The Blind Strategist's Plot

Zhang Wei patiently waited for next three days. Madame Chi believed he was still recovering and did not call upon him. During this time, Zhang Wei stayed in his room, deep in thought, and practiced the Nameless Dual Cultivation Formula. He learned from Madame Chi that their next destination was a small town called Flower Valley, which was located not too far from their final destination of Fire Dragon City. They planned to stay in Flower Valley for three days before continuing their journey.

However, Zhang Wei needed more time and privacy to execute his plan. He knew it was dangerous and impossible to carry out his plan on the way, so the manor in Flower Valley was his only chance to succeed. He needed to find a way to delay Madame Chi in Flower Valley long enough to execute his plan and get rid of the guards that would be following them.

Zhang Wei was determined to succeed, and he knew that he needed to be patient and cunning to achieve his goal. He began to plot his strategy, thinking of a perfect reason to delay Madame Chi and finding a way to remove the guards without arousing suspicion.

As the third day dawned, Zhang Wei's mind was consumed with thoughts of the upcoming meeting at the blacksmith shop. The night ahead would be crucial, and he needed to make sure everything was in order. As the sun began to set, Zhang Wei left the Chi family's estate, making his way through the darkened streets towards the blacksmith shop.

When he arrived, he saw the old blacksmith hard at work, hammering away at a piece of metal. Zhang Wei approached him, disguising his voice with a fake hoarse tone, and asked, "Is the things I ordered ready?"

The blacksmith stopped his work and walked over to the counter, reaching behind it to retrieve a wooden box. "The goods are ready," he said, handing the box to Zhang Wei. "Here, check it."

Zhang Wei carefully inspected each item in the box before placing them back inside. He then handed the blacksmith 60 copper coins, who counted them carefully before nodding in approval.

As Zhang Wei turned to leave, he heard the blacksmith ask, "I have been a blacksmith for 40 years, but this is the first time I made something that's use I don't know. What are these things going to be used for?"

Zhang Wei stopped in his tracks, turning to face the blacksmith. In a cold and serious tone, he said, "You got the money, and I got the goods. Our transaction is over." With that, he turned and left the shop.

As he made his way back to the Chi family's estate, Zhang Wei carefully checked the contents of the box once again. Satisfied with what he saw, he quickly made his way to his room, where he dug a small pit in the soil beneath his bed and buried the box, covering it up to hide all traces.

Finally, with his plan in motion and everything in place, Zhang Wei allowed himself a moment of rest, sinking into his bed and drifting off to sleep.

For the next two days, Zhang Wei's routine was unchanged, with no tasks or duties to attend to. However, on the fifth day, he grasped his trusty cane and joined Steward Chen once more to procure the ordered goods from the bustling market. Given Zhang Wei's blindness, Steward Chen meticulously inspected each item and confirmed their flawless quality before they made their way back to Madam Chi's estate.

As Zhang Wei approached Madam Chi's quarters to inform her that everything was ready, he overheard her instructing a maid about a particular box that held immense value and must be taken with them on their upcoming journey to Fire Dragon City. He smiled to himself, realizing that this information could prove advantageous to him. Without dwelling on it further, he knocked on the door and was granted entry by the maid. Madam Chi asked him what he needed, and he gave a respectful bow before informing her that all the items were ready and had been personally checked by Steward Chen.

Nodding in approval, Madam Chi replied, "Very well. We depart for Fire Dragon City in five days. Prepare yourself accordingly and inform Steward Chen that he will be rewarded handsomely should everything go smoothly on this journey. You may leave now."

Zhang Wei bowed once more and exited the room. On his way back to his quarters, he sought out Steward Chen to deliver the good news of Madam Chi's reward. The steward was elated at the prospect and thanked Zhang Wei before offering him a cup of tea. Declining the offer, Zhang Wei returned to his own chambers, while Steward Chen set about inspecting the newly arrived items once more to ensure that they were indeed perfect in every way.

In the privacy of his room, Zhang Wei pondered over the information he had overheard. The delicate balance of his plan hung on this one crucial item - a box of utmost importance for Madam Chi's upcoming journey. If he could somehow manage to make Madam Chi forget the box, it would buy him the precious time he needed. His scheme required Madam Chi to remain in Flower Valley Town for at least ten days without any guards present.

Without knowing what the contents of the box might be, Zhang Wei was well aware of the repercussions that would arise from its absence. Should Madam Chi realize it was missing, she would be left with no other choice but to either purchase another item from one of the towns they were set to cross or, alternatively, turn back and retrieve the box from the Chi family. However, given Madam Chi's noble status, such an errand would be unbecoming of her. Therefore, it was highly likely that this task would be delegated to her trusted guards.

Zhang Wei's intuition told him that this could be the opportunity he needed to strike. The guards would be occupied with the task of locating the missing item, leaving Madam Chi vulnerable to his plans. Every detail needed to be perfect, and he knew that he couldn't afford to leave anything to chance. The success of his plan depended on the precision and timing of his actions.