12dz 62. Dispute
62. Dispute
After finishing his internal affairs at the Seven Absolutes Sect, Lin Mo didn't linger. Becoming an honored guest certainly brought him greater authority and resources, but it also meant more scrutiny and potential trouble. He needed time to digest these resources, and even more so, he needed space to deal with his personal matters—the sealing artifact concerning his lover from his past life.
He cited the need for quiet cultivation to consolidate his realm and handle some personal matters as reasons for bidding farewell to Sect Leader Yun Qingzi and the Grand Elder. Although the two were somewhat reluctant to part, they understood that such a young genius must have his own opportunities and secrets, so they did not insist that he stay. They simply repeatedly told him that the Seven Absolutes Sect would always be his support, and that he could return at any time if needed.
Lin Mo, carrying the identity token offered by the Seven Absolutes Sect, along with rubbings of some high-level secret manuals from the Scripture Pavilion and a batch of cultivation resources, quietly left the Seven Absolutes Sect's mountain gate. He was eager to return home, not only missing the relatively secluded "Ink Jade Manor" that he had built himself, but also longing for the soul sealed within the magical artifact.
Several days later, a travel-worn Lin Mo returned to the Moyu Manor located outside Jiangzhou City. The manor was nestled against the mountains and beside the water, and on the outside it was just a large-scale wealthy family garden, but in reality it was a hidden world, full of traps and mechanisms, and it was his headquarters that he had been operating for many years.
"The lord is back!" The guards at the gate immediately bowed respectfully upon seeing Lin Mo, their faces beaming with joy.
Lin Mo nodded slightly and headed straight for the study in the core area of the manor. He habitually checked the hidden compartments in the study first, confirming that the sealed magical artifacts and some confidential documents were safe and sound before he breathed a slight sigh of relief.
"Master, you're finally back!" Butler Fu Bo rushed over upon hearing the news. He was an elderly man with gray hair but a sprightly spirit, and one of the few confidants that Lin Mo could completely trust.
"Uncle Fu, is everything alright at the manor?" Lin Mo sat down, took the hot tea that Uncle Fu offered, and asked casually.
Uncle Fu's face showed a hint of solemnity: "Everything is fine in the manor, but... things have been quite unsettled in Jiangzhou City lately."
"Oh?" Lin Mo paused slightly in his tea-sipping, then looked up at Uncle Fu. "Tell me more about it."
"Something happened at the canal wharf." Uncle Fu lowered his voice. "The 'Golden Dragon Gang' and the 'Raging Wave Gang' have had several large-scale clashes in the past two weeks over control of the canal, resulting in many deaths and injuries."
Lin Mo's eyes narrowed. The Grand Canal was the lifeline for the flow of goods between the north and south. Controlling it meant not only immense wealth but also control over vital channels for information exchange and personnel movement. Jiangzhou, situated at a crucial crossroads of land and water transport, held its canal wharves of paramount importance. He had been preoccupied with the Seven Absolutes Sect and searching for a way to break the seal, and had paid less attention to this place; he hadn't expected trouble to arise so quickly.
"What's the reason? Although there were constant frictions between the two gangs before, they were generally able to maintain a balance," Lin Mo asked.
Uncle Fu replied, "According to our people planted on both sides, the immediate trigger was the loss of a batch of priceless tribute silk during transshipment last month, with both sides accusing the other of double-crossing. But the deeper reason is probably that someone is fanning the flames behind the scenes. The Golden Dragon Gang has the shadow of the Four Seas Chamber of Commerce behind it, while the Raging Waves Gang seems to have the tacit approval of a certain official in the Grand Canal Transport Commissioner's Office. Both sides feel they have a powerful backer and are more confident, so the conflict naturally couldn't be suppressed."
"The Four Seas Chamber of Commerce? The Grand Canal Transport Commissioner's Office?" Lin Mo tapped his fingers lightly on the table, lost in thought. The Four Seas Chamber of Commerce was a large chamber of commerce spanning several states, with immense wealth and connections to many martial arts forces. The Grand Canal Transport Commissioner's Office was an official government agency established in Jiangzhou to manage the Grand Canal transport, wielding considerable power. With these two forces involved, it was no wonder the Golden Dragon Gang and the Raging Waves Gang dared to fight so fiercely.
"When was the last conflict? What was its scale?" Lin Mo continued to ask.
"Just three days ago," Uncle Fu said gravely, "the two sides clashed in the dock warehouse area, involving several hundred people, using crossbows and even oil, burning down several large warehouses. The death toll is estimated to be over a hundred. The dock area is now basically at a standstill, with goods piled up like mountains, and merchants are full of complaints. Although the government has sent soldiers to quell the unrest, they are just watching from the sidelines and have not really intervened to mediate."
Lin Mo stood up, walked to the window, and looked towards Jiangzhou City. His gaze seemed to pierce through space, reaching the chaotic docks.
The canal wharf… he had long coveted this lucrative prize, but the timing hadn't been right, and his own strength and influence still needed to accumulate, so he had remained patient and refrained from acting. Now, his status as a retainer of the Seven Absolutes Sect gave him greater confidence, and his manor, through years of covert development, had also amassed considerable power. And now, the merger of these two gangs presented a golden opportunity.
Two dogs fight, play off.
"Have our people been exposed?" Lin Mo asked.
"Don't worry, Master, it's all single-line communication, and it's buried very deep," Uncle Fu replied confidently.
"Very good." Lin Mo turned around, a sharp glint in his eyes. "Pass down the order to have our people closely monitor the situation at the docks, especially the whereabouts of the core figures of the Golden Dragon Gang and the Raging Wave Gang, the losses on both sides, and the latest moves of the forces behind them. All intelligence should be compiled and sent to me immediately."
"Yes, Master!" Uncle Fu accepted the order, then hesitated for a moment, "Master, do you intend to... interfere in the canal transport?"
Lin Mo's lips curled into a faint, cold smile: "Such a good opportunity has been presented to us. If we don't seize it, wouldn't we be wasting God's good intentions? This canal wharf has been in chaos long enough. It's time for a new owner."
He did not elaborate on the plan, but Uncle Fu had followed him for many years and knew the young manor lord's methods and courage well. Seeing his expression, he knew that the young manor lord had made a decision and must have a meticulous plan in mind.
"This old servant understands, I will make the arrangements immediately." Uncle Fu asked no further questions, bowed and withdrew.
Silence returned to the study. Lin Mo sat back in his chair, his fingers unconsciously stroking a warm, dark jade pendant at his waist—the symbol of the Black Jade Manor.
The canal transport dispute... This sudden chaos disrupted his original plan to focus on researching the sealing artifact. But opportunities often come with risks and chaos. Controlling the canal transport would not only bring enormous resources and wealth, but also allow him to weave a vast information network, which would be crucial for finding a way to break the seal and for dealing with potential future challenges from enemies like the Four Great Clans or even more powerful adversaries.
He lost too much in his past life. In this life, he not only seeks revenge, but also aims to control his own destiny and protect everything he desires. Power and influence are the foundation of all this.
"Looks like I'll be busy for a while," Lin Mo muttered to himself, his eyes growing increasingly resolute and profound. He picked up the detailed report on the dock conflict left by Uncle Fu and began to study it carefully, word by word.