Elderly Martial Saint: Sixty Times the Cultivation Speed ​​at the Start

Upon hearing this, Qin Ju turned around and glanced at Yi Yang.

Yi Yang's expression remained unchanged. He kept his hands tucked into his sleeves and stood obediently in place, as if he knew nothing.

Qin Ju did not press Yi Yang for answers; instead, he took something out of his pocket.

The book has a blue cloth cover with frayed edges, and the spine has been re-stitched with thread.

It was the ancient book that Ye Yang had given to Yi Yang.

Upon seeing this item, Ye Yang, who was being escorted, widened his eyes in astonishment.

"You mean this?" Qin Ju opened the book, lifted it by the spine and shook it twice; the empty pages were completely blank.

"Manager Yi handed me this book and the silver notes inside three days ago. Every penny you gave him is recorded."

Qin Ju's voice wasn't loud, but in this alley, every word could be heard clearly.

"What's this called? This is called gaining the enemy's trust and luring them out of their hole."

Ye Yang's mouth hung open, his face turned from ashen to sallow, and his eyelids twitched twice, as if someone had pulled out the last bone from his body.

Qin Ju closed the ancient book and put it back in his bosom.

"take away."

Two guards dragged Ye Yang toward the alley entrance, his feet scraping against the ground with a soft, screeching sound. He turned back and gave Yi Yang one last look.

That look contained everything: hatred, resentment, regret, and fear, all swirled into a murky mess.

Yi Yang watched his figure disappear around the corner of the alley without even blinking.

Several henchmen who drew their swords in resistance were apprehended on the spot by the patrol guards. Two of them, who made too much of a move, had their tendons severed, and their short swords clattered to the ground. The middle-aged man was pinned to the ground with his hands tied behind his back, and his curses were muffled by strips of cloth.

The alley was quickly cleaned up.

The bloodstains were covered by sand, the weapons were taken away, the people were taken away, and even the broken porcelain shards on the ground were swept clean.

The guards filed out of the alley, their footsteps fading into the distance.

In the end, only three people remained.

Yiyang, Huangyushu, Qinju.

Qin Ju put away his spear, leaned against the wall, and took out the ancient book from his pocket again. Opening the pages, the silver notes reappeared; clearly, he had used a trick earlier.

He counted out seven bills and handed them to Yi Yang.

"Seven hundred taels, yours."

Yi Yang raised his eyebrows, feigning surprise and delight.

"Steward Qin, this..."

Qin Ju's expression remained indifferent as he said nonchalantly, "You were the one who set the hook, you orchestrated the scheme, you lured the people out, and I'm just the one who closes the net last. It's unreasonable for me to take the lion's share. Besides, this money doesn't go through the official accounts; you can just pocket it, and no one will check on you."

Yi Yang smacked his lips and took the silver note.

Seven hundred taels.

Quite a lot.

He looked down and counted, then pulled out two bills and handed them to Huang Yushu, who was standing to the side.

"Yours. Two hundred taels."

Huang Yushu was stunned, just like Yi Yang had been.

"Sir...sir?"

"Here you go." Yi Yang shoved the silver notes into his hand. "You've been poring over the ledgers until midnight every night lately, take what you're entitled to. Buy your wife some good food later, so she doesn't have to suffer with you."

Huang Yushu clutched the silver notes, his Adam's apple bobbed, and his eyes welled up with tears, but he didn't say anything sentimental. He simply folded the silver notes and stuffed them into his close-fitting clothes, then clasped his hands in a fist salute.

Qin Ju saw this scene and the curve of his lips was not obvious, but it was slightly more pronounced than before.

He picked up the spear from the wall, slung it over his shoulder, and glanced back at Yi Yang before leaving.

"Manager Yi, remember to call me if there are any good opportunities like this in the future."

Yi Yang smiled and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture.

"That's for sure."

Qin Ju's figure disappeared at the alley entrance.

The entire transaction was as clear as a textbook example.

After confirming the evidence of Ye Yang's dealings with the Li family, Yi Yang didn't take action himself. He did something even smarter—he bundled the clues and credit and gave them to Qin Ju.

Qin Ju had barely settled into his position as deputy chief steward, and was desperately seeking a major case to establish his authority. The case of Ye Yang colluding with inner city families to smuggle supplies from the Sky Patrol Division—falling into the hands of the Hall Master of the Martial Law Hall was like a godsend.

Yi Yang provided the clues, Qin Ju provided the manpower, but most of the credit went to Qin Ju, while the blame fell on him. It was the Martial Law Hall, not Qianyang Tower, that offended the Li family.

As for Yi Yang himself?

I'm just an old man who discovered the warehouse had been robbed and honestly reported it. You're looking for me? You've got the wrong person.

Two days later.

News came from the county town—Ye Yang had died in prison.

He hanged himself.

I used my own belt.

In the cell next door, the middle-aged contact from the Li family also died. His tongue had been bitten off at the root, and blood blocked his trachea, causing him to suffocate.

The official document from the Sky Patrol Division stated: "Suicide out of fear of punishment."

But anyone with eyes can see that a cunning old fox who values ​​his life to the core would strangle himself with a belt.

Would a martial artist at the fifth level of Qi and Blood be so stupid as to bite off his own tongue?

The Li family from the inner city did not show up at all.

No one was sent to collect the body, no statement was issued, and not even a single inquiry was sent to the Sky Patrol Division.

Just pretend this person never existed.

The dead cannot speak; this is an old trick used by aristocratic families to deal with messes.

The main hall is on the fourth floor of Qianyang Tower.

The doors and windows were tightly closed, but sunlight squeezed in through the gaps in the carved window frames, falling on the rosewood table and cutting out several thin, bright beams of light.

Yi Yang sat in a grand chair, a pot of freshly brewed tea in front of him, the steam rising gently. He was flipping through an old booklet, Qianyang Tower's elixir procurement plan for next year.

I turned two pages, then put it down.

"What a pity."

Yi Yang picked up his teacup, blew away the foam, and muttered to himself.

He wasn't talking about Ye Yang.

Whether Ye Yang lives or dies has absolutely nothing to do with him.

He regretted that his contact with Qin Ju was too short. This cooperation was clean and efficient, but it was only a one-off deal. Qin Ju had a clean background, acted decisively, and had just taken a high position and needed a backer and allies. He should have been the best person to befriend.

Moreover, Yi Yang also wanted to inquire about Wang Gongqin, the Grand Deacon of the Nine Evil Sect, from him, but Yi Yang couldn't get too close.

Getting too close will expose his true nature. He is currently at the fourth level of Qi and Blood on the surface, but he is actually at the sixth level. If he associates too frequently with experts like Qin Ju, who are at the fourth level of perfection but possess the combat power of a fifth level, sooner or later people will find out his true nature.

"Take your time."

Yi Yang took a sip of tea; the tea was at the perfect temperature.

He reopened the procurement plan and circled a number next to it.

Outside the window, the hawking cries on Qianyang Street continued as noisily as ever.

No one knows who has moved into this building, and no one cares who died in the cell yesterday.

Life goes on.

The sun rises as usual, and business continues as usual.

The only difference is that from today onwards, Qianyang Tower truly belongs to Yi, and the next step is to seize the time to break through to the Inner Qi Realm.

Yi Yang glanced at the panel: [Yi Wood Nourishing Life Technique, Level 6: (88945/100000)] [Realm: Qi and Blood Level 6 - Marrow Cleansing and Blood Transformation]

It'll be soon!