Encouraged by the hundred taels of gold, Liu Bingyi did not immediately squander them.
Instead, he bought a large piece of fine pork belly and two bushels of millet, and returned briskly to his dilapidated house in Shangguan Lane. Xu Pingjun was washing her patched-up, coarse robe in the yard when she saw him returning with so much stuff that she nearly dropped the wooden basin she was holding.
'Bingyi, where did you get all this money?' Her voice trembled; she feared her husband had done something that would get him killed again.
'Pingjun, I told you, our good days are yet to come.' Liu Bingyi gently smoothed her hair, his eyes brimming with affection. 'This is the money "Black General" earned for us.' The moment he stepped into the house, the system's crisp, mechanical voice rang in his mind:
'Ding! Detected that the host has completed the initial survival challenge, Return to the Mortal World, First Pot of Gold!'
[Task evaluation: Perfect acting control, excellent dimensional reduction attack!" [Newbie gift being distributed...]
[Gained Core Divine Skill: Eye of Insight – Loyalty Visualisation.]
Liu Bingyi felt a cool sensation in his eyes as if the world before him had been filtered through a data-driven lens. He instinctively looked towards Xu Pingjun, who was busy at the stove.
[Target: Xu Pingjun]
[Loyalty: 100 (Bound by fate, as steadfast as a rock)]
[Real-time thoughts: Bingyi has changed; he has become like a mountain. As long as I can be with him, I'm willing to eat chaff and wild vegetables...' Liu Bingyi felt a warmth in his heart. This was the only safe haven in the treacherous Han Empire where he could entrust his back.
After enjoying a long-awaited meal of oily food, he went out again.
This time, he was going to inspect his first batch of 'crew' — the homeless children and impoverished wandering knights gathered by the old beggar, A Qi.
The dim firelight inside the dilapidated blacksmith's shop illuminated a dozen or so emaciated youths. They looked at Liu Bingyi with curiosity and awe, but mostly with suspicion of this powerful figure.
Liu Bingyi entered the shop expressionlessly, his all-seeing eyes fully activated.
He saw various numbers flashing above the ceiling: '55 (Observing),' '62 (Curious),' '40 (Disdain)'...
In a corner, a handsome, somewhat effeminate boy with a missing finger caught his attention.
[Target: Han Zeng (Orphan, Thug Leader)] [Loyalty: 25 (Extremely Dangerous, Early Signs of Rebellion)] [Real-time Thoughts: Why is this pretty boy our leader? After I get his settlement money, I'll report him to the authorities for colluding with a fugitive and get a reward!' A cold smile curled at the corner of Liu Bingyi's lips. Sure enough, in long dramas, villains are never absent. Liu Bingyi didn't expose him. Instead, he pulled a large, heavy bag of copper coins from his pocket and dumped them onto the broken anvil with a clatter.
'Those who want to eat their fill, stand on the left; those who want to be superior, stand on the right.' The boys looked at each other, most of them running to the left. Han Zeng, the boy with the missing finger, darted around with a fawning smile on his face and ran to the right. "Brother Bingyi," he said. "I want to lead the brothers to do something big!"
'Something big?' Liu Bingyi suddenly laughed, instantly activating God-Level Mimicry: Cold-Blooded Judge, and the air in the entire blacksmith shop seemed to freeze. He strode forward too fast to be seen with the naked eye. Before anyone could react, his hand was already firmly gripping Han Zeng's neck and lifting him off the ground.
'So, the big thing you're up to is using my head to pay the authorities' bounty?' Han Zeng's eyes bulged suddenly and his face turned from red to purple. 'You... how could you...' The surrounding thugs, terrified, drew their short knives; the scene was on the verge of erupting into violence.
'Move, and he's dead.' Liu Bingyi surveyed the room, his eyes narrowed, and the palpable murderous aura emanating from him made it clear that he meant business. 'I'm giving you money to buy your lives, not your betrayal.'
With a sharp crack, Liu Bingyi didn't kill Han Zeng, but instead skilfully dislocated his jaw and tossed him to the ground like trash. Then he pulled the 'Special Forces Training Manual' out of his pocket and slammed it heavily on the table. 'Han Zeng, this is the first and last time.'
Liu Bingyi stared coldly at the loyalty score above Han Zeng's head. Faced with extreme fear, the originally red '25' began to tremble violently, then surged upwards, breaking through '85 (Extreme Fear/Obedience).' [Ding!] [Completed 'Initial Deterrence of the Crew', gaining +150 Reputation Points.]
[Unlock reward: Ancient Version of Hallucinogenic Drug Recipe (an essential prop for movie stars that can induce hallucinations and extract information).
'Ah Qi, from today onwards, these children are in my hands.' Liu Bingyi stood at the door with his back to the setting sun, his silhouette stretched long in the shadows. 'In three days, I want to see all the scandals surrounding the second young master of the Huo family spread throughout Chang'an.
'Our first scene is officially starting filming.'
Looking at the group of terrified youths, Liu Bingyi realised that fear could only achieve temporary obedience; it was faith and self-interest that could forge a true sword.
Shedding his previous chilling 'judge' persona, he switched back to his 'approachable, confident elder brother' persona. This sudden change in demeanour created a strong sense of cognitive dissonance among those present, as if the murderous god they had just witnessed had been an illusion.
'Put away your swords. You're all unfortunate souls; don't let outsiders laugh at you.' Casually pulling over a tattered stool, Liu Bingyi sat down with an even more composed demeanour than when he had sat on the dragon throne. He pointed to the heavy stack of copper coins on the table. 'This money is just for food for the next three days. After that, I want you to eat meat, wear silk and live in a house with a courtyard.' The youths exchanged bewildered glances. Han Zeng, enduring the sharp pain from his reattached jaw, asked tremblingly, 'Brother Bingyi, what exactly are we supposed to do? Are we supposed to rob the government of its silver or kill the Huo family?"
'Low-level,' replied Liu Bingyi, his eyes deep. 'What we're going to do is become the "tongue" of this Han Dynasty — with a single word from us, black can turn white; even the highest-ranking nobles can become drowning dogs that everyone wants to beat.'
Liu Bingyi picked up a charcoal stick and drew a simple diagram of the relationships on the dilapidated wall: 'Before, you gathered information for petty theft. From now on, I want you to find out whose steward gambles, whose mistress has a favourite male companion, whose storeroom guards drink during their shifts, and most importantly—" He heavily circled the name 'Second Young Master Huo'.
Huo Yu, the Huo family's second young master, recently abducted a young woman and is hiding her in a villa in the western suburbs. I want you to turn this news into a nursery rhyme within three days so that all the beggars in Chang'an can sing it on the streets. I want all the scholars in Chang'an to know that the Huo family treats the law with contempt under the emperor's nose.
Han Zeng asked doubtfully, 'Brother Bingyi, the Huo family wields immense power at court. This small matter probably won't harm them in the slightest, will it?'
'This one thing alone is certainly not enough,' said Liu Bingyi, his lips curling into a wicked smile. 'But what if, at this very moment, the Imperial Censor happens to "bump into" everything at the villa's gate, and that young woman happens to be the descendant of an honest official who was killed by the Huo family?' Everyone gasped — this wasn't just gathering information, it was practically scriptwriting, directing and performing a live show!
Liu Bingyi took out the 'ancient version of hallucinogenic drugs' he had just acquired, poured it into a small wine bottle and handed it to Han Zeng.
'This stuff is colourless and odourless. Go find Huo Yu's favourite servant. Just one drop and he'll treat you like his own parent and answer any question you ask.' Han Zeng took the bottle, his palms sweating. His fear of Liu Bingyi had become an almost religious fanaticism. [Eye of Insight] shows: Han Zeng's loyalty: 85 → 92 (Die-hard Loyalist: Having witnessed the host's terrifying cunning, he has decided to follow completely.
Average loyalty of all members: 80.
'Training begins tonight, Han Zeng. Take your men and practise according to the map I gave you.' Liu Bingyi stood up, giving the group of future 'Shadows of the Han Dynasty' one last look. 'Remember, you are no longer beggars, but my eyes and hands; the first hidden blade I will use to stab this corrupt dynasty.'
Late at night, Liu Bingyi returned to the earthen house in Shangguanli, illuminated by the moonlight. Xu Pingjun was still awake and had left him a bowl of warm rice porridge under the lamp. 'Bingyi, I won't ask about the money, but you must be safe.' She took his coat and smelled the faint scent of rust and fire on him; her eyes were filled with worry.
Liu Bingyi pulled her into his arms. In that moment, he shed all pretence. "Pingjun, believe me. Soon, we won't need to live in this dilapidated house anymore." Silently, he added, "Then the place we'll live in will be called Weiyang Palace."
Ding! The prototype of the first spy team has been established. The host has gained a hidden attribute bonus: Deterrence +10. The system has issued the next phase of the task: Gain Fame. The host has been asked to appear as a 'surprise guest' at an upcoming gathering of powerful officials.