Chapter 228 - 223: Before the Storm
Mo Zhening slowly sat down, a slight smile on his face, and said, "Ninth Sister, you’re being too formal. If you need anything from Fourth Brother, just say it directly. There’s no need to talk about cooperation, that’s too distant."
Bai Jiu’Er gave a faint smile and said, "So Fourth Brother thinks I am not qualified to cooperate with you!"
Mo Zhening laughed, "Ninth Sister, what are you saying? We’re siblings, why act like strangers?"
Bai Jiu’Er gently stroked the fat cat in her arms and, without further argument, slowly said, "Fourth Brother, your maternal family, the Tian Family, primarily deals in the sale of elixirs and spirit medicine. Their business spans most of Yunxi–though it can’t be said they’re as rich as a nation, they are at least wealthy in the region."
Mo Zhening squinted slightly, appraising Bai Jiu’Er with some confusion.
Bai Jiu’Er suddenly looked up and chuckled, "However, the Tian Family probably can’t hold on much longer. I’d estimate that at most, in two months, the Tian Family will likely declare bankruptcy. By then, without the financial backing of the Tian Family, Fourth Brother, you... might not be able to compete with our eldest cousin."
Mo Zhening’s expression stiffened, and he said in a low voice, "What does Ninth Sister mean?"
Bai Jiu’Er smiled and said, "As I said, I am here to propose cooperation with you, Fourth Brother—to assist you or rather to help the Tian Family weather this crisis!"
Mo Zhening spoke slowly, "Is Ninth Sister referring to Pingyang Prefecture? If it’s just Pingyang Prefecture, it might not be enough. Currently, Eldest Brother and the Liu Family have blocked all the Tian Family’s trade routes. Even if a new trade route is established in Pingyang Prefecture now, it would only buy the Tian Family a little more time."
Bai Jiu’Er said slowly, "What if we add those black markets outside of Canglan City?"
Mo Zhening raised an eyebrow, asking, "What is Ninth Sister implying?"
Bai Jiu’Er said softly, "A dual approach: the official route through Pingyang Prefecture, now in Xiaoliuzi’s hands, could directly open up channels for the Tian Family, ensuring smooth passage. Fourth Brother, you need not doubt this; Gu Zhan, the God of Slaughter’s reputation is such that in Pingyang Prefecture and its surroundings, no one dares defy him."
Mo Zhening nodded, "That I believe. Xiaoliu getting assistance from someone like Gu Zhan is enviable."
Bai Jiu’Er continued, "The underground route involves the black markets outside Canglan City. I know neither you, Fourth Brother, nor Eldest Cousin have ever thought highly of those towns’ black markets, as they are filled with riffraff. But the advantage of these rifraff is their various channels in the Martial World. Individually, they are of no use to the Tian Family, but thousands of these channels combined could be significant!"
Mo Zhening squinted his eyes and said, "Are you suggesting that you can consolidate those black markets?"
Bai Jiu’Er chuckled and said, "Does Fourth Brother think I’ve done nothing in the black markets all these years?"
Mo Zhening frowned and said, "Outside Canglan City, there are a total of seventeen black markets, with more than a hundred factions, a mixed bag with no order. Even under my father’s name, it might not achieve anything."
"But my word is effective," Bai Jiu’Er said. "The reason Fourth Brother finds it disorderly is that none of you were willing to spend ten or eight years managing it; otherwise, you would have found some order."
Mo Zhening pondered and asked, "Are you sure, Ninth Sister?"
Bai Jiu’Er replied, "I am certain. Fourth Brother is correct; even the Dragon King’s words might not work in those black markets, but my words as Bai Jiu’Er certainly do."
Mo Zhening slightly squinted and said, "Since it’s cooperation, both parties must have needs. What does Ninth Sister want?"
"A promise," Bai Jiu’Er said.
"What promise?" Mo Zhening asked.
Bai Jiu’Er’s face turned serious, "If Fourth Brother succeeds, you must clear the Bai Family’s name and my aunt’s name in the name of the City Lord’s Mansion and Beidou Bang. My aunt was never a mistress; she was a lawfully wedded wife of Mo Jingzhou, and the Bai Family should not be ridiculed in the Martial World as an unworthy family trying to cozy up to the Dragon King with such shamelessness."
Mo Zhening stared at Bai Jiu’Er for a long time and then said, "Has Ninth Sister been working for this all these years?"
Bai Jiu’Er nodded, "Mo Jingzhou wronged my aunt. However, I understand he was unable to clear her name. Understanding doesn’t mean I can’t care."
Mo Zhening was silent for a while and then said, "If it’s just this, I can agree. But Xiaoliu, he..."
Bai Jiu’Er said, "Does Fourth Brother think Xiaoliu, with his abilities and temperament, would have thoughts about being an heir, or even the right to it?"
"If that’s the case," Mo Zhening cupped his hands, "I must thank Ninth Sister for her assistance first!"
Bai Jiu’Er slowly added, "That is just the first aspect. There is also a second aspect."
Mo Zhening paused for a moment and said, "I’m all ears."
Bai Jiu’Er said, "Even if we utilize the black markets and Pingyang Prefecture, it can only delay the decline of the Tian Family; it doesn’t solve the fundamental problem. Fourth Brother, the real issue is the Dragon King!"
Mo Zhening frowned and said, "What do you mean by that, Ninth Sister?"
Bai Jiu’Er said, "Yang Yuzhi’s thirty-year overt plan; Fourth Brother should be aware of it. This time, the Dragon King suddenly entrusted the Kaiyang Sub-Branch to Eldest Cousin, which is an obvious bias. Fourth Brother, this is a signal from the Dragon King: he has already decided to make Eldest Cousin the heir. The reason it’s not public yet is due to concerns over the Court’s endorsement. So, he is already helping Eldest Cousin to restrict and suppress you."
Mo Zhening’s face turned very grim,
if even Bai Jiu’Er could see this clearly, how could he, as the person involved, not understand,
His greatest reliance was the Tian Family, but with the Dragon King favoring the Eldest Young Master and suppressing the Tian Family, the message is clear.
"What is your strategy, Ninth Sister?"
Bai Jiu’Er slowly said, "I know something, a piece of information that you, Fourth Brother, do not."
"What information?" Mo Zhening asked.
Bai Jiu’Er said softly, "The great battle between righteousness and evil is about to begin. The Dragon King will have to leave Canglan City for a period. So, does Fourth Brother understand what I mean?"
Mo Zhening trembled all over, "Ninth Sister, what... what do you mean?"
Bai Jiu’Er squinted and said, "Doesn’t Fourth Brother truly understand? You have no choice but to give up everything, and so does the Tian Family. Otherwise, he won’t allow you to remain as a potential threat!"
Mo Zhening’s face turned pale.
Bai Jiu’Er continued, "Therefore, Fourth Brother, why not take advantage of this opportunity to catch him off guard, eliminate Eldest Cousin, and leave the Dragon King with no choice!"