Chapter 959 - The Inner kingdom: An old friend

Chapter 959

(Unedited)

…

The name Si Ji has already brought terror in the capital city especially in the noble houses. It is synonymous with misfortune and catastrophe. Even the Hongs dare not venture outside nowadays and have kept a low profile ever since the death of the many noble houses patriarch happened.

The Hongs are just lucky that Shin Jiao was not able to find them at that time. If not, then they would be the first ones to have been cleaned up.

The influence of the Hongs in the capital city is not that simple. They have many spies and many eyes looking at their state, they even have Grand Magus employed from different mage towers. So hunting their patriarch is not that simple as it looks.

However, Hong Fao still felt scared upon knowing what happened to the other noble houses that supported him and his campaign. The death of a young master in the Hong house is not as important as his life.

So he stopped his campaign and began to hide inside his shell for fear of getting assassinated.

…

Ji clan manor

At this time, Shin Jiao is talking with the Ji noble house patriarch and a few of their elders.

"So that is the plan… our merchant group would not be hindering the noble houses and would not be a threat to you as long as you do not pose a threat to us. I mean, if we just do business and compete in business without bloodshed, then our group will not threaten anyone. In fact, your noble house could even earn more if you cooperate with us. Of course, that is your prerogative and option. Mutual agreement and a non-aggressive contract are what we want…" Shin Jiao said after presenting to them his plan.

The Ji noble house now knows that the young man named Si Ji is actually a member of the merchant group, Mystique shop. One of the noble houses the Xing has silent cooperation with the shop. They are selling some of the simple goods of the Mystique shop and it gained them more than they could have imagined. But what this young man is offering to them is a whole lot more. And since he is a representative of the shop, the Ji clan patriarch is a bit excited.

Though he is a bit of a traditional man and likes the old ways, he has learned that the changes in Zepa city have turned the city into a prosperous one.

"This might be a way to improve the lives of the citizen in the capital… Alright, tell us what you need… My Ji clan agrees with this cooperation…" Ji Son Tao said with a smile.

It is now official, the Ji and the Xing noble houses would be their partner in the Capital city. With the Xing located in that southern part and the Jis in the northern part, it would become easier for the Mystique shop to now enter the capital.

…

As Shin Jiao left that night, Ji Yaolin escorted him outside.

"You really have hidden deeply… I never would have expected that you belong to that miraculous merchant group."

"Well, you never asked…"

"Hihi… So… where are you going next?"

"I need to settle some things first to make sure that everything would become smooth…"

"The Hong noble house?" Ji Yaolin seems to understand something.

Shin Jiao looks at the young woman in front of him and nodded his head. It seems that this young woman has a sharp intuition. At this point in time, no one would really think that he would be attacking the Hong noble house because they are already prepared for him.

And so, after Shin Jiao left that night, he directly went to the direction of the Hong noble house manor in the western part of the city.

In front of him are a large estate with a small bamboo forest and many courtyards. It's like the Forbidden City but has a tinge of western European culture in it.

Upon scouting the estate, Shin Jiao discovered a large formation array that is currently protecting a large courtyard inside the estate.

"That might be the place where that Hong patriarch is staying…" Shin Jiao thought while he carefully checks the areas.

Shin Jiao once again infiltrated the area by capturing a single guard and taking over his armor. He has already determined that the soldiers inside the Hong estate are using some kind of special identity plate that would make them able to pass through the gates of the estate.

Upon following the soldiers patrolling the area, he soon arrives near the large array formation.

"This Hong patriarch is a bit trickier than I thought…" Shin Jiao exclaimed deep in his heart upon scanning the building.

The reason for this is because, those people inside the building are actually not people, but puppets. Puppets were controlled by a single mage inside, and he could also see several Grand Magus waiting in some of the rooms in the building.

Shin Jiao is already aware of how the patriarch looks like, so after scanning the entire building, he knew that he is not inside. This whole thing is actually one big trap.

"That slippery old bastard is actually not in this estate…" Shin Jiao muttered.

He turns around and was about to leave when suddenly an alarm sounded inside the estate.

The soldiers were alerted and began to run and go into formation.

"Hmm… I guess they have already discovered me." Shin Jiao casually said as he removed the armor on his body.

He did not hide his presence but instead, walk to the pathway leading out of the estate.

Upon walking through the bamboo forest, Shin Jiao stops. This is because he discovered someone staying inside a dilapidated house. And besides, that someone, is an animal which he has a vague recollection of.

It has been a long time ever since he has seen that creature that is staying beside the young woman in the bamboo forest.

"This place is a natural trap array…" Shin Jiao thought as he walks inside the bamboo forest.

He is not afraid of the place because upon walking near it, he has already seen the array formation core of the bamboo forest.

As Shin Jiao walks closer, the two suddenly noticed him.

The giant bird with raven black feathers suddenly transformed into a young ten-year-old boy. Holding a small sword in his hand and glaring at Shin Jiao whose figure is slowly appearing from the misty bamboo forest.

"You dare come back! I will make sure that you will never leave this time! You may have defeated me last time, but now, I am stronger!" shouted the ten-year-old boy.

"Hmm… It seems that you are as feisty as ever…" Shin Jiao said while completely appearing in front of the two people who have a slightly scared expression on their faces.

The young woman seems to be trembling as she hid behind the boy.

However, this time, the boy holding the sword pointing at Shin Jiao suddenly loosen his tight grip on the sword. The small metal sword fell down on the ground with a muffled thud, and the boy showed a shocked expression on his young face.

"It's been a while… old friend…" Shin Jiao said with a happy smile on his face.

The boy was unable to say anything as he just stood there rooted on the ground.

In his mind, he began to recall that same young man who has saved him when he was trapped inside the body of the Land Devouring Worm and a Flame Dragon trying to take over his soul and the tiny world in his body.

So he did his best to restore his strength, and upon reaching the nascent realm in his travels, he was taken to the immortal land and was sent to the demi-human territory.

However, he wanted to explore, and as he explores the land he accidentally fell to this place. This is a place where he could not use the universe's energy and a place where only mana exists.