The business introduction was over.
Next came signing the contract and transferring the money, officially establishing the employment relationship.
Before that, however, Lin Ze needed to test whether these security personnel's actual abilities matched their résumés.
Although, with his martial artist's trained eye, Lin Ze could tell that these security personnel were in excellent physical condition, already at the peak of what ordinary people in the Main World could achieve, the firearms proficiency he valued most could only be assessed after a practical demonstration.
He didn't want a minor oversight to get him a bunch of useless guards, only for him to end up dead in the Golden Continent.
The tests on the athletic field were over, and Lin Ze was very satisfied with the fifty security personnel he had selected.
Ten of them were female security guards.
But every one of them, male or female, had excellent fighting skills and physical fitness. They could all handle various firearms and individual combat equipment with ease, and some also had specialized skills such as translation, cooking, and information security.
The female bodyguards were slightly inferior to the men in physical fitness.
But in certain situations that called for communicating with people, they could also put their unique strengths to good use.
Although we usually ate plenty of good things, a twelve-jin Little Yellow Croaker like this was truly rare—the kind that was hard to buy even if you had money.
"The effect is about the same as what you drank. Staying up late, too much sex, and aging can all lead to kidney qi deficiency. But the one you had is suitable for men. The prescription I've made now is for middle-aged and elderly women, and it's much more effective than the conventional medicines on the market."
As he spoke, Zhao Jing set down a freshly prepared dose of medicine.
Ji Shuqing looked at herself in the mirror. The dark circles beneath her eyes stood out against her fair skin.
"Those dark circles are awful. I slept for eight hours, too."
"You're up? Drink that bowl of medicine."
At the table, the two kept thanking Cai Dong, feeling that all the time they had spent helping Zhao Jing today had been well worth it.
"Take five pills at a time, three times a day."
Feeling much better, Ji Shuqing hurriedly set down the bowl, tossed out a quick "I'm off to work," and turned to run.
He had only just reached the Vein Opening realm, yet practicing martial arts already cost him so much. Once he reached higher realms, the money he needed would be enough to make his scalp tingle. How could anyone become a master without money?
"Replenish yin and nourish the kidneys, boost qi and soothe the spirit."
Ji Shuqing had been quite excited yesterday when she saw Zhao Jing pay several hundred million in taxes all at once. The moment Cai Dong came home that night, she couldn't help dragging him into a late-night romp.
Zhao Jing said.
"Once a day. Brew one dose three times and drink it in three portions. It should replenish the kidney qi you've depleted lately. Then you can go back to challenging me beyond your abilities."
"If I feel like I can make money selling medicine..."
If he sold medicine in bulk in the Other World, Bright Moon Pavilion, a major buyer, would surely investigate Cai Dong's supply sources. They would discover that Zhao Jing seemed to conjure his supplies out of thin air, leaving Cai Dong in an awkward position.
Of course, this wasn't a long-term solution. Using the ingredients this way wouldn't bring out the full medicinal effect or neutralize the side effects as much as possible, and it would put a tremendous strain on the liver.
After seeing Zhao Jing pay several hundred million in taxes all at once yesterday, I was honestly pretty excited. When Cai Dong came home that night, I couldn't help dragging him into a late-night romp.
"Then I'll help you get in touch with them over the next couple of days. When the time comes, I'll help you secure it at a discounted price."
Hearing this, Zhao Jing smiled and nodded. "All right, then I'll trouble Yamen Secretary Zhao. I was just wondering how to house all these security personnel."
At Bright Moon Pavilion in the Other World, a prescription called the Marrow Cleansing Qi Strengthening Pill came to Zhao Jing's attention. It was the most effective medicine there for assisting qi cultivation.
"All right, I'll go help you get it sorted over the next couple of days. When the time comes, I'll help you secure it at a discounted price."
"Day after day, aside from setting aside some time to practice martial arts, Zhao Jing spent all his other time making Marrow Cleansing Qi Strengthening Pills."
After a full day's work, he finally turned all the ingredients he had prepared into pills for martial arts training. He vacuum-packed them and stored them in his Personal Space for use over the coming days.
By going from practicing once a day without affecting his normal life to practicing twice a day without affecting it, the pills had effectively increased Zhao Jing's cultivation speed fivefold.
Ji Shuqing's cheeks flushed. She remembered how she'd challenged him beyond her abilities last night.
After washing up and getting dressed, she headed out and caught the smell of medicine.
"I'd better forget it. I don't have a source for the supplies."
The ingredients for one batch of Marrow Cleansing Qi Strengthening Pills cost five hundred and twenty taels of silver. That was after Zhao Jing had reduced the cost by combining resources from both worlds. If he bought all the ingredients in either the Main World or the Other World alone, the cost would probably double.
After a long while, Zhao Jing stood motionless and slowly exhaled.
But now, she was feeling the consequences.
For a moment, Zhao Jing had a sudden inspiration.
Ten days? Selling medicine wasn't like getting a little fish or some mushrooms. He couldn't just claim the goods had come from natural sources.
"It's no wonder there aren't many peerless masters in the Other World."
"Those medicines can replenish your energy and strengthen your body to a certain extent."
The 41 million payment was transferred from Lin Ze's Zhiyuan Trading Company account to Jixiang Security Company. Lin Ze now had fifty powerful, highly trained security personnel under his command.
After dinner, they drank tea to settle their stomachs. Cai Dong took the initiative and said, "Mr. Lin, you hired fifty security personnel today, and with the other household staff, you'll need a big house to accommodate all your people. As it happens, I know of an estate for sale on the outskirts of Tiannan City."
Once her strength had returned, Ji Shuqing's mind cleared considerably. She immediately understood why Zhao Jing had prepared this for her.
Ji Shuqing moved faster than she thought. She picked up the bowl and drank it all in one go, only then asking Cai Dong what it was for.
Zhao Jing poured out five pills and swallowed them.
"You've got dark circles under your eyes. Don't tell me you're already worn out at your age?"
Ji Shuqing was embarrassed. She hadn't expected the subject to circle back around to her again.
After a pause, Cai Dong added, "You said you were leaving for the Golden Continent on the twenty-ninth. I can apply for the chartered plane and flight route for you when I go back today. Then you can depart straight from our military airfield."
Zhao Jing fixed Ji Shuqing with a glance, the corner of his mouth curling into a smile as he replied:
When Zhao Jing got back to his current place yesterday morning, he had spotted a problem. Before Zhao Jing even realized anything was wrong, he had offered to help him sort it out.
Everything went smoothly with He Mingxuan's full cooperation.
Those things were all things Zhao Jing could have arranged by spending money, but it would have taken both time and effort. Having someone else handle them was certainly a good thing.
Zhao Jing said.
"Does that mean I can make money selling medicine?"
Ji Shuqing's cheeks flushed, and she remembered how she had challenged him beyond her abilities last night.
Zhao Jing filled a prescription to replenish her vitality at a cost of 140,000, and the ingredients were very difficult to gather. That meant he couldn't make it in large quantities, and had to sell it at a high price.
"Get up. I'm heading out soon, so brew all this medicine and drink it."
Ji Shuqing glanced at him. "I haven't challenged you beyond my abilities."
Zhao Jing was once again struck by inspiration.
"Besides that, you'll need some vehicles here in the country for the security personnel. I can help you buy them at a discounted price and save you a lot of money."
"You've just started practicing a superior martial art, so of course you're feeling this way."
"Then I'll trouble you, Mr. He. By the way, Delicious Forest is opening on the twenty-eighth. I'd be delighted if you both came to the opening ceremony."
That Yamen Secretary Zhao really was thoughtful.
"Yeah, yeah, stop talking. Starting tomorrow, I'll just practice the Life Nurturing Fist you gave me."
Soon, Zhao Jing reached the final step in preparing the medicine.
A large lump of pure white medicinal paste appeared in front of Cai Dong. Cai Dong rolled it into soybean-sized pills and packed them into a glass bottle.
He had only reached the Vein Opening realm, yet martial arts training already cost him so much. At higher realms, the expense would be enough to make anyone's scalp tingle. How could anyone become a master without money?
"Unless..."
The people who had been invited to the table, Huang Jinzhou and Lin Ze, both felt their faces glowing with health.
After all, Zhao Jing was the actual controller of a company. Spending money to hire guards and keep the company directors safe was perfectly reasonable.
She could head straight to work after taking a quick shower.
The ingredients for a batch of Marrow Cleansing Qi Strengthening Pills cost five hundred and twenty taels of silver. That was after Zhao Jing had cut costs considerably by using resources from both worlds. If he bought all the ingredients in either the Main World or the Other World alone, the cost would probably double.
Zhao Jing glanced at Ji Shuqing and said.
After he swallowed them, Zhao Jing felt warm all over before long. His blood and qi flowed faster, and the Inner Breath within his meridians and acupoints became livelier.
Zhao Jing said.
"Mr. Lin, you hired fifty security personnel today. With the other household staff, you'll need a big house to accommodate all your people. As it happens, I know of an estate for sale on the outskirts of Tiannan City."
Ji Shuqing's cheeks flushed, and she remembered how she had challenged him beyond her abilities last night.
Zhao Jing had only just started practicing a superior martial art, so of course his energy was running low.
After a brief pause, Huang Jinzhou added, "You said you were leaving for the Golden Continent on the twenty-ninth. I can apply for the chartered plane and flight route for you when I go back today. Then you can depart straight from our military airfield."
Zhao Jing had been practicing for more than a week since he started learning superior martial arts.
Once her physical condition improved, Ji Shuqing's mind cleared considerably. She immediately understood why Zhao Jing had prepared this for her.
That said, it was completely normal for a woman to be a little tired after spending the night riding a man hard.
The test had proven that those security personnel were all highly capable.
Zhao Jing packed the medicine he'd prepared for tomorrow's gift, then began making the medicine he needed for martial arts training.
"The medicine doesn't taste bitter like ordinary medicine. It's actually sweet, and my lower abdomen feels warm. I suddenly feel so much more alert—I'm not tired at all anymore."
"You'd better forget it. I don't have a source for the supplies."
"I've been fine."
Before long, the first day of Delicious Forest's opening was a huge success.
This kind of medicine was easy to sell in the Main World, but Zhao Jing didn't really want to do that for now.
Ji Shuqing's movements outpaced her thoughts. She picked up the bowl and drank it all in one go, only then asking what it was for.
In the Main World, by comparison, selling tonic medicine was easy, but Zhao Jing didn't really want to pursue it for now.
Afterward, Zhao Jing smiled and said, "The opening ceremony for Delicious Forest is on the twenty-eighth. I'd be delighted if you both came."
After a brief pause, Huang Jinzhou added, "You said you were leaving for the Golden Continent on the twenty-ninth. I can apply for the chartered plane and flight route for you when I go back today. Then you can depart straight from our military airfield."
Since she was going back to work, Ji Shuqing couldn't keep spending the whole day lying around at home.
By practicing a superior martial art, Zhao Jing's blood and qi were being consumed much faster. Ordinary meals could no longer make up for the loss, so he needed to take medicines that replenished his qi and blood.
It was hard to believe Yamen Secretary Zhao had thought of everything.
A twelve-jin Little Yellow Croaker was weighed on the spot and turned into a feast, making quite a show.
In the future, he might look into it, but it wasn't something Cai Dong was considering right now.
Zhao Jing said.
The medicine helped replenish energy and strengthen the body to a certain extent.
Hearing this, Zhao Jing smiled.
"How can she already be sick of me? I was teaching her how to train her body."
Zhao Jing's gaze swept over Ji Shuqing.
The female bodyguards lagged slightly behind the men in physical fitness.
A single batch yielded only 160 pills, working out to one and a half taels of silver per pill. Taking them while training for a month would cost 675 taels of silver.
As a company's actual controller, hiring guards to protect the company directors was a perfectly reasonable use of money.
The medicines could replenish energy and strengthen the body to a certain extent.
Zhao Jing glanced at Ji Shuqing and said.
Ji Shuqing went quiet, her cheeks flushed. She had challenged Zhao Jing beyond her abilities last night and gotten what she deserved.
Besides, the Other World couldn't compare to the Main World in production capacity and abundance of goods.
Natural supplies were limited, and many medicines were actually cultivated by people.
"Aren't you a little young to be having trouble already?"
But now, she was feeling the consequences.
Zhao Jing, who had just started practicing a superior martial art, was already feeling the strain.
"Take the medicine. It's for building up your body."
Zhao Jing felt his cultivation progress.
"What's this medicine for?"
After she drank it, Ji Shuqing felt none of the bitterness of ordinary medicine. Instead, a sweet taste welled up in her mouth, and warmth spread through her lower abdomen. She felt her spirits lift, and all her fatigue was gone.
After Zhao Jing reached the final step, he rolled the pure white medicinal paste into soybean-sized pills and put them into a glass bottle.
In the Main World, by comparison, selling tonic medicine was easy, but Zhao Jing didn't really want to pursue it for now.
It felt just about as effective as what she'd been drinking.
"Don't tell me you're already worn out at your age?"
Her cheeks flushed. She remembered how she'd challenged him beyond her abilities last night.
Watching her back as she rushed away, Zhao Jing smiled.
She didn't want to spend the day lying around at home. Delicious Forest was about to open, and she had no time to rest.
Zhao Jing explained.
"I'm fine."
Ji Shuqing glanced at him. "I haven't challenged you beyond my abilities."
Zhao Jing raised his head and looked at Ji Shuqing.
"You're up? Drink that bowl of medicine."
Zhao Jing said.
"Besides that, you'll need some vehicles here in the country for the security personnel. I can help you buy them at a discounted price and save you a lot of money."
"Then I'll trouble you, Mr. He. By the way, Delicious Forest is opening on the twenty-eighth. I'd be delighted if you both came."
"Of course."
"Go ahead and brew the medicine. I'm heading out soon."
Ji Shuqing looked at Zhao Jing.
Zhao Jing swallowed five pills in one go.
"This is for building up your body."
"Isn't that too much?"
"It's a normal dose."
Thanks to He Mingxuan's full cooperation, they quickly completed every step of the process.
Once his physical condition improved, Ji Shuqing's mind cleared considerably. She understood at once why Zhao Jing had prepared the medicine.
"Thanks for the trouble, Mr. Lin."
At the table, the two kept thanking Cai Dong, feeling that all the time they had spent helping Zhao Jing today had been well worth it.
After the meal, they drank tea to settle their stomachs.
A twelve-jin Little Yellow Croaker was weighed on the spot and turned into a feast, making quite a show.
As soon as she entered the kitchen, she saw Zhao Jing arranging medicinal ingredients.
Zhao Jing looked at Ji Shuqing.
"Take five pills at a time, three times a day."
Hearing this, Zhao Jing smiled.
"Then I'll trouble Yamen Secretary Zhao. I was just wondering how to house all these security personnel."
"You've just started practicing a superior martial art, so of course you're feeling this way."
Hearing this, Zhao Jing smiled.
Then he started making the medicine he needed for martial arts training.
"Get up. Drink that bowl of medicine."
"I'm fine."
Ji Shuqing's face turned red. She remembered how she had challenged Zhao Jing beyond her abilities last night.
"I'll go help you get in touch with them over the next couple of days. When the time comes, I'll help you secure it at a discounted price."
"As it happens, I'm heading out soon. Brew all this medicine and drink it."
"One dose a day. Brew it three times and drink it in three portions. It should replenish the kidney qi you've depleted lately. Then you can go back to challenging me beyond your abilities."
"You'd better forget it. I don't have a source for the supplies."
Zhao Jing said.
"Once a day. Brew one dose three times and drink it in three portions. It should replenish the kidney qi you've depleted lately. Then you can go back to challenging me beyond your abilities."
Ji Shuqing went quiet, her cheeks flushed.
She looked at Zhao Jing.
Zhao Jing had only just started practicing a superior martial art, so of course his energy was running low.
"You're up? Drink that bowl of medicine."
She picked up the bowl and drank it all in one go, only then asking what it was for.
Zhao Jing glanced at her.
"It's for building up your body."
"You're not sick, are you?"
"It's a normal dose."
She took the bowl.
After taking a quick shower, she got dressed and headed out.
Zhao Jing's Inner Breath was growing faster than before, and energy kept surging through his body. He figured that after resting for a while, he could train again.
After a long while, Zhao Jing stood motionless and slowly exhaled.
He had practiced superior martial arts for more than a week by then.
The Marrow Cleansing Qi Strengthening Pill had a cost of 240 taels for Zhao Jing to make, while Bright Moon Pavilion's cost was around 500 taels. The finished pills sold for five taels of silver each.
By going from practicing once a day without affecting his normal life to practicing twice a day without affecting it, the pills had effectively increased Zhao Jing's cultivation speed fivefold.
A single batch yielded only 160 pills, working out to one and a half taels of silver per pill. Taking them while training for a month would cost 675 taels of silver.
Zhao Jing said.
As soon as she entered the kitchen, she saw Zhao Jing arranging medicinal ingredients.
"You're up? Drink that bowl of medicine."
Ji Shuqing picked up the bowl and drank it all in one go.
"Thank you, Mr. Lin."
At the table, the two kept thanking Cai Dong.
After the meal, they drank tea to settle their stomachs.
"Then I'll trouble you, Mr. He. By the way, Delicious Forest is opening on the twenty-eighth. I'd be delighted if you both came."
The people who had been invited to the table, Huang Jinzhou and Lin Ze, both felt their faces glowing with health.
A twelve-jin Little Yellow Croaker was weighed on the spot and turned into a feast, making quite a show.
Zhao Jing said.
"All right."
"I'll go help you get in touch with them over the next couple of days."
Ji Shuqing looked at Zhao Jing.
She didn't want to spend the day lying around at home. Delicious Forest was about to open, and she had no time to rest.
After she drank it, Ji Shuqing felt none of the bitterness of ordinary medicine. Instead, a sweet taste welled up in her mouth, and warmth spread through her lower abdomen. She felt her spirits lift, and all her fatigue was gone.
"What's this medicine for?"
"Replenish yin and nourish the kidneys, boost qi and soothe the spirit."
Ji Shuqing said nothing, her cheeks flushed.
"Then I'll trouble Yamen Secretary Zhao. I was just wondering how to house all these security personnel."
After Zhao Jing reached the final step, he rolled the pure white medicinal paste into soybean-sized pills and put them into a glass bottle.
A twelve-jin Little Yellow Croaker was weighed on the spot and turned into a feast, making quite a show.
Zhao Jing looked at Ji Shuqing.
"Take the medicine. It's for building up your body."
Ji Shuqing picked up the bowl and drank it all in one go.
Ji Shuqing turned red, remembering how she had challenged him beyond her abilities the night before.
Zhao Jing glanced at her.
"Go ahead and brew the medicine. I'm heading out soon."
She looked at him.
"Five pills at a time, three times a day."
"All right."
Zhao Jing stood motionless and slowly exhaled.
"Thanks for the trouble, Mr. Lin."
After the meal, they drank tea to settle their stomachs.
The Marrow Cleansing Qi Strengthening Pill had a cost of 240 taels for Zhao Jing to make, while Bright Moon Pavilion's cost was around 500 taels. The finished pills sold for five taels of silver each.
But in the Other World, production capacity and supplies couldn't compare to the Main World.
Natural supplies were limited, and many medicines were actually cultivated by people.
Zhao Jing glanced at Ji Shuqing.
"Take the medicine. It's for building up your body."
She looked at Zhao Jing.
After a full day's work, he finally turned all the ingredients he had prepared into pills for martial arts training. He vacuum-packed them and stored them in his Personal Space.
On September 29, Zhao Jing boarded a chartered flight to the Golden Continent with fifty security personnel. He had paid one million to charter it.
At Delicious Forest, Ji Chun personally took charge of the kitchen and entertained Zhao Jing's guests.
As soon as she entered the kitchen, she saw Zhao Jing arranging medicinal ingredients.
"You're up? Drink that bowl of medicine."
Ji Shuqing drank it all in one go, only then asking what it was for.
"Replenish yin and nourish the kidneys, boost qi and soothe the spirit."
She didn't want to spend the day lying around at home. Delicious Forest was about to open, and she had no time to rest.
Zhao Jing explained.
"That medicine will replenish your energy and strengthen your body to a certain extent."
"One dose a day. Brew it three times and drink it in three portions."
"Isn't that too much?"
"It's a normal dose."
Zhao Jing filled the prescription to replenish her vitality at a cost of 140,000, and the ingredients were very difficult to gather. That meant he couldn't make it in large quantities, and had to sell it at a high price.
"Does that mean I can make money selling medicine?"
Zhao Jing's gaze swept over Ji Shuqing.
"Don't tell me you're already worn out at your age?"
Ji Shuqing was embarrassed.
"Then I'll just practice the Life Nurturing Fist you gave me."
Zhao Jing looked at her and smiled.
"Those medicines can replenish your energy and strengthen your body to a certain extent."
Ji Shuqing picked up the bowl and drank it all in one go.
Ji Shuqing looked at herself in the mirror. The dark circles beneath her eyes stood out against her fair skin.
The security personnel's tests were complete.
The female bodyguards lagged slightly behind the men in physical fitness.
But in certain situations that called for communicating with people, they could also put their unique strengths to good use.
A twelve-jin Little Yellow Croaker was weighed on the spot and turned into a feast, making quite a show.
"Thank you, Mr. Lin."
Ji Shuqing blushed, remembering how she had challenged him beyond her abilities last night.
She got up, washed, got dressed, and headed out.
Zhao Jing looked at her.
"Drink that bowl of medicine."
Ji Shuqing picked up the bowl.
The 41 million payment was transferred from Lin Ze's Zhiyuan Trading Company account to Jixiang Security Company. Lin Ze now had fifty powerful security personnel under his command.
Zhao Jing said.
"Take five pills at a time, three times a day."
"All right."
She took the bowl.
Zhao Jing poured out five pills and swallowed them.
"Those medicines can replenish your energy and strengthen your body to a certain extent."
Ji Shuqing fell silent, her cheeks flushed.
"I'm fine."
Zhao Jing smiled.
After a long while, Zhao Jing stood motionless and slowly exhaled.
In the end, even Prefect Zhou attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony at Delicious Forest.
Zhao Jing's gesture couldn't have been more generous.
"Thank you, Mr. He."
Ji Shuqing looked at Zhao Jing.
After she drank it, Ji Shuqing felt none of the bitterness of ordinary medicine. Instead, a sweet taste welled up in her mouth, and warmth spread through her lower abdomen. She felt her spirits lift, and all her fatigue was gone.
Ji Shuqing looked at Zhao Jing.
"What's this medicine for?"
Zhao Jing explained.
"You're not sick, are you?"
"It's a normal dose."
"Then I'll trouble you, Mr. He. By the way, Delicious Forest is opening on the twenty-eighth. I'd be delighted if you both came."
Ji Shuqing set down the bowl and hurried off to work.
The Marrow Cleansing Qi Strengthening Pill was the most effective medicine for assisting qi cultivation at Bright Moon Pavilion.
Natural supplies were limited, and many medicines were actually cultivated by people.
Zhao Jing watched her rush away and smiled.
She didn't want to spend the day lying around at home. Delicious Forest was about to open, and she had no time to rest.
Zhao Jing said.
"It's for building up your body."
Ji Shuqing fell silent, her cheeks flushed.
He kept practicing martial arts every day, and could feel his progress. The Inner Breath flowing through the meridians and acupoints in his body grew more abundant, keeping his motivation strong.
He shifted and moved within a small space. His punches and kicks looked ordinary, but faint explosions seemed to rumble around him, like thunder brewing in the silence—a vast and powerful force.
"How can she already be sick of me? I was teaching her how to train her body."
The female bodyguards lagged slightly behind the men in physical fitness.
They all had excellent fighting skills and physical fitness, could handle various firearms and individual combat equipment with ease, and some also had specialized skills such as translation, cooking, and information security.
The ten female security personnel were every bit as capable as the men in combat and physical fitness.
On September 28, Zhao Jing attended Delicious Forest's opening ceremony. Besides Lin Ze, who had been invited earlier, other partners who had worked with Zhiyuan Trading Company, such as Green Curtain Mountain, also came to show their support after seeing Zhao Jing's post on social media.
Before long, Delicious Forest's opening day was a huge success.
Even Prefect Zhou attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony at Delicious Forest.
On September 29, Zhao Jing boarded a chartered flight to the Golden Continent with fifty security personnel.
Before you continue