Plum Blossom Monster!

"What? Six hundred taels?!"

Inside the inner courtyard of the Li residence, upon hearing his son's words, Li Ru slammed his palm down onto the desk so fiercely that a blue-and-white porcelain teacup was knocked to the ground and shattered into pieces.

The Li family had been merchants for two generations. Originally without any extravagant expenses, their accumulated wealth was quite substantial. However, ever since Li Shaoyun started practicing martial arts, various purchases of resources, bribes, and social dealings had incurred massive expenditures.

In the four months since the beginning of the year, they had indeed reaped a considerable amount of silver, but it still could not withstand such relentless consumption.

Li Ru somewhat regretted letting Li Shaoyun pursue martial arts. He wanted to tell Li Shaoyun to give it up, but feeling that his son still had a chance of passing the provincial military examinations, he was utterly unwilling to let it go just like that. For a time, his mind was filled with vexation and conflict, and in the end, he could only repeatedly pound the table to vent his frustration.

Madam Li stepped forward to comfort Li Ru. "Things have reached this point. Venting won't change anything; we still need to figure out a solution."

Unlike Li Ru, who was a shrewd merchant, Madam Li had originally been a maid in a prominent household in the county town. She had learned to read and write alongside her masters and was sensible and well-mannered. After marrying into the Li family, she managed the household in perfect order. She was renowned in Wuqiao Town as a virtuous wife and helper, highly praised by local elders and gentry.

Perhaps for this reason, Li Ru generally listened to Madam Li's advice on matters not directly involving money.

After soothing Li Ru, Madam Li turned to Li Shaoyun and asked, "Did you offend this new deacon?"

Li Shaoyun carefully reviewed the entire process and finally shook his head. "I stayed at the Blood Ridge Black Market for four months, and today was the first time I met the new deacon. Throughout that time, I was always diligent and hardworking, and I definitely did not offend him. Perhaps... this new deacon is at odds with Zhang Biao, and seeing that I had bribed Zhang Biao but not him, he gave me the cold shoulder."

Madam Li and Li Ru exchanged a glance, accepting this speculation.

A new emperor brings a new court.

Although a deacon was the lowest-ranking manager in the Fierce Wolf Gate, he held real power. To the Li family... he was an existence that absolutely could not be offended.

Seeing Li Ru hesitate, Li Shaoyun gritted his teeth and said, "Father, Mother. Please give this child one more opportunity. As long as I earn the new deacon's favor and obtain martial arts resources, I will work twice as hard and definitely bring back the title of a military licentiate for our family in three years."

Li Ru still looked somewhat uneasy and hesitant, so Madam Li gently pushed his shoulder. "I see that Shaoyun has the aptitude for martial arts, and he's just this one step away. We must secure a bright future for the child."

Li Ru grunted and squirmed uncomfortably for a moment before finally making a desperate decision. "Alright, I'll have Chen Yuan take a few antiques to the county town to be sold off later. I'll scrape together these six hundred taels for you."

With tearful eyes, Li Shaoyun said, "Thank you, Father."

Realizing how deeply his parents cared for him, Li Shaoyun resolved that no matter how difficult the new deacon made things for him, he would lower his posture to please the man in order to secure his future.

No matter how great the humiliation he might suffer, he had to endure it.

***

Meanwhile, Xie An's days continued to be peaceful.

With Zhang Lin's sustained and vigorous efforts to clear out the bandits around the Blood Ridge Black Market, the safety index of the market steadily improved. Naturally, business grew increasingly prosperous as a result.

Xie An's relationship with his subordinates also grew more harmonious. Among them were a few stubborn troublemakers; after Xie An's repeated reprimands proved fruitless, he had Liang Zhi break their legs.

From then on, no one ever dared to show the slightest disrespect to Xie An, the new deacon.

Everything was gradually improving.

Practicing martial arts, sipping tea, chatting idly with colleagues, and occasionally going out on patrol to assert his authority.

For the elderly Xie An, he thoroughly enjoyed this peaceful and steady life.

On a morning three days later.

Xie An was practicing the Floating Sun Saber Technique in the courtyard.

Suddenly, a knock sounded at the door. Xie An covered his face with a mask and called out, "Come in."

As the heavy gate was pushed open, Liang Zhi walked in carrying a cloth bag.

Xie An took the cloth bag and opened it to take a look.

Silver radiating a bright, silvery luster.

A full six hundred taels.

Xie An beamed with joy. "Very good, Li Shaoyun still knows how things work."

Liang Zhi chimed in, "Young Master Li is fairly prompt when it comes to getting things done."

After saying this, Liang Zhi took a ten-tael silver ingot from his inner pocket and presented it to Xie An. "Young Master Li also sent me ten taels of silver, but your subordinate feels unworthy of it and dares not accept."

Xie An glanced at Liang Zhi, his estimation of the man rising a notch. "Keep it."

Liang Zhi had deeply desired to accept it, but fearing that Xie An was testing him, he equivocated, "Your subordinate relies on Deacon Lord for our livelihood, so naturally, I understand the importance of repaying kindness and dare not accept private gains."

Xie An smiled, his tone suddenly shifting as a sharp glint flashed in his eyes. "If I say you can take it, then you can take it."

Detecting the certainty in Xie An's gaze, Liang Zhi accepted the silver, cupped his fists, and said, "Thank you, Deacon."

Xie An waved his hand, signaling Liang Zhi to withdraw.

Over the past few months, Liang Zhi had performed his duties diligently under his command without any disloyal thoughts. He possessed strong administrative capabilities and understood social nuances, making him exceptionally useful and handy.

Since he himself had taken six hundred taels, it was only right that his subordinate received ten taels.

In fact, Xie An felt that given Liang Zhi's performance, giving him a bit more would also be entirely reasonable. However, Xie An did not open that floodgate.

On one hand, if the gate of leniency were opened too easily, it would easily foster a culture of corruption among subordinates.

On the other hand, if he truly wanted to bestow favor upon Liang Zhi, now was not the time. He should wait until later, bring some gifts and silver, and visit Liang Zhi's seriously ill elderly mother; that would truly make the man feel deeply grateful and loyal to him.

Xie An knew that if he wanted to firmly establish his footing in the Fierce Wolf Gate, he had to cultivate his own trusted confidants!

Through months of observation, Xie An felt that Liang Zhi was quite capable.

Thus, Liang Zhi would be the very first confidant Xie An intended to nurture.

Xie An contentedly put away the silver. "Now I have the money to commission a heavy saber. Only when I wield a heavy saber can I unleash the true power of the Floating Sun Saber Technique."

There was a blacksmith's shop permanently stationed in the Blood Ridge Black Market, and it remained open during the day.

That made things much simpler.

After a simple breakfast, just as Xie An stepped outside, he ran into Zhang Lin, who was returning from a patrol.

Seeing the worried expression on Zhang Lin's face, Xie An couldn't help asking, "Brother Zhang, what has you looking so downcast?"

Zhang Lin leaned his blood-stained saber against the doorframe and sighed, "It's all because of the Plum Blossom Fiend. Yesterday, the Plum Blossom Fiend extended his reach to our Blood Ridge Black Market..."

Through Zhang Lin's account, Xie An learned what had happened: A stall owner carrying eight hundred taels of merchandise money was waylaid and killed on his way home after packing up his stall at dawn. A red wooden plum blossom had been left at the scene.

Logically speaking, a red wooden plum blossom didn't prove much.

However, ever since Wei Dian was severely injured by the Plum Blossom Fiend, a series of tragic murders targeting wealthy merchants had occurred across neighboring towns, with a plum blossom left at every single crime scene.

People naturally connected the plum blossoms with the Plum Blossom Fiend; whenever a wooden plum blossom was left behind at a scene, everyone assumed it was the work of the Plum Blossom Fiend, creating widespread panic.

In the end, Zhang Lin sighed dejectedly, "I strengthened the patrols around here day and night, and managed to clear out nearby bandits to revive the black market's business. But now, panic has broken out because of a single Plum Blossom Fiend, turning all my efforts to naught. A scoundrel like the Plum Blossom Fiend truly deserves to die."

Even Division Leader Wei had been wounded by the Plum Blossom Fiend; knowing he was no match for the fiend himself, Zhang Lin could only vent his gloomy frustration here.

Hearing this, Xie An's heart tightened as well. "Brother Zhang, could you let me have a look at that plum blossom?"

Zhang Lin pulled out a wooden plum blossom coated in red pigment from his pocket and handed it to Xie An. "This is the thing. Now everyone is terrified when they see it. I'm afraid the black market's business is going to slump once again."

Xie An examined the plum blossom for a moment without finding any clues, so he slipped it into his pocket and comforted Zhang Lin, "You've worked hard patrolling through the night, Brother Zhang; go get some rest early. Leave the matter of the Plum Blossom Fiend to me; I'll think of something."

Through months of interaction, the pecking order had basically been established: Xie An as the head of the black market, and Zhang Lin as the second-in-command. Logically, with such an incident occurring, Xie An ought to step forward and take full charge and responsibility.

Yet Xie An made no grandiose promises, nor did he say he would immediately go out patrolling alongside Zhang Lin.

It wasn't that Xie An was trying to shirk responsibility; matters like this also depended on one's capability.

The Plum Blossom Fiend was powerful enough to severely injure Wei Dian; if he were to rashly rush into battle... that wouldn't be a matter of taking responsibility, but rather throwing his life away.

At the very least, he needed to gather some intelligence first.

After parting ways with Zhang Lin, Xie An headed straight for the blacksmith's shop in the black market, a silent sense of urgency growing within his heart.

Forging a heavy saber had become an urgent priority.

Xie An had no desire to see the business of the Blood Ridge Black Market decline during his tenure. That would only make those above him perceive him as incompetent, which in turn would harm his prospects and prevent him from cultivating in peace.