Chapter 419 - Scheming
Chapter 419 - Scheming
"Old Yu, what do you think?" Wang Lai asked the elderly, dark-skinned, and emaciated old cultivator.
Old Yu was startled and waved his hands repeatedly in refusal: "No, I dare not steal from the Lu family's mine..."
Wang Lai scoffed, "What's there to be afraid of? The bold will starve to death, and the timid will be eaten alive. The Lu family rides on our backs, making us suffer and toil for them. Yet, they enjoy all the wealth and luxury while we struggle to even feed ourselves. Stealing a little from them is nothing."
Wang Lai put on an act of concern for Old Yu.
Old Yu's eyes were alert, but he still shook his head.
Wang Lai's expression turned displeased, but he maintained his patience and said, "Rest assured, the Lu family won't find out."
"How can you be so sure?" Old Yu asked cautiously.
"We'll go in the middle of the night, unseen and unheard," Wang Lai whispered, "and I've bribed some of the Lu family's cultivators to turn a blind eye..."
"But that's their secret mine, a treasure trove of the Lu family. Who knows how many good things are in there," Old Yu argued.
"We won't dig too much, just one or two pieces. Even that can fetch a large sum of spirit stones when sold," Wang Lai tempted.
Old Yu was obviously tempted, but he glanced at Wang Lai and shook his head again.
He didn't quite trust Wang Lai's character.
He knew Wang Lai's true nature all too well.
Wang Lai tried to persuade him further, "Don't you lack spirit stones?"
Old Yu nodded, "Who doesn't lack spirit stones in this mine?"
"You're different," Wang Lai said, "Your grandson has a good spiritual root, but without spirit stones for cultivation, what a waste it would be..."
"Think about it. If he cultivates successfully, he can leave the mine and have a bright future in his cultivation."
"But if you remain so poor, even with his excellent talent, he'll end up like you—stuck in the mine for life, toiling away among these worthless rocks, living a bitter life, and eventually dying in the mine one day..."
Wang Lai sighed, "If his spiritual root was mediocre, it wouldn't matter. We're all doomed to a miserable life here anyway."
"But your grandson is different. If he doesn't cultivate and take a chance, won't he be wasting his talent?"
"Spiritual roots are innate. Your grandson is blessed with such a good one; it's a fortune that comes once in a century. Not every family can produce a child with such a gifted spiritual root..."
Wang Lai's expression was earnest, and his tone carried a sense of regret.
Old Yu listened with a dazed look on his face.
Noticing this, Wang Lai's eyes flickered, and he whispered persuasively, "Don't you want to earn some spirit stones for your grandson, for your family? Don't you want to give them a chance to rise above their station?"
These words struck a chord with Old Yu.
He felt guilty and tormented, his gnarled hands clenched tightly, and his hunched back trembled slightly.
He had lived a bitter life, but he didn't want his grandson to suffer the same fate.
These mine cultivators were truly trapped in the mountains for life, never able to hold their heads high.
However, when it came to stealing from the mine, Old Yu was hesitant and still somewhat afraid to agree.
Seeing this, Wang Lai sneered, "Getting old and losing your courage. Half your body is already in the grave, and you're still hesitating."
"Forget it," Wang Lai sighed. "I only wanted to give you this opportunity because your grandson has good talent. If he succeeds in his cultivation in the future, I could also benefit from it. But since you, as his grandfather, are so useless, then there's nothing I can do."
"With Wang Er, Tang Wu, and a few others, it's more than enough."
Wang Er and Tang Wu were other mine cultivators from the nearby area, with many siblings in their families, so they were named according to their birth order.
Old Yu's heart twitched at the mention of the others, "They're going too?"
"Of course," Wang Lai replied, "It's already been agreed upon. How much do you think we can steal with just you alone?"
After saying this, Wang Lai stood up to leave, "If you don't want to go, then forget it. But remember, don't tell anyone about this, or you'll regret it."
Wang Lai made as if to walk away.
Old Yu panicked and quickly grabbed his sleeve, "I... I'll go!"
Wang Lai's expression showed some reluctance.
Old Yu softened his tone, "Wang Ye, thank you for this opportunity. I don't mind getting a smaller share of the spirit stones. If my grandson achieves success in his cultivation in the future, he will surely not forget your great kindness."
Only then did Wang Lai smile, "That's what I wanted to hear!"
He patted Old Yu's shoulder, "Don't blame me for being opportunistic. We're not related by blood, so it's only natural that I expect some benefit from this. I also want to have some hope for the future..."
Old Yu smiled and agreed, "Of course."
Wang Lai nodded, gave a few more quiet instructions, and then left Old Yu's home. Turning the corner, he made sure no one was around and spat on the ground: "At his age, still having wild fantasies, believing everything I say..."
"Achieving success in cultivation? Go dream somewhere else."
"Being born in the mine means a life of misery. No matter how good your spiritual root is, you're still doomed to a miserable life!"
...
With a cold snort, Wang Lai strode away.
On the roof of a nearby house, three young cultivators hid under their cloaks, their small heads huddled together.
"That man is a scumbag," Bai Zisheng declared.
Bai Zixi nodded in agreement.
Mo Hua followed suit.
"Should we take him out first?" Bai Zisheng asked eagerly.
Bai Zixi glanced at Mo Hua.
Mo Hua shook his head, "Not yet. Let's see what they're up to first."
Walking on the main road, Wang Lai, who was usually arrogant and overbearing, was completely oblivious to the three young cultivators trailing behind him, watching his every move.
After leaving Old Yu's house, Wang Lai met up with a few other mine cultivators, namely Wang Er and Tang Wu, as he had mentioned earlier.
"Old Yu has already agreed, are you two in or not?" Wang Lai asked with a frown.
"He actually agreed?" Wang Er questioned, his brow furrowed.
"Wealth and honor come with risk," Wang Lai scoffed, looking at the two with a hint of disdain. "Even he, an old man, has more guts than you two. And here you are, young and timid."
Tang Wu seemed a bit displeased, and he was about to agree then and there.
But Wang Er held him back, signaling for him to wait.
Wang Lai's eyes narrowed as he asked, "Haven't you two found wives yet?"
The two men looked a little flustered.
Wang Lai lowered his voice, "There's Li Po, the cake seller in town. She has two or three daughters, young and tender as can be..."
"Follow me to steal from the mine, earn some spirit stones, and I'll play matchmaker for you."
Wang Er and Tang Wu were tempted, their faces reddening slightly, "But..."
"But what?" Wang Lai interrupted with contempt. "If you don't earn some spirit stones while you're young, how will you start a family and marry? Do you expect your future wives to suffer with you?"
Tang Wu immediately spoke up, "I'll go with you!"
Wang Er still hesitated, "Why do you need us? Can't you do it yourselves?"
Wang Lai sighed, "Old Yu is old and doesn't have the strength. As for my men, although they've worked in the mines before, they're inconsistent and not familiar with the mountain. That's why I sought you out..."
After saying this, Wang Lai's expression turned solemn, and he whispered, "Just make sure you don't tell anyone about this, or the Lu family will never let us off..."
Wang Er and Tang Wu nodded solemnly, "Brother Wang, rest assured."
Wang Lai nodded in satisfaction, "Then it's settled..."
"Tomorrow night, at midnight, meet me at the eastern end of the mountain by the half-broken willow tree."
After giving his instructions, Wang Lai left.
Instead of indulging in his usual pleasures of drinking, gambling, and visiting brothels, Wang Lai returned home and slept soundly, seemingly preparing himself for the upcoming endeavor.
Mo Hua and the Bai brothers also returned to their cave abode.
Once inside the courtyard, they removed their cloaks, revealing their true forms.
Bai Zisheng, still excited, exclaimed, "Eavesdropping is so fun!"
Mo Hua gave him a slight glare, "This is not a game."
"Alright, alright..." Bai Zisheng paused, then asked, "So, what do you think that Wang Lai is really up to?"
"Murder?" Bai Zixi guessed.
Mo Hua nodded, "I suspect he plans to lure the mine cultivators into the mine and kill them, then demand compensation from the Lu family..."
"They plan to deceive, kill, and profit from the dead..."
Mo Hua's voice carried a hint of chill.
Bai Zisheng frowned, "That's truly despicable!"
He clenched his fists, "Should we just take them out now? There's no need to keep such scum alive."
However, Mo Hua wore a thoughtful expression.
"What is it?" Bai Zixi asked.
"Something feels off," Mo Hua replied.
"What do you mean?"
Mo Hua thought for a moment, then slowly said, "Logically speaking, if they kill the mine cultivators, fake their disappearance, and then demand compensation from the Lu family, they would be profiting from the compensation spirit stones..."
"But the Lu family has a rule: no body, no compensation."
"So, if we follow that logic, simply killing the mine cultivators won't get them any compensation."
"Even if they could, it would be a lot of trouble."
"Wang Lai doesn't seem like the type to go through all that trouble for uncertain gains..."
"There's definitely something else going on here..."
Bai Zisheng scratched his chin, his eyes fixed on Mo Hua.
Mo Hua blinked, "What?"
"How does that little head of yours come up with so many twists and turns?" Bai Zisheng asked.
Bai Zixi also nodded in agreement.
Mo Hua held up his little finger proudly, "Master always says, 'Plan ahead or fail. Think carefully and prepare for the future.'"
"Alright, alright..." Bai Zisheng sighed, "I can't argue with you."
"What do we do now?" Bai Zixi asked.
Mo Hua shook his head, "I don't know. We'll play it by ear tomorrow."
...
The next day, as evening fell.
The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a deep twilight over the land.
Mo Hua and the Bai brothers had donned their cloaks earlier in the day and were now hiding near the mountain, perched on a small hill, their small heads poking out as they waited for Wang Lai and his companions to arrive.
As night deepened, Wang Lai and his group arrived first.
There were four of them in total, all local hoodlums from South Peak City. They greeted each other with nods, their faces bearing ambiguous smiles, but they didn't speak much.
It was almost midnight when Old Yu, Wang Er, and Tang Wu finally arrived together.
Under the gloomy and twisted half-broken willow tree, the two groups of cultivators met.
In the darkness, Wang Lai's eyes glinted with a cold light, "Tonight, I will lead you to fortune!"
(End of Chapter)
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