Chapter 73

" Ding Dong! System update complete! "

" Ding Dong! Congratulations, Host, for deepening your understanding of the essence of villainy in shameless scheming. Your fawning when bribing superiors is truly disgusting. Reward: 300 villainy points! Please continue to work hard! "

" Ding Dong! Congratulations, Host, for deepening your understanding of the essence of villainy in ruthlessness. Your actions in exterminating a family and cutting off all roots are commendable. Reward: 8,000 villainy points! Please continue to work hard! "

" Ding Dong! Congratulations, Host, for understanding the essence of villainy in forming cliques. Remember, the system has a currency exchange function. Reward: 1,000 villainy points! Please continue to work hard! "

" Ding Dong! Host currently has a total of 13,900 villainy points. Please continue to work hard! "

The Wang family indeed had a substantial fortune, with grain, land, shops, and treasures in abundance. It took Wu Fan until late at night to verify everything. After leading the people from the Yingyang Hundred-Household Office to a tavern for a feast, he returned to the temporary residence alone. Just as he lay down, the system announcements bombarded him, jolting him awake from his drowsy state.

Entering the system space, Wu Fan blurted out, "13,900 points? That's so little?"

" Ding Dong! Congratulations, Host, for deepening your understanding of the essence of villainy in insatiable greed. If you want to round up the number, just say it. Reward: 100 villainy points! Please continue to work hard! "

Being called out on his thoughts, Wu Fan was not embarrassed but rather smug.

" Ding Dong! Congratulations, Host, for understanding the essence of villainy in shamelessness. The more shameless one is, the more invincible. Reward: 1,000 villainy points! Please continue to work hard! "

Wu Fan shrugged and said, "What's the big deal about being shameless? You scold me while still rewarding me. Are you happy?"

" Ding Dong... "

The system seemed speechless, falling silent.

Wu Fan lay on the ground in the system space, his eyes vacant as he pondered something.

Although he had 15,000 villainy points, after two major actions, Wu Fan's ambitions had grown even larger. He no longer cared about the 15,000 points, focusing instead on the valuable items worth tens of thousands or even hundreds of thousands of points. It was like eating; he was no longer satisfied with "plain buns" and wanted to eat "meat buns." In the past, he ate buns, but they were just dough-filled... This was a significant increase in ambition.

After some time, Wu Fan suddenly sprang up, pacing around the system space, pondering, "Look! I joined the Maitreya Sect and then betrayed them, earning a large amount of villainy points. Now, my task is to eliminate bandits. Should I join them, form a brotherhood, and then betray them?"

" Ding Dong! Good idea! "

" Clap! "

Clapping his hands, Wu Fan laughed, as if making a decision.

" Ding Dong! When taking action, please consider all aspects... For example, you can refer to Song Jiang from your original world! Don't just think about betraying your comrades."

Wu Fan's eyes lit up, instantly understanding.

Who is Song Jiang? A big shot in the "Water Margin," from Yuncheng, Shandong, known as "Timely Rain" and "Black Third Brother." In the underworld, just mentioning his name, who wouldn't know? Many heroes would bow in respect upon hearing his name! In reality, he was a despicable person, often helping criminals and leaking information while in office, and even engaging in so-called "righteous generosity," a prime example of betrayal. Later, the death of Chao Gai on Liangshan seemed suspicious...

Of course.

Wu Fan was not learning how to secretly kill his leader. He was learning Song Jiang's ability to navigate between the official and underworld, maximizing benefits on one side and building a reputation on the other. Ideally, he would sell others and still have them count his money for him!

With a cold laugh, Wu Fan exited the system space.

Unexpectedly...

Just as he exited the system space, Wu Fan felt someone nearby!

" Whoosh! "

Quickly drawing a dagger from the fourteen-form saber case beside him, Wu Fan silently stabbed without hesitation, regardless of who it was.

" Clang! "

The sound of metal clashing followed.

Wu Fan opened his eyes and, in the dim light, exclaimed in surprise, "Eunuch Man?"

The young eunuch Man Ning held a bladeless piece of metal between his slender index and middle fingers, using it to block Wu Fan's attack.

" Hmph! "

Dissatisfied, the young eunuch Man Ning pouted, looking at Wu Fan with a scolding expression, "I've been calling you until I'm hoarse! You didn't respond and even attacked me with a knife..."

Wu Fan quickly sheathed the dagger, smiling apologetically, "I'm sorry, really sorry! Eunuch Man, I have a strange illness since childhood. Sometimes I'm like a dead person, very peculiar... I can't explain what it is... Hey! I thought someone was out to get me!" He then changed the subject, "Why are you here?"

In Luoyang, the Yellow Gate Guard had investigated Wu Fan. As the third head of the Yellow Gate Guard, the young eunuch Man Ning had heard about Wu Fan's "strange illness." He nodded in understanding but then pouted, sitting to the side and remaining silent for a long time.

Without needing the young eunuch Man Ning to speak, Wu Fan had a good idea of what had happened. It must have been an unsuccessful investigation, with nothing found.

Sure enough.

The young eunuch Man Ning pouted and said, "I found nothing. What about you? Any news?"

Wu Fan wiped his eyes and sighed, "Not much. I only know that a grain tax ship from Ji Province was hijacked, carrying about two million taels of silver."

The young eunuch Man Ning sat in a chair, chin in hand, looking lazy like a cat, "You usually have plenty of ideas! Think of something!"

Wu Fan frowned slightly. He had thought about it. After a moment, he said, "The empire's grain tax ships have always been heavily guarded and secretly transported. To hijack one and hide it without anyone knowing... I think at least two conditions must be met. First, there must be an inside man. Second, the other side must have a large number of people. Without these two conditions, it would be impossible to succeed."

The young eunuch Man Ning looked up, confused, "Speak in plain language!"

Wu Fan rolled his eyes, frustrated, "My point is, Eunuch Man, you need to contact Eunuch Luo and investigate the people guarding the grain tax ship from Ji Province. Also, don't focus on the officials! Target the local aristocrats, merchants, and bandits. Only they have the manpower to pull this off! What do you think?"

The young eunuch Man Ning nodded in understanding, standing up, "Oh! I get it! I get it! That's what you mean! " He clicked his tongue and looked at Wu Fan, "Then you continue to handle the bandits. By the way, I have a piece of news for you. It's said that the Seven Provinces Bandit Alliance is holding a meeting soon, in the Xingyang area, at the Heaven's Gate Fort. They didn't hold it earlier or later, but right when the empire lost the grain tax ship. Don't you find that strange?"

After saying his piece, the young eunuch Man Ning twisted his slim waist and left with a flourish...

Watching the slender, seductive figure leave, Wu Fan's lips twitched, and he knocked his forehead, pacing back and forth in the room, unable to sleep.

...

PS1: Request for favorites, recommendations, and likes, everything.

PS2: Recommend a friend's book, fresh and new, [bookid=3351193, bookname=《英雄的百万种死法》]. [Note]: This book is also known as 《主角的百万种吐槽》 and 《叫我吐槽大魔王》!

PS3: Thank you to my book friends, Jun Xinxin Xile Kang, for the 588-point small red envelope. Thank you to Guichu Niu, Baobei Gongzi, and book friend 1401032*** for the 100-point small red envelope. Thanks.