Chapter 209: Pursuing the Heavenly Scholar

After Gu Mo agreed to eliminate the wanted scholar Ye Xiao, he followed Steward Chang to Cloud City.

To travel from Cloud Commandery to Cangyuan City, the fastest route was by water. Throughout Cloud Province, only two factions controlled the most lucrative waterway trade: the Three Rivers Gang in Linjiang Commandery and the Flying Fish Gang. While the Three Rivers Gang focused on business within Cloud Province, the Flying Fish Gang specialized in external trade. Thus, to reach Cangyuan City and find the scholar Ye Xiao, the Flying Fish Gang was undeniably the most appropriate choice.

Canglan County was not far from Cloud City, and they arrived that same evening. However, the Flying Fish Gang's carriage was not as comfortable as Tang Buyi's. Since Gu Mo and Gu Chudong were heading to Cangyuan City, they naturally parted ways with Tang Buyi and could no longer ride in his luxurious carriage.

Upon arriving in Cloud City, Steward Chang took Gu Mo, Gu Chudong, and Qian Duoduo to his home for the night. He planned to arrange a boat to Cangyuan City for them the following morning.

After they finished their late-night meal, Steward Chang escorted Gu Mo and Gu Chudong to their designated courtyard for rest. Once there, Steward Chang suddenly spoke, "Great Hero Gu, although you've agreed to help Boss Qian and I was the intermediary, I still feel obligated to remind you: don't force things if they become impossible."

Gu Mo asked, puzzled, "Is something wrong with Boss Qian?"

"Not at all," Steward Chang replied. "Boss Qian's family has cooperated with my Flying Fish Gang for decades; his father had a long-standing partnership with us when he was alive. Qian Duoduo is like a nephew to me. I can stake my own life on his integrity; he's absolutely trustworthy and would never harm you, Great Hero Gu. If he ever does, you can come and take my head directly."

Gu Mo then asked, "What did you mean just now?"

Steward Chang invited Gu Mo to sit down and slowly asked, "Great Hero Gu, are you familiar with Cang Province?"

Gu Mo shook his head slightly and replied, "Not very. I've only heard that Cang Province is the wealthiest of the Qian Kingdom's eight provinces, second only to Tian Province, where the capital is located."

Steward Chang nodded. "Indeed. If you disregard the capital being in Tian Province, in terms of sheer wealth, even Tian Province can't compare to Cang Province. The annual government tax revenue from Cang Province alone can equal or even exceed the combined total of our Cloud, Qing, and Hong Provinces. Its immense prosperity is undeniable."

"Because of this wealth, the martial arts landscape there is a hundred times more complex than in our Cloud Province, with various powers deeply intertwined. Among the Qian Kingdom's universally acknowledged major forces—the Three Sects, Four Factions, and Seven Great Clans—Cang Province alone is home to four: the Apricot Forest Su Clan, the Weaponry Lin Clan, the Embroidery Yun Clan, and Pure Yang Temple, the leader of the Four Factions."

"Pure Yang Temple, despite its high ranking, is famously reclusive and remains largely detached from worldly affairs in Cang Province. However, the three great clans are quite different. While they nominally specialize—one in medicine and alchemy, one in weaponry, and another in textiles—this doesn't mean these are their only ventures; they are simply their most prominent ones."

"They control Cang Province's largest commercial channels, influence, and official connections. It's impossible for them to be limited to a single industry. So, how could they not be involved in other profitable businesses? And money changers... everyone knows that's one of the most lucrative trades."

Gu Mo suddenly understood. "Are you suggesting that the scholar Ye Xiao's attacks on Qian Duoduo's Datong Bank might be orchestrated by one of the three great clans?"

Steward Chang nodded. "It's highly likely. Honestly, the scholar Ye Xiao is quite capable, but while I'd believe he could evade the Six Gates' pursuit once or twice, escaping so many times? How could that be possible without behind-the-scenes assistance? In Cang Province, only the three great clans possess the power to influence the Six Gates."

"Moreover, the troubles with the Qian family's Datong Bank were actually foreseen. Even Qian Duoduo knew what was happening. His persistent efforts to counter the scholar Ye Xiao are primarily driven by his refusal to accept defeat."

Gu Mo asked, "How so?"

Steward Chang explained, "Datong Bank was once a small, third-rate establishment in Cangyuan City. However, ten years ago, after Qian Duoduo took over, he demonstrated extraordinary business acumen. In just a few years, he developed Datong Bank into one of Cang Province's largest, opening nearly ten branches across the region. Its momentum was incredible."

"This attracted the attention of various powerful factions. The three great clans all approached Qian Duoduo, expressing their desire to buy shares and secure a piece of the pie. Qian Duoduo, naturally unwilling to simply hand over profits, continually played evasive games. However, six months ago, the Lin Clan attempted to suppress and threaten Qian Duoduo with various tactics. But despite his unremarkable appearance, Qian Duoduo's business abilities were truly outstanding, and the Lin Clan never managed to gain a significant advantage. Relations between them remained strained."

"Soon after, the scholar Ye Xiao began ambushing Datong Bank's silver carriages, damaging the bank's reputation and forcing Qian Duoduo to sell off assets to cover his losses. Therefore, the mastermind behind this whole affair is almost openly revealed."

Gu Chudong, standing nearby, asked skeptically, "Ye Xiao is a notorious rogue practitioner, a mass murderer. Does the Lin Clan dare to cooperate with someone like that? Wouldn't that alienate them from the martial world?"

Steward Chang chuckled. "Heroine Gu, who has proof that Ye Xiao is acting under the Lin Clan's orders? Why do you think those notorious bandits in the martial world can repeatedly commit crimes and still evade capture? Many of them are actually the 'black hands' of major factions, hired to do illicit deeds for influential officials and powerful clans. They never leave evidence."

"So, you're saying this Ye Xiao is specifically doing the Lin Clan's dirty work?" Gu Chudong said indignantly. "That's outrageous! This Ye Xiao is a heinous mass murderer!"

Steward Chang quickly said, "Heroine Gu, I never said Ye Xiao was a member of the Lin Clan! You mustn't say such things!"

Gu Chudong said, "Steward Chang, surely not. You're in Cloud Province, and the Lin Clan is in Cang Province. Why would you fear them?"

Steward Chang chuckled softly. "It's not fear; it's simply unnecessary to offend them. If baseless rumors like that spread, the Lin Clan would never admit it. If someone with malicious intent exploited it and blew it out of proportion, the Lin Clan would surely fight me to the death for their reputation. I have no need to engage in a life-or-death struggle with them, do I?"

Gu Chudong thought for a moment and conceded, "That's true."

Steward Chang said, "Great Hero Gu, Heroine Gu, don't harbor strong prejudices against the Lin Clan just because of my words. Great aristocratic families are very complex. And frankly, it's not certain that Ye Xiao is being directed by the Lin Clan. After all, the other two clans might deliberately sow discord to create animosity between Qian Duoduo and the Lin Clan, which would increase their own chances of acquiring shares in Datong Bank."

Gu Chudong suddenly realized, "That's true! It might not necessarily be the Lin Clan!"

Steward Chang chuckled softly. "My advice ends here. When you two go, if you can succeed, then do so. If not, don't force it. Cang Province is a deep and dangerous place, far beyond anything in Cloud Province. The three great clans also have very deep official connections, which makes things quite troublesome."

"As for Qian Duoduo, don't feel sorry for him; he's not to be pitied. No matter what tactics the three great clans employ, they wouldn't dare physically harm him. They simply want to force him to concede. If he truly can't fight them off, he can take a step back and still remain the owner of Datong Bank, still making a fortune daily."

"Moreover, if you do manage to kill the scholar Ye Xiao, there's no need to worry. No faction would dare admit he was their man, nor would anyone seek revenge. On the surface, they'd even thank you two for ridding Cang Province of a menace."

Early the next morning, Gu Mo and Gu Chudong boarded the Flying Fish Gang's boat and set off for Cangyuan City.

After three days on the river, they finally arrived in Cangyuan City.

Throughout the journey, Gu Mo and Gu Chudong remained hidden, rarely making appearances. Even after disembarking, they quickly boarded a carriage, still wearing their bamboo hats.

Cangyuan City was the Qian Kingdom's second most prosperous city, surpassed only by the capital, Jingcheng. It was entirely incomparable to Cloud City and Qingzhou City; even those two cities combined could not rival Cangyuan City's grandeur.

Unfortunately, Gu Mo couldn't see it for himself. However, listening to Gu Chudong's astonished descriptions of the four- and five-story buildings lining the streets, and considering the era, Gu Mo could roughly imagine Cangyuan City's prosperity.

Escorted by Qian Duoduo's guards, the carriage arrived outside a mansion in the city. It was an estate, and in a prosperous city like Cangyuan, owning such a large property clearly showed that the Qian family's name was well-deserved; they were indeed very wealthy.

The two carriages stopped. Qian Duoduo, transforming into an agile man despite his size, quickly dismounted from his carriage. He then rushed to the carriage carrying Gu Mo and Gu Chudong, urging them to disembark and swiftly enter the mansion.

Even after entering the mansion, both Gu Mo and Gu Chudong kept their bamboo hats on, only removing them once they reached a small courtyard. This arrangement was made to prevent the news of Gu Mo and Gu Chudong's arrival from spreading. Given Gu Mo's current renown in the martial world, if his presence became known, the scholar Ye Xiao would likely flee immediately. In that scenario, Gu Mo would have made a wasted trip, Qian