bookbashuk Chapter 43 People from Black Wind Ridge, Li Xuan Sets a Trap
Chapter 43 People from Black Wind Ridge, Li Xuan Sets a Trap
Dark clouds loomed over Qingyun County.
Although the news of the Wang family's collusion with Black Wind Ridge has not yet been made public, many well-connected people in the city have already sensed something amiss.
Several small shops in the East Market quietly closed their doors.
The independent cultivators began stockpiling food and medicine.
There were even two more patrol teams on the streets than usual.
Storm is coming.
⸻
Inside the ancestral home in Heishishan.
Zhao Yuancheng, with a solemn expression, quickly entered the hall.
"Young clan leader, the scouts have reported back."
"Last night, three groups of unfamiliar cultivators entered the city. None of them entered through the main gate, but instead came in through the old southwest road."
Upon hearing this, Li Yuanshan's face turned several shades pale.
"Did the Wang family really bring people from Black Wind Ridge?"
Zhao Yuancheng nodded.
"Most likely."
"Those people covered their faces and concealed their movements; they exuded a fierce aura and didn't seem like legitimate business travelers."
Li Yuanlie, leaning against the wall with his sword, perked up upon hearing this.
How many people?
"Was it satisfying to chop them up?"
Zhao Yuanshan was so angry he almost jumped up.
"Can't you think of anything else?!"
⸻
Li Tianheng's expression was calm, but his eyes were cold.
"The people of Black Wind Ridge are all people who live by the sword."
"If we let them into the county town and cause trouble, the people will suffer, and the Li family's business will also be damaged."
This is a fact.
These desperate criminals have no regard for rules; they are capable of robbing shops, setting fires, murdering, and stealing.
Wang Jiazhen has gone to the point of near madness.
⸻
All eyes fell on Li Xuan.
Li Xuan flipped through the account books as if they were a trivial matter.
After a moment, he finally spoke:
"Wang Tonghai finally lost his temper."
Zhao Yuancheng gave a wry smile.
"Young clan leader, how can you still laugh at a time like this?"
Li Xuan put down the account book, his tone calm.
"If he continues to cling to the family business and stubbornly hold on, I will slowly demolish it."
"Now we've deliberately let the wolf into the house—"
"That saves me a lot of trouble."
The people in the hall were all taken aback at the same time.
⸻
Li Yuanshan was the first to react.
"What the young clan leader means is..."
Li Xuan looked at everyone.
"The people of Black Wind Ridge seek wealth, not life."
"They only came because the Wang family could afford the price."
"What if someone offers a higher price?"
Zhao Yuancheng's pupils contracted.
"You want to turn them against their cause?!"
Li Xuan smiled faintly.
"No."
"That's too low-level."
"I want them to choose for themselves."
⸻
The more they listened, the more confused they became.
Li Yuanlie asked directly:
"Can't you speak like a human being?"
Li Xuan ignored him and simply gave the order:
"Patriarch Zhao."
"Go spread the word."
"They say the Wang family's treasury is empty and they've been selling off ancestral property recently."
"Say one more thing—"
"If the Li family takes over Qingyun County, we are willing to pay generous sums to hire casual road repairmen and guards."
Zhao Yuancheng's eyes grew brighter and brighter.
He got it.
This shook the hearts of the people at Black Wind Ridge.
If the Wang family has no money, what's the point of risking your life for them?
If the Li family will provide for them in the future, why are they working for the Wang family now?
⸻
Li Yuanshan was so excited that he kept slapping his thigh.
"high!"
"It's so high!"
Li Yuanlie thought for a moment and nodded.
"Does that mean they should kill fewer of us and more of the Wang family?"
Li Xuan finally glanced at him.
"almost."
⸻
at the same time.
The backyard of the Wang family ancestral home.
Three black-clad monks sat around a stone table laden with wine and meat.
The leader, a man with a scarred face and a Qi Refining Level 5 cultivation, was named Cao Kui and was a notorious ruthless character in Black Wind Ridge.
The other two also exuded a fierce aura and had blood on their hands.
Wang Tonghai personally accompanied him, adopting a much more humble attitude.
"Brother Cao, there are only three things I need to do to invite you all here today."
"Burn down the Li family's shops and cut off their trade routes. If you can take Li Xuan's head, you will be richly rewarded."
Cao Kui tore off a piece of meat and chewed it slowly.
"What's the price?"
Wang Tonghai said in a deep voice:
"Pay 3,000 spirit coins upfront, and another 5,000 after the deed is done."
Cao Kui narrowed his eyes.
"Eight thousand?"
"Buying the life of a young patriarch of a newly rich family is not bad."
A ruthless glint flashed in Wang Tonghai's eyes.
"Once Li Xuan dies, the Li family will naturally fall apart."
⸻
Just then, a Black Wind Ridge subordinate hurried into the courtyard and whispered a few words in his ear.
After hearing this, Cao Kui paused for a moment.
"Is the Li family willing to hire freelance road maintenance workers and guards at high prices?"
"Is the Wang family about to sell off their ancestral property?"
Wang Tonghai's expression changed drastically.
"Nonsense!"
Cao Kui glanced at him but didn't say anything.
But his eyes had changed.
What do the people of Black Wind Ridge believe in most?
money.
If the Wang family was truly impoverished, why would they fight to the death for them?
⸻
Wang Tonghai suppressed his anger.
"Brother Cao, it's all the Li family spreading rumors."
"My Wang family's wealth is still intact."
Cao Kui smiled and raised his glass to drink.
"I hope so."
A seemingly casual remark sent a chill down Wang Tonghai's spine.
⸻
at night.
East Market.
Two of the Li family's shops suddenly caught fire.
The fire spread extremely quickly, clearly indicating that someone had deliberately set it on fire.
Chaos erupted on the street.
"Fire!"
"Quickly, put out the fire!"
"Someone has launched a sneak attack on the Li family!"
When Li Yuanshan rushed out wearing his coat, his eyes were red.
"My shop!!!"
Li Yuanlie drew his sword and gave chase.
Where are they?!
Chen He has led his guards to block the street entrance.
In the firelight, several dark figures were making their way back amidst the chaos.
It was clearly the people from Black Wind Ridge who made the move.
⸻
Li Yuanlie roared and chased after him with his sword.
A black-clad cultivator in front turned around and fired an arrow.
Whoosh!
The arrow pierced the air.
Li Yuanlie raised his sword to block, sparks flew, but his steps didn't stop; instead, they became even faster.
"You ambushed me?"
"You're dead!"
The man in black's expression changed, and he turned and ran away.
⸻
The other side of the roof.
Li Xuan had somehow found himself standing on a high point, overlooking the entire long street.
The fire is under control.
The shop burned down the outer warehouse; the actual goods had already been moved away beforehand.
This was bait he deliberately revealed.
The fish did indeed take the bait.
Chen He leaped onto the roof, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and whispered:
"Young clan leader, should we chase after them?"
Li Xuan's gaze fell towards the old alley in the southwest.
"Chase."
"But don't push too hard."
"Let them go back."
Chen He was taken aback, then he understood.
This is about following the clues to find the source.
⸻
Half an hour later.
The Wang family's backyard.
Cao Kui and the others had just returned to the courtyard, still carrying the smell of cooking fires.
He threw a charred wooden plaque on the table and laughed heartily.
"The Li family is nothing special."
"If two shops are burned down, it will turn into complete chaos."
Wang Tonghai's expression finally softened a bit.
"Brother Cao's methods are brilliant."
Just then, a guard rushed over in a panic.
"Master!"
"Something terrible has happened!"
"Someone in the East Market said that the Li family's two shops are empty, and the goods were moved out yesterday!"
The courtyard fell silent instantly.
The smile on Cao Kui's face slowly disappeared.
Wang Tonghai's face turned pale.
them--
They were tricked by Li Xuan.
⸻
Black Stone Mountain.
Li Xuan stood in the night, his expression calm.
The system panel appeared in my mind:
The enemy's first attack failed.
[Successfully lured the enemy into revealing themselves]
[Family Luck +23]
[Current Luck: 543]
[Mission Progress: Annihilation of the Royal Family (41%)]
[Note: Trust level with enemy mercenary faction has decreased]
Li Xuan's lips curled up slightly.
The people of Black Wind Ridge are not afraid of being beaten.
What I fear is—
I followed the wrong person.
And this is just the beginning.
Chapter Forty-Three (The End)