Su Mu let Liu Qing leave. Su Mu wouldn’t easily pass up this great opportunity to obtain the prescription that had co to his doorstep. He’d play it by ear tomorrow night. With that in mind, Su Mu reached out and took out the Tiger Head Profound Order, which symbolized the Lord of the Cyan Cloud Demon Slayer Bureau.
"Perhaps I can make sothing out of this too."
Su Mu’s eyes flickered. Originally, this token was only given to him by Li Zhihe to use if he encountered trouble while in Canghe County. However, the token sparked other thoughts in Su Mu’s mind.
Even a chicken feather could be used as an arrow; a token that represented the presence of the Demon Slayer Director was naturally more intimidating.
It’s just that plans couldn’t keep up with changes. Su Mu’s original plan to set out for Canghe County needed to be postponed for two days due to the interference of this Vice Gang Leader Shangguan from the Qingfeng Gang.
After confirming that there was no tail behind him, Su Mu didn’t restore his true appearance and instead hurried to the Black Heart Pharmacy in the eastern part of the city. The ti around the New Year was a season for tonics, and while business at the Renxin Pharmacy wasn’t booming, there were quite a few custors.
This year, a new face appeared in the pharmacy, a fifteen or sixteen-year-old dicine boy bustling around. When he saw Su Mu arrive, he stole a mont to step forward and welco him.
"What would you like to see, custor?"
"Xiaoluo, you go take care of your tasks, I’ll attend to this guest," said a rotund shopkeeper with a smiling face just as the dicine boy finished speaking.
The shopkeeper then brought Su Mu to a quiet study room in the inner courtyard.
"Hero Li, you haven’t visited my shop for days,"
The man in front, with a face full of greed, was nad Zhang Ping, the shopkeeper of the Black Heart Pharmacy. Nearly two years ago, especially when the Pharmacist first started researching Gu Poison, Su Mu often ca to buy dicinal ingredients from Zhang Ping.
In fact, Zhang Ping could be considered one of Su Mu’s old friends here in Qingyun City; when Su Mu first announced the na Li Feiyu, it was also at this place.
Maintaining the arrogant persona of Li Feiyu, Su Mu said, "I want to inquire about soone."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Ping rubbed his hands together, knowing instinctively this was a big deal. He personally watched as Li Feiyu in front of him rose from an unknown minor figure to one with unparalleled boxing and stick skills.
"No problem, no problem. Who might Hero Li be inquiring about?"
"Qingfeng Gang, Vice Gang Leader Shangguan."
Hearing that na, Zhang Ping’s expression changed, stroking his beard, "Hero Li, this person’s information is not easy to get..."
"Na your price."
"Hero Li, you are straightforward. It’s not like there’s no way to get this person’s information," Zhang Ping pondered for a mont, "Give three days. How about fifty taels?"
"No, I can only give you a day. I’ll co to pick it up by noon tomorrow."
With these words, Zhang Ping looked troubled, and seeing this display of greed, Su Mu knew there was hope—Zhang Ping indeed had his thods, and this display was rely to hike the price.
"One hundred taels."
"Alright, deal."
"I want detailed information about him, including general information about the Qingfeng Gang... and I also want information about Liu Qing."
"That can be done."
Su Mu imdiately paid one hundred taels. After receiving it, Zhang Ping stroked the silver for quite a while, looking as if he wished he could dive into the money itself.
Before leaving, Su Mu asked Zhang Ping a cold question, "Shopkeeper Zhang, you’re not from the Hundred Elixir Tower, are you?"
Zhang Ping’s greedy deanor shivered, his expression changing before he laughed.
"If this old man could enter that Hundred Elixir Tower, I’d be set for life, worry-free. Unfortunately, I wasn’t born with such a wealthy fate," he said, then cheerfully pocketed the silver before standing up, "I’ll see Hero Li out."
Upon leaving the Renxin Pharmacy, Su Mu actually had so speculations about Zhang Ping’s background.
Though at first, Su Mu got to know the money-loving Zhang Ping through the Hundred Elixir Tower, after so interaction, Su Mu believed that this guy wasn’t from the Hundred Elixir Tower. Thus, Su Mu speculated that perhaps he was soone from the Qingfeng Gang, White Jade Gang, or the Xiao Family.
After all, ordinary people didn’t have such a reliable information network, surely he was backed by so major force.
After today, Su Mu believed that Zhang Ping was likely from the governnt office.
The Qingyun Governnt Office was divided into three factions: Tao and two Lis. Tao was, of course, the Magistrate Tao, who took office a few years ago, while the two Lis referred to County Captain Li and Demon Slayer Li.
Among them, the greatest power was naturally the Magistrate Tao, who governed the entire county. Next was County Captain Li, who managed law and order, labor conscription, and had the authority to dispatch the Cyan Cloud Army. Lastly was Su Mu’s nominal superior, Li Zhihe.
Though Li Zhihe was of the sa rank as Magistrate Tao, both were Junior Seventh Grade. The Demon Slayer Bureau was an empty shell. The registered assassins were essentially another form of tributor, except that the assassins operated with more freedom.
The Cyan Cloud Demon Slayer Bureau essentially had only its intelligence network remaining. For example, today, Li Zhihe suggested that if he encountered trouble in Canghe County, he could seek help at the Fulin Inn in Xiahe Town.
"Being able to set up an intelligence network in a neighboring county..."
Su Mu realized he had likely underestimated the Demon Slayer Bureau’s intelligence network. The fact that Li Zhihe could reveal one such site ant there was certainly more than one intelligence point set up in neighboring counties. The Tiger Head Profound Order and the Fulin Inn in Xiahe Town gave Su Mu a sudden insight.
Renxin Pharmacy was perhaps another ’Fulin Inn’. Both had similarities as forms of intelligence agencies.
"Zhang Ping... is most likely soone placed in the Hundred Elixir Tower by the Demon Slayer Bureau."
This was one of the reasons Su Mu sought Zhang Ping. With Zhang Ping being backed by the Demon Slayer Bureau, the fact that Su Mu ca to inquire about soone would probably reach Li Zhihe’s ears.
Doing this ensured that the Demon Slayer Bureau was inford, allowing for better leverage and access to more detailed intelligence quicker. Intelligence from other forces simply couldn’t compare to that of the Demon Slayer Bureau, which was established to monitor local affairs.
In Su Mu’s eyes, the Cyan Cloud Demon Slayer Bureau, having lost its own martial power, was a special intelligence agency.
At the mont, Su Mu left with large strides, and after blending into the crowd, he erged from a small alley having regained his true form, returning to the courtyard on Yanque Street to begin martial arts practice.
Shortly after Su Mu left, Shopkeeper Zhang Ping of Renxin Pharmacy instructed a dicine boy with a few words, then went out to deliver dicine to a custor.
The night passed without words, and Su Mu, as the party involved in this Banquet of Hongn, spent it as if he were uninvolved, imrsed in cultivation.
The next day, around noon, Su Mu only leisurely went out after having lunch.
In the inner courtyard of Renxin Pharmacy, Zhang Ping closed the room door and handed over a thick envelope, "Hero Li, everything you requested is in here. Please burn this letter after reading."
At this mont, Su Mu took out the letter and began to peruse it.
"Shangguan Feng, a native of Qingzhou Prefecture, ca to Changfeng County with his mother in his youth; his younger brother Shangguan Qing caught a cold on the road and died..."
"Later joined the Qingfeng Gang serving Gu Feng, rose to beco the current Vice Gang Leader. Five years ago, he was a Junior Seventh Grade martial artist who underwent Second-Ti Tendon Transformation, proficient in using the Female and Male Dual Swords. His trusted confidants within the gang include Iron Shirt Lu Heng, Poisonous Lady Zhou Erniang, Gale Saber Zheng Shan..."
"Liu Qing, one of the orphans raised by the Qingfeng Gang since childhood, was rewarded a Tendon Pill three years ago by Shangguan Feng and advanced to Junior Seventh Grade, skilled in stealth techniques, cunning and capable..."
Su Mu read through the intelligence in the letter sheet by sheet, his eyes involuntarily lighting up.
"Know yourself and know your enemy, and you shall win a hundred battles... This one hundred taels of silver was well spent!"
At this point, Su Mu beca even more convinced that Zhang Ping was a person from the Demon Slayer Bureau.
Such detailed intelligence, such ticulous conduct, all aligned with the style of the Demon Slayer Bureau.
The letter also included the general factions within the Qingfeng Gang, with Gu Feng leading the largest faction, Shangguan Feng the second, and a Master Luo who had recently risen rapidly, gaining much support from gang mbers and elders.
After finishing reading, Su Mu handed the letter back, and Zhang Ping couldn’t help but be a bit surprised.
"Does Hero Li not need to look over it a bit longer?"
"No need."
Zhang Ping was startled, then lit a candle and burned the letter, the flickering fla casting shadows as Zhang Ping spoke in a deep voice.
"Hero Li, the reason the Qingfeng Gang can be one of the Five Great Powers of Cyan Cloud is partly because of its foundation, and partly because of the strength of this Gang Leader Gu. It would be wise not to provoke them lightly."
Su Mu’s eyes condensed; there wasn’t much information about Gu Feng in the letter, only indicating that over twenty years ago he was already a top martial artist among the Three Counties, fad alongside Cold Blade Elder of Canghe County, and Hong Saber Instructor of Changfeng County.
The Cyan-faced Bat King Wei Ming was just a junior before these people, and with twenty years having passed without them making appearances, their true strength was now unknown.
Zhang Ping was subtly reminding not to lightly provoke Gu Feng.
Su Mu remained silent, and left Renxin Pharmacy with large strides, after which he returned to the courtyard and opened a cabinet, filled with small porcelain bottles.
Among them were leftovers from Pharmacist detoxifications, and so pilfered by the Little Doctor from the dicine cabinet, containing various antitoxic dicines.
"Poisonous Lady Zhou Erniang, huh?"
Su Mu took out a few small porcelain bottles, poured a pellet from each, wrapped them in a handkerchief, and also took out a flask of dicinal wine in case of need.
At this ti, Su Mu glanced at a Snow Silkworm Treasure Armor lying quietly in the cabinet, another piece acquired while taking down Zhou Qing, almost forgotten.
"Next ti, I might send one to the Pharmacist and Little Doctor... and who knows, I might acquire another one or two tonight, just depends on what Lord Shangguan plans to do."
Then Su Mu boiled a pot of water, poured in two doses of Five-Complete Muscle-Strengthening Soup at once, and subrged himself entirely.
Ti passed by in this manner, the setting sun sinking in the west, the night descending upon the land.
"Ti to go to the banquet."
Su Mu stood up from the bathtub, water droplets sliding down the chiseled, power-exuding contours of his muscles, wiped his body clean, and wore soft armor and clothing.
The young man opened the door and went out, transforming into Li Feiyu under the cover of night.
Tongfu Restaurant was located midway in East City Market, situated in Changxing Square, with five layered eaves towering toward the Cyan Cloud, sowhat faded red lacquered pillars between which hung many plaques inscribed with poetry from literati.
Tongfu Restaurant’s vermillion doors were tightly closed today, the eight red lanterns hanging under the eaves swayed violently in the cold wind, ten Qingfeng Gang disciples in profound robes and vigorous attire, each girded with a Yanling Saber, were stationed in two rows guarding the front of Tongfu Restaurant.
Passersby from Cyan Cloud averted their eyes and walked briskly in silence.
Transford into Li Feiyu, Su Mu approached the restaurant, imdiately drawing the attention of the ten Qingfeng Gang disciples, prompting soone to quickly turn and enter the building to report.
Soon, a hurried set of footsteps emanated from the restaurant, and yesterday’s Liu Qing, clad in azure attire, appeared. Upon seeing Su Mu alone, his eyes brightened, and a peculiar glint passed through the depths of his pupils.
Li Feiyu truly did not know the severity of the situation, daring to co alone; after tonight, the na of the Unparalleled Boxing and Stick Skills would be erased from Cyan Cloud.
"Hero Li, I’ve finally waited for you!" Liu Qing exclaid with a beaming smile, showing considerable respect as he clasped his hands and bowed in greeting, "Our Lord Shangguan has been waiting for a long ti, with wine and dishes prepared, please co upstairs for a chat!"
"Lead the way."
Su Mu only uttered indifferently.
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