Beginning with the Ubume Bird

Chapter 200: 37: Cleaning Up the Mess

Chapter 200: Chapter 37: Cleaning Up the Mess

Li Yan looked at Madam Shi, his eyes searching for answers.

These people possess sinister magic, Li Yan could kill them, but he didn’t know how to ensure they wouldn’t cause trouble once captured.

Madam Shi pondered briefly, “Use black dog’s blood, force-feed it to them, the magic of Wupozi would be rendered useless, however…”

She pointed at Zhi Nong, “This person is either Wupozi’s daughter or granddaughter, the bloodline is too strong. I can’t control her hands.”

In the corner, unnoticed, Lady Dan shook her head gently, “Lying.”

“No problem.”

Li Yan stared at Zhi Nong, who was drenched in cold sweat, and twisted forcefully with both hands, snapping all of Zhi Nong’s fingers and wrists in a cruel and inhuman way.

Zhi Nong screamed, her eyes rolled back, and the intense pain caused her to faint. Her body collapsed entirely.

“Not safe enough.”

Madam Shi’s voice was faint, revealing more than her words said.

“I have uses for these people.”

Li Yan remained unflustered.

Madam Shi turned her face away to look at the cotton tree on the table.

“As you wish.”

As Li Yan turned around, he finally looked at Madam Guo with a beaming smile, “Madam Guo, it’s been a while, you’ve grown.”

Madam Guo’s face looked awful, she remained silent with a stern face.

“I apologize for the amusement,” Li Yan bowed, “Why not stay on Lantau Island for a year or two this time?”

…

The docks of Lantau Island.

Night fell, and the ships at sea were clearly divided.

The Four Flags, oh, no, nowadays it could only be Three Flags, as the people of the Black Flag had been captured or killed by Li Yan, and were now silent.

The gang leaders had gone to the funeral hall, and with no news by nightfall, several groups of brothers were sent into the mountains to check; they disappeared without a trace, sending only tokens back to signify all was well.

The Red Flag had sent food and drinks early on, but the people of the Three Flags were not fools—they wouldn’t touch the food and drinks from the Red Flag, preferring their own dry rations.

Only a few brash and inexperienced folks couldn’t resist the sight of alcohol; but after only a few sips, they clutched their bellies and headed for the toilets. One person going unnoticed, but two or three sparked the alertness of the stewards.

Laxatives are not only easier to come by compared to drugging with soporifics but are also harder to detect. Over a thousand members of the Three Flags were left on the docks, leading a group to make noise and someone else getting ready to go back and report. Sadly, by then it was too late.

The roar of the heavy cannons filled the air, and in the ensuing chaos from firing the improved ammunition of the Heavy Cannon Regeneration Machine over the past two days, thousands of strong men from the Red Flag Gang surged forward, hacking at anyone they saw, with no intention of holding back.

This massive brawl involving thousands lasted about thirty minutes. The Three Flags pirates collapsed, with most escaping from Lantau Island by boat and roughly twenty percent dying there.

The people of the Black Flag were almost entirely captured.

“That woman, she’s ruthless to others, and to herself too.”

Lady Dan hugged her knees, lying beside Li Yan on a green grassy slope, both gazing up at the moon.

“What do you mean? You’re talking about Madam Shi.”

“If she was willing to close her eyes earlier, she would have had the chance for a reincarnation. Now, she can only wait for her soul to dissipate.”

Li Yan was speechless. With Madam Shi’s personality, the scheme of faking her death and sending the message to entrap all Four Flags had probably been prepared well in advance. After all, it was he who had asked her to hold on for a few more days.

“I was afraid of revealing any flaws, and that was why I found an excuse to go fight at Humen. Now that I think about it, I might have failed to appreciate Madam Shi’s devoted loyalty. Unfortunately, I am Li Yan, not Tianbao.”

“I actually think that Tianbao has some connection with you. Those who cultivate such supernatural abilities can recognize each other best. The fact that Madam Shi couldn’t see through you isn’t just because of the face, but your aura and the mark are indistinguishable from Tianbao’s.”

Li Yan plucked at the turf, pondering over Lady Dan’s words.

“Tianbao!”

From afar, Chaoyi called out to Li Yan.

“Madam Shi is looking for you.”

Li Yan got up, “I’m coming!”

He lowered his head and asked Lady Dan, “Right, Madam Shi is likely to inquire about your affair, and I suspect she won’t pester relentlessly. Why not come with me to see her?”

“That woman is sneaky and vicious, and a jealous type too. I won’t go looking for trouble. If she wants to see me, please decline on my behalf.”

“Ahem, alright then.”

Li Yan didn’t seem to mind.

Lady Dan glanced sideways at Li Yan, “Don’t make excuses for me. Whatever reason she asks for, tell her exactly what I would say.”

“That, wouldn’t be good.”

“That would be best.”

After Li Yan agreed, he and Chaoyi walked side by side toward the wisteria house where Madam Shi was resting.

Madam Shi’s feigned death had been kept secret from most of the Red Flag Gang, and even now, only the leaders involved in the mourning hall incident knew that it was all meticulously planned by her.

The majority of the gang had heard a different story: that Tianbao and Chaoyi had set a trap, striking from both inside and out. Even Zheng Xiu’er had been fooled, tearfully demanding for days where her mother had gone. Madam Shi was ruthless; after the funeral, she acted as if she were truly dead, refusing even to see Xiu’er, as if she had died two days earlier, determined to sever Xiu’er’s hope.

The wisteria house remained as silent as before.

Madam Shi sat alone by the rosewood desk, holding a book—it was “Travels of the Bearded Guest.”

Whether it was the candlelight reflecting on her or not, Madam Shi’s complexion seemed much improved, her brows and eyes as lovely as peach blossoms.

“Madam Shi.”

Li Yan spoke up.

…

Chaoyi closed the door behind him and glanced at the two shadows cast on the window paper. He then turned and made his way back to his own courtyard along the narrow path.

He had long since established a family on Lantau Island, where his daughter was now eight years old.

“Head of the house.”

When he returned, his wife, Madam Yang, approached him, “That man has been waiting for you in the study for quite some time.”

“Where’s the child?”

“Asleep.”

“Go to sleep too. Don’t come near unless I call you.”

Madam Yang was a compliant woman. She nodded repeatedly and slipped quietly into the bedroom to soothe her drowsy daughter back to sleep.

Once the light in the bedroom was out, Chaoyi turned and entered the study.

In the study awaited a man with a simple and honest face, but with fingers that were unusually slender and white. He was a craftsman from Quanzhou named Bai Zhantang.

He usually sold fake paintings, carved seals from stone, and possessed a unique skill: he could break seals made from wax, remove letters, read them, and then return them to their original place, the wax seal appearing untouched by anyone.

“I have long heard of Mr. Bai’s expertise. For this task, I must trouble you. Upon success, you shall be handsomely rewarded,” Chaoyi assured him with respect.

Bai Zhantang bowed repeatedly, “To be of service to Dual-Gun Chaoyi is an honor. May I see the letter?”

Chaoyi respectfully handed it over.

…

“When you saw me again, did you ever wonder why this old hag hasn’t kicked the bucket yet?”

Madam Shi’s tone was not only playful as she spoke, as if not referring to herself, but her face also carried a curved smile.

“When you say that, it’s not funny at all.”

Li Yan’s tone was heavy.

Madam Shi chuckled softly, a hint of fatigue in her questioning, “You said earlier today that when Heavenly Mother was crossing the sea, you had a fortunate encounter and ate a Longevity Seed, which was why your skills advanced so dramatically.”

Li Yan’s heart skipped a beat; indeed, he had made up that story to deceive Madam Shi. Because he ate an unripe Longevity Seed and gained endless energy, he also lost some normal human emotions. That gave him the idea for his tale. Now that Madam Shi brought it up, he suspected she might have doubts.

But Madam Shi’s next words brought warmth to Li Yan’s heart.

“This desk has records I searched for you from the county annals about ancients eating the Longevity Seeds from across the sea. Have a look. Although it could be a stroke of fate, it might also be a curse. If you consumed one that wasn’t fully ripe, it could bring big trouble.”

Li Yan sat down at the desk and pushed aside the county records.

“Let’s not talk about that tonight.”