Sitting on the Mountain, Watching the Tigers Fight

Inside the Zhao Family study, Zhao Zhentian held a brush, scratching marks onto a piece of paper.

On the paper were several locations, all properties belonging to the Black Water Gang in the Outer City:

The West Street docks, the South Street gambling dens, and several warehouses.

At this moment, the door was pushed open, and the old steward Zhao Fu walked in.

"Master, something terrible has happened."

"The Black Water Gang has surrounded our grain shop on West Street and our pharmacy on East Street."

"The one leading them is the vice leader of the Black Water Gang, and he brought over thirty men, all armed. They are blocking the shop entrances, refusing to let anyone in or out."

Zhao Zhentian set down his brush.

Could they have truly discovered our secret? What are they trying to do today?

Zhao Fu said, "They have put out word that our Zhao Family killed two of their men behind the martial arts hall last night."

"They demand we hand over the culprit. Otherwise, they will smash the Zhao Family shops today and even take action within the Inner City."

Zhao Zhentian asked suspiciously.

"Did any of our people go out last night?"

"No, the rain was heavy last night, and all the guest retainers were in the manor; no one went out," Zhao Fu replied.

The Zhao Family people had not gone out, yet the Black Water Gang was specifically demanding the Zhao Family hand someone over.

Zhao Zhentian recalled Zhao Ming going to the Limestone Cave last night to refine that Beast-Controlling Bone Whistle.

That item was a treasure from the Zhao Family's cooperation with the Black-Robed Gu Master.

He suspected that Zhao Ming had caused trouble outside.

"Go, bring that rebellious son to me," Zhao Zhentian ordered.

Before long, Zhao Ming walked into the study.

His complexion was poor, his eye sockets were sunken, and his collar was crooked.

The Beast-Controlling Bone Whistle had been lost last night, and he had spent the entire night searching by the Cold Spring outside the Limestone Cave.

He had intended to hide it and wait until after the grand examination, but he had not expected to be summoned first thing in the morning.

"Greetings, Father," Zhao Ming said, keeping his head low.

"You went to the Limestone Cave last night; how did the refining of the Beast-Controlling Bone Whistle go?" Zhao Zhentian asked directly.

Zhao Ming said, "Replying to Father, everything went smoothly. That Beast-Controlling Bone Whistle is difficult to handle, but I have already suppressed it with the Mystic Yin Technique, and in a few more days, I will be able to fully control it."

"Is that so?"

Zhao Zhentian stepped forward. "Since it went smoothly, take it out and let me see. The grand examination is almost here, and this item is very important; there can be no mishaps. From today on, I will keep it personally."

Zhao Ming could not produce the Beast-Controlling Bone Whistle.

"This... Father, the Beast-Controlling Bone Whistle is in the secret chamber of my study," he said, making up a random excuse.

One look at him, and Zhao Zhentian knew he was lying.

"Take me to the secret chamber," Zhao Zhentian commanded.

Zhao Ming stood motionless.

Zhao Zhentian understood now.

He stepped forward and grabbed Zhao Ming by the shoulder.

"Father, it hurts!" Zhao Ming shouted.

Zhao Zhentian ignored him and searched his person.

He searched his sleeves, belt, and chest, finding only silver banknotes and a bottle of medicine.

He then dragged Zhao Ming toward the study.

Zhao Fu followed behind and closed the study door.

They arrived at the secret chamber.

The stone door opened to reveal only a stone table and a few cushions inside; the table was completely empty.

"Where is the item?" Zhao Zhentian turned and asked.

Zhao Ming knelt on the ground.

He knew he could no longer hide it, but he could not admit that he had messed up.

"Father, something happened last night! I was in the Limestone Cave refining it, and just as I reached a critical moment, a man in black suddenly burst in!"

"A man in black?" Zhao Zhentian asked.

"Yes! That person was dressed in black, his face covered, and he moved very quickly. As soon as he entered, he used hidden weapons to shatter the stalactites, smashing them toward the Cold Spring."

"I was tempering the Beast-Controlling Bone Whistle at the time, and my internal energy went into chaos, causing me to vomit blood. The man in black took the opportunity to snatch the Beast-Controlling Bone Whistle and run." Zhao Ming stole a glance at Zhao Zhentian's expression as he fabricated the story.

"You didn't chase him?" Zhao Zhentian asked.

"I gave chase! But he was too fast, and he was intimately familiar with the terrain of the Limestone Cave."

"After he snatched the bone whistle, he jumped into the deep pool of the Cold Spring. I thought he was dead, so I stood guard by the pool for half the night, but I found nothing."

"Father, I didn't mean to hide it from you; I just wanted to retrieve the bone whistle before telling you," Zhao Ming said.

Zhao Zhentian stood in the secret chamber, silent, his mind racing.

A man in black, swift in movement, had stolen the bone whistle.

Early this morning, the Black Water Gang had arrived, surrounding the shops of the Zhao Family Estate and demanding they hand over the culprit.

He believed the truth of the matter was as follows:

The Black Water Gang had suffered heavy losses in the Outer City, and their leader suspected someone was manipulating demonic beasts behind the scenes, eventually tracing the suspicion to the Zhao family.

Last night, the Black Water Gang sent a death warrior to sneak into the Limestone Cave, steal the bone whistle, and obtain evidence of the Zhao family causing the beast disaster.

Finally, they killed a couple of random people and pinned it on them, claiming their own men had died behind the martial arts hall...

Now that the Black Water Gang held the bone whistle, it was a major problem for the Zhao family.

If they handed the item over, the Zhao family would be finished.

But the Black Water Gang hadn't handed it over directly; instead, they surrounded the shops, demanding some culprit.

Zhao Zhentian suddenly saw through the Black Water Gang's scheme.

Zhao Ming, still kneeling on the ground, remained bewildered.

"Father, are you saying..."

"Fool!"

Zhao Zhentian kicked Zhao Ming to the ground. "Do you still not see it even now? The man in black who stole the bone whistle last night was a death warrior from the Black Water Gang! They have had their eyes on us for a long time!"

Zhao Ming clutched his chest, still not understanding.

The man in black was a death warrior from the Black Water Gang?

He hadn't seen any man in black last night; he had made that part up.

How could his father be more certain than he was?

However, since his father had already provided him with a way out, he would certainly follow along.

"Yes! Father is right! That man in black's movement technique did have the flavor of the Black Water Gang!" Zhao Ming hurriedly echoed.

Zhao Zhentian paced back and forth in the secret chamber.

He thought to himself that since the Black Water Gang had the bone whistle but dared not hand it over directly, it meant they were also afraid of the Zhao family.

By besieging the shops, they intended to use the bone whistle as a bargaining chip to force the Zhao family to cede their industries in the Outer City and surrender interests in the Inner City.

"They want the foundation of my Zhao family? In their dreams!"

"Master, what should we do now?" Zhao Fu asked from the side. "If the Black Water Gang really starts a fight, the Zhao family will suffer heavy losses."

"If the Black Water Gang wants to play, we will play along with them."

Zhao Zhentian walked out of the secret chamber. "That bone whistle contains Zhao Ming's essence blood; it is evidence and cannot remain in the hands of the Black Water Gang. As long as they have the bone whistle, the Zhao family will not have a single day of peace."

"Go, issue my Patriarch's Order. Summon all the Zhao family's guest warriors and death warriors; prepare to act."

"If anyone from the Black Water Gang dares to enter our shops, kill them on the spot."

"Additionally, send men to keep a close watch on the Black Water Gang's headquarters. If they intend to hand the bone whistle to anyone, intercept them at any cost, dead or alive!"

"Understood!" Zhao Fu received the order and retreated.

Zhao Zhentian looked at the kneeling Zhao Ming.

"Get up! Before the Great Examination, stay at home and do not leave. If you cause any more trouble, I will cripple you myself!"

Zhao Ming left the secret chamber, feeling a sense of relief; he had finally managed to muddle through.

The Zhao Family Estate quickly became a hive of activity.

Guest warriors who were rarely seen emerged, and death warriors clad in tight black clothing gathered from the shadows.

The atmosphere in the Zhao residence turned tense in an instant.

In the shadow of a locust tree outside the Zhao Family Estate, Li Pingsheng leaned against the trunk.

He remained hidden in the shade.

His eyes were closed, but his ears were twitching.

Hearing Zhao Zhentian's theory about the "Black Water Gang stealing the bone whistle and crying thief," Li Pingsheng smiled.

This paranoid fellow had truly fallen victim to his own imagination this time.

But one couldn't blame him.

The clues Li Pingsheng left behind were quite complete:

The bone whistle stained with Zhao Ming's essence blood, the marks corroded by the Corpse Dissolving Powder, and the Black Water Gang death warrior who died on the spot.

Zhao Zhentian believed there was only one possibility: that the Black Water Gang had sent someone to steal the bone whistle and then staged a "thief crying stop thief" scenario to threaten the Zhao family.

Now, Zhao Zhentian and the leader of the Black Water Gang were truly at odds.

Things were starting to get interesting.

Neither the Zhao Family nor the Black Water Gang were good people.

The Black Water Gang committed atrocities in the Outer City, and Master Qin and Master Scar had nearly harmed his family; the Zhao Family, in order to swallow up industries, colluded with demons to incite beast disasters, completely disregarding the lives of the commoners in the Outer City.

He wished for these two factions to fight, preferably until they both perished.

Li Pingsheng's current strength was still insufficient; although he possessed the Three Great Talents, he would certainly suffer if he went head-to-head against everyone from the Zhao Family and the Black Water Gang.

He needed time and resources to continue growing stronger.

If the Zhao Family and the Black Water Gang fought, it would buy him time and draw everyone's attention away from him.

He hoped they would fight as viciously as possible.

The grand examination was still a few days away, so he had to continue pretending to be someone with damaged vitality and no future.

Only by doing this could he seize everything into his own hands amidst the coming chaos.