Gifts from All Sides

Gifts from All Sides

Gifts from All Sides

The night was black as ink, and the autumn wind desolate.

The once-glorious Qianjin Escort Agency was now nothing but a scene of devastation.

In the center of the courtyard, gold and silver treasures poured from chests and piled into a small mountain. Silver ingots and gold bars gleamed with a cold, hard light beneath the torches.

Lin Mo had brought more than thirty people this time, all martial artists from Changhe Martial Arts School. They worked swiftly and efficiently, but the Qianjin Escort Agency residence covered a vast area, its small courtyards tangled and scattered.

After raking through the place like scraping the earth, it still took a full hour or two. Fortunately, the haul far exceeded Lin Mo and Xu Changfeng's expectations.

Xu Changfeng walked over cheerfully, holding a small account book.

"Two chests of gold, twenty-three chests of silver, over ten thousand taels in banknotes—for a total of three hundred eighty-five thousand six hundred forty taels. And that's only the silver..."

"Thirty-seven night-luminous pearls, over a thousand Qi and Blood Pills, a pair of ten-year East Sea corals..."

As Lin Mo listened to Xu Changfeng's report, his expression remained somewhat wistful. Apart from this money and these treasures, what he wanted most was naturally the continuation of the Breathing Technique.

Unfortunately, he had only obtained the original fragmentary scroll of the Great Jade Ape Breathing Technique. Compared to the portion he had acquired before, it contained a few more cultivation tips and medicinal aids.

It could help him raise his Breathing Technique proficiency faster and improve his qi and blood realm along the way, but it was still only the entry stage...

"Never mind. If they truly had a complete Breathing Technique like that, the Zhou family would have cultivated it themselves long ago..."

On second thought, Lin Mo let it go. As for the treasures he chose, he did not hesitate to select a Human-grade High-tier fist art and a Human-grade Mid-tier movement technique.

They were called the Jade Shattering Flowing Water Fist and the Cloud Ascending Ladder.

The White Ape Eight Section Fist was ultimately only Human-grade Low-tier. No matter how familiar he became with it, it would be difficult to make any great breakthrough. That was why he had chosen a high-tier fist art. As for the movement technique...

Lin Mo's reasoning was simple: if he was fast enough, it would be easier to flee for his life.

"Junior Brother, what about these things?" Xu Changfeng rubbed his hands together, clearly tempted.

"Senior Brother, pick one too. Once we've finished confiscating the Zhao Family Grain Store as well, we'll choose a treasure for Master." Lin Mo grinned. Their plundering had gone so smoothly largely because his senior brother had acted decisively and possessed enough strength to hold the situation steady.

As the junior brother, he naturally could not be too stingy.

Over a single night, the Zhao Family Grain Store and the Qianjin Escort Agency were swept clean by Lin Mo and his people, as though a swarm of locusts had passed through.

As for the many estates and title deeds, under Xu Changfeng's instruction, Lin Mo kept the deeds to several key properties. As Xu Changfeng put it, someone would naturally come to take those things off their hands—and pay large coin for them!

The remaining scattered and unimportant properties were converted into silver and offset through the trading firm.

Managing shops required manpower, and Lin Mo certainly did not know how to do that. Nor would the prefectural city send people specifically to take them over. Converting them into silver was the most suitable choice.

Early the next morning, when the sky had only just begun to brighten.

The moment Xu Changfeng opened the door, he found a great many servants standing outside the courtyard. There were even several sedans, with large and small boxes all filled with gifts.

One servant peered through the crack in the door. "Is Master Lin here? I'm from the Meng family of Changhe County. Our master has specially brought some gifts..."

"Here to give gifts? Come, come, all of you come in. The weather outside is rather cold."

The moment he heard they were here to offer gifts, all of Xu Changfeng's drowsiness vanished. He ushered the servants, as well as the people dressed as masters and merchants, into the courtyard.

Unlike Lin Mo, Xu Changfeng was far more practiced at handling such matters. He casually grabbed a servant and instructed him, "Help me tally the gifts from each family present. I'll go inside and wake Master Lin. Remember, the louder you shout, the better! Later, we'll use the gift register to bring them into the inner room one by one for a proper talk..."

The crowd exchanged glances. Aside from a few who had come to curry favor, most were there to make their interest known in purchasing the remaining properties of the Zhao Family Grain Store and Qianjin Escort Agency.

Looking at it this way, only whoever paid the most would have the best chance of gaining priority trading rights...

"Sun Family Grain Shop of Changhe County, five hundred taels of silver..." The servant had barely raised his brush when he was interrupted. That master held out five fingers and waved them, then pulled out a banknote. "Don't rush. I'll add another five hundred taels!"

"Heh, your Sun family has no sense of propriety. Our Meng family will add another five hundred too! We'll press you down by a head!"

The outside was in an uproar, but the inner courtyard was quiet. Xu Changfeng tucked his hands into his sleeves and jerked his chin outside. "See? That's the benefit of having power. Money comes rushing over to offer itself."

"Senior Brother, I'll leave the arrangements to you."

On a tall wooden stake, Lin Mo stood with his legs planted in a horse stance, constantly adjusting his breathing rhythm.

With each long inhale and short exhale, two streams of white vapor lingered beneath his nostrils for a long time without dispersing.

He still held the confiscated copy of the Cloud Ascending Ladder, practicing the basic exercises within and preparing to learn the movement technique.

The coming and going of people gave Lin Mo a headache. Since he had acquired another Cultivation Method and no longer lacked money, he might as well hurry and improve himself.

"I heard the prefectural city tournament will be held before long. Since you're someone favored by the inspector, you definitely won't be able to avoid it."

Xu Changfeng suddenly brought it up.

"The prefectural city tournament?"

Lin Mo frowned, unsure of the situation.

"It's a martial competition held once every three years. Talented youths from several counties, and even from the prefectural city itself, take part. The Bone Age limit is under twenty-two. I participated once myself and received a b-grade evaluation."

Xu Changfeng explained, then continued, "You're only eighteen by nominal age this year. You'll certainly be at a disadvantage in the competition, but going there to make a showing and display your innate talent would still be good. If some prefectural city Lineage takes a liking to you and offers you support or instruction from a famous master, why refuse something handed to you for free..."

An upgrade in backing?

Crossing from the Li family of Changhe County to a prefectural city Lineage?

"But what about the Li family?" Having several more patrons was never a bad thing, yet Lin Mo still had some concerns.

"The Li family? Don't worry. This is one of the ways Changhe County families and prefectural city families build bridges. If you manage to latch onto one of the Three Great Families, the Li family will be delighted!"

"The Three Great Families? Better not even think about it."

Lin Mo shook his head, leapt down from the wooden stake, and was about to follow Xu Changfeng's suggestion by having the merchant masters outside enter in order.

Then another burst of noisy commotion sounded outside. Hurried footsteps approached, and someone pushed open the inner courtyard gate directly. When Lin Mo looked over, he was somewhat surprised.

The newcomer was Chen Qing.

"This person looks familiar. Wasn't he an apprentice who came out of our Stone Wall Courtyard?"

Xu Changfeng had taught there before. This man had been selected by Martial Master Wang after only one week, so Xu Changfeng naturally remembered him.

"Junior Brother Lin."

Relying on his longer standing as a Personal Disciple, Chen Qing spoke directly. "Are you interested in joining us and participating together? We have connections in the prefectural city and can find you a decent affiliated post."

Junior Brother?

Xu Changfeng vaguely remembered that back when Chen Qing was still an apprentice, he had called Lin Mo Senior Brother.

Lin Mo did not take offense. He merely cupped his hands and asked, "Thank you, Brother Chen Qing. But could you explain this affiliated post in more detail?"

"It should be as a guard for a prefectural city Lineage. If you want to discuss it, you can talk to Senior Brother Wang and Senior Brother Meng."

Chen Qing replied.

A guard?

How much money could that possibly bring in? Besides, Lin Mo was already someone who did not lack money.

"I see. Then please thank Senior Brother Wang and Senior Brother Meng for me. Another time, perhaps."

Lin Mo waved a hand in refusal, then turned to discuss title deeds and properties with the merchants who had entered, leaving Chen Qing standing off to one side.

Xu Changfeng forcefully held down the corners of his mouth, but amusement still showed on his face. He was already on the verge of being unable to hold it in.

If this had been some time ago, Lin Mo might really have been tempted. But now, there was no need to make such a joke.