CCWAD – Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Chapter 5: Intelligently Breaking the Scheme of Sowing Discord

Epigraph:

“To bring down Li Gu was like extinguishing a spark. But on Liangshan, more than one person feared the name ‘Wanderer.’ It was only when new rumors pointed to Lu Junyi himself that I understood the real survival game had just begun.”

—

The disposal of Li Gu was like throwing a massive stone into the deep waters of Lu Family Manor, its ripples spreading far and wide. The manor’s retainers discussed it in hushed tones, some clapping in approval, others feeling a sense of shared misfortune. Many began to harbor a new respect for the seemingly frail “Little Yi Brother,” who had managed to bring down the head steward in one fell swoop.

Yan Qing’s days seemed to improve. Lu Junyi, filled with guilt, treated her with even greater kindness. Her food and lodging were provided to the standard of a distinguished guest, and he no longer urged her to train and strengthen herself. The brothers, knowing she had “sustained an internal injury,” lamented the loss of her martial arts skills but refrained from overt provocations and tests.

However, the string of tension in Yan Qing’s heart tightened. She knew well that a tree that stands out in the forest will be battered by the wind. Li Gu’s downfall, the vacant position of power, and Lu Junyi’s trust had become new targets. Moreover, her excuse of being an “injured patient” could only deceive for so long.

One afternoon, Yan Qing was leaning by the window, pretending to read while actually contemplating how to “naturally” show some improvement in her “injury” – enough to regain some freedom of movement without arousing suspicion. Suddenly, a commotion erupted outside.

“Little Yi Brother! Little Yi Brother! Bad news!” Fu An scrambled in, his face ashen. “The manor… the manor is abuzz with rumors that the master… he’s secretly colluding with Zengtou City and intends to betray Liangshan Marsh!”

Yan Qing’s hand trembled, and the book almost fell to the ground. Zengtou City? They were Liangshan Marsh’s sworn enemies! This accusation was a hundred times more deadly than being accused of having an affair with the mistress of the house!

“What’s going on? Tell me everything!” Yan Qing said sternly, her heart pounding. These rumors were malicious, striking at the very foundation of Lu Junyi’s position!

Fu An panted, “Just… just now, it started spreading from somewhere, saying someone personally saw the master’s confidant secretly going to Zengtou City with heavy gifts, and… and that the master is already dissatisfied with Leader Song Jiang occupying the main seat, secretly accumulating strength to use Zengtou City’s power…”

Before he could finish, hurried footsteps sounded outside. A manor retainer ran in, looking flustered. “Little Yi Brother, the master requests your immediate presence in the front hall! Leader Song Jiang and Scholar Wu are here with several other leaders, and their expressions… are not good!”

What was bound to come had finally arrived! Yan Qing took a deep breath, forcing herself to remain calm. These rumors had spread swiftly and precisely, clearly the result of meticulous planning. The target was not just Lu Junyi, but likely her as well, the “patient” who had just “proven” her loyalty – if Lu Junyi fell, what good fate awaited Yan Qing?

She quickly tidied her clothes, maintaining her frail appearance, but her eyes held a chilling coldness. Did they think they could drag her and Lu Junyi down with this scheme? Let’s see who is faster!

Inside the front hall, the atmosphere was so heavy it could have dripped water.

Song Jiang sat at the head of the table, his face like ice. Wu Yong lightly fanned himself, his sharp gaze sweeping over the people in the hall. Wu Song, Li Kui, Liu Tang, and a group of key leaders stood on either side, their faces grim. Lu Junyi stood in the center of the hall, his face ashen, his fists clenched, clearly enraged.

“Master Lu,” Song Jiang began slowly, his voice not loud but carrying an invisible pressure, “there have been some whispers in the stronghold recently, concerning the safety of Liangshan and the brotherhood. I, Song Jiang, must get to the bottom of this.”

Lu Junyi suppressed his anger and clasped his hands. “Brother, please see clearly! Since I came to the mountain, I have been indebted to your and the brothers’ trust, entrusted with an important position. How could I do such a disloyal act? This must be the work of villains!”

“Villains?” Li Kui couldn’t help but roar. “Everyone says your manor retainer took gold to Zengtou City! Though I, Iron Bull, am crude, I know Zengtou City is our mortal enemy!”

“Brother Iron Bull!” Lu Junyi was both anxious and furious. “There is absolutely no such thing! I, Lu Junyi, stand tall…”

“Elder Brother,” a clear yet somewhat weak voice interrupted him.

All eyes turned. Yan Qing, leaning against the doorframe, her face pale, walked in. She first bowed with difficulty to Song Jiang, Wu Yong, and the others, then stood beside Lu Junyi.

“Little Yi, you are unwell, why did you come out?” Lu Junyi frowned.

Yan Qing shook her head slightly, her gaze turning to Song Jiang and Wu Yong. “Brother Song Jiang, Scholar Wu. Though Little Yi has been confined to bed, I have heard some of the rumors. This matter concerns my brother’s reputation and the stability of Liangshan, so Little Yi must come.”

Wu Yong’s eyes flashed. “Oh? What are Little Yi Brother’s insightful opinions?”

“I dare not claim insight,” Yan Qing coughed twice, her voice not loud but clearly reaching everyone’s ears. “Little Yi merely wishes to ask, when did these rumors begin? From whose lips did they originate? Where is the person who ‘personally saw’ them? What were the ‘heavy gifts’? Is there any proof?”

She fired off a series of questions, clear and to the point. The hall fell silent for a moment.

Song Jiang and Wu Yong exchanged a glance. Rumors spread rapidly, their origins untraceable, and any supposed witnesses or evidence were ephemeral.

Seeing this, Yan Qing felt a little more at ease and continued, “Such a matter, concerning the survival of the stronghold, if there is no concrete evidence, and we suspect a brother who has shared life and death with us based on mere baseless rumors, wouldn’t that bring joy to our enemies and sorrow to our friends?” Her gaze swept over the leaders present. “Little Yi dares to ask, if the person suspected today were Brother Wu Song, or Brother Li Kui, how would you all react?”

Wu Song frowned slightly. Li Kui opened his mouth but said nothing.

“Furthermore,” Yan Qing’s tone shifted, becoming deeper, “Brother has not been on the mountain for long, his position is not yet stable. If he truly harbored ill intentions, why would he act at this time? And why would he use his own retainers, giving others a handle? Such a clumsy trick clearly indicates someone intends to sow discord and disrupt the very foundation of Liangshan! Their hearts are damnable!”

Her words were logical, exposing the flaws in the rumors’ logic and elevating the matter to the level of “sowing discord within the stronghold.”

Lu Junyi listened, his heart surging with emotion, and cast a grateful look at Yan Qing.

Wu Yong pondered for a moment and slowly said, “What Little Yi Brother has said is not without reason. However, the rumors are rampant. If we do not investigate clearly, I fear it will chill the hearts of the many brothers.”

“Scholar, what you say is very true,” Yan Qing interjected. She had been waiting for this. “Since we are to investigate, we must find the truth! Though Little Yi is untalented, I am willing to investigate this matter for my brother, and for Liangshan!”

Everyone was taken aback. How could a patient who had “lost all martial arts” and “suffered kidney meridian damage” investigate a case?

Yan Qing ignored their confused gazes and looked at Lu Junyi. “Brother, please issue an order immediately to seal all entrances and exits of the manor, allowing no one to leave! At the same time, please ask Brother Song Jiang to send assistance to investigate all unfamiliar faces who have entered or exited the manor recently, especially those with connections to Zengtou City!”

She then turned to Wu Yong. “Scholar Wu, with your unparalleled wisdom, please carefully analyze the path of these rumors. From whose mouths did the initial messages spread? And with whom do these people usually associate closely?”

Finally, her gaze swept across the entire assembly, her voice tinged with a hint of determination. “If it is proven that my brother is at fault, Little Yi is willing to share the same punishment! If it is proven that someone framed him,” her eyes turned cold, “then do not blame Little Yi for disregarding past favors!”

Her arrangements, encompassing blockade, investigation, and deduction, along with a resolve to fight for survival, were far from that of a sickly person. She displayed more spirit than many robust leaders.

Seeing this, Song Jiang’s doubts largely disappeared, and he nodded. “Let us proceed as Little Yi Brother has suggested! Master Lu, what do you say?”

Lu Junyi naturally had no objections.

For the next two days, Liangshan Marsh was filled with undercurrents. Under Yan Qing’s coordination (primarily through words and the authority granted by Lu Junyi and Song Jiang), the investigation proceeded rapidly.

Soon, clues surfaced. Wu Yong, by tracing the source of the rumors, identified several retainers who had initially spread the news. Following this lead, they discovered that these retainers were closely associated with a recently joined leader, “God of Danger” Yu Bao Si. Furthermore, the blockade and investigation revealed that a confidant of Yu Bao Si had furtively gone down the mountain a few days prior, heading in the direction of Zengtou City!

Everything pointed to Yu Bao Si! He was originally a bandit from Qingzhou. He had joined the stronghold not long ago and, despite his low position, harbored ambitions. If he could bring down Lu Junyi, the “parachute-dropped” second-in-command, it would open up more opportunities for less experienced leaders like himself!

With irrefutable evidence, Yu Bao Si could not deny the charges. At the public trial presided over by Song Jiang, he confessed to spreading rumors and attempting to sow discord.

A crisis that could have led to internal strife on Liangshan was swiftly and imperceptibly resolved under Yan Qing’s seemingly weak but precisely controlled guidance.

With the storm passed, Lu Junyi was even more grateful to Yan Qing, regarding her as indispensable. Song Jiang, Wu Yong, and the others looked at Yan Qing with newfound genuine respect and admiration. This “Wanderer,” though having lost his martial arts, possessed a mind and strategy sharper than any sword!

Late at night, Yan Qing sat alone under the lamplight, her fingers tapping unconsciously on the table.

Yu Bao Si was gone, but who knew if there wouldn’t be a Zhang Bao Si or a Li Bao Si? Liangshan, this great ship, was filled with factions and hidden reefs. She, an anomaly, was walking a tightrope, one wrong step leading to eternal damnation.

“I can no longer afford to play defense,” she murmured softly, a hint of determination flashing in her eyes.

Li Shishi… the name that had appeared in the original work and had a past connection with Yan Qing, and who might now become the key to her breaking free, resurfaced in her mind.

Perhaps it was time to proactively create an opportunity and contact this “old acquaintance” residing in the Eastern Capital.

—

(End of Chapter 5)