Falling Moon Market

Yang Yi and the other two met up outside Qiao'an City, then immediately raced away.

The journey to Falling Moon Market would take roughly two days. They naturally needed to rest along the way, but fortunately, the Qiao Household had many properties. After every stretch of travel, there was somewhere they could recuperate.

The three only needed to show their Attendant badges to requisition them.

A day later, Yang Yi looked toward a certain direction.

That was the direction of Yang Family Hollow. From where he was now, it was at most the time it took to burn an incense stick on horseback, yet that little mountain village had trapped him for a full sixteen years. Had he not encountered Yue Jian, who knew when he would have been able to break free from that old nest.

Yang Yi had once planned to venture out into the world after turning eighteen, but that was no longer necessary.

Looking back now, those thoughts had been far too naive. In this world, without a skill to call his own, even if he ventured out, he could at most scrape together a living.

He quickly withdrew his gaze and continued onward.

After another day of hard travel, they finally arrived outside Falling Moon Market.

Though this place bore the name of a market, it was actually a town, bustling beyond measure, with people flowing through it like an endless river. It was the largest medicinal herb trading ground within a hundred miles.

Every year, it drew countless herb gatherers here. Cases of people selling good herbs and becoming rich overnight were too numerous to count.

The medicinal herbs the Qiao Household purchased here each year were not limited to Jade Marrow Zhi Powder. There were countless other varieties as well, so this place was extremely important to the Qiao Household. Now that it had been taken, they naturally had to take it back, especially since it was currently the season for purchasing Jade Marrow Zhi Powder.

Black Wind Stronghold, a subordinate of Shadow Tower, had suddenly launched a sneak attack. The Qiao Household's two Lan Blood experts had been unable to react in time, and in the end, one died while the other was wounded.

However, that did not mean the Qiao Household had no one left to use in Falling Moon Market.

The Qiao Household had controlled this place for so many years and had made many arrangements.

In the previous upheaval, the Qiao Household's overt arrangements had been swept away, but a few hidden pieces remained after all.

Yang Yi and the others received a contact about ten li from Falling Moon Market. They then abandoned their horses, continued on foot, carried herb baskets on their backs, disguised themselves as herb gatherers, and entered Falling Moon Market.

Falling Moon Market had five entrances, each guarded by men. Still, with someone to receive them, slipping inside was not difficult.

Black Wind Stronghold had occupied this place, but it still had to do business. It could hardly shut everyone out.

They made their way to a medicinal herb shop, where they were led into a secret chamber behind the hall.

Before long, the shopkeeper pushed open the door, cupped his fists, and said, "This subordinate, Qian Sanbao, pays respects to the three lords!"

Yang Yi gave a slight nod. "Shopkeeper Qian, thank you for your efforts. Sit and speak."

Qian Sanbao sat as instructed, showing not the slightest contempt because of Yang Yi's age.

"We were ordered here to deal with Black Wind Stronghold. Tell us everything you know in detail," Yang Yi instructed.

Qian Sanbao immediately began laying out the matter in full.

After Black Wind Stronghold seized Falling Moon Market, it occupied the Qiao Household's original stronghold. That stronghold had been managed by the Qiao Household for many years and built to be exceptionally sturdy, the kind of place easy to defend and hard to attack.

"The two Lan Blood experts Black Wind Stronghold left stationed here are the Fifth Chief, Cloud Leopard, and the Seventh Chief, Duan Hong. They have nearly a hundred men, twenty greatbows, and five siege crossbows within the stronghold."

Yang Yi showed no reaction upon hearing this, but Shen Qian and Qin Siniang felt their scalps go numb.

Shen Qian asked in confusion, "With such a setup, how did Black Wind Stronghold take the stronghold before?"

Never mind anything else—those five siege crossbows alone were no laughing matter. A single shot from one could kill a Lan Blood expert. They were in a completely different league from handheld crossbows.

Qian Sanbao sighed. "The previous two Attendants must have let their guard down. One of them was particularly fond of beauty and had many lovers in the market. He stayed out every night, which gave Black Wind Stronghold an opening..."

Shen Qian said indignantly, "In the end, it was dereliction of duty!"

Qian Sanbao remained silent.

"What about Golden Saber Hall?" Yang Yi asked.

The Qiao Household was not the only force in Falling Moon Market. Before the Qiao Household took control of this place, there had already been a local gang here called Golden Saber Hall.

However, the Qiao Household occupied this place to do business and purchase medicinal herbs, so it and Golden Saber Hall kept to their own waters without crossing into each other's river. In fact, Golden Saber Hall relied on the Qiao Household in many ways and had gained considerable benefits by borrowing its influence.

Yang Yi had learned this intelligence from Qin Siniang on the way here. Siniang knew quite a lot about the Qiao Household's affairs.

Having coexisted for so many years, it stood to reason that when trouble befell the Qiao Household here, Golden Saber Hall should have helped.

"Those two from Golden Saber Hall have never had much backbone. They did not intervene when the upheaval happened before. Though they have not declared their stance openly, they have likely already leaned toward Black Wind Stronghold."

It was a wise choice.

At present, anyone with even slightly well-informed channels knew that the Liu Lineage and Shadow Tower had joined forces against the Qiao Household. Naturally, no one thought highly of the latter.

"If I wanted to meet Golden Saber Hall's two hall masters, could you arrange it?" Yang Yi asked.

Qian Sanbao was startled and hurriedly advised, "My lord, if Golden Saber Hall learns of your presence, I fear nothing good will come of it."

Yang Yi said, "Golden Saber Hall survives in the cracks between forces. I believe they will make a wise choice. Even if they have certain thoughts, they likely would not dare offend the Qiao Household too deeply. As you said, they have no backbone. Between the Qiao Household and Black Wind Stronghold, they will know which weighs more."

The Qiao Household was indeed smaller than the combined Liu Lineage and Shadow Tower, but compared with Black Wind Stronghold alone, it still far surpassed it.

"That may be so..."

"Just make the arrangements!"

Since Yang Yi had spoken thus, Qian Sanbao naturally did not dare object. He immediately agreed and withdrew.

"Yang Yi, I think you should not place your hopes too high on the goodness in human nature."

Shen Qian had not interrupted while Yang Yi spoke with Qian Sanbao. Only now did he open his mouth.

Qin Siniang also said, "Yes. What if Golden Saber Hall harbors ill intentions? You cannot expect them not to go tip someone off."

"And if they do?" Yang Yi spoke indifferently.

Qin Siniang froze, then immediately understood. Yes, even if Golden Saber Hall went to tip someone off, so what? Yang Yi's terrifying strength was right there. When he had been surrounded in Clearwind City, the situation had been so dire, yet he had still turned defeat into victory. Would he now fear a mere Golden Saber Hall?

Shen Qian also realized it at this moment. "You deliberately want them to tip someone off?"

The stronghold's defenses were so thorough that it would certainly not be easy to storm. They could only lure the snake from its hole.

He and Qin Siniang had viewed the matter through ordinary eyes, so their solution naturally differed from Yang Yi's.

"It is not that I want them to tip someone off." Yang Yi slowly shook his head. "If they can stand on our side, that would naturally be best. But if they cannot, then we can only send them to their deaths."

No matter what Golden Saber Hall chose, he could respond accordingly. It could be said that his immense strength and confidence meant he did not need to consider Golden Saber Hall's choice at all.

They had already delayed two days on the journey here. He needed to settle matters on this side as quickly as possible.

He needed to cultivate. Urgently!