Goose-No-Faction

"Brother Lu, from what you're saying, are you planning to do business with practitioners?"

"Yes. You've been around, Brother Bo. I'll be counting on you to guide me in the future."

"Guide you? I'm not as good at business as my second brother. If there's anything you don't understand, you'll get more out of asking him than me."

Zhu Bo pondered for a moment before laying his cards on the table. "All I can say is that the waters in this line of business run deep. You may not be able to keep your head above them, Brother Lu."

"Don't beat around the bush, Brother Bo. Everyone makes money together. I, your younger brother, am no man without integrity. Since I said I'd cooperate with Zhu Family Trading Company, I certainly won't seek out anyone else." Lu Bei gave him a reassuring pill straight away.

Since Lu Bei had brought up personal credibility, those words grated harshly on Zhu Bo's ears. He frowned and continued, "Business with cultivators isn't that easy. First, you have to get past Dasheng Pass. Without a stamped Approval Document, you're running a black shop. Once you're caught..."

"That's where I'll need Brother Bo's help."

"A small matter. Even if I didn't help you, with your older cousin stepping in, it would only take a single word."

"He's an upright official, after all. It's better not to trouble him." At the mention of Wei Mao, Lu Bei suddenly remembered that he was still wearing the blue equipment passed down through the Wei Family. He would have to make a trip to Dasheng Pass when he had the time.

"Also..."

Zhu Bo paused before saying, "Brother Lu, I'll be frank with you. I'm not interested in the business of your pills and raw materials. Zhu Family Trading Company already has several shops. But the Spirit Bamboo from Nine Bamboo Mountain... do you have confidence?"

"What does it matter whether I do or don't? Does Brother Bo have any advice?" Lu Bei raised his brows and exchanged a knowing smile with Zhu Bo.

"If you're confident, our trading company can pick up the ready-made opportunity. Naturally, that would be excellent."

Zhu Bo smiled faintly, the deeper meaning hidden beneath it. "If you aren't confident, your older brother will have to swallow his pride and beg people everywhere to get it done."

"Come, sit down and talk it over slowly."

Lu Bei led Zhu Bo to the old tree in the Backyard. Not far from the stone table and stools stood an ordinary-looking stone well.

After filling a cup with tea, Zhu Bo continued, "The Spirit Bamboo business of Nine Bamboo Mountain was settled ten years ago. Once it leaves Nine Bamboo Mountain, one trading company takes it over, and in the end, eighty percent flows into Dasheng Pass as Artifact Refining material. The remaining twenty percent is purchased piecemeal by practitioners from the various sects."

"Brother Bo came prepared!"

"I heard a few things from my second brother. Since this is business involving Dasheng Pass, he's always wanted to squeeze that trading company out. But he couldn't find connections on the Nine Bamboo Mountain side, so he had no choice but to give up." Zhu Bo explained.

"What do you mean? That trading company won't even sell face to your Zhu Family... Could it be surnamed Zhu too?" Lu Bei frowned.

"Not at all. That trading company has some connection with Magistrate Li of Langyu County and sends him generous gifts during every festival. Although my eldest uncle is the Governor of Dongqi Commandery, his reach is too short to govern Dongyang County. Magistrate Li refused to show him any respect. Even when my second brother raised the price and offered more money, he still couldn't force his way in." Zhu Bo's expression turned displeased.

"Got it."

Lu Bei mulled it over and realized it fit perfectly with his own plan. He got straight to the point. "The entire Nine Bamboo Mountain system is called a sect, and my Sanqing Peak also has a say in it. Once I topple the current person in charge, I'll decide which trading company the Spirit Bamboo is sold to."

"That's exactly it."

Zhu Bo had not originally intended to bring this up. It was only because Lu Bei had laid out a move against Emei Sect that night, allowing him to see the possibility of making this work.

"Brother Bo, what did you mean by begging people everywhere?"

"With the source of the Spirit Bamboo under your control, Brother Lu, and my second brother taking care of the biggest buyer, Dasheng Pass, we'll cut off both ends at once. That trading company will have reason on its side no longer. Then my eldest uncle can send a letter to Magistrate Li, and the business will be settled." Zhu Bo spoke with absolute certainty.

"Heh heh heh..." x2

"The plan is good, but there's still one problem. Brother Lu, you're from Langyu County. If you offend Magistrate Li, doing business there will probably become difficult for you in the future!" After laughing, Zhu Bo reminded him.

"My older cousin is an old acquaintance of the Langyu County Lieutenant, and they've known each other for years. Langyu County is a quiet place. If someone gives the County Lieutenant a modest gift every festival, I'm sure he won't refuse."

"Hahaha, in that case, great things are within reach!"

The two clinked their cups and drained the tea inside.

By noon, Lu Bei invited Zhu Bo to tour the scenery of Nine Bamboo Mountain. As they wandered, he lost track of the way and somehow arrived at Emei Sect on Four Scenery Peaks.

Since they were already there, he might as well collect a debt.

Sect Leader Ding Lei was nowhere to be seen. Inside the sect, there were no big cats, only three or five small fry.

It was exactly what he had expected, so Lu Bei wasn't surprised. Unwilling to make things difficult for the servants, he took five geese with him when he left, treating them as temporary interest.

He had stayed in Dasheng Pass for more than two months and found the Roast Goose made by Bright Moon Tower's head chef exceptionally delicious. His craving couldn't be satisfied by distant waters, so he grabbed a few geese to cook for himself back home. It didn't matter if they tasted bad. Beginners were bound to fail, but hard work would repay the effort. He believed that as long as he practiced diligently, he would make this delicacy sooner or later.

That evening, the foxes' dinner was Roast Goose, so salty it made them sneeze repeatedly. The little fox demon gave him a strange look. If this was what Lu Bei called eating rich food and drinking fine wine, then it could keep its meal ticket.

On Four Scenery Peaks, Ding Lei secretly returned. After hearing the servant's report that Lu Bei had not taken any furniture or paintings and had merely made off with five geese, he smiled faintly and paid it no mind.

Let him take them. They were only a few geese; he could afford the loss.

Half a month later.

Sect Leader Ding Lei gradually realized how serious the matter was. He had to stop Lu Bei. If this continued, Emei Sect would become Goose-No-Faction. Besides, judging by Lu Bei's unhurried manner as he came to Stock up every day, once the geese were gone, the chickens and ducks would be next.

For all he knew, even the guard dog would disappear.

He was no match for Lu Bei in combat and had been forced to sign a debt note. Then he remembered that there was a guest surnamed Zhu at Sanqing Peak. Ding Lei knew all too well that reporting this to the authorities would be useless, so he traveled overnight to Great Tuo Peak to ask Huang Guan, Sect Leader of True Essence Sword Sect and Alliance Leader of the Nine Bamboo Mountain system, to uphold justice.

Huang Guan was an old fox. As soon as he heard Ding Lei recount the whole affair, he immediately made his decision, declaring that Lu Bei was in the wrong.

He had to apologize.

But when he heard that there was a distinguished guest surnamed Zhu at Sanqing Peak, he immediately made a second decision, declaring that he had nearly been fooled and that Ding Lei was the one at fault.

He had to personally go over and apologize.

"I know I was at fault first. I shouldn't have brought fire upon myself. But that Lu fellow has gone too far, treating my Emei Sect like his own home, coming and going as he pleases, and even demanding the contribution money owed from when his master died."

Ding Lei was furious. He slammed the table, saw Huang Guan sitting there as steady as an old monk, and continued, "Not only that, he even wants to beat Emei Sect to death with a single blow. He forced me to sign a mortgage debt note. If I don't repay ten thousand taels within ten days, the Spirit Bamboo yield of my Four Scenery Peaks will belong to Sanqing Peak from then on."

"Ten days? Think of something and scrape it together."

"That happened half a month ago. Several days have already passed."

Ding Lei clutched his aching head. "The beginning of the month is almost here. When he comes with the debt note, this month's harvest from Emei Sect will have to be handed over in full to Sanqing Peak. I've already accepted the deposit from SITONG Trading Company. Without the Spirit Bamboo to give them, I'll have to pay compensation too."

Seeing that it was already getting late, Ding Lei seemed intent on staying the night. Huang Guan had no choice but to say, "Go back for now. Tomorrow I'll ask Sect Master Zhao of Seven Plate Peaks to come with me. She's good with words. Let her ask Sect Leader Lu what he really means."