The White-Bone Demon of the Farm is as rich as a country

Three days had passed in a flash since returning from the Shadow Gate. It was not until the deepest night, when all was silent, that An Yifang, exhausted, returned to the mansion.

Chu Ning'an knew that Ru Yue had been obsessed with the information An Yi had gathered during his outings, and he had originally considered calling her to join him in the study. However, looking out the window, he saw the night sky as dark as ink, thick and indissoluble. Looking at An Yi, he saw he looked exhausted, and a wave of pity welled up in his heart. So, he said to An Yi in a gentle voice, "You've been working so hard for so long, you must be starving. Go downstairs and have some food and rest. It's getting late now, so why not wait until tomorrow morning to discuss anything?"

Upon hearing this, An Yi hurriedly clasped his fists in greeting and replied respectfully, "Sir, this matter is quite urgent. I'm afraid you and the master will need to make advance plans. I'm fine, so please don't worry."

Seeing An Yi's insistence, Chu Ning'an nodded slightly, turned, and ordered a servant to call Ru Yue over. Then, together, they walked towards the study. Once inside, they walked straight to the seat at the head of the table and slowly sat down. At that moment, their eyes fell on the secret guard who had been dispatched on a mission before even setting foot inside the house.

An Yi, dressed in black as before, his expression still stern and serious, exuding an air of indifference. However, the dust and fatigue on his body betrayed the hardships he had endured during these past few days of travel. His food and lodging must have been extremely simple and poor, but it was heartening to see that his spirits were strong, especially his cold, deep eyes, which shone like cold stars, revealing an unwavering faith.

"I, your humble servant, greet you, Master." He appeared before her in a flash, like a ghost. Then, with a quick, decisive movement, he knelt on one knee, his right hand tightly gripping the gleaming sword, his left cupped in a salute. Ru Yue knew this was his first formal visit to her, so the ceremony was particularly solemn and serious.

Ru Yue knew full well that with her current limited power, it was difficult to find an effective way to control this highly skilled guard. The only way was to properly position herself from the outset, treating them not only with reason and benefits, but also with emotion, so that they would be loyal and dedicated to her.

Time seemed to stand still. After a long while, Ru Yue finally said coldly, "Stand up and talk." Although her voice was not loud, the majesty contained in it was unquestionable.

After hearing the order, An Yi didn't say a word. He just stood up quickly, nodded slightly, collected his thoughts, and stood quietly aside, like a sculpture.

At this moment, Chu Ning'an, who had been silent until then, finally broke the silence. His face was as calm as water, and he asked softly, "An Yi, what's the urgent matter?" In fact, Chu Ning'an knew that both Ru Yue and himself were eager to know the results of An Yi's investigation. However, his handsome face did not reveal a single trace of anxiety, as if everything was under control.

Facing Chu Ning'an's question, An Yi saluted again, then methodically recounted in detail everything he had painstakingly discovered over the past few days...

After An Yi left that night, he blended into the dark night like a ghost. Following Chu Ning'an's instructions, he rushed towards the mysterious house he had tracked down earlier without hesitation.

The night sky was as dark as ink, the wind howled, and An Yi's figure moved as fast as lightning. His remarkable lightness skills allowed him to easily traverse numerous obstacles. In the blink of an eye, he used the cover of darkness to glimpse over the wall as lightly as a bird, and quietly entered the house.

The house was unusually quiet, devoid of any sign of activity. Not only were there no patrolling guards, but even the sight of ordinary servants was a distant sight. Initially, An Yi was puzzled. Was this truly just an ordinary, unassuming residence? Perhaps the information Chu Ning'an had provided him was inaccurate? However, years of experience in the martial arts world told him that things were far from simple.

So, An Yi continued to sneak cautiously, approaching the main house like a ghost. As he quietly approached the main house, he was suddenly shocked! It turned out that beneath this seemingly calm surface, there were four or five peerless masters. These people had a restrained and deep aura, and their movements were as swift as the wind. They were obviously experienced and extremely powerful, far more than ordinary guards.

An Yi was fully aware of his precarious position, aware that any misstep would expose his presence. He dared not venture into the main house, instead quickly ducking behind a nearby rockery. Fortunately, An Yi possessed unique skills, profound abilities, and exceptional hearing and vision. Those within the house also seemed confident in their surroundings, feeling incredibly safe, and therefore spoke in low voices. Thanks to this, An Yi, with his keen hearing, was able to pick up a wealth of crucial information.

"Master An, I went to the 'Ming Yue Stall' today exactly as you instructed. Who would have thought that the damned little girl didn't fall into our trap! I'm afraid the plan you mentioned before won't work." A burly, dark-skinned man with a slight northern accent said angrily.

"Hmph! If she won't do it, we'll find another way. Anyway, this girl is determined to be mine!" Young Master An, seated in a carved sandalwood chair, responded with a sullen expression and gnashed teeth. He was dressed in a gorgeous brocade robe, a jewel-studded belt around his waist, and a fierce expression etched between his brows.

The man spoke slowly again: "Young Master An, you have sent a lot of supplies to our northern land, for which our general is very grateful. He has specifically instructed that as long as it is within his ability, he will do his best to help you. But there is one thing I need to make clear in advance, all actions must not hinder our grand plan." As he spoke, the man's tone gradually became cold.

"Hahahaha... Boss Fan, don't worry. We have been cooperating for several years, and the tacit understanding and trust between each other are extremely deep! How could I not know the interests involved? You don't have to worry about this. I will certainly not miss our plan." Young Master An first raised his head and let out a hearty laugh, the laughter echoing in the room, then he paused for a moment, as if thinking about how to phrase it next.

Then, he leaned forward slightly and continued in a low voice: "According to the news I received recently, they should leave the city and return to Kunyang in the near future. Now is a perfect opportunity, Boss Fan. So, I hope that Boss Fan can generously lend me a few people to help me. After all, that is a desolate place. If you accidentally 'encounter' a few vicious robbers and some accidents happen, it is very common for someone to die. And as for that woman... hehe, being forcibly abducted is probably not a earth-shattering event." At this point, the corners of Young Master An's mouth rose slightly, and a sinister and cunning smile appeared on his face, which revealed endless evil and greed.

At this moment, Boss Fan frowned, a trace of worry on his face, and he asked hesitantly, "What if his family reports him to the authorities and they investigate?"

Young Master An waved his hand dismissively and replied confidently, "Boss Fan, you're really overthinking it! I've already sent people to investigate thoroughly. They're just country folk from a poor mountain village. They were lucky enough to get a couple of prescriptions, so they started this business. They don't have any powerful backing."

After hearing this, Boss Fan was still a little worried and asked, "Are you serious?"

"Absolutely no lies."

"What good will it do us if we help you?"

"The 'Ming Yue Dang' has now spread throughout the Jiaqing Prefecture. Once this is accomplished, I will personally help you take it into my pocket. Hehe, by then, you will be able to have your own foothold in the heart of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty." "Hahahaha, then it's a deal!" "Okay, it's a deal!"

Over the next two days, An Yi remained hidden in the shadows, closely tracking the every move of An Binghuai and Boss Fan. After an in-depth investigation, he unearthed a series of terrifying and shocking inside stories.

It turned out that An Binghuai had secretly begun selling grain to the Northern Territory three years earlier. The An family's rapid rise in power in just a few years was inextricably linked to this incident.

Meanwhile, the Northern Territory was constantly seeking opportunities to stockpile vast quantities of food. As for their true purpose, the answer was self-evident. It wouldn't be long before the entire Great Zhou was swept into a vortex of immense turmoil.

However, something even more horrifying is yet to come.

An Yi discovered that the An family's shops across the country were secretly staffed with personnel from the Northern Territory. When Ru Yue and Chu Ning'an heard the news, they were stunned, their faces filled with disbelief.

This... this is clearly planting a spy. Such an act is simply committing the heinous crime of treason! How could the An family have such audacity? How could they dare to do such a cruel thing? It's truly unbelievable!

Was this the An family's personal act? Or was he helping someone in a high position of power in the imperial court?

Ru Yue and Chu Ning'an looked at each other and saw disbelief and worry in each other's eyes.