Shi Luo Ye

Chapter 945 The night is deep, quickly hold Li Ying and sleep

In the cold early spring night, one person and one bowl of tofu pudding.

Lin Zhao took a sip and found the flavor to be distinctly different from the tofu pudding at the shop in Tianchi Town. Moreover, the steamed xiaolongbao here were also quite delicious.

Shi Hanyin ate daintily, her beautiful eyes sparkling. With every bite, she would secretly glance at Lin Zhao, afraid he might suddenly disappear.

Huang Tingyu, unable to bear the cloying sentimentality, simply buried his head in his food, devouring three baskets of xiaolongbao in no time.

In the distance, the Mo family swordsman holding a horse remained a silhouette in the night.

Although Shi Hanyin couldn't see, Lin Zhao, a tenth-realm sword cultivator, could see clearly. He frowned and communicated with Qin Cheng through his mind, "My friend from the Mo family, won't you come and have a bowl of tofu pudding?"

Qin Cheng was slightly taken aback. "You know me?"

"I don't."

Lin Zhao said, "But I am quite familiar with Xu Shuo, the second brother of Xu, from the Mo family ancestral home, and Senior Brother Lu Qi."

"Oh..."

Qin Cheng frowned. Both of those were his senior brothers and important figures in the Mo family ancestral home. His own presence in the ancestral home was far less significant than theirs. He hesitated and said, "No need. I am just passing by. Thank you for your kind offer."

Lin Zhao felt a pang of disappointment. He was being stubborn.

However, his intentions were good. He was likely worried that the young and inexperienced Shi Hanyin might be deceived by a cunning imposter. And Qin Cheng had followed her all this way without overstepping, indicating his character was not bad.

Thus, Lin Zhao stopped paying attention to him and finished his own tofu pudding. He then ordered another bowl and continued to enjoy it at ease.

Not long after, the sound of horses' hooves and cartwheels could be heard from afar. As Lin Zhao and Huang Tingyu narrowed their eyes to look, they were startled to see more than a dozen carriages emerging from a smoke-filled alley in the distance, illuminated by firelight.

These carriages were laden with round containers, resembling large jars. As Lin Zhao squinted, he saw that these jars were made of bronze, appearing ancient, with patterned designs on their surfaces. The script was illegible.

"That's strange."

Lin Zhao frowned and said, "Even if they are transporting goods out of the city, they wouldn't be delivering them in the middle of the night, would they?"

"Indeed."

Shi Hanyin said, "Yunxiang Tower faces the street. For some time now, I've heard the sounds of these carriages transporting goods almost every night."

"What is that place?" Lin Zhao pointed to the area where smoke and fire were rising in the distance.

Shi Hanyin had no idea and shook her head apologetically, her pretty face a picture of innocence.

The shopkeeper, however, chuckled. "That's the ironworks of Yunzhou City, for both civilian and official use. The weapons and armor for the soldiers of Yunzhou, as well as tools like hoes and picks for the common folk, all come from the ironworks."

"I see..."

Lin Zhao smiled. "But what are they making so many bronze jars for? Even for brewing wine, they wouldn't need so many. And there isn't a single piece of farm equipment among all these things being transported."

"Who knows?"

The shopkeeper chuckled. "The owner of the ironworks has deep roots in Yunzhou. A humble person like me wouldn't dare inquire. Guest, would you like some more xiaolongbao?"

Lin Zhao glanced at Huang Tingyu, who was wolfing down his food, and said, "Two more baskets."

He then looked at Shi Hanyin and said, "It seems today is truly going to cost Miss Hanyin."

Shi Hanyin smiled, dimples appearing on her cheeks. "It's no problem."

Lin Zhao looked at Huang Tingyu. "Old Huang, eat quickly. After we're done, we'll take a trip to the ironworks."

"Oh?"

Huang Tingyu narrowed his eyes and smiled. "These bronze jars, are they suspicious?"

"I don't know."

Lin Zhao chuckled. "Let's go and see."

"Alright."

Shi Hanyin's eyes widened. She felt as if they were in an official investigation, like in storybooks. She pursed her red lips. "Hanyin would also like to go along. Is that alright, Young Master?"

"Mm."

Lin Zhao nodded, not refusing. With Huang Tingyu there, no one could harm Shi Hanyin, as Old Huang was a gentleman who cherished women.

Moreover, with an eleventh-realm Mo family swordsman acting as Shi Hanyin's escort from afar, it was even more foolproof.

...

Not long after, the three of them entered the ironworks.

In a place shrouded in mist and smoke, even in the dead of night, they could see blacksmiths sweating profusely as they hammered out artifacts. An entire row of blacksmith forges was casting nothing but bronze jars.

Lin Zhao frowned and walked forward, cupping his fists towards an elderly, robust blacksmith. "Old sir, I am a visitor from afar and find it strange. Why are your forges only crafting these bronze jars? Are you not making weapons, farming tools, or armor?"

The old blacksmith grinned, looking at Lin Zhao and then at Shi Hanyin behind him. He immediately understood that the young man before him was no ordinary noble, for how else could he have such a captivating woman by his side?

"Young man, you are unaware."

The old blacksmith chuckled. "For the past half a month, dozens of forges here in the ironworks have received a large order to craft these bronze jars. They are also very expensive, costing more than three times the price of ordinary jars. Who would refuse money delivered to their doorstep? So, this ironworks has been busy making these things."

"Oh..."

Lin Zhao nodded and smiled. "Do you know who the customer is?"

"I don't."

The old blacksmith shook his head. "Either it's some high official or perhaps for military brewing, etc. How could we ordinary people inquire about such matters?"

"Understood. Thank you."

Lin Zhao stepped into the forge and looked at the rows of newly crafted bronze jars, some still warm. "Shopkeeper, are these bronze jars for sale? I'd like to buy one to store wine."

"Apologies, honored guest."

A bare-chested middle-aged blacksmith stepped forward. "These bronze jars are all part of someone else's order and are not for general sale."

"Is that so?"

Lin Zhao plucked a green copper coin from his pouch, which emanated a faint, precious luster. He smiled. "Even if I am willing to pay one Qingfu coin, you are still unwilling to sell?"

"One Qingfu coin!?"

The shopkeeper's jaw nearly hit the floor. He nodded repeatedly and squinted with a smile. "Since the honored guest is so sincerely willing to buy, selling one is no problem."

Huang Tingyu let out a soft chuckle.

Shortly after, Lin Zhao emerged from the ironworks carrying a bronze jar, accompanied by Huang Tingyu, as they headed to escort Shi Hanyin back to Yunxiang Tower.

"Young Master."

Shi Hanyin's delicate brows furrowed. "Is there something unusual about this bronze jar?"

"It's very unusual."

Lin Zhao frowned. "Firstly, the city gates of Yunzhou are closed at night. These convoys wouldn't be able to pass without bribing some officials. Why would they do this? Secondly, crafting so many bronze jars cannot simply be for brewing wine. Therefore..."

He smiled. "I bought one to take back to Xueyu Tianchi for careful study."

"Mm."

Shi Hanyin smiled, dimples appearing. "Young Master, if Hanyin has a chance one day, may I visit Xueyu Tianchi to see the place and also to see you?"

"Of course."

Lin Zhao nodded. "But don't go for a while. There might be changes in the Northern Territory, and it could become extremely dangerous in an instant."

"Yes, Hanyin understands."

In front of Yunxiang Tower, Shi Hanyin, dressed in a simple dress and cloak, bid Lin Zhao a reluctant farewell. Upstairs, the madam breathed a sigh of relief. The girl had finally returned. If she had dared not to, they would have no choice but to report to the authorities, as Yunxiang Tower could not afford to lose Shi Hanyin.

After bidding farewell to Shi Hanyin, Lin Zhao glanced at Huang Tingyu, signaling him to draw his sword and return to Xueyu Tianchi.

As the sword light began to rise, Lin Zhao cupped his fists towards the hazy night, signaling the Mo family swordsman Qin Cheng that he was leaving.

Qin Cheng, holding his horse, immediately bowed respectfully to Lin Zhao.

Although this person was favored by Shi Hanyin and considered a rival, Qin Cheng inexplicably didn't find him detestable. After all, he had always maintained proper etiquette towards Shi Hanyin, and his own conduct was quite refined. Such a person was hard to dislike.

More importantly, he could control that thirteenth-realm swordsman radiating demonic energy. In fact, Qin Cheng had long guessed who that person was.

...

Tianran Ju.

Under the moonlight, Lin Zhao held the bronze jar, studying it repeatedly. He even made rubbings of the jar's patterns and script onto a talisman paper, but his brow furrowed tighter and tighter.

"Can you figure anything out?" Huang Tingyu asked with a smile.

"No."

Lin Zhao smiled. "My knowledge is limited. I don't recognize any of this script, and as for the origin of the patterns... I don't know which region they belong to."

"Then why worry about it?"

Huang Tingyu glanced at Liu Liying, who was holding a lamp beside them, and said meaningfully, "It's late. Hurry and embrace Liying to sleep."

Instantly, Liu Liying's cheeks flushed. That old Deputy Marshal Huang was truly shameless!

Lin Zhao blinked and then pushed the bronze jar forward. "Old Huang, you go and study it. You have many capable individuals under you. See if you can figure out the origin of these patterns."

"Fine."

Huang Tingyu said with a pout, "I, Huang Tingyu, will do the hard work. Mountain Master, you can go and embrace Liying to sleep. After all, in Xueyu Tianchi, I, Old Huang, am just a deputy commander, and you, Lin Zhao, are the commander. A higher rank oppresses a lower one~~~"

Liu Liying couldn't help but let out a giggle. "Elder Huang, you have quite a bit of resentment!"

"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare!"

Old Huang hugged the bronze jar and flew out of the study. "A moment of spring night is worth a thousand pieces of gold. Old Huang will not disturb your rest."

"Scram, scram, scram!"

Lin Zhao raised his hand and flicked his finger, sending out the flying sword Xinhuo.

Huang Tingyu dodged it in a flash, his voice echoing from afar. "The Mountain Master is truly heartless. As the saying goes... without venom, one cannot be a true man. Liying, following a man like this will only lead to trouble. You should follow Old Huang instead."

Liu Liying looked helpless. "Bah, bah, bah~~~"

...

North of Sucheng, deep in the mountains, a base surrounded by an electric fence glowed in the wilderness. Buildings were connected, and gun turrets stood guard around the perimeter.

The Brotherhood, the most notorious mercenary group along the Yangtze River, was known for robbery, murder, and all sorts of evil deeds.

At this moment, a dilapidated infantry armored vehicle slowly drove into the Brotherhood mercenary base, followed by approximately 300+ mercenaries, all from the Battle Axe Alliance.