"Uh!" Jiang Liu said, looking slightly embarrassed. "Brother Hai, I've finished Bone Tempering! I'm doing Blood Exchange now."
"Oh? You brat! How did you get so fast? No wonder the Hall Master thinks so highly of you! That's incredible!" Lin Hai became so excited that he unconsciously infused his hand with the vital energy of a Ranked Martial Practitioner before patting Jiang Liu on the shoulder.
"Hiss!" Jiang Liu immediately felt his shoulder go numb, followed by a wave of pain. He couldn't help crying out.
Jiang Liu seriously suspected that Lin Hai was taking revenge and couldn't stand seeing him outshine him in talent. Unfortunately, he couldn't beat him right now, or he would have taught him a lesson.
Seeing Jiang Liu's pained expression, Lin Hai's face stiffened. He awkwardly released his hand and said with an embarrassed laugh, "Sorry, Brother Jiang! I got carried away and didn't realize I was using too much strength!"
Jiang Liu circulated his qi and blood to ease the pain. It took quite a while before he felt a little better.
Only after sensing the circulation of Jiang Liu's qi and blood did Lin Hai realize that Jiang Liu had truly completed Bone Tempering. He couldn't help marveling inwardly. What a monster!
Thinking of how he had already reached the third grade of martial arts before turning thirty, Lin Hai felt that he could be considered a genius in the Fallen Blossom Gang.
But compared with Jiang Liu, that was nothing to look at. Jiang Liu had only just turned sixteen, and he would definitely reach Entry Grade before next year. Lin Hai himself had not reached Entry Grade until he was nearly twenty.
One had to know that Lin Hai had been building his foundation and learning martial arts since childhood to achieve his current strength. Jiang Liu, on the other hand, had only been exposed to martial arts for a year. Thinking of this, Lin Hai felt even more speechless.
Phew! Jiang Liu exhaled a breath of stale air. He reached out and rubbed his aching shoulder, glaring at Lin Hai as he said, "Brother Hai, if you'd used any more force, my arm would've been ruined!"
"Uh! Sorry, Brother Jiang! It won't happen again. Let me make it up to you. Come on, I'll take you to eat something good. We can also go check in at our hall!" Lin Hai pulled Jiang Liu along, wanting to leave.
Jiang Liu's daily belongings had already been packed and placed in his room. A Miscellaneous Affairs Hall member was carrying them now as he followed Lin Hai to find Jiang Liu.
"Brother Hai, wait a moment. I have another brother who needs to check in with us too!" Jiang Liu hurriedly said.
"You mean Wang Zhuang? He probably saw that you hadn't returned and left on his own already. It's fine. You can still see him at Hunting Eagle Hall later."
"All right!" After saying this, Jiang Liu casually accepted the bundle handed over by the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall member and followed Lin Hai out through the main gate of the Fallen Blossom Gang's headquarters.
Lin Hai pulled Jiang Liu to Gathering Wealth Street and entered Drunken Immortal Pavilion. The fairly spacious main hall was filled with clamor, making it clear that business was booming.
The moment Lin Hai entered, he shouted, "Shopkeeper, bring us a jar of Immortal Brew and a few of your best dishes!"
The shopkeeper, who had been tallying accounts behind the counter, looked up and said, "Master Lin! Certainly! It'll be here shortly!" He turned around and immediately issued the orders.
Lin Hai led Jiang Liu with practiced familiarity to a seat by the window on the second floor. Compared with the first floor, the second was much quieter. Jiang Liu raised his head and glanced around. The third floor seemed to consist of private rooms.
The waiter following them immediately took a rag and wiped down the table, then poured them tea. "Master Lin, have a rest first! The wine and dishes will be here shortly."
Lin Hai waved his hand. "Stop fussing around here! Hurry downstairs and tell the kitchen to get cooking!"
"Yes, Master Lin!" After bowing, the waiter turned and went downstairs.
"Brother Jiang, do you know what Drunken Immortal Pavilion is most famous for?" Lin Hai asked, putting on an air of mystery.
"What?" Jiang Liu played along perfectly.
"This Immortal Brew," Lin Hai said smugly.
"Oh? What's so special about it?" Jiang Liu continued playing along.
"Immortal Brew can stimulate a martial practitioner's qi and blood. It's especially beneficial for Body Refinement Realm martial practitioners who are building their foundations. It's said to be brewed by immortals, which is why it's called Immortal Brew." Lin Hai spoke with the air of a teacher imparting knowledge.
"Then this wine can't be cheap, right?" Jiang Liu asked with slight curiosity. Isn't this just hunger marketing?
"The price isn't the issue! The issue is that they produce only a small amount each day, so not everyone can drink it. I only get a share because I've benefited from Master Lin's connections!" Lin Hai said proudly.
"Ah! Then the wine all those people downstairs are drinking isn't this Immortal Brew?" Jiang Liu asked curiously.
"Of course not! Where would they get enough Immortal Brew to supply everyone? They usually drink Immortal Nectar. Although the names differ by only one character, the effects are worlds apart. That one has unlimited supply. Immortal Brew is only served on the second floor and above, and even then, it's rationed." Lin Hai explained.
Could this Immortal Nectar be diluted Immortal Brew being sold again? What an incredible business! Jiang Liu thought.
Jiang Liu looked around and saw several tables sparsely occupied. "Not just anyone is qualified to come up to the second floor, right?"
"Of course not! It's a symbol of status!" Lin Hai said smugly.
Looking at Lin Hai's smug expression, Jiang Liu asked, "Then why don't we go up to the third floor?"
"Uh!" Lin Hai immediately looked as if someone had grabbed him by the throat, leaving him speechless. In the end, he muttered, "I can't get onto the third floor!"
Jiang Liu laughed inwardly. I knew it would be like this. I'd gone through this kind of marketing routine countless times in my previous life.
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