116: Chapter 116 Liang Jinshan's Winning Over

For a low-level Runner who had crawled out from a pile of corpses, this wasn't just a temptation; it was a ladder to the heavens.

But his mind remained clear.

Meat pies don't fall from the sky; only traps do.

By bringing out such a strategic resource, Ye Zhiqiu was clearly looking to buy a life. Whose life? Naturally, the lives of the Four Great Families in Qingyang City.

Those four families had been deeply entrenched in Qingyang City for hundreds of years; even the mouse holes in the city wall crevices were surnamed Zhao, Qian, Sun, or Li. Ye Zhiqiu wanted to pull out the thorns, and he was to be the sharp blade.

The sharper the blade, the smoother it is to use, but also the easier it is to break.

Chen Mo touched his chest.

That thousand-tael note was pressed against his skin, feeling warm.

“Focus on what's in front of me first.”

He exhaled a breath of turbid air.

In this world, if you want to climb up, how can you not get blood on your hands? Since he had boarded Ye Zhiqiu's ship, he had to be prepared to be overturned by the waves. As long as he could jump to a higher shore before the ship capsized, this gamble wouldn't be a loss.

Walking to the first-floor lobby, the light dimmed considerably.

The lobby of the General Bureau Yamen always carried a hint of gloomy coldness; even if the sun was blazing outside, the interior felt like an ice cellar that hadn't seen light for years.

Just as Chen Mo was about to step out the door, a figure flashed out from a side hall.

“Oh, isn't this Younger Brother Chen!”

The voice was very greasy, as if a mouthful of undissolved lard was held in the throat.

Chen Mo stopped and looked up.

The newcomer was a fat man wearing a brand-new Local Constable Office uniform. His belt was pulled tight, squeezing his belly into two sections. A smile hung on his Face, and his eyes were narrowed into slits that glinted with shrewdness.

Liang Jinshan.

Head of the Northern District Local Constable Office.

In this suppression of the White Lotus Sect, the Southern, Western, and Eastern districts had all moved, but only the Northern District remained still. The reason given was “guarding against surprise attacks from bandits,” but in reality, everyone knew the Northern District was the Liu Family's territory, and Deputy Chief of the General Yamen Liu Feng was a member of the Liu Family.

They were at odds with Ye Zhiqiu and naturally wouldn't send troops to help her gain merit.

Chen Mo looked at Liang Jinshan's clean, dust-free Face, then at the dried blood on his own boots, and his lips twitched.

“Head Liang.” Chen Mo cupped his fists in a perfunctory gesture. “To what do I owe this honor?”

“Oh, don't be so distant.”

Liang Jinshan leaned in, even trying to reach out and pat Chen Mo's shoulder.

Chen Mo calmly stepped aside to avoid it.

Liang Jinshan's hand missed, but he wasn't embarrassed. He followed through by drawing a circle in the air and pointing outside.

“Younger Brother Chen really made a big name for himself this time. Beheading a White Lotus Sect Protector in battle—that merit, tsk tsk, even I am green with envy.”

He lowered his voice, and the scent of powder mixed with sweat wafted into Chen Mo's nose.

“Just came from the second floor? Lord Ye must have rewarded you handsomely, right?”

Chen Mo remained expressionless: “That is the Lord's grace; this subordinate does not dare to speak out of turn.”

“Of course, of course.”

Liang Jinshan chuckled, his eyes darting around. “However, in the world of officialdom, merit alone is not enough. One must also have friends.”

Here it comes.

Chen Mo sneered inwardly.

“Head Liang's words are profound; a rough man like me doesn't understand.”

“Brother, you are a smart man, don't play dumb.” Liang Jinshan dropped his playful act and became slightly more serious. “Deputy Chief Lord Liu appreciates you very much. Hearing that you were injured, he specially set a table at the ‘Drunken Immortal Tower’ to help you calm your nerves. Tonight at the Hour of Xu, be there or be square?”

Drunken Immortal Tower.

The most expensive restaurant in Qingyang City, where a plate of peanuts could sell for the price of meat.

Liu Feng was trying to poach him.

Ye Zhiqiu had just given him a sweet date, and Liu Feng immediately followed up with an olive branch.

If he went, regardless of whether he ate the meal or not, in Ye Zhiqiu's eyes, he would be a double-crossing villain.

At this juncture, choosing a side was more important than killing the enemy.

Chen Mo looked at Liang Jinshan, his gaze very calm.

“Head Liang, please thank Lord Liu for me.”

The smile on Liang Jinshan's Face grew wider: “So, Brother, you've agreed?”

“No.”

Chen Mo shook his head, “I can't go.”

Liang Jinshan's smile froze: “What? Is Younger Brother Chen not giving Lord Liu Face?”

“Head Liang misunderstood.”

Chen Mo pointed to the wound on his back. “I fought for my life this time and damaged my Origin Qi. The doctor instructed that I must soak in medicinal soup at night, cannot be exposed to the wind, and especially cannot drink alcohol. If I go to the Drunken Immortal Tower and my wound reopens and I die at the table, wouldn't that bring bad luck to Lord Liu?”

This excuse was terrible.

His legs were perfectly fine when he walked downstairs just now, and now he couldn't be exposed to the wind?

The flesh on Liang Jinshan's Face quivered twice.

He could tell this was a rejection. And it was the kind of rejection that didn't even bother with polite appearances.

“Younger Brother Chen, the path is easier to walk when you make it wider.” Liang Jinshan's tone turned cold, carrying a hint of a warning. “Lord Ye is, after all... an outsider. This Qingyang City, in the end, still belongs to us Qingyang people.”

“Thank you for the teaching, Head Liang.”

Chen Mo arched his hands. “But my life is cheap, and I only stick to one principle. I'll risk my life for whoever feeds me. I truly have things to do tonight. Farewell.”

After saying that, he didn't spare Liang Jinshan another glance and strode out of the General Bureau's main gate.

The sunlight fell on his body, feeling warm.

Chen Mo looked back at the gold-lettered plaque of the “City Guard General Bureau” and cursed in his heart:

What ‘Qingyang people's Qingyang City’? It's the Qingyang City of your Four Great Families. It has nothing to do with me.

...

Side hall of the General Bureau Yamen.

Liang Jinshan watched Chen Mo's departing back and spat fiercely.

“Ungrateful brat.”

He cursed as he turned around, walked through the corridor, and arrived at the Deputy Chief's office.

The furnishings here were much more luxurious than in Ye Zhiqiu's office.

Thick wool carpets covered the floor, famous paintings and calligraphy hung on the walls, and even the teacups were made of fine Hetian Jade.

Liu Feng sat in a grand armchair, fiddling with two walnuts in his hand, which made a rhythmic clicking sound.

The gloominess in his eyes made one shudder.

“Lord.”

Liang Jinshan bowed with a fawning expression. “That kid refused.”

“Oh?”

Liu Feng didn't even lift his eyelids. “What did he say?”

“Said he was heavily injured and couldn't be in the wind.” Liang Jinshan said indignantly. “I think he's been bewitched by that woman Ye Zhiqiu! He doesn't even see what he is, thinking he can fly up and become a Phoenix just by clinging to the Ye Family's thigh?”

Click.

The walnuts in Liu Feng's hand stopped.

He chuckled, his tone full of disdain.

“As expected.”

“Ye Zhiqiu spent a lot this time, both silver and Cultivation Techniques. This kid has shallow vision; it's normal for him to be unable to move after seeing some petty profits.”

Liu Feng picked up his teacup and blew on the floating leaves.

“It was just a casual move in the first place. It would be best if he could be pulled over to annoy Ye Zhiqiu. If not, it doesn't matter. He's just a dog; one more or one less makes no difference.”

“Lord is wise.” Liang Jinshan quickly flattered him. “Then next, we...”

“Don't bother with him.”

Liu Feng took a sip of tea, his gaze becoming deep. “In this suppression of the White Lotus Sect, many people died in the Southern and Western districts, right?”