Chapter 306: Go All Out

Yan Liqiang felt refreshed as though a heavy burden had been lifted from his shoulders when he left the White Dragon Temple and descended the mountain. He felt like he was walking on air and his mind was immediately as clear as the vast sky and the wide ocean.

Lately, the future catastrophe had been weighing down Yan Liqiang’s heart like a boulder. He tossed and turned in his sleep every day, unable to rest well because he was thinking about how to deal with it or if there was anything he could do. Now that he made up his mind, all the pressure instantly vanished.

This time, Yan Liqiang decided to press his luck and gamble, regardless of love, hatred, emotions, justice, or simply because he wanted to shout at the top of his lungs at those ignorant people. One would never live life to the fullest until they went all out for once.

He didn’t think he was noble either; he had merely done what he was supposed to. Similarly, if he’d known about the Great Sichuan Earthquake a few months in advance back in his previous world, he would think of every possible way to notify the people about the impending disaster.

Since the Internet, media, and newspapers didn’t exist in this world, Yan Liqiang had to start from scratch.

He would run a newspaper to provide full coverage across all the capital regions of the Great Han Empire in four years time.

Then, he would find an opportunity to provide breaking news a few months prior to the catastrophe so that everyone could make the necessary preparations to evacuate.

It didn’t matter even if the newspapers would be shut down by the authorities in the end because they would have accomplished his mission by then.

This was Yan Liqiang’s plan. This was all that could do.

When Yan Liqiang was making his way down the mountain, a sudden burst of inspiration filled him as soon as he relaxed. It was filled with all sorts of newspaper content and marketing strategies he’d seen in his previous life. He couldn’t help but laugh at some of the interesting memories.

It was still early after Yan Liqiang left Mount Xiaoyun. He thought of Hua Ruxue and rode to the Imperial Capital on Snowstorm Cloud.

The entrance to the Imperial Capital was still heavily guarded compared to his previous two visits. Quite a number of soldiers lined both sides of the entrance. Everyone that passed through the city gates would be examined. Those who wore hats were asked to remove them, both the insides and outsides of the carriages were checked, and all transported goods were carefully examined.

Hearing the coachman ahead of him say that it was inconvenient to unload the fodder he was transporting, a squad commander at the city entrance immediately picked up a long spear. After signaling a few soldiers around him with his eyes, all of them started stabbing the fodder on the cart. It was only after verifying that there weren’t any bloodstains on the arrowheads did they then allow the whole cart of fodder into the city.

Noticing an old man dressed in gray lining up in front of him, Yan Liqiang politely asked, “Old Sir, do you know why the security check in the city has suddenly become so strict? I remember it wasn’t this strict yet during my last visit some time ago!”

The old man turned his head and looked at Yan Liqiang. Finding that Yan Liqiang was quite decent-looking and polite, he spoke slowly, “A few days ago, the Vice Minister of Works, Zuo Teng, was assassinated in his residence. Rumor says that it was the work of someone from the White Lotus Society. How can they not tighten the city’s security now that someone from the White Lotus Society managed to infiltrate the Imperial Capital and assassinate a high official of the imperial court?”

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White Lotus Society? Yan Liqiang was taken aback. He didn’t expect something like this to happen during his absence in the Imperial Capital.

“I did catch wind of Zuo Teng’s assassination, but how is this related to the White Lotus Society?”

“I’ve no idea. I only heard rumors about Zuo Teng being assassinated for killing many White Lotus Society followers when he was a prefectural governor at Qu Province back then, thus embroiled in a blood feud with them where they saw him as their archenemy!” Speaking up to this point, the old man looked around before lowering his voice slightly. “According to the merchant groups in the Imperial Capital, news from Qu Province a few days ago claimed that after Zuo Teng was assassinated by the local White Lotus Society members, the Law Enforcement Office’s entrance was splashed by dog blood and vandalized with the graffiti of many disgraceful words that night. It basically said that Zuo Teng would be the example of those lousy officials who dared to suppress the White Lotus Society’s followers…”

“Oh, how bold of them… Thank you for the information, Old Sir!” Yan Liqiang pretended to be shocked and cupped his fist to the old man.

“Oh well, it sure hasn’t been peaceful here…” The old man shook his head and immediately took two steps forward to be examined when his turn came.

At that exact moment, Yan Liqiang’s heart wasn’t as calm as he appeared on the surface. It was in a spectacular mess. —Could it be that Hua Ruxue is someone from the White Lotus Society?

His heart suddenly skipped a beat when he thought about the old man mentioning Qu Province. If he wasn’t mistaken, the White Lotus Society would start revolting and creating huge commotions in the Qu, Huang, and Yue Provinces in a few months time. So this meant that the assassination of Zuo Teng might really be related to the White Lotus Society’s movements after all. It felt like he was being used to boost their morale before the movement.

Even so, it was difficult for Yan Liqiang to associate Hua Ruxue with the White Lotus Society whenever he recalled her delicate and lovely face…

Yan Liqiang led Snowstorm Cloud into the city. After thinking for a moment, he continued on toward Sun Bingchen’s residence. Over the few trips he made to the Imperial Capital, he had never visited him. Since he had time today, it was only appropriate for him to pay him a visit. In any case, Sun Bingchen was also seen as one of Yan Liqiang’s benefactors in other people’s eyes. Yan Liqiang was also curious as to how Sun Bingchen was coping with the struggle against the Grand Chancellor and if he could be of any assistance to him. At the same time, he also wanted to consult Sun Bingchen on the finer details of running a newspaper.

There was an endless stream of pedestrians and carriages on the main streets of the Imperial Capital. Yan Liqiang couldn’t speed up or bring Snowstorm Cloud to a gallop. He could only let it trot slowly toward Sun Bingchen’s residence.

…

A young thug dressed in form-fitting clothes was leaning against the wall near an alley at the side of the main street. He was basking in the sun with a straw in his mouth while scanning the pedestrians on the street. His eyes suddenly lit up as soon as he noticed Yan Liqiang, or to be more precise, Snowstorm Cloud beneath him.

Even in the bustling Imperial Capital, Yan Liqiang’s steed was still extremely eye-catching. Snowstorm Cloud was half a head taller than ordinary rhinodrake steeds and had a glossy coat.

The thug eyed Snowstorm Cloud a few more times and gulped, then took a good look at Yan Liqiang’s face. He spat out the straw he was chewing and turned into the alley beside him…

Yan Liqiang had sensed the thug’s gaze. He only cast an indifferent glance at the alley then averted his gaze, feeling unconcerned.

Confidence came with mastery. As he spent his days training in the Deer Villa until he lost track of time, he was getting stronger day by day. Looking at these people now, Yan Liqiang felt no different than a strong man looking at children who had just learned to walk. They didn’t bother him at all…