Chapter 281: A Transaction
Translator: Transn Editor: Transn
It was common for there to be men in Xiao Fengchai's room. However, it was unusual for this man to care about the whereabouts of the Dragon King.
Gu Shenwei quietly eavesdropped.
"Rest assured that as long as Dragon King is still in South city, my people will definitely find him. Maybe he will come to find us himself," Xiao Fengchai said.
"Don't be careless. I heard that the Dragon King is already surrounded. That gave me a shock. If he dies, our plans will fall apart," the man said.
"I don't think the Dragon King will die so easily. I have never seen a more paranoid and cautious person."
"Yes, this is for the best. I have to go."
"There are many people outside. Are you not afraid of being recognized?"
"The presence of many people is the best cover."
Gu Shenwei was hiding behind a table, with only a small oil lamp in the living room. He wore a black cape and stood against the wall, completely blending in with the shadows.
Another man wearing a cape emerged. Xiao Fengchai sent him to the stairs and watched him go downstairs, and then returned to the room. She did not notice that there was one more person in the living room.
After a while, the maid came up and said that two or three machetemen had arrived downstairs, but were sent away. Xiao Fengchai hummed and did not speak.
After the maid left, there was only Gu Shenwei left in the living room.
"Is the Dragon King planning to come in, or do you want me to go out?" Xiao Fengchai said softly. Her voice was clear in the quiet room.
Gu Shenwei walked into the bedroom. This time there was no macheteman hiding behind the door.
"I hope the Dragon King did not have to wait for long."
"Fortunately."
Seeing the Dragon King's wary face, Xiao Fengchai smiled slightly. "The Dragon King doesn't have to worry too much. The girl next door is one of my people. She told the maid that a strange guest had just arrived, and I guessed it was you."
Gu Shenwei had not heard the maid say this. The master and servant must have another way of communication. "I came to make a deal."
"I don't seem to see Lu Qiying's head," Xiao Fengchai said flatly. She had given him a proposal: The Dragon King was to kill Shopkeeper Lyu of Southwall Tavern. In return, she would provide him with a secure hideout.
"A different deal." Gu Shenwei refused Xiao Fengchai's initial proposal and would not change his mind just because he had nowhere else to go.
Xiao Fengchai put an arm on the table. Her body was stiff and she looked dignified, like the lady of a big family. She already knew how to deal with the Dragon King: There was no need for anything complicated, it was best to get straight to the point. This was a man with great ambition who was not easily tempted by women.
"Did the Dragon King hear my discussion with my second brother?"
Gu Shenwei nodded. He had only heard a few words, but decided not to admit it.
"Well, is the Dragon King interested in this deal?"
"I want to listen to the details."
A shallow smile passed across Xiao Fengchai's face. "Are you coaxing me to talk? Why don't you speak first?"
"Shopkeeper Lyu should not die, nor does he need to die." The reason why Gu Shenwei came to Xiao Fengchai was not to eavesdrop on her conversations, but for a deal that had been on his mind. "The Great Snowmountain's wealth is deep enough to accommodate two more people."
"Does the Dragon King want to partner with me?"
"No, not partner with you; just make a deal. You want to make money, and I wish to avoid the Meng family. We all want money to flow smoothly, nothing more."
Xiao Fengchai lowered her head and thought for a while. "This deal with Dragon King is very risky."
"The profits are worth the risk, it's 20%."
"That is worth the risk then." Xiao Fengchai smiled. "But I have a big appetite, and I don't do business for less than one million taels."
"As long as you are willing, then you can have as much as you want," Gu Shenwei lied calmly. He estimated that the amount of money in Xu Xiaoyi's hands did not amount to more than one million taels. In order to arm the swordsmen from the Great Snowmountain, he had already spent a lot of money; it was not enough to share between Shopkeeper Lyu and Xiao Fengchai.
"That is great. For the sake of money, I am willing to offend the Golden Roc Fort. You can stay with me, I will guarantee your safety."
As soon as she finished her sentence, a maid came in and hurriedly said, "Madam, a group of swordsmen have come again and are demanding to come upstairs."
"I see, let them come up after a while."
"Yes."
Xiao Fengchai got up and opened a tapestry on the wall to reveal a small door that came up to half his body. "I hope the Dragon King doesn't mind being too cramped."
The small door opened to a narrow staircase that perfectly fit inside the wall. After going straight down, Gu Shenwei arrived at a small room with a bed, a table, and a lit oil lamp. Judging by the height of the stairs, he guessed that he was currently underground.
After a quarter of an hour, the small door above opened again. Xiao Fengchai walked down carrying bandages, ointment medication, and other things. "The machetemen have already left, they were just here for some silvers. Not many people really want to capture the Dragon King. They are all taking the opportunity to make some money. They won't cause any trouble if they are paid."
"Where's the expert you raised?"
"Experts are used for more complicated matters, something as small as that can easily be resolved by some money. Take off your clothes."
The last statement was more like an order, and Gu Shenwei hesitated before untying his cape and taking off his shirt. His wounds were only wrapped in cloth, which had started to bleed again.
If most people, including men, saw the Dragon King's crisscrossed scars, they would gasp in horror. However, Xiao Fengchai did not even flinch, or perhaps she just concealed it well. Her hands were also very stable as she wiped the blood, poured on the medical powder, and carefully wrapped up the three wounds.
"To tell the truth, I am a bit surprised. The Dragon King actually trusted me so quickly." Xiao Fengchai put down the items in her hands and sat down across from Gu Shenwei.
"I don't trust anyone; I just think this deal is worthwhile."
"Well, the Dragon King's deal is very attractive to me, but since Dragon King heard my conversation with my second brother, you should know that we also have a deal."
"What does the Second Young Master Meng want the Great Snowmountain to do for him?" Gu Shenwei had already thought of who the man was—Meng Mingshu, the second young master of the Meng family of North City. He vaguely remembered seeing this person from afar a few years ago. Xiao Fengchai's calling him "second brother" enabled him to finally grasp that vague glimmer of memory.
"The Meng family has business all over the Western Region, but these businesses will fall into Meng Mingkuan's hands sooner or later."
Meng Mingkuan was the eldest young master and the heir of the Meng family. Everyone in the Western Region knew this name.
"The second Young Master Meng must not be too happy."
"Who said that he wasn't? They are brothers of the same womb. The first-born gets everything and the younger one gets nothing at all."
"Does the Second Young Master want to be the boss?"
"He is not that cruel." There was an edge in Xiao Fengchai's voice. "He only wants what he deserves. The Shu-lik country is one of Meng family's most important business partners. There are five banks there. I hope... we hope that the Dragon King will shut down these banks' business until my second brother comes to their rescue."
The Meng family controlled more than half of the Western Region's transactions. Offending the Meng family meant that, in the future, one could only secretly transfer the golds and silvers for a high price. Other than the Dragon King, you could not find any other person who would dare to do this kind of thing.
"How do I benefit from this?"
"The same as before, 20%. Even 20% of the Meng family's total wealth in the Shu-lik country is a big fortune. I'll even give a concession of 10% for doing business with me." Xiao Fengchai's face revealed a strange smile, which made the cold numbers seem heart-warming.
"I will think about it." Gu Shenwei only wanted to find a temporary hiding place. He did not intend to participate in the conspiracy and the feud within the Meng family so soon.
"I am not in a hurry. Please have some rest. I will take care of the things outside," said Xiao Fengchai. As she walked up to the stairs, she suddenly stopped, saying, "I'm sleeping right upstairs. Let me know if there's anything you need."
This might have been a hint, but Xiao Fengchai's face seemed too serious. Gu Shenwei only nodded without saying anything.
Early in the next morning, Gu Shenwei went upstairs and jumped out through the window. Xiao Fengchai was still sound sleep. She muttered something at the noise.
After nearly 20 days of struggling in Jade City, Gu Shenwei felt that it was time to negotiate. He certainly could not just appear and speak the words. It was best to leave this task to a party with great influence in the entire Western Region.
Gu Shenwei wandered around all day with his real face, listened to the residents chatting, and ate some food. Not until nighttime did he cross the border walls and enter North City.
There was an ordinary-sized temple in North City, with only one main hall and four or five rooms. Aside from the abbot, only two monks resided there.
Gu Shenwei was looking for them.
The Four Truths Temple held a special status in Jade City and throughout the Western Regions. Agreements signed there were sacred and could not be violated. Since Master Lianhua was a Holy Monk, it would be the best if he could bring up the negotiation.
Gu Shenwei walked around the temple and found no signs of ambush, so he climbed over the wall and entered.
Monks mingled with jianghu charlatans. It baffled Gu Shenwei. He thought for a long time and felt that there must be some hidden reason that he had to get to the bottom of.
He quietly walked around in the yard. The abbot slept soundly, snoring sonorously; while no sounds came from the opposite room. He had come here a few days ago, and had gotten to know Lianhua and Lianye who lived here. But at that time, he had not shown himself.
Gu Shenwei knocked on the door but he suddenly felt that something was wrong. He stepped back two steps and took hold of the Five Peaks Saber. The room was too quiet, even a Holy Monk should have made some noise.
The door shattered into pieces without warning, and a suffocating gust of wind rushed out.
Gu Shenwei did not retreat; he swung his saber as fast as lightning. A silver ball emerged in his hands, hitting all of the wooden pieces flying at him. In that instant, a monk charged through the broken doors and attacked.
The killer retreated to the opposite side of the courtyard. The monk stood in the same place, swinging left and right like a drunkard. Both men moved in the air. The monk's large robes fluttered and spread widely; he looked like a giant gray bat under the moonlight.
"What happened?" a strange voice asked from behind Gu Shenwei.
The sleeping abbot had been woken up by sounds of the broken door and came out to see what was going on.
Gu Shenwei turned around with a palm and struck the abbot's neck. The fat monk collapsed softly.
The monk heard these sounds and growled. Like a fierce tiger, he pounced across the yard and single-handly smashed the pillars into half.
Gu Shenwei hid again at a distance. This strange monk was clearly Monk Lianye. He had no scars on his body, but his expression was both sorrowful and panicky. He did not use his eyes to see, but rather, he turned his head sideways to listen; he was obviously blind.
The monk relied on listening to the wind to find the enemy, but Gu Shenwei slowed his breathing and remained completely motionless.
"Dragon King, I know it is you." The tone of Lianye's voice seemed to contain deep hatred. "Was it not enough to kill my senior brothers, but you have to come and destroy the body as well?"
Gu Shenwei turned to look around. There was a flag on the South wall. Although he could not see the shape and color, he knew that it was definitely the Black Blood Flag of the Dragon King of the Great Snowmountain.