Chapter 44: A Betrayer in the Chen Family? The 300-Year-Old Ginseng Acquired!

Yanyun County.

The Chen Family Residence.

Council Hall.

At this moment, Chen Kun, dressed in a red robe and wearing a black hat, sat at the head of the table. His face was smooth and clean-shaven, emanating a terrifyingly sharp aura.

Seated on either side of the hall were six individuals.

Four of them were elderly men in their sixties, while the other two were middle-aged, including Chen Kun's second brother, Chen Xiao, and his cousin, Chen Yun.

Despite their age, the aura of the four elders was extremely formidable, though still not as overpowering as Chen Kun's.

"What is the origin of this Tianji Pavilion and Baixiao Shenjun? I had never heard of them before!"

"Why are they targeting our Chen family repeatedly?"

"More importantly, where are they getting their information?"

Chen Kun's sharp gaze swept across the high-ranking members of the Chen family present, his expression grim.

He had gathered these core family members to discuss eliminating the Lin and Su families yesterday afternoon. This morning, Tianji Pavilion had exposed their plans. Chen Kun couldn't believe there wasn't a traitor among them.

"Patriarch, we are all core family members here. Could it be that someone from Tianji Pavilion overheard our plans?"

"Yes, yes, maybe someone eavesdropped."

". . ."

Upon hearing Chen Kun's words, the elders began voicing their opinions.

"Since our plans have been exposed, we need to devise a new strategy to deal with the other two families."

"Do the elders have any suggestions?"

Chen Kun did not dwell too long on the matter and instead asked for new ideas.

He intended to create another plan while keeping an eye on these core family members to identify the traitor.

At noon.

Yanyun County. The county office was ablaze.

Three to four thousand enraged citizens wielding farm tools surrounded the county office, smashing and burning it. Deputy Chief Arresting Officer Ji Shun, along with nearly a hundred constables, attempted to intervene but were overwhelmed by the furious crowd.

County Magistrate Chen Hao and his advisor Ji Wuyuan were nowhere to be found.

"Fellow townsfolk! Under the protection of this scoundrel Chen Hao, our children, our dearest ones, have been cruelly experimented on by that old beast Li Hongfei! We would have never known if not for Tianji Pavilion and Baixiao Shenjun exposing the truth!"

"My beloved brother applied for an apprenticeship at Tongrentang ten years ago and disappeared without a trace! My parents cried themselves blind and passed away last year!"

"If it weren't for the scoundrel Chen Hao, would Li Hongfei have dared to be so rampant?"

"Fellow villagers, the dynasty is corrupt, the sky darkens, and with officials protecting each other, we have no way out! Prince Jin is purging the court and is benevolent. Why not join me, Qi Shun, in taking control of Yanyun County, seeking out and killing the scoundrel officials, and eliminating the old beast Li Hongfei, to welcome General Li Jingzhong's army into the city?"

At the forefront of nearly four thousand people, a burly middle-aged man with deep eyes and a loud voice wielded a long sword.

His words were highly persuasive, echoing far and wide.

"Kill the scoundrel Chen Hao! Avenge my son!"

"Use Li Hongfei's head to appease the souls of our children!"

"Are kings and ministers made from a different mold? Let's follow Prince Jin and welcome General Li Jingzhong's army! Achieve glory!"

"Kill the old beast Li Hongfei!"

". . ."

Under Qi Shun's incitement, nearly four thousand people, further agitated, stormed into the county office, trampling nearly a hundred constables underfoot.

Some even charged into nearby streets and shops.

Yanyun County.

Near the surging Hei River.

Fifteen miles from the Hei River, there was a ten-mile-wide forest of maple trees, known as Qingfeng Forest.

A one-zhang wide path ran through Qingfeng Forest.

It was late in the year, and the ground was covered in yellow leaves. A cold wind blew, causing the leaves to swirl in the air.

Qin Wang crouched behind a large maple tree, wearing a hooded yellowish-brown cloak that blended perfectly with the leaves, making him nearly invisible.

"It's already 3 o'clock; they should be here soon."

Qin Wang held a dagger, and beside him were two packets of anesthetic powder. This powder, made from thirty-six herbs, could incapacitate anyone below the first-rank martial artist upon ignition.

The packets contained flammable material that could be ignited with a spark.

At this moment.

Two miles away from Qin Wang, two riders galloped along the path.

Leading the way was a man in his mid-twenties, with a sword at his waist and a bundle on his back, riding swiftly. Behind him was a robust man also armed with a long sword.

"Young Master, this trip to Qingyun County went smoothly and safely."

The man in his forties behind Chen Tianyu spoke flatteringly.

"Hmm, thank you, Uncle Lin."

Chen Tianyu nodded in approval at his companion.

Chen Lin, his uncle, was at the early stage of the second rank. This time, he accompanied Chen Tianyu to Qingyun County to purchase a 300-year-old ginseng, and the journey had been smooth.

"Whinny!"

Chen Tianyu's horse suddenly snorted, its front legs buckling and falling to the ground.

"Ah!"

Caught off guard, Chen Tianyu tumbled down. He tried to get up but found himself weak and collapsed on the ground, unable to muster any inner strength. He saw his uncle also falling off his horse, looking at him in horror.

At this moment.

A fifty-year-old lean man in yellowish clothes with beast-skin gloves jumped to Chen Tianyu's side, snatched the bundle from his shoulder, and upon seeing its contents, showed a satisfied expression.

"This man is after the 300-year-old ginseng!"

Chen Tianyu was terrified. He hadn't expected to encounter a robber so close to Yanyun County. Now, he only hoped this robber would spare his life for the ginseng.

But soon.

He was filled with despair.

His uncle, Chen Lin, had his throat slit by a dagger, blood spraying onto Chen Tianyu's face.

"Sp-spare me."

Chen Tianyu tried to plead for his life but found his voice weak. He watched helplessly as the dagger sliced his throat, his consciousness fading.

"The 300-year-old ginseng is mine!"

Qin Wang checked the bundle, confirmed the ginseng, and searched Chen Tianyu, finding over five hundred taels of silver. He then erased all traces, including gouging out the eyes of the dead, and quickly left.

He destroyed the eyes because he had heard that the dying might retain the last image they saw. Whether true or not, Qin Wang decided to be cautious. Though troublesome, it gave him peace of mind.

Night.

Seven o'clock.

The Chen Family Residence.

In a luxurious wing, a frail old lady lay on a bed, attended by four lively young maids.

"Chuncao, has Xiaoyu returned yet?"

The old lady, Chen's matriarch, looked at the buxom maid beside her, her wrinkled face filled with concern.

"Madam, the young master hasn't returned yet. He's probably delayed on the road."

Chuncao stepped forward and replied.