231: Sword shadows hidden in the painted boat

The morning dew in the core hall of Beyond Heaven had not yet dried when Jun Xiaoyao stood before the water mirror.

In the mirror, the misty rain of Jiangnan enveloped the Qiantang River, pleasure boats stretched in an endless line, and the Murong Manor banner was faintly visible in the drizzle—ever since Murong Fu submitted.

Although the Jiangnan Aristocratic Families outwardly submitted, they secretly used the convenience of river transport to intercept 30% of Beyond Heaven's silk supply.

"Young Lord, Murong Manor has allied with the Kong Family of Kuaiji and the Su Family of Lin'an to host a 'Misty Rain Banquet' on a Taihu Lake pleasure boat. Ostensibly, it's to celebrate the smooth flow of river transport, but in reality, they are discussing how to bypass our resource control," Zhao Gao said, holding a secret report, his voice extremely low. "The Kong Family's 'Kongming Lantern' communication technique has reached Major Achievement, capable of transmitting messages within a hundred li. Our mole in the Kong Family was discovered last night, and his body is hanging on the city gate of Kuaiji."

Jun Xiaoyao's fingertip traced the outline of the Kong Family mansion in the water mirror, a chill gradually rising in his eyes: "Kongming Lantern? An interesting technique indeed." He turned and walked towards the summoning array, "It seems the waters of Jiangnan need to be stirred up even more."

As the ground runes lit up, the system panel unfolded simultaneously:

[Current Summoning Points: 8000 points]

[Recommended Summons:

1. Zhan Zhao (three heroes and five gallants, Mid-Stage Grandmaster Realm)

2. Gongsun Ce (three heroes and five gallants, Late Grandmaster Realm, skilled in strategy and solving cases)

3. Fragrant Bat (the legend of chu liuxiang, Late Grandmaster Realm)]

Jun Xiaoyao's gaze lingered on the name "Gongsun Ce"—the Jiangnan Aristocratic Families were adept at schemes and intrigues, and someone skilled in calculation was precisely what was needed to deal with them. He tapped his fingertip, and the light from the summoning array immediately softened, the runes intertwining into the shape of a scroll.

As the light and shadows dispersed, a scholar in a green robe, holding a folding fan and with a jade pendant hanging from his waist, appeared. His features held an air of scholarly elegance; it was precisely Gongsun Ce. The system panel automatically updated:

[Summon Successful]

[Character: Gongsun Ce]

[From: three heroes and five gallants World]

[Realm: Late Grandmaster Realm]

[Abilities:

1. Strategist (Perfection) — Skilled in planning and unraveling conspiracies, 90% success rate in deductions

2. Case Solving (Major Achievement) — Can see through disguises and discern lies from subtle details

3. Medical Skills (Major Achievement) — Proficient in toxicology, capable of curing all strange poisons in the world]

[Loyalty: 100%]

"Your subordinate, Gongsun Ce, greets Young Lord." As Gongsun Ce cupped his hands, his folding fan lightly tapped his palm. "I've heard of the Jiangnan Aristocratic Families' movements; how should your subordinate proceed?"

Jun Xiaoyao pointed to the Taihu Lake pleasure boat in the water mirror: "At the Misty Rain Banquet, they will exchange a 'secret pact' detailing how to collectively resist Beyond Heaven. You and Fragrant Bat will go together. There's no need to harm anyone; just bring back the secret pact, and then let them know... the Kong Family's Kongming Lantern already delivered the message to my desk last night."

Gongsun Ce opened his folding fan, covering half his face: "Your subordinate understands. Just add some 'Truth-telling Powder' to their wine, and then use a Kongming Lantern to send a false message. I guarantee they'll fall into disarray."

Three days later, Taihu Lake was veiled in misty rain. Dozens of pleasure boats were linked together. Murong Fu, the Kong Family Patriarch Kong Linghui, and the Su Family Patriarch Su Mingyuan were seated around a round table on the main boat. On the table lay a scroll, which was the "Jiangnan Alliance Secret Pact" they had drafted overnight.

"As long as we jointly control the silk supply, Beyond Heaven's black market in Jiangnan will surely be cut off, and then..." Kong Linghui's words were cut short by a sudden flute sound.

The flute sound came from the mist, clear and melodious. The guards on the pleasure boats unconsciously fell asleep. Fragrant Bat's figure landed on the bow like a wisp of smoke, gently fanning himself: "Gentlemen, what fine taste you have. For such an important secret pact, why didn't you invite me for a drink?"

Murong Fu's expression changed drastically: "Fragrant Bat? Are you one of The Net's people?"

"Not at all," Fragrant Bat said with a smile, taking a seat and pouring himself a cup of wine. "I'm just passing a message for a friend—the Kong Family's Kongming Lantern flew to Beyond Heaven three times last night. I wonder if Patriarch Kong has any important matters to report?"

Kong Linghui slammed the table, rising to his feet: "Nonsense! My people would never..." Before he could finish, a Kongming Lantern rose into the distant sky. The characters on the lantern were clearly visible in the rain: "The Kong Family is willing to offer the Kuaiji Salt Mine, seeking Beyond Heaven's protection."

"This... this is impossible!" Kong Linghui was dumbfounded. He didn't know that this lantern had been arranged by Gongsun Ce long ago—The Net's people had captured the Kong Family's messenger last night and forced out the Kongming Lantern's password with Truth-telling Powder. What was flying now was a fabricated message.

Seeing this, Su Mingyuan immediately looked at Murong Fu: "Brother Murong, this..."

Murong Fu was also filled with doubt and alarm. He looked at Fragrant Bat: "What exactly does Beyond Heaven want?"

"It's simple." Gongsun Ce's voice came from outside the cabin. He slowly walked in, holding a secret pact identical to the one on the table. "The Young Lord said that you can have a share of Jiangnan's profits, but if you want to monopolize it? You'll have to ask if The Net's blades agree."

Only then did everyone realize that the secret pact on the table had been swapped at some point; the original scroll had become a blank piece of paper, and the one in Gongsun Ce's hand was the genuine article.

Kong Linghui was both shocked and enraged. Just as he was about to erupt, he felt dizzy—the wine he had just drunk had already been laced with muscle-softening powder by Gongsun Ce. "You..."

"Patriarch Kong should think about why your Kongming Lantern would 'betray' you." Gongsun Ce put away the secret pact and exchanged a smile with Fragrant Bat. "Farewell."

After the two left, the atmosphere on the pleasure boat instantly froze. Su Mingyuan looked at Kong Linghui: "Patriarch Kong, you need to explain this!"

Kong Linghui was at a loss for words and could only roar: "It wasn't me! It's Beyond Heaven's conspiracy!"

Murong Fu looked at the chaotic situation, his heart turning cold—he finally understood that Beyond Heaven's methods were far more terrifying than he had imagined. Without a single soldier, they could make the Jiangnan Alliance crumble.

Jun Xiaoyao, watching this scene before the water mirror, said to Zhao Gao: "Have The Net's 'Water' group take over the Kuaiji Salt Mine. The remaining forces of the Kong Family are still useful."

"Yes, Young Lord." Zhao Gao handed over another scroll. "Gongsun Ce also sent back a message saying that the Kong Family hides a 'Secret Map of Jiangnan Waterways,' marking all the hidden canals for river transport, which will greatly benefit our control over Jiangnan's waterways."

Jun Xiaoyao opened the scroll, his fingertip tracing the secret map: "Have Gongsun Ce retrieve it. Also, tell Murong Fu that if even one bolt of silk is missing next month, his Murong Manor's secret passage should be renamed 'The Net's Passage.'"

The rain outside the hall gradually stopped. Sunlight pierced through the clouds, shining on Taihu Lake in the water mirror. The pleasure boats were still numerous, but the previous liveliness was gone.

Jun Xiaoyao knew that after this incident, the Jiangnan Aristocratic Families would no longer dare to easily provoke Beyond Heaven, and The Net's shadow had already entangled every waterway and every trading post in Jiangnan like a spiderweb.

He looked at the summoning array. The next target should be the Pili Hall entrenched in North of the River—it was said that they possessed fire weapon techniques capable of splitting mountains and cracking stones.

If it could be used by Beyond Heaven, the Black Iron Mining Area in the northern region could be expanded by another 30%.