Undercurrents Stir, the Li Family Offers a Grand Reward!

Undercurrents Stir, the Li Family Offers a Grand Reward!

Undercurrents Stir, the Li Family Offers a Grand Reward!

The sun had barely passed its zenith when a carriage hurried toward the Qianjin Escort Agency.

At the long table in the escort agency's main hall, Old Master Zhao's aged face showed a trace of anger. Slapping the table, he barked, "Young Master Zhou, I cooperated with you out of consideration for the support your father gave me over the years. I send you merit, and you help me seize the Li family's business..."

Zhou Qiankun idly waved the folding fan in his hand, his expression neither pleased nor angry. "What is this about now, Old Master Zhao?"

"What is it about?" Old Master Zhao's fat face trembled. Force swelled in his hand, and he suddenly left a palm print on the long table. "You still ask me what it's about? Of the small gangs in Changhe County, eight out of ten belong to your escort agency. Yesterday, the Tiger Gang was wiped out in one fell swoop by the Li family!"

"This matter? What is there to panic over?" Zhou Qiankun's gaze turned subtle, and he smiled as he reassured him. "Why should Old Master Zhao get angry? I've already arranged the matter of the water ghosts. These past few days, Changhe County's experts have all been mobilized. At dawn the day after tomorrow, we'll use the Whistle Arrow as the signal and make our move."

"You've already arranged for the dock water ghosts to come ashore? I'm afraid the Li family..." Old Master Zhao asked with a frown.

"The retainers of your Zhao Family Grain Store aren't made of straw either. Besides, the Li family is merely third-rate. If my escort agency secretly dispatches more men, we'll definitely wipe out their living strength this time."

"Good. Then it's settled. I'll return at once and arrange the retainers."

Old Master Zhao had come in a rush and left in a rush. Zhou Qiankun propped his cheek in one hand, watching Old Master Zhao's departing back with a cold gleam in his eyes.

"If not for the old fossil of your Zhao family still being alive, how could this business possibly have fallen to you?"

Two days passed in a blur. Since ambushing and killing Zhao Hubiao the day before yesterday and upgrading his Fate the day before, Lin Mo was preparing to study the Great Jade Ape Breathing Technique today.

Early that morning, while he was teaching the apprentices their stance work as usual, a flurry of hurried footsteps came from outside the door.

Lin Mo stood with his arms folded and looked out, only to see the Li family's chief steward slowly approaching under the escort of several guards. Behind him, servants carried three heavy vermilion-lacquered gift chests.

"Young Hero Lin." The chief steward's voice was loud, deliberately ensuring that every apprentice present could hear him. Outside the gate, a vast crowd of ordinary townsfolk had gathered to watch.

"Young Hero Lin Mo, yesterday you intercepted and killed Tiger Gang leader Zhao Hubiao. Not only did you render great service to the Li family, but you also brought benefit to the people. The family head specially ordered this old man to come and offer a small token of gratitude!"

What a display?

Lin Mo's gaze flickered. After pondering for a moment, he had already guessed the Li family's intentions.

The Li family had been weak for a long time and had no powerful patron or backing. Even its new generation was far inferior to the last. Given enough time, others would inevitably eye it greedily.

The Tiger Gang's underhanded scheme at the docks this time had made that obvious. Fortunately, he had seen through it in time, though he had failed to keep Zhao Hubiao alive and pry out the one behind him.

But the Li family could take this opportunity to spread the word, build Lin Mo's reputation, and deter certain petty schemers.

Yet the drawbacks were equally obvious. A towering tree caught the wind, and he was a martial artist of such a young age...

The Li family really knows how to play its hand. It was indeed a wise decision to quietly put away the Breathing Technique. Lin Mo thought to himself. Things had already reached this point and could not be undone. He could only see whether the Li family's gifts were weighty enough!

The Li family's chief steward ordered the servants to open the chest lids one by one.

The first chest contained neat rows of silver ingots, dazzling at a glance.

By Lin Mo's rough estimate, there should have been two or three thousand taels inside. Just as the thought crossed his mind, the chief steward loudly announced, "First chest: three thousand taels of silver!"

The many apprentices gathered in the corner, staring at one another from afar.

The silver in that first chest alone had already stirred monstrous waves in their hearts...

"Three thousand taels of silver, and Senior Brother Lin can still remain so calm?"

"With three thousand taels, I'm afraid I could eat, drink, and enjoy myself for a whole lifetime..."

There were also honest youths counting on their fingers. Yet no matter how they calculated, they could not figure out how many years—or how many lifetimes—it would take them to earn three thousand taels...

Next came the second chest. The moment it was opened, Lin Mo saw a piece of soft armor inside. It gleamed with golden light and was exceptionally eye-catching.

"Second chest: one fine piece of armor, worth a thousand taels!"

The chief steward merely gave a vague shout toward the crowd of onlookers outside the courtyard. Then he leaned close to Lin Mo and introduced it in a lowered voice, "Young Hero Lin, this Golden Silk Soft Armor was specially prepared for you by our Li family. It is Human-grade Mid-tier armor. There aren't many such pieces even in Changhe County..."

Lin Mo's eyes flickered. It seemed the Li family truly intended to push him into the spotlight...

If anything happened to the Li family in the future, he likely would not be able to refuse to act. Otherwise, people would inevitably wag their tongues, saying he could not shoulder great responsibility and the like.

The chest was large, yet it contained only a single rosewood box. The chief steward carefully brought over the box. Inside lay three pills the size of longan fruit.

Their colors were not entirely the same—some were vivid red, as though they might drip blood, while another glowed with flourishing green light.

"Two red ones and one green one?"

Lin Mo looked at the three pills and pondered silently. He examined them from left to right but could not discern anything unusual, only that their fragrance was refreshing and pleasant.

"Chief Steward, these are?"

"Three Human-grade High-tier pills!" The chief steward pointed at the two red pills. "These two replenish qi and blood. With just one, a Third Stage Practitioner or anyone below can have the qi and blood throughout their body replenished in moments. They are called Five Elements Blood-Generating Pills."

A one-use blood-restoring medicine? This was quite good.

Lin Mo nodded. Whether for fleeing or for an ambush, these two pills would make excellent reserves. One pill was enough to equal half a life.

"As for this green one, it is called the Withered Wood Meets Spring Pill, and its origins are quite extraordinary..." The chief steward pointed at the pattern-like mark on it. "This is a Dao Profound Mark. It shows that this pill nearly entered the Profound-grade Low-tier. Its medicinal efficacy far surpasses ordinary Human-grade High-tier pills. Aside from someone at the level of a martial master, just one pill can save anyone as long as they still have one breath left!"

Withered Wood Meets Spring Pill?

Its effects were this fierce?

Lin Mo was inwardly shocked and asked again, "This pill?"

"Head Patrolman Li specially sought it from Guo's Pharmacy for you and owed someone a favor..."

Upon hearing the chief steward's words, Lin Mo's expression stiffened before returning to normal. He cupped his hands solemnly and said, "Please convey my thanks to Head Patrolman Li. If the Li family ever has need of me, Lin Mo will certainly give it everything I have."

If the first two pills were only half a life each, then this one was a genuine life...

It could save someone who still had only one breath remaining. Its importance was self-evident.

After the Li family's servants and chief steward departed, Lin Mo held the chest of silver in one hand, not knowing where to store it. He could only place it for the time being in an unoccupied side room.

Lin Mo turned back to look at those poor youths, who had long since been stunned senseless. Not only did they not dare step forward, they did not even have the courage to approach the side room where the silver was stored. He could not help but feel deeply moved.

He turned and returned to the side room, took out several dozen taels of silver, and called loudly to the youths in the courtyard, "Senior Brother Lin is in a good mood today. I'll cover all the meat for our courtyard today—roast duck, roast goose, braised pork knuckles, whatever you want. Eat to your heart's content!"

As the saying went, a pint of rice brought gratitude, but a bushel brought resentment.

Although there were indeed one or two among them whose innate talent was passable, Lin Mo did not dare support them rashly. He himself still needed silver to pave his path in martial arts.

But if it was merely the kindness of a single meal, that was still something he could easily afford.