Lingxi. The study.
Chen Li sat cross-legged.
Cultivation for the Void Transformation stage was difficult and slow. Every time he used his Inner Qi as fuel to ignite the Divine Flame and temper his Divine Sense, he endured immense pain and exhaustion.
But with each session he endured, his Divine Soul would solidify a little more, and the Power of Divine Sense he could command would grow stronger.
With the Sweet Wind Jade Dew Heaven-Repairing Creation Pill to repair the Fire Poison in his meridians, he could temper his soul with the Divine Flame without worry.
He could clearly perceive through Introspection that deep within his sea of consciousness, inside his Divine Hall Acupoint, the once-blurry and illusory Divine Sense Illusion was slowly solidifying at a visible rate.
Its outline was gradually becoming clearer, and it even faintly emitted a soft glow, like the embryo of a god in gestation.
Suddenly.
A soft patter of footsteps came from outside the study.
"Master, a constable from the County Magistrate’s Office is here. He says the Lord County Magistrate has sent an invitation," his maid, Nan Xing, announced from outside.
"Show him in."
Chen Li slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a long, turbid breath. He guided the surging Inner Breath in his body back to his Dantian, then ended his session and rose to his feet.
Soon, a constable wearing a Black Slave Uniform with an Iron Ruler at his waist was led in. His attitude was reasonably respectful.
Upon seeing Chen Li, the constable cupped his hands in greeting and took from his robes an official document stamped with the County Magistrate’s Office’s Red Seal. "The Lord County Magistrate has issued an order. In three days, a banquet will be held at the Drunken Creek Pavilion in the county town to discuss the collection of this autumn’s Land Tax. Village Chief Chen and Chen the Scholar are required to attend on time."
After speaking, the constable handed the official document to Chen Li and left.
Chen Li held the document, his brow slowly furrowing and his gaze sharpening.
’Autumn tax?’
Countless thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant.
It was true that this year’s autumn tax had not yet been collected.
But with the turmoil in Mirror Mountain this year, the common people had either fled the famine or starved to death. With nearly sixty percent of the population gone, how much autumn tax could possibly be collected?
The common folk had been bled dry. Many farming households had only managed to survive the year by selling their land.
As for the mulberry trees planted this year, they had only just begun to sprout new leaves.
It would be a long time before they grew into a forest for raising silkworms, spinning silk, and forming cocoons that could be exchanged for silver coins.
Although they could raise a small batch of silkworms for cocoons by the end of the year, that was still some time away. In the meantime, collecting the autumn tax would be nearly impossible.
It wasn’t just the common people. Even the major landlords in the county had been mostly slaughtered by the Roving Bandits sent by the Noble Families.
Those who had managed to survive either had a Kao Mountain, or were tough nuts to crack in their own right—people even the Roving Bandits didn’t dare to provoke easily.
’Drunken Creek Pavilion... Zhang Heming, what is he up to?’
Chen Li’s guard went up instinctively.
More importantly, why had he specifically named Shouheng to go with him?
Although Shouheng held an academic title, he was ultimately just a Scholar and had no authority to participate in local politics.
Though his heart was filled with suspicion, the County Magistrate had summoned him on official business. As a Village Chief, he couldn’t refuse the banquet without a very good reason.
After a moment of contemplation, Chen Li sent for his eldest son.
Chen Shouheng pushed the door open and entered, still smelling faintly of sweat from his martial arts practice. "Father, you were looking for me?"
Seeing his father’s solemn expression, his own face grew serious.
When Chen Shouheng had returned home and told Chen Li about Zhang Chengzong, Chen Li had told the three of them to lay low and not make any more moves, so he had remained at home ever since.
Chen Li handed him the invitation. "It’s from the County Magistrate’s Office. He wants both of us to attend a banquet at the Drunken Creek Pavilion in three days."
Chen Shouheng scanned it quickly, his brow tightening. "Magistrate Zhang? The Drunken Creek Pavilion?"
He looked up, his eyes full of vigilance. "A trap?"
"Most likely," Chen Li nodded. "Anything this unusual is bound to be trouble. We must be on guard, and more importantly, we must prepare in advance. Shouheng, you and I will go to the county town. We’ll leave today, get into the city early, and assess the situation."
"Yes, Father!"
Chen Shouheng agreed without hesitation.
The father and son immediately packed a few things. They set out on horseback and soon arrived at Jingshan County Town.
They found a quiet inn to stay in. After settling in, Chen Li sent Chen Shouheng to Liu Wende’s home to find Liu Yuejin, and have him go to the Drunken Creek Pavilion to fetch Bai San.
Liu Yuejin had previously helped Chen Li manage matters concerning the village defense and the Village Braves. But when chaos later erupted in Mirror Mountain, it became too dangerous, so Chen Li had sent him home.
The next afternoon, in their inn room.
There was a soft knock on the door—three long taps and two short ones, the prearranged signal.
Chen Shouheng opened the door, and a wiry figure slipped inside like an eel. It was Bai San.
The usual playful grin was gone from his face, replaced by a rare look of tension and anxiety.
"Master, Young Master."
Before Chen Li could even ask, Bai San lowered his voice and reported in a rapid-fire whisper, "Something terrible has happened!"
Chen Li gestured for him to sit. "Speak slowly. What happened?"
Bai San lowered his voice even further. "The Jiang Family’s young master, Jiang Chaoshan, brought a large group of people to the Drunken Creek Pavilion a few days ago. There are many Spirit Realm masters among them, at least this many."
He held up two fingers and crossed them to form the character for ten.
"Ten?"
Chen Shouheng sucked in a sharp breath.
"At least that many, if not more!"
Bai San’s face was pale. "And there’s an old man they treat with extreme respect, calling him Elder Wu. His aura is similar to the Moon Fairy we encountered before, perhaps even stronger."
He paused, swallowed hard, and continued, "They’ve booked out the best rooms in the rear courtyard and keep their doors shut all day. I don’t know what they’re plotting.
"Miss Linglong and I felt something was wrong and wanted to slip out to warn you, but they’re watching us too closely. We couldn’t find any opportunity. Miss Linglong told me to figure something out, and I’ve been so worried my mouth has broken out in sores."
Chen Shouheng’s expression changed drastically. "Could it be that the Jiang Family found out about our ambush? Impossible! We were so careful. They can’t possibly have any evidence."
"This isn’t a Court investigation. Who needs evidence?"
After listening, Chen Li’s eyes grew cold. "It seems Zhang Heming’s invitation is a coordinated act with the Jiang Family."
Chen Shouheng said anxiously, "Father! If that’s the case, we absolutely can’t go to this banquet! What if... what if we claim to be sick to get out of it? They can’t just tie us up and drag us there, can they?"
Chen Li pondered for a moment before slowly shaking his head. "Shouheng, you’re thinking too simply. We might be able to avoid it once, but can we keep avoiding it forever? This is an open conspiracy. As long as Zhang Heming is the County Magistrate, he can constantly create opportunities for the Jiang Family, or even issue direct orders.
Even if Zhang Heming were gone, with the Jiang Family’s connections, it would be easy for them to get another Li Heming or Zhao Heming to do this. We can’t refuse forever. This perilous banquet may seem avoidable, but in truth, we have no choice but to walk into it."
"Father!"
Chen Shouheng was still worried. "This banquet is too dangerous."
"The storm is coming. The Chen Family will face it."
Chen Li clapped his eldest son on the shoulder, signaling for him not to worry.
At this point, on his own turf in Mirror Mountain, he no longer needed to be as cautious and timid as he once was.
Of course, confidence was not recklessness. He still had to handle this with care.
He stood up and paced a few steps within the small inn room. After a long moment of thought, the outline of a plan began to take shape in his mind.