Extermination

"The Proprietor, rest assured."

Chen Cheng's tone was calm, yet every word rang clear.

"When I lost the goods, you did not make things difficult for me. You even paid me the wages that kept me alive. After I first began to show promise in martial arts, you were also the one who trusted me and allowed me to serve as a registered retainer."

"I have always kept these acts of kindness in my heart. So long as The Proprietor still needs me in this position, I will not seek another branch to perch upon."

The moment he said this, Shen Mi's face blossomed into a smile. It was like spring flowers beneath an autumn moon—radiant and captivating, yet still gentle and reserved.

In the depths of those limpid, long eyes, appreciation and reassurance surged forth, impossible to conceal, at Chen Cheng's character of valuing affection and keeping his promises.

Chen Cheng was indeed sincere in remembering her kindness.

But what he valued even more was his thorough understanding of Yongsheng Trading Firm, as well as The Proprietor Shen Mi's excellent character and conduct.

Staying was perfectly in line with his long-standing pursuit of "driving risk toward zero and keeping the overall situation under control."

If he truly wished to make quick money and climb a higher branch, Qian Baolu had no shortage of connections for that.

But what would the price be?

Gang massacres? Jianghu grudges? Hunting criminals for bounty? Scheming against one another? Tangled interests...

Unless he had no other choice, Chen Cheng would never touch such unpredictable gambles, fraught with variables beyond his control.

"Retainer Chen."

Shen Mi steadied herself and spoke with great solemnity.

"Since you value affection and honor your word, I shall speak frankly as well. Though I am The Proprietor, the final decision-making power of Yongsheng Firm still lies in the hands of the Lineage behind me."

"Within the limits of what I can decide, I can raise your monthly salary to seven taels of silver, second only to Elder Wen's."

She lowered her voice somewhat, making her words seem all the more heartfelt.

"At present, my influence is quite limited... But so long as your prospects continue to rise, my standing within the Lineage will rise because of you. When that time comes, I will certainly do everything in my power to secure better treatment for you."

She paused, and her tone grew even more solemn.

"Furthermore, setting aside the Lineage and the trading firm, I personally make you this promise: should you ever have need of me in the future, so long as it lies within my ability, I will not shrink from it!"

"I will remember The Proprietor's generous regard in my heart, and I will never let you down!"

Chen Cheng gave a slight nod, his tone equally solemn.

Shen Mi nodded and hurried toward the warehouse. Before long, she returned carrying two small packets carefully wrapped in oiled paper, each giving off a faint, bitter medicinal fragrance.

"These are Blood-Boosting Herbs brought back from the north by the caravan. They are the main ingredient in refining Blood-Boosting Powder, and are also used in many superior medicinal meals..."

"Take them. Steep them in water and drink them regularly. They will nourish your body and replenish your Blood Qi."

Chen Cheng had heard Qian Baolu explain these Blood-Boosting Herbs when he ate the Venison Medicinal Meal in the dining hall. Their place of origin was remote and harvesting them was difficult, so their market price was quite high.

The two packets in Shen Mi's hands were worth no less than ten taels of silver, by a rough estimate.

"Since this is a generous gift from The Proprietor, I shall accept it despite my unworthiness."

Chen Cheng did not exchange any empty courtesies or decline. He simply reached out and took them.

He understood that Shen Mi wanted to draw closer to him, even bind their interests together completely. And what he wanted was likewise richer resources and a more secure position.

Each side took what it needed. Naturally, he accepted them openly and without embarrassment.

After finishing his shift for the day, Chen Cheng headed to the Patrol Office to keep watch on Zhao Chuan.

Long after he left, Shen Mi and the other two were still buried among the mountainlike piles of account books in the warehouse.

Not until the sun slanted westward.

It was time for Zhang Ping to finish work as usual, and as he genuinely had matters to attend to at home, he excused himself and left first.

Only Shen Mi and her trusted Mother Ding remained in the vast warehouse.

"The Proprietor..."

Mother Ding had held it in all afternoon and could finally pour everything out.

"That old fox Zhang Gu did it on purpose! He was not sick early or late, but just happened to report illness when the Lineage was about to send someone to inspect the accounts! He even took both his apprentices away with him..."

"Isn't he clearly holding you hostage? He knows this whole operation cannot turn without him right now, so he is forcing you to agree to raise his wages!"

"...I know."

Shen Mi's brow had not relaxed since noon. Exhaustion weighed heavily upon her face, plainly revealing her helplessness and frustration before the tangled accounts.

"Zhang Gu has been the trading firm's accountant since my father was still alive... There are some matters that truly cannot be handled without him..."

Shen Mi sighed. When she spoke of "some matters," her voice noticeably grew heavier.

She had already vaguely sensed the hidden knot within the accounts. Yet she was not skilled in this field. She could not even straighten out the open accounts before her, so how could she possibly have the energy or ability to probe the hidden cause beneath them?

The warehouse fell into dead silence once more.

The last rays of the setting sun passed through the high windows and fell upon her weary yet still lovely profile.

"...Forget it."

She closed the account book in her hands, her voice carrying powerless fatigue and compromise.

"Aunt Ding, make a trip yourself tomorrow morning and invite Mister Zhang back. Tell him I agree... His wages will be handled as he wishes."

"...Sigh."

Mother Ding let out a long sigh as well. After a pause, she could not help saying wistfully,

"If only Miss would have a change of heart, stop being at odds with the Lineage, and return to the trading firm to lend a hand..."

"With Miss's current strength and standing, how would old fellows like Zhang Gu and Zhao Hai, who rely on their age to lord it over others, dare to push their luck like this?"

Shen Mi did not respond. Her gaze suddenly dimmed, like a candle flame shaken by a gust of wind from the depths of memory.

Chen Cheng did not find a particularly good chance to act while watching Zhao Chuan today, but he obtained an important piece of intelligence.

Two days later, the South Outer City Patrol Headquarters would assemble officers from ten Patrol Offices and strike directly at Seven-Mile Slope outside the city, determined to wipe out Red Moon Nunnery completely.

When the time came, Zhao Chuan would bring all the constables and registered Martial Artists of South Third Guard.

For this very reason, Chen Cheng planned to deal with Zhao Chuan two days later.

Chen Cheng had calculated it all with perfect clarity.

The worst outcome would be that Zhao Chuan returned completely unharmed, only with his strength and energy depleted.

A somewhat better outcome would be that he died in battle outright.

And the best outcome would be that he returned badly wounded, carrying spoils of war.

No matter which outcome came to pass, it would bring Chen Cheng benefit and no harm. He only needed to wait two more days. It was well worth it.

The night wind grew colder, and winter's chill pierced to the bone.

In the Outer Hall's training yard, Chen Cheng continued tempering his Crouching Dragon Fist until deep into the night.

With ample Venison Medicinal Meal, along with the Blood-Boosting Herbs Shen Mi had given him boiled in water, the time he could devote to additional Crouching Dragon Fist training greatly increased.

As it grew later and later, the disciples who were likewise training extra into the night gradually returned to their rooms.

In the end, only Chen Cheng remained in the entire training yard, along with another youth in the distance, frail and weak yet never once stopping.

It was Lin Fengxiao.

Chen Cheng remembered that when Xiao Yi injured Qian Baolu last time, Lin Fengxiao had stepped forward to help and had suffered injuries as well. Judging by his movements now, those injuries had not healed properly at all.

Self-abusive training was nothing unusual in Dragon Mountain Hall, but such suicidal grinding of oneself was truly the first Chen Cheng had ever seen.