The City's Tricks Run Deep

Zhou Qi wrote very slowly. He wrote and crossed out several lines, ultimately trimming it down to just over a hundred words.

The letter had been written with a purpose, though it was indeed offering Yang Zhenshan advice.

But in some respects, that advice was rather crooked.

He set down his brush, folded the letter, and slipped it into an envelope.

Night had deepened outside the window. Dots of light shone from the distant mine tunnels, accompanied now and then by miners' shouts and guards' barks.

Zhou Qi rose, stretched his back, and pushed the door open.

The wooden hut next door was still lit. Yang Jinshan lay on his bed with one leg crossed over the other, holding a yellowed little booklet—a piece of idle reading he had picked up from who knew where.

"Fifth Elder." Zhou Qi knocked on the doorframe.

Yang Jinshan could not even be bothered to lift his eyelids. "What is it, in the middle of the night?"

"I need to trouble you with something." Zhou Qi walked in and handed him the letter. "Return to Lin'an City overnight and deliver this to the master personally."

Yang Jinshan froze for a moment, then sat up and took the letter, glancing at the envelope. "What the hell is so urgent?"

Zhou Qi did not explain. He merely said, "To reclaim the mine, we need the master's cooperation on one matter."

Yang Jinshan gave him a suspicious look. But seeing that Zhou Qi was unwilling to say more, he could not be bothered to press further. He tucked the letter into his robes and rolled off the bed.

"Fine, I'll make the trip." He reached the doorway, then stopped and turned to stare at Zhou Qi. "Don't go picking a fight with the Wang Family while I'm gone."

Zhou Qi smiled. "Rest assured."

Yang Jinshan snorted and strode into the night.

Lin'an City, Yang Residence.

Just after the hour of the dragon, Yang Zhenshan was looking through account books in his study.

At his age and cultivation, he no longer needed much sleep.

Footsteps sounded outside. Yang Yuanshan pushed open the door, cupped his fists, and said, "Second Brother, Fifth Brother is back. He says there's an urgent matter."

Yang Zhenshan's brows lifted slightly. "Let him in."

Yang Jinshan strode in, pulled the letter from his robes, and tossed it onto the desk. "Zhou Qi had me deliver this. He said it concerns the mine."

Yang Zhenshan picked up the envelope. It had already been torn open.

Yang Zhenshan glanced sideways at Yang Jinshan. "You opened it?"

"I just wanted to see what he wrote. That brat was acting all mysterious and made me rush back overnight."

"Did anyone else read it?" Yang Zhenshan had already pulled out the letter.

"Only me. I couldn't make heads or tails of it anyway."

Yang Zhenshan nodded and waved him out, his eyes already moving over the letter.

Yang Jinshan clicked his tongue and left the study.

The letter was not long. The handwriting was neat, each stroke brimming with caution.

Yang Zhenshan read it line by line, his brow gradually knitting.

Unable to hold back any longer, Yang Yuanshan leaned over and asked, "Second Brother, what did that brat write?"

Yang Zhenshan did not answer. He simply passed the letter to Yang Yuanshan.

Yang Yuanshan accepted it and began reading:

"The Wang-Zhao alliance's contradiction lies with the Wang Family, while its solution lies with the Zhao Family. The mine and the Yang Family must coordinate from within and without. The relations between the two families at the mine have already fractured and must continue to be attacked through psychological warfare; the key lies in beating the mountain to frighten the tiger."

"For more than ten years, Lin'an City has seen no high-level duels. The world has forgotten the difference between the ninth and eighth levels. To intimidate Zhao Dezhu, the master must display the might of the ninth level. Yet if we point our spear directly at the Zhao Family, the Wang Family will surely intervene, making the matter impossible."

"Therefore, we can only choose another eighth-level Qi Refining cultivator to act, using thunderous force to intimidate the Zhao Family."

"In Lin'an, among those at the peak of the eighth level whose strength rivals Zhao Dezhu's, there is only one—"

"Yang Yueshan."

Yang Yuanshan's brow creased slightly as he asked in a low voice, "Second Brother, what does Zhou Qi mean by this?"

A sharp gleam flashed through Yang Zhenshan's eyes.

Yang Yueshan.

He leaned back in his chair and remained silent for a long time.

Yang Yuanshan paced back and forth nearby, his brow tightly furrowed as he pondered along with him.

After a long while, Yang Zhenshan suddenly gave a few soft chuckles.

His smile carried a hint of chill, and a hint of appreciation.

"That Zhou Qi..." he murmured. "He has some nerve."

Yang Yuanshan looked thoughtful.

Yang Zhenshan offered no further explanation. He looked at Yang Yuanshan. "Have Fifth Brother return and tell him I understand. Tell him to wait for news."

Yang Yuanshan nodded and turned to leave.

As he reached the door, Yang Zhenshan spoke again. "Wait."

Yang Yuanshan stopped.

Yang Zhenshan paused before saying slowly, "Add one more thing. If this matter succeeds, I will consider giving him what he wants."

Yang Yuanshan was startled for a moment, then nodded and strode away.

Yang Yuanshan was not as clever as his Second Brother, but having followed at his heels since childhood, he had been influenced by what he saw and heard and had gained some understanding.

Although his Second Brother had not explained it this time, he already had his own thoughts: Second Brother had sent Zhou Qi to the mine for four reasons. First, to reclaim the other three families' mine pits. Second, to keep Zhou Qi in line and make him serve the Yang Family. Third, to set Zhou Qi at odds with the other families so that he could only follow them. Fourth, should Zhou Qi harbor divided loyalties, the Wang and Zhao Families could conveniently be used to deal with him. One stone, four birds.

But Zhou Qi was so sharp that, with fur stuck on him, he would be craftier than a monkey. He knew his life was held in the Yang Family's grasp by that pill, yet the Yang Family had no one else they could use and could only beg him to handle matters. So the Yang Family's affairs could not be left undone, but neither could they be done completely; they could not produce no results, but neither could the results come too quickly; the mine pits could not remain unreclaimed, but neither could the Yang Family reclaim them too easily.

That was the meaning of this letter: first, to claim credit by showing that he had driven a wedge between the Wang and Zhao Families as soon as he arrived. Second, to offer a plan, demonstrating that the matter was already half accomplished and that the Yang Family merely needed to act according to his strategy to reclaim the mine pits. Finally, to dig a pit—if the plan succeeded, the pits could indeed be recovered, but it would require the Yang Family to pay an enormous price. Yet if they did not implement it, they would lose some of the sunk cost already invested. Besides, with success right before their eyes, no one could resist the temptation.

Watching Yang Zhenshan and Zhou Qi trade moves like this left Yang Yuanshan thoroughly shaken. He could only cry, "The city's tricks run deep—I want to go back to the countryside!"

The study fell quiet.

After giving Yang Jinshan his instructions, Yang Yuanshan returned to the study.

Walking to Yang Zhenshan's side, he said softly, "Second Brother, do you really intend to seek out Eldest Brother?"

Yang Zhenshan said nothing. He lifted his teacup and slowly took a sip.

Yang Yuanshan hesitated, but still voiced it. "With Eldest Brother's temperament, I'm afraid he won't agree so easily."

Yang Zhenshan set down his teacup, his gaze deep and unfathomable.

"I know."

He rose and walked to the window, looking at the sky outside.

"But Zhou Qi is right. This is a good method."

Yang Yuanshan frowned. "But what if Eldest Brother takes the chance to make demands..."

Yang Zhenshan cut him off. "If he makes demands, I'll give him what he wants."

He turned and looked at Yang Yuanshan. "Go to the treasury and pick out a few good items. Choose expensive ones, rare ones. In half an hour, accompany me to the Spirit Medicine Hall."

Yang Yuanshan was taken aback, then cupped his fists. "Yes."

The Spirit Medicine Hall stood in the west of the city, occupying three storefronts. It was the Yang Family's largest medicinal materials business.

A quiet chamber in the rear courtyard.

Yang Yueshan sat in the seat of honor, holding a cup of tea with one leg crossed over the other. A half-smile rested on his face.

Yang Zhenshan sat in the guest seat. Before him were several gifts: a hundred-year spirit ganoderma, a piece of cold iron essence ore, and a lower-grade Profound-rank Soul-Nourishing Pill.

Yang Yueshan swept his eyes over the gifts and gave a mocking laugh.

"Second Brother, what is the meaning of this?" he drawled. "Has the sun risen in the west? You're actually bringing me gifts?"