9 Chapter 9: Destroying the Corpse and Eliminating Traces
Translator: 549690339
In a matter of life and death, one must kill!
The killing was all but instantaneous, and not only did the two assassins fail to react in time, but even the guards patrolling outside the room were not alerted.
When Liang Sheng managed to snap back from the shock of killing for the first time, he chose not to call the guards in, but simply furrowed his brows instead.
He had been far too nervous earlier!
After all, they were just trivial underlings at the Martial Arts Postnatal Third Realm, and they posed no threat to him. He could have easily kept one of them alive first.
Now, with the two of them dead, there was no way to question them on why they wanted to kill him? Was there someone else behind their actions?
Although it’s a bit of a shame, Liang Sheng didn’t feel too regretful about it. After calming down, he pieced together the two decapitated bodies, and then began to search their belongings.
After a while, Liang Sheng had inspected everything that he could find and made sense of their identity.
They were nothing more than servants and guards from the Gao Family!
Moreover, judging by the bloodstains on them, it was likely that they had encountered a fight before arriving here. From this viewpoint, they must have been the ones who escaped from the Southeastern battlefield earlier on.
But considering that they could make it all the way here, did that mean the Gao family won? Even if the Gao family did win, their people tracking down all the way here wouldn’t go unnoticed by the Liang family.
So, what exactly went down was still unclear. But why did these two appear here, wanting to kill him?
Liang Sheng found it hard to figure out. After all, he has been laying low all these years, never stirring up trouble or offending anyone. Why would this happen?
Just at this moment, he perked up his ears when he heard a knocking sound from the front gate. Although the knocks were hurried, there was no forceful attempt at breaking in, so it was likely not malevolent.
At this moment, an idea flashed through his mind. He walked over to the bed, opened a hidden door, and dug out a jade jar. Thankfully, he was the cautious type, and hence was prepared.
He carefully opened the medicine jar, and lightly sprinkled a layer of medicine powder on the injuries of the two bodies on the ground. A faint wisp of smoke rose up instantly. The bodies quickly turned into a puddle and disappeared without a trace in a matter of a few breaths, leaving only a slight strange scent.
Corpse Dissolving Powder!
This was something Liang Sheng had specifically collected in preparation for such a circumstance. He didn’t expect it to be of use today. Indeed, success always favors those who are prepared.
After putting the Corpse Dissolving Powder back with caution, Liang Sheng walked over to the incense box, took out a small plate of incense powder, put it in the censer and lit it up. In a short while, a fresh fragrance filled the room, with no traces of unusual smells.
After getting rid of all traces and ensuring that everything was safe beyond a shadow of a doubt, Liang Sheng went back to bed. In a little while, there was a knock on the door from Ma San.
“Young Master, are you asleep?”
“What is it?”
“Someone from the mansion came to report that the Gao family was defeated today. Our guards from the Liang family chased two thieves down but accidentally let them break into our area.
The mansion is afraid that they might have barged in here and told us to be cautious. We are to inform them immediately if there’s any news.”
“I understand. You guys keep patrolling.”
“Yes.”
There was a hint of excitement in Ma San’s voice. Given that the Liang family emerged victorious, their safety was guaranteed as well.
At this moment, Liang Sheng let out a sigh of relief. It appeared that the two were not being manipulated by the Gao family behind the scenes. He had a rough idea about the situation: the two servants of the Gao family probably acted on their own to make a name for themselves by killing him—the useless individual—to claim rewards.
Unfortunately, he was not the real waste they had thought him to be. Once Liang Sheng figured out the cause and effect of everything, he finally relaxed and fell asleep till morning.
…
The chaos in Jinzhou City had been quelled, but Liang Sheng still chose not to go out the next day.
It’s never a wrong decision to be extra cautious. However, Ma San was sent out by him to gather information and hadn’t returned till noon.
But people were slowly starting to walk in and out of his mansion and Shengde Building once more. The situation seemed to have completely come under control.
In the afternoon, Ma San returned with a gloomy expression. One look, and anyone would know that he was in a bad mood.
Liang Sheng remained unmoved, taking a sip of his tea before asking what news he had gathered.
“Young Master, at the crack of dawn, our patriarch, along with the heads of the Gao and Wu families, has been summoned to the County Government Office. They’ve been talking all morning. I rushed back to report as soon as I heard the outcome, skipping meals as well.”
Seeing no reaction from Liang Sheng, Ma San could only continue his report. “Last night, in the great battle on Southeast Street, our three families sent nearly all their elite forces.”
“The Gao family boasts two individuals at the ninth realm, yet last night our Liang Family Ancestor and the Ancestor of the Wu Family personally went to the Gao mansion to have tea, effectively denying the elders and patriarch of the Gao family an opportunity to assist in the battlefield.”
“My Liang Family and the Wu Family have achieved a significant victory last night. Today, the County Government moved to mediate peace, to which all three families agreed not to engage in disputes again. The Gao family is tasked with repairing the damages on Southeast Street.”
At this point, Ma San did not seem pleased. “However, our Liang and Wu Families must compensate the Gao family. Young Master, can you make sense of this? We clearly won.”
Snap!
Liang Sheng abruptly placed his teacup on the table, his gaze slanting towards Ma San. Startled, Ma San immediately fell to his knees.
“Ma San, since I took office, you’ve followed me. You should be well aware of my temperament. Do not utter such words from this day forth, or there will no longer be space for you in this humble temple.”
“I’m aware of my mistake, I accept my punishment. Please overlook it, Young Master. I absolutely won’t repeat such a mistake.”
Ordinarily, Liang Sheng was quite amiable to his underlings, which is why Ma San had forgotten his manners in his excitement. Seeing Liang Sheng get angry for the first time, he was so scared that he immediately knelt down.
Seeing Ma San admit his mistake, Liang Sheng took another sip of tea, his expression indifferent. “Alright, you may leave.”
As Ma San left the room, he looked up at the sun, his back soaked in cold sweat.
The Young Master is truly terrifying!
Perhaps few young masters inside the mansion are up to par. Still, why would our young master, who is not proficient in martial arts, act this way?
But really, I should keep my mouth shut. Daring to speak ill of the main family; if it was any other mansion, I would’ve lost my life by now.
I must never do that again!
Inside the room, Liang Sheng didn’t bother much about Ma San’s actions, but he couldn’t help but sneer in his heart. What skillful tactics, Jinzhou County Government.
Perhaps the reason for their initial indifference was to fuel the animosity among the three families, to make a move once their strength was depleted, and then regain control of the situation.
Moreover, they’ve planted a thorn in the relationships between the three families by having the Liang and Wu Families compensate the Gao family. This is to ensure continuous collaboration between the two families against the Gao family with the two ninth realm individuals.
These tactics are indeed clever.
Liang Sheng thought he had seen through the current situation in Jinzhou City. But after Liang Qiang visited, he realized he was too naive.
Liang Qiang came to remind Liang Sheng to carry on as usual and not be as cautious as before. Since Liang Sheng had a good relationship with Liang Qiang, he casually complained about the unjust measures of the county government. His expression was almost the same as Ma San, who was discontented earlier.
But Liang Qiang patted Liang Sheng’s shoulder, unable to hold back. “Sheng’er, don’t be displeased. This is an action our three families have tacitly agreed upon.
The court and government don’t wish for harmony between our families. We must let them believe everything is under control.”
“Huh?”
“Otherwise, why do you think our ancestor and the Gao Family elder only had tea at the entrance of the Gao’s mansion, instead of fighting?”
“Haven’t you noticed that the brawl on Southeast Street seemed fierce, yet none of the descendants of the side branches from our three families were injured or killed?”
“So you mean…”
Liang Qiang signaled Liang Sheng to stop talking with his eyes, only allowing a cryptic smile to play on the corners of his mouth.
Liang Sheng cursed himself internally, realizing his own naivety.
The three major martial families of Jinzhou City had stood tall and unyielding for centuries; there was a reason for their longevity.
The lot of them are all crafty old foxes!
