The Cornflower Witch

Silence filled the entire hall. The ones who had been speaking all along, this so-called arbitration meeting, had mostly been dominated by the few distinguished elders.

Yet now, these very distinguished elders had all been rendered speechless by the counter-argument.

The sound of that young man's voice had practically slashed across every face present, cutting deep and sharp.

"Mm, well, that's quite the reasonable point..."

One of the distinguished elders chuckled wryly, giving a dry laugh. He stroked his beard and said no more.

How should he even continue? In this circle, maintaining dignity was the unwritten rule. It was like playing a game of cards with famous people; you had to keep the mask of nobility on your face, and even if you wanted to win the pot, you had to leave a bit of face for the others.

Baimang had thrown away the game entirely, the utterly barefaced brigand. Was he supposed to expose his old identity card? Look at the commotion it caused earlier; it almost incited a brawl right there. If he tried to provoke this Baimang with just a few words... that guy really might smash his reputation right here.

Who says one can break out of the game and still take everyone down with them? These old-timers had accumulated their reputation over the years; who would ever dare throw themselves into a cage with a mortal enemy? Just not worth it.

"Mister Bai can rest assured."

Zhao Yuhe finally opened his mouth.

"For the matter at Huo Yanglai Hall this time, after the review panel completes its further verification, there will surely be a fair and impartial ruling."

He said these words slowly, each one deliberate, drawing the gaze of the hall back to the head table.

"I will mention your previous matters as well, in the final written report."

"...A wise decision."

Ning, as if having gained face, coldly acknowledged with a muffled "hmph," then sat down directly in the main seat, holding the porcelain cup.

"You old foxes know when to fall in line," he thought to himself.

"Oh right,"

Hua Man suddenly spoke up, smiling. "I was considering that a young master like you has probably suffered quite a lot in these official disputes in Jingzhou..."

A person who doesn't know how to seize the moment is utterly useless. Hua Man thought to himself, having observed the reactions in the room—the wise who spoke, the silent who avoided, and the mute who never opened their mouths at all.

But those are the mediocre ones. Those words are meaningless; money always lands in the pockets of those who make others happy.

While these smart people don't understand, they at least know who they can't afford to mess with. Just relying on a smile to get over this? Let me make you feel a little more at ease.

"Mister Bai, I haven't quite arranged a few connections with the judiciary yet. If any of your people in Jingzhou get wrongfully detained, you can send them to find me anytime."

"What the hell are you saying?"

Ning's brows furrowed sharply, his eyes full of vigilance. Wait... are you poaching me? Is that old man trying to steal someone away from under my nose? There was clearly animosity between them just now, right? Have these city officials gone completely shameless?

"Relax, relax."

Hua Man, disregarding Ning's warning glare, waved his hand and explained, "It's just an acquaintance, an acquaintance. Not like I can pull any favors, at most a single casual word before an investigation starts."

"Quite bold."

Ning sipped his tea, remaining calm on the surface but somewhat shaken internally. It didn't matter whether Hua Man could actually help; his attitude alone said a great deal about this senior's position.

This old man was testing how far the Ning family had truly consolidated their position in Jingzhou—he had cast his lot early. It would be a joke to have Baimang and Huo Yanglai Hall staying in the good graces of Zhong'an Province for too long.

Ning would get to the bottom of this matter on his return to Jingzhou, to know what kind of forces would have the reach to probe so far across an entire province.

"So, Young Master Baimang and his friend..."

At that moment, Elder Xu, seated in the head position, asked cautiously: "...May I know how you two managed to reach Zhong'an Province so quickly?"

Hmm?

Baimang: "...by car?"

"What... what kind of car?"

"Just a normal one."

"...a normal... car?"

The corners of the old man's mouth twitched, yet he did not dare press further on this point. Simply returning to: "Then Young Master Bai, did you encounter any... trouble along the way?"

The old man must have been unsettled by what he just witnessed; his mind was filled with fantastic images of some monumental figure escorting them the entire way.

"...Is there something you'd like to tell me?"

"...No, nothing, I was just asking."

The eyes exchanged felt increasingly awkward.

"As expected of a genius..."

Old Master Chu clapped his hands together with a thunderous sound.

"As expected of a disciple of the peerless Daxia Xueque, daring to punch a lofty mountain demon saint before arriving so valiantly in Zhong'an! What sheer boldness! Truly manly! Old man, you are in awe!"

'Young master, do not mind it, this... wait a minute?! Why is his character even bigger than mine?!'

Ning facepalmed, silent, wondering if it were not for this disaster of an old man who lacked such restraint.

The most unbelievable thing is that many of the sages around the table have judged this as having meaning. After all... this kind of invitation to one's province, "youth of great promise from a noble lineage who may stand on one's side and gain a position among the most distinguished". Those are the kind of words an old hand writes when writing a book.

Could it be that these great shots actually speak that way?

...

"Next... here's what matters."

Ning set down the teacup, adjusting his previous scattered attitude, and suddenly became serious.

That means...

"There's no guarantee whether this so-called Zhong'an division will make it through the night."

"...That fast?"

Baimang immediately understood what he meant.

Wasn't this the source of the dispute at the arbitration?

Yipinxian Auction House was an ace in Ning Tianzhen's hand, bringing her a high commission every year. The difficulty of both transiting high-quality classified products and collecting fees of ten folds was as clear as day.

What strength is one's own internal manpower? Being subjected to other factions within the division to undermine one's grasp.

A man with a jackpot, a thief thinking and lying awake. Now everyone is watching her step.

Since the news had already been conveyed through external sources, they would surely have other contingency plans ready, long before they got this handle. If the people holding fast are the same disciples whose strings are far too tight for every other gang in the province to get a cut of the take... Wouldn't everyone already be in complete consensus?

First, open the market, throwing out a moderate share so that both the inside and the outside put in efforts together; the whip-wielding ones hidden behind still have their leverage ready.

"Hm..."

"Listen closely."

Baimang reached out and took the teacup Ning was holding. In the shocked and bewildered eyes of all the present, the man tilted his head back and drank his fill.

"Excellent tea."

Ning: "...."

"...I understand the situation."

Baimang naturally put the teacup aside, "You can prepare the main card and cast it at the moment she plays the incident."

"It's normal for profit be used against every kind of exchange... so let her do as she wishes. Yes, the arbitration at Huo Yanglai Hall also considers keeping the level of attraction."

"...Huh?"

Ning stood frozen, seeing the bright and piercing line of sight of Baimang.

"Huo Yanglai Hall?"

"Including... those affairs of my realm as well? Is there any other information?"

"...No."

Feeling shaken, still putting down his remaining questions at the moment.

All right. Each one was already mentally weighing their own ways of profit and loss from it.

"The matter... is set."

"The participating assembly should handle Baimang's "defense matters" and continue keeping the details confidential."

Zhao Yuhe then revealed a harmless smile again, signaling to the sidelines.

"For a second... if it truly reaches a certain, most extreme stage, 'our Yipinxian side' will ensure your physical comfort."

Mhm.

'Better to keep him as an outer disciple on the surface, for absolute propriety... However, hearing him say that... I haven't finished those "side works," and want to pull this Baimang to Zhong'an Province.

Wait—is this even possible?

Following the path of wine and women—in two years of accumulating money, no shame in coming. Or a different route, relying on power for profit. Hah, that kind of luck has yet to have shown itself in front of my eyes.

Over Jingzhou are the Leopard and Tiger armies deployed, in three ranks blocking, sealed with orders of steel. That outsider among you all can open a gate of such heavy weight with a bare-faced mouth. Dream on. Let them sink together in this matter.

"My apologies."

However, in the instant that Zhao Yuhe gave the words out, Ning cried out to interrupt. As all heads present turned, they saw him point to the teapot at the side. "...That's the cup I drank from."

"And Baimang young master just drank... at the lip I drank."

So what? And it's none of anybody else's concern!

"Hm. Indeed," Ning solemnly glanced about at the assembled gazes, a light laugh then emerging: "Both ends are not clean. To bring up this at the table is truly an indecent manner... "

"I am merely minding you to wash it well after using it, young master Baimang."

"... Sure."

This has nothing to do with being at the table.

You've got to be crazy? At that, those calm to the extreme expressions around the table burst out an instance or two of laughter, all of these fine sages feigning it as nothing more than an understanding, subtly changing with this peculiar...

That light chill of an intent to vie, unknowingly woven in.

"Good... since all have convened, then the whole shall split apart."

...

Yet, in the shadowy dark of the room, voices of secretive arrangement could still be heard murmuring together.

And Bai Ming and the girl left the compound.

At the door, Yuan Ningjing and the girl handed something to him—

"Before we arrive at the City God temple for the contract, my Lord should first allow me to handle a small matter in Jiang County, a minor complication."

After walking with them through the main street, arriving at the lodging under the lamp light, standing outside the open door, glancing sideways at Yuan Ningjing on one side, spoke.

"You also do things for me. Investigate the little history of Yipinxian and its present whereabouts of their treasured properties in Zhong'an."

And he watched Yuan Ningjing walk off in the light before eventually turning his head—

Ning Fuyan was leaning against the pillar, their eyes met.

"...She said those messages do not exactly match what I want to know either," the girl hugged the pillar with all four limbs like an adorable little animal, blabbering in a bright voice.

"So I find you. If you tell me, that'd save me money..."

"...Okay."

Baimang raised a hand, gently scratching the little head.

With one small tale, and at midnight's hour, the wick he uses to light the mirror sits bright.

"...To be able to obtain those spoils, those powers and influences and treasure mountains... who's to know of their true and fake beyond how well hidden."

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