Chapter 1440: Eighteenth Concubine in the Eighteenth Chamber

As for how Qu Ruhai and the others quickly left Mangzhou, he had his methods, and He Lingchuan didn't ask further.

Qu Ruhai's subordinate on the side said, "The day after the incident, the Mangzhou authorities issued a wanted poster, offering a reward for the murderers of General Xue Zongwu and Patriarch Qi. Anyone providing useful clues would receive one hundred taels of gold!"

"Wow!" The merchant in yellow was surprised. "One hundred taels of gold just for a clue?"

The merchant in white said, "This is a serious matter."

The merchant in yellow asked curiously, "Were those two truly... truly harmed by Emperor Jiuyou?"

His companion had expressed disbelief, but Qu Ruhai's unusual status and position naturally made him more credible.

"I specifically went to Xiaotao Mountain Villa and saw the Northern Mountain Hall where Xue Zongwu fought his enemies. There was indeed a dragon-head relief sculpture at the entrance of the hall, with no visible carving marks. It's said to be a mark left by Emperor Jiuyou after completing a task." Qu Ruhai tilted his head back and drained his drink.

"Don't you Yaorens always say that the Black Armored Army wouldn't dare kill Yaoguo citizens? Well, they just showed you! Not only did they kill, they killed someone of the highest standing. Heh heh, a slap in the face, wasn't it?"

The two merchants looked embarrassed.

Dong Rui only asked about what concerned him: "Why does this Emperor Jiuyou you speak of wear black pants and have a black face?"

He smiled at He Lingchuan as he asked.

He Lingchuan simply regarded him as being eccentric and continued to grill his meat.

Hmm, this grilled crocodile meat had a unique flavor.

The two merchants grew even more embarrassed. The merchant in white coughed twice. "According to the rumors we've heard, what's said in teahouses and performed by opera troupes, Emperor Jiuyou always dresses this way."

"Doesn't sound very imposing," Dong Rui said, stroking his chin. "How do they portray him?"

"Well..." The two merchants exchanged glances. "It's hard to explain; it's best to hear it for yourselves."

Dong Rui's eyes darted. "Where's the best place to hear it?"

"One hundred zhang west down this street, at the Sky-Eye Teahouse," the merchant in white said. "They have a top-tier storyteller there, skilled at recounting all sorts of strange and unusual tales."

He Lingchuan then asked Qu Ruhai, "Master Qu, have you ever fought General Xue?"

Qu Ruhai scratched his neck. "Why do you ask?"

Dong Rui quickly interjected, "We want to know what level the leader of the Black Armored Army is at."

"Xue Zongwu possesses profound cultivation and excellent combat skills; he is one of the few truly capable generals in Yaoguo," Qu Ruhai said, tossing a piece of beef onto his grill, which sizzled and smoked. "I've fought him twice."

The merchants, also curious, asked, "And what was the outcome?"

Qu Ruhai shrugged. "Battlefields are very complex; it's hard to explain."

His words were thought-provoking.

The Soul-Capturing Mirror in He Lingchuan's arms chuckled. "Sounds like Xue Zongwu had the upper hand; otherwise, this fellow would be bragging incessantly."

Qu Ruhai finished the last two sips of his wine, wiped his mouth, and stood up.

"That Emperor Jiuyou sure knows how to pick his targets. Tianshui City will be lively next."

Without saying more to the four, he turned and left the small courtyard.

It wasn't until the backs of the three Luodian people disappeared around the street corner that the two merchants finally relaxed. Qu Ruhai's intimidating presence had been quite oppressive.

The merchant in yellow muttered, "These Luodian people are gloating."

The two groups chatted for a while longer and exchanged contact information. The merchant in white was named Zhu Xuanmiao, and his companion was Wang Hao.

The Yangshan Merchant Association had risen to prominence in the central-western part of the Blazing Gold Plains, but it was still little-known in Yaoguo. Wang Hao paid lip service to having long admired them, and even Dong Rui could tell it was just politeness. However, Zhu Xuanmiao said, "I've done business with your association's Xiancheng branch. Yangshan's exclusive fluorescent spores are hard currency here; we can sell as much as we get."

Wang Hao wondered, "So fluorescent spores come from Yangshan? Nowadays, both officials and wealthy families are using them."

Fluorescent spores only swell and glow when they come into contact with water. Ordinarily, they are smaller than an egg, easy to store and transport, and are a flagship product sold globally by the Yangshan Merchant Association.

"It's an honor to meet the head of the Yangshan Merchant Association, my apologies for the oversight!" The exchange between the two parties immediately grew warmer.

Through their conversation, they learned that Zhu Xuanmiao primarily handled official procurement, and he had connections to various government offices, mansions, influential families, and wealthy households in the southern part of Tianshui City.

In Tianshui City, getting involved in official procurement meant extremely lucrative deals. Zhu Xuanmiao thumped his chest and guaranteed he could sell Yangshan's goods to the authorities. Within the time it took He Lingchuan to grill two plates of meat, he had already finalized two deals with him.

As the atmosphere became harmonious, He Lingchuan casually asked, "Brothers Zhu and Wang, have you heard of a person named Tu Yuanhong?"

"Oh, Tonglin Records," Zhu Xuanmiao nodded repeatedly. "Yes, I know him. He has many businesses in Tianshui City, and I've dealt with him before."

"I'd like to visit Mr. Tu. Do you know what kind of gift I should bring?"

Zhu Xuanmiao gasped. "Oh... Tu Yuanhong has passed away. I heard he was murdered at his own estate."

He Lingchuan looked astonished, which made Dong Rui secretly scoff. "When did this happen?"

"A few months ago, I suppose... Let me think... Oh, I heard about it four months ago."

He Lingchuan nodded. Tu Yuanhong was murdered six months ago, and Zhu Xuanmiao heard about it four months ago, which wasn't slow, considering the incident didn't occur in Tianshui City. This fellow wasn't just spouting nonsense; he indeed had some information channels.

"You said he was murdered? Who did it?"

Zhu Xuanmiao hesitated. "The rumors say it was an old enemy seeking revenge."

He Lingchuan could tell he hadn't finished. "Street rumors aren't reliable, Brother Zhu. What's your take?"

Zhu Xuanmiao scratched behind his ear, glanced around, and then hesitated before saying, "Who cares? He's dead anyway, so it won't hurt to talk about it. The information I received is that Tu Yuanhong, clever his whole life, was foolish for once and actually interfered with the Qi family's business!"

Wang Hao gasped, "How come I haven't heard this?"

Zhu Xuanmiao took a sip of wine, a hint of pride in his voice. "Is this something that can be casually discussed? If you don't have any inside channels, all you'll hear are street rumors."

"The Qi family? General Xue's in-laws?"

"Exactly!" Zhu Xuanmiao sighed. "Tonglin Records had been thriving for years, all because Chairman Tu made such a small mistake. What a pity, what a pity."

He Lingchuan then asked, "With Chairman Tu gone, what will happen to Tonglin Records?"

"What else could happen? His entire family was killed; there were no heirs, and the once-flourishing Tonglin Records immediately collapsed. Its money, shops, staff, and assets were all divided up. Only the main branch remains, operating as a postal relay station and carriage service. However, someone in Tianshui City is deliberately suppressing them, making their existence difficult. Who knows how much longer they can hold on?"

Without He Lingchuan even needing to ask, Wang Hao couldn't help but wonder, "I remember Tonglin Records didn't shut down, did it? By the way, all the other shops closed, so why is this one still open?"

"That's Gu Lin, Tu Yuanhong's old partner. He's been with him since Tu Yuanhong started his first business. Perhaps he couldn't bear to see Tonglin Records close," Zhu Xuanmiao shook his head. "Many people want to buy Tonglin Records, so perhaps Gu Lin is waiting for a higher offer."

Everyone present sighed with a touch of melancholy.

Zhu Xuanmiao and his companion had eaten and drunk their fill. The rain had also stopped by then, so they bid farewell and left.

Watching the two merchants' departing figures, Dong Rui scoffed, "That fellow named Zhu just talks big. Are you really going to do business with him?"

"How can you tell?" He Lingchuan took a spoonful of vanilla yogurt to cut through the richness.

The local yogurt, called 'suanlao,' was a solidified, creamy substance, very rich. It had been a long time since he'd tasted yogurt, let alone one flavored with vanilla.

Two spoonfuls were enough to cut through the greasiness of the meat.

"His clothes are made of good material, and the ornament at his waist shows some... taste." Dong Rui's eyes were sharp. "But the meat dishes he and his companion ordered weren't expensive, and the pancakes weighed two catties. It's clear they just wanted to fill their stomachs."

In such eateries, there were expensive options and cheap options; one could spend as much or as little as they wished.

"And he talked endlessly, exaggerating his own capabilities," Dong Rui shook his head. "Truly capable people don't need to be so boastful."

He Lingchuan smiled. "Even if he's just a small businessman, he knows some tricks of the trade in official procurement and is quite knowledgeable about Tianshui City."

The Yangshan Merchant Association's branch in Tianshui City hadn't been established yet; it was currently only in the preparatory stage. This meant that He Lingchuan hadn't yet set up a reliable base in Tianshui City.

Gathering intelligence and conducting operations here presented challenges due to insufficient personnel and limited sources of information.

However, he still had tough battles ahead and needed to leverage any available strength.

Besides, he was a businessman and wouldn't miss any profitable business opportunities.

Moments ago, dark clouds had hung over the city; now, the rain had passed, and the sky was clear, leaving the courtyard permeated with the smell of damp earth.

He Lingchuan stood up to pay the bill, then said, "How about we go to the Sky-Eye Teahouse to listen to a story?"

"Let's go."

Tianshui City had been bustling lately. Even though it was past mealtime, the Sky-Eye Teahouse was still packed. There were people discussing business, reminiscing, chatting casually, playing chess... but naturally, more people were there to listen to stories, pass the time, and ward off a boring afternoon.

However, the stage was still empty; the storyteller was clearing his throat.

He Lingchuan sat down and ordered a pot of chrysanthemum tea. Having just eaten grilled meat, some herbal tea would be perfect to cleanse his palate and cut through the richness.

Upon inquiring, they learned that the performer about to begin was none other than the teahouse's star attraction, the Sky-Eye Teahouse's top-tier storyteller.

Dong Rui wanted to hear how the local storyteller would narrate tales of the Black Armored Army, so he tossed half a tael of silver onto the waiter's tray. "I'd like to make a request: Emperor Jiuyou!"

Customers who gave tips were allowed to make requests; whatever they wanted to hear, the storyteller would narrate.

The waiter bowed and quickly delivered the message.

The storyteller accepted the tip, cupped his hands to Dong Rui, adjusted his collar, then dramatically flung his sleeves and sat down imposingly.

He cleared his throat twice, and the surroundings fell silent, as everyone knew he was about to begin.

"The gentleman by the window has requested the topic: Emperor Jiuyou!"

The storyteller's voice was not deep; it was somewhat high-pitched, but he had an excellent grasp of rhythm and intonation, no less skilled than Fu Liushan.

He Lingchuan had just taken a sip of tea when he heard the storyteller begin:

"Now, picking up from last time! It is said that Emperor Jiuyou and his eighteenth concubine..."

"Pfft," He Lingchuan couldn't help himself and sprayed out a mouthful of tea.

Dong Rui was stunned.