「Early morning.」
「Jiangkou County.」
「Linjiang Inn.」
After leaving Hidden Emperor Castle, Chen Li and his group returned to Jiangkou County Town to rest.
Li Jinru, who had never practiced Martial Arts, was a delicate woman. Traumatized by her time in the Black Market’s stone cells, she hadn’t slept for days. Her face was now pale, and while sharing a horse with Linglong, she could barely stay in the saddle.
Li Weikun was dispirited after the great upheaval. He remained silent the entire way, looking as if he had aged ten years.
Although Li Jiwei forced himself to keep his spirits up, his face was etched with exhaustion and worry.
Seeing their poor condition, Chen Li spoke up. "Jiangkou County Town is just ahead. Let’s find an inn and rest for half a day before we continue."
No one objected.
They checked into the inn, requesting seven premium rooms. After ordering hot water and food from an attendant, the group quickly washed up and ate. Li Weikun and the other two all but collapsed onto their beds, falling into a deep sleep.
Chen Li and the others also took a short rest.
「In the afternoon.」
Seeing that the three were still asleep, Chen Li, Shouye, Bai San, and Linglong went for a stroll through the streets of Jiangkou County.
When they reached the horse market, they decided to go in and look at the horses.
The mounts of Li Weikun and the others had long since been taken back by the martial arts school’s disciples. They were now in need of three horses.
The air in the horse market was a mixture of smells, and the sound of neighing was constant.
A sharp-looking attendant noticed their distinguished air and immediately hurried over with a warm welcome. "You two gentlemen, here to buy a horse? You’ve come to the right place! This is the largest horse market in all of Jiangkou. We just got a new batch of fine steeds from Hexi two days ago. They’re well-fed and strong, and can cover five hundred li a day, no problem. Take a look at this one, and this one here..."
The silver-tongued attendant led them to a row of stables, pointing at several truly magnificent, tall horses and rattling on without end.
Chen Li carefully inspected the horses’ teeth, pasterns, and spirit. ’The quality of the horses at this market is indeed quite good,’ he thought, nodding to himself.
He casually asked the price, "How much for this one?"
The attendant’s face was wreathed in smiles. "Sir, you have a good eye! This one is a prized steed. A fixed price of three hundred taels of silver."
’Three hundred taels!’
Chen Li’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.
At Mirror Mountain, an ordinary horse cost no more than a hundred taels of silver.
Even a prized steed here was significantly more expensive than one at Mirror Mountain.
The silver he had brought on this trip was almost completely spent on purchasing medicinal herbs at the Black Market. Now, he only had some scattered silver taels left for daily food and lodging.
He glanced at his son, Shouye.
Chen Shouye understood. "Father, I still have over five hundred taels of silver with me."
He then looked at Bai San.
Bai San caught his meaning and gave an embarrassed laugh. "Master, I’m just a hired hand from the tower. On my wages of five taels a month, I can’t afford a prized steed like this."
Linglong’s beautiful eyes twinkled as she said with a charming pout, "As for me, I only have a hundred taels of silver."
Chen Li frowned. Including his own money, they had, at most, seven hundred taels of silver all told—not enough for three prized steeds. He immediately asked the attendant if they had any more ordinary horses.
The attendant muttered under his breath, ’Should’ve just said you were broke.’ Still, he forced a smile. "We do. This way, please, customers. Our lesser horses are just one hundred and fifty taels of silver each."
Just as the four of them were about to leave that row of stables, a furtive figure slipped into the horse market.
The person was wearing a crudely made white mask that covered most of his face. He kept looking around as he moved, appearing highly suspicious.
He didn’t even look at the horses upon entering. He went straight to the attendant, threw a heavy little bundle at him with a THWACK, and said in a low, hoarse, urgent voice, "This is five hundred taels of silver. Quick! Get me your fastest horse with the most stamina—a top-grade one! Right now! Immediately!"
The attendant nearly fell over as he caught the five hundred taels of silver. After steadying himself, he weighed the bundle in his hand. Hearing the pleasant clinking of silver ingots inside, his expression immediately changed to a beaming smile. "Right away! Please wait a moment, customer. I’ll go get the horse for you now."
With that, he ignored Chen Li’s group and hurried back toward the stables.
Bai San squinted, studying the man for a moment, paying special attention to the subconscious way he rubbed his fingers together. Suddenly, his eyes lit up, and he let out a low chuckle. He whispered to Chen Li, "Master, it looks like our moneybag just delivered itself to our door."
Without waiting for Chen Li’s reply, he swaggered over, slapped the masked man on the shoulder, and said in an overly familiar tone, "Well, now! Isn’t this Gossip, Master Bao himself? What’s the deal? Instead of making a fortune in Hidden Emperor Castle, what brings you to a horse market in Jiangkou County?"
The masked man flinched as if stung by a scorpion, recoiling like he’d been shocked. He waved his hands frantically, his voice changing pitch. "Who? What Gossip? You’ve got the wrong person! I don’t know you! Get out of my way, get out of my way!"
"Heh! Still pretending?"
Bai San chuckled, his hand lashing out like lightning as he snatched at the man’s mask.
Although Gossip knew some Martial Arts and was no weaker than Bai San, he was no match for a veteran thief like him when it came to speed. After a brief struggle, with a sharp RIP, the stiff mask was torn off, revealing a thin, panicked face underneath.
Who else could it be but Gossip?
"Aiyo! My good sir! Gently, gently!"
Now that his identity was exposed, Gossip’s old face crumpled. He glanced around frantically, and seeing that no one was paying them any special attention, he turned back to Bai San with a miserable look, bowing. "My good sirs! My living ancestors! Could you... could you keep your voices down? It’s me, it’s me, Old Bao..."
Bai San grabbed him by the collar and grinned. "Cut the crap! I’d recognize you even if you were burnt to ashes. What are you doing sneaking around a horse market instead of squatting in the Black Market selling your information? And what’s with this getup?"
Gossip’s beady eyes darted around. He glanced at the attendant who was leading a horse out, then lowered his voice and pleaded, "This isn’t the place to talk, this isn’t the place to talk! My good sirs, can we please speak somewhere private?"
Bai San looked at Chen Li.
Chen Li gave a slight nod.
They dragged Gossip to a secluded corner in the horse market’s backyard where hay was piled up.
"Spit it out!"
Bai San urged him. "I’m still waiting to buy a horse!"
Gossip’s face was a mask of misery. He sighed and lamented, "My good sirs, you have no idea! It’s over! Hidden Emperor Castle... is finished!"
Hearing this, Chen Li and the others exchanged stunned glances.
"That can’t be right."
Bai San asked doubtfully, "The Pig Emperor is a Grandmaster Level expert, after all. His strength isn’t that different from the Snow Fairy’s master. He’s run Hidden Emperor Castle for so many years, how could he be defeated so quickly? Are you trying to fool me?"
"I’m telling you the absolute truth!"
Gossip immediately swore to the heavens, his face showing a lingering fear. "The Celestial Sword Sect couldn’t do anything to Hidden Emperor Castle, but the Court could! Those killers from the Celestial Sword Sect somehow managed to persuade the Jiangzhou Government Office to dispatch a large number of experts from the Jingwu Bureau and government soldiers. They coordinated an attack from both inside and out, raiding Hidden Emperor Castle.
My heavens, it was a massacre! The Pig Emperor... he was surrounded by several Grandmaster experts and died fighting valiantly. The rest of the castle’s upper echelon were all slaughtered. I only managed to save my own skin because I saw a chance and escaped in the chaos."