Chen Lin

The reward Mo Chong mentioned was not the monthly stipend the clan gave Third-Class Guards, but another payment East Twelve Districts gave its guards every month.

This kind of payment was not exclusive to East Twelve Districts; every other place had it as well. Even guards of different ranks could receive different forms of extra income.

For example, Second-Class Guards responsible for protecting Trade Caravans would also receive additional payment from the caravans they accompanied. It was considered an unspoken rule.

However, a place like East Twelve Districts did not have much profit to skim, so this so-called reward was pitifully small—better than nothing, at most.

Still, this was an arms market, which had one advantage: Mo Tang could find himself a good weapon...

The saber he had spent dozens of Gold Coins on had been snapped by the Little Ironback Bear. What he used now was only an ordinary saber issued to Third-Class Guards by the Mo Clan.

It was good enough for cutting down ordinary people, but if he truly encountered a fierce battle, it would definitely prove unreliable.

Moreover, the Triple Blade Qi Mo Tang cultivated was powerful, but it also demanded much from its weapon, especially in sharpness and toughness. So, Mo Tang planned to get himself another good saber!

Walking through the bustling market, he wandered this way and that. Before he realized it, Mo Tang had gradually made his way into the depths of the market.

Though this was an arms market, it did not sell weapons alone. Quite a few mercenaries also set up stalls here to sell their own goods.

Of course, they had to pay the market a hefty fee to do so.

The items sold in the depths of the market were generally far more precious than those outside. Thus, the customers who came here to buy were mercenaries with some measure of strength.

When he arrived at the largest weapon shop in the market, Mo Tang saw Chen Lin, the market manager he had met once before, seeing off a burly man before he even entered.

Judging by the man's appearance, he was quite formidable and clearly a major customer. Otherwise, Chen Lin would not have personally escorted him out.

"Ha ha, Captain Iron Wolf, rest assured. The batch of weapons you need will definitely be delivered to your mercenary group's base in half a month," Chen Lin said with a smile.

"Then many thanks, Manager Tang. I'll take my leave! No need to see me off!"

Watching the mercenary captain named Iron Wolf leave, while Chen Lin continued smiling at his retreating back, it was obvious that he had truly closed a major deal this time.

"Manager Tang!" Mo Tang called out.

Chen Lin turned around, surprise flashing through his eyes. He immediately said, "Oh! Brother Mo Tang, what brings you to this old brother's place?"

Mo Tang smiled as well. "Just seeing whether there are any suitable weapons..."

Chen Lin's eyes lit up at those words.

He had been wondering how to forge a connection with this promising young talent, and now the opportunity had come knocking on his door!

"Ha ha ha, then you've come to the right place!" Chen Lin said, pulling Mo Tang inside. "I can't boast about anything else, but when it comes to weapons, this Old Tang can still be of some help."

"Tell me, brother, what kind of weapon do you want? If the shop doesn't have it, I can have one custom-made for you!"

Chen Lin spoke with great generosity.

Naturally, Mo Tang did not stand on ceremony. "I need a long saber. The blade should not be too wide. Most importantly, it needs to be tough and sharp!"

Chen Lin nodded slightly. This was no challenge for him.

"You came at just the right time. Yesterday, the master craftsmen of the arms market forged an exceptional long saber. It happens to meet your requirements. Come with me."

After the two entered the shop, Chen Lin had someone bring out a wooden case about 1.2 meters long. He opened it personally, revealing a weapon resembling the horizontal sabers of Mo Tang's previous life.

The hilt was wrapped in some unknown black leather. The blade gleamed like snow, and faint green light flickered along its edge. At a glance, it was clearly a truly exceptional saber.

Seeing Mo Tang's expression, Chen Lin's eyes flickered with amusement. "This saber was personally forged by a master who has been making blades for forty years. Its name is Fengling.

Though it was forged from ordinary steel, it became remarkably tough after being hammered and tempered countless times. Green Cold Stone was added to its edge, making it incomparably sharp. It is a rare and excellent saber!"

Mo Tang nodded. The cold, razor-sharp edge he had felt when his finger had just brushed over the blade made him agree with Chen Lin's words.

But...

Mo Tang shook his head and closed the case.

"What? You aren't satisfied, brother?" Chen Lin asked with a frown.

"It's not that I'm dissatisfied. I simply don't have enough money to buy such a fine saber!"

Hearing that, Chen Lin immediately breathed a sigh of relief. Then he gave a hearty laugh. "What are you saying, brother? Since you've come to my East Twelve Districts, this old brother hasn't given you anything yet. Consider this saber a gift from me. Don't refuse, or else you don't regard me as a friend!"

Regarding this kind of forceful gift-giving, Mo Tang only wanted to say... Bring it on even harder!

As for what might happen after he accepted it, Mo Tang did not care too much.

It was merely a favor. To a lone man like him, it could be very weighty at times, yet at other times it amounted to nothing...

Once he truly grew stronger and gained status and power within the Mo Clan, repaying this favor would be a matter of a single word.

As for whether the other party might use this favor to threaten him...

Are you kidding? If the favor ever became too great to repay, wouldn't the problem be solved as long as the creditor was gone?

Quite a few people in his previous life had been familiar with that approach!

Seeing Chen Lin's expression that plainly said, "I'm going to be unhappy," Mo Tang could only "reluctantly" accept it.

At once, Chen Lin's face changed as though he had turned over a new mask, and he immediately smiled. "That's more like it. This old brother is counting on you to pull me up when you make it big someday."

Mo Tang put on a bitter smile. "Sigh. Collateral branch disciples like us, with neither money nor power and no Spirit Medicine support from the clan, how can we possibly gather a Dou Qi Vortex so easily?"

"If I weren't trying to earn some payment to buy Spirit Medicine and build up the Dou Qi in my body, why would I become a guard at such a crucial time..."

As he spoke, Mo Tang's expression darkened further.

The atmosphere fell silent. Mo Tang looked dejected, while Chen Lin, seated across from him, wore a constantly shifting expression. The index finger of his right hand trembled unconsciously, and he appeared deeply conflicted.

After roughly the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Chen Lin seemed to have made some decision. Looking at Mo Tang, he said solemnly, "Brother, I know you have talent, but people like us need more than talent if we want to rise..."

Mo Tang nodded and quietly waited for what he had to say next.

"As for this old brother, I don't have much ability myself. I only have a bit of talent for business. But I'm not from the Mo Clan, after all. Becoming the manager of East Twelve Districts is already the limit of what I can achieve.

From the moment I first saw you, brother, I felt that we were destined to meet. This old brother has accumulated some savings over the years. How about this? Whatever you need, just ask. If there's anything I can help with, I definitely won't refuse!

I only hope that once you truly make a name for yourself someday, you won't forget that there was an old brother like me..."