shop here, and who knows how many people they had harmed. Today, his men had just gotten lucky. If they had all been poisoned, the outcome would have been entirely different.
’There’s no way those shopkeepers would have spared them.’
~~~~~~~~
「Xiahe County Town, within the Fang Family residence.」
"Oh my, why are you here again? Didn’t I tell you Zhi’Er isn’t home? When he returns, I’ll send someone to let you know."
"What? You say you want to introduce my Zhi’Er to a potential wife? Why didn’t you say so sooner! Please, come in, come in and tell me all about it."
Ms. Chen enthusiastically and happily welcomed a middle-aged man in a steward’s uniform into the house.
"Hehe, Madam, the young lady I speak of is the Bright Pearl of our Wei Family’s master. In terms of family background, no one in all of Xiahe County Town can compare. She is an absolutely perfect match for your esteemed son, Young Master Fang."
Wang Quan said with a chuckle.
He was here on official orders. Wei He was truly a cunning and calculating man.
The man was actually planning a marriage alliance with Fang Yue, and the objective was, of course, the Tea Garden.
After all, seeing that even Lord Liu had failed, Wei He knew this matter wouldn’t be easy. A direct approach would be like kicking a steel plate.
But if they were joined by marriage, it would become a family matter.
He could either trick the Fang Family into giving up the Tea Garden as part of the betrothal gifts, or wait until after the wedding, find an opportunity to get rid of Fang Yue. Then, everything the Fang Family owned would be under the Wei Family’s control.
Of course, he would certainly step in to "save" Fang Yue at the right time, and then use the benefits to bring this Fang Wuju into his organization.
All in preparation for his grand future plans.