Starting Reward – A Three Thousand Assassin Network

Chapter 10 – Xia Wuye, Wan Family Chamber of Commerce

Ye Chen looked at the Golden Dragon Fish lying on the ground, grinning widely, “Haha, today’s harvest is quite fruitful!”

“I told you, the bigger the storm, the bigger the fish! Look, I actually caught a rare species!”

Saying this, Ye Chen put his hands on his hips and turned to look at Ye Dingtian, “Old man, King of Fishing? Is this it? Hmph!”

Seeing his clever grandson’s smug expression, especially his teasing tone, Ye Dingtian felt his old face getting a bit hot. He had previously boasted about being the King of Fishing, but now, he felt a bit embarrassed as he had actually lost.

However, who was Ye Dingtian? A slick old-timer who had lived for decades—could he easily admit defeat?

“You were cheating, so it doesn’t count! Who fishes like you? Others use fishing rods, but you use a fishing net!”

After hearing this, Ye Chen looked disdainful, “Fishing is about what you catch. Since the end result is the same, does the process still matter? Moreover, using my method, the results are crystal clear!”

Ye Chen shrugged, thoroughly pleased with himself.

As for the fishing tools he brought, they were just for show. If acquaintances saw him catch so many fish, wouldn’t they admire him greatly?

Fishing in this world lacking entertainment was an extremely refined sentiment. Not only could it cultivate one’s mind and character, but it could also train patience. Often, it represented great wisdom, surpassing those who only talk and show off.

Observing Ye Chen’s demeanor, Ye Dingtian’s mouth twitched continuously. After a while, it turned into a silent sigh, ultimately accepting reality. After all, his grandson made a lot of sense.

As long as the outcome was good, the process wasn’t that important.

Although he had already admitted defeat in his heart, he didn’t say it outright, “Good grandson, although I lost today, it’s not to you but to the rules.”

“Hmph, is it so hard to admit defeat to me? Still talking about rules at this age, living your whole life by those old standards, how can you see beyond those rules? Forget it, I can’t make you understand.”

After saying this, Ye Chen said to Tian Yan, “Pack up and get ready to return home. If we don’t leave now, it might rain later, and I don’t want to end up soaking wet!”

At this moment, the sky was covered in dark clouds, creating a strong oppressive feeling. Gusts of wind howled, causing the trees by the Songhua River to sway continuously.

On the other side, Ye Dingtian was still pondering Ye Chen’s words, “Rules are meant to be broken! Being within the rules, how can one see beyond them?”

The more he thought about it, the more profound the sentence seemed to be.

As a former Grand General (Zhenguo, or the the “General Who Guards the Nation”), Ye Dingtian had adhered strictly to rules throughout his life.

“No square can be formed without a straight ruler; no circle can be formed without a straight compass. Without rules, there’s no order. With rules, it’s just order. So, I have lived my entire life within rules, simultaneously bound by those invisible rules. I hesitated in everything I did and couldn’t see things beyond the rules!”

Realizing this, Ye Dingtian’s eyes seemed to brighten a bit.

“So that’s it, so that’s it! I finally understand. I never expected my grandson to solve the problem that had plagued me for ten years.”

“Hahaha …”

At this moment, Ye Dingtian’s state of mind improved significantly. His view of everything had changed, and he felt great. He stroked his beard, laughing heartily.

“Congratulations, Big Brother, on advancing your cultivation once again!” Yang Tianyu came to Ye Dingtian’s side and congratulated him respectfully.

“Haha, it’s a small matter, not worth mentioning.” Ye Dingtian waved his hand.

Although he said it wasn’t worth mentioning, his expression betrayed him; his old face was almost breaking into a smile.

This kind of laughter naturally caught Ye Chen’s attention. He looked at Tian Yan and pointed at Ye Dingtian, asking, “Is this old man going crazy? Why does he suddenly seem so ecstatic?”

Hearing this, Tian Yan smirked, “The old master seems to have understood some things, elevating his state of mind!”

“Huh! I thought he had discovered some priceless treasure. Turns out it’s just this! Let’s go, I don’t want to bother with him. Let him revel in his own world!” With that said, Ye Chen got into the luxurious carriage.

Watching the slowly departing carriage, Ye Dingtian turned to Yang Tianyu, “Old Yang, let’s also return home. It’s going to rain soon!”

“After this heavy rain, many things will become clearer.”

Ye Dingtian spoke cryptically, and Yang Tianyu naturally understood the implication, “Ah, it seems we’ve finally reached this point.”

“These things are no longer under our control; it’s the trend of the situation. Just like the impending storm, it cannot be avoided.” Ye Dingtian stood with his hands behind his back, squinting at the surging waves of the river.

“Let’s go, and let’s see if this storm will engulf Luo City.”

…

Meanwhile, in the Great Xia Imperial City, Xia Cheng, in the Imperial Palace …

A dignified man dressed in a yellow robe with nine-clawed dragon patterns, wearing a purple-gold crown, sat handling state affairs in the study. This person was the ruler of Great Xia, Xia Wuye.

Even though he sat quietly, examining the memorials in his hand, there was an overwhelming aura surrounding him that made people dare not look directly at him.

Beside him, a figure remained hidden in the shadows. This person was called Cao Zhengde, the Grand Internal Governor responsible for internal affairs within the palace.

Clap!

A slight sound echoed in the quiet study.

Xia Wuye closed the memorials, lay back on the dragon chair, closed his eyes, and placed his hands on the armrests.

At this moment, faint footsteps approached from the entrance, quickly arriving in front of Xia Wuye’s desk. The person bowed respectfully, “Your Majesty, according to the spy’s report, the Zhao Family in Qingzhou has been active recently.”

This person was named Li Xiaozhong, Xia Wuye’s personal guard and also the leader of the Dark Dragon Guards.

Hearing Li Xiaozhong’s voice, Xia Wuye remained leaning on the dragon chair, calmly uttered a word.

“Speak!”

“The Zhao Family’s youngest daughter, Zhao Ling’er, and the sole daughter of the Ye Family, Ye Xue, under the guise of the Wan Family Chamber of Commerce, have gathered a large sum of wealth and secretly sent it to Luo City!”

“Shua~” Xia Wuye suddenly opened his eyes, then stared at Li Xiaozhong.

“Is this information true?”

Under Xia Wuye’s gaze, Li Xiaozhong felt a chill down his spine. Respectfully, he replied, “Absolutely true, Your Majesty. Your subordinate would never dare to deceive you.”

“Heh, heh! Is this a coincidence? No, I don’t believe it. How can there be so many coincidences in the world?” Xia Wuye sneered, then continued, “Li Xiaozhong, if this isn’t a coincidence, do you know what this means? It means we have rats in the house!”

Although Xia Wuye’s voice was flat, to Li Xiaozhong, it sounded like thunder. His forehead instantly beaded with sweat, and a chill ran down his spine. He immediately kneeled on the ground and earnestly said, “Please allow this subordinate some time, Your Majesty. I will definitely eliminate the hidden dangers within the palace!”

“I’ll give you three days. I won’t monitor the process, only the result!” Xia Wuye was indeed the Xia Emperor; at the slightest suspicion, he would eliminate potential threats.

“Yes!” Li Xiaozhong promptly responded.

“The Wan Family Chamber of Commerce, jointly managed by Zhao Ling’er of the Zhao Family and Ye Xue of the Ye Family, has expanded in just a few years, accumulating wealth capable of challenging a nation. Have you found out who is behind them?” Xia Wuye gently stroked the armrests of the dragon chair.

“I’ve investigated everyone they’ve had contact with, but we haven’t obtained any useful information. I believe the person behind this is either extremely well hidden or doesn’t exist!” Li Xiaozhong shared his speculation.

The original intention behind establishing the Wan Family Chamber of Commerce was to provide pocket money for Zhao Ling’er and Ye Xue. However, they never expected that this business would grow so large, far beyond the imagination of these two young women.

The items in the Chamber were extremely unique—various colorful glassware, beloved lipsticks, perfumes, mirrors, and more for the noble ladies.

For the food enthusiasts, there were incredibly spicy spices, wines as sharp as knives, driving them to madness.

What many noble families loved the most were the furniture, such as rocking recliners, soft seats, elegant teapots, and more. Each item was expensive but highly desired, even at a hefty price.