213: Sending gifts to Southern Chu

Jun Xiaoyao twirled a white jade chess piece between his fingertips, the piece reflecting the churning sea of clouds outside the window, while his gaze rested on the water mirror before him, which displayed the scene of Zhao Gao distributing missions at The Net's headquarters.

"The Wang family of Qingzhou..." He murmured these four words, spinning the chess piece between his fingers. "Years ago, the Wang family's Old Ancestor intercepted a batch of my medicinal herbs at Soul Severing Cliff; it is time to settle this debt."

In the water mirror, Zhao Gao had already distributed tokens engraved with the character "Net" to the assassins. One masked assassin suddenly looked up: "Chief Steward Zhao, there is a Martial Master of the Innate Realm among the Wang family's guards. It is said he practices the Iron Cloth Shirt technique, making him impervious to blades and spears. Should we bring some armor-piercing arrows?"

Zhao Gao reached into his robe and pulled out an oilcloth pouch, tossing it to the assassin: "Use these." Several diamond-shaped iron caltrops rolled out of the pouch, their edges shimmering with a faint blue light. "These are poisoned with 'Tendon-Melting Powder'; once they touch the skin, they penetrate the tendons. Regardless of his Iron Cloth Shirt, he will be paralyzed within half an hour."

A trace of dread flashed in the assassins' eyes, but they replied in unison: "Understood!"

Jun Xiaoyao watched this scene, the corners of his mouth curling upward. Zhao Gao was always reliable in his affairs. When he first took over The Net from the Marshal of the Unruly, the organization consisted merely of street thugs, but now it could mobilize twenty Innate Realm assassins; it was not a waste of the poison scripture he had given him.

The water mirror shifted, displaying the figure of the Marshal of the Unruly at the Cangzhou docks. He was crouching atop a cargo crate, toying with a bronze whistle, while three members of The Unruly behind him were applying grease to arrows—this was "Water-Ignite," specially crafted by Jun Xiaoyao's order, which burned even brighter upon contact with moisture.

"There are three guards at the helm, all at the Peak of the Acquired Realm," the Marshal of the Unruly said in a low voice, spinning the whistle between his fingers. "Little Three, go to the stern and set off smoke to lure them over. Little Four, use the grappling hook to catch the mast and hoist the oil barrel up. Little Five, come with me; we head straight for the captain's cabin to retrieve the account book. Remember, retreat when you hear the whistle; do not linger in battle."

The member of The Unruly called Little Three licked his lips: "Marshal, I heard that young lady from the Wang family is also on the ship, and she looks just like she came out of a painting..."

"Snap!" The Marshal of the Unruly flicked his forehead: "Have you forgotten the Young Lord's rules completely? If you dare touch anything outside the mission, I will remove one of your arms." His gaze turned cold. "That is a 'gift' the Wang family intends to deliver to the leader of the Southern Chu Rebel Army. Touching it is like poking a hornet's nest. Do you want to taste the Beyond Heaven's family law?"

Little Three shriveled his neck, not daring to speak again. Jun Xiaoyao watched the tight jawline of the Marshal of the Unruly in the water mirror and nodded slightly—the Marshal of the Unruly understood his bottom line best, which was why he had chosen him to manage The Unruly back then.

At this moment, another water mirror on the left lit up, revealing a grove of peach blossoms. A Young Master in green robes stood beneath a tree, his fingertips condensing a pale blue Qi, and with a gentle tap, petals rustled down into his palm. Panel information appeared on the side of the mirror:

[Name: Duan Yu; Origin: "demi-gods and semi-devils" world; Realm: Innate Late Stage; Martial Skill: Six Meridians Divine Sword (Shao Shang Sword Minor Achievement), Subtle Steps of the Rippling Waves (Minor Achievement); Status: Practicing Qi control, preparing to execute the "retrieve account book" mission]

Duan Yu sighed, his Qi dissipated, and the petals drifted to the ground: "This Shao Shang Sword is truly difficult to practice; last time I almost pierced the shopkeeper's wine jar." He pulled a note from his robe, bearing Jun Xiaoyao's handwriting: "Cangzhou docks, Wang family grain transport ship account book. Avoid the Innate Realm guards; you may use Subtle Steps of the Rippling Waves to circle behind."

"Avoiding them is fine; fighting and killing is not good at all." He scratched his head, but still gathered his Qi to execute the Subtle Steps of the Rippling Waves. His figure flashed a few times among the peach trees and disappeared at the end of the road—this was a "gentle mission" specially arranged by Jun Xiaoyao; after all, Duan Yu's temperament was truly unsuited for head-on conflict.

Jun Xiaoyao's gaze turned to the largest water mirror in the center, which displayed a dilapidated temple. The temple gate hung crookedly, bearing a plaque that read "Imperially Commissioned Earth Temple." Lu Zhishen was sitting on the shrine, holding a wine gourd larger than his head, with a foxtail grass in his mouth. Panel information appeared accordingly:

[Name: Lu Zhishen; Origin: "water margin" world; Realm: Grandmaster Early Stage; Martial Skill: Mad Demon Staff Technique (Major Achievement), Arhat Fist (Perfection); Status: Awaiting mission, wine gourd contains "Drunken Immortal Brew"]

"Damn it, this wine isn't as strong as the last batch." Lu Zhishen took a deep gulp and hung the gourd on his waist. "Is this Wang family the Young Lord mentioned the same bunch of bastards who burned down Waguan Temple back then?" He touched his precept knife, the blade flashing with cold light in the dim environment. "If they are, I wouldn't mind 'uprooting a weeping willow' again to loosen their bones."

Jun Xiaoyao watched the bulging veins on Lu Zhishen in the mirror, his fingertips tapping lightly on the armrest—letting Lu Zhishen deal with the Wang family's Innate Realm Martial Master was the most suitable choice.

Suddenly, the water mirror on the right lit up with a red glow, indicating a new summoning. As the light faded, a middle-aged man in black robes appeared in the mirror, an iron ruler hanging at his waist, his eyes as sharp as a falcon's. Panel information popped up:

[Name: Zhan Zhao; Origin: "three heroes and five gallants" world; Realm: Middle Grandmaster Realm; Martial Skill: Southern Hero Sword Technique (Perfection), Sleeve Arrow (Infallible); Status: Newly summoned, awaiting Young Lord's command]

"Subordinate Zhan Zhao, greets the Young Lord." The man in black robes knelt on one knee, his voice as steady as stone.

Jun Xiaoyao spoke to the water mirror: "Zhan Zhao, go to the Cangzhou docks and assist The Unruly in retrieving the account book. If you encounter Innate Realm guards, do not hold back."

"Understood." As Zhan Zhao stood up, his figure transformed into a black shadow and vanished from the mirror.

The water mirror shifted again, displaying the scene of Zhao Gao returning to The Net's headquarters. He was marking red dots on a map: "Young Lord, the Wang family has three grain storehouses in Qingzhou. Besides the batch at the docks, the ones in the east of the city and the northern suburbs should also be 'cleared'." He pointed his finger at the red dot in the east of the city. "The guard here is at the Grandmaster Realm. Should I send Zhan Zhao?"

Jun Xiaoyao's voice came through the water mirror: "Let Lu Zhishen go. Tell him he can even tear off the roof of the grain storehouse, as long as the account book remains intact."

A trace of a smile flashed in Zhao Gao's eyes: "Understood, I will let Commander Lu stretch his muscles."

At this moment, in the water mirror of the Cangzhou docks, the Marshal of the Unruly had already climbed onto the ship with Little Four. Little Four had just hung the oil barrel on the mast when he suddenly whispered: "Marshal, there is movement!"

A guard clad in black armor was standing at the bow, his hand on the hilt of his sword, his gaze sweeping toward the top of the cargo crates—it was exactly that Innate Realm Martial Master. The Marshal of the Unruly blew a short, sharp whistle, and Little Three immediately ignited the oilcloth at the stern, thick smoke rising instantly.

"Fire!" The guards were indeed attracted over, and the Marshal of the Unruly took the opportunity to gesture to Little Four, and the two of them crouched and rushed toward the captain's cabin. Just as they touched the door handle, a cold sneer came from behind: "Running so fast, did you steal something?"

The black-armored guard had somehow circled behind them, his palm striking with a powerful gust of wind. The Marshal of the Unruly cursed inwardly and drew the short blade from his waist to block. With a "clang," the blade vibrated, making his hand go numb—the opponent was indeed at the Innate Realm!

Just then, a green shadow flashed in from outside the ship's rail, fingertips condensing Qi and striking toward the guard's back. It was none other than the arriving Duan Yu: "This big brother, let's not resort to violence."

The guard backhanded Duan Yu's hand away, but was dazzled by the footwork beneath his feet: "Subtle Steps of the Rippling Waves? Are you from the Duan family of Dali?"

Taking advantage of the guard's distraction, the Marshal of the Unruly had already burst open the captain's cabin door and rummaged through it, finding an iron box. At that moment, the ship's mast suddenly ignited with a "boom"—Little Four had ignited the oil barrel as planned, and flames shot into the sky.

"Go!" The Marshal of the Unruly rushed out, gripping the iron box, and Duan Yu immediately used Subtle Steps of the Rippling Waves to carry him toward the stern. The black-armored guard wanted to pursue, but was blocked by a black shadow that had suddenly landed on the deck—Zhan Zhao had arrived, and his iron ruler pointed directly at the guard's throat: "Your opponent is me."

Before the water mirror, Jun Xiaoyao watched this scene and placed the white jade chess piece on the "Qingzhou" position of the chessboard. The collision of the piece and the board made a crisp sound, very much like the sound of an account book closing.

"Zhao Gao," he spoke into the message talisman, "Have Lu Zhishen depart now and head to the grain storehouse in the east of Qingzhou city. Tell Zhan Zhao to leave him alive; I want to know the details of the transaction between the Wang family and the Southern Chu Rebel Army."

Zhao Gao's response came from the other side of the message talisman. Jun Xiaoyao looked out at the sea of clouds outside the window; the morning light was piercing through the clouds, dyeing the pavilions of Beyond Heaven in gold.

The Net had already moved; it was time for the Wang family to get a good taste of the shadow of Beyond Heaven.