I Can Devour Spirits

Chapter 181: The Decision in the Carriage

"Are there any experts among Ximen Yong’s party?" Huang Gaizu asked, looking at Li Yiyang with a grim expression.

"I was just about to discuss this with you, Brother Gaizu," Li Yiyang said, his excitement fading and his voice turning deep. "Besides Ximen Yong himself, there are just some guards and miscellaneous workers. Black Tiger Stronghold can handle them. But Ximen Yong’s confidant, Yuan Shouzhi, is also accompanying him, and he is a martial artist of the Great Success Realm in the Inner Breath."

As Li Yiyang spoke, he lifted his eyes to observe Huang Gaizu’s expression.

When Huang Gaizu heard the name Yuan Shouzhi, his eyelid twitched noticeably, but he remained silent, his face revealing a mixed demeanor.

Li Yiyang felt a pang of anxiety. If Huang Gaizu spoke directly, the matter would be easy to handle, but his current silence meant that Li Yiyang had to make concessions.

Li Yiyang pondered for a moment and said, "Brother Gaizu, if you act and block Yuan Shouzhi for us, I will handle the rest. Once the job is done, we’ll split the silver coins fifty-fifty. How about it?"

Wang Zhaoxuan looked astonished when he heard about the fifty-fifty split and glanced at Li Yiyang.

The information came from their side, and they also contributed, so a seventy-thirty split would be more reasonable. After all, their stronghold leader wasn’t one to easily agree to such terms.

Li Yiyang didn’t want to split fifty-fifty either, but without Huang Gaizu’s help, Yuan Shouzhi alone could wipe them out. Li Yiyang had witnessed the prowess of martial artists at the Great Success Realm.

Upon hearing the fifty-fifty proposal, Huang Gaizu finally gave Li Yiyang a deep look and said, "I can step in for this, but Yuan Shouzhi is incredibly strong. I might not be able to hold him for long, so you’d best act quickly."

Li Yiyang was pleased to hear Huang Gaizu relent. He said, "Don’t worry, Brother Gaizu. My brothers aren’t amateurs either."

"Very well, Chief Li, tomorrow at dusk, let’s meet at Black Tiger Stronghold!" Huang Gaizu suddenly said.

"You’re straightforward, Brother Gaizu!" said Li Yiyang, raising his wine cup.

Huang Gaizu raised the wine cup in front of him. After clinking cups, they drank it all in one go.

After drinking, Huang Gaizu put down his wine cup, his figure blurred, and he leaped out of the window, disappearing into the vast night.

Li Yiyang turned his head to the window, where there was now nothing but darkness, with no trace of Huang Gaizu.

There was a flash of pain in Li Yiyang’s eyes.

"Big Brother, shall we leave too?" Wang Zhaoxuan asked as he looked at Li Yiyang.

"No rush," Li Yiyang turned his head toward the bed, where two women lay unconscious, his expression dark as he said, "We’ve already paid. These two whores shouldn’t get off so easily. I’ve made some sacrifices, so I need to make myself feel better through them."

As Li Yiyang spoke, his eyes gleamed with a beast-like ferocity. He picked up the wine jug, uncorked it, and let half of the contents pour down his throat. He then stood up, tore open his shirt, and walked toward the bed.

At that moment, Duan Rong withdrew his Divine Sense.

The time with his Divine Sense projected had been quite long, and his Divine Soul was beginning to feel a slight oppressive pain.

Duan Rong sat with a grave expression. The people at the table were still playing their games, with emotions running high, the sound of glasses clinking in the air.

Ximen Kankan had always excelled at these games, but when faced with Lan Ying, it was as if he met his nemesis, losing continually.

Lan Ying, usually as delicate as a willow, had rolled up her sleeves to reveal her soft white arms as she played against Ximen Kankan, leaving Hong Xue, who was watching, speechless in astonishment.

Having lost heavily, Ximen Kankan had drunk many cups. His drinking tolerance was never high, and now his round face was as red as a braised pig’s head.

By the end of the gathering, the three were thoroughly drunk. Duan Rong helped support Lan Ying with Hong Xue and took her to the bed behind a screen. Lan Ying’s hand rested on Duan Rong’s shoulder, wafting a fragrant breeze, and she giggled with her eyes half-closed, "Leaning by the door, smelling the green plum..."

They managed to get her onto the bed. Hong Xue looked at Duan Rong and said with a smile, "Good thing you’re not drunk. I couldn’t have handled her alone. But she seemed happy tonight... I’ve never seen her drink so joyfully before."

Duan Rong, burdened with many thoughts, had no energy for small talk with Hong Xue and only advised her to get some rest, then took his leave.

Hong Xue watched Duan Rong’s cold silhouette disappear and sighed softly. She walked up to Lan Ying’s bed and covered her with a blanket.

Duan Rong headed to the front hall, where Ximen Kankan and Jiang Qingyu were already drunk, rolling on the floor in laughter.

Duan Rong approached, scooped them up like a sack of grain, one under each arm, and walked out of Huaying Building.

The two attempted to resist, twisting their bodies like worms, but Duan Rong’s arms were like iron clamps, holding them tightly.

Outside Huaying Building, Shi Kang was waiting on a carriage. Seeing Duan Rong emerge with two people, he jumped in surprise. He quickly got down, took his young master from under Duan Rong’s arm, and helped him into the carriage.

Duan Rong carried Jiang Qingyu into the carriage as well. Shi Kang cracked the whip, and with the sound of wheels rolling, the carriage left Huaying Building.

The carriage swayed gently, and Duan Rong looked at Ximen Kankan, drunk and leaning in the corner. Duan Rong sat over, propped Ximen Kankan up, and gently patted his face. The fat on Ximen Kankan’s face trembled, and he opened his eyes slightly to glance at Duan Rong before letting them fall shut again.

Seeing Ximen Kankan awake, Duan Rong asked, "Kankan, I ask you, has Mr. Ximen been going to Prefecture City again these days?"

Ximen Kankan slurred, "Prefecture City... went... he’s been going often this past month..."

Duan Rong observed Ximen Kankan’s inebriated state, shook his head, and let him lean back into the corner to sleep.

Duan Rong did not plan to tell Ximen Kankan about the assassination plot against his father.

It was impossible to explain his source of information clearly.

It wasn’t something he could tell Ximen Kankan—that he had mastered the second layer of the Fetal Concealment Scripture and overheard it through Divine Sense Projection.

Duan Rong sat in the carriage, weighing the situation again and again.

Black Tiger Stronghold intended to assassinate Ximen Yong, but evidently, their forces were insufficient, which led them to seek out Huang Gaizu at Huaying Building.

Duan Rong vividly remembered Huang Gaizu’s initial hesitation. Clearly, he was wary of that martial artist named Yuan Shouzhi, who was in the Great Success Realm.

In the room, Duan Rong had used Divine Sense Penetration on the three individuals and, judging by the density and solidity of Inner Breath, Li Yiyang appeared to be a Third Level Inner Breath Realm martial artist, while Wang Zhaoxuan beside him was at the Second Level Inner Breath Realm.

These two were clearly the core members of Black Tiger Stronghold, and no other member could have martial arts beyond their level, which meant at most they could only be at the Second Level Inner Breath Realm as well.

Shi Kang, considering the distance, first dropped Duan Rong off at Yuan Shun Escort Agency and then prepared to take Jiang Qingyu to Jiang Mansion.

Duan Rong stood on the steps in front of Yuan Shun Escort Agency, his eyes gleaming as he watched the moonlit stone road where the carriage had just been. In that carriage, he had already decided to involve himself in this matter.