Going to the Liu Family

What other step was there? Which link in the chain?

The plan had already been laid out this far, and Lin Fu let the other party continue.

"You can't make a move, and you absolutely can't leave Sheng County. Sheng County is only this big—if you leave, County Magistrate Zhang will grow suspicious." Xu Bai paced back and forth a few times as he spoke.

"I can't make a move, but I still need to send the information out. You mean I should have someone deliver the message?" Lin Fu pondered.

"Doesn't Sheng County have a Fulong Escort Agency? You can have them deliver an escort shipment. Have your steward send the item over. Even if something goes wrong, they'll only blame the Fulong Escort Agency and your steward, won't they?" Xu Bai said.

The Fulong Escort Agency was now his property.

What mattered most now was making Lin Fu feel safe, and transporting an escort shipment was one way to do that.

At the same time, if he wanted to scheme against both the Lin Family and County Magistrate Zhang, he first had to wash his own hands clean.

With those words, he had effectively placed the Fulong Escort Agency outside the matter, making it nothing more than a means of transport.

It would both dispel Lin Fu's suspicions toward the Fulong Escort Agency and lay the groundwork for the plans to come.

"That is a good idea." The Lin Family master said, "Then I'll go make preparations now."

"Mm." Xu Bai said no more and turned to leave.

After Xu Bai left, the Lin Family master slumped back into his chair again. Staring at the oil lamp on the table, his eyes darkened.

"County Magistrate Zhang, since you have cast aside benevolence, don't blame me for casting aside righteousness. With no heir to carry on the line, what use is all this money to me?"

After leaving the Lin Residence, Xu Bai did not return to the escort agency. Instead, he went to the Liu Residence.

By then, red lanterns had already been hung outside the Liu Residence, bathing the two stone lions at the entrance in crimson light.

When he reached the corner of the wall, Xu Bai scaled it with practiced ease and slipped inside.

Now that matters on that side had been settled, he needed to handle this side as well. Only by joining the two together could everything be flawless.

The Liu Residence courtyard was quiet, but at this hour, one room was still brightly lit.

Xu Bai had come to find Liu Xu, but he did not know where her room was.

Seeing a room with its lights still on, he instinctively headed toward it.

Servants occasionally moved through the courtyard, carrying out their patrols.

After one group of servants left, Xu Bai finally approached the brightly lit room.

The windows were shut tight, so he could not see what was inside, but he could hear sounds.

"Tok, tok, tok..."

The rhythmic sound of a wooden fish rang out, adding a touch of bustle to the cold night.

"A wooden fish?" Xu Bai was briefly taken aback, then recalled the young monk.

"Could it be that this monk is staying in the Liu Residence?"

He could not see inside from the window, but if this had been Liu Xu's room, there definitely would not have been the sound of a wooden fish.

Xu Bai recalled the progress bar he had seen during the day. He forcibly suppressed the urge to stay and left anyway.

Handling business came first.

As for the progress bar, he could think of something later.

In any case, that monk showed no intention of leaving the Liu Residence. There would be plenty of chances in the future.

With that in mind, Xu Bai began searching the other rooms again.

That night, he had smelled sandalwood on Liu Xu.

It definitely was not any kind of natural body scent, but genuine sandalwood.

For sandalwood to seep into a person so thoroughly, she must have used it often. There would certainly be a lingering scent in her room.

Xu Bai moved through the courtyard, avoiding the servants as he searched.

Before long, he stopped outside a room in the rear courtyard.

A refreshing fragrance drifted from within, impossible to block even with the windows closed.

"Mm, this is the place."

After thinking it over, Xu Bai raised his hand and gently knocked on the door, then hid to one side.

Before long, a woman's voice came from within.

"Who is it?"

Her voice was crisp, like the call of an oriole.

It was Liu Xu's voice.

Xu Bai flashed back to the doorway and said through the crack, "It's me."

His voice was hoarse, exactly the same as it had been that night.

The room fell silent. Then a puzzled voice sounded.

"Who are you? Why did you come to my home in the dead of night?"

Though Xu Bai had his face covered, he still could not help wanting to complain.

"I already guessed your identity back then. Did you think I wouldn't be able to find the real you? Open the door. I have urgent matters to discuss."

Only after quite some time did the door open.

Liu Xu wore white, with a white veil covering her face. Though her expression could not be seen, the look in her eyes revealed just how angry she was.

She was truly furious! The other party had uncovered every detail about her, while she knew nothing about him. Apart from knowing that he had killed those people from the Extreme Life Sect, she knew absolutely nothing else.

It was infuriating, especially in this situation.

He had come right to her doorstep, practically pressing his face into hers!

"What do you want?" Liu Xu had no intention of letting Xu Bai inside.

Xu Bai looked around and said, "Let's go inside first."

Liu Xu considered it, then said, "Wait a moment."

As she spoke, she bent down and felt around on the ground.

From where Xu Bai stood, he saw Liu Xu pull up a row of iron nails from the ground.

The nails were linked into a row by thumb-length iron chains. She held them in her hand, and cold glints flashed from their points.

If anyone stepped inside, their feet would be pierced through.

"When one roams the martial world, there are some things one cannot help but be cautious about." Liu Xu did not seem embarrassed in the slightest. "Wait a moment. I'll remove some very ordinary traps."

"Wait! Let's talk outside instead." Xu Bai raised a hand to stop her.

Very ordinary traps meant there were extraordinary ones too.

Wasn't Liu Xu a scholar? Why was she setting up all this fancy nonsense?

Forget it. He was not going inside.

It was not that he was scared. There was simply no need.

"Fine. There's a small pavilion in the rear courtyard. Let's talk there." Liu Xu stepped out of the room and casually shut the door behind her.

The two headed to the small pavilion in the rear courtyard.

Once they reached it, Xu Bai did not hide anything and explained his idea.

"You mean you'll give me the account book and have me oversee these matters?" Liu Xu was slightly surprised.

Xu Bai nodded. "You know my identity cannot be exposed, so I'm handing it over to you. Will you do it?"

Liu Xu fell silent.

After a long while, she nodded.

"As long as you trust me, I can do it. I also want to avenge Xiao Yue."

"I have another question. How should the Lin Family be dealt with? Charge them with bribery?"

Liu Xu voiced the doubt in her heart.

"You don't need to concern yourself with that. Leave the rest to me. I definitely won't let them have it easy." Xu Bai said.

Seeing this, Liu Xu did not ask further.

"Alright, then I'll be leaving first. I'll give you the item when the time comes." Xu Bai stood, preparing to leave.

Just then, Liu Xu remembered something and quickly called for Xu Bai to stay.

"What is it?" Xu Bai frowned.

"Today, the Liu Family received a guest. He is a disciple of Vajra Temple. The matter of you killing the clerk has already been investigated. That clerk had brought it upon himself." Liu Xu repeated what Wu Hua had said.

Xu Bai gave a grunt. It was best if the matter could be resolved, and he was not surprised.

"There's one more thing." Liu Xu gathered her words. "I think I should tell you."