Dragging Others Down

The private room at the restaurant.

"Junior Brother Lin, you're truly something else. This batch of goods has been stuck with me for so long, it was a real headache."

Inside the restaurant, Zhang Qing was all smiles, not hiding anything this time. He had bet his entire fortune on this batch of goods. He thought he'd end up taking a loss, but to his surprise, it all sold out in a single day.

Not only that, but he'd made a profit. Zhang Qing immediately patted his chest and declared magnanimously, "Junior Brother, you can count on me in the sect from now on."

"Thank you, Senior Brother." Lin Chang'an also smiled and raised his cup. The two exchanged a look and then burst into laughter. It was clear that today's events, coupled with this meal, had truly brought them closer.

"Junior Brother, it's not me saying this, but you were born for this business. It's like heaven itself is feeding you."

Zhang Qing, now relaxed, patted his shoulder and sighed with emotion. "We've all been stuck in this place for so many years, and none of us could have thought of this method. But as soon as you arrived, Junior Brother, look at the entire street of human tickets – all stuffed into sacks."

Lin Chang'an's face twitched at his words. What did he mean, "heaven feeding him"? He was forced into it, alright.

"Senior Brother, I just couldn't bear to see these human tickets end up like that, so I came up with this plan."

Seeing Lin Chang'an shake his head in lament, Zhang Qing grinned. "Yes, yes, Junior Brother, you're just kind-hearted. You can't stand to see the suffering of these people. I understand, I understand."

As he laughed, Zhang Qing directly took out the spirit stone pouch from his waist.

"This time, we sold over twelve hundred spirit stones in total. After deducting the five hundred spirit stones in costs, we made over seven hundred."

Weighing the spirit stone pouch in his hand, Zhang Qing stared intently at Lin Chang'an, smiling alluringly. "These small amounts will go to the subordinates to give them a taste of success."

"Of the remaining seven hundred spirit stones, two hundred will be handed over to the sect. After all, this business was taken over from the sect, so we need to grease some palms. How about we split the remaining five hundred spirit stones, brother to brother?"

Zhang Qing generously proposed to split the five hundred spirit stones equally. Lin Chang'an, not being foolish, quickly shook his head. "This business was handled entirely by you from start to finish, Senior Brother. I only learned a little from you. Besides."

As he spoke, Lin Chang'an pushed the spirit stone pouch on the table back with a smile. "I still need to thank you for Alchemist Wang's matter."

After a period of polite refusal, and under Zhang Qing's insistent attitude, Lin Chang'an reluctantly accepted a hundred spirit stones.

"Junior Brother, let's drink."

Seeing the unconcealed excitement in Zhang Qing's eyes, Lin Chang'an couldn't help but shake his head inwardly. Chasing small gains would lead to bigger failures.

"Oh, right, Senior Brother. Elder Lu has assigned me to manage the security and patrol of the outer market. The account books for this quarter have just been submitted, and there are some issues I don't quite understand."

At this moment, Lin Chang'an suddenly remembered something and showed a look of annoyance. He took out a ledger from his storage bag. Ever since he had proven himself last time, Elder Lu had him handle some of the market's businesses along with Zhang Qing.

Hearing this, Zhang Qing waved his hand dismissively and chuckled lightly. "What big deal is that? Just do your job with confidence, Junior Brother. Elder Lu himself is overseeing the market."

"Although this market is a mix of all sorts, every place has its rules. As for our territory, just have your subordinates keep a close eye on things, Junior Brother. If anyone doesn't listen, just tell me."

The two of them were in charge of different aspects. Zhang Qing was currently focused on patrolling the mine, while Lin Chang'an was responsible for patrolling the sect's properties within the market. However, in reality, Lin Chang'an's role was just a figurehead. If their orders ever conflicted, Zhang Qing's word would be final.

How could Lin Chang'an not understand? But since he was still getting a good amount of spirit stones, he was happy to go along with it. He even smiled, pointing at the ledger. "The market has been livelier recently. Many more cultivators are renting houses, and our business has improved quite a bit. As I'm new here, this accounting!"

"Oh no!" Suddenly, his arm accidentally knocked over a wine glass, spilling some wine onto the ledger. Lin Chang'an exclaimed in alarm and quickly tried to wipe it, but the more he wiped, the more the writing blurred, until it was almost illegible.

"This is bad. What was the final amount? Look at my memory." Lin Chang'an, who had orchestrated all of this, slapped his forehead, feigning annoyance.

Zhang Qing, not yet realizing what was happening, chuckled carelessly. "It's no big deal. We can have the subordinates recalculate it when we get back."

As he spoke, Zhang Qing subtly collected his own spirit stones from the table. Lin Chang'an watched this, and a slow smile spread across his lips.

"Why make it so troublesome?"

As if fueled by alcohol, Lin Chang'an, with a flushed face, directly patted his storage bag. A brush appeared in his hand.

Swish, swish!

With Lin Chang'an's smooth, flowing movements, like clouds and smoke, a new number appeared on the ledger. He then feigned a drunken state.

"Senior Brother, I seem to recall the final amount on the ledger was around eight hundred? No! It was eighty."

Tapping the ledger lightly with his finger, Zhang Qing, no longer foolish, finally understood. He stared at the ledger with wide eyes.

Clearly, the eight hundred spirit stones at the end of the ledger had become eighty. The remaining seven hundred-plus! Good heavens!

He then looked up at Lin Chang'an's smile. Lin Chang'an was now completely sober, and he forced a strained smile. "Junior Brother, you're drunk."

Zhang Qing had been navigating this place for years, and this was the first time he'd seen someone dare to tamper with the accounts just days after arriving. Such audacity! Such methods! It was too wild!

However, Lin Chang'an could see the hesitation in Zhang Qing's eyes. He immediately put on a drunken act, widening his eyes and slapping the ledger heavily.

"Senior Brother, what are you saying?" Lin Chang'an let out a drunken hiccup and continued, "Elder Lu asked me to help you manage the sect's properties, but I don't have enough manpower."

"I think Li Han and Qi Feng are both good candidates. I'll reward each of them with ten spirit stones later. What do you think, Senior Brother?"

Under Lin Chang'an's meaningful gaze, Zhang Qing, far from foolish, swallowed nervously.

"Senior Brother, how long have you been at the sixth level of Qi Condensation? Junior Brother will strive to refine a breakthrough pill as soon as possible in the future."

Boom! The final straw had fallen, and Zhang Qing's breathing became rapid. But Lin Chang'an shook his head and sighed. "However, the spiritual herbs needed to refine a breakthrough pill are extremely precious."

At this moment, Zhang Qing understood. He no longer dared to underestimate Lin Chang'an. Just moments ago, he had generously offered Lin Chang'an spirit stones to build goodwill, naturally with his own ulterior motives.

But now, it hadn't been long before the tables were turned, and Lin Chang'an was pulling him into this. This was truly ruthless. Zhang Qing was secretly shocked, thinking that this kid must have grown up here, and he himself was the outsider.

Seeing Zhang Qing's nervous swallowing, Lin Chang'an smiled without speaking. A horse doesn't get fat without night grass, and a person doesn't get rich without ill-gotten gains. If he wasn't bold, he'd be stuck here for life.

Gulp!

After downing a cup of wine, Zhang Qing, now calmer, hesitated before saying in a deep voice, "Junior Brother, this is seven hundred spirit stones!"

However, Lin Chang'an said blankly, "What are you saying, Senior Brother? Oh, right, Junior Brother remembers you saying before that business in the market has been good recently because the Purple Copper Spirit Mine attracted many people. It will return to normal in half a year at most, right?"

Lin Chang'an's words meant that this was a heaven-sent opportunity, and such a chance wouldn't come again. One had to know that the spirit herbs needed to refine this pill were not cheap.

Just as Zhang Qing was hesitating, Lin Chang'an dipped his finger in wine on the table and wrote a character. Instantly, his breathing quickened.

After a while, facing the somewhat quiet wine table, Zhang Qing forced a smile. "Junior Brother, if you've been refining pills for a long time, it's really difficult without a few capable people under you."

"Yes, Senior Brother truly understands me, Junior Brother," Lin Chang'an said, striking while the iron was hot with a smile, as if nothing had happened.

However, Zhang Qing eventually agreed with a smile to let Li Han and Qi Feng help him. The blurry characters on the table could vaguely be seen as a number.

Thank you to all fellow Daoists for your support.