Emei Sect

"Lu, my brother, if I understand correctly, you're planning to do business with cultivators?"

"That's right, brother. Since you're experienced, I'll be counting on your guidance in the future."

"Guidance is too much to say. My business acumen isn't as good as my second brother's. If you have any questions, it's more useful to ask him than me."

Zhu Bo pondered for a moment, then revealed his true intentions: "I can only say that the business world is very deep, and you might not be able to handle it, my brother."

"Brother, don't beat around the bush. If there's money to be made, let's all make it. As your virtuous brother, I'm a man of my word. I said I'd cooperate with the Zhu family's trading company, and I won't seek anyone else." Lu Bei directly reassured him.

Because personal credibility was mentioned, these words struck Zhu Bo as particularly sharp. He frowned and continued, "Doing business with cultivators isn't that easy. First, you have to get past Dasheng Pass. Without an official approval document, it's considered an illegal operation. If you're caught..."

"That's where I'll need your help, brother."

"It's a small matter. Even if I don't help you, with your Eldest Cousin stepping in, it's just a matter of a word."

"He's a just official, after all. It's better not to trouble him." Mentioning Wei Mao, Lu Bei suddenly remembered that he was still wearing the blue-grade equipment passed down in the Wei family. He decided he should make a trip to Dasheng Pass when he had the chance.

"Furthermore..."

Zhu Bo paused and said, "Lu, my brother, I'll be frank with you. I'm not interested in your business of pills and raw materials. The Zhu family's trading company already has several branches. However, the Spirit Bamboo from Nine Bamboo Mountain, you... are you confident about that?"

"What if I'm confident, and what if I'm not? Do you have any brilliant ideas, brother?" Lu Bei raised an eyebrow, and he and Zhu Bo shared a knowing smile.

"If you're confident, Lu, my brother, it would be ideal for our trading company to simply take over an established business."

Zhu Bo smiled slightly, his deeper meaning hidden: "If you're not confident, brother, I'll have to humble myself and ask around to get things done."

"Come, let's sit down and talk slowly."

Lu Bei pulled Zhu Bo to the old tree in the backyard. Not far from the stone table and stools, there was a plain-looking stone well.

After pouring a cup of tea, Zhu Bo continued, "The Spirit Bamboo business from Nine Bamboo Mountain has been set in stone for ten years. Outside of Nine Bamboo Mountain, there's an intermediary trading company. Ultimately, eighty percent flows to Dasheng Pass as refining material, and the remaining twenty percent is purchased piecemeal by cultivators from various sects."

"Brother, you've come prepared!"

"My second brother mentioned it a few times. Because it's a Dasheng Pass business, he's always wanted to push out that intermediary trading company, but he couldn't find the connections on the Nine Bamboo Mountain side, so he gave up." Zhu Bo explained.

"What do you mean? That trading company doesn't even give your Zhu family face... Could it be that they're also surnamed Zhu?" Lu Bei frowned.

"Not at all. That trading company has some connections with Prefect Li of Langyu County. They pay him quite a bit during festivals. Although my uncle is the Prefect of Dongqi Commandery, he can't reach into Dongyang County. Prefect Li is unwilling to give him face. My second brother even offered more money to raise the price, but he couldn't break in." Zhu Bo's expression was displeased.

"I understand."

Lu Bei pondered for a moment and found that it aligned perfectly with his plan. He directly stated, "The Nine Bamboo Mountain's lineage is a single sect, and my Sanqing Peak has a say. If I overthrow the current person in charge, I'll decide which trading company the Spirit Bamboo is sold to from now on."

"That's exactly the point."

Zhu Bo hadn't intended to mention this matter. It was only because Lu Bei had made a move against the Emei Sect that night that he saw a possible opportunity.

"Brother Bo, what do you mean by asking around for help?"

"Lu, my brother, you control the source of the Spirit Bamboo, and my second brother will handle the biggest buyer, Dasheng Pass. Cut off both ends, and that trading company will have no leg to stand on, even if they're in the right. Then, my uncle will write a letter to Prefect Li, and this business will be settled." Zhu Bo said confidently.

"Hehehehe..." x2

"The plan is good, but there's still one problem. Lu, my brother, you're from Langyu County. If you offend Prefect Li, your business might not go smoothly in the future!" After laughing, Zhu Bo reminded him.

"My Eldest Cousin is an old acquaintance of the County Lieutenant of Langyu County. They have a long-standing friendship. Langyu County is a peaceful place. If someone offers a small gift during the holidays, the County Lieutenant will surely not refuse."

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

The two clinked their cups and drank the tea.

Around noon, Lu Bei invited Zhu Bo to tour the beautiful scenery of Nine Bamboo Mountain. While strolling, he inadvertently arrived at the Emei Sect on Four Scenery Peaks.

Since he was already there, he decided to collect a debt.

Sect Master Ding Lei was nowhere to be found, and there were no big cats or even a few small fish and shrimp within the sect.

As expected, Lu Bei wasn't surprised. He didn't want to trouble the sect's servants. As he left, he took five geese, temporarily as interest.

He had stayed in Dasheng Pass for over two months and found the roast goose cooked by the chef at Bright Moon Tower to be extremely delicious. He was craving it, and the distant water couldn't quench the immediate thirst, so he grabbed a few to cook himself. It didn't matter if the taste wasn't good; it was natural to fail when learning. But he believed that with hard work, he would eventually be able to make this delicious dish.

That evening, the foxes had roast goose for dinner, and they sneezed from eating so much. The little fox spirit looked at him strangely. If this was what Lu Bei called eating and drinking well, then this meal ticket was not worth keeping.

On Four Scenery Peaks, Ding Lei returned stealthily. He heard from a servant that Lu Bei hadn't taken any furniture or calligraphy and paintings, only five geese. He smiled slightly and didn't take it to heart.

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

Half a month later.

Sect Master Ding Lei gradually realized the seriousness of the situation and knew he had to stop Lu Bei. If this continued, the Emei Sect would become the Goose-less Sect. Moreover, seeing Lu Bei's unhurried pace, coming to "restock" every day, he feared that after the geese were gone, it would be chickens and ducks.

Perhaps even the guard dogs would go missing.

He was no match for Lu Bei and had been forced to sign an IOU. Thinking of the distinguished guest surnamed Zhu at Sanqing Peak, Ding Lei knew that reporting the matter to the authorities would be useless. He went to Great Expansion Peak overnight to find Huang Guan, the Sect Master of the True Essence Sword Sect and the alliance leader of Nine Bamboo Mountain, to mediate.

Huang Guan was a shrewd person. As soon as Ding Lei finished explaining the situation, he immediately ruled that Lu Bei was in the wrong.

He had to apologize.

But as soon as he heard about the distinguished guest surnamed Zhu at Sanqing Peak, he immediately changed his ruling, stating that Ding Lei was at fault first for almost being deceived.

He had to go and apologize in person.

"I know I was at fault first and shouldn't have stirred up trouble, but Lu is too much. He treats my Emei Sect like his own home, coming and going as he pleases, and even wants to collect the betrothal gift money from when my master died."

Ding Lei was furious. He slammed the table and, seeing Huang Guan sitting calmly, continued, "Not only that, but he also wants to destroy the Emei Sect in one fell swoop, forcing me to sign a mortgage IOU. If I don't repay one hundred thousand taels within ten days, the Spirit Bamboo output of Four Scenery Peaks will belong to Sanqing Peak from now on."

"Ten days is not long. Think of a way to gather it."

"This was half a month ago, and several days have already passed."

Ding Lei was distressed. "It's almost the beginning of the month. When he comes with the IOU, this month's harvest from the Emei Sect will have to be fully handed over to Sanqing Peak. I've already received the deposit from SITONG Trading Company. If I don't have the Spirit Bamboo, I'll have to pay them compensation."

Seeing that it was getting late and Ding Lei seemed inclined to stay the night, Huang Guan had no choice but to say, "You go back first. I'll arrange to meet with Sect Master Zhao of Seven Plate Peaks tomorrow. She's eloquent; let her ask Sect Leader Lu what he means."