Brocade Robe Unparalleled

Chapter 123 Murderous Intent

Inside the Yang residence.

Yang Xiao looked at Tian Qingluan and said, "Miss Tian, the Yang family has agreed to what you mentioned last time. You can open as many shops as you want in Bozhou and the surrounding states. If you encounter any difficulties, you can always mention it to the Yang family. Don't be shy..."

Tian Qingluan gave him a graceful bow: "Thank you, young master."

Yang Xiao smiled slightly and said, "The Tian and Yang families each got what they needed, no need for thanks..."

The two discussed for another half an hour. The Yang family agreed to allow the Tian family to open shops within their sphere of influence. The Yang family would provide all the rent for the shops, while the Tian family would be responsible for the manpower and operation of the shops.

The Yang family only pays rent and does not need to pay any other costs, yet they can get five percent profit for nothing.

In Bozhou and several other states, there are already many vacant shops, so this cost can be kept to a minimum.

Although the Yang family could waive the rent, Yang Xiao knew that this was not the way to do business. To gain long-term benefits, one could not just focus on short-term gains.

Tian Qingluan said, "The Tian family will immediately prepare for the shop's establishment. At that time, we hope the Yang family will take good care of us."

Yang Xiao nodded and said, "Miss Tian, don't worry. The Yang family will make arrangements with the local chieftains."

Tian Qingluan stood up and bowed: "Today, Qingluan will take her leave first."

Yang Xiao extended his hand: "I'll see you two ladies out..."

A moment later, at the entrance of the Yang residence.

Tian Qingluan nodded slightly to Yang Xiao and left with A Luo.

The two had only taken two steps when A Luo's expression suddenly changed slightly.

Tian Qingluan also sensed something and quickly shielded A'Luo behind her.

Just then, the two sixth-rank martial artists beside Yang Xiao suddenly changed their expressions and shouted, "Young Master, be careful!"

One of them suddenly drew his long sword and cleaved off a crossbow bolt that was shot from a distance.

The other man roared and swiftly grabbed another crossbow bolt that was aimed at Yang Xiao, but he himself was forced back several steps by the force of the bolt.

call out!call out!call out!
Just then, several more whooshing sounds came from ahead.

Several seventh-rank guards, including Xu Gong, immediately hid behind the door.

Even a seventh-rank martial artist who has cultivated defensive techniques and can withstand ordinary weapons with their bare body cannot withstand powerful bows and crossbow bolts.

Taking advantage of the moment when the two sixth-rank martial artists made their move, a crossbow bolt shot straight into Yang Xiao's chest.

Everything happened in the blink of an eye. Yang Xiao, who had no martial arts cultivation, stood there dumbfounded, motionless.

Just as the crossbow bolt was about to pierce his chest, a figure blocked his way.

puff!
Xu Gong hid behind the door, watching the crossbow bolt pierce Chen Yu's shoulder, feeling both anxious and annoyed.

Why is Brother Chen so impulsive? Twenty taels of silver a month, is it really worth working so hard?

He reached out and pulled Yang Xiao and Lin Xuan into the courtyard at the same time, then closed the gate.

Benedict! Benedict! Benedict!
Several more crossbow bolts flew in and embedded themselves in the gate.

Yang Xiao snapped out of his daze and looked at Lin Xuan with concern, asking, "Guard Chen, are you alright?"

Lin Xuan's face was pale, and he shook his head, saying, "It's nothing, just a minor flesh wound."

Yang Xiao hurriedly pulled a porcelain bottle from his sleeve and said, "Be careful, this arrow might be poisoned. I have an antidote here..."

The Nanzhao secret service was skilled in using poison, and to guard against the female assassin, the Yang family members all carried antidotes.

Lin Xuan pulled the crossbow bolt out and shook his head, saying, "Thank you, young master, but this arrow shouldn't be poisoned."

Yang Xiao then took out another porcelain bottle and said, "I also have some healing pills here, take them quickly..."

Lin Xuan swallowed a healing pill, and the bleeding from the wound stopped instantly, and it began to heal slowly.

Under the protection of a group of guards, Yang Xiao retreated to a room deep inside the mansion.

He glanced at the guards present.

The Yang family paid them twenty taels of silver a month to protect their safety, and they also frequently rewarded them.

When he was truly in danger, only Chen, the bodyguard, fulfilled his duty to protect him.

Even a highly skilled sixth-rank guard is no match for a seventh-rank guard who will shield him from arrows at a crucial moment.

Xu Gong and the others looked at each other in bewilderment. The Yang family was only giving them twenty taels of silver, not two hundred. They couldn't very well leave their lives with the Yang family.

Besides, Chen Yu practices defensive techniques, while they do not.

Shortly after, the two sixth-rank martial artists entered the room. One of them said to Yang Xiao, "Young Master, the archer was far away. We couldn't catch him, but we found a repeating crossbow at the spot..."

Another person said angrily, "These rats from Nanzhao only know how to stab people in the back!"

Yang Xiao shook his head and said in a low voice, "It might not be Nanzhao..."

He was not a direct descendant of the Yang family. His father was not valued in the family, and his mother was just a concubine. She was a marginal person born to a concubine from a collateral branch, yet she controlled the family's vast business power. Some people in the family wanted him dead even more than the assassins from Nanzhao.

He didn't explain further, but looked at Lin Xuan and asked, "How is it?"

Lin Xuan said, "It's alright, thank you for the medicine, young master."

Yang Xiao said, "You were injured while saving me, so it's only right."

Then he spoke again: "Go home and recover from your injuries. Come back when you are completely healed. Starting this month, your pay will increase to fifty taels of silver per month..."

Lin Xuan clasped his hands in thanks and said, "Thank you, young master!"

The other guards, though envious, felt no jealousy.

Everyone knows that the other thirty taels of silver were earned by Chen Yu at the cost of his life.

If they were Young Master Yang Xiao, they would definitely treat him differently.

Lin Xuan's shoulder was still stained with blood. When he walked into the courtyard, he saw Tian Qingluan and A Luo still standing there.

Tian Qingluan looked at Yang Xiao and asked, "Young Master Yang Xiao, are you alright?"

Yang Xiao shook his head and said, "I'm fine, but I'm sorry to have frightened the two young ladies."

Tian Qingluan nodded slightly: "Since Young Master Yang is alright, we'll take our leave now."

She glanced at Lin Xuan and thought that this guard was truly responsible. When everyone else retreated, only he stood up. Even though she had a grudge against the Yang family, she admired his courage.

The two left the Yang residence and headed home.

Lin Xuan followed behind them, keeping a distance of more than three zhang, and kept up with them at a leisurely pace.

He understood Qingluan, so he could naturally guess what she wanted to do.

She wanted to take advantage of the fact that the Yang family had not yet fallen to make a move in Bozhou, so that once the Yang family collapsed, the Tian family could immediately seize the market that belonged to the Yang family.

She always loved adventure and was quite daring, even daring to scheme against the Yang family.

While this approach might indeed give them an advantage, once the Yang family truly falls, the An and Song families will certainly not give up this hard-won piece of meat. Furthermore, the local chieftains of Bozhou will not easily allow their interests to be encroached upon.

For Qingluan's sake, he must have sufficient influence within the Jingye Division at that time.

All of this must be earned through merit and value.

He needs to gain the trust of the Yang family before he can have access to more information and intelligence.

This surprise attack on Yang Xiao was a rare opportunity.

Longya Fort.

Yang Yingtian was reviewing the messages coming from various places when a figure slowly entered the hall and whispered, "Master, Young Master Yang Xiao was just assassinated. Fortunately, a guard blocked a fatal crossbow bolt for him, so the young master was not injured..."

Yang Yingtian remained silent for a moment, without looking at the man, and said in a stern tone, "Go tell those good-for-nothings that if they dare to lay a hand on Yang Xiao again, they will be punished according to family law."

The man paused for a moment, then said, "Could it have been those young masters? Or perhaps it was Nanzhao..."

Yang Yingtian coldly said, "The Nanzhao Secret Service wouldn't be so incompetent as to fail at assassinating a defenseless merchant. If they had Yang Xiao's abilities, why not hand over the family business to them? A bunch of useless trash, incapable of vying for power, unable to even execute an assassination properly, yet they still try to fish in troubled waters..."

After a pause, he spoke again: "Give the guard who shielded Yang Xiao from the arrow a reward of one hundred taels of silver. There aren't many guards as dedicated as him. If he is reliable enough, we can recruit him into the Dragon Cliff Army."

The Longya Army is the private army of the Yang family, and most of its members have been loyal to the Yang family for generations.

Only those with sufficient strength and loyalty will be recruited into the Dragon Cliff Army.

Although the Yang family has recruited many martial artists these days, more than 90% of them are only after money. They cannot be relied upon when it comes to matters concerning the survival of the family.

"Yes."

The man responded and quickly left.

Yang Yingtian stood alone in the hall, gazing at the lush green mountains outside.

Dark clouds gathered in the mountains, like a heavy net, making it hard to breathe.

He admitted that the Yang family was somewhat overwhelmed by the joint efforts of the An and Song families to deal with them.

Longya Fort has stood here for hundreds of years. The Yang family has faced even more difficult times than this. Back then, the Prince of Zhennan led an army of 100,000 but failed to conquer Longya Mountain.

This time, it's just a little storm...

After a spring rain, Bozhou City was completely transformed.

The tense atmosphere in the city has eased somewhat.

During this period, the Nanzhao female assassin never appeared again.

After several days of peace and quiet, the Yang family members in Bozhou City breathed a sigh of relief and left the heavily guarded Longya Fortress to continue their carefree life in Bozhou City.

At Yang Xiao's residence.

Inside the main hall.

A young man dressed in fine clothes leaned back in the main seat, one foot propped on a chair. After taking a sip of tea, he frowned and said, "What kind of lousy tea is this..."

The other young man beside him looked at Yang Xiao and said unhappily, "We two have gone to so much trouble to come here, and you serve us this kind of tea?"

Yang Xiao clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Third Brother, Ninth Brother, this is already the best tea I have here."

The young man sitting in the main seat waved his hand and said, "Let's not talk about the tea for now. Give us three thousand taels of silver; we need it."

Yang Xiao clasped his hands in a fist salute again, saying neither humbly nor arrogantly, "If you can produce the warrants of the patriarch or several uncles, I will immediately send someone to the accounting office to withdraw them."

Yang Yu slammed his hand on the table and stood up, saying impatiently, "Just take it when I tell you to. Why all this nonsense? All the money here belongs to the family. What's wrong with us using some of the family's money?"

If they had the patriarch's and father's warrants, why would they need to come in person?
Yang Xiao repeated, "Sorry, I only look at the warrant."

Another young man suddenly stood up, slapped him across the face, and shouted angrily, "You bastard born of a concubine, don't push your luck!"

They had long been dissatisfied with Yang Xiao, this bastard, taking over the family business, and after being reprimanded by the family elders last time, they were already seething with anger.

However, before the slap could land, someone grabbed his wrist.

Yang Sen's expression instantly contorted as he cried out in pain, "Ouch, it hurts!"

Yang Xiao said, "Guard Chen, let him go."

Lin Xuan released his grip, and a bruise had appeared on Yang Sen's wrist.

He crossed his arms and glared at Lin Xuan: "You dare stop me!"

Lin Xuan said calmly, "My duty is to protect Young Master Yang Xiao's safety. I will stop anyone who tries to harm him."

The person who almost broke his bones was just a guard from the Yang family, which made Yang Sen feel even more insulted. He immediately ran outside and said to his guards, "You bunch of useless trash, didn't you see I was being beaten? Cripple his arm!"

The guards looked at each other, none of them making a move.

Their duty is to protect Yang Sen.

As long as the guard doesn't attack Yang Sen, they won't get involved in anything else.

Enraged, Yang Sen was about to say something more when Yang Yu stood up, raised her hand to stop him, looked at the guard, and asked, "What's your name?"

The guard said calmly, "Chen Yu."

Yang Yu nodded and said, "Okay, I'll remember you."

He glanced at Yang Xiao one last time, then said to Yang Sen, "Let's go."

Yang Sen, who hadn't yet taken revenge, panicked: "Third Brother, I..."

But after a single glance from Yang Yu, he obediently followed her away.

As they stepped out of the mansion, Yang Yucai glanced at him and said, "Why were you so impulsive? If things get out of hand and Uncle finds out, we'll get a scolding, and maybe even be locked up..."

Yang Sen retorted, "I can't swallow this insult. A mere guard dares to lay a hand on me? Who does he think he is?"

Yang Yu gave him a look and said, "Why don't you just have your dad arrange for him to stay by your side? Then you can do whatever you want to him, right?"

Yang Sen was taken aback upon hearing this. After thinking for a moment, he added, "What if he quits?"

Yang Yu laughed and said, "Wouldn't it be better if he quit? If he quits, what are you still worried about?"

Yang Sen thought about it and felt that his third brother was right.

Since that person worked for the Yang family, he really didn't dare to act recklessly.

Once he leaves the Yang family, in Bozhou, wouldn't a mere seventh-rank martial artist be someone he can do whatever he wants with?

Yang Yu glanced back, a hint of annoyance appearing on her face.

The two of them came in person, but Yang Xiao didn't give them any face at all. It's a pity they couldn't kill him the previous times, otherwise, the family business would have been in their hands long ago, and they wouldn't have to be at his mercy for even three thousand taels of silver.

The two were about to leave to think of another way.

Yang Yu's gaze suddenly sharpened, and Yang Sen's eyes also lit up.

Two slender and beautiful women walked hand in hand into Yang Xiao's residence.

The two exchanged a glance, then turned and walked back to Yang Xiao's residence.

The main hall of the Yang family residence.

Yang Xiao looked at Lin Xuan, sighed softly, and shook his head, saying, "You shouldn't have made a move just now. Yang Sen is petty and vindictive. You made him lose face in public, and he won't let it go so easily..."

Lin Xuan said, "Protecting you is my duty."

Yang Xiao felt a sense of relief, then said with a hint of self-deprecation, "It's alright, they wouldn't dare kill me. At most, they'll just slap me a few times, like before..."

As soon as he finished speaking, a servant came to report that Miss Tian had come to visit.

These days, the two often discuss business. Yang Xiao composed himself and said, "Please invite her in."

Soon, two figures walked in hand in hand.

Before Yang Xiao could speak, he saw Yang Yu and Yang Sen return, and his heart sank slightly.

Yang Yu's face was full of smiles, showing no trace of his earlier displeasure. He looked at Yang Xiao and said, "Fifteenth Brother, we have guests at home. And these two young ladies are..."

Yang Xiao knew their intentions, but he could only introduce them: "This is the eldest daughter of the Tian family in Sizhou, and this is Miss Tian's friend. The Tian family and the Yang family have had many business collaborations recently, and she is here to discuss business with me."

Then, he introduced Tian Qingluan: "This is Yang Yu, and this is Yang Sen, the eldest sons of my third and fifth uncles."

Tian Qingluan politely said, "Greetings, gentlemen."

Yang Yu sat back down in the main seat and said, "You all talk, don't worry about us. This tea is quite good, but it's getting a little cold. Please refill it for us quickly..."

Yang Xiao instructed his servants to treat the two well, and then said to Tian Qingluan, "Miss Tian, let's go to the side hall to discuss this."

A Luo left with Tian Qingluan.

Lin Xuan followed behind Yang Xiao.

Soon, only the two Yang brothers remained in the main hall.

After a long silence, Yang Yu took a sip of tea and suddenly said, "I want that Miss Tian."

Yang Sen said with a smile, "Then I'll take another one. We can switch to something else when we get tired of it..."

In the side hall.

Tian Qingluan was discussing cooperation with Yang Xiao, and A Luo was standing behind her.

At one point, she unconsciously clenched her fist, which was tucked into her sleeve.

But soon, her gaze shifted, and she looked up at the opposite side.

There is murderous intent.

Although the killing intent was extremely subtle, appearing only for a brief moment before being well concealed, she possessed an innate and highly sensitive perception of killing intent, and would never be mistaken…

She looked at the guard named Chen Yu.

That murderous aura emanated from him.

Ordinary martial artists find it difficult to generate killing intent.

This kind of refined killing intent can only be found in spies who frequently practice assassination techniques.

In just a moment, she realized that this person was no ordinary guard.

At least dozens of lives are stained with his blood...

Just now, Lin Xuan had already sentenced the Yang brothers, Yang Yu and Yang Sen, to death in his heart.

He had complex feelings for Mandala, but Qingluan was his absolute taboo subject that he would not allow anyone to touch.

The thought had just crossed his mind when he suddenly sensed a gaze falling upon him.

Lin Xuan looked up and met A Luo's gaze.

Their eyes met briefly before looking away.

A Luo's heart skipped a beat.