Chapter 18: This Young Master Needs A Break

Chen Haoran always had bad reflexes when something startled him.

  This time he didn’t have the cold bite of an assassin’s knife stopping him.   In one motion he unsheathed the Mysterious Watersteel Sword and swung. Qi pulsed in his meridians. A stampede of energy forcing the blue light of the Canyon Carving Sword forward. It was a blow no less powerful than the one that blew off the head of the Ninth-Layer Tree Sitting Python.

  Manager Lin let out a startled cry as dust choked the air. Two long trenches spread out from the point of impact and ruined the training field once again. Chen Haoran planted his feet firmly to avoid flying back from the force of the point-blank blow. His sword hung in the air.   Or rather, it could go no further.   The dust cleared and revealed the Liquid Meridian cultivator. One hand behind his back the other covered in liquid shadow pinching his sword. A small monk-like man with a bald head and a face thick with laugh lines. To his sides were trenches, behind him untouched earth.   Chen Haoran had not cut through.   “I see your strength has improved Young Master Chen, the Patriarch will be most pleased to hear of it.” The Chen family Manager was smiling as he spoke. As if Chen Haoran hadn’t attempted to bisect him.   The situation was bad. His strongest blow was absorbed. The stronger cultivator in front of him knew the previous Young Master. Lan Fen was in isolated training. He was alone. They would expose him.   Awareness.   Chen Haoran breathed. The Chen family manager let go of his sword and he sheathed it.   “You wanted to speak to me?” he said. Chen Haoran spoke casually. As if he hadn’t attempted to bisect the man in front of him.   The man’s smile grew even wider. “Yes, Young Master Chen. First I would like to apologize for the delay in your living expenses. There was an issue with the accounting and the parties involved have since been punished.”  

If the delay wasn’t intentional Chen Haoran would eat his sword. A Liquid Meridian realm coming to deliver the Young Master’s stipend was not normal. Not if Manager Lin’s earlier reaction was anything to go by.  

“I am also here to convey the family’s congratulations on your marriage. They were all very surprised to hear of it.”  

A manager of the Chen family came where none had done so before. They had noticed something. They knew about the marriage. Someone was reporting to them. The stipend was deliberately delayed. They knew about the gold taels.  

The Young Master was weak and a known layabout. The Chen family hadn’t had any contact with him in years. It didn’t make sense for them to have a spy monitoring him. Especially if the rumors he was sent here to avoid embarrassing them were true. Someone had brought Chen Haoran’s situation to the Chen family’s attention. Someone who was able to observe him. Who knew about Lan Fen and the gold. Someone credible enough that the Chen family would send a Liquid Meridian realm to follow up.   Manager Lin.   That fucker.   Said fucker rose coughing from where he had ducked for cover and dusted his robes off. He didn’t know whether to blame Lan Fen or himself for not watching Manager Lin more carefully. The Chen family never contacted the Young Master, it didn't mean they were out of contact.   Manager Lin rushed over. “My apologies Manager Song, I was just about to escort the young master over,” he said.   Chen Haoran snorted.   “I must be the one to apologize. I’m afraid I was a bit too overeager to see the Young Master again,” the now-named Manager Song said. “I do have some more to report shall we retire to a more comfortable setting?”   ————————   They relocated to his office. Manager Lin and Manager Song were standing before his desk. He hadn’t offered them a seat nor was he going to. While Manager Lin had no choice as his servant, Manager Song playing along instead of seating himself surprised him.   “Let’s hear the rest of this report then,” Chen Haoran said. Leaning his head against his palm.   “Is your Lady Wife not going to join us?”   “She’s busy,” he said, curt.   “Such a shame, I have heard stories of her beauty and great talent. Perhaps another time then.” Credit where it was due Manager Song looked visibly disappointed that he didn’t get to meet Lan Fen.   Was Lan Fen the focus of the investigation? With Manager Lin’s suspicion toward her, it made sense that he would highlight her in his report. That was good, the more they thought of her as the reason for his changes the more wiggle room he’d have.   “From the top then.” Manager Song cleared his throat. “Because business has been poor this year the family has been forced to trim the budget. Your stipend was on the chopping block and will be decreased going forward. I wonder what Young Master Chen thinks?”   Manager Lin audibly choked and looked as if he couldn’t believe what Manager Song was saying. Chen Haoran ignored him and raced through the implications. Manager Song was fishing for information, but the indirectness was puzzling. Was this the attitude of the Chen family? Or was Chen Haoran’s identity as the Young Master something that even Manager Song couldn’t directly interrogate? Was he just fucking with him? Chen Haoran wouldn’t put it past the man with what he had seen so far.   “We’re actually very poor here. I must ask Manager Song to convey to the family our need for the money. Honestly, it would be better if they increased it.”   Manager Lin looked at Chen Haoran this time. Mouth agape at the bullshit he was spewing.   “It would be a difficult sell but I will try for you Young Master. Although I do recommend supplementing your finances with an alternate income. Perhaps something local?”   “All the locals hate me, unfortunately. I haven’t the faintest idea as to why though.”   Manager Lin started coughing and even Manager Song raised a single bushy eyebrow. Chen Haoran had to admit it was a particularly audacious statement. So Manager Song, and by extension the Chen family, were aware of the Young Master’s behavior all these years.   “It is their loss Young Master Chen is a dragon amongst men with immense potential after all.” Manager Song’s bullshitting was just as good as his own. “I will request more cultivation resources be added to your stipend to aid your growth.”   “What growth? Keep it, anything you send is wasted on me.”   “Do not sell yourself so short Young Master. If I hadn’t defended myself I may have been injured with the power you showed.”   If a papercut could even be called an injury.   “That was an accident,” Chen Haoran blandly replied. “I’ll make sure our finest healer sees to you before you leave.”   Manager Song’s pleasant smile didn’t waver.   Manager Lin’s head kept whipping back and forth as the exchange dragged on. Manager Song asked about his marriage, his friends, and the estate. Chen Haoran, without shame, blatantly lied with every answer. At any moment he was expecting Manager Song to dispense with the pretenses and pressure him directly. That moment never came as Manager Song wrapped up his ‘report’ and clasped his hands in a bow.   “That ends the report Young Master Chen. If you have a message you’d like me to send back to the Chen family I can take it now.”   “No, you may go.” Of course, Chen Haoran didn’t believe for a second that this was over.   “I see,” Manager Song said. He turned around to leave. Right before opening the door, he looked back at Chen Haoran. “If you’ll forgive me for being impertinent Young Master Chen may I ask what your plans for the future are?”   Manager Song sounded honest when he asked the question. Chen Haoran considered his answer. It would be better to throw the Chen family a bone to chew on. If he let them keep digging around it could turn out worse for him.   “I’m planning on destroying the Lan family here in Clearsprings city,” he said. “I don’t know if the family will have any issue with that?”   “Young Master!?”   They both ignored Manager Lin’s scandalized shout. Manager Song had a thoughtful expression on his face as he studied Chen Haoran. He could use Manager Song's answer to gauge the strength of the Chen Family as well as their attitude.   “Will you require assistance?” Manager Song asked.   He thought of Lan Fen. At the same time, he remembered seeing her in this same office. Head leaning on her palm. Looking down at a map only she could see. A general at rest.   “No,” Chen Haoran said. Lips quirking. “It’s well in hand.”   “In that case so long as you don’t involve the City Lord it’s fine. I advise you to try and supplant the Lan family’s industries rather than destroy them. It will be a good accomplishment to show the family.”   Chen Haoran paused. Either Manager Song was more important than he thought. Or the Chen family was strong enough that a mere manager could casually condemn an entire family. Destroying the Lan family only rated a 'good accomplishment' how powerful was that?   “If that will be all Young Master then I’ll take my leave,” Manager Song said.   Right. There was still something he had to do.   “Take Manager Lin back with you.”   “But why Young Master!?” In his shock Manager Lin pulled out a few hairs from his goatee.   “You’re fired,” he said. Chen Haoran didn’t acknowledge his panicked servant. He watched Manager Song like a hawk.   “Manager Lin has been a loyal servant for many years there should be a reason at least for you to let him go.” Manager Song finally looked serious.   “Manager Song-” Manager Lin looked grateful.   “I don’t like his rat-like face.” Chen Haoran interrupted and Manager Lin looked devastated instead. It wasn’t like he would rely on Manager Lin after this. He only said that to see how his authority compared to a Liquid Meridian realm. Manager Song would reject the firing without cause. He had his answer.   “I see,” Manager Song said. He nodded his head sagely and a blooming smile appeared on his face. “A rat-like face is unacceptable, Manger Lin must be removed immediately.”   What?   “What!” Manager Lin shouted.   “The Young Master cannot be left without a manager, however,” Manager Song continued. “Thus this humble servant shall serve at Young Master Chen’s side instead.”   “Wait a minute actually I like rats, Manager Li-”   “Manager Lin is to be sent back to the Chen family estate to fix his face,” Manager Song said, overriding him. Two perfect rows of pearly white teeth were shining in Manager Song’s beaming smile.   Chen Haoran wanted nothing more than to punch a hole in them.   “I look forward to working with you in the future, Young Master Chen.”

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