Treasure Official Li Fucai: I'm Going to Early Morning Class!

With Wind Chaser beneath his feet, Li Yan quickly returned to the Treasure Official's Manor.

The manor was silent at this moment, with even the night watchmen dozing off.

He swiftly made his way to the study and, after quietly entering, began to search within.

According to the First Madam, the Treasure Official seemed to have learned some news and decided to hide himself until the current situation passed.

Soon, Li Yan found a jade ornament on the bookshelf.

Gently twisting the ornament, a passage leading underground opened in the floor.

After waiting for a moment and confirming there were no unusual sounds from the passage, Li Yan entered.

Below was a hidden world, clearly elaborately decorated by skilled artisans, with all sorts of daily necessities readily available.

Walking further in, Li Yan soon heard a noise. Following the sound, he saw a man lying on a couch, fast asleep.

It was late at night, after all, so falling asleep was understandable.

"Official, the guest is here, no need to pretend anymore. Your sword is already showing~"

Li Yan almost couldn't help but chuckle at the tip of the sword peeking out from the Official's sleeve.

As soon as he finished speaking, the sword tip slowly receded back into the sleeve, and the scene fell into silence.

After a long while, the man on the couch sighed and slowly sat up.

"You're quite impressive. You noticed the tip of my sword just by it peeking out."

Turning his head, Li Yan finally got a clear look at the man's face in the dim candlelight.

The man appeared to be around fifty, with streaks of white in his black hair. Beneath his hawk-like brows, his eyes seemed gentle, and his round cheeks had a look of prosperity.

"Since you've found me, tell me, who do you represent? What are your terms for letting me go?"

Hearing this, Li Yan felt the other party might have misunderstood something. After thinking for a moment, he took out a letter from his bosom. Shangguan Liuyun had given it to him before he departed.

The Official eyed Li Yan suspiciously and took the letter, muttering, "Bandits write letters nowadays? So cultured?"

Opening the letter, the Official's expression turned very strange after reading its contents.

After a long pause, he looked at Li Yan and said, "You're not from Black Cloud Stronghold?"

"Black Cloud Stronghold?"

Seeing that Li Yan's reaction seemed genuine, he asked again, "Then you're not from Three Fiends Ridge either?"

Li Yan's mouth twitched. This Treasure Official seemed to have offended quite a few people!

Noticing Li Yan's change in expression, the Official suddenly burst into laughter, "Hahahaha, you scared me to death! Brother, you really scared me, Li Fucai, to death!"

Li Fucai. A fitting name for the Treasure Official.

Li Fucai was not one for formalities. He pulled Li Yan to sit on the couch and began asking about the situation in Dongjiang City.

Upon learning that the Shangguan family was currently in dire straits, he frowned again.

"Alas, the Shangguan family has cooperated with me for many years and has saved me from trouble multiple times. For all reasons, public and private, I should help them. Moreover, the help needed is a mere trifle, but..."

It was clear that the old man in front of him had ulterior motives. However, remembering Shangguan Liuyun's instructions, Li Yan sighed, "Official Li, if you have any difficulties, please speak frankly."

"Hahahaha, his difficulties are naturally me, Black Cloud Stronghold!"

A wild laugh echoed as several men wielding heavy-bladed sabers strode in.

Upon seeing the newcomers, Li Fucai's face turned grim. He turned to Li Yan, "Are you in league with Black Cloud Stronghold?"

"Don't talk nonsense. I don't even know what Black Cloud Stronghold is."

"Then how did they get down here?"

"How should I know?"

Both men looked at the Black Cloud Stronghold members. The leader laughed and said, "We saw a large tunnel entrance in the study, so we just came in~"

Li Fucai then looked at Li Yan, "You didn't close the door when you came in?"

Li Yan shrugged, "How would I know? Don't the mechanisms close automatically?"

The two men stared at each other, speechless.

"Enough, kid, get lost. We're looking for Li Fucai!"

The leader glared fiercely at Li Fucai, "Official Li, you're something else. Our Chieftain asked you to provide provisions and supplies for thirty thousand troops. For someone of your wealth, this is nothing, right?"

"And you, you dared to disappear, causing nearly a thousand of us from Black Cloud Stronghold to search high and low."

"This..."

Official Li frowned, clearly troubled.

Li Yan watched the scene with some confusion. According to Shangguan Liuyun, this Official Li should have considerable influence and be able to help stabilize the situation in Dongjiang City. He shouldn't be someone a group of mountain bandits could control. Why was Official Li so wary of these guys?

As if sensing Li Yan's confusion, Li Fucai leaned in and whispered in his ear, "These guys are not a concern, but they are actually pawns of the current Grand Commandant."

The current Grand Commandant, Wu Zongren?

Hearing this, Li Yan's eyes narrowed sharply.

Well, isn't this an enemy of my own household?

They've come right to my doorstep!

Wait a minute, what did these guys just say?

Nearly a thousand bandits from Black Cloud Stronghold?

Excellent, that's exactly the expertise I need!

"Hmph, since you know we are under the Grand Commandant's command, how dare Steward Li defy the Grand Commandant's orders?"

"If the Grand Commandant is displeased, Steward Li, you might not be able to keep this grand estate of yours."

"How about this, as long as Steward Li provides double the supplies, I will definitely discuss this matter with the Chieftain for you and let it go. What do you say?"

"This..."

Just as Steward Li was contemplating what else to say, Li Yan had already walked towards them.

"Hey, kid, I already told you, this has nothing to do with you. Just wait obediently. Since you led me here, later..."

Crack!

Before he could finish speaking, Li Yan's Tearing Wind Claws clamped onto his throat, and with a sudden tightening of his fingers, he crushed the man's throat.

"What?"

"You dare lay a hand on my elder brother? Do you know who we are?"

"Steward Li, are you trying to make an enemy of the Grand Commandant?!"

"Enough nonsense, take him down first..."

Without giving them time for any more chatter, Li Yan picked up a heavy-bladed saber from the ground. With a flicker of his body, fierce saber energy erupted.

In less than two breaths, the five or six men who had approached all had cracked throats and ceased to breathe.

"You, you, you... what are you doing, kid? Killing them will definitely lead them to report this to Wu Zongren. You... you've really brought disaster upon me!"

Li Fucai truly hadn't expected Li Yan to dare act here.

With people dying in his Treasure Official's Manor, he couldn't escape responsibility. Even if he handed Li Yan over, he would still be guilty.

"Hahahaha, Steward Li, why the distress? Besides, isn't this exactly what you wanted in your heart?"

"You!"

Looking at Li Yan, Li Fucai gritted his teeth in hatred.

He had indeed considered using this kid to distract the attention of Black Cloud Stronghold and Three Fiends Ridge, and then he would slip away to avoid this bloody storm.

But now, with the people from Black Cloud Stronghold dead in the manor, Black Cloud Stronghold would certainly not let this matter rest once it got out. It would only be a matter of time before he was found.

More importantly, if this matter reached Wu Zongren's ears, the consequences would be truly dire!

"Hahahaha, Steward Li is a smart man. At this point, you should understand that you and I are on the same boat, and there's no turning back!"

Seeing Li Fucai's murderous expression, Li Yan couldn't stop laughing.

Finally, Li Fucai slumped onto the bed and sighed, "Kid, what exactly do you want?"