CHAPTER 92: CHAPTER 91 SHOULD NOT

"Do you want to help us overthrow the Silver Blood Association?"

Yin Minghong immediately understood the implication of ’Yin Yin Hidden’s’ words, but he sneered and knocked on the wall, saying coldly:

"Let’s not talk about you, a ’traitor’ who caused a major setback to the White Night’s strategic plan and is being hunted by White Night. What qualifies you to cooperate with us? You’ve betrayed White Night’s trust and yet hope for us to trust you again? Trust is like a piece of paper; once crumpled, even if you smooth it out, it can’t return to its original state."

"Even if I agree to work with you, what can you do to help us?"

Yin Minghong slammed the wall fiercely: "The land you stand on, all the buildings you see, and even everyone you meet—they all belong to the Silver Blood Association! The Silver Blood Association isn’t just a group; it’s alive, binding with gold and silver treasures, brainwashing with class concepts, turning the whole Xuanzhu County into a part of itself. It makes the rich actively defend their rights, while the poor are exhausted fighting for power. Everyone actively maintains this system."

"The land where silver and blood flow has nurtured a thriving and bloody jungle."

"What abilities does a mere Assassin have to fight against such a colossal entity as the Silver Blood Association?"

Yin Minghong wasn’t being facetious; this is indeed the greatest dilemma faced by the Xuanzhu White Night. Unlike Star Engraving County, where White Night can develop the Statistical Department director, Li Mingsheng, as a member, then assassinate Ding Yi, eliminating the stubborn elements, creating an opportunity for Li Mingsheng to rise to power and rule Star Engraving County.

Because within Star Engraving County, there are numerous internal factions. The upper class is not a unified block; Ding Yi is just the biggest faction of interest. As long as Li Mingsheng can appease the others, the rest is about slow and careful manipulation, just like palace intrigues, where the victor’s power isn’t enough to suppress everyone, but as long as others don’t unite against them, the victor will have ample time to recruit and suppress.

The Xuanzhu White Night is also unlike Skyrim, where natural disasters and conflicts have created opposition between the region and the Imperial Court, causing the people to starve and decades of accumulated grievances to burst forth overnight, allowing the Backlight Organization to easily gather countless people to overthrow the government.

Nevertheless, although life at the bottom in Xuanzhu White Night is difficult, it’s not unlivable. There are even many entertainments to offer solace to the lower classes; the upper class, although in constant power struggles, are united against other forces, ensuring no one shakes the foundation of Silver Blood Association’s rule.

The Xuanzhu White Night tried to take the grassroots route but faced repeated setbacks. Traitors gained wealth and prosperity by selling White Night’s information, and this ’luck story’ has spread through the streets, causing White Night’s development to stall;

As for taking the high-level route, it’s even harder. Whether it’s the chambers of commerce or officials at all levels, they are already trapped in the Silver Blood Association’s vast net, all striving to facilitate the growth of capital. Many sincerely believe Xuanzhu County is the shining future.

Compared to Skyrim, aren’t people here able to survive? Compared to other regions, isn’t our Dongyang District even more prosperous?

Li Mingsheng is actually an anomaly, as he was an official promoted by the former Governor from the grassroots, enabling him to deeply understand the suffering of the people and willing to join White Night’s cause. But people like him are almost nonexistent in the Silver Blood Association, rendering White Night’s attempt to use deception plans futile.

The Assassin role in Xuanzhu County has become very insignificant. No matter who dies in which position, the person replacing them will be equally greedy, equally corrupt. Even if someone wants to reform, it’s impossible to challenge the massive bloated interest group like the Silver Blood Association.

Not even the Emperor of Radiance could do that.

Assassinating Jing Zhengwei to dismantle the Jing Family’s chamber of commerce is less a gamble of White Night than a helpless venting—the only option left besides waiting for White Night Walkers from other regions to save Dongyang, trying whatever opportunity comes, relying on miracles for hope.

"Actually, crumpled paper can be smoothed, sprayed with water, pressed with two thick books, and put in the freezer overnight. Tomorrow, take it out and it’ll be smoother than before."

Yin Minghong was stunned upon hearing this.

I’m talking about trust, and you talk about technique?

"As you said, I used to be an Assassin. But don’t forget, besides that Assassin mask, I have another mask."

’Yin Yin Hidden’ laughed softly: "I am the chief underground operations director stationed in Star Engraving County by White Night and the undercover agent planted by the Assassin Organization in White Night, and I collude with the Statistical Department of Star Engraving County for lone ventures of extracting chestnuts from the fire."

"I am a top-tier spy."

"You..." Yin Minghong listened with anger; Yin Yin Hidden’s achievements were largely gained by betraying White Night, which was akin to flaunting the wife of the betrayed man. It was infuriating.

But Yin Yin Hidden was indeed correct. Not only did he infiltrate White Night as the white-haired Assassin, but for over a year, he revealed no signs, even pushing forward the plan to seize the city in Star Engraving County under his guidance. Yin Minghong wanted nothing more than to apprehend and judge him immediately, but had to admit Yin Yin Hidden’s underground work ability was indeed superior.

"Isn’t there a red brick by your feet? Crush it."

Yin Minghong looked at the red brick on the ground, thinking perhaps Yin Yin Hidden hadn’t investigated him properly, he wasn’t skilled in physical feats, how could he crush a brick... but when he picked it up, he found it was light, and with a gentle squeeze, left a mark on it.

This thing was a toy painted with red varnish, and with a bit of force, he broke it open, revealing the note inside.

Yin Minghong looked at the two notes as he opened them, immediately focused, and asked, "Is this real?"

The paper depicted a map, marking several secret locations in the outer city, indicating hidden items: unauthorized firearms, gold and silver valuables, defensive inner armor. All the resources White Night urgently needed!

But more importantly, was the information on the second note: "Shi Family chamber of commerce urgently needs cash flow and intends to sell the glass production factory in the outskirts."

A factory!

In Xuanzhu County, only members of the Silver Blood Association are eligible to apply to the governor’s office for land to build a factory. It’s completely impossible for outsiders to establish a factory here. Transfers between factories only occur between business associations, as others simply don’t have the money to buy a factory. More importantly, information about such factory transfers is something ordinary people have no way of knowing.

For Xuanzhu’s White Night, buying a factory is almost their daydream. There’s nothing more suitable for them to hide members, produce weapons, or even train a small army. A factory can legally gather a large number of people without arousing the Silver Blood Association’s response—knowing that even in the poorest villages and towns outside the city, if a large number of young and strong men gather, it will attract the attention of the Silver Blood Association’s subordinate gangs.

Yin Minghong is also trying to insert members into the Red Moon Fortress, but even if the Red Moon Fortress were entirely made up of White Night members, it would be meaningless—the Red Moon Fortress is too far from Xuanzhu County, with the Heyang Army and multiple blockade checkpoints in between, it simply can’t play a decisive role.

If the news is true, White Night can completely pretend to be merchants negotiating with the Shi Family. Although the Silver Blood Association is also aware of the potential dangers of factories and hopes to keep them under business association control, they clearly can’t constrain specific associations. As long as White Night’s bid is high enough, the Shi Family would certainly be willing to sell to these ’foreign merchants’.

The Silver Blood Association, which is tied by interests, naturally has to accept the consequences of putting interests first.

"Those ’treasures’ are in the warehouse of the second young master of the Jing Family, Jing Zhengwu. Most of those things are goods he embezzled from the Jing Family. Even if you clean it out, he wouldn’t dare to pursue you."

"As for the factory sale, because the Shi Family’s merchant ships were completely destroyed by pirates, they’re eager to recoup funds. All the business association leaders acquainted with the Shi Family know about this, but no one has offered after half a month of outreach from the Shi Family, indicating everyone is tacitly lowering the price. As long as you go to the Shi Family business association and offer a slightly higher price, you’ll surely acquire your ’new base’."

With calm composure, ’Yin Yinyin’ said, "Now, do you think I’m qualified to help your White Night overthrow the Silver Blood Association?"

He actually infiltrated Xuanzhu’s upper society!?

Yin Minghong never expected that Yin Yinyin, a white-haired assassin from Chenfeng District, could gather so much intelligence in just a few days—no, this definitely isn’t intel he obtained, but information collected by the organization behind him!

Indeed, the assassin organization back Yin Yinyin is inherently closely linked with the Silver Blood Association. If Yin Yinyin was sent by the assassin organization, he could certainly provide intelligence that would satisfy White Night!

Yin Minghong directly asked, "Which force do you exactly represent? Does the assassin organization want to cooperate with us?"

"Take a guess?"

’Yin Yinyin’ chuckled, "However, it’s not so much about cooperation, but if you perform satisfactorily, I can continuously provide you with intelligence and even... offer you some small assistance."

"But how can we be sure you won’t betray us? You have such a ’brilliant track record’ in that regard," Yin Minghong asked. "If we buy a factory and gather up, and then get rounded up by the Heyang Army, wouldn’t you be able to receive a handsome reward from the Silver Blood Association?"

"Ultimately, I can’t trust you as a traitor."

"Understandable," said ’Yin Yinyin,’ "After all, people can’t really understand each other."

"So, having said that, I’ve shown all my sincerity. By the time we calculate the time, your companions should almost be coming over, and as for me, I have no intention of being caught by you guys either."

"If you want to ’utilize’ me, the traitor, once again, we can discuss a safe way of contact and come out for some thrilling clandestine adventures next time. If you think catching a traitor is more important or dare not believe what I’ve said, then we part our ways. However, I will continue to strive to overthrow the Silver Blood Association; we do good deeds, not concerning ourselves with the future."

Yin Minghong paced a few steps, indecisive, suddenly asking:

"Why do you hate the Silver Blood Association so much? You’ve always been active in the Chenfeng District, haven’t been in Xuanzhu County for more than a few days, why such a strong murderous intent? The matters of the Silver Blood Association have nothing to do with you, right?"

With a light tone, ’Yin Yinyin’ said, "You are right, the Silver Blood Association indeed has nothing to do with me, you could even say that its existence is only beneficial, not detrimental to me."

"Then why are you so enthusiastic?"

"How should I say this... A few days ago, I saw a sixteen-year-old maid trying to escape get killed by a steward, and everyone else looked as if it was nothing unusual, some even thought it was her asking for her own death."

"Was that maid a friend of yours?"

"Not really, just a stranger."

Yin Minghong was somewhat puzzled, "What exactly are you trying to say?"

"I can actually understand them; the girl was purchased by the owner, without the owner, she might have lived even worse than being a maid. The owner did her a great favor, yet she dared to run away, so getting beaten to death wasn’t unjustified. The steward naturally did nothing wrong, and the guards who caught her were just doing their duties. Even those who watched, no matter how sympathetic, would never agree with her ’outrageous act’."

"But, just..."

The voice of ’Yin Yinyin’ seemed to become somewhat ethereal, yet also quite confused, "People shouldn’t live like this, and the world shouldn’t be like this."