Free Web NovelChapter 699: Chapter 291: The Taste of the Nun
The residence of Grand Governor Ye Shidao.
Hua Qianzhan stood humbly, recounting all his grievances to the Grand Governor, no longer carrying the confidence he once had.
"Sir, who exactly is this little Night Patrol? How dare he, he’s completely lawless. He’s a rotten apple."
Ye Shidao sipped his tea, quietly listening to Hua Qianzhan’s complaints, "Xiao Hua, you’re also foolish to fall into such a simple trap so solidly."
"Sir, I didn’t expect this boy to be so insidious. Anyway, without evidence, I’ve arranged for someone to deal with him!" Hua Qianzhan’s face turned sinister. He was a prominent figure in Dragon Capital, and had lost tremendous face over the past few days. If the suspicion wasn’t removed, how could he face anyone in the future?
"No evidence?" Ye Shidao glanced at Hua Qianzhan, "There were so many reporters; your escape through the window was captured. By tomorrow morning, it will spread all over Dragon Capital. Once suspicion is cast, do you think the Church Court won’t get evidence from their questioning of you?"
"The folks from Hex Bird Society wouldn’t dare. Fakson, the Red-robed Archbishop, is on our side."
"Hex Bird Society wouldn’t dare, but don’t set too high hopes on Fakson. And you forgot, Potter and Nalan dare. They’ve finally found a chance to clear their names; why would they let you go?" Ye Shidao said calmly.
Hua Qianzhan’s old face stiffened. Ever since he failed to ascend as an Angel and became a Bent Angel, he’d indulged in the pleasures of worldly power, living for appearances that he couldn’t stomach to lose.
"Sir, a word from you and whichever Bird Society that dares to publish it, there’s a group of clowns inside Hundred Martial Hall who are restless. If I lose my authority, I won’t be able to manage them, which would also threaten you." Hua Qianzhan said, "You stop the photos, and I’ll get people from the Song of Hell to take care of Li Xin, no living witness. No one in Dragon Capital will dare oppose us then."
Ye Shidao frowned, looking at Hua Qianzhan as if he were an idiot, but still smiled slightly, "Li Xin has deep ties with the Secret Castle. We shouldn’t create additional complications for now. Even if we were to act, we can’t leave any loose ends. For now, stay here and rest. There’s a nun who can help you adjust your mood. I’ll handle the outside matters."
Hearing of the Song of Hell’s nun, Hua Qianzhan’s eyes lit up. Having his path to ascension cut off, power and women were all he lived for. The allure of a seductive woman was an irresistible delicacy for any man. He had tasted ordinary seductive women and found them hard to give up, not to mention a nun from the Song of Hell being the finest of fine.
"Everything depends on you, my lord." Hua Qianzhan smiled and bowed, knowing that once you fall into the worldly realm, you must choose an ally. In Dragon Capital, the one he favored was Ye Shidao.
Servants led Hua Qianzhan, knowing that the Grand Governor would surely solve this thorny issue for him. In Dragon Capital, no aristocratic family or Church Court was more powerful than Ye Shidao.
Having cultivated the Li Long Kingdom for decades, he had the nickname of a mud-slinging Governor, but in truth, he had been quietly developing. If he didn’t have power, how could he stay in position for so long?
That was a position coveted by all the mighty of the Li Long Kingdom.
Over the years, Ye Shidao has been balancing the forces of the justice and libertarian factions. But after controlling it for too long, the two factions reached a consensus to remove Ye Shidao from power, which aligned with the interests of the various aristocratic families within those factions; they couldn’t let Ye Shidao dominate.
Ye Shidao quietly sipped his tea and softly said, "This person can’t be kept."
A well-dressed little girl stepped out of the shadows, her smile like a blooming flower, "Such a foolish person, how did he become an Elder of the Hundred Martial Hall."
"This world is like a makeshift theater troupe; there’s much that’s unbelievable. Please, Miss Xiong, handle it thoroughly." Ye Shidao said with a slight smile.
"Lord Ye, rest assured, there’s no man a nun can’t kill in this world." Porcelain Doll smiled.
"Oh, the path of a seductive woman seems heartless, yet possesses deep affection. Isn’t the deep part of her affection not human?" Ye Shidao suddenly asked.
"Sir, you’re too perceptive. The nun’s dispersal of power to rebuild is rare in history. Sadly, though we’re both singers, I don’t know much about her," Porcelain Doll said. "Are you interested in her?"
Ye Shidao looked at Porcelain Doll’s flowery smile and curved the corners of his mouth, "I’ve already dedicated myself to this country."
Porcelain Doll’s expression slightly froze; it was the first time she’d seen a man who could "truly" refuse a nun. She was sure Ye Shidao genuinely wasn’t interested.
"Our plan is progressing very smoothly. When should we initiate the next step?"
"No rush. We’ve already caught the attention of the Church Court. Though they’re currently in internal chaos and decay, they’re still one of the ancient Church Courts. If we move hastily, forcing them to unify, our efforts may be in vain." Ye Shidao said.
"Your insight is unmatched, so I shall await your orders." Porcelain Doll smiled, her delicate porcelain-like face radiant.
"Miss Xiong, though Dragon Capital is a bit foggy, it’s a city with a long history. You can enjoy it in your spare time, we’re not in a hurry. I believe your leader is also a very patient person."
"Understood." Porcelain Doll gracefully stepped back, lifted her skirt in a curtsy, spun in place, and her figure vanished.
Ye Shidao’s expression gradually returned to calm. He’d been the Grand Governor for many years. In his day, the Ye family wasn’t noticeable among Beijing people. Precisely because of this, he was chosen, as the justice and libertarian factions initially intended to use him as a puppet. But over the years he’d gradually gained power, steadied his steps, and by leveraging the conflicts among the Council, Church Court, and Hundred Martial Hall, he had come to today. But now, he had also become a thorn in the eyes of both factions.
So, he couldn’t retreat. Not only could he not retreat, but he also had to advance, or he would inevitably face retribution.
Song of Hell was an excellent choice, arguably Dao Yuan’s first major disruptor.
Hong Yan was killed by someone he sent. When the justice and libertarian factions secretly joined forces, he had to act. He wouldn’t face it directly; instead, he had Hua Qianzhan contact the Song of Hell, and after a meticulous setup, they killed Hong Yan, framing it on Nalan Jingguo. The choice of Hong Yan over Nalan Jingguo was also calculated. The Hong family was more impulsive and straightforward, valuing face over everything, whereas Nalan Jingguo, backed by the Potter family, was more calculating and valued actual benefits. They also had a poor reputation. Because of this, with Hong Yan dead, the Potter family would be under suspicion.
Back then, supporting Luthor’s rise to power involved many tactics from the Potter family, which had become a label.
Currently, the Potter and Nalan families suspected it was his doing. If someone as spineless as Hua Qianzhan were left alive, they would ruin his grand plan; failing to become an Angel broke his backbone.
As for the Hundred Martial Hall, it was merely a civilian organization. If Hua Qianzhan died, they could replace him with someone obedient. As long as he remained in the position of Grand Governor, no one could stir things up.
However, Night Patrol was a bit troublesome. They hadn’t anticipated them capturing evidence on Hua Qianzhan, forcing him to abandon this crucial piece.
Shadow Owl?
From the Black Market to Hua Qianzhan, this was absolutely beyond what Shadow Owl could do or dare to do. That Li Xin certainly didn’t have such vision, undoubtedly a pawn. It seemed that the Church Court made a move. Fakson, the old guy, wasn’t very effective; his failure to become Chief Red-robed Archbishop had a significant impact.
But it’s close, patience is a necessary condition for accomplishing great things.
Ye Shidao had fled, and Li Xin didn’t pursue further. His goal had been achieved, and for some things, he just needed to start the fire and see where it spread.
Night Patrol’s reform was progressing steadily. With money, many things could be done. Night Patrol’s core was excellent; the few external conditions were insignificant to Li Xin. By publicly and swiftly distributing the management fees collected from the Black Market, he prevented anyone from coveting it. Anyone attempting to take it would face attacks from the entire Night Patrol and rival competitors at that level.
Additionally, it was crucial to ensure the Black Market operated normally. A market must be prosperous for everyone to benefit, so the Black Market’s rules essentially remained unchanged, putting the Awakened within at ease.
Moreover, they had to guard against Hundred Martial Hall disrupting the Black Market’s order. It was now up to how the Church Court dealt with Hua Qianzhan. Temporarily diverting conflicts was beneficial for Night Patrol to consolidate the Black Market, and any future disturbances would present a different scenario.
