Chapter 137 – 125: Tremor
Da Xuan Calendar, year 1427, June.
In Yu State’s Yu County, there was a severe drought and disturbances, stretching over half a month.
…
Amidst pitch darkness,
warmth rippled as if bathing in the spring breeze.
Suddenly a lamp was lit, dispelling the nearby darkness, and a jade hand placed the lamp to the side.
“It’s huge…”
Xu Hongyu was slightly stunned.
In the cellar before her sat an enormous block of Flame Jade, about seven feet long, three feet wide, and nearly a foot thick.
Even for her, a direct descendant of the Yu Family who had been spoiled since birth and had seen many treasures and rarities, this was the first time she had encountered such a colossal piece of top-grade Flame Jade. Even if it was sold off slowly in pieces, it would be worth hundreds of thousands of taels.
“Well, that’s pretty much the situation, what do you think about sneaking it into Yu City?”
Chen Mu asked from aside.
Since it involved the He Family, there was no need to hide too much from Xu Hongyu, especially since in a few days when the He Family noted the disappearance of He Guangzong and He Mingzhen, it would certainly stir up some turmoil; in conjunction with events like wilderness mountain movements and landslides, Xu Hongyu would be able to guess that he was behind it.
The main issue was that Chen Mu could sneak this block of Flame Jade back to Yu County, but he had no way to quietly get such a massive block into the city; after all, he wasn’t yet so powerful that he could carry such a heavy object and still scale walls.
That wasn’t martial arts; it was an Immortal Technique.
“Let me think…”
After briefly losing focus, Xu Hongyu soon regained her senses and began to ponder silently, quickly coming up with an idea, and she exclaimed to Chen Mu, “I have a plan, we just need to do this… then this… and it will be done.”
Chen Mu nodded slightly after listening.
He couldn’t manage it, but Xu Hongyu could; after all, she was a direct descendant of the Yu Family, and even the methods to quietly bring it into the city were not limited to one, and this involved power, not martial prowess.
After explaining, Xu Hongyu pondered again, saying, “However, we can’t move it for now; the disturbances have not yet ended, and in Yu City, every family is on high alert, with patrols everywhere at night. It should first stay in An Yu County for some time, then we can transport it back. I do have a safe place; if you trust me, you can keep it there first.”
Chen Mu chuckled, responding, “There’s no need to question trust between you and me, not to mention that the esteemed young lady of the Yu Family wouldn’t covet just a small piece of Flame Jade.”
Continue your story on m
Although this Flame Jade was worth at least hundreds of thousands of taels, an enormous sum for Chen Mu, for one of the four great families of Yu City, governing tens of millions in Yu County, it was probably just a medium value, maybe slightly higher.
“Hmm.”
Xu Hongyu nodded gently, adding, “But your revealing of the Xun Wind Artistic Conception this time may cause some waves in Yu County. Previously, you hadn’t directly entered the highest echelons of the other families’ focus, but this time, whether it’s the He Family or the Xue and Xie Families, their attention will be on you, watching you more closely.”
“Eventually, I was bound to be known.”
Chen Mu shook his head slightly, then looking towards Xu Hongyu, he said, “After this, the Demon-Slaying Office might promote me to the White-Clothed Guard, but I still want to use your merits to exchange for Bone Tempering Pills, which means I’ll need your help again.”
Although he was likely to directly become a White-Clothed Guard, he was now in the view of several families. According to the families’ intelligence, he had recently broken through to the Tendon Changing Realm, so maintaining that perception, using Xu Hongyu, who had reached Tendon Changing Perfection, to exchange for Bone Tempering Pills would be flawless.
“Between us, there’s no need to talk about helping or not helping…”
Xu Hongyu quietly spoke, suddenly feeling her words mirrored Chen Mu’s earlier, and she momentarily felt a peculiar emotion rise within her and involuntarily shifted her gaze away.
Chen Mu watched Xu Hongyu, and though they were in a dim cellar, the lamp illuminated the Flame Jade and allowed him to clearly see Xu Hongyu’s face. He was somewhat surprised to discover that her porcelain, jade-like complexion seemed to have taken on a faint, barely perceptible blush. If his vision wasn’t many times sharper than the ordinary, he might not have noticed it at all.
Surprised, he couldn’t help but grin.
He had always felt her name, Hongyu, somewhat out of place, as she seemed more like a piece of cold White Jade. Now he realized that the ‘Hongyu’ was meant to be seen here, though the color of the jade still seemed too faint; he wondered if he would ever see a more vivid shade of jade in the future?
…
The drought gradually receded, and the disturbances gradually ceased.
Reports and intelligence from around Yu County streamed into the Prefecture City like snowflakes, each finding its way among the various families within the Inner City, until news from An Yu County spread, eventually causing some shakes.
The He Family.
In a luxurious and opulent hall, decorated with jade, gold, and silver, and with doors made of valuable gold-threaded wood intricately carved with complex designs and patterns.
Deputy Governor of the Smelting Bureau, He Guangxun, was currently standing respectfully to the side, while seated on the Taishi Chair was an old man with long gray whiskers, holding a purple Dragonwood cane, appearing to be around his fifties or sixties.
He was the current patriarch of the He Family, representing the second generation,
He Zhengya!
He was also the father of He Guangxun, He Guangzong, and others, appearing to be in his fifties or sixties but actually nearing seventy. Despite his age, he had once consumed a very rare spiritual treasure that preserved Qi-Blood, and his cultivation was at the complete Realm of Bone Tempering. Practicing the Gen Mountain Artistic Conception, he stood unyielding.
Unfortunately, despite his attempts to maintain his realm, he was near retirement.
However, the transition of leadership was delayed as none of his sons, including He Guangxun or He Guangzong, were capable of assuming the patriarch’s duties, necessitating the patriarch to hold his position while considering passing the responsibilities to another family branch.