Massive Sum Secured, Second Order Flesh and Blood

The courtyard walls were wrapped in green weeds, and moss grew on the courtyard. The sun slanted through the central courtyard, curling the chrysanthemum petals.

Birds flew up the steps, and the curtains hung freely.

"Uncle, this courtyard of yours is truly crafted with ingenious thought and is exceptionally elegant."

Li Cunxiao followed He Bi, passing through the deep courtyard and red walls with green tiles. He listened as the latter occasionally offered explanations, and he too offered a few words of praise.

The He family in Chuqiu County was not a prominent clan. He Bi's branch had migrated from elsewhere, and after three generations of management, they had achieved their current "Good Grain Shop" – the He family's grain shop was named "Good Grain Shop."

As one of the notable wealthy merchants in the outer city, his residence was naturally not shabby. Although it couldn't compare to the several major families within the inner city, occupying several mu of land with waterside pavilions and towers, it was still easy enough to arrange a few rockeries and place some koi in a pond.

"Hahaha, Brother Li, you flatter me. Back then, my father was a student at the Song Prefecture academy. If not for the constant warfare across the land, perhaps he could have gone to the capital and achieved the Jinshi degree."

As soon as he finished speaking, footsteps grew louder from behind the screen. After a moment, a portly middle-aged man emerged. Upon seeing He Bi, he glared and reprimanded him:

"Ignorant fool! In our dynasty's imperial examinations, only those who pass the Jinshi examination are called Jinshi. Your father took the Mingjing exam, and you still can't remember that?"

As the saying goes, "Thirty years old for a Mingjing scholar, fifty for a young Jinshi." The former was indeed less difficult than the latter, but the glory of being feted in the Qionglin Garden, having a "burning tail" ceremony, and parading through the streets on a fine horse adorned with flowers after passing the Jinshi exam was incomparable to the former.

It was a pity that now, with war imminent and the martial artists gaining power, this future world would likely become a hunting ground for beasts, and poetry, books, music, and rites would soon vanish without a trace.

"Are you the young brother Li Cunxiao? If you don't mind, may this old man call you Sanlang?"

Although Old Master He was portly, he was not greasy. Perhaps due to his early scholarly experiences, he even appeared somewhat refined, and his smile was quite approachable.

"Uncle, please,"

Li Cunxiao returned his smile. He knew clearly that compared to He Bi, this man was the true decision-maker of the He family.

A shop that could earn a hundred taels in profit per month could be called a Yuanwai in the outer city, let alone a large shop like the Good Grain Shop that earned several hundred to nearly a thousand taels a month.

The amount of silver he needed this time was not small. To achieve merit, he had to first appease the old man.

With a plan in mind, Li Cunxiao spoke purposefully during the banquet.

Knowing that his uncle was not from a martial background but a proper scholar, he intentionally sought his advice on some books he had recently read.

Old Master He usually dealt with opponents in the business world, so this experience of "being eager to teach" was truly novel.

For a moment, it felt like he had returned to the past. He looked upon the young man before him with increasing favor, and the answer to his son's request for financial assistance for Li Cunxiao began to take shape in his mind.

Old Master He was certainly not someone who made decisions on a whim.

Even before today, he had intentionally sent people to inquire about and understand the person his son frequently mentioned. He had even arranged to meet an acquaintance of Li Cunxiao's at the East Arrival Restaurant during a business negotiation.

After a period of investigation, Old Master He was both surprised and delighted because his usually unreliable son had truly found a golden egg in a chicken coop this time.

Putting aside his character and conduct, just speaking of his abilities and how he handled matters, Li Cunxiao had gone from being a restaurant waiter to an escort at the Flying Tiger Escort Agency. Others attributed it to luck, but Old Master He knew that there was no such thing as unprovoked love or hate in the world.

Even making someone laugh was a manifestation of ability. Moreover, who could say that Li Cunxiao's ability to make Zhang Lishi, the Chief Escort of the Flying Tiger Escort Agency, happy and accept the two brothers was not a skill?

Not to mention that his younger brother, Li Muxia, was currently working as a page in the Zhang Manor. To put it hyperbolically, wasn't this akin to being by the emperor's side, a powerful eunuch who communicated both internally and externally?

And his elder brother, Li Cunxiao, also had talent in martial arts. In just over a month, he had mastered Blood Qi and become an escort. Recently, he had even been favored by the Chief Escort and transferred to the warehouse.

Perhaps nothing could be seen now, but in a few more years, when both brothers could accomplish things and had a stable position, with the two of them "cooperating from the inside and outside," their future would surely be much brighter than those escorts on missions, wouldn't it?

A stock with potential!

Old Master He recalled reading history books about a Flying General who came from humble beginnings as a horse groom. Later, when he became a general, his nephew was raised in the palace by the emperor. After growing up, he became a renowned general of the era, just like his uncle. The two of them were granted fiefs and achieved the highest positions of nobility.

While the achievements of the uncle and nephew were certainly inseparable from their talent, speaking of it again, had the emperor raised the nephews of other generals by his side?

Similarly, among so many escorts in the escort agency, the Li brothers were absolutely unique in having relatives in the Zhang Manor, by the side of Zhang Lishi's family and female relatives.

The power of a whispered word – others might not know, but how could Old Master He not know?

Many tough nuts to crack could often be solved simply by sending gifts to the other party's wife or favored concubine.

"Da Lang mentioned that nephew Li is highly regarded by Escort Leader Cui Yao, and recently, due to his merits, he was promoted to Warehouse Manager by the Chief Escort. Truly a young man of great promise."

"You are so young and have already mastered Blood Qi. If you had more support, I imagine your path in Martial Arts would be smoother."

Seeing that the atmosphere was right, Old Master He put down his wine cup and said this with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Li Cunxiao knew the main point had arrived. He didn't hesitate and simply nodded.

"Uncle, what you say is very true. Although heroes are not judged by their background, cultivating martial arts requires silver. While the position of Warehouse Manager is leisurely and comfortable, my purse is bound to become rather thin."

At this, Old Master He's eyes flashed with a sharp light.

"Then, how about my He family making up the portion you are lacking?"

After speaking, he clapped his hands. The steward, who had been prepared, stepped forward with a lacquered tray.

Twenty horseshoe silver pieces, each worth five taels, were neatly arranged, and beside them were five banknotes, each with a face value of one hundred taels.

Six hundred taels!

Li Cunxiao was astonished. With what they had given him, plus a little more from his own savings, he could go and buy ten jin of Second Order Demon Meat that very night.

This was no small sum.

Given such good treatment, Li Cunxiao became even more cautious: "Uncle's generosity deeply moves this junior. Are there any troubles at the Good Grain Shop?"

Seeing that the young man was not blinded by the large sum of money, Old Master He admired him even more.

He couldn't help but sigh inwardly as he thought of certain things, but his face held a hearty smile:

"Nephew, don't overthink it. I only have Da Lang as my only son, and you are his good friend. As an elder, I naturally have to help."

"However, since you have concerns, I'll be direct."

Old Master He said, holding up three fingers.

"First, I want to thank you for teaching Da Lang martial arts. My son isn't stupid, but he lacks perseverance and likes to take shortcuts. Good teachers and friends are rare, and I hope your friendship can last."

"Second, Nephew, you probably don't know your reputation yet. The title 'Filial and Righteous Li Sanlang' is something I've heard even when I entrusted people with escort missions and grain transport. I trust your character and your potential."

"Third, Nephew, you are now the Warehouse Manager, and your future is bright. You're on my payroll at this grain shop. Even if it weren't for you, it would be for the reputation of the Flying Tiger Escort Agency. The red envelope can't be small. Twenty taels of annual salary each month, that's not too much, is it?"

"So, of these six hundred taels of silver, two hundred and forty taels are a prepayment for a year's salary, another two hundred taels are a congratulatory red envelope for your promotion, and the final one hundred and sixty taels are a gift from an elder to a junior."

"Sanlang, do you think you can accept the silver like this?"

"Father."

He Bi, who had been listening from the side, was dumbfounded. He thought, weren't we the ones offering help? How did we become the ones begging to give money?

Li Cunxiao looked at the smiling Old Master He and felt a pang of emotion. It was true that old age brought wisdom.

Even the act of giving money was filled with sentiment, without a hint of vulgarity.

Should he accept the silver or not?

Of course, he should. Although it hadn't been announced yet, he was already Zhang Lishi's personal disciple. Six hundred taels? He could even accept a thousand.

And the He family would definitely not lose out; on the contrary, they would profit greatly!

"Uncle's sincerity is profound, and this junior cannot refuse."

"Sanlang is here to thank Uncle for his kindness."

Seeing that the other party had accepted the silver, Old Master He became even happier. He Bi, like a child selling his father's land without a care, felt that his father was giving face to his friend for the first time and was also overjoyed.

They drank until nearly the second watch, and only then did Li Cunxiao leave, satisfied with the large sum of money.

"Father, you've never been this generous to my friends who visited before! You and I see eye to eye, and you see that Li Cunxiao will achieve great things?"

"You brat, seeing eye to eye with me? That's going against the natural order!"

Old Master He playfully scolded as he pushed away his son's diligent massage, but He Bi chuckled and, like a piece of sticky candy, slipped behind his father. He slightly eased his grip, and the old man grunted comfortably before pointing out:

"It's not that your father is stingy. Look at your former hangers-on. Not only can they not achieve great things, but it's hard to even entrust them with important matters! For people like that, if it weren't for your sake, your father wouldn't even let them into the house."

"But this Li Cunxiao, setting aside everything else, at least he remembers your kindness. He's even willing to impart his experience in manipulating Blood Essence to you without reservation, which shows his sincerity."

"Father only has you, my only son. If you genuinely want to do something, if I don't help you, who will?"

He Bi was moved and, in that moment, made a firm decision. He would not frequent pleasure houses for the next month, striving to reach Blood Qi Perfection as soon as possible, so that his father could have a good year.

But Old Master He, looking at his son diligently massaging him, felt not only affection but also a hint of worry.

Whether the world is chaotic or not, grain merchants are the first to know.

The lack of loyal core staff in the grain shop was a critical weakness. After two generations of management, it had not improved. How could Old Master He not make plans?

Does Li Cunxiao have potential? Yes, but not an overwhelming amount.

Is his character solid? It seems so now, but who knows about the future.

So, were these six hundred taels worth it?

Worth it!

Whether Li Cunxiao himself was worth six hundred taels was debatable, but the Warehouse Manager of the Flying Tiger Escort Agency was definitely worth six hundred taels, especially since he had a brother in the Zhang Manor.

Old Master He knew that sometimes what kills people isn't great figures or grand gestures, but precisely the words or glances of small individuals.

This act of goodwill today might just become a life-saving straw for his son in times of crisis.

As life-saving money for his son, were six hundred taels too much?

Not at all!

"Sir, are you sure you don't want to reconsider? The Malevolent Qi in Second Order Demon Meat is incomparable to ordinary meat. Forget eating it; sometimes, just inhaling a few breaths can make a person dizzy and disoriented."

"Shopkeeper, there's no need to say more. Money for goods, I'm in a hurry."

Eating Second Order Demon Meat without proper preparation? Is he in a hurry to reincarnate?

The shopkeeper of the Chai Gang stall looked at the black-clothed man before him, inwardly grumbling, but his face remained pleasant as he gave an instruction. A burly shop assistant turned and went behind the curtain.

Li Cunxiao clutched the banknotes in his embrace, a mix of anticipation and nervousness.

The six hundred taels from Old Master He, plus his own savings of over eighty taels, plus the scattered loans from Qian Laosan and others, even Mucha contributed over one tael and a few qian of broken silver. All of it together barely made up seven hundred taels.

For these ten jin of Second Order Demon Meat, Li Cunxiao had almost emptied his coffers.

On the way here, he couldn't help but ask himself if it was worth it.

Because of poverty, because of Mucha, he had lived a life of tightening his belt for nearly eighteen years.

Finally, fortune had smiled upon him. With money and leisure, holding seven hundred taels of immense wealth.

Whether it was fine clothes and luxurious attire, fine wine and delicacies, beautiful maids and fine horses, or luxurious mansions and large courtyards... after working so hard for so many years, couldn't he enjoy himself?

No.

Li Cunxiao repeatedly denied these indulgent desires in his heart.

The closer he got to success, the more he tightened his nerves. He was indeed already half a disciple of Zhang Lishi; all he needed was to break through the Muscle stage to become Escort Leader Li, Third Master Li. However, he wasn't the only one about to become Zhang Lishi's disciple; Ye Chengxiao was relentlessly pursuing him.

Though he didn't say it aloud, Li Cunxiao understood that sometimes who gets there first or second could leave a completely different impression.

Since he had already gained the advantage by achieving Blood Qi Perfection in two months, he needed to continue leading in the breakthrough of the Muscle stage. This would make him weigh more in Zhang Lishi's eyes, rather than relaxing at this moment and allowing his opponent to overtake him.

For this reason, Li Cunxiao needed these ten jin of Second Order Demon Meat, and he believed that today's decision would soon bring returns ten, even a hundred times greater than his investment!

"Customer, here is what you requested."

The shopkeeper emerged from behind the curtain, holding a tightly wrapped animal skin package. Li Cunxiao promptly produced silver. While the shopkeeper verified it, he casually lifted a corner of the package and took a gentle sniff.

A strong, fishy smell assaulted his nostrils. Li Cunxiao, who had developed a keen sense for eating meat, didn't need to taste it. Simply sensing the threads of Malevolent Qi stirring his emotions, he confidently declared, "It's correct, this is the smell."

Damn it, is he really someone who's gone mad from eating demon meat?

The shopkeeper wasn't unfamiliar with martial artists who went mad after consuming meat, but Li Cunxiao, holding raw demon meat with a look of intoxication, was truly somewhat terrifying.

He decisively retreated three feet. Only after the other person left did he grin broadly, pick up the silver ingot, and gently caress it, casting aside all thoughts of what had just happened.

Second Order Demon Meat was far from ordinary, especially unrefined demon meat. If that person had eaten it just now, they would have either exploded or died in madness.

It was common for commoner martial artists to do this in order to achieve success. Perhaps tomorrow, somewhere in this city, there would be another lonely wandering soul.