Chapter 198: Disturbance
Nangong Hong Yue had already guessed a portion of Su Yan’s identity.
Able to control so many contracted beasts, and with such a robust physical body, if not an old monster, then the most likely possibility is a disciple of the Beast King Sect.
With such ability, it truly shocks the heart. In cooperating with Su Yan, she showed no slackness whatsoever.
She personally led people, along with the tributes and subordinate guards, as well as Yang Kun and the others bringing the Sacred Insect Merchant Guild, to directly assault the many county towns outside Southern Sky City.
Southern Sky City is a prefecture-level city, governing Bian Shan County, Meng Tang County, Wan Ning County, and surrounding it are Yunlan County, Bailu County, Lishan County, and other places.
The medicine mountains, medicinal herbs sources, and beast farms of Tian Yuan Pill Workshop and Da Chuan Pill Workshop are all located in these counties.
Yang Kun had previously scouted the forces of the two pill workshops thoroughly. Now making their move, they directly locked onto Bian Shan County, Wan Ning County, and the outskirts of Southern Sky City.
These three places had industries nearby, with the most distributed locations, making them most suitable for a sudden strike.
In less than three days, Nangong Hong Yue and Yang Kun swept through the industries in these three areas like a force crushing dry weeds and smashing rotten wood.
“Nanyang Mountain, Bian Shan Valley, Xiao Meng Mountain—the three breeding grounds with over a hundred musk deer, Fragrant Dew Oxen…, seven medicine mountains, two fine iron ore mines… As expected of Southern Sky City’s pill workshops; they are truly dripping with wealth.”
Su Yan looked at the account book sent by Yang Kun. This was merely the resources they had successfully seized and controlled.
In fact, if there were sufficient manpower and time, it wouldn’t just be the surface industries.
There were also the families and forces dependent on the two pill workshops, even the pill and medicinal herb shops in various county towns, and other industries—all taken over would amount to at least an industry worth hundreds of thousands of origin stones.
Converting so many origin stones into resources, with a bit of aptitude, might even pile up a Dan Qiao Realm Martial Artist.
“Master, in Bian Shan County and Wan Ning County, there are still many industries. If we gather manpower from Yun Cang Town, then in just half a month, we can take at least sixty percent.”
Yang Kun wanted to maximize the benefits, but Su Yan waved his hand.
“No need.”
Su Yan glanced at Nangong Hong Yue beside him, then said: “We return to Southern Sky City.”
Returning from Nanyang Mountain, Su Yan and Nangong Hong Yue were extremely high-profile, galloping straight into Southern Sky City.
Under Nangong Hong Yue’s command, the four tributes, plus Yang Kun and his two companions, directly led people to charge into Da Chuan Pill Workshop’s shop.
They showed no mercy, directly knocking down all the already panicked guards of Da Chuan Pill Workshop. The one left in charge was Fourth Steward Yang Lugong, with cultivation at the Condensing Momentum Stage.
But facing the siege of seven True Intent Realm Martial Artists, plus Su Yan placing the Gold-Eating Demon Insect at Yang Kun’s side.
After merely less than twenty exchanges, they cut him down from his horse.
The town guard’s Mountain Guard arrived with two small captains, totaling over twenty to thirty people.
Normally, such martial action in the city would inevitably cause a commotion.
The people in the city were already preparing to watch the excitement.
“Take them down, bring them back to the town guard office for detention.”
Both captains were second-layer True Intent Realm Martial Artists. Seeing Yang Kun and the others, their eyes narrowed, but they didn’t go hard directly, merely ordering the Mountain Guard to advance.
The Mountain Guard were all disciples from the Beast King Sect. With this identity, unless directly tearing off faces, not many would dare to act.
As for detaining in the town guard office, that might not truly be a big deal.
“Hold on.”
Nangong Hong Yue finally appeared, blocking the Mountain Guard disciples.
“Captain Du, Captain Wang, I’m afraid you two cannot make a move today.”
As soon as Nangong Hong Yue appeared, the two straightened their postures, hands on sword hilts: “Workshop Master Nangong, martial action in the city, flattening marketplace shops like this breaks the rules.”
Breaking the rules, people might not be killed, but the overt order still needed maintaining.
“Da Chuan Pill Workshop’s Yang Lechuan colluded with Shadowless Tower to assassinate me. Do you say this breaks the rules?”
At these words, everyone drew in a cold breath.
The two captains exchanged a glance, their eyes sharpening, yet showing little shock.
“Workshop Master Nangong, words like this require responsibility.”
“Hmph.”
Nangong Hong Yue snorted coldly, fully releasing her half-step Dan Qiao aura, shocking half the street with it.
Even though Du Yunqi and Wang Wu were prepared, they still felt immense pressure bearing down.
“Believe it now?”
Du Yunqi’s expression turned solemn: ‘Half-step Dan Qiao. This woman broke through in secret; she likely has other means too. Da Chuan Pill Workshop and Tian Yuan Pill Workshop are probably done for.’
“Workshop Master Nangong has impressive cultivation.”
Enduring the pressure, Du Yunqi first praised, then said: “Grudges between the two houses naturally justify action. We can forgo taking people, but fines must be paid per rules, and subsequent actions must not harm innocents.”
“Alright.” Nangong Hong Yue nodded: “Liang Hao, go with Captain Du to the town guard office and pay the fine.”
“Understood.”
A farce concluded before the eyes of Southern Sky City’s populace. Nearly all of Da Chuan Pill Workshop’s shops and storerooms were taken by Red Moon Pill Workshop.
The alchemists, shop assistants, and servants in the shops were all detained without exception.
With the gates closed, Yang Kun held the Ram Horn Sword and began identifying and purging, dragging out and killing off Da Chuan Pill Workshop’s original direct lineage and diehards one by one.
In Southern Sky City, a storm quietly began.
The street ruffians, martial artists, and gang thugs seemed to gain sudden boldness, starting provocations at some shops.
Debt collectors, loan enforcers… one after another emerged.
Uncoordinated, they directly targeted the shops under Tian Yuan Pill Workshop.
Not just them—teams of martial artists openly and covertly left Southern Sky City, heading to various counties like hyenas.
Street fights continued nonstop; every day upon waking, several more corpses appeared on the streets.
Fully half a month of unrest, over a hundred dead, before it gradually subsided.
All forces related to Da Chuan Pill Workshop and Tian Yuan Pill Workshop were completely purged in this storm.
Signs and banners were all replaced with new ones, everything like a fresh start.
In Danxiang Pavilion, Vice Pavilion Master Shan Chunhe wore a smile.
“The seven medicine mountains in the outer three counties, four shops in the city, and supply sources from twelve county towns… Tian Yuan Pill Workshop’s foundation is truly substantial. If only Da Chuan Pill Workshop were the same.”
On the seat beside, a beautiful woman in a pink long skirt shook her head slightly: “Swallowing it all, you’re not afraid of backlash from Ouyang Family and Liu Family. Danxiang Pavilion focuses on the pill business; those families are far more ruthless than us.”
Shan Chunhe said: “Red Moon Pill Workshop took at least forty percent of Da Chuan Pill Workshop’s forces, especially those feral beast breeding grounds. That woman has real skill.”
Liu Xueping lifted her gaze slightly, pondered briefly, then said: “I don’t recommend moving against her.”
Shan Chunhe showed astonishment, then laughed: “I’m just lamenting; how would I move against her.”
He said seriously: “This woman arrived in Southern Sky City just a decade ago, yet built a pill workshop nearly as strong as Tian Yuan or Da Chuan. Her methods are impressive, and she’s not old, with half-step Dan Qiao cultivation already. Offending her, I’m not a fool.”
Though Danxiang Pavilion and Red Moon Pill Workshop were in the same trade, pill refining wasn’t a zero-sum game.
There were indeed benefit conflicts, but with so many martial artists in Southern Sky City and such strong pill demand, neither Danxiang Pavilion nor Red Moon Pill Workshop could monopolize it all.
Unlike aristocratic families, which expanded ceaselessly, supporting more tribesmen and servants, demanding resources from land and craving power more.
Struggles between families were often life-and-death.
Like the Qing Family, controlling Lishan County outright, allowing no one easy interference.
Shan Chunhe’s gaze sharpened slightly: “Say, should we pull in Nangong Hong Yue? So young at half-step Dan Qiao; she might break through to Dan Qiao Realm and become a True Person.”
Danxiang Pavilion had its own elder system, absorbing talents to bolster foundations, their way to grow stronger.
“No.”
Liu Xueping’s eyes flickered, but she refused decisively: “If she ends at half-step Dan Qiao, we could approach, but Dan Qiao Realm… Do you think Southern Sky City will allow a ninth Dan Qiao Realm Martial Artist?”
Shan Chunhe’s eyes shrank, knowing he’d misspoke: “I spoke too much; this matter needs Pavilion Master’s decision.”
The Pavilion Master was Danxiang Pavilion’s true owner, also Southern Sky City’s famed third-order alchemist.
But in recent years, seeking breakthrough and lifespan extension, the Pavilion Master’s seclusion grew longer, leaving the two vice pavilion masters in charge.
Pavilion Master…
Liu Xueping’s eyes flickered slightly. Exchanging a glance with Shan Chunhe, she pondered before saying carefully: “Needs reporting to Pavilion Master, but we can’t offend them too much. After all, Red Moon Pill Workshop voluntarily yielded that big chunk of fat meat. Do this: send her that third-order low-grade Coiled Dragon Blood Root.”
“Good.”
……
In Red Moon Pill Workshop, nearly everyone was busy beyond capacity.
Due to expansion, Nangong Hong Yue’s original subordinates were insufficient. Even with Yang Kun’s covert help, it barely maintained operations.
Yang Kun and Nangong Hong Yue agreed: the Sacred Insect Merchant Guild and Red Moon Pill Workshop would maintain cooperation overtly as separate forces.
For Su Yan, this was indeed good news, as it could mask his identity.
However, there was no better method for the moment to control more forces.
Before Su Yan, the four tributes knelt on the ground, faces flushed red, veins bulging, enduring unimaginable pain.
Beside them were two burly men with hardening physical bodies, half-kneeling, faces contorted savagely.
Fully a quarter-hour later did they recover.
Panting heavily, they kowtowed: “Subordinates pay respects to Master.”
“Go down. Each follow orders from Red Moon and Yang Kun to grasp all resources.”
“Yes.”
The six slowly exited the rear courtyard. Then Nangong Hong Yue approached.
She said softly: “With Blood Marrow Worm’s methods, more True Intent Realm Martial Artists can still be controlled.”
She had personally experienced Blood Marrow Worm’s power; even Spirit Merging Stage could hardly resist the symbiotic control—one worm, one life, utterly evil.
She even suspected that even a Dan Qiao Realm Martial Artist would need severe injury or disability to escape the Blood Marrow Worm.
After all, the human spine was crucial and not to be damaged lightly.
“Controls life, not heart; such methods aren’t as powerful as you imagine.”
Among martial artists, those desperate weren’t few.
Though Blood Marrow Worm was powerful, if too many knew of such methods, it would instead make people wary of Su Yan.
Starting from life-control on Yang Kun and his four companions, then mixing grace and might.
For Nangong Hong Yue too, her strong survival desire and utility justified the Blood Marrow Worm.
Now, mixing grace and might, plus hope of revenge, enabled strict obedience.
Forcing it on others, such threats weren’t omnipotent.
Nangong Hong Yue was slightly stunned, looking at those who just left, and said: “Those few are unaffiliated martial artists, limited in resources and potential. Gaining Blood Marrow Worm is an opportunity for them.”
The two guard commanders were captives seized from Da Chuan Pill Workshop.
Tall and sturdy, yet extremely cowardly.
When Yang Kun and others ransacked Da Chuan Pill Workshop, for life-saving, they became utter traitors leading the way.
So cowardly yet capable, perfect for control.
As for the four tributes, they half-voluntarily accepted control.
No other reason: they knew too much.
They vaguely guessed what massive deed Su Yan and the others had done—overthrowing two pill workshops in one stroke.
Knowing more meant greater danger.
Previously mere tributes, for survival they had to draw closer to Nangong Hong Yue and the others.
Hence this scene.
“The outer fat meat all divided cleanly?”
Su Yan had Nangong Hong Yue sit. She nodded slightly: “Da Chuan Pill Workshop’s remaining sixty percent industry: Ouyang Family took thirty percent, Liu Family twenty percent. Tian Yuan Pill Workshop: Danxiang Pavilion took forty percent alone, the rest divided by Liu Family and Ouyang Family.”
Nangong Hong Yue only gave a rough account. In fact, with the walls toppled by the masses, reshuffling these two pill workshops and related forces let the city’s eight great families and small powers feast fully.
“Anyone troubling Red Moon Pill Workshop?”
“A few blind gangs tried grabbing food; Wang Ping led people to wipe them out.”
Wang Ping was one of the tributes, aged forty, second-layer True Intent Realm cultivation.
“Good.”
Su Yan nodded. Nangong Hong Yue took out two brocade boxes, then said: “Danxiang Pavilion and Ouyang Family sent gift boxes, congratulating my breakthrough to half-step Dan Qiao.”
Su Yan’s eyes widened slightly in surprise, then he smiled.
Opening them, a third-order low-grade Coiled Dragon Blood Root and a third-order low-grade Blood Scale Fruit.
“They’re willing to invest heavily—top treasures for nurturing qi and blood, bone structure, extremely compatible with your pill refining style.”
Overtly congratulating the breakthrough, but both Su Yan and Nangong Hong Yue knew these were thank-you gifts.
Voluntarily yielding so much benefit, though partly unable to swallow more.
Still, Nangong Hong Yue’s favor needed acknowledging.
This was their shrewd way of social exchange.
“Liu Family sent nothing?”
Su Yan suddenly grew curious. Nangong Hong Yue snorted: “Liu Family’s old ancestor is not yet two hundred, in his prime; he looks down on other houses.”
Whether sending or not was up to them. Su Yan merely narrowed his eyes slightly, not minding much.
