: Building Intelligence, Xuan Shui True Skill! Fei Jianhua's Secret [Please Subscribe

Chapter 56: Building Intelligence, Xuan Shui True Skill! Fei Jianhua's Secret [Please Subscribe!]

It was almost noon, and the sun was scorching.

Su Yang changed into a short blue cloth shirt, wrapped the ring-pommel straight sword in coarse cloth and carried it on his back, then walked out of the cloth shop at a leisurely pace.

The street was noisy with people, and the heat wave mixed with the smell of dust hit us in the face.

He walked through the bustling crowd, his gaze sweeping over Old Sun's tea stall. Sure enough, Chen Wenyuan was sitting in the corner, clutching a package of oil paper tightly in his hands, his face pale, his eyes warily looking around.

Su Yang paused slightly as he walked past his table.

Chen Wenyuan was startled, hurriedly dropped two copper coins, grabbed the oil paper package, and followed with his head down.

The two of them, one in front of the other, entered the narrow, spiderweb-like alley.

After walking for about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, Su Yang stopped in front of a half-collapsed abandoned courtyard and slipped inside.

Chen Wenyuan followed closely behind.

The courtyard was overgrown with weeds, and only a dry well remained among the ruins, with a few clumps of wild grass swaying in the wind.

"My benefactor!"

Chen Wenyuan's voice was hoarse, his eyes were bloodshot, and there was a lingering bruise on his forehead. He unwrapped the oil paper package, inside were several crumpled sheets of paper with varying shades of ink.

"This is information I obtained at great personal risk."

He handed over the paper and spoke quickly: "Wang Jian, the leader of the Cao Gang, is temporarily acting as the gang leader, but he needs to take medicine every day, as he is suspected of having an unhealed hidden injury. He goes to a house in Guixiang Lane every fifteen nights."

"Scarface Zhang," a henchman of Zhao Hu, the gang leader, was a gambler who frequented the gambling dens in Happy Forest. In his drunken state, he once boasted about his fleet of smuggling salt, iron, and black carp, taking a hundred taels of silver from each trip.

"Qian Gui specializes in abducting poor girls from the southern part of the city. Eight girls were abducted last month and are suspected of being sold to Jiangbei. They are being transported by covered horse-drawn cart at midnight. An informant says a new batch arrives at the beginning of each month for temporary storage, with the next transport scheduled for about two weeks later."

Su Yang took the paper, his gaze sweeping over the words "sold to Jiangbei" for the eight girls. His fingers unconsciously tightened, his knuckles turning white.

He looked up at Chen Wenyuan, his voice deeper than before, carrying a suppressed chill: "These beasts! How did you find out?"

Chen Wenyuan's Adam's apple bobbed: "I sold my ancestral inkstone, lost money at the Qian Gui gambling den, and got a hoodlum who was guarding the place drunk—I overheard two drunk hoodlums talking about kidnapping, and almost got caught."

He touched the bruise on his forehead.

Su Yang remained silent for a moment, then carefully put the papers away.

The information is scattered, but the direction is clear: Wang Jian has weaknesses, Zhao Hu has flaws, and Qian Gui has something to hide.

He placed a heavy money bag on the edge of the dry well, making a slight "thump" sound.

"This is one hundred taels."

Su Yang said calmly, "Take this money and go to the south or west of the city to buy an inconspicuous courtyard. It should be a detached house, preferably with a backyard, in a secluded location, but with convenient access."

Chen Wenyuan stared at the money pouch, his Adam's apple bobbing.

One hundred taels of silver is enough to buy a nice mansion in Jingling.

"The courtyard is your place of refuge, and it will also be the foundation for our future."

Su Yang continued, "After you buy it, let me know. Leave a secret mark under the third brick in the southeast corner of the courtyard wall—draw an inconspicuous triangle. If I need to contact you, I will leave a message there."

"I understand."

Chen Wenyuan solemnly accepted the money bag, which felt quite heavy in his hand.

Su Yang then took out forty taels of loose silver and a string of copper coins from the package: "These are for starting up. Find three or five trustworthy brothers. They don't have to be experts, but they must be familiar with the streets, have good eyesight, and be tight-lipped. They can be peddlers, dockworkers, or waiters in teahouses—the key is that they have seen a lot and heard a lot."

He paused, his gaze sharpening: "Tell them they'll receive a monthly allowance of two taels of silver, with additional rewards for important information. But there's only one rule: they're only allowed to look and listen, not to ask questions, and certainly not to interfere without permission. If they're discovered or followed, they must immediately disconnect; their lives are the priority."

Su Yang knew this in his heart.

In the martial arts world, having intelligence is having the upper hand. While your simplified interface is powerful, it requires a constant stream of resources... martial arts manuals, rare medicinal herbs, special materials, and even certain people or events.

We can't always rely on luck to stumble upon something.

With this network, we can proactively search for what we need; without intelligence, we're like blind men!

"Yes, my benefactor!"

Chen Wenyuan took a deep breath, memorizing these details. He realized that his benefactor didn't need something for the moment, but rather a network that could take root in the shadows of Jingling for a long time.

"I want to see the basic form of this network within half a month."

Su Yang finally asked, "Can you do it?"

Chen Wenyuan gripped the money pouch tightly, his eyes regaining their light: "Rest assured, my benefactor! I will risk my life to weave this net!"

Chen Wenyuan bowed and accepted the money. Just as he was about to take his leave, Su Yang suddenly spoke up: "I'm giving you my first task."

Chen Wenyuan immediately stopped: "Please give your instructions, my benefactor."

Su Yang's voice was deep: "There is a steward named Fei in the Huang residence. He is about forty years old, thin and short, with a mustache and a sinister look in his eyes. He usually wears a gray-brown silk shirt and has a black jade pendant hanging from his waist."

He paused for a moment: "I need to know his recent whereabouts, when he left the manor, where he went, and who he met. You can find people to monitor him at the same time."

Chen Wenyuan memorized the characteristics, but a hint of hesitation appeared on his face: "My benefactor, the Huang residence is heavily guarded, and the steward usually travels by carriage or with attendants. I—"

"No need to follow too closely."

Su Yang interrupted him: "You just need to keep an eye on the teahouses, taverns, and inns along the route from the south to the west of the city. Especially after nightfall, if he really has something to do in private, he won't make a big fuss during the day."

He emphasized, "First, you need to get these three things done: buy the courtyard, find manpower, and keep an eye on Fei Jianhua. As for the canal gang, you can follow up on them if you have the resources. Remember, safety is paramount; it's better to lose them than to expose them."

"I understand!"

Chen Wenyuan nodded emphatically: "We will definitely find a safe and sound method."

Su Yang said no more and waved for him to leave.

Chen Wenyuan bowed again, turned and quickly disappeared into the shadows of the alley.

The moonlight is bright and clear, and there is a dilapidated temple outside Jingling City.

Amidst the ruins, Wang Jian, the acting leader of the Cao Gang, stood in the shadows, dressed in a tight-fitting outfit with a long sword slung across his waist, his face somber.

Before him stood a man in black, dressed in a tight-fitting black outfit and wearing a ferocious tiger mask. Two cold, sharp lights shone from the hollowed-out tiger eyes, as if they could pierce through people's hearts.

"The acting gang leader is punctual."

The tiger-faced man's voice was hoarse, like the friction of ice shards, devoid of any emotion.

Wang Jian clasped his hands in a fist salute, his tone solemn: "You summoned me so late at night, what brings you here? With Chief Liu assassinated, the Canal Gang is in a state of panic, and I really have no time to deal with irrelevant matters."

"Irrelevant matters?"

The tiger-faced man sneered, his voice suddenly turning fierce, causing the temperature inside the dilapidated temple to plummet: "That good-for-nothing Liu Meng was originally a pawn I planted in the Canal Gang. His life was always in my hands. His death is nothing to regret. But the Canal Gang's territory still has value. If you want to stabilize the situation and solidify your position as gang leader, you have to listen to me."

Wang Jian's pupils contracted, and he clenched his fists: "Who exactly are you? Why are you helping me? Chief Liu—is he really related to you?"

""

You don't need to know who I am.

The tiger-faced man raised his hand, and an object wrapped in oilcloth was tossed through the air.

Wang Jian reached out and caught it. It felt light in his hand. He unwrapped the oilcloth and found a thread-bound manual with a blackened cover. The five seal characters on the cover, "Mysterious Water True Skill. Part 1," were powerful and vigorous, exuding a gentle yet majestic aura.

"This is... only the first volume?"

A look of wild joy flashed in Wang Jian's eyes, followed by a look of vigilance.

"The Mysterious Water True Skill is gentle and profound, with a long-lasting internal force, which can make up for your weak foundation."

The tiger-faced man spoke calmly, his Xuan Shui True Qi circulating within him, giving his voice a penetrating and oppressive quality: "This first volume is enough to make your internal strength surge and subdue those old fogies within the Canal Gang who don't submit to you."

"What do you want me to do?"

Wang Jian instantly calmed down; there's no such thing as a free lunch.

"It's very simple."

The tiger-faced man stepped forward, his gaze behind the tiger mask growing even sharper, the oppressive aura of condensed Xuan Shui True Qi emanating from him: "Stabilize the Canal Gang, keep an eye on any movement in Jingling City for the Master, and control the Jinling canal transport route. If you succeed, the position of Canal Gang leader will be yours, and I will inform the Master in the future to bestow upon you the title. If you fail—there are plenty of people who want to replace you."

He paused, his voice carrying an undeniable authority: "Practice this internal skill well, and don't disappoint me. Remember, your rise to power is entirely due to my whim. Liu Meng's fate is a warning for you."

Wang Jian gripped the manual tightly, his fingertips turning white from the force.

The allure of the first volume of the Xuan Shui True Skill was too great, and his desire to stabilize the Cao Gang and solidify his position as gang leader made it impossible for him to refuse.

He took a deep breath, bowed, and said in a solemn voice, "Your subordinate understands! I will certainly not fail your trust!"

The tiger-faced man nodded in satisfaction, his figure disappearing into the darkness outside the temple like a ghost, leaving behind only a cold instruction: "Within three months, I want to see you completely control the Canal Gang. You'll slowly experience the power of the secret manual. If there's anything you don't understand, I'll send someone to secretly guide you."

Wang Jian stood still, looking at the Xuan Shui True Skill in his hand, his eyes burning with ambition.

With Liu Meng dead, the Canal Gang is in turmoil. Only by cultivating profound inner strength can one grasp one's own destiny in this chaotic world and safeguard this hard-won position of power.

time flies.

Five days have passed in the blink of an eye.

【Nourishing Life and Strengthening Vitality Exercise (Small Success 8842/12500)】

【Broken Army Tiger Soul Blade (Minor Completion 1201/5000)】

【Forty-Nine Styles of the Overlord Blade. Incomplete (Beginner 1396/2000)】

For the past five days, Su Yang has been staying at the cloth shop to improve his martial arts proficiency and enhance his strength.

He ate purple lingzhi and old hen soup for every meal, which increased his proficiency in the Nourishing Life Skill by 900 points every day. His proficiency in the Nourishing Life Skill increased greatly, and his internal strength improved significantly.

Iron Head Kung Fu, Iron Broom Kung Fu, and Flowing Cloud Steps have all been perfected.

His physical strength increased greatly, especially his head and legs. With the power of his legs, he could easily sweep down camphor trees as thick as a bowl, and his Iron Head Technique could smash through large blue bricks and stones without any damage.

It was dusk that day.

Su Yang changed into a slightly worn gray cloth shirt, slung a straight sword with a ring pommel over his shoulder, and walked out of the back door of the cloth shop at a leisurely pace.

He circled the market twice to make sure no one was following him, then turned into Osmanthus Lane in Xicheng.

The third house deep in the alley had a low courtyard wall and a peeling paint on the door, looking no different from an ordinary dwelling. Su Yang walked to the southeast corner of the courtyard wall and ran his fingertip across the third blue brick—creating a faint triangular mark.

He knocked on the door three times, twice lightly and once heavily.

Footsteps came from inside the door, the door opened, and Chen Wenyuan poked his head out. Upon seeing Su Yang, he quickly stepped aside to let him in.

The yard wasn't big, but it was kept very clean.

Several vegetable patches were planted in the front yard. There were three main rooms, with the west wing serving as the kitchen and the east wing door tightly closed. A clever-looking boy of about fifteen or sixteen was drawing water from the well. Upon seeing Su Yang, he quickly bowed and greeted him.

"This is a small bean."

Chen Wenyuan said in a low voice, "It's one of us."

Su Yang nodded and walked straight into the main room.

The room was simply furnished, but it was complete with tables and chairs, and a pot of freshly brewed coarse tea was placed on the table.

"Please sit down, my benefactor."

Chen Wenyuan closed the door and took out a land deed from his pocket, placing it on the table: "This is the courtyard, with two sections, front and back, and a backyard with a sweet water well. It's in a secluded location, but only two alleys away from the main street, making it convenient to get in and out."

Su Yang glanced at the land deed: "Is the money enough?"

"One hundred taels is more than enough; this courtyard only cost seventy-five taels."

Chen Wenyuan then took out a money bag from his sleeve: "The remaining twenty-five taels are here, along with the forty taels of start-up silver given by our benefactor. Twelve taels were used to settle the brothers down and buy them clothes, leaving fifty-three taels."

As he spoke, he handed over a thin ledger: "Every expense is recorded here. Please take a look, my benefactor."

"7

Su Yang didn't take the account book, but waved his hand and said, "You can decide how to use the money. I just want the results."

His gaze fell on Chen Wenyuan's face: "How's the search going these past few days?"

Chen Wenyuan's spirits lifted: "Reporting to my benefactor, I have found three reliable brothers. One is Sun Liuzi, an old laborer who has worked at the docks for ten years," who, despite his leg disability, has an extremely sharp eye. Another is Xiao Douzi from outside, who knows every street and alley well. The third is "Old Zhou," the waiter at the Yuelai Inn, who used to be a镖师 (bodyguard/escort) and has an excellent ability to recognize people and things."

"Did they receive resettlement allowance?"

"Each person was given five taels upfront, with an agreement that they would receive two taels of silver as a monthly allowance."

Chen Wenyuan said, "Xiaodouzi's family has a blind old mother, so they gave him an extra three taels for medicine. Old Zhou's back injury flared up again, so they also gave him two taels to help with his medical treatment."

Su Yang nodded and took out thirty taels of silver from his pocket: "Take these and buy them winter clothes, and also prepare some emergency funds."

Remember, pay the full amount, explain the rules clearly, but also show consideration for others.

"I understand."

Chen Wenyuan accepted the silver, his face showing gratitude. His expression suddenly turned serious, and he lowered his voice, saying, "By the way, benefactor, I have news of Fei Jianhua this afternoon! I was just about to report it to you! That fellow and Wang Jian's nephew, Wang Zhen, went to a house at the very end of Guixiang Lane and didn't come out until half an hour later!"

Are you sure?

Su Yang's heart stirred.

Fei Jianhua is the steward of the Huang family. How could he be involved with Wang Jian's nephew from the Canal Gang?

"Absolutely true!"

Chen Wenyuan nodded emphatically: "Xiao Douzi is clever. Under the pretense of looking for his lost cat, he struck up a conversation with a few old women sunbathing at the alley entrance. The old women mentioned that the house was secluded and rarely visited, but every fifteen days after nightfall, an unmarked carriage would stop at the side gate to pick up a girl carrying a pipa, and would only return her at the crack of dawn."

Su Yang's gaze narrowed slightly: "Every five nights of the ten-day period, a carriage picks up the woman carrying a pipa—this practice seems to be a habit of some people who keep mistresses."

"That's uncertain."

Chen Wenyuan said, "Xiaodouzi said that when Fei Jianhua and Wang Zhen came out, Fei Jianhua had a heavy cloth bag in his hand, which looked like an account book or a letter box."

Su Yang tapped his fingertips lightly on the table twice.

If that really was Wang Jian's mistress's residence, and Fei Jianhua and Wang Zhen were meeting there in secret, the implications would be quite different. It would not only be a meeting place, but more likely a secret liaison point to avoid the many eyes and ears of the Grand Canal Gang headquarters.

"A nephew who manages the accounts and a steward who oversees affairs, choosing to meet in a private residence outside the main room—" Su Yang's voice grew colder: "It seems they are discussing shady dealings that cannot be brought to light. The contents of that cloth bag are probably not ordinary account books."

He knew it in his heart.

If Fei Jianhua gets his hands on the account books, he's doomed.