Chapter 98. A Life Lived Thus

After handing the antidote to Xintong, Guchun immediately rushed out without a moment's rest. Of course, it was to capture Zhu Yezhen, who was hiding somewhere.

Xintong gave the antidote to Feng Yanchao and moved him into a room.

Feng Yanchao's dark complexion gradually turned rosy.

Despite using various medicines, there had been no improvement, but with just one antidote, such a change!

The answer that 'there must be an antidote for poison' was deeply ingrained in his mind.

Looking at Feng Yanchao's deeply sleeping face, a mix of emotions welled up inside him.

Feng Yanchao was someone who had made him feel like family.

He had only thought of them as close friends, but seeing him on the brink of death made his fists clench involuntarily.

If he had died without obtaining the antidote, it would have been unbearable.

'Just wait and see...'

Even just thinking about Feng Yanchao and Zhu Yezhen being bullied by Tuo Gao Ming made him unable to sit still, let alone the fact that they had tried to kill him?

Lian Ji gritted his teeth.

***

After returning to the Four Seas Merchant Guild, Fangzhou Shang Zaiyong summoned the chief manager, Li Huashui.

"Guild Master, did you call for me?"

"Huashui."

Li Huashui looked at Shang Zaiyong with a startled expression.

Whenever the guild master, Shang Zaiyong, spoke so subtly, it was almost certain that someone had shed blood.

Merchants weren't just about business.

To nurture such a massive merchant guild, one had to go through bloody internal struggles with rivals.

This was why many powerful clients of assassination groups were merchants.

Minor matters were handled by Zhu Yezhen, who came from a wandering knight background, but major issues were the responsibility of the chief manager, Li Huashui.

"Do you know what happened at Longxi Tower?"

"Yes, Brother. I heard that assassins tried to kill the Feng family's bodyguard."

Li Huashui also called Shang Zaiyong 'Brother' instead of 'Guild Master.'

"Today, an old man and a young man from the Tuo family came and insulted and intimidated me."

"Really?"

"The old man crippled my five bodyguards. The Tuo family and the young man treated me like a dog..."

"Such madness! They should be sent to the execution ground immediately..."

"The old man is not someone the execution ground can handle."

Just thinking about the last display of his flying prowess was enough to understand.

"Is it that serious? Then?"

"Only a sect on par with the Seven Demon Sect can deal with that old man."

Li Huashui frowned.

There weren't many sects that would take on such a job.

"Should we meet the Black Society?"

"The Black Society is also out of the question."

Li Huashui was taken aback by Shang Zaiyong's firm response.

The Black Society was an alliance of evil forces in Kaifeng, capable of swallowing a minor sect. Yet, Shang Zaiyong said even they couldn't handle it.

"Brother, the largest evil force in Kaifeng is the Black Society. If the Black Society can't do it..."

Where else could they turn?

"Famous Sect. We need at least ten cavalrymen to deal with them."

"As you know, to get help from the Famous Sect..."

"We need to become one of their members."

"I understand. The Seven Demon Sect will look down on us."

Most merchant guilds maintained a neutral stance, believing that money had no distinction between good and evil. In fact, that was the right way to do business.

But what could they do?

The only place to vent his grievances was the Famous Sect...

After a moment's thought, Li Huashui nodded.

"I will follow Brother's wishes. People will understand that the Famous Sect is the trend these days."

"Go to the Moonlight Hall of the Yanxia Sect."

"Do you mean the hall built on the site of the Walong Hall?"

"Yes, if you mention that the Feng and Tuo families are from the Walong Hall, they won't refuse."

"Understood."

"Feng Yanchao might recover and leave after taking the antidote, so we need to act quickly."

"Yes, I'll be as swift as the wind."

After Li Huashui left, Shang Zaiyong took out a promissory note and fiddled with it.

Next, it was time to deal with the Heavenly Fragrance Inn.

'Zhe Daoguang should still be alive...'

The best person to handle Zhu Yezhen was Zhe Daoguang. He needed to be persuaded, and if he asked someone else, it would only lead to rumors.

***

That night.

Shang Zaiyong secretly visited the Heavenly Fragrance Inn.

Zhe Daoguang glared at Shang Zaiyong with a murderous look.

"I heard you betrayed me. What nerve do you have to come here? I appreciate the effort you saved me, but that doesn't change anything..."

Shang Zaiyong extended the promissory note to Zhe Daoguang.

"What is it?"

"Can't you see? I said I would make a request yesterday. This is the advance payment."

Zhe Daoguang took the promissory note and checked the amount.

Ten thousand taels of silver. The unexpected sum left Zhe Daoguang speechless for a moment.

Shang Zaiyong, observing his expression, spoke in a subtle tone.

"The request is a very simple task. From your perspective, it's like killing a dog. In fact, the money can be seen as compensation for what Zhu Yezhen did. I'll give you another ten thousand taels when the job is done."

"Are you trying to play some trick?"

Despite his doubts, Zhe Daoguang showed interest.

It was more profitable to get a little more money than to kill Shang Zaiyong.

"Deal with Zhu Yezhen."

Zhe Daoguang looked at Shang Zaiyong with a strange expression.

Zhu Yezhen was Shang Zaiyong's close confidant, who had handled tough jobs for him.

Why ask to kill him at this point?

"Heh heh heh. Interesting. There's no benefit in his death, yet you want him killed? Especially now when an unknown expert is looking for him?"

For a moment, Zhe Daoguang thought Shang Zaiyong was trying to pin everything on him. The request was so bizarre and dangerous.

"There's no way you'll suffer any loss from this. If something goes wrong, you can always sell me out. What's there to worry about? Unless you're too scared of the old man to do it."

Shang Zaiyong subtly poked at Zhe Daoguang's pride.

As expected, Zhe Daoguang flared up and spoke.

"What nonsense! The old man is indeed a powerful expert, but I'm not the type to cower in fear. If you were afraid, you wouldn't have risen to your position, right?"

"You're right. I was also afraid to meet you, but I came anyway. It's because I've lived my life this way. What about you? Will you deal with Zhu Yezhen and get another ten thousand taels, or are you satisfied with just ten thousand?"

"..."

Despite Shang Zaiyong's coaxing, Zhe Daoguang didn't readily agree.

The ruthless hands of the old man came to mind.

The old man's violence wasn't just to scare; it was filled with killing intent, which the body remembered. Zhe Daoguang knew he had narrowly escaped.

Thus, he was hesitant to get involved with the old man.

But on the other hand, there was a rebellion against his own cowardice.

There were many experts in the world.

He had encountered countless people stronger than himself and survived.

"Hmph! I don't know where Zhu Yezhen is hiding. How do you expect me to kill him? Even if he shows up, will it really be my turn?"

"Hehe. Did you forget that I said it would be easy at first? I wouldn't have come to you if it were difficult. I don't act without a plan."

"Do you know where Zhu Yezhen is?"

"Not just know. On the day the second assassin died, I was the one who moved him to a secret place. Are you decided now?"

A smug smile appeared on Shang Zaiyong's face.

As the guild master of a merchant guild, he prepared everything and set multiple traps. Unlike ignorant martial artists, he knew that brute force wasn't everything.

"Huh! You're a cunning old fox. Why do you want to kill him? There's no benefit in it, right?"

"I just want to punish him for disgracing the Four Seas Merchant Guild."

"Pfft! What a despicable man. Do you expect me to believe that?"

"Whether you believe it or not is up to you. So, will you take this easy job? Or not?"

"I'll handle the one who caused me harm. Where is he hiding now?"

"He's hiding at the Li family residence in Youchuan Town. It's a property of the chief manager, but it hasn't been managed for a long time. No one in the guild knows about it. Observe the surroundings for a day, and when it's quiet, go there."

"You sent him far away."

Zhe Daoguang looked at Shang Zaiyong with a disgusted expression.

Youchuan Town was more than a day's journey even on horseback.

This alone showed how meticulous Shang Zaiyong was.

***

Tuo Gao Ming and Xintong failed to find Zhu Yezhen and returned empty-handed.

Tuo Gao Ming glanced at the peacefully sleeping Feng Yanchao and then spoke to Lian Ji.

"We searched every inn, brothel, and gambling den, but there was no sign of Zhu Yezhen."

Xintong added,

"Master, I also met people who knew Zhu Yezhen. No one has seen him since the day Tuo's brother killed the assassin. It seems he fled as soon as things got complicated."

"Old Xintong, let's beat up a man named Zhang Wenhao tomorrow, with Shang Zaiyong as a witness."

Xintong nodded.

"Shang Zaiyong seems suspicious, but it seems Zhang Wenhao did hire the assassins. If he confesses, we'll bury him alive. What do you think, Master?"

"Tsk tsk! Listen to what this old man says. Are people seeds? What do you mean by burying?"

"Hehe, that's just a figure of speech. What do you want to do, Master?"

"It's best to leave it to Brother Feng. Since he tried to kill Brother Feng, Brother Feng should take revenge."

"Ah, I see. I was shortsighted."

Tuo Gao Ming nodded, agreeing that it made sense.

Thus, Zhang Wenhao's fate was handed over to the sleeping Feng Yanchao.

The next morning.

Tuo Gao Ming rushed to the fabric shop and brought back Zhang Wenhao, who was in the store.

Meanwhile, Xintong sent one of the brothel's bodyguards to the Four Seas Merchant Guild to summon Shang Zaiyong. Despite his busy schedule, Shang Zaiyong arrived without delay.

The beating was over before it even began.

When Shang Zaiyong mentioned what Zhu Yezhen had told him, Zhang Wenhao prostrated himself on the ground.

"Please forgive me! I committed a grave sin! I acted rashly under the influence of alcohol! But I didn't ask to kill Brother Feng! I only asked to get my woman back! I swear!"

At this, Feng Yanchao, who had been listening from the veranda, threw a vase.

Clang.

"Damn you! How is that different from asking to kill a husband? I've never seen such a despicable man!"

This time, the enraged Tuo Gao Ming stomped on Zhang Wenhao.

"You scum! It's a capital offense to look at my sister-in-law, let alone hire someone to kill Brother Feng? Did you think you could live after that? Die! Die!"

Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.

"Ouch! Please spare me! Ah! Please spare me! Ugh! Guild Master! Help me!"

Despite the loud screams, Tuo Gao Ming's kicks didn't stop.

He was about to beat him to death.

Feng Yanchao, unable to bear it, stopped Tuo Gao Ming.

"Tuo, that's enough."

Only then did Tuo Gao Ming stop kicking, but he was still breathing heavily, his anger not fully subsided.

"Brother, this man should be beaten to death. He tried to kill you."

"Ha! I know. But I didn't die, did I?"

"What are you saying? Lian Ji saved you in time. If not, you would have died. Let's not leave any loose ends. Is there a guarantee that you'll be lucky next time? Think about your sister-in-law and the children..."

Before Tuo Gao Ming finished speaking,

Feng Yanchao wobbled down and beheaded Zhang Wenhao with the saber he was holding.