Treatment Lower (Thanks to Immortal Qi Tian for the Leader's Reward)

Wei He nodded. Actually, even if Cheng Shaojiu hadn't said anything, he could feel it himself.

As soon as the meat went down his throat, combined with the spices used in cooking, he immediately felt a subtle warmth in his belly.

He quickly ate another ten slices, each only as thick as a fingernail, and surprisingly felt full.

"How much is this meat per pound?" Wei He couldn't help but ask.

Even though he knew he couldn't afford it, trying a little occasionally should be fine.

He had to remember that before, when eating Silver-Kiss Black Snake Meat, he needed at least three times the amount of this meat to feel full.

Now, he had only eaten a few dozen slices, totaling about the size of a child's fist.

And he already felt full?

"This meat... the market price is about four taels of gold per pound of raw meat," Cheng Shaojiu whispered. "It's mainly that it's available in name only, no one sells it. As soon as wild game is caught, it's immediately bought up."

"Four taels of gold?" Wei He was taken aback. Weren't prices quoted in silver before? Then it switched to grain and dried meat, why was it gold now?

"In the Inner City, everything is priced in gold leaf and gold notes. That's the real currency. Unlike silver, which everyone can mint privately. Who knows how much real silver is in the silver?" Cheng Shaojiu explained.

He paused. "A few days ago, I saw at the rice shop that one tael of gold could be exchanged for fifty catties of rice. You can calculate the value of this meat yourself."

"Fifty catties!" Wei He was slightly surprised. Only then did he understand the true cost of this meal.

Fifty catties of rice could feed a family for a long time. If it was a middle-class family, it would be at most a month or two's food expenses. If it was for the poor, it would be exchanged for coarse grain flour...

And four taels of gold...

Looking at the delicacies on the table, Wei He's mood was a bit complicated.

Unknowingly, he had also reached the level where he could eat such expensive meals.

For a moment, his movements of picking up meat became much faster.

"Hey?? Leave some for me!" Cheng Shaojiu reacted immediately from the side.

With a few swift movements of their chopsticks, they finished the entire plate of meat.

Of course, despite the competition, Cheng Shaojiu still let Wei He eat most of it, as he was the one who specifically invited him for the meal.

After eating their fill, a stack of toothpicks was served for them to clean their teeth.

Each of them took a toothpick and sat there picking their teeth.

"Little He, now that you've broken through Qi and Blood for the second time, we'll also discuss your treatment here today." Cheng Shaojiu already had arrangements in mind for Wei He.

Currently, the Yonghe Escort Agency couldn't offer anything that would satisfy Wei He. At this level, there was no shortage of money or food. What they lacked were good things like Silver-Kiss Black Snake Meat that could quickly accumulate Qi and Blood.

However, such items were usually the secret collections of various families and were not leaked. Therefore, he had also thought of hiring Wei He for a portion of his time.

It would be considered an affiliation with the escort agency, receiving an income, and it wouldn't affect his choice to join other places.

When he explained his idea, Wei He agreed.

"The monthly affiliation fee will be paid as usual. We will only notify you when your assistance is needed. There will be no other restrictions. It won't exceed twice a year," Cheng Shaojiu said with a smile.

"No problem," Wei He nodded.

"Actually, at this level, you can affiliate with several places. It's just borrowing your name. Small sects and factions love this. As long as they give you some fees for affiliation, they can use your name to stabilize the faction when they urgently need your help. It's the best way to attract new members," Cheng Shaojiu said with a smile.

"There's such a thing?" Wei He immediately thought of the experts in his previous life who obtained advanced certifications and were then affiliated everywhere.

How many tens of thousands a year could be earned from one certification? It was truly 'a thousandfold profit'.

He didn't expect to be able to enjoy such benefits now.

The two rested for a while and had a few more drinks.

Cheng Shaojiu soon felt the urge to relieve himself and got up to go.

As soon as he left his seat.

Wei He was carefully listening to the pipa being played by the woman in green invited by the restaurant.

"Junior Brother Wei, what a coincidence. I didn't expect to meet you here."

Suddenly, a familiar figure walked up to him, blocking his view.

Wei He looked up and saw Jiang Yan.

Jiang Yan held a folding fan, dressed in flowing white clothes, with a book boy behind him. He had an extraordinary aura and a smiling face.

It had to be said that his appearance was quite good. Coupled with his slightly handsome looks, tall and slender build, and strong family background, it was easy for him to attract the favor of women.

"So it's Senior Brother Jiang," Wei He stood up and cupped his fists. This was basic courtesy when facing a senior brother.

"What? Drinking and eating alone here?" Jiang Yan glanced at the dining table and immediately understood that someone else was there.

"That's fine. I just came over to say hello and have a few words before leaving. Since I saw Junior Brother Wei here, now that you've broken through, why continue to stay with the Cheng family? My Jiang family is also in urgent need of talent.

If Junior Brother Wei agrees, I can offer ten catties of Qi and Blood Great Tonic medicine equivalent to Flower Branch Deer Meat per month.

Additionally, a hundred pills of the next-grade Blood Replenishing Pill, ten doses of Qi and Blood Powder. Fifty taels of gold."

The book boy behind Jiang Yan's expression changed slightly. This price already exceeded the treatment that a general second-stage Qi and Blood expert could receive. The ten catties of Great Tonic medicine equivalent to Flower Branch Deer Meat alone was a rare item.

It was unknown how much time it could save in accumulating Qi and Blood. If it were put on the market, countless martial artists would willingly flock to join.

You know, even the Flower Branch Deer Meat at Zuihua Tower isn't available every day. It's only released once a month, with a limited supply per person.

Even with that, it has already become Zuihua Tower's signature dish.

"Besides, Junior Brother Wei is my fellow disciple. As a fellow disciple, I naturally have to take better care of him." Jiang Yan fanned himself, covering his chin as he smiled.

"I'll give Junior Brother a bit more. Senior Brother Cheng can't possibly offer such a price. If you're willing to join, I'll waive your residency fees in the Inner City. You and your sister won't have to worry about safety issues anymore. With me from the Seven Families Alliance and officials patrolling the Inner City constantly, there will be no slip-ups or dangers."

"Of course, this means you won't be able to affiliate with other families outside. But you don't need to worry about that. With your status, after joining my Jiang family, you can completely manage some small gangs in the Outer City and naturally take a share of the profits.

At that time, with a dozen or so subordinates under you, flying the banner of the Seven Families Alliance, no one in the Outer City would dare to provoke you. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Actually, out of all these benefits, residency was the most crucial!

Only the Seven Families Alliance had the right to allow outsiders to enter and reside long-term.

Living in the Inner City permanently was a special privilege that even Cheng Shaojiu didn't have.

For Jiang Yan, this was a quota he could easily obtain. Although there were quantity restrictions, for him, it might not even be worth a hundred taels of gold.

But for Cheng Shaojiu and the others, this quota was truly the most precious.

Because it couldn't be bought with money.

This was also one of the core attractions that allowed the Seven Families Alliance to prosper for so long.

Wei He wasn't moved by any of the previous conditions, but the last one truly touched him.

If he could reside in the Inner City, he wouldn't have to constantly worry about his Second Sister's safety.

Last time he killed several people from the Incense Gathering Cult, he had been worried about their retaliation ever since.

Although there had been no movement since, who knew if they were brewing some conspiracy?

Now, if he could move into the Inner City...

Wei He lowered his head, falling into silence for a moment.

What he didn't see was that not far away, Cheng Shaojiu had returned and happened to overhear the conditions Jiang Yan offered.

Cheng Shaojiu also understood that Jiang Yan was here to poach him.

From Jiang Yan's words, it was clear he had been nearby from the beginning, listening to everything Cheng Shaojiu had said to Wei He.

Then he deliberately seized the opportunity to make his offer.

Cheng Shaojiu fell silent, standing at the corner not far away, not revealing himself immediately.

However, his freshly washed hands involuntarily clenched slightly, feeling warm.

Wei He remained silent, looking up at Jiang Yan.

He took a breath and slowly spoke.

"Junior Brother, don't rush," Jiang Yan smiled slightly, folding his fan. "Think it over carefully. If you agree, you can come find me privately later. I'll head back to my table now; I have a few friends waiting for me there."

As if he didn't care at all, he turned and left.

Jiang Yan knew very well that people were easily impulsive. Especially martial artists like them, with their Blood Essence surging, were even more prone to impulsivity.

Therefore, decisions made in a moment of impulse were easily influenced by emotions.

Currently, Wei He had a good relationship with Cheng Shaojiu, making him easily influenced by the Cheng family.

However, once a person calms down and weighs the gains and losses, they will naturally make the most rational choice.

Emotions were ultimately just a momentary impulse. In the long run, profit was the most important thing.

As he walked to the corner, Jiang Yan saw Cheng Shaojiu standing motionless.

He smiled slightly, nodded to the other man, didn't speak, and walked straight past him.

Cheng Shaojiu forced a smile and nodded in return.

Jiang Yan didn't care about Cheng Shaojiu's attitude. The Cheng family had a good relationship with Wei He, but so what? Ordinary people would abandon profit for emotion only if the offer wasn't generous enough.

The Cheng family called him Senior Brother out of respect. If they didn't show him respect, with his background from the Seven Families Alliance, why would he care about some mere Yonghe Escort Agency?

Jiang Yan smiled slightly and walked towards the private room with his attendant.

Cheng Shaojiu paused, then waited in place for a while longer, composing himself before heading back towards the wine table.

Returning to the table, he saw Wei He standing aside, his expression complicated.

"Junior Brother..." Cheng Shaojiu's lips moved, wanting to say something, but not knowing what to say.

What could he compare with the Jiang family? This was simply a comparison between two different levels.

"Brother Cheng," Wei He said softly after a moment of silence, "I'm sorry."

"It's alright. Water flows downhill, and people seek higher ground," Cheng Shaojiu smiled, trying his best to appear natural.

"No," Wei He said with a look of guilt. "I saw you hadn't come back for a long time, so I ordered another four plates of Flower Branch Deer Meat, and we ate them all."

Cheng Shaojiu's expression froze instantly.

Four plates?? Four plates of deer meat!? Are you a pig!?

He looked at Wei He, standing there as if petrified, unable to utter a word. His quota for the month was all gone.

"Oh, right. Senior Brother Jiang came over just now and wanted to recruit me to his side," Wei He said calmly. "But after thinking about it, I still plan to stay in the Outer City. Mainly because Senior Brother Jiang has bad breath, and I felt uncomfortable and uneasy talking to him."