Chapter 60: Sacrificial Goods to the River God (1/2)
The estate in the south of Duskwater City was owned by a local cultivation family. Its head was a golden core realm cultivator, which made him reasonably influential in his district.
Before a giant like House Ge, however, his cultivation and connections were meaningless. In fact, he’d willingly given up his own home and time to serve the number one house in Dusk Province.
A chance to do that didn’t come by often, after all.
When Lu Yun, Qing Han, and Mo Yi led a sizable force of people to the residence in question, they were intercepted by a clearly prepared group.
“Who comes? Identify yourselves!” A man in green strode out from the front door, blocking Lu Yun’s way. He cast a look of proud scorn at the approaching crowd.
“Do you not recognize the face of your own city lord, Ba Chuyi?” Mo Yi’s tone was chilly.
The middle-aged man’s cocksure attitude made it very clear that his ignorance was feigned. Though she’d expected to have trouble getting through the door, she hadn’t expected House Ba’s head himself to be the doorkeeper.
“Oh? The city lord! So it is, so it is.” Ba Chuyi turned to face Mo Yi directly. Her beauty momentarily stunned him, despite her masculine outfit; it couldn’t hide the incredible beauty beneath. “If I may, for what reason has the city lord come calling today?”
Before House Ge had moved in, he would’ve spared every effort to curry favor with the city lord. Now, however, his status was different. He was an outer circle steward of House Ge, and the whole of his house had become subordinate to it. Their future was limitless and bright, so a mere lord of Duskwater was no longer worthy of his attention.
In fact, if Li Youcai hadn’t betrothed Mo Yi to the Skyriver city lord, Ba Chuyi would probably be considering whether or not he could use House Ge’s clout to get his hands on her.
“You’ve latched onto House Ge’s thigh, then?” A derisive smile played at the corner of Mo Yi’s mouth.
“Precisely!” Ba Chuyi proudly confirmed without so much as a blush. “They’ve rewarded me with the position of a steward in their outer circle.”
“An outer circle steward of House Ge.” Qing Han took a weighty step forward. “You are Ba Chuyi, head of House Ba?”
“Indeed, it is I. And who are you?” Ba Chuyi peered at Qing Han, then puffed himself up even more.
The recuperating youth was ugly, swarthy-faced, and looked rather feeble. Ba Chuyi had no reason to pay attention to someone so insignificant. If Qing Han hadn’t come with Mo Yi as one of the ‘troublemakers’ House Ge had warned him about, he would’ve disregarded the speaker altogether.
“This emissary is here on behalf of His Majesty the Celestial Emperor. House Ge is guilty of treason and rebellion, first in attacking the Dusk Phalanx, and secondly in trespassing upon the Duskwater city lord’s residence. I have come to apprehend the criminals in question.” A shiny token had appeared in Qing Han’s hand; it was none other than the identification for his status.
Ba Chuyi paled, then took several steps backward. A special emissary of the emperor? Treason and rebellion? House Ge?
“Impossible! House Ge is the foremost house in Dusk Province. Its head will soon become the next governor, how could they possibly be planning rebellion?”
“The next governor?” Lu Yun laughed. “The current one is standing right here. You shouldn’t be saying that to my face, should you?
“It’s public knowledge that House Ge attacked the Dusk Phalanx, and that the head of House Ge barged into the Duskwater city lord’s residence. If House Ba is subordinate to House Ge, and you’re a steward in their outer circle…. What, has House Ge’s head said that he’ll make you the governor? After he becomes the celestial emperor, of course,” Lu Yun accused with a half-smile.