Financial Products

"Six... Six Qi Vortex??"

"Am I seeing things?"

"Brother Shen only has three vortices..."

"Damn!! He's still hiding it, this kid's still hiding it!"

At the sight, the surrounding apprentices burst into exclamations.

And the Martial Dao beauty Li Miaomiao's eyes went wide, utterly incredulous.

So the real genius wasn't Shen Yifan, but this Lin Guanhuo??

This time.

Even Instructor Zhou Cang couldn't stay calm.

"Good! Haha!"

"Good!"

Instructor Zhou Cang laughed heartily, saying "good" twice.

Sure enough, he hadn't misjudged the man!

This Lin Guanhuo was indeed a genius!

Good thing he hadn't driven Lin Guanhuo away in a fit of anger earlier.

Otherwise, wouldn't he have handed such a talent over to other martial arts schools?

Zhou Cang was beaming like he'd found a treasure.

Their Demon Suppressing Division had encountered talents who could cultivate the Demon Suppressing Breathing Technique to six qi vortices in a single day before.

But never one as young as Lin Guanhuo.

This kid's future was boundless!

"Not at all, not at all. It's thanks to Brother Shen's guidance." Lin Guanhuo clasped his fists and said modestly.

The apprentices on site were already stunned by Lin Guanhuo's six vortices.

Hearing this, especially Shen Yifan.

His expression instantly turned ugly, like a steamed eggplant.

Insult!!

Bare-faced insult!!

This was practically slapping Shen Yifan in the face.

After all, even a fool knew a bronze couldn't coach a king.

"It's... it's Brother Lin's high comprehension. Heh... heh..."

Shen Yifan gave an awkward laugh.

Then came dinner time.

The canteen buzzed with noise.

A line of apprentices queued for steamed buns and braised meat.

Shen Yifan, the once-coddled genius, carried his tray and found a random seat.

His expression was a bit dejected, clearly rattled by Lin Guanhuo earlier.

He hadn't expected there to be a hidden genius among these apprentices—he'd misjudged.

'It's fine. There's still the Monthly Exam! I can turn this around!'

'I've been making good progress lately. My family bought me a few bottles of Qi Boosting Powder. I should be able to break through to Body Tempering third-grade before the exam!'

'By then, I'll still be the most dazzling genius among this batch of apprentices!'

'Lin Guanhuo! The outcome isn't decided yet!'

Shen Yifan clenched his fist. His confidence was instantly restored.

Just then.

Instructor Zhou Cang strode into the apprentice canteen, heading straight for Lin Guanhuo in the corner.

"Lin Guanhuo, come with me."

Zhou Cang waved at Lin Guanhuo, then entered the South Canteen Room.

Lin Guanhuo followed at the call.

The South Canteen Room was where instructors, managers, and clerical officials ate during the apprentice training period.

Seeing this, every apprentice in the canteen froze.

Everyone knew—this was special treatment.

This was the privilege of a genius.

Lin Guanhuo walked into the South Room, which was somewhat like a private dining room in a restaurant.

A few tables were set up here, and people were eating.

At this moment, Zhou Cang pointed to a spot by the window and said to a kitchen worker, "Add a table there, same meal standard as ours."

"Sure thing, rest assured, Instructor Zhou."

The worker nodded and bowed, immediately going to fetch a table.

Then Zhou Cang said to Lin Guanhuo, "Before you leave Apprentice Plaza, eat here. You're young and need plenty of nourishment."

Lin Guanhuo didn't stand on ceremony: "Thank you, Instructor."

Zhou Cang nodded and said nothing more.

That was just how he was—if he valued you, he gave you resources, no need for empty formalities.

Soon, the food arrived.

A large plate of braised beef.

Along with meat buns and a bowl of bone broth, the aroma was mouthwatering.

"Take your time eating; there's more if it's not enough."

The worker setting the dishes whispered as he arranged them, "Little brother, you're the first apprentice to eat in this South Room. Instructor Zhou really looks out for you."

After finishing his meal, Lin Guanhuo returned to the dormitory, shut the doors and windows tight.

He pulled out a set of black coarse-cloth clothes he usually didn't wear from under the bed and changed into them.

He also put on a wide straw hat, covering most of his face.

His previous silver was almost spent, and now he had no money.

To keep up his intense training, he had to make money.

And the most valuable thing he had on hand was that piece of Dog Head Gold.

Gold was inconvenient to spend, so Lin Guanhuo planned to go to the city's money house and exchange it all for silver.

Without delay, Lin Guanhuo changed clothes and, while it wasn't fully dark yet, left the apprentice dormitory.

About half an hour later, Lin Guanhuo arrived in front of a pavilion.

On the roof of the pavilion was a huge ingot sculpture, and below it, a plaque read 'Taihe Money House' in large characters.

This was the largest money house in Blackwater City, with deep backing and excellent reputation.

Though it was evening, the money house was still brightly lit.

Lin Guanhuo pressed down his straw hat and walked to an empty counter.

"Exchange money."

His voice was hoarse as he pulled the heavy lump of Dog Head Gold from his sleeve and gently placed it on the counter: "Half for banknotes, half for cash silver."

The clerk behind the counter was a middle-aged man, originally working an abacus.

Seeing this large lump of gold casually thrown on the counter, he was clearly taken aback.

Such a big gold nugget, at least thirty or forty taels!

The clerk didn't dare be careless; he quickly picked up the gold, checking its quality and weighing it.

"Sir, this gold is of excellent quality!"

The clerk's attitude became much more respectful as he clacked the abacus: "It can be exchanged for a total of six hundred taels of silver ingots."

Six hundred taels!

That was a fortune enough for an ordinary person to establish themselves for a lifetime!

"Exchange it." Lin Guanhuo was concise.

"Right away."

The clerk worked swiftly and soon had the silver ready.

Six banknotes of fifty taels each, along with a pile of white broken silver, were laid out before Lin Guanhuo.

Lin Guanhuo waved his hand, sweeping all the silver into his Brocade Bag, and turned to leave.

"Sir, please wait."

Just as Lin Guanhuo was about to leave.

The clerk suddenly smiled and handed over a name card: "Seeing that you're well-off, sir, have you considered any financial management?"

"Financial management?" Lin Guanhuo was taken aback.

"Exactly."

The clerk grinned, pitching his sales spiel: "Our Taihe Money House has deep partnerships with the Demon Suppressing Division and various martial arts schools—rest assured of our strength. Right now, several properties south of Blackwater City are being sold cheaply... and in neighboring Rock City and Giant Forest City, our money house has business too."

"In these chaotic times, money sitting idle is dead money. Only money making money is a long-term plan. If you're interested, we can..."

"No need."

Lin Guanhuo was speechless for a moment.

Cutting off his own words, he turned and walked away.

Strolling down the street, Lin Guanhuo weighed the Brocade Bag in his hand.

An Ordinary Servant of the Demon Suppressing Division.

Their monthly salary was no more than ten taels.

To save up these six hundred taels, even without eating or drinking, he'd have to work for five years.

And he had earned it all by killing just one Dog Demon.

"Murder and arson bring gold and silk; slaying demons and monsters... is even more lucrative."

Lin Guanhuo pulled his hat brim low, and his figure quickly vanished into the shadows of the street.