Dividend

Wang Yu noticed that when Sun Chengshan saw the knife-wielding man, his expression was also filled with wariness. He seemed to be someone even Sun Chengshan could not afford to offend.

Behind the knife-wielding man stood a broad, fat man.

He wore an expensive formal suit, his glossy slicked-back hair standing tall as he stood with his hands behind his back. His round face looked rather guileless, giving off an approachable air.

Yet when Sun Chengshan saw him, his expression turned solemn. He immediately stepped forward, his tone polite and carrying a measure of respect.

"Many thanks to Director Zheng for arriving in time. Otherwise, that thief might have gotten away!"

Zheng Anbang smiled and waved a hand. "No matter. This is, after all, within my jurisdiction. Gu Hongming and He Xuyang actually dared to gather their disciples to steal the Garrison Commander's goods. Their audacity reaches the heavens—they clearly have no regard for the Security Bureau or the Patrol Team."

"You!" Gu Hongming's eyes widened as he opened his mouth to say something.

Unfortunately, the vicious knife-wielding man pinning him down stomped his heel, dislocating Gu Hongming's jaw with a crack and leaving him unable to speak through the pain.

"No matter what, we still have Director Zheng to thank for successfully protecting the Garrison Commander's goods this time."

As Sun Chengshan spoke, he took out a palm-sized gift box. "A trifling token of thanks. I hope you will accept it."

He had clearly prepared it long ago.

Zheng Anbang's expression shifted slightly. He accepted the gift box and gently lifted half its lid.

When he saw what was inside, the smile on his face deepened. The folds of white flesh on his face piled up, nearly squeezing his eyes from sight.

It had to be said that Sun Chengshan's gift was exceedingly straightforward: a small stack of thick Star Tickets.

Every Star Ticket bore a four-digit denomination.

"Master Sun is most thoughtful." Zheng Anbang's tone grew far more familiar with Sun Chengshan.

"It is only proper. We may need to keep in closer contact with Director Zheng in the future." Sun Chengshan smiled knowingly.

The implication was that there would be many more opportunities to cooperate in the future, and Zheng Anbang would not be short of benefits.

Though handing over that sum pained him greatly, in the long run, getting in with the director of the Security Bureau would be highly beneficial for establishing himself in Island Town.

Once the Purple Coal Ore mine began bringing in a steady stream of profits, these early investments would amount to nothing.

Zheng Anbang clearly understood the financial strength Sun Chengshan possessed as the holder of mining rights, so he did not refuse this gesture of goodwill.

By comparison, although Gu Hongming, who only ran a martial arts hall, brought him gifts of money every year, this time Gu Hongming had been foolish enough to touch the Garrison Commander's goods. Naturally, Zheng Anbang immediately distanced himself from him.

At Sun Chengshan's hint, he would not mind doing a favor and ensuring that Gu Hongming and He Xuyang, who were about to begin their lives behind bars, remained there forever, eliminating future troubles at the root.

That very day, the two long-established martial arts halls in Island Town were officially sealed by the Security Bureau.

Many disciples of Jifeng Hall and Feiyingmen Hall who had participated in the theft were arrested and dealt with severely.

Once news of this vile incident spread, it caused no small amount of fallout throughout Island Town.

Other martial arts halls were dragged into the criticism as well, and their business declined considerably.

They would likely have to wait until the incident's impact faded before things could slowly return to normal.

The government also took action, deliberately tightening its control over the town's martial arts halls to prevent them from causing even worse incidents through further recklessness.

Meanwhile, Shadowless Fist Gym, at the center of the incident, continued operating as usual. It seemed entirely unaffected, and its fame in Island Town actually rose rather than fell.

That day, in Sun Chengshan's inner room.

Meng Lao Er, Wang Yu, and Sun Chengshan gathered together.

"The Garrison Commander has transferred the remaining payment for the first batch of ore."

Looking at the detailed account book, Sun Chengshan went through it item by item.

"After appraisal, over the past two months, we mined a total of 5,652 low-grade Purple Coal Stones, 748 mid-grade Purple Coal Stones, and 123 high-grade Purple Coal Stones.

"The Garrison Commander purchased them at current market prices. On average, each low-grade Purple Coal Stone was worth 22 Crystal Coins, each mid-grade one 55 Crystal Coins, and each high-grade one 255 Crystal Coins.

"All told, we made a profit of more than 196,000 Crystal Coins!"

Meng Lao Er's breathing immediately grew hurried. To him, this sum was simply an unimaginable fortune.

"My heavens."

That was nearly two hundred thousand Crystal Coins!

By his old standards of eating and living, that money would have been enough to support him for ten or even twenty years.

Wang Yu had already mentally prepared himself, so he was not overly surprised. He merely calculated quickly in his mind. According to the contract terms, after the split, he would receive nearly thirty thousand Crystal Coins.

Sun Chengshan was even less impressed. He actually felt that the earnings were somewhat low.

"We spent part of the first month gathering manpower and planning the mining grounds. Now that the operation is up and running, the profits should be greater going forward.

"Old Meng, find some reliable mining teams to expand our workforce when the time comes. The Garrison Commander has quota requirements, so we need to pick up the pace."

Meng Lao Er snapped out of his excitement and thought it over. "Then we can only hire people from neighboring island towns. I know a few, though I'm not sure whether they've gone elsewhere."

Sun Chengshan nodded. "Mm, neighboring towns will do. Wages are negotiable."

"Alright, I'll give it a try tomorrow," Meng Lao Er agreed.

Sun Chengshan looked over the accounts, then sighed again. "If we could transport these Purple Coal Stones elsewhere, I have connections that could sell them for a higher price. But it wouldn't be as safe as selling them to the local Garrison Commander."

Wang Yu shook his head. "There's nothing to be done about that. Even without Gu Hongming and the others, someone else would risk everything for it. You can guard against a spear in the open, but not an arrow from the dark.

"Now that the Garrison Commander's Security Bureau is backing us, outright robberies like this won't happen anytime soon."

"Mm." It was not as if Sun Chengshan did not understand the need to weigh gains against losses. He simply still hated to part with the money.

Cultivation was a bottomless pit, after all. He had once been poor himself and knew how hard it was to earn money.

Afterward, the three discussed the follow-up mining arrangements. During the process, Wang Yu also told Sun Chengshan about his current cultivation.

Naturally, this left Sun Chengshan surprised and delighted once more, and he placed even greater importance on Wang Yu, his new disciple.

After leaving the inner room, Meng Lao Er hurried off, planning to buy property in Island Town again for his wife and children to live in.

Now that his circumstances had improved, he also intended to send his children to school. In the future, they could practice martial arts or learn a trade to make a living.

In any case, he had money now. He no longer had to live hand to mouth, and he certainly would not let his wife and children suffer.

"Master, I want to buy some precious materials. Do you know where they are sold?" Wang Yu asked as he watched Meng Lao Er leave.

Such precious items could not possibly be found in ordinary markets. Some food shops occasionally put out a tiny amount of precious materials for sale.

But the quantities were extremely limited. Once listed, they were usually bought immediately. They were the sort of things one could only stumble upon by chance.

This was the only ordinary way he could currently access them, and it was clearly not viable.

Sun Chengshan stroked his beard and smiled. "You really are impatient, kid. The money hasn't even warmed your hands, and you already want to spend it."

"I just want to raise my cultivation as quickly as possible," Wang Yu said casually.

"You reached the Body Tempering Third Layer at such speed, yet you still aren't satisfied. I truly don't know what to say about you." Sun Chengshan shook his head.

Comparing people truly could infuriate one to death. Back then, it had taken him nearly two years to reach the Body Tempering Third Layer.

Wang Yu, on the other hand, was like a rocket taking off. He had not even needed half a year.

At this rate of cultivation, breaking through to the fourth layer of the fist art would likely happen within the next two years.

At such a pace, Wang Yu would probably surpass him in cultivation before reaching thirty.

He could be said to be the disciple most likely to cultivate Sun Chengshan's Shadowless Fist to the complete sixth layer.

Moreover, Wang Yu possessed a steady temperament and was never arrogant because of it. Sun Chengshan particularly admired that.

Other young talents were often lofty and conceited instead. It was not impossible for them to rely on their exceptional cultivation and talent to do something foolish, ruining their futures entirely.