"Poison???"
The messenger froze for a moment and asked in confusion, "Eldest young master, that salt wasn't poisonous, and it didn't have a single impurity. How could it have come from a poisonous salt mine?"
"Not poisonous?"
Ran Chao's expression changed. How could it not be poisonous?
He gritted his teeth. "Send someone to investigate immediately. There's no way it isn't poisonous. That was a poisonous salt mine!"
He had already made up his mind that, as soon as he found proof that Lin Yi's salt was poisonous, he would make sure Lin Yi could never turn things around and send him plunging straight to rock bottom.
But before long, he could no longer sit still!
Bad news kept pouring in. Under the onslaught of Lin Yi's premium refined salt, the Ran Clan's businesses throughout Northern Liang had all been affected, so shopkeepers from everywhere could no longer sit still and came to ask him to seek justice for them.
"Eldest young master, you have to stand up for us!"
"This Lin Yi has no martial virtue. The fellow is actually selling fine salt for less than coarse salt. Isn't he just stirring up trouble?"
"I think he's gone mad. Otherwise, he'd never do something like this. Surely those losses will ruin him!"
"That bastard! If this keeps up, how am I supposed to answer to the master?"
"Who knows where they got their fine salt? It's completely white and flawless, without a single impurity. It's really strange."
The steward at his side saw the eldest young master's face growing darker and darker, then looked at the shopkeepers who were still chattering away. He roared, "All of you, get out! Don't you know the eldest young master hasn't recovered from his serious injuries?"
"This..." They exchanged glances and finally left. The eldest young master was not someone to be trifled with.
After they left, Ran Chao's face turned hideous, a layer of frost settling over it as he said angrily, "That Lin Yi! He's really gone too far!"
As luck would have it, he had chosen the very moment the Ran Clan was at its weakest to introduce cheap salt, snatching a huge share of the Ran Clan's salt market in one stroke. Lin Yi had definitely done it on purpose.
That fellow was targeting him and the Ran Clan!
But he had not lost yet. Once he got to the bottom of the poisonous salt, Lin Yi would be beyond redemption.
The Ran Clan's people returned shortly afterward, but the news they brought made Ran Chao's face turn ashen in an instant.
"What? Lin Yi found a way to treat the poisonous salt and make it safe?" Ran Chao swayed and nearly fell to the ground.
Lin Yi could treat poisonous salt, which meant the poisonous salt mine was no problem at all. With the reserves of poisonous salt on that mountain, hadn't Lin Yi obtained an inexhaustible mountain of gold for nothing?
Pfft!
Ran Chao spat out a mouthful of blood and fainted on the spot.
"Eldest young master!"
The steward's face changed drastically. Even the eldest young master had fainted. Now they were in serious trouble.
At the Prince of Northern Liang's Residence!
"He tried to steal a chicken only to lose the rice used to lure it. The Ran Clan's eldest young master must be furious enough to die!"
As soon as Ran Chao spat blood and fainted, the news reached Lin Yi's ears, and he could not help laughing. The miserable state of the Ran father and son counted as vengeance for the assassination attempt back then.
With that, his mind was clear.
Han Song, who was standing nearby, also could not help laughing. "Haha, that brat was probably waiting for the heir to poison someone to death so the whole thing would come to light. But he never imagined the heir could treat poisonous salt. That's a mountain of gold!"
Everyone burst out laughing. Losing a mountain of gold just like that would make anyone spit blood.
Lin Yi nodded and smiled. "Let's leave the matter at that for now. We only need to promote our own salt. As for the Ran Clan, we'll come for them sooner or later, but not now."
This was not the time to destroy the Ran Clan, nor was there any need to wear themselves out fighting them.
Now that all the resources were in place and he had a steady source of income, it was time to head to Xiliang.
This was his path of trials, and the stage where the sky was high enough for a bird to fly freely. It was far more important than the insignificant Ran Clan. Although his word carried enormous weight in Northern Liang, he was still restricted there. His path of conquest had to lie in Xiliang!
Xiliang!
Everyone's eyes lit up, and each of them was filled with longing. Perhaps that was where they would earn fame and achieve success.
Han Song could not help sighing. "Heir, as a guard of the prince's residence, I cannot accompany you to Xiliang and witness your heroic bearing. I only hope your future will be as bright as brocade and that you will soon take charge of Northern Liang!"
He was the commander of the residence's guards and naturally could not leave, so he could not follow him afterward.
"Haha, that's not necessarily true. My father built up Northern Liang, so naturally I can build up Xiliang. When the time comes, I'll make you my great general of the guards!" Lin Yi laughed heartily, his spirit soaring to the clouds.
A man living in this world should strive to be first. Wasn't a realm he had conquered himself more appealing?
"Good!"
At some point, Wang Ziwen had also come into the courtyard. Hearing Lin Yi's words, he could not help laughing heartily. "A tiger father has no dog son. Heir, you truly have great ambition. I believe you can do it."
Uh!
The corner of Lin Yi's mouth twitched. This old man won't tell on me, will he? If he does, I'll be in trouble again.
He forced a laugh. "Uncle Wang, I was only joking. Please don't tell my father, or he'll definitely thrash me."
"Don't worry. He'll only be happy," Wang Ziwen said with a smile.
No one knew better than he did that the prince actually wanted the heir to become Northern Liang's pillar more than anyone else. If the heir could conquer a realm of his own, the prince would not only be unangered, but delighted.
Only the strong could hold Northern Liang, so the heir had to become strong.
Lin Yi grinned, moved up to Wang Ziwen, and held out his hand. "Uncle Wang, as the governor of Xiliang, I'm an official, at least. Surely you should give me some troops, provisions, money, or something like that."
Even horses needed grass to eat. Uncle Wang had made a haul this time, so he had to give him a share. Otherwise, wouldn't Lin Yi have taken a loss earlier?
"You rascal!"
Wang Ziwen gave him an irritated look and said gloomily, "Forget about money and grain. Find a way to get those yourself. I see your strategist has helped you gather some as well. We captured enough weapons and equipment for nearly fifty thousand men this time. I'll make the decision for the prince and give them to you!"
Enough captured equipment for fifty thousand men?
"Many thanks, Uncle Wang!"
Lin Yi's eyes lit up. Equipment for fifty thousand men was no small amount. He did not believe it had been captured; it seemed his father had given it to him.
Still, that was fine. With these extra weapons and equipment, he could recruit some troops and quickly expand his strength. In a place ravaged by war, these things were more useful than anything else.
Wang Ziwen took a deep breath, his expression growing solemn as he cautioned, "Xiliang used to be Dayu Pass. Not only are the people there fierce, but the barbarians also have forces there. Heir, you must be careful!"
The heir was Northern Liang's hope. If he perished there, Northern Liang would have no future.
"Rest assured, Uncle Wang. That is my Xiliang."
Confidence flashed in Lin Yi's eyes. My Xiliang, my rules. Even if the people are fierce, they need enough strength to back it up. Otherwise, they can be suppressed!