318: Chapter 318 Since We're Here

Prefect Cai Heng hurriedly reported, "General, his name is Wang Liang. He is a fisherman from nearby and often helps Boss Hua and the others with manual labor."

"I have been keeping a close eye on the Northern white liquor project and often visit Xinghua Village, so I have met him a few times."

Lin Xiao nodded, "I see..."

[Wang Liang, 27 years old, Soul-Snatching Envoy of the Yanyu Pavilion's Wang Liang, Talent: Earth Grade]

[Traits: Elusive (Special), Swift as the Wind (Special), Assassin]

Good heavens, it looks like Yanyu Pavilion is planning a team-building retreat in Xinghua Village!

This Wang Liang is truly a talent. Not only does he possess "Stealth" type special traits like Liu Hanyi, but he also has "Qinggong" type innate traits.

He is practically a natural-born assassin! I wonder where Shu Yelan found him.

Wait, no, didn't this guy originally work for Lou Suifeng? Then why would Shu Yelan keep him in the village?

Lin Xiao couldn't be bothered to expose him, and the group continued walking into the village.

Once they were further away, Xiao Qingxuan whispered, "Husband, that fisherman... is a killer, isn't he?"

Lin Xiao was not surprised. Xiao Qingxuan was now a Half-Step Great Grandmaster herself, so it would be difficult for Wang Liang to hide from her.

"No need to mind him. Since he has been here for a while, it means Shu Yelan has given her tacit approval."

Xiao Qingxuan nodded and said nothing more.

Upon arriving in the village, the entire dilapidated settlement had taken on a brand new look.

Many apricot and peach trees had been transplanted into the village, and the paths had been repaved with cobblestones and bluestone slabs.

The rotting, dilapidated houses had been torn down and replaced with elegant wooden cottages, pavilions, small bridges, and flowing water, creating a pleasant landscape.

Of course, there were also various workshops for brewing liquor, all equipped with cellars underneath.

"Lin Xiao, look at that apricot grove. The clearing in the middle is reserved for the World's Number One Liquor Festival in the spring."

Prefect Cai Heng introduced it enthusiastically. He knew the profits from liquor all too well; if the Northern white liquor could be successfully established, thousands of people in Lincang Prefecture would benefit.

"This is the first major task since you became Prefect. Don't feel pressured; just go ahead and do it!"

Lin Xiao offered a word of encouragement, which made Prefect Cai Heng feel even more ambitious.

At this moment, Hua Nongying, dressed like a female proprietor, came out to greet them with a few of her sisters.

It had been a while, and these ladies from the brothel had gained a touch of the natural charm of country women.

Furthermore, brewing was hard work, and many of them had gotten a bit tanned.

However, it was precisely this raw, natural aura that made these women from the brothel even more distinctive, adding a unique rustic charm that they hadn't possessed before.

"Husband is truly amazing; the brewers you picked are all so beautiful," Mu Wanying teased.

"Your eye for talent is indeed unique," Zhao Caiwei added, also quite surprised, as she had expected a bunch of rough old men to be doing the brewing.

"I think most men who enter this Xinghua Village would be drunk just from looking at these beautiful brewers, without even needing to drink the liquor," Leng Bingyan said.

"That is only natural. Are you ladies not the best proof of that?" Lin Xiao replied with a compliment.

The women giggled upon hearing this. They were naturally not truly jealous; they were just teasing him.

"This humble one, Hua Nongying, pays her respects to Lin Xiao! And to the ladies..."

Hua Nongying was feeling nervous at this moment; upon learning that Lin Xiao was coming, she felt both excited and expectant.

She had known that this young general would surely rise to greatness, but she had never expected that, in the blink of an eye, he would have unified the Northern Territory!

But when she saw that besides Xiao Qingxuan, there were several other great beauties by Lin Xiao's side, she felt somewhat disheartened.

If she wanted to gain Lin Xiao's recognition, she certainly couldn't rely on her looks; she would have to achieve something else...

"Miss Hua, the temperature has been quite low lately. Has that hindered your brewing?" Lin Xiao asked.

"General, you may not know this, but cold weather is actually suitable for brewing. For instance, apricot wine, osmanthus wine, and small-batch qu wine can all develop a unique aroma when fermented in cold weather," Hua Nongying replied confidently.

"Oh? In that case, are you confident that you will make a splash at the World's Number One Liquor Festival in the spring, Miss Hua?"

"Rest assured, Lin Xiao. With the distillation techniques you provided, we will certainly make the Northern white liquor take first place!"

Lin Xiao nodded with satisfaction and said, "Take me to see how your liquor workshops are doing now."

"This way, General!" Hua Nongying hurriedly gestured for him to follow.

Lin Xiao then told Prefect Cai Heng to wait outside and not follow them in, taking only the women inside.

Prefect Cai Heng assumed it concerned some brewing secrets of the Northern white liquor, so he did not dare to ask any questions.

After touring the various brewing areas and tasting the brand-new "Xinghua Village" white liquor, Lin Xiao was completely reassured.

Professional matters should indeed be left to professionals; Hua Nongying was truly talented, and she managed things in an orderly fashion.

"Very good. If the Northern white liquor becomes popular across the world in the future, you will be well rewarded, and your sisters will no longer need to make a living by killing."

"Thank you, Lin Xiao, for giving us sisters a chance to start over."

Hua Nongying, along with Xian'er, Yu'er, and the others, bowed gracefully.

"Alright, Miss Hua, is there anything else?"

Lin Xiao asked calmly. He wanted to see if this woman would voluntarily reveal that Shu Yelan and her daughter were in the village without him bringing it up.

Hua Nongying hesitated for a moment before saying, "To tell you the truth, this humble one has an old acquaintance who has been waiting in the village to see you, General."

"Oh? Who is it?" Lin Xiao was slightly surprised. Could it be that Shu Yelan also wanted to show her cards?

"You will know once you see her, General." Hua Nongying felt anxious.

Although Shu Yelan had said that Lin Xiao had done her a favor, the Pavilion Master's thoughts were hard to fathom. If a conflict arose when they met, what would she do?

"You've learned to keep me in suspense, have you? Fine, let her come over."

Lin Xiao went directly to a tea room to rest. Xiao Qingxuan and the other women knew that the man had business to discuss, so they silently withdrew to other rooms.

Before long, Shu Yelan, dressed as a village woman yet unable to hide her elegance, stepped inside.

Behind her was the plain-looking "Little Liuer" (Liu Hanyi).

"We meet again, Lin Xiao. Do you still remember me?"

Shu Yelan sat down on her own, smiling brightly.

Meanwhile, Liu Hanyi, who was beside her, looked at Lin Xiao with a complex gaze.

Lin Xiao felt bewildered. What was going on with this "Wraith"? Her gaze made it seem as if he owed her money.

"Of course I remember. Elder Zhu's cousin, Alan."

Shu Yelan smiled and nodded, "But since the General has already seen through Hua Nongying's identity and is so calm right now, I assume... you must already have suspicions about my identity as well, right?"

Lin Xiao did not speak; he merely picked up his teacup and took a sip of the flower tea.

Seeing this, a look of "as I thought" appeared in Shu Yelan's eyes.

"When did you find out my identity, Lin Xiao? Could it be... back in Baishui Prefecture?"

Upon hearing Shu Yelan say this, both Hua Nongying and Liu Hanyi looked surprised.

Lin Xiao had already seen through it?

Doesn't that mean... he had been "acting" in front of them all this time?

"Is that important?"

Lin Xiao retorted, "What you should care about is that I saved your life, and furthermore, I killed Lou Suifeng for you."

"What!?"

This time, even Shu Yelan could not remain calm; her expression was one of astonishment.

Liu Hanyi and Hua Nongying were even more shocked, as they were well aware of Lou Suifeng's strength.

Under normal circumstances, unless Lou Suifeng sought his own death, even ten Martial Arts Grandmasters might not be able to kill him!

"Since you are already here, why bother eavesdropping outside?"

Just as Lin Xiao finished speaking, he flicked his hand, throwing the teacup directly at the rockery outside the room.

The figure realized something was wrong and hurriedly tried to flee.