Immortality by Merit and Sin Coins

Chapter 78: Chapter 72: How Dare You Return Their Silver

The blazing sun hung high; it was noon.

Black Water East City, Cheng Family Mansion.

To celebrate the growth of the Dragon Bone Plum, the powerful local family decided to hold a grand three-day banquet.

However, their guests were exclusively the likes of Chenlong, White Tiger, and the Fierce Wolves.

More than half of the Black Water Gang’s core members were gathered here.

Even many merchants from West City had been invited to keep them company.

Yet not a single Official was to be seen.

The once peaceful and serene East City had now become the most dangerous place in the entire city.

Such an act was undoubtedly a provocation, a slap in the face to the Government Office, as if in response to the recent corpse hanging.

The Cheng Family showed no fear whatsoever. As they came and went, their faces were filled with a kind of triumphant glee.

Outside the mansion, two constables leaned against a wall far in the distance, their expressions complex.

"Are they still holding a grudge over their daughter’s murder all those years ago?"

"Bullshit. That’s not what it was about at all."

One of the constables rolled his eyes. Noticing his colleague’s confusion, he lowered his voice. "My uncle worked for the Government Office back then. The Chang Family didn’t fly into a rage just because their son drowned in the Black River."

"After the child went missing, the Chang Family’s first reaction wasn’t to seek revenge, but to send people to search for him."

"What really angered our County Magistrate was that before the search party could even bring back any news, the Cheng Family had already made their move."

"They murdered an innocent person to take the fall!"

The constable gave a cold laugh. "Can you believe it? A brat of a girl, and the first thing she does upon her return is to pin all the blame on her personal maid. She would’ve been better off feigning ignorance. Just goes to show she’s as stupid as she is wicked."

"The Cheng Family went right ahead and slaughtered the maid’s parents, dragged the bodies before the County Magistrate, produced a chest of Treasure Medicine, and swore they’d find that ’wretched servant’... You know our County Magistrate. There was no way he’d accept something like that."

"Besides, the death of the Cheng Family’s ’precious daughter’ had nothing to do with the Government Office. The Cheng Family saw things were going south and worried they had offended the Chang Family and would lose their business. So they drowned her themselves and sent her body to the Government Office as an apology."

"What happened then?" the other constable asked curiously.

"It was useless. The Government Office still cut ties with them, launched a full investigation, and threw many of the Cheng Family into prison... They lost their daughter and failed to save their business. *That’s* the real reason they hate the Chang Family."

"They just got lucky, suddenly producing an Overseas Dragon. Otherwise, they would’ve been ruined long ago."

The constable let out a long sigh. It just goes to show how unpredictable life can be.

These days, the Government Office had to walk on eggshells around the Black Water Gang just to maintain stability in the city. So, naturally, the Cheng Family was feeling bold again.

"Shh, Cheng Siqi is back." The two suddenly straightened up and looked away.

...

Outside the Cheng Family Mansion.

The middle-aged man in luxurious robes glanced over, a contemptuous smile playing on his lips.

He strode into the courtyard.

"Master Cheng!" the wealthy merchants hurriedly rose to greet him.

The Fierce Wolves and Tigers in attendance also gave polite nods. Though they were Cultivators, they couldn’t disregard the fact that this man was an elder of their third-in-command.

"Please, carry on."

Cheng Siqi offered a cupped-fist salute and, with a smile, passed through the front hall into the rear courtyard.

He crossed the quiet courtyard and stopped before a door, then bowed with the utmost humility. "My lord, I’ve had people watching the East City Gate. We haven’t seen any Fierce Wolves arrive. Who is it you’re waiting for?"

’Actually, quite a few Fierce Wolves hadn’t come. For example, the most famous one, Silk Wolf, wasn’t here.’

’Could he be waiting for Yan Jin?’

"Step aside."

Inside, on the bed, Cheng Yi opened his eyes, yawning nonstop. He patted the fleshy shoulder of the woman in his arms, causing her pale skin to jiggle.

It wasn’t that he had a particular penchant for sleeping with Mountain-Smashing Dragon’s wife.

It was just that in his eyes, anyone below the Foundation Establishment Stage was a common mortal, exuding an earthy stench.

And in all of Black Water City, there were only two women at the Foundation Establishment Stage.

’Once Mountain-Smashing Dragon and Gu Nanzhi are both seriously injured, I’ll let that greedy, rabid dog take over. The city is bound to descend into chaos.’

’If that County Captain Gu wants to restrain him, she’ll have no choice but to come begging me.’

’After all, I’m the only one holding the chain to that vicious dog’s leash.’

At this thought, a smile couldn’t help but spread across Cheng Yi’s face. He casually pushed aside the greasy Sea-Covering Dragon.

"It’s fine. We’ll just wait. It’ll only be another day or two."

Cheng Yi didn’t answer the question directly. After all, mentioning Greedy Wolf would undoubtedly put the woman beside him on alert.

’The banquet only lasts for three days. Once it’s over and the Black Water Gang members leave, Gu Nanzhi will have no more chances to get near that Dragon Bone Plum.’

’I don’t believe that woman, already filled with desperation and malice, can resist such a temptation.’

"Who are you waiting for?" Sea-Covering Dragon asked, confused.

"Don’t ask what you’re not supposed to."

Cheng Yi said lazily, feeling a bit bored as he lay on the bed.

Recalling his recent thoughts, he suddenly felt another stir of arousal.

He reached out, rather violently flipped the fleshy dragon over, and pressed his body down on hers as she cried out in surprise.

Just then, the corner of his eye twitched twice.

"Who’s there?!"

Cheng Yi’s sudden snarl startled not only Sea-Covering Dragon, but also Cheng Siqi outside.

He thrust out his palm, no longer caring if the woman saw. He summoned several Awakening Pills from a jade-white bag and began to chew and swallow them by the mouthful.

’Why is he taking medicine now...?’ Sea-Covering Dragon propped herself up cautiously.

"Hah."

The medicine’s effects spread. Cheng Yi closed his eyes, feeling his Divine Soul become increasingly clear, and the connection to his Master’s Divine Thought grew several times sharper.

’That’s it. The Magical Artifact is fluctuating.’

’Has it fully matured?’

’No, that can’t be right. Last time I checked, it was still far from ready.’

’Given the current state of Black Water City, there’s no way it could have developed its Spiritual nature without at least another ten years.’

"Come with me."

Cheng Yi’s face was grim.

He got up and dressed, his promise to Greedy Wolf completely forgotten.

’If Mountain-Smashing Dragon doesn’t end up seriously injured, that man Lin will go from being falsely isolated to truly ostracized.’

’Oh well, if he dies, he dies. He can only blame his own bad luck!’

’That Magical Artifact is tied to my very life; of course it’s more important.’

"Alright. Should I send someone to deliver a message to my husband?"

Sea-Covering Dragon guessed something was wrong. Not daring to delay, she also began dressing with nimble movements.

’In all the time she had known this Immortal Disciple, this was the first time she had ever seen panic on his face.’

"There’s no time!"

Cheng Yi snatched his Storage Bag and rushed out of the room.

"My lord, about your previous arrangements... should we still wait?"

"Wait for shit! Get out of my way."

Before Cheng Siqi could finish his question, he was casually shoved aside and stumbled to the ground.

Yet he dared not utter a single word of complaint, and could only watch as the pair sped out of the mansion.

A moment later, he caught his breath, stood up, and brushed the dust from his clothes.

’As long as I can use his power to intimidate the Government Office... no, to threaten the Chang Family, I can swallow any amount of humiliation.’

Cheng Siqi’s respectable facade returned.

He calmly walked out of the rear courtyard and back to the front hall.

What could a group of Fierce Wolves and Tigers talk about, other than the recent happenings in the gang?

And the name that came up most often was Greedy Wolf.

To hear them tell it, the man was a phoenix brought lower than a chicken. His current misery was directly proportional to his former arrogance.

They were just waiting for the boss to have a free moment to take the brat’s life.

...

Cheng Siqi had no interest in these matters. After making a few toasts, he planned to take his leave with his wife.

However, the words he hadn’t paid attention to, others had taken to heart.

"Master Cheng, my name is Liu Chuan. I run the cloth workshop on Sifang Street."

The short, thin man wore silk, but it couldn’t hide his shifty, rat-like expression.

Pulling a woman along with him, he sidled up to them and said with a fawning smile, "I married Bi’er from your esteemed household back in the day. Do you remember me?"

"Hm?"

Ever since the Cheng Family had risen to power, Cheng Siqi had seen too many people trying to curry favor. He looked over with a hint of disgust.

"Madam, it’s me, Bi’er. I used to serve the young mistress."

The former maidservant was now the mistress of the cloth workshop.

She curtsied to Madam Cheng, her face a mask of flattery.

"State your business."

Hearing the words "young mistress" caused Madam Cheng’s fake smile to instantly vanish, her expression turning cold.

At this, Liu Chuan and Bi’er trembled slightly. No longer daring to beat around the bush, they glanced from side to side before lowering their voices. "At the beginning of the month, when we went to deliver a gift to Master Wolf, we saw Cheng Yun."

CRACK.

The wine cup that Cheng Siqi had not yet put down suddenly shattered in his grip.

Madam Cheng’s expression instantly froze.

They were truly husband and wife; even the bone-chilling cold in their eyes was identical.

"Is this true?"

"It’s the absolute truth. I practically raised her from a child. I remember the mole on her neck as clear as day."

Bi’er rushed to explain, "And that wretched girl’s sly eyes... that dead, lifeless way she looks at people, like she thinks everyone’s out to get her. There’s no mistaking it!"

Cheng Yun was never liked by adults, even as a child. She always looked at everyone with that same guarded expression.

"If you saw her at the beginning of the month, why are you only telling us now?" Cheng Siqi’s gaze turned cold.

"Because... because..."

Liu Chuan gave a sheepish laugh and gestured around them. Had he not just overheard everything, how could a man from a minor household like his dare to offend a Fierce Wolf?

’Since Sifang Street is about to change hands, of course I have to take this opportunity to latch onto a new patron.’

’I never would have guessed. The Cheng Family today has reached the point where they have a hand in everything, both legal and illegal.’

’The constables fear them, and even the Tigers have to give them face.’

’If I can use this matter to build a connection, my family might even be able to move to East City!’

Besides, Liu Chuan was already unhappy with Greedy Wolf.

’Giving gifts wasn’t the problem. Everyone accepted them, and they had to give one to whoever was in charge.’

’With the Black Water Gang’s protection, it wasn’t hard to make money.’

’The problem was that Greedy Wolf actually treated people differently, accepting gifts from some but returning them to others.’

It was the returned silver that was the true source of Liu Chuan’s indignation.

’Are those poor, rundown households somehow more noble than a Shopkeeper like me?!’

’No wonder the masters in the gang ostracized him.’

’Damn him!’

"Which Master Wolf are you referring to?" Cheng Siqi suddenly chuckled, no longer keeping his voice down.

Infected by Master Cheng’s mood, Bi’er also grew strangely agitated:

"Greedy Wolf, Lin Shu!"

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