55: Chapter 55 Old Grudges, Continuing Cause and Effect

"Alright, keep the jade pendant safe; I won't be responsible for replacing it if you break it." Old Man Shen didn't continue to press, sitting back down on his bamboo chair.

"The Internal Skill and Mind-Cultivation Technique recorded in this jade pendant is called the 'Qi Nourishing Technique'. Its quality isn't very high, barely qualifying as an advanced-grade Cultivation Technique.

However, its strength lies in its gentleness. Even if an ordinary person were to Cultivate it, it wouldn't burden their Meridians.

If that brother of yours has decent Aptitude, it won't be hard for him to become a Ranked Martial Artist after practicing for a year or so."

Lin Ye tucked the jade pendant into his robe and bowed respectfully to Old Man Shen: "Thank you, Lord Shen."

Old Man Shen waved his hand: "Alright, you can go back if there's nothing else.

The Demon Suppression Division is usually quite leisurely. If there are any missions, they will be communicated through the demon suppression token."

Just as Lin Ye was about to take his leave, he suddenly thought of the matter regarding the Third Elder of the Black Stone Gang.

Although he had now joined the Demon Suppression Division and become a Ninth-Grade Demon Suppression Guard, the other party probably wouldn't dare to trouble him again.

But as the saying goes, one must pull out weeds by the root.

He had never liked waiting for trouble to come knocking before dealing with it passively; some threats had to be nipped in the bud.

Now that there was a thick thigh to cling to, he certainly wouldn't miss this opportunity.

"My Lord, I have a matter to report."

"What is it?"

Lin Ye immediately laid out everything, from how he had developed a grudge with the Third Elder of the Black Stone Gang to the subsequent killing of those Black Stone Gang members outside the town, without holding back a single detail.

After listening, Old Man Shen frowned.

Lin Ye thought the other party disapproved of his actions and was about to explain, but Old Man Shen slapped the armrest of his chair: "That old bastard Wei Chongshan!"

Lin Ye then realized that it wasn't directed at him.

"I warned him long ago that the matter was to end there.

He agreed perfectly fine back then, but now he's pulling this stunt again. It seems he clearly doesn't hold this Captain in any regard."

Seeing Old Man Shen's furious expression, Lin Ye became even more curious.

He had guessed right; there was indeed something fishy going on.

"May I ask, My Lord, what actually happened back then?"

Old Man Shen glanced at Lin Ye upon hearing this, remained silent for a long moment, and then sighed.

"This matter has nothing to do with you, but since you have obtained Zhao Shanhe's moyuan blade, it wouldn't hurt to tell you.

Zhao Shanhe used to be the head constable of Black Stone Town, you know that, right?"

Lin Ye nodded.

"That year, bandits were rampant on Heifeng Mountain. They not only robbed passing merchant caravans but also came down the mountain to pillage the surrounding villages.

Zhao Shanhe was always one to hate evil with a passion. Upon hearing the news, he immediately led men up the mountain to suppress the bandits. Even several Gangs in Black Stone Town dispatched Ranked Martial Artist to assist.

And the one the Black Stone Gang dispatched was Wei Chongshan's younger brother, Wei Chonglin."

Hearing this, Lin Ye roughly understood something.

However, he continued to listen.

"Unfortunately, that kid Zhao Shanhe was too impulsive. He charged in rashly without even finding out the strength of those bandits."

Old Man Shen's voice lowered.

"The three leaders of the Heifeng Mountain stronghold all possessed the strength of a Eighth-Grade Martial Artist.

The First Leader was even a Half-Step Eighth-Grade; his strength was far beyond what an ordinary Eighth-Grade Martial Artist could compare to.

Zhao Shanhe had just reached the Late Stage of Eighth-Grade Martial Artist back then. Relying on his Wild Wind Saber Technique, he killed the First Leader at the cost of being heavily injured.

But Wei Chonglin was surrounded and killed by the other two leaders working together. By the time Zhao Shanhe rushed over, he was already beyond saving."

Old Man Shen picked up his teacup, only to find it empty, so Lin Ye quickly refilled it.

"In the end, only Zhao Shanhe returned from the entire suppression team, and his Realm fell back to a Ninth-Grade Martial Artist, unable to step into the Eighth-Grade Martial Artist Realm for the rest of his life."

Lin Ye fell silent.

Although he had heard from Brother Gang about Captain Zhao going up the mountain to suppress the bandits, he hadn't expected the process of that suppression to be so tragic.

"However, Wei Chongshan blamed his brother's death on Zhao Shanhe.

He took people from the Black Stone Gang to the yamen to apply pressure, demanding that Zhao Shanhe pay with his life.

I stepped in secretly to warn him once and gave him a Spirit Pill, telling him that the matter was to end there."

Lin Ye understood.

The reason Captain Zhao resigned from his position as head constable, besides being unable to face his fellow townsfolk, was likely also a result of Wei Chongshan pressuring the yamen.

If not for Old Man Shen's secret warning and promise of certain benefits, Captain Zhao might have been surrounded and killed the moment he stepped out of Black Stone Town.

After all, without the status of head constable, Wei Chongshan would have no qualms about killing him.

"Unfortunately, I thought this matter had long been turned over, but I didn't expect this guy to have kept it in mind all along."

"He sent people to track the caravan, not for you, but for Zhao Shanhe. He must have recognized the moyuan blade at your waist."

Lin Ye looked down at his moyuan blade.

As Zhao Shanhe's exclusive weapon, how could Wei Chongshan not recognize it?

Lin Ye knew that this grudge couldn't be resolved peacefully.

"My Lord, I will handle this matter." Lin Ye raised his head, his tone firm.

Old Man Shen looked at him just like that, without saying a word.

Lin Ye thought Old Man Shen didn't agree, so he quickly explained:

"Captain Zhao has shown me kindness and taught me many Cultivation Techniques; he counts as half a Master to me!"

"As his Disciple, his Karma must naturally be resolved by me."

Old Man Shen looked at him for a long time, then smiled.

"It is certainly good that you have this heart."

"But Wei Chongshan is a Eighth-Grade Martial Artist Middle Stage. Are you sure you can beat him?"

"I can!"

Lin Ye's answer was decisive.

Old Man Shen was somewhat surprised; he could hear the confidence contained in Lin Ye's tone.

Although he didn't know where a mere Ninth-Grade Martial Artist like Lin Ye got the confidence to kill a veteran Eighth-Grade Martial Artist, he still expressed his affirmation:

"Not bad, you have guts. You haven't disgraced my Demon Suppression Division."

Saying this, he stood up, patted Lin Ye on the shoulder, and sighed, "As a Captain of the Demon Suppression Division, it wouldn't be appropriate for me to openly take action against him unless he commits a major offense.

However, if he seeks his own death, that's another story. Do you understand what I mean?"

He looked into Lin Ye's eyes.

Lin Ye could naturally hear the subtext in Old Man Shen's words.

It was nothing more than finding a way to make Wei Chongshan commit a mistake, such as attacking him, a Ninth-Grade Demon Suppression Guard.

At that time, Old Man Shen could use the excuse of attacking an imperial official to kill him.

It had to be said, this plan was quite good; it could resolve the Karma while also leaving the Black Stone Gang with nothing to say.

"This subordinate understands!" Lin Ye cupped his fists.

"Mm, not bad, you are teachable."

"But don't be careless. Although that old bastard has mediocre Aptitude, he is still a Eighth-Grade Martial Artist after all.

If he really tries to take action against you, I might not be able to arrive in time. You must at least be able to hold out for a move or two against him."

"Don't worry, My Lord, I have at least that much strength."

Lin Ye really wanted to say that the old man wouldn't need to intervene at all; he could take care of Wei Chongshan himself.

"Mm." Old Man Shen nodded.

In his view, since Lin Ye could kill an Eighth-Grade Exotic Beast, even if he couldn't defeat a true Eighth-Grade Martial Artist, he wouldn't be killed instantly.

This was also the reason he dared to let Lin Ye carry out this plan.

In fact, he also wanted to use this matter to hone Lin Ye.

If the gap in strength between the two sides were too great, he wouldn't care about any of that nonsense.

Daring to lay a hand on the precious treasure he had worked so hard to find, Wei Chongshan had already brought death upon himself!

"Alright, go. Plan carefully, and don't be too reckless in your actions."

"Understood, this subordinate takes his leave."

Lin Ye bowed, turned around, and strode out of the courtyard.

Along the way, Lin Ye was thinking about how to lure Wei Chongshan into attacking him.

Ninth-Grade Martial Artist fighting a Eighth-Grade Martial Artist, there was a gap of one major Realm.

For others, the odds of winning might not be high.

But he had the ruyi jingu bang; if really pushed to the limit, he would just rush to the Black Stone Gang and stab him to death with one strike.

Of course, if one can win by strategy, one should do so.

Reckless behavior is not the way to go; Captain Zhao had suffered greatly because of this.

Therefore, he needed intelligence—detailed intelligence on Wei Chongshan.

Residence, habits, travel routes, accompanying personnel, etc.

Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.

And as for this information, he should be able to learn a thing or two from Master.

Chijin Hall as one of the three major forces, could not possibly lack intelligence on the high-level members of the Black Stone Gang.

Returning to Master's home, Lin Ye recounted the ins and outs of the matter one by one.

After Master finished listening and was just about to say something, a knock suddenly came from outside the courtyard.