Chapter 106: Luring the Tiger Away from Its Mountain

They discussed the matter briefly. However, the address on the letter pointed to a remote district in the eastern part of the city, an area sparsely populated by locals and particularly desolate. Yet, it was unlikely that Chen Tianwei would have inexplicably returned all the silver. This matter needed to be reported to Luojing immediately. They would do everything possible to rescue the official. If it proved impossible, then they would have to abandon the effort.

Meanwhile, Master Zhu had brought some recent updates. The disappearance of the official seemed to be linked to some factions within the martial underworld.

“You mean there are martial organizations in Blue City? They usually have little contact with imperial officials, and in recent years, the locals have coexisted peacefully with them,” Chen Tianwei remarked. “So why such a sudden, large-scale conflict?”

“Brother Han, could these people be after the copper mine?” Zhu suggested. Indeed, this was a plausible explanation. At first, they hadn’t realized it, but upon reflection, the official had been taken shortly after inspecting the copper mine.

“Quite possible.”

“But these martial factions sound more like bandits,” Han Qing observed.

“They call themselves martial men, but they actually live in the mountains year-round. Some officials tried to negotiate with them before, but the bandits were unreasonably hostile...” Zhu spoke slowly. These were events from three or five years ago. Since then, both sides had maintained a peaceful stance without incident.

Could it be that everyone had grown envious over the ownership of the copper mine? Yet, wouldn’t it make more sense to avoid direct confrontation with the imperial court? These bandits seemed recklessly bold.

As they deliberated, an unfamiliar voice interrupted casually.

“I know that Wu Qi. He was once my defeated adversary. Now he’s become a mountain stronghold’s king?” The old beggar spoke nonchalantly, revealing he too had once practiced martial arts.

“Will you come with us?” Zhu asked the beggar, who nodded. His intention was to pass on some martial arts manuals to Han Qing, who was now physically capable of mastering the internal techniques.

But Wu Qi was known for his ruthlessness, the old beggar thought. It was a rare opportunity to nurture someone promising—he hoped the old man wouldn’t be knocked out with a single punch.

About half an hour later, the group reached the mountain summit. They indeed found several cave dwellings, but were stopped at the entrance. The old beggar explained their purpose.

Inside, they saw a man seated in a chair, wearing a face of disdain.

“Where have you been these past years, hiding up here?” The old beggar’s tone was cuttingly sarcastic.

The man looked up abruptly, a flicker of unease in his eyes.

“Who do you think you are? This copper mine will be ours sooner or later. The imperial court sending troops to reclaim it is impossible,” the masked man declared with conviction, clearly obsessed with seizing the mine.

As tensions escalated, Chen Tianwei had already arranged for the official to be found and swiftly taken away. They no longer held any bargaining chips. The old beggar prepared to leave.

“Back in the day, we fought each other, but now you look too weak,” he said coldly before descending.

Suddenly, the masked man panicked and tried to block their retreat.

“A diversion!” Suddenly, a swarm of bandits appeared. The situation was precarious.

Han Qing tossed a smoke bomb and fled down the mountain, escaping without harm. But it was clear Blue City was no longer safe.

The old beggar frankly advised that, even if one wished to learn martial arts, this place was no sanctuary.

“Is that man really that formidable?” Zhu asked, puzzled. They had witnessed the old beggar’s unmatched martial skills.

Yet after the mountain trip, they sensed the old beggar was withholding something.

“No, his martial skill isn’t superior to mine, but his use of poison is deadly. If one cannot neutralize it, they risk falling victim to his potent toxins,” he explained calmly.

It was a troubling matter. At first, they had dismissed it, but unexpectedly, several patrons at the hotpot restaurant became mysteriously poisoned.

When the news reached Han Qing, he realized it was the work of those bandits.

Retribution was inevitable. The true motive was ownership of the copper mine, which not only yielded silver but also could supply materials for manufacturing weapons and tools come Spring Festival.

The mass poisoning severely damaged the hotpot business, especially as many customers came seeking justice.

Previously, Chen Tianwei had promoted the restaurant as exceptionally safe and hygienic, but within less than half a year, such an incident had shaken public confidence, threatening to ruin their long-invested enterprise.

“I’ve heard about the mass poisoning at the hotpot restaurant. Many have filed complaints with the county office. What do you plan to do?” Chen Tianwei asked, puzzled.

They all knew it was deliberate sabotage, but whether to act or ignore was still uncertain.

“For now, we must appease the customers. The restaurant will likely have to close temporarily,” Han Qing replied slowly.

The bandits’ retaliation was swift and ruthless, impacting not just the hotpot restaurant but other local inns and businesses as well.

“Report this directly to the court and arrange for soldiers to capture these bandits?” Chen Tianwei suggested.

“Have the soldiers arrived?”

“No. The court wants us to handle this discreetly, preventing escalation and calming the local populace to avoid panic,” Han Qing said helplessly.

“So, their true aim is the copper mine, but you only mentioned bandits and overlooked this crucial point,” Chen Tianwei remarked.

The court would never allow the copper mine to fall into others’ hands. Since everyone desired it, conflict was inevitable.

“As for the official, he probably wants to return to Luojing, right?”