58: Chapter 58 Care

Alliance Leader Song Yuanxing stood up abruptly, his green robes swaying.

"A secret manual?"

His voice carried a hint of disbelief.

"Could it be the rumored taizus record of ascension?"

The secret manual of the Great Shang's imperial family existed only in legends within the Jianghu. It was not only a supreme martial arts classic but also involved the secrets of the imperial family.

Li Yi nodded.

"Exactly."

"This matter is of great importance; the Prince will absolutely not allow for any failure."

"If the secret manual can be recovered, the Prince's Mansion will surely offer a heavy reward."

Alliance Leader Song Yuanxing pondered, pacing in the center of the main hall.

"Very well."

He finally nodded.

"My Righteous Alliance will certainly do its utmost to assist the Prince's Mansion."

"Slaying demons and upholding justice is the duty of our generation."

Li Yi cupped his fists.

"Thank you, Sect Head Song."

He then spoke of many details regarding the White Lotus Sect's hiding places and where the secret manual might be concealed.

Inside the hall, everyone's expressions were solemn.

The White Lotus Sect's conspiracy ran deeper than they had imagined.

After explaining everything, Li Yi prepared to leave. He walked to the door.

He stopped in his tracks and turned back to look at Chen Fan.

"Brother Chen."

Li Yi's voice was calm.

"Deliver the gold to the Prince's Mansion within three days."

Chen Fan nodded, his voice steady.

"You won't be missing a single cent."

The corners of Li Yi's mouth twitched upward. He said no more.

He turned around and led the people from the Prince's Mansion as they strode out of the inn.

Inside the hall, the clamor rose once again.

Master Liu Cang walked quickly to Chen Fan's side, his face full of anxiety.

"Jinzhong!"

Master Liu Cang lowered his voice.

"Where did you get so much gold?"

"Thirty taels of gold is no small amount!"

Chen Fan only shook his head.

"Master, there is no need to worry."

"This Disciple has his own ways."

He didn't want to explain. The origin of this money was too complicated to talk about.

Master Liu Cang was about to press further.

Zhang Shan stepped out from the crowd and walked up to Chen Fan.

"Senior Brother Chen."

Zhang Shan's expression was concerned.

"Is what Captain Li said just now true?"

"Were you once bewitched by a demoness of the White Lotus Sect?"

Chen Fan nodded and let out a sigh.

"Yes. Back then, because of a clash of egos, I offended some powerful people and was hunted down until I had nowhere left to turn."

"In a moment of confusion, I was blinded by the White Lotus Sect demoness, Su Xin."

"That is how I committed such a grave error."

He didn't hide it. Zhang Shan had a pure Heart-Nature; being direct and honest was more likely to earn his trust.

After hearing this, Zhang Shan understood.

He didn't have the slightest doubt.

"So that's how it was."

Zhang Shan's tone was sincere.

"Zhang Shan believes in Senior Brother Chen."

"That Senior Brother Chen could return from the wrong path is truly a great act of righteousness."

He cupped his fists.

"If there is ever a place where Zhang Shan is needed, I will certainly do my best to help."

Chen Fan's heart stirred slightly; this young man had indeed not disappointed him.

He was still the same youth as before, without a single change.

"Thank you, Junior Brother Zhang."

Chen Fan cupped his fists in return.

"If I have need, I certainly won't stand on ceremony with Junior Brother Zhang."

Master Liu Cang stood to the side, watching this scene. He felt a myriad of emotions in his heart.

This Rebellious Disciple, though he caused trouble, actually had quite good rapport with people.

Night fell.

Inside Fuwei Inn, the Disciples of the Righteous Alliance went to their respective rests.

Chen Fan, however, felt no sleepiness. He changed into night-traveling clothes.

He quietly slipped out of his guest room.

Avoiding the patrolling Disciples, his figure was like a phantom, flitting through the night.

He wanted to retrieve that sum of gold.

He left the city. Outside the city walls, it was pitch black.

In the wilderness, the wind whistled.

Relying on his memory, Chen Fan came to a hidden mountain hollow.

This place was overgrown with weeds and rarely visited by people.

Back then, when Magistrate Zhao De had gifted him fifty taels of gold, he had buried it all here.

He crouched down, his palms groping along the ground.

Soon, he felt a familiar stone.

He began to dig; the soil was moist, carrying a muddy scent.

He dug with great care.

After the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea.

An oil-paper bundle was revealed.

He took out the oil-paper bundle, which contained a heavy cloth bag.

He opened the cloth bag.

Under the moonlight, the gold emitted a faint glow.

Fifty taels of gold.

Now, he would use thirty taels of it to pay for Chen Jinzhong's mistakes.

Chen Fan sighed inwardly. Since his reincarnation until now, he had lived through four lives and had only saved up this small amount of savings, only to have to use half of it now.

It was quite painful to part with; it seemed he would have to save up more in the future.

He took out thirty taels of gold.

The remaining twenty taels he rewrapped and buried back in the original spot.

He refilled the earth and smoothed over the traces.

He stood up as the night wind blew past.

Without lingering, his figure once again merged into the night.

He had to return to the inn before dawn.

The next day, in the early morning.

Chen Fan headed to the Prince's Mansion with thirty taels of gold.

The entrance to the Prince's Mansion was heavily guarded.

He stated his purpose, and the guards immediately reported his arrival.

Soon, Li Yi walked out of the mansion gates.

He saw the cloth bag in Chen Fan's hand.

A trace of hard-to-detect surprise appeared on Li Yi's face.

He took the bag and weighed it in his hand.

The weight was sufficient.

He opened the bag, and a golden light flashed.

"Good, good."

Li Yi said the word 'good' twice in succession.

He looked at Chen Fan with a smile on his face.

"Brother Chen is indeed a man who keeps his promises."

"This matter is now concluded."

He patted Chen Fan on the shoulder.

"The Prince is occupied with a thousand matters every day and it is not convenient for him to receive you."

"But the Prince sees Brother Chen's righteous actions."

"In the future, if there is a need, the Prince's Mansion will surely assist you."

Chen Fan only nodded.

Li Yi's smile carried a subtle, hidden meaning.

"However..."

He changed the subject.

"The Prince has one more matter he wishes to trouble Brother Chen with."

Chen Fan's heart sank. As expected, things wouldn't be that simple.

"The Prince has heard that Brother Chen once shared a bit of affection with the White Lotus Sect demoness, Su Xin."

Li Yi's voice dropped a few notches.

"The Prince wants to know."

He leaned closer to Chen Fan.

"Could that secret manual be hidden in Su Xin's hands?"

Chen Fan's body stiffened.

He thought to himself, it's not the Prince who wants to know, but you who wants to know, right?

He realized that this fellow Li Yi was much more difficult to deal with than his brother, Captain Li Zhong.

If Captain Li Zhong was a pure martial general, then this Li Yi was a sinister civil official in military clothing.

Extracting thirty taels of gold from him was clearly just lining his own pockets.

And now he wanted to use him to obtain information on the White Lotus Sect?

However, Li Yi wanted to target the White Lotus Sect Saintess Su Xin, and coincidentally, Chen Fan couldn't stand that demoness either. After all, she was always working against him; it would be strange if he had any positive feelings for her.

Thus, Chen Fan replied, "Captain Li is truly brilliant. That secret manual is indeed in the hands of the demoness Su Xin."

Li Yi's eyes lit up and he laughed loudly, "Just as I thought! In that case, that demoness can forget about ever leaving Xiushan Prefecture!"

His gaze turned cold, carrying a streak of killing intent.

Chen Fan just looked at him and didn't speak.

Since the money had been delivered, there was no need for him to stay. He said his farewells and turned to leave.