39: Chapter 39 Delivery Dispute

After handing over the goods, Ye Xuan and Ye Yi arrived outside Yuanhe Town. In a small grove, they took off the clothes they used to disguise their figures and stuffed them into their bundles.

The two of them left, having transformed into ordinary peasants.

The journey back was fairly smooth.

Upon returning home, Ye Xuan told Ye Jing about the delivery process. Ye Jing nodded. "Xuaner, Yier, you've worked hard. Go and get some rest!"

In Yanggu County City.

Guos Grain Shop put golden spirit rice on the shelves once again. Previously, they provided a maximum of one hundred catties a month, but now it had suddenly increased several times over.

This new stock immediately caused the city's residents to scramble for it once more.

Guo Zhengning was making a fortune, his face beaming with joy.

Young Master Tang Shaojie had sent people to track the person collecting the goods for Guo Zhengning, but they found nothing. Perhaps the previous attempt had alerted them, making Guo Zhengning and the seller behind the scenes even more cautious, which made Young Master Tang Shaojie fly into a great rage.

"You bunch of useless fools! You can't even handle a measly Second-Stage Martial Artist!" Young Master Tang Shaojie cursed angrily.

The Martial Artist Retainers below were trembling with fear. Most of these Martial Artists were Third-Stage Martial Artists, with the few Second-Stage Martial Artists standing at the front.

Nowadays, any influential Family would recruit Martial Artists as Retainers to enhance the Family's strength.

However, it is not easy for a Martial Artist to Cultivate, so they are naturally scarce. Therefore, in the Tang Family, besides the Family Head being a First-Stage Martial Artist, most were Third-Stage Martial Artists, while Second-Stage Martial Artists were treated as honored guests.

One of them, a sturdy Full-bearded Man, said fearfully, "Young Master, there's nothing we could do. Every time we tracked this Guo Zhengning before, he would reach the mountain forest and lose us. By the time we tracked Guo Zhengning again, he would already be pushing the golden spirit rice out."

Young Master Tang Shaojie clenched his fists gloomily, his eyes full of rage. "Damn that Guo Zhengning. A mere Second-Stage Martial Artist, yet he dares to be so arrogant!"

This was a mission assigned to him by Tang Wan male—to secure this golden spirit rice. If he could capture the seller of the golden spirit rice and force them to let the Tang Family handle the sales, it would be a huge profit for the Tang Family.

He could also make his father look at him in a new light. One must know that he was the eldest son, the one upon whom the Family's high hopes rested. He absolutely could not let his father or the Family down!

"Keep searching! If you can't find them, find a pretext to arrest Guo Zhengning and torture him! I don't believe I can't catch that rat!"

Young Master Tang Shaojie's voice carried a hint of malice, and his powerful pressure made those below him tremble.

As the eldest son raised personally by the Tang Family Head, who had fought on many battlefields, Young Master Tang Shaojie was naturally exceptionally ruthless. He knew well that sometimes, without using some forceful means, one could not achieve their goals.

"Young Master, you mustn't!" At this moment, a Second-Stage Martial Artist below who was on speaking terms with Young Master Tang Shaojie hurriedly spoke up to stop him.

"The golden spirit rice Guo Zhengning is selling now serves many powerful Martial Artists in the county, and he even has business dealings with that Great Lord. If we move against him, I fear it will be disadvantageous for our Tang Family. Moreover, if we alert the seller again, I'm afraid he won't show his face anymore."

Young Master Tang Shaojie rubbed his temples irritably. "Then what do you say we should do? Continue searching aimlessly like this?"

The Martial Artist quickly took a step forward and lowered his voice. "Young Master, my investigation revealed that every time Guo Zhengning collects the goods, he goes to the mountain forest near Qinling. Although he takes several detours every time to ensure no one is following..."

"...But I discovered that his collection time is basically fixed around the Hour of the Rat on the fifteenth of every month. There are still seven days until the fifteenth of next month. Why don't we set up an ambush in advance and wait for the rabbit to come to us!"

Young Master Tang Shaojie's brows were tightly furrowed, his fingertips lightly tapping on the tabletop, making a dull sound.

"Wait for the rabbit? What if that seller senses something wrong and changes the pickup location or time? Wouldn't I be wasting my efforts?"

He had always disliked waiting passively, preferring to take the initiative and control everything.

"Young Master, rest assured, I already have a plan," the Martial Artist said with a bow. "I will have the martial arts hall Disciples disguise themselves as nearby street vendors and beggars to conduct hidden surveillance throughout. We won't alert the target."

The ferocity in Young Master Tang Shaojie's eyes diminished slightly, but he still looked at the Martial Artist warily. "From what you're saying, it seems your martial arts hall has been secretly monitoring Guo Zhengning for a long time?"

Hearing this, the Martial Artist stood up straight and hurried to reply, "Young Master, this Guo Zhengning has a grudge against my father. He previously fought a duel with my father and seriously injured him, which led to my father's death from unhealed wounds!"

After saying that, he looked up. "I tracked him only because I wanted to avenge my father's death. But I found that he frequently runs to the area of the Qinling Mountains forest and acts suspiciously. Hearing that you were also investigating this person, Young Master, I dared to borrow your strength. This way, I can both avenge my Family and serve you!"

Young Master Tang Shaojie vaguely seemed to recall that this Guo Zhengning had once participated in a Life-and-Death Arena match with a martial arts hall master. It was precisely because he lost that Guo Zhengning left the county.

Now, Guo Zhengning was able to return because he had won a Life-and-Death Arena match against his former opponent, thoroughly establishing himself in Yanggu County.

And this Martial Artist was one who had joined his Family as a Retainer last year. He had been Cultivating diligently and had quickly reached the ranks of Second-Stage Martial Artists.

It seemed the heart for revenge had been there for a long time.

Seeing that he had the help of a Second-Stage Martial Artist for free, Young Master Tang Shaojie was naturally willing. "You are quite honest. Since you want revenge and are willing to serve me, then I shall give you this opportunity."

Hearing this, the Martial Artist immediately looked delighted and hurriedly bowed. "Thank you, Young Master! I will certainly give my all and not fail your trust!"

"Get up." Young Master Tang Shaojie waved his hand. "Go to your martial arts hall immediately and select twenty agile martial arts hall Disciples. I will also assign another Second-Stage Martial Artist to help you."

"Three days before the transaction, lie in wait near the Qinling Mountains forest. When he goes to collect the goods, take him down. You can deal with Guo Zhengning as you please, but I want that seller alive!"

Young Master Tang Shaojie believed that since the seller had hidden away just because of a little disturbance in the city, the Family behind the seller was likely nothing special. Sending a Second-Stage Martial Artist would be more than enough.

"Understood!"

The subordinate respectfully withdrew.

Young Master Tang Shaojie said maliciously, "Damned rat, let's see how you escape this time!"

Meanwhile, at the Ye Family home.

Ye Jing was exercising with a Broadaxe and then teaching his two daughters-in-law how to use it.

At first, as women, the two daughters-in-law were not as strong as men, and swinging the axe was very difficult. But with gritted teeth and persistence, Wu Guiyun was already able to smoothly perform a set of axe techniques with the Broadaxe, looking somewhat proficient.

In contrast, Liu Xianglan seemed naturally weak and had a somewhat petite build. Although her physical strength had improved through training, swinging the Broadaxe was still too taxing for her.

Seeing this, Ye Jing didn't scold her much. Their Family's martial arts were currently too lacking to provide individualized instruction; they could only focus on developing the most basic Blood Qi first.

During a break, Ye Jing looked at the Mountain Delicacy Chicken chicks that had hatched in the chicken coop. They were following the hen, chirping away.

Of the three Spirit Treasure Chickens caught before, one was male and two were female. Under the careful care of Wu Guiyun and Liu Xianglan, they soon began laying eggs, producing two a day.

Seeing this, Ye Jing boiled the eggs laid by the Mountain Delicacy Chickens and tried a few bites. He found they could replenish a small amount of Blood Qi, being better than ordinary eggs. Furthermore, because these Mountain Delicacy Chickens were fed with golden spirit rice, each one grew large and plump.

Seeing this, Ye Jing first let the Mountain Delicacy Chickens hatch some eggs to expand production. That way, he wouldn't have to constantly work hard going into the mountains to catch Mountain Delicacy Chickens.

"Father! We're back!" At this moment, a man's voice full of vitality came from outside.

Two burly men strode in. They were sturdily built, and even their coarse cloth clothes couldn't hide their striking handsomeness. Both were Martial Artists and looked much more spirited than before.

Now, when the two sons walked through the village, they would attract the widows, who couldn't help but steal a few extra glances.

"Was the delivery of the golden spirit rice smooth?" Ye Jing asked with a smile.

Ye Xuan finished a bowl of tea in one gulp and said, "Everything was fine, but Guo Zhengning said the tails around him are gradually becoming more numerous, so he was a bit slow in coming."

Hearing this, Ye Jing fell into slight contemplation.

They had been cooperating with Guo Zhengning for nearly half a year, so Ye Jing naturally knew the situation on his end.

Ever since the golden spirit rice began being sold, many people had been tracking him openly or secretly. If this continued, being discovered was only a matter of time.