Forced to a Dead End

Inside the room.

Qin Jiu looked invigorated.

However, although the information conveyed by his talent was indeed as such, for the sake of caution, he still summoned Qin Xuanzhou the next day and had him go to Four Seasons Pharmacy to purchase some potent poisons to test them one by one.

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Only then did he set his mind at ease.

"Family Head, Ruan Chen of the Divine Fist Sect requests an audience."

"Ruan Chen?"

Hearing the voice from outside the door, Qin Jiu frowned slightly. The other party had only just retrieved the secret recipe yesterday, yet here he was again, first thing in the morning.

He pondered for a moment.

He gathered up the bottles and jars on the table.

Then, he walked into the reception hall.

Qin Jiu did not stand on ceremony with him and asked straight to the point: "Senior Brother Ruan, has there been a problem with the secret recipe?"

"Junior Brother Qin is truly as sharp as a god."

A strange look flashed through Ruan Chen's eyes as he sighed slightly: "After I took the secret recipe and the silver notes back last night, I suddenly remembered that I had misremembered. Deacon Baili said that in addition to the secret recipe, thirty thousand taels of silver are required to be certain of making you a core disciple of the sect."

"Thirty thousand taels..."

Qin Jiu's expression remained calm.

He was thinking to himself that these two had clearly been satisfied yesterday.

Why had they changed their tune after a single night?

It couldn't be that Baili Ce also wanted a piece of the pie, could it?

"Senior Brother Ruan, this is not a small sum. The Qin Family will need some time to come up with it. Please go back and inform Deacon Baili; once I have gathered the silver, I will send it to him immediately."

"Send it over? No need..."

Ruan Chen was stunned and was about to make up some other excuse, but when he saw the smile on Qin Jiu's face, his heart skipped a beat.

He forced a smile and said: "I wonder how much time you need, Junior Brother?"

"You must know that we will be leaving very soon."

"Besides, Deacon Baili does not have much patience."

"A day or two."

Qin Jiu said indifferently.

Upon hearing this, Ruan Chen turned and left immediately.

"Xuanzhou, go to the accounting office and fetch some Rejuvenation Pills, and bring the Spirit Warming Pills I had the mansion purchase earlier as well."

"Yes."

Qin Xuanzhou cupped his hands, then hesitated and said: "Family Head, I don't think we can fully trust what this man says. Are you really going to send more silver?"

Thirty thousand taels of silver.

Even for the Qin Family, this was enough to cause serious damage.

Moreover, if thirty thousand taels of silver were handed over and it still failed to satisfy the appetites of those people, there was no telling how much more silver would be spent later on.

Therefore, he wanted to offer a reminder.

Hearing this, Qin Jiu waved his hand: "I have my own plans for this matter. You go fetch the medicine first."

After saying this.

He slowly closed his eyes, appearing as if he were taking a nap.

But Ghost Illumination was quietly activated at this moment.

Two wisps of mist, originally pale gray, had now transformed into black radiance, reflecting upon the sky above the Qin Mansion.

Outside the Qin Mansion.

Seeing Ruan Chen emerge, Song Wenruo hurried forward to meet him.

"Senior Brother, how did it go?"

"It's hard to say."

Ruan Chen looked back at the Qin Mansion with a deep gaze and whispered: "Let's go back and talk about it."

Following that.

The two figures walked away in a hurry.

However, they were not heading in the direction of the inn, but were instead going straight to the Han Family.

"Two senior brothers..."

Han Qingyue caught sight of their figures.

A flicker of worry crossed her eyes as she ushered the two into the parlor.

"And this is?"

As Ruan Chen stepped into the parlor, his gaze involuntarily fell upon a burly man who stood like an iron tower.

Han Qingyue smiled slightly: "This is my second uncle."

"Although my third grandfather left the Han Family and took my third uncle—who was also at the Three Refinements realm—with him, our Han Family still has my second and fourth uncles holding the fort. Both are Three Refinements martial artists, especially my second uncle, who is only a few days away from breaking through to the Internal Strengthening realm."

"I intend to entrust the Han Family to my second uncle in the future."

"That way, I can focus on my martial arts training at the sect with peace of mind."

"What do you think, Senior Brother?"

"Junior Sister speaks with reason."

Ruan Chen forced a smile, but as he recalled his actions from last night, a sinister glint flashed in his eyes.

Han Qingyue seemed not to notice.

Once the two were seated.

She then asked: "What brings you two senior brothers here today?"

"The Qin Family..."

Ruan Chen composed himself and sighed: "That Qin Jiu isn't buying it. He has made up his mind, claiming that once he gathers the silver, he will deliver it personally to Deacon Baili. If that happens, I fear what we have done will be exposed, and we will surely face punishment."

"If it is deemed too serious."

"It might even implicate the Han Family."

"At the very least, your plan to take the Han Family with you might be put on hold."

"Put on hold?"

Han Qingyue's brows furrowed tightly.

She pondered for a moment and said: "Senior Brother Ruan, there is no need to worry."

"The Qin Family's old steward, Wang Yue, was summoned by the County Magistrate along with my father and others to suppress demons. Now that my father is dead and the others' fates are unknown, I imagine Wang Yue is in no better state. At the very least, the Qin Family has no Internal Strengthening martial artists for the time being."

"That Qin Jiu is good for nothing."

"He previously expelled three Three Refinements martial artists from his own collateral branch and sent them into the Demon Suppression Bureau. Right now, the Qin Family only has one Three Refinements martial artist. Here is the plan: I will find an opportunity in the next few days to bring the Old Madam of the Qin Family here. You two can then use her as leverage."

"We can seize the entire fortune of the Qin Mansion."

"I hope Senior Brother Ruan and Senior Brother Song will have no reservations. Since we have already done this, we must see it through to the end to avoid future trouble."

"..."

Ruan Chen and his companion exchanged a glance.

Both saw a flicker of shock in each other's eyes, as if they had not expected Han Qingyue to be so decisive.

"Very well."

Ruan Chen gritted his teeth and said: "Then we two will return to make preparations. Once you succeed on your end, send someone to notify us immediately."

As he spoke.

A ruthless glint flashed in his eyes.

He then took Song Wenruo and left the Han Mansion.

"Junior Brother Song, what do you think?"

Outside the Han Mansion.

Ruan Chen's expression was uncertain; he felt a deep wariness toward the decisiveness Han Qingyue had just displayed.

At this, Song Wenruo sighed softly.

"We should report this matter to Deacon Baili."

"Senior Brother, do not be too obsessed with Han Qingyue. This woman is deep and calculating; she is not someone you can control. If you let her use your shoulders to leap into the Divine Fist Sect, you and I might well be sowing the seeds of future disaster."

"I understand."

Ruan Chen let out a long breath.

He then quickened his pace.

Returning to the inn.

He then reported everything that had happened recently to Baili Ce in full detail.

"You bastards!"

Upon hearing this, Baili Ce's face turned deathly pale.

He struck out with a palm, releasing a burst of internal energy.

He wished he could split the two of them in half right then and there.

"The Divine Fist Sect has always acted with integrity and honor; how could I have raised two such monstrous beasts?"

"Deacon, please calm your anger."

Song Wenruo showed no sign of fear, lowering his voice to say, "You must understand, the Qin Family holds a fortune of nearly two hundred thousand taels. With the city currently besieged by Demons, and several major clans in the Inner City already wiped out, it would hardly be strange for the Qin Family to suffer at the hands of evildoers."

"Two hundred thousand taels—even if it were split among just a few of us."

"Once we return to the sect."

"Not only could you break through beyond the Internal Strengthening realm, but with this wealth, the Grandmaster realm might no longer be just a reflection in the mirror."

As these words fell.

The room plunged into absolute silence.

Only the sound of several people breathing remained.

After a long while.

Baili Ce spoke with an expressionless face, "My Divine Fist Sect is a righteous and reputable sect. Aside from you two, no one else must know of this matter. As for the Han Family, deal with them as well."

Qin Mansion.

Qin Jiu's eyes were dark and gloomy as he stroked the long blade at his side, slowly exhaling a breath.

"Why..."

"I was clearly willing to pay more."

"But... why must you force me into a dead end..."