Firmament Sword

CRACK!

Another clap of thunder echoed from outside, followed by the low, rolling sound of thunder. A torrential downpour immediately followed.

POUR! POUR! POUR!

The sky outside quickly went from dark to a hazy white. The heavy rain struck the ground, kicking up a white mist that fused into a single sheet, making it impossible to see even a few meters away.

As the downpour began, the expression on Zhang Danian’s handsome, youthful face gradually grew calm.

”So be it! I was favored by my father-in-law, rising from a small-town youth to the respected, wealthy magnate I am today. Now that he is in trouble, what does it matter if I risk my life to help him? As for the rights and wrongs of it... I’ll let future generations be the judge!”

As he spoke, Zhang Danian took a set of black clothes from a cabinet in his study. The garments shimmered like ink jade with a dark, glossy luster. This was no ordinary fabric!

It was the hide of an Ink Jade Flood Dragon—a Spirit Beast native to the deep Northern Mountain Range!

Ink Jade Flood Dragon hide was impervious to fire and water, and could even block a portion of an attack’s True Essence! It was incredibly tough and worth a fortune.

Two years ago, Zhang Danian had obtained it from an Adventurer. That Adventurer had originally been a friend of his, and one night after some drinks, he’d bragged about finding an Ink Jade Flood Dragon deep in the Northern Mountain Range. It had likely died in a battle between Spirit Beasts. At the time, its gallbladder was already gone, probably eaten by the Spirit Beast that killed it.

The Ink Jade Flood Dragon’s blood had been completely drained, leaving only its most valuable part—the hide—untouched.

The Adventurer went to great lengths to skin the Ink Jade Flood Dragon, and he bragged about it while drinking with Zhang Danian.

Shortly after, the Adventurer died suddenly at home. The Ink Jade Flood Dragon hide he had chanced upon, which he believed would keep his family financially secure for three generations, appeared in Zhang Danian’s hands.

After having it made into a set of clothes, Zhang Danian had never once worn it. This mission was anything but ordinary, and Zhang Danian had to bring his full capabilities to bear to handle whatever might happen next.

Therefore, the Ink Jade Flood Dragon armor had to be worn!

RAT-A-TAT-TAT...

A squall drove the torrential rain against the windows, creating a sharp, rattling sound.

Zhang Danian’s mood mirrored the torrential rain. Now that he had made his decision, the anxiety and fear of the past few days finally vanished, replaced by a steely resolve on his handsome face.

”Once this is done, I’ll tell my father-in-law I’m taking my wife to run far away from here, to have nothing more to do with the affairs of this world!” Zhang Danian muttered to himself as he prepared to put on the Ink Jade Flood Dragon armor.

Just then, the door was suddenly pushed open. A cold gust of wind rushed in, carrying raindrops with it.

”Didn’t I give orders that no one was to enter without my permission!” Zhang Danian’s hand trembled slightly, pressing down on the Ink Jade Flood Dragon armor. At the same time, he discreetly slid the desk drawer shut.

His handsome face filled with fury. But the moment he looked up, his gaze froze. ”Who are you?” he asked in a heavy tone.

Yuan Yi glanced coldly at Zhang Danian, then his gaze fell upon the Ink Jade Flood Dragon armor on the desk. ”This looks pretty good,” he said flatly. ”We can give it to the young master.”

Li Yu nodded, smiling. ”I hear it’s made from the hide of an Ink Jade Flood Dragon. It can block a portion of True Essence, is impervious to fire and water, and is incredibly tough. It’s a fine item.”

Tang Yong said coldly, ”No wonder this brat was willing to kill his friend and his family to get this. Even I’m tempted just looking at it.”

”Is there anything you’re not tempted by, Boss Tang?” Yuan Ren chimed in from the side, his tone deadpan.

Tang Yong scratched his head. ”Men!”

”Get lost!” the others cursed in unison.

Zhang Danian’s face was deathly pale as he stared at the men in terror. Who they were was no longer important. What mattered was that they were clearly here for him, and... they seemed to have dug up all his dirty secrets.

They even knew something as secret as him murdering his friend to steal the Ink Jade Flood Dragon hide... ’How much more do they know?’

”Just say it. What do you want?” Zhang Danian, surprisingly, calmed down. He had to figure out why this group had gone to such great lengths to investigate him, appearing before him as if out of thin air.

”What do we want? Wealth Master Zhang, we’re here for your life, of course.” Yuan Yi gave a cold smile and walked toward Zhang Danian. ”However, if you’re willing to cooperate, you might just keep your life and run off with your lovely wife. If... you refuse to cooperate, well, then I’m afraid we’ll have to kill your beloved little wife first, then your son. And we’ll do it right in front of you!”

”You... you’re going too far!” The previously calm Zhang Danian exploded in fury at Yuan Yi’s words. He shot to his feet, veins bulging on his forehead, and snarled through gritted teeth, ”Leave my wife and child out of this! You’ll face retribution for this!”

”Tch. So you know about leaving families out of it. Did you ever consider that when you murdered your friend’s entire family to steal that Ink Jade Flood Dragon hide?” Yuan Yi sneered.

”Fine... tell me how you want me to cooperate.” Like a deflated ball, Zhang Danian collapsed back into his chair, his face ashen.

”This cooperation is very simple. You just need to confess everything you’ve done for your powerful father-in-law over the years, write it all down clearly, then sign and add your thumbprint. Do that, and we’ll let you live,” Yuan Yi said coldly. ”That includes... this recent business... the thing you’re about to do! Listen carefully... Do... not... give... me... the... chance... to kill... you!”

Yuan Yi spoke these last words through clenched teeth. He was filled with an utter loathing for Wealth Master Zhang. When he first learned what Zhang Danian was planning, he’d wanted to grab a blade and subject this magnate—so well-regarded in town—to death by a thousand cuts!

Tang Yong, Yuan Ren, and Li Yu had all wanted to do the same!

Tang Yong and Li Yu, in particular, were filled with an unparalleled rage.

Because years ago, they had been framed in just such a manner!

Now Prime Minister Wei was pulling a similar scheme again, and... this time, it was even more vicious. He was plotting to sacrifice the lives of tens of thousands of soldiers!

This was no longer about toppling Xu Ji; this was an attempt to destroy the very foundation of Cangqiong!

Yet, when the men had gathered, they first vented their explosive rage for a long while. After they finally calmed down and analyzed the situation, they had to admit—though the fury still burned within them—that a living Zhang Danian was far more valuable than a dead Wealth Master Zhang.

At first, they had found it strange. After regrouping with their old comrades-in-arms, why had the young master sent them to this small northern border town to watch over an ordinary wealthy man?

It wasn’t until they had investigated Zhang Danian’s true identity and all the things he’d done in the past that they understood why Xu Luo had sent them here. It was this very incident that made them pledge their complete loyalty to the prodigious young man, Xu Luo.

’He’s so young, yet he can even grasp the Prime Minister’s deepest secrets. Following a man like this... do we even need to worry about our future?’

Back then, Tang Yong and the others hadn’t hated Zhang Danian so intensely. After all, the world was full of villains, and they were long past the age of playing heroes. They wouldn’t have come to loathe him this much if his latest planned deed hadn’t crossed their absolute bottom line.

Zhang Danian’s face was pale, his mind in turmoil. He knew that if he didn’t talk, he would die today without a doubt. The killing intent radiating from these men made it clear their threat against his wife and child was no joke. If he did talk, he would likely have to spend the rest of his life as a fugitive, wandering the world with his family.

As for whether Prime Minister Wei would spare them out of fatherly affection, Zhang Danian didn’t even entertain the thought. His wife was only the daughter of a concubine; even if she were the legitimate heir, there was no way Prime Minister Wei would spare his family if he truly betrayed him.

”Fine, I’ll talk. But you have to promise not to kill me or harm my family after I’ve spoken.” Zhang Danian raised his head, his expression defeated, and looked at Yuan Yi and his men. ”If you don’t make that promise, I won’t open my mouth.”

”Don’t worry. We said we wouldn’t kill you, and we mean it. Not only will we not kill you, we’ll even protect your family!” Yuan Yi chuckled slyly.

”You... you intend to put me under house arrest?” Zhang Danian cried out.

”House arrest? No, not house arrest.” Yuan Yi shook his head, sneering at Zhang Danian. ”Do you really think you can betray your father-in-law and he won’t notice? That he’ll let you go? Dream on! We’re *protecting* you. Otherwise, the world may be vast, but you tell me: where could you possibly hide?”

Zhang Danian’s face was pale, sweat trickling down his forehead. He muttered, ”You’re right, there’s nowhere... Even if I fled to a neighboring kingdom, I’d be hunted down...”

”So, rest assured. As long as you cooperate obediently, not only will we guarantee your family’s safety, but... in the future, you might even receive an official title and rank! Not like now, where you’re sitting on a mountain of wealth but can only be a local bigwig in this small town!” Li Yu added from the side in a placid tone.

After the threats came the enticement!

Sure enough, a faint light sparked in Zhang Danian’s eyes. He looked at Li Yu. ”A future... I can still have a future?”

”Of course. If you cooperate with us now, you’ll have performed a great service. How could our master not reward you for it?” Li Yu said with a smile, forcing himself to suppress his revulsion for the man.

”Alright, I’ll talk!”

「...」

”Third Brother, if we’re heading to your fief, we still need to make some preparations. If we go rashly, I’m afraid the path ahead will be difficult,” Huangfu Chongzhi said softly. ”Never mind bandits, I’m afraid even the local magnates will try to give us trouble!”

”Local magnates? Who would dare call themselves a magnate in our presence?” Liu Feng laughed.

”You can’t look at it that way. You rarely venture out. You can ask your Third Brother here, was the Hongcheng Wei Family so easy to eliminate?” said Huangfu Chongzhi.

Xu Luo shook his head. ”Without Li Hong’s help and the Old City Lord’s all-or-nothing gamble, destroying the Hongcheng Wei Family... would have been very difficult!”