Murong Shengrui turned and left. As he reached the doorway, Yin Zhu felt her body regain movement. She quickly checked the person on the bed, ensuring they were unharmed, before looking out the window. Murong Shengrui's figure was merely a blur. Yin Zhu had seen her young lady use this same movement technique.
Considering Yingxue's behavior, Yin Zhu was now certain that this person had a close relationship with her young lady. However, this person appeared to be quite young, not yet twenty. Could this be her young lady's admirer? No, they used the same martial art, meaning they were from the same sect?
No, her young lady’s martial arts were personally taught by the General and the State Preceptor. Could this person also be a disciple of the State Preceptor? No, the State Preceptor only had one disciple!
"Wei Wuji, let's go." When Murong Shengrui emerged, Wei Wuji and Wuyou were locked in a fierce battle. Hearing Murong Shengrui's command, Wei Wuji immediately disengaged, creating distance between himself and Wuyou.
Murong Shengrui turned and walked away, Wei Wuji following closely.
"Benefactor Murong."
"Old monk, out of respect for your relationship with her, I do not wish to make things difficult for you. Or do you believe you have the ability to stop me?" Murong Shengrui asked with chilling intent.
"Amitabha, Benefactor Murong, this old monk merely wishes to say, let go of the past."
"Let go?" Murong Shengrui let out a cold laugh. "I hate the words 'let go' the most. The world is so cold, how dare she, how dare she so easily let go of me!"
"All is delusion, blessed are we, blessed are we."
Murong Shengrui glanced coldly at Wuyou, then turned away, saying in a low voice, "Old monk, tell me, if I were to kill everyone under heaven, would she come out to stop me?"
Wuyou watched Murong Shengrui's receding back, shaking his head incessantly. "Such karma!"
"Zen Master." Yingxue appeared behind Zen Master Wuyou. The bloodlust had vanished. To kill everyone under heaven, had Murong Shengrui gone mad?
"Send her a message. Things have already surpassed her expectations. I wonder if the fox can still tame the wolf cubs she raised."
"Zen Master, will he really kill many people?"
"This is not something for us to worry about. It is for the little fox to handle. She raised the wolf cubs herself, and she must bear the consequences, whether good or bad."
Zou Yang, as promised, delivered seven thousand dan of grain to Wen Mohan.
Seeing cartloads of grain, Wen Mohan's smile grew even more gentle. He promptly paid the silver, appearing to have both gained something and be pleased.
After Zou Yang left, the smile on Wen Mohan's lips gradually faded. This disaster relief silver, Zou Yang and his group would have to regurgitate it, after all, he wasn't the only one in Jiangzhou!
"My lord, our men have not discovered where Zou Yang and his group have hidden the silver."
"No matter where he hides it, it will be found."
"Then should we continue to follow them?"
"Yes, of course, we must play the part to the end." Wen Mohan ordered, "Distribute the grain to all disaster relief outposts. The work of post-disaster reconstruction must not be delayed. Speed up the process, the faster the better."
"Yes, my lord."
Wen Mohan did not use the Jiangzhou yamen as a base but established Yang County as the center for disaster relief, radiating outwards to surrounding areas. Yang County was currently undergoing post-disaster reconstruction, with guards and citizens working together enthusiastically.
Clearing silt and washing, demolishing and rebuilding, materials were continuously transported in. Almost everyone around Wen Mohan had been dispatched. Fortunately, the disaster-stricken people also participated, which helped to compensate for the shortage of manpower.
The western military camp, led by Commander Pang Tong, remained at ease. They had expected Wen Mohan to seek help due to his lack of manpower, but Wen Mohan had directly tasked the disaster victims with rebuilding the affected area.
To avoid suspicion, Zou Yang and others returned to the Chamber of Commerce with the silver. Pang Tong was already waiting at the Chamber of Commerce. Fifty thousand taels of silver, such a large sum, naturally required careful counting before being sent to the intended recipient.
"My lord, we have now obtained seventy thousand taels of silver. The Imperial Envoy still has thirty thousand taels remaining," Zou Yang said with a beaming smile. "If we sell the materials needed for post-disaster reconstruction at a high price to this ignorant noble young master, we will have one million taels of silver!" Su Dan Novel Network
"I thought this noble young master from the capital couldn't endure hardship, but I didn't expect him to be quite capable of it," Pang Tong said, picking up a silver ingot with a smile. "He's also a ruthless person. The suffering of the people is already severe enough, and yet he enslaves them for reconstruction. He's got the makings of a corrupt official."
"Indeed, it's to the point where our own workers are rendered useless," Zou Yang said, gazing at the gleaming silver with a smile that distorted his inherently unsavory features.
"Count it, escort it all away, and when the situation calms down, we'll send all the silver away." Pang Tong ordered his men to load the silver onto horse-drawn carriages. During this period, the city was filled with carts transporting supplies, so even numerous carriages leaving the city would not attract undue attention.
"Master, the fish has taken the bait."
Xiao Man was practicing calligraphy when she heard that the fish had taken the bait. A smile curved her lips. "Have you discovered his whereabouts?"
"No."
"Jiangzhou has fifty thousand troops. It is impossible for Mohan to suppress them alone. Moreover, Jiangzhou suffered from flooding, and although it appears severely damaged, the weather here is mild. After the flood subsides and new seedlings are planted, the autumn harvest will not be affected. Therefore, he must be nearby. Have you also not detected the whereabouts of the Silver Armor Army?"
"No."
"Release the news to the Tianji Pavilion. Seventy thousand taels of pure silver, our Prince Qin would surely like it."
Qin Xue smiled charmingly. "If our Prince Qin knew that Master was sending such a large sum of money to him, he would surely be overjoyed."
Xiao Man detected a hint of teasing in her words. "When we return to the capital, I will arrange for your marriage to A'Jin."
Qin Xue blushed. "Master is teasing me!"
"What, you don't like A'Jin?" Xiao Man looked a little troubled. "Could it be that you like Tian Que? If you like Tian Que, I'll arrange it, and tonight I'll let you..."
"Master!" Qin Xue exclaimed, both embarrassed and annoyed. "I'll go deliver the message."
Xiao Man watched Qin Xue flee in disarray and continued her calligraphy. Zhan Tianque entered from outside, coincidentally meeting Qin Xue. To his surprise, Qin Xue dodged him as if he were a ghost.
Zhan Tianque looked bewildered. "What's wrong with Qin Xue?"
"Oh, she's eager to get married."
"Eager to get married?" Zhan Tianque pondered. "Married to whom?"
"Who do you think she wants to marry?" Xiao Man asked with amusement.
"As long as she doesn't marry me," Zhan Tianque's words were blunt and indifferent. As long as it wasn't him, it didn't matter who she married.
"You truly remain single through your own merits!" Xiao Man couldn't help but complain. There were many women in the Crimson Feather Iron Cavalry, but this man had led the Crimson Feather Iron Cavalry for many years and still hadn't found a wife. Not only that, but he had turned the women in the Crimson Feather Iron Cavalry into brothers!