Building a Martial Dao Celestial Family by Laying Low

Chapter 150: Chapter 149: Overt Plot

Chen Shouheng’s heart was pounding in terror, but unbeknownst to him, someone else was even more terrified.

「Jingshan Pier, Aboard a Tower Ship.」

Inside a room.

A shrewd-looking middle-aged man in a brocade robe was poring over a thick stack of ledgers, his brow slick with sweat.

He was the Steward in charge of the Jingshan operation, responsible for registering the tributes paid by the Jiang Family’s Guests and Honored Guests, and for handling the redemption of supplies with their merit.

The more he checked the recent records, the paler his face became. Cold sweat streamed down his temples, and his fingers began to tremble slightly.

’Something’s wrong... The numbers aren’t right? No! It’s the people!’

His voice was hoarse with panic as he checked the roster again and again. ’Zhao Qingnian hasn’t been here in over a month. Li Guangmao... his dues of three thousand taels were supposed to be paid on the nineteenth of last month...’

The more he looked, the more alarmed he became.

Guests who should have reported in had vanished without a trace for a long time.

Finally, with a trembling hand, he wrote down a few shocking lines of numbers on a piece of white paper.

Qi Realm Guests registered: 103.

With recorded activity in the past month: 47.

Spirit Realm Honored Guests registered: 17.

With recorded activity in the past month: 11.

More than half had vanished!

The brush in the Steward’s hand fell onto the table with a CLICK, splattering a splotch of ink.

A chill instantly shot from the soles of his feet to the top of his head!

’Something terrible has happened!’

For so many people to disappear within a month, it was definitely not normal turnover or negligence!

With trembling hands, he hurriedly wrote down a detailed account of the situation, including his own suspicions. Then, he stuffed the note into a bamboo tube, no bigger than his little finger, attached to a carrier pigeon’s leg.

He tossed it forcefully into the sky. After a few flaps of its wings, the carrier pigeon shot off toward the horizon.

...

「Songjiang.」

In the main hall of the Jiang Family residence, sandalwood smoke drifted lazily through the air.

But the atmosphere was as oppressive as the air before a downpour.

The Patriarch of the Jiang Family, Jiang Hongyi, sat upright in a Grandmaster’s Chair. His face was gaunt, his eyes profound, and he possessed an air of authority without needing to show anger.

He calmly listened to the Steward’s report, his gaze slowly sweeping over the shocking piece of paper.

The Steward, standing in the hall below, held his breath.

The air seemed to have frozen for a long time.

Jiang Hongyi’s finger tapped once on the Zitan wood armrest, the sound so faint it was almost inaudible.

A faint but bone-chilling glint flashed through his bottomless eyes.

"I see."

His voice was steady and emotionless. "You are dismissed. This matter is not to be spoken of outside this room."

As if granted a great pardon, the Steward scrambled out of the room, his back already soaked with sweat.

Only then did Jiang Hongyi raise his gaze, his eyes landing on his youngest son, Jiang Chaoshan, who was standing in attendance nearby.

"Chaoshan."

"Father."

Jiang Chaoshan’s heart skipped a beat. He quickly took a step forward and bowed, awaiting his orders.

"The Jingshan affair has always been under your management, has it not?"

Jiang Hongyi lifted his teacup and took a light sip. "Take Elder Wu with you and make a trip there. Find out exactly who is responsible. After all, our Guests represent the face of the Jiang Family."

His words contained no explicit command, but Jiang Chaoshan instantly understood the chilling killing intent hidden within them.

"Yes, Father! I will be sure to get to the bottom of this!"

Jiang Chaoshan replied in a low voice, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes before disappearing.

"Mm."

Jiang Hongyi nodded slightly and said no more.

Jiang Chaoshan bowed, then silently withdrew from the main hall. The moment he turned, his face became as cold as ice.

...

「Several Days Later.」

Jingshan County Magistrate’s Office, the study in the rear hall.

County Magistrate Zhang Heming was leisurely sipping his tea while reading an important official document.

The voice of a government constable came from outside the door: "County Magistrate, Young Master Jiang Chaoshan of the Jiang Family requests an audience."

A sharp, imperceptible glint flashed in Zhang Heming’s eyes. He set down his teacup and said coolly, "Show him in."

Jiang Chaoshan walked in with a grim expression. The days of travel seemed to have worsened his already poor complexion; his eyes were puffy, and his lips were chapped and pale.

He was in no mood for pleasantries and directly placed a transcribed list on Zhang Heming’s desk.

"Lord Zhang, take a look! This is the loss my Jiang Family has suffered recently in Jingshan County! This happened under your jurisdiction. You owe my Jiang Family an explanation, don’t you?"

Zhang Heming picked up the paper, feigning surprise as he examined it closely. His brow furrowed deeper the more he read. After a long moment, he put the paper down, looking exceptionally astonished. "This... something like this actually happened? Young Master Jiang, it’s not that I’m trying to shirk responsibility, but the Government Office has been swamped with work, and we’ve received no reports about this... For so many skilled men to vanish without a trace is truly alarming."

He set the paper down and looked at Jiang Chaoshan with a calm gaze. "The Jiang Family losing so many men is indeed no small matter. Young Master Jiang, do you perhaps already have a suspect in mind?"

Jiang Chaoshan snorted coldly. "If I knew, why would I need to consult you, Lord Zhang? In this territory of Jingshan, you, who presides over this place, must know better than I who has such audacity and appetite."

Zhang Heming stroked his beard, saying thoughtfully, "Audacity... appetite... and strength... Now that Young Master Jiang has reminded me, I do recall a few things."

He raised his eyes and gave Jiang Chaoshan a meaningful look. "Does Young Master Jiang recall the Chen Family of Lingxi? That Chen Li hides his true strength. Previously, when Tu Sandao died mysteriously, there were rumors among the common folk that Chen Li was involved and that he might possess Spirit Realm Cultivation.

His son, Chen Shouheng, has recently reached the Spirit Realm. He also took first place in this year’s County Examination and is very much in the limelight. His second son, Chen Shouye, is at Blood Refining Perfection.

If the father and his two sons were to join forces, and employ some clandestine methods, it’s not impossible that they could pull this off. Other than them, besides the other Noble Families, I can’t think of anyone else with such capabilities at the moment."

He said no more, simply lifting his teacup and gently blowing on the surface.

"The Chen Family..."

Murderous intent filled Jiang Chaoshan’s eyes as he stared at Zhang Heming. "Lord Zhang, since you have your suspicions, why not issue a warrant and arrest them?"

Hearing this, Zhang Heming’s face immediately showed a troubled expression. "Young Master Jiang, the Government Office must operate based on solid evidence. Right now, this is all just speculation, without any real proof. As an official of the Court, I cannot mobilize forces and arrest a member of the local Gentry without any grounds. That... would be against the law. After all, it is the duty of an official to maintain peace and order, provided the populace remains law-abiding."

Jiang Chaoshan’s expression turned ugly. "So, in your opinion, Lord Zhang, we should just let the Chen Family continue to act with impunity and harm the people of my Jiang Family?"

Zhang Heming smiled faintly. "As it happens, I was just about to summon the local Gentry to discuss this autumn’s Land Tax. Issuing a summons for Chen Li and his sons to discuss the matter is well within my official duties. This is government business, so they cannot refuse.

I hear the Drunken Creek Pavilion is your property, Young Master. It’s an elegant, spacious, and quiet environment—an excellent place to discuss important matters. If, on your own territory, some... mishap were to occur, and you decided to detain them to uncover the truth, it would be difficult for me to interfere."

After hearing this, Jiang Chaoshan was stunned for a moment, then a vicious gleam flashed in his eyes.

’What a fine piece of "official business"!’

’What a brilliant open conspiracy!’

"Good! The Drunken Creek Pavilion it is!"

Jiang Chaoshan nodded in agreement, a cold smile spreading across his face. "Thank you for your guidance, Lord Zhang."

Zhang Heming lifted his teacup, took a sip, and said nonchalantly, "I am simply gathering the worthy members of the community to discuss county affairs. As for anything else, I know nothing."

"Farewell!"

Jiang Chaoshan clasped his hands in a farewell gesture and turned to leave.

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