Unstoppable Martial Arts: Starting with brother's wife and young sister Chapter 877 - 473: The Bronze Coffin!

"That voice..."Jiang Qi whipped his head around, jolting up from his lounge chair as he caught sight of Chen Xuan’s smirk."Lord Xuan King!" he sputtered, shock coloring his features before he forced a practiced grin. "My deepest apologies, my lord, I failed to recognize you.""Living quite a relaxed life, are you?""Not at all, my lord, you have no clue how grueling these past few days have been." Jiang Qi gestured with an air of profound distress, seemingly unable to fathom how much longer he could endure his duties as steward of Molan Mansion."Your days are difficult?" Chen Xuan mused, harboring a secret amusement. Although he remained removed from daily operations, it was obvious that his Divine Walk Trading Company was systematically bleeding Dark Moon of its profits."It’s these people from the Divine Walk Trading Company, damn it—out of nowhere, they’ve become nothing but a thorn in my side," Jiang Qi growled, his voice thick with unbridled frustration. Just as he prepared to vent further, Chen Xuan cut him short. Listening to this fool grumble about Divine Walk right in his presence was almost comical."Are you planning to keep me standing in the doorway?""Ah! Of course not—please, my lord, forgive me. As it happens, I have acquired a fresh batch of exquisite tea; allow me to brew a pot for you to sample." With a polite gesture, he guided Chen Xuan toward the rear of the property....Within the modest garden quarters, Chen Xuan and Jiang Qi sat across from one another, a small stove between them heating water."If you wouldn't mind waiting a moment, my lord?""There is no rush," Chen Xuan replied with composed ease."I can't help but wonder, Lord Xuan King, if you possess any knowledge regarding the true backing of this Divine Walk Trading Company?" Jiang Qi probed carefully. Despite funneling massive resources into his investigation, he had hit a wall. His only lead was a thin, unverified thread connecting them to the Three Judicial Departments—a theory he found highly suspect."My focus has been directed toward the Burial Grounds; I’ve hardly had the spare time to concern myself with such minor matters," Chen Xuan replied with a shrug. Inwardly, however, he couldn't help but revel in the irony. Jiang Qi’s visible disappointment was evident, as if he simply couldn't grasp how even a man of Chen Xuan's stature was left in the dark about such a mysterious force."Whoa..." The steady whistle of the kettle caught his attention. Jiang Qi jumped up, retrieved a wooden canister, measured out the leaves with a silver spoon, and poured the boiling water with precise care. He set the steaming cup before Chen Xuan and bowed. "I humble myself before you, my lord!""Indeed." Chen Xuan nodded, took a measured sip, and let out a soft sigh. "A fine brew. This is top-tier spirit tea, certainly.""Then please, take some with you as a small sign of my loyalty," Jiang Qi offered quickly. He remained unsure of the motive behind this visit, but maintaining a diplomatic front was always the safest path. Chen Xuan remained silent, his expression unreadable, which sent a shiver of anxiety down Jiang Qi’s spine.Recognizing the shift in atmosphere, Jiang Qi held his tongue. Since the lord seemed content to remain quiet, Chen Xuan finally addressed the point of his visit. "I am here to find out if Dark Moon has any intelligence on the location of the Winged Tornado Dragon Beast."Winged Tornado Dragon Beast! The name alone triggered a sharp flicker of recognition in Jiang Qi’s eyes. He recalled someone else sniffing around for this exact beast recently. Was that previous inquisitor acting on the orders of the man standing before him?"Trouble has arrived," Jiang Qi thought dryly. He resolved to keep his mouth shut, feigning total ignorance. "Winged Tornado Dragon Beast? I’m afraid I’ve never heard of such a demon beast. It doesn't ring a bell at all, my lord.""Ha!" Chen Xuan burst into a dry laugh, boring his gaze into the steward. The little clown actually had the audacity to play ignorant. With the overwhelming disparity in their strength, he didn't need to employ internal techniques to know that Jiang Qi was spinning a web of lies."My lord..." Under the weight of that heavy stare, Jiang Qi struggled to maintain his composure. The silence grew suffocating, but courage failed him—he simply could not reveal the truth.Chen Xuan cut through his hesitation. "I prefer the company of honest men." His voice was devoid of malice, yet it carried a crushing pressure that made the very air feel dense, leaving Jiang Qi’s lungs struggling to find oxygen."My lord... I truly have no idea," he wheezed, the weight of the moment draining his spirit."Very well." Chen Xuan gave a curt, final nod and stepped toward the exit. As he turned to depart, he cast a lingering look at the man. "You will come to tell me." That chilling smile would haunt Jiang Qi’s thoughts long after he vanished from the compound."Blast it all!" Jiang Qi hissed once he was alone. What could the lord possibly want with such a beast?After exiting the Dark Moon premises, Chen Xuan wandered the crowded thoroughfares. He knew the steward possessed the information but was bound by fears that exceeded his fear of death. While he could tear the secrets from the man's mind using Soul Search, it was a blunt instrument he preferred to save for dire situations. Given Jiang Qi’s standing, his mind was likely bolstered by protective measures that could backfire if he wasn't careful. No, there were cleaner, more efficient ways to force an answer. If they refused to talk, he would simply cripple their operations in Molan Mansion until the walls started talking. "Hmph," he muttered, his eyes narrowing toward the horizon.....Deep within the headquarters of the Three Judicial Departments, Ye Jinhong looked up in total disbelief. "You want me to mobilize resources to systematically target the interests of Dark Moon Trading Company in Molan Mansion?"This sudden demand was absurd. Dark Moon was no small outfit; they were a titan, and waging economic war against them was a dangerous gamble that would invite catastrophe. "Has Dark Moon wronged you in some way? Unless the provocation is dire, I would strongly advise against this course of action," Ye Jinhong warned, his voice grave."Are you telling me," Chen Xuan countered, his voice dripping with icy derision, "that the Three Judicial Departments are afraid of a few merchants from Dark Moon?"