pertwk Chapter 63 Recruiting
Chapter 63 Recruiting
Liang Cheng returned to the secluded courtyard and closed the door tightly.
He lit the oil lamp and took out the four pieces of parchment from his pocket one by one, placing them on the table.
The first piece came from Liu Biao, the second from Zhang Kui, the third from Wu Tianxiong, and today's auction is for the fourth piece.
By candlelight, he carefully aligned and pieced them together.
Where the fragments meet, the patterns fit together perfectly!
A larger, incomplete scroll gradually emerges.
The previously blurry lines came together, and the direction of the mountains and rivers could be vaguely seen. In the center, there was a strange mark that resembled neither a tower nor a palace.
However, there are still several key gaps, leaving the whole structure still broken.
"At least three more are needed."
Liang Cheng's fingers traced the missing part, his eyes flashing.
What secret is there?
Unable to find a solution immediately, Liang Cheng carefully placed the object close to his body again, then sat cross-legged to regulate his breathing and circulate his qi and blood.
……
Xu Mansion.
Xu Zhang is having tea with Xu Feng.
"Second Uncle, I saw Liang Cheng today."
"Oh? How is it?"
"He didn't accept my overtures, so it seems that trying to appease him is impossible."
"It's all because Zhi'er was so immature and caused trouble."
"Second Uncle is joking. Fifth Brother is doing this for the sake of the Xu family. We still need to try our best to find the Qiao family's things."
"Um."
"As for Liang Cheng, it seems that Treasurer Wu spoke with Second Uncle before. I wonder what he said?"
Xu Zhang was taken aback. He hadn't expected Xu Feng to know that Wu Zhenshan had secretly met with him. However, he didn't show it on his face and just shook his head slightly.
"The time isn't right. Treasurer Wu wants us to make a knife; why should we rush in without paying a price?"
"Second Uncle is wise."
……
Jubaofang.
A dark corner.
Qian Wanjin stood respectfully to the side.
"You mean the item was purchased by a disciple of the Martial Arts Academy?"
"good."
"Okay, keep an eye on him, and report back immediately if he makes any moves."
"Yes."
……
the next day.
Lu Qingzhou arrived in the afternoon, dressed in a spotless white robe with silver trim, his face bearing his usual gentle smile.
"Senior Brother Lu," Liang Cheng returned the greeting, sheathing his sword, "Is there something you need?"
"It's nothing," Lu Qingzhou said casually, sitting down on the stone bench. "It's just that at yesterday's auction, Xu Feng won the last piece of meteorite iron. Do you think it's a pity, Junior Brother?"
Liang Cheng sat down opposite him: "The opportunity hasn't come yet, so there's nothing to regret."
"I do think it's a pity," Lu Qingzhou shook his head and laughed. "If I had lent the money to my junior brother yesterday, you might have actually been able to win that piece of meteorite iron. Fifteen catties would have been enough to forge a top-grade longsword."
Liang Cheng didn't respond, and Lu Qingzhou wasn't embarrassed. He smiled and said, "However, speaking of which, there are other good things in Linwu City besides Jubao Pavilion. I know that Wang's Trading Company recently acquired a batch of meteorite iron. Although its quality isn't as good as the one that was auctioned, it has the advantage of quantity and a fair price. If you're interested, Junior Brother, why don't you come with me to take a look?"
Wang's Trading Company?
Liang Cheng remembered that it was a well-known merchant house in Linwu City with a powerful background and close ties with several prominent families in the city.
"Is Senior Brother Lu acquainted with the Wang family?"
"My elders have some dealings with the Wang family," Lu Qingzhou said casually. "I was just thinking that my junior brother might need it, so I came to ask."
Liang Cheng hesitated for a moment, then said, "Let's go take a look."
After leaving the martial arts academy, the two crossed two long streets and arrived at the South Market, where the Wang family business was located. The storefront was grand, with three floors, and the people coming and going were dressed in fine clothes, all of them rich and noble.
The two were led to a private room on the second floor. Soon after, a middle-aged manager in his forties came in with a tea tray.
"Young Master Lu, who is this?" The shopkeeper looked at Liang Cheng with a shrewd gaze.
"This is Liang Chengliang, junior brother of the Martial Academy's Heavenly Abode," Lu Qingzhou introduced.
The shopkeeper's smile widened: "So it's Young Master Liang. I've heard so much about you. My name is Wang Qinian, the third shopkeeper of this trading company."
"Manager Wang."
Then Lu Qingzhou explained his purpose, and soon a waiter brought over an iron box. When the box was opened, there were seven or eight dark iron blocks of varying sizes with fine star patterns on their surfaces. They were meteorite iron.
"These were recently transported from the northern trade routes. Their quality may not be very pure, but they are quite heavy, totaling twenty-three catties. After forging to remove impurities, they are enough to forge a long sword."
Liang Cheng picked up a piece, weighed it in his hand, and then put it down: "Manager Wang, how much is it?"
Wang Qinian smiled and said, "This meteorite iron is not for sale, but given away. Young Master Liang is a talented man born of heaven. If you are willing, our company is willing to give you this batch of meteorite iron as a gift, plus an annual salary of five thousand taels, as well as various cultivation pills and resources. We only ask that you be listed as a guest of our Wang family business."
He paused, then added, "Of course, if you already have agreements with other merchant guilds, our guild can handle that on your behalf. We've heard you have some dealings with Master Chen of the Three Towns, and our guild is willing to offer him double compensation, ensuring you won't be put in a difficult position."
Liang Cheng ran his fingers along the rough surface of the meteorite without saying a word, while Lu Qingzhou leisurely sipped his tea, seemingly unconcerned.
The private room quieted down, with only the aroma of tea wafting through the air.
After a moment, Liang Cheng looked up and said, "I appreciate Manager Wang's kindness, but the matter of being a guest master involves many things. Please allow me to consider it for a few more days."
Wang Qinian's smile remained unchanged: "Of course, of course. There's no rush. Young master, take your time to consider it. The merchant will hold this batch of meteorite iron for you for ten days."
On the way back to the martial arts academy after leaving Wang's Trading Company, Lu Qingzhou suddenly spoke up: "The Wang family has always been direct in their actions. They have their eye on Junior Brother's potential, so Junior Brother doesn't need to overthink it."
"Did Senior Brother Lu bring me here today to act as a go-between for the Wang family?"
"It was just something I did on the spur of the moment," Lu Qingzhou said with a gentle smile, without any embarrassment. "If you feel uncomfortable, junior brother, just pretend you've never met Manager Wang today. However—"
He paused, then lowered his voice slightly: "Chen Bainian's foundation is in the three towns after all. The support he can provide in Linwu City is limited. If you want to go further in the Martial Academy, you should make plans as soon as possible."
Liang Cheng did not respond.
Lu Qingzhou said no more, and the two parted ways at the entrance of the martial arts academy.
Back in his secluded courtyard, Liang Cheng closed his eyes and sat quietly, going over the events of the past two days in his mind, probably all for the purpose of winning him over today.
There's no such thing as a free lunch; we can't jump to conclusions.
……
Two days later, Chen Bainian arrived at the Martial Arts Academy, looking travel-worn.
He brought a heavy wooden box containing the two months' profit-sharing silver notes from the business, totaling eight hundred taels, plus three bottles of Qi and Blood Pills and two boxes of Body Tempering Ointment.
"I'm sorry to have kept you waiting, Mr. Liang!" Chen Bainian's face showed the fatigue of his journey, but his smile was genuine.
"The Chamber of Commerce is busy at the end of the year, and the general accounts of the business will probably be settled after the new year, and the dividends will not be delivered until then."
"It's alright," Liang Cheng accepted the wooden box. "Thank you for your hard work, Master Chen."
"And this is a letter from your master and your mother."
Chen Bainian rubbed his hands together, as if he wanted to say something, but then swallowed his words and said only, "Then, Guest Elder Liang, please go ahead with your business. There are still a lot of things to do at the Chamber of Commerce, so I won't bother you any longer."
He turned and left. Liang Cheng watched him walk away and was about to close the door when he saw Lu Qingzhou walking over from the other side.
"So Chen Bainian really came looking for you?" Lu Qingzhou approached, his face expressionless.
"Is there something you need, Senior Brother Lu?"
"Did Chen Bainian mention the Chamber of Commerce's three-stage challenge at the end of the year to you?"
Liang Cheng's gaze sharpened slightly: "Does Senior Brother Lu know?"
"It's no secret in the Linwu City business district," Lu Qingzhou said calmly. "Chen Bainian's wealth is already enough to qualify him for a Class A business guild, but he lacks a martial artist who can help him pass the three trials."
These three trials are increasingly dangerous. Even ordinary cultivators at the peak of their Transformation Realm would either die or be crippled if they attempted them. Even we disciples of the Heavenly Abode could perish if we weren't careful.
He said with a serious expression, "Junior Brother Liang, you have exceptional talent and a bright future. There's no need to take such a risk for a little money or favor. On the path of cultivation, one step behind means another step behind. The conditions offered by the Wang family are enough for you to cultivate steadily to the True Qi Realm. A good bird chooses a good tree to perch on."
Liang Cheng was silent for a moment: "Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother."
Lu Qingzhou glanced at him, seemingly wanting to say a few more words of advice, but in the end he just shook his head and turned to leave.
Liang Cheng closed the courtyard gate but did not return to the house. He stood in the courtyard for a moment, then suddenly moved, unleashing his Dragon Step, and silently darted out of the courtyard. In a few leaps, he arrived near the gate of the Martial Academy.
Chen Bainian hadn't gone far; he was speaking quietly to the steward waiting by the carriage.
"Master, are you really going to wait for Guest Elder Liang to break through to the True Qi Realm? Although Guest Elder Liang is a prodigy, it will still take at least two or three years. The other companies in the Chamber of Commerce are all keeping an eye on us." The manager's voice was somewhat anxious.
Chen Bainian shook his head: "Wait. Liang Keqing is no ordinary man. It's not worth it for him to take the risk of passing through three trials. Our foundation is in the three towns. Whether the business in Linwu City is done a year earlier or later doesn't make much difference. But if Liang Keqing damages our foundation because of this, then that would be a real loss."
He patted the steward on the shoulder: "Sincerity begets sincerity. If we treat him well, he will reach the True Qi Realm in the future, and then everything will fall into place naturally."
The manager sighed, "I'm afraid the other companies won't give us that time..."
"Then we'll just have to endure it," Chen Bainian said calmly. "In business, sometimes it's about who can hold out the longest."
After he finished speaking, he turned around to get into the carriage. Liang Cheng stepped out of the shadows and suddenly spoke, "Master Chen."
Chen Bainian was lifting the car curtain when he turned around in surprise.
Liang Cheng walked to the car and looked at him: "Count me in for the Chamber of Commerce's three challenges at the end of the year. Whether I'll participate or not depends on the situation."
Chen Bainian was stunned. His lips moved, and his eyes even reddened slightly. He took a deep breath and nodded emphatically, "Alright! Guest Elder Liang, I've got it!"
The carriage slowly drove away.
Liang Cheng turned and returned to the martial arts academy, unmoved by external things, and continued his cultivation.
Strength is the foundation of everything.