The morning in Chang'an was awoken by the sound of galloping hooves and clattering armour. News that Liu Si, the Huo family's chief steward, had been crippled and dumped like a dead dog at the main gate of their residence spread like wildfire throughout the streets and alleys.
Meanwhile, in Shangguan Lane, Liu Bingyi yawned and lazily pushed open his rickety wooden door. His hair was slightly dishevelled and he was carrying half a bag of leftover rice crackers from the previous night. He looked every bit the sleepy, spoilt brat — God-level Mimicry: hangover-stricken, useless, down-on-his-luck member of the imperial family.
"Liu Bingyi! Get out here!' A furious shout rang out as Huo Yu, the second young master of the Huo family, rode a tall horse and led over a hundred fully armed private soldiers who completely blocked the narrow alley. Huo Yu's face was ashen as he pointed his riding whip at Liu Bingyi's nose and demanded, "Where were you last night?" Startled, Liu Bingyi dropped the bag of rice crackers in his hand with a 'thud'. He shrugged his shoulders and smiled obsequiously: 'Oh, isn't this Second Young Master Huo? Last night, I was at the Guihong Tavern with some friends, betting on cockfights until the early hours. I lost so much money that I almost had to sell my underwear. I had just fallen asleep when you woke me up.'
[Eye of Insight, Full Activation]
Target: Huo Yu
Real-time thoughts: 'Useless trash. Look at him; he's so cowardly he can't even kill a chicken. How could he be the 'Green Ghost' who broke Liu Si's legs? It seems the intelligence was right: the Green Ghost's skills are uncanny and far beyond this down-and-out's capabilities."
Suspicion: 80% → 5% (Extreme Contempt).
Huo Yu withdrew his whip disgustedly, feeling that looking at Liu Bingyi was a waste of time. 'Go, search the house! See if there are any bloodstained nightclothes!'
The soldiers rushed into the house like tigers and wolves, ransacking it.
Huddling in a corner and clutching a wooden basin used for washing clothes, Xu Pingjun watched Liu Bingyi with worry. While the soldiers searched the house, Liu Bingyi gave Xu Pingjun a reassuring look in secret, then turned to Huo Yu and continued to feign subservience. 'Second Young Master, what is this serious matter that has happened so early in the morning? Perhaps I could tell you something... something passed down from my ancestors..."
"Get lost!" Huo Yu cursed irritably. A moment later, a soldier who had been searching ran out to report: 'Reporting to Second Young Master, there's nothing in the house except half a sack of old rice and a pile of junk. The boy isn't injured either. He's definitely a good-for-nothing.'
Huo Yu snorted coldly and turned his horse around. 'Let's go! Search the beggar's den in the south of the city! That 'Black-Faced Swordsman' won't be able to escape Chang'an!'
After dealing with Xu Pingjun, Liu Bingyi disappeared into the night.
[System notification: 'Advanced Disguise Technique – Thousand-Faced Gentleman' activated.
[Skeletal movement in progress... Voiceprint modification in progress...]
A moment later, the timid, down-on-his-luck emperor's grandson vanished, replaced by a man of even greater stature with piercing eyes and a pure black mask — the 'Black-Faced Ranger', also known as the 'Green Ghost' in Chang'an's underworld.
He leapt onto the roof beam, his movements as light as a wisp of smoke, and landed directly at Han Zeng's secret intelligence outpost. 'Boss!' Lei Zhen and Han Zeng had been waiting a long time. 'Has the news been released?' Liu Bingyi's voice became deep and resonant, carrying an undeniable air of authority.
'It's been released.' Han Zeng rubbed his hands excitedly. 'Now, all the gangs in Chang'an are saying that the "Black-Faced Ranger" was assigned by a mysterious big shot to clean up those who broke the rules. Everyone in the Huo family is living in fear and is afraid to leave their homes at night.'
[Ding!] He successfully established and solidified his dual identity, completing a crucial part of the long story, 'The Game of Shadows'.
[Reputation +1000]
[Unlocked privilege: Phantom Clones (utilises optical refraction to create a static illusion within a specific distance that lasts for three minutes and can be used to establish an alibi). Standing on high ground, Liu Bingyi overlooked the brightly lit Huo mansion in the distance, a cruel smile curving his lips.
'By day, I am a piece of trash you can bully at will. By night, I am the sword of Damocles hanging over your heads.'
Gently stroking the steel wire noose in his hand, he issued a new order to Lei Zhen: 'Lei Zhen, take a few brothers with clean backgrounds and rob the Huo family of the military pay being transported to the Northern Frontier tonight. I want Huo Guang to know that his reach is too long and can easily be broken.'
By day, he pretends to win over the people; by night, he cuts their wings. Since no one can truly secure the Han dynasty's rule, he will use this dual identity to muddy the waters thoroughly.
When Liu Bingyi stepped into the Xu family courtyard, he was met with utter chaos. Xu Guanghan was slumped on the ground with a deathly pale face; the former dignity of a minor official in the Imperial Household Department was nowhere to be seen. Several tax collectors in official robes were brazenly scavenging the Xu family's last few sacks of coarse rice.
"Bingyi, what are you doing back here? Take Pingjun and leave!' Xu Guanghan pointed a trembling finger at the IOU. 'Three hundred bolts of top-quality Shu brocade... Those were tributes ordered by the Huo family. They were burned in the Imperial Household Department's storeroom for no reason. They accuse me of stealing them and demand three thousand taels of gold in compensation; otherwise, they will force Pingjun to go to the palace to settle the debt.'
[Eye of Insight, Activated]
Target: Tax Collector Leader (Wang Wu)
Real-time thoughts: 'Chief Steward Huo said to force Xu Guanghan to his death and send Xu Pingjun to the Huo family as a maid. If I get this job done, I'll get a promotion!' Liu Bingyi lowered his head and tucked his hands into his sleeves. He still looked like the timid, down-on-his-luck imperial grandson. However, a 'modern capital operation model' was already forming in his mind.
'Three thousand gold pieces, is that it?' Liu Bingyi suddenly raised his head and forced a fawning smile. 'Gentlemen, you've worked hard. I, Liu Bingyi, will accept this money. In ten days, not only will I return the three hundred bolts of Shu brocade in full, I will also offer a 'service fee'."
Wang Wu sneered. 'You poor wretch! You have three thousand gold pieces?'
'Although I have no money, I have an ancestral secret recipe.' Liu Bingyi pulled a crystal-clear, fragrant solid from his robes — this was the prototype of modern industrial soap he had exchanged for 50 reputation points in the system shop. In the Han Dynasty, an era when people still bathed with beans and wood ash, this was miraculous.
Liu Bingyi didn't sell the soap directly. Instead, he activated his God-Level Mimicry: Mysterious Overseas Merchant skill. He rented a stall on Zhuque Street — the busiest street in Chang'an — but didn't put up a sign. Instead, he simply had Lei Zhen, dressed in clean, close-fitting clothes, stand guard beside him.
On the first day, Liu Bingyi sent beggars such as Han Zeng to various restaurants to spread rumours: 'I've heard that a batch of "Heavenly Fragrance Dew" has arrived from the Western Regions. It can make a woman's skin as smooth as a peeled lychee and wash away years of calluses.'
On the second day, Xu Pingjun became the 'ambassador'. Liu Bingyi personally used the soap to wash the frostbite and dirt off his wife's hands. Xu Pingjun was already beautiful, but after washing, she was even more radiant. Her presence on the street instantly attracted countless noblewomen.
On the third day, a 'quota system' was implemented. 'Ladies,' announced Liu Bingyi from the platform, 'this "Heavenly Fragrance Dew" is extremely difficult to make. There are only one hundred pieces in the world.' At that moment, he spoke with confidence and showed no trace of a death row inmate. 'I won't sell these for coins; I'll only exchange them for Shu brocade.'
[Ding! Using the "hunger marketing + KOL promotion" strategy, a huge shockwave has been generated within Chang'an City's aristocratic circles.
Reputation value +300! +300! +500! Hidden reward triggered: Advanced Dyeing Technology (repairs colour differences in burnt silk)!
While the city's noblewomen were busy buying it, Liu Bingyi used the dyeing technology provided by the system to reprocess the inferior silks in Xu Guanghan's warehouse that had been damaged by smoke.
The ordinary Shu brocade, when treated with modern chemical dyes, produced the colours "Aurora Purple" and "Tiffany Blue", which had never been seen before in the Han Dynasty.
Ten days later, when Wang Wu led his men to arrest Xu Guanghan, he was left speechless by the scene he witnessed: hundreds of magnificent carriages blocked Shangguan Lane, and the high-ranking officials and nobles of Chang'an City waved gold ingots and Shu brocade in exchange for a small piece of 'Heavenly Fragrance Dew'.
Liu Bingyi slapped a thick stack of Shu brocade receipts onto Wang Wu's face. His tone was still humble, but his eyes were as cold as blades. 'Three thousand taels of gold? I'm afraid not, sir. My household's current turnover exceeds three thousand taels of gold per hour.'
Xu Guanghan watched this scene, his aged eyes filled with shock. Looking at his formerly despised grandson-in-law, he felt for the first time that this young man's backbone was stronger than the pillars of the Weiyang Palace.
[Eye of Insight] Feedback: Xu Guanghan's loyalty: 10 → 90 (Sworn to follow to the death/Proud of him).
Thoughts: 'I've lived most of my life, and the true dragon has always been in my own backyard!'