274: Luo Wang explores the path

The night in the Hanyue Valley Underground Palace was deeper than usual.

Jun Xiaoyao sat on the Black Iron Throne, his fingertips sliding across the semi-transparent panel in front of him, where the "The Net Assassination Mission List" was constantly refreshing.

The latest entry displayed: "Target: Youzhou salt merchant Wang Yuanbao, Mission: Retrieve his ledger, Reward: One thousand taels of gold, Publisher: Anonymous".

He lifted his eyes to look at Zhao Gao below the steps, who bowed and handed over a scroll of secret intelligence.

"Young Lord, Wang Yuanbao is the moneybag for Haoran Academy in Youzhou. It is said that he holds a copy of the ledger detailing the trades between Yan Hui and the barbarians."

"The Marshal of the Unruly has already led a squad of The Net to infiltrate the Wang residence, with the operation expected to begin at the third watch."

Jun Xiaoyao tapped the panel lightly, bringing up Wang Yuanbao's profile: [Wang Yuanbao, the largest salt merchant in Youzhou. Outwardly charitable, he actually monopolizes salt prices and has a close private relationship with Yan Hui. His home hides a large amount of gold and silver, and it is rumored that there is a secret room leading to a secret passage of the Academy].

"Tell the Marshal of the Unruly that the ledger must be complete, and do not alert the people of the Academy."

"Yes." Zhao Gao replied and retreated. As he turned, he collided with the Famous historical physician who had just walked into the Underground Palace. The herbs in the Famous historical physician's basket spilled all over the floor, and one small purple herb rolled to Jun Xiaoyao's feet—the panel immediately popped up a prompt: [Main ingredient for the antidote to the strange poison "Mechanism Guide": Purple Heart Grass, produced in the Far North Ice Plain, can cure the poison of Meridians paralysis].

The Famous historical physician hurriedly cleaned up, and when he looked up, a strange look flashed in his eyes: "Young Lord, this Purple Heart Grass was searched from the body of the Blood Shadow Gate Sect Leader. He kept it close to his body, it seems he treasures it very much."

Jun Xiaoyao picked up the Purple Heart Grass, his fingertips rubbing the patterns on the leaves. Xuesha is the Sect Leader of the Blood Shadow Gate; logically, he shouldn't be able to come into contact with such poison from the Far North, unless... He looked at the "Yan Hui's trade with the barbarians" annotation on the panel, his eyes darkening.

Just after the third watch, the panel suddenly popped up a red light prompt: [The Net is under attack! Location: Wang family backyard!].

In the image, the Marshal of the Unruly was fighting with several Men in Black. The opponent's Moves were ruthless, and their cuffs were embroidered with silver lotus flowers—that was the symbol of the "Academy Guard" of Haoran Academy.

What was more troublesome was that the leading Men in Black actually knew the "Haoran Righteous Qi Technique," and wherever his palm wind swept, the blades of the Luowang Assassins would frost over.

"Initiate the backup plan," Jun Xiaoyao said softly to the panel.

A moment later, thick smoke suddenly ignited in the Wang family's backyard. Several black shadows rushed out from the firelight—it was the Marshal of the Unruly leading a squad of The Net. They held a brocade box in their hands, and behind them followed a person covered in a sack—it was Wang Yuanbao.

The Academy Guards were forced back by the thick smoke and could only watch helplessly as they disappeared into the night. No one noticed that the smoke was mixed with a peculiar fragrance that made one's eyelids feel heavy when smelled.

In the secret passage of the Underground Palace, the Marshal of the Unruly handed the brocade box to Jun Xiaoyao. The ledger in the box was densely filled with transaction records. One page read, "Third day of the third month, sent one hundred catties of black iron to the Black Wind Stockade in the northern border, Recipient: Barbarian Young Lord," and next to it was Yan Hui's personal signature.

"Young Lord, Wang Yuanbao has confessed," the Marshal of the Unruly removed his mask, which was stained with soot. "He said that Yan Hui makes him send a batch of supplies to the Black Wind Stockade every month. Besides black iron, there are also grain and medicine, claiming it to be 'aiding a friendly nation'."

Jun Xiaoyao flipped to the last page of the ledger and saw a line of small text: "First day of the sixth month, sent ten bottles of 'Mechanism Guide' for 'cleaning up' the remnants of The Net."

He threw the Purple Heart Grass to the Famous historical physician: "Prepare enough antidote; it seems the Academy is about to get serious."

As soon as he finished speaking, a commotion came from the entrance of the Underground Palace. General Qin Qiong walked in, carrying a person. The person was tied up tightly with a cloth stuffed in his mouth—it was the barbarian envoy who had escorted the Purple Heart Grass during the day. He had just tried to sneak into the Academy from the secret passage when he was caught red-handed by the patrolling General Qin Qiong.

"This guy is stubborn," General Qin Qiong threw the envoy onto the ground and twirled his double maces in his palms. "I hit him three times and he still wouldn't tell the truth, just shouting that he wanted to see Yan Hui."

Jun Xiaoyao looked at the wolf-tooth accessory on the envoy's waist, and the panel displayed: [Barbarian Young Lord "Meng Lie", Combat Power: Peak Grandmaster Realm, skilled in mounted archery and poison arts, the eldest son of the Barbarian Khan].

He signaled General Qin Qiong to untie the envoy. As soon as the envoy caught his breath, he glared and roared: "I am the Barbarian Young Lord, Meng Lie! If you dare to capture me, my father, the Khan, will surely lead his iron cavalry to raze Youzhou!"

"Raze Youzhou?" Jun Xiaoyao toyed with the Purple Heart Grass, "Then you have to ask Yan Hui if he agrees. The 'Mechanism Guide' he asked you to bring back, he wants you to poison your own people, right?"

Meng Lie stiffened suddenly, panic flashing in his eyes. The panel popped up new information at the right time: [Meng Lie traded with Yan Hui, intending to exchange for Central Plains military strategy, but he did not know that "Mechanism Guide" is a poison specially made for the Barbarian Physique; those who are poisoned will have their Meridians gradually harden].

"How do you know..." Meng Lie's words were cut off as the Famous historical physician pressed his shoulder. The Famous historical physician's fingertips rested on his wrist pulse, his brows locked tightly, "Young Lord, he has been poisoned by a chronic poison, which matches the symptoms of 'Mechanism Guide'. Fortunately, it has only just started to take effect, and it can be cured with Purple Heart Grass."

Jun Xiaoyao threw the Purple Heart Grass to Meng Lie: "If you want to live, tell me Yan Hui's plan."

Meng Lie looked at the Purple Heart Grass and gritted his teeth: "Yan Hui said... said he wanted to use the hands of my Barbarian tribe to weaken The Net. Once both sides were severely injured, he would lead the Academy Disciples to take over Youzhou, and then use 'Mechanism Guide' to poison all the barbarians who knew about it!"

He took a letter from his bosom, "This is his promise to me, saying that after it's done, he will crown me as the 'King of Youzhou'."

The letter was unfolded, covered with the vermilion seal of Haoran Academy, and the date was tomorrow morning—it seems Yan Hui intends to take action tomorrow.

Jun Xiaoyao slapped the letter onto the panel, and the panel instantly generated a "Counterattack Plan":

[1. General Qin Qiong leads the elite of The Net to ambush in the Academy's secret passage;

2. The Famous historical physician prepares the antidote to prevent the barbarians from turning against us;

3. The Marshal of the Unruly leads men to control Wang Yuanbao and make the ledger public;

4. Zhao Gao contacts Youzhou merchants to spread the evidence of Yan Hui's collusion with the enemy].

"General Qin Qiong," Jun Xiaoyao pointed his fingertip at the map of the secret passage on the panel, "Tomorrow morning, the Academy Guards will transport 'Mechanism Guide' from the secret passage to the Black Wind Stockade; you go and intercept them."

"The Famous historical physician, prepare enough Purple Heart Grass antidote; the barbarian side... might become an unexpected help."

"The Marshal of the Unruly, take the ledger to the Governor's Office and let that student of Yan Hui see what kind of person his respected teacher really is."

"Zhao Gao, make a hundred copies of the ledger and plaster them all over the streets of Youzhou after dawn, so the common people can see the true face of the 'Great Confucian'!"

The lights in the Underground Palace brightened with his words, reflecting the constantly rising "Beyond Heaven Influence Value" on the panel, which had jumped from "Qingzhou Second-rate" to "Youzhou First-rate."

Jun Xiaoyao leaned back on the throne, watching the sky outside the window gradually turn white, a cold arc curling at the corner of his mouth—Yan Hui probably didn't expect that the scheme he carefully laid out would instead become a stepping stone for the expansion of Beyond Heaven.