Chapter 75: Information From Lin Laifu

Upon hearing Lu Feng’s question, Lin Laifu let out a short gasp and lightly slapped his plump thigh, as though the main purpose of his visit had momentarily slipped his mind.

"Ah! Look at me, getting ahead of myself!" Lin Laifu exclaimed with an embarrassed chuckle.

He raised his hands and brought his palms together in a sharp, resounding clap that echoed through the high-ceilinged reception hall.

At the signal, the two stout guards who had been standing at attention outside stepped into the room, carrying the heavy woven baskets they had retrieved from the carriage. Moving with disciplined, synchronized steps, they carefully placed the first set of baskets on the polished floor between Lu Feng and Lin Laifu.

Without missing a beat, the guards turned back toward the courtyard, returning a few moments later with a second set of covered baskets until a total of six large, meticulously woven containers were neatly arranged on the floor.

Only after his men had stepped back to take their positions outside did Lin Laifu adjust his fine silk robes and clear his throat, his face beaming with a wide, friendly grin.

"Young Master Lu, it is proper etiquette to bring housewarming gifts when visiting a friend’s new residence," Lin Laifu explained cheerfully, gesturing toward the line of baskets. "I took the liberty of putting together a few modest items to welcome you to the neighborhood."

Leaning forward, the plump merchant reached out and untied the silk ribbons securing the covers of the first two baskets. Lifting the lids, he revealed several sealed ceramic jars tucked neatly amidst fine padding. A subtle, refreshing herbal fragrance drifted into the air.

"These two baskets are filled with various luxury tea leaves from the southern provinces," Lin Laifu said with a modest wave of his hand. "To be completely honest, I was not quite sure which flavor profile you preferred, so I simply ordered my head housekeeper to pack a selection of every top-grade variety we had in the storehouses."

He then moved to the third basket and carefully lifted its lid.

The moment the cover was removed, a dense, intoxicating wave of warmth and rich, buttery sweetness billowed out into the room. Inside lay row upon row of fresh, golden-brown bread, baked that very morning and still steaming hot. The rich, mouthwatering aroma filled every corner of the central reception hall, drifting down the side corridors.

The scent was so potent that within moments, the soft rustle of robes echoed from the doorway of the inner wing. Ye Chenxue, who had been cooped up inside her private room since sunrise, stepped quietly into the hall, her sharp, cold eyes casually sweeping over the steaming basket of fresh pastries before she took a silent seat near the corner pillar.

Lin Laifu offered a warm, polite nod to Ye Chenxue before turning his attention back to the fourth and fifth baskets, opening them to display an assortment of vibrant, spotless fruits—crisp jade pears, crimson spirit-plums, and plump sweet berries.

"These fruits were hand-picked just before dawn by my most trusted personal cook," Lin Laifu noted proudly. "They are guaranteed to be of the highest fresh quality."

Finally, the plump merchant reached for the sixth and final basket. When he lifted its padded cover, the dull, metallic clink of glass bottles echoed softly through the hall. Nestled inside were four dark green glass bottles, their necks sealed with dark wax and marked with golden wax seals.

Lin Laifu looked up at Lu Feng with a broad, knowing smile. "And of course, a true celebration requires fine wine. Wine is always a necessity for a new home."

Lu Feng looked over the lavish collection of gifts, his mismatched eyes gleaming with polite appreciation. Reaching into the sixth basket, he picked up one of the dark bottles, casually breaking the wax seal with his thumb and pulling the wooden stopper. Instantly, a deep, complex fragrance—a harmonious blend of fermented spirit-fruits and aged oak—floated into his nose.

Nodding in satisfaction, Lu Feng placed the bottle on the tea table and offered a calm, respectful bow toward the merchant. "Master Lin, your generosity is truly grand. Thank you for these thoughtful gifts."

However, beneath his polite exterior, Lu Feng’s sharp mind was already working. A man as shrewd and busy as Lin Laifu did not personally rush across the city at break of day merely to deliver bread, fruit, and wine. The plump merchant clearly had a far deeper motive for this early visit.

Lin Laifu smiled warmly, taking two small crystal cups from his sleeve and placing them on the table. "Think nothing of it, Young Master Lu! Yesterday, after the property transaction was finalized, I was quite remorseful that we did not have the opportunity to properly sit down and celebrate your new acquisition. Since I am here now, why don’t we share a cup?"

Lu Feng tilted the bottle, pouring a steady stream of deep crimson liquid into both cups. "Truth be told, Master Lin, the reason we rushed off yesterday morning was to secure a residential property on our own. We only returned to your pavilion because the independent housing agents we initially sought out were found dead in their offices."

Lu Feng paused, taking a light sip of the rich wine before continuing smoothly. "That was why we returned to wait for your agent to handle the transaction. And fortunately, your people did not disappoint us."

Upon hearing Lu Feng mention the dead brokers, Lin Laifu’s cheerful expression stiffened slightly. A look of genuine apology crossed his plump features, and he let out a heavy sigh, bowing his head.

"Ah, Young Master Lu, I must sincerely apologize for the delay my pavilion caused you yesterday," Lin Laifu said regretfully. "If my staff had been more prompt, you would not have had to waste your valuable time dealing with those street-level brokers."

The merchant took a quick sip from his crystal cup, his posture growing noticeably tense. He glanced around the spacious hall, ensuring that only Han Lin and Ye Chenxue were present, before leaning closer across the wooden table.

"Since you brought up those dead brokers, Young Master Lu," Lin Laifu began, dropping his voice into a hushed, secretive whisper, "I assume you have heard the rumors circulating through the commercial districts this morning? The official word being pushed by the city guards is that both of those dead agents were former human traffickers who met their demise due to internal disputes within their criminal ring."

Lu Feng set his crystal cup down with a soft click, his mismatched gaze sharpening as he studied the merchant’s expression. "That is indeed the rumor. Do you believe otherwise?"

"I do," Lin Laifu whispered, his voice trembling slightly. "I have a very different theory regarding what is actually happening in Crimson Vale City right now."

Lu Feng leaned back in his chair, folding his hands over his knee with a calm, inviting gesture. "I am listening, Master Lin. Tell me your theory."

Lin Laifu took a deep, shuddering breath, leaning even further across the table so his round face was only a foot away from Lu Feng’s. The easygoing, cheerful demeanor he had maintained since entering the estate had completely vanished, replaced by an expression of stark, undeniable anxiety.

"It is true that those dead brokers—including Agent Zhou—were secretly affiliated with the underground syndicates," Lin Laifu whispered frantically, his eyes darting toward the open courtyard windows. "However, they were not killed by their own associates in some petty turf war. They were methodically hunted down and executed by an entirely separate, far more dangerous faction."

Lin Laifu paused, wiping a fresh bead of cold sweat from his upper lip before continuing in a low, trembling tone. "And what terrifies me most, Young Master Lu, is that this force is nowhere near finished. Based on the information my network has gathered overnight, these initial assassinations are merely the opening move of a much larger operation. I strongly suspect the scope of these hits will widen dramatically in the coming days."

Lu Feng raised a single eyebrow, his tone remarkably steady. "Widen? Do you mean a wave of indiscriminate mass killings across the lower districts?"

"No, not mass slaughter," Lin Laifu clarified quickly, shaking his head with a grim expression. "It will be targeted and deliberate. The hits will no longer be confined to shady, low-level brokers operating in the shadows like Agent Zhou. If my speculations are correct, the targets will soon include prominent figures, wealthy merchants, and influential leaders within Crimson Vale City itself."

Lu Feng sat in silence, his eyes fixed entirely on the plump merchant. He observed every subtle twitch of Lin Laifu’s facial muscles, the rapid rate of his breathing, and the genuine, cold sweat glistening on his forehead.

Lu Feng could easily tell that Lin Laifu was not putting on an act, nor was he attempting to manipulate the situation for personal gain.

The wealthy, influential merchant sitting opposite him was genuinely, utterly terrified.