Selling Off Family Property, Testing Quotas

The news of the Thirteen Bandits of Golden Spear wreaking havoc had spread like wildfire, causing widespread panic in the city.

Many traveling merchants were too afraid to even leave the city, resulting in the inns being packed for days on end.

Chu Ge had been reminded of this by Constable Xiao Qin the day before.

The next day, a junior disciple from the Tiger Martial Arts School visited, bringing a reminder from Hu Xuezhi. He advised Chu Ge not to leave the city for the time being, and to wait until things stabilized outside.

"Waiting until things stabilize outside... If Master Hu means to clear out the Heavenly Incense and Prayer Cult's strongholds outside the city, could it be that Master Hu will also get involved?"

Chu Ge had some suspicions in his heart, but he couldn't be sure.

Hu Xuezhi was old, after all, and his vital energy was waning.

Although he possessed the strength of the Fourth Realm: Blood Change, his actual combat power might not be that high.

Furthermore, the saying goes that the older one gets in the martial world, the more timid they become. Hu Xuezhi returning to Linyuan City to open a martial arts school clearly indicated his intention to live out his retirement peacefully, and he might not want to get involved in any more fighting.

"Young Master, these are the recent accounts for our Fu Lai Inn. Business has been very good these past few days! Every room is fully occupied."

At this moment, Steward Fu approached with the ledger and an abacus, reporting with a smile.

"Mm."

Chu Ge waved his hand. "You can just keep these accounts yourself, Steward Fu. No need to show them to me. By the way, have you finished organizing the detailed information and land deeds for our Chu Family's properties within the city?"

"Everything has been organized. I'll send it to your study shortly, Young Master."

Steward Fu felt a little helpless.

His young master was interested in everything and wanted to learn how to do it all, but seemed to have no interest in business.

Chu Ge knew exactly what Steward Fu was thinking.

It wasn't that he wasn't interested in business; rather, he was dedicating his main energy to martial arts and esoteric skills.

Wealth, to him, was merely a resource to enhance his martial arts and esoteric skills.

He trusted Steward Fu implicitly with managing the finances, as Steward Fu had watched him grow up.

"Young Master, this is an invitation from the Wang Family, requesting your presence at their residence tomorrow evening! They wish to discuss joining forces and banding together."

Finally, Steward Fu presented an invitation.

"Oh? Joining forces?"

Chu Ge took the red invitation with gilded lettering and nodded slightly.

He guessed that Constable Xiao Qin's reminder had alerted the wealthiest man in the city, Wang Youcai.

Speaking of which, he still had to address Wang Youcai as 'Uncle'.

Back when Chu Ge's parents were alive and the Chu Family's business was booming, Wang Youcai had even considered a marriage alliance between the two families, arranging for their children to be together.

Later, after Chu Ge's parents passed away, the matter naturally fell through.

However, overall, the relationship between the two families had been quite good. The previous Chu Ge and Wang Youcai's daughter, Wang Xiuyun, also had a good relationship, with no dramatic incidents.

"Since I transmigrated here, apart from collecting items, I've rarely interacted with their family, focusing solely on practicing martial arts. This gathering..."

After pondering for a moment, Chu Ge decided he should go tomorrow.

When he asked Steward Fu to organize the land deeds and other documents, he had already made plans to sell off some of the family's underperforming assets, convert them into cash, and leave.

And to sell assets, it would be necessary for these wealthy merchants to invest and take over, which naturally required interaction.

Linyuan City was too small.

He had already entered the Blood Change Realm, and his next step was the Force Condensation Realm.

To acquire more cultivation resources and techniques, he had to venture out.

Soon, it was the evening of the next day.

Outside the Wang Family's mansion in Linyuan City, carriages and horses bustled, and the guests were all distinguished individuals, either wealthy or noble, all prominent figures in Linyuan City, showcasing the Wang Family's influence.

Chu Ge also arrived by carriage, with exquisite shadow puppet lanterns hanging from both ends.

Although the Chu Family had fallen on harder times, a starving camel is still bigger than a horse. Their financial strength still surpassed that of many merchants in the city, and he was immediately welcomed in by the waiting attendants.

Upon entering the Wang residence, he heard the sounds of music and laughter from the surrounding courtyards, with people coming and going, truly lively.

Chu Ge had only come to maintain relationships, preparing for the eventual sale of his assets, and wasn't particularly fond of crowds. He wandered alone in the garden.

He observed secretly and noticed that there were over a dozen wealthy merchants attending the banquet, all accompanied by their families or guards.

On the surface, everyone seemed to be in good spirits, but in reality, most of them had a hint of worry in their eyes.

Clearly, the matter of the bandits robbing merchants had affected many people's businesses.

Even the usually convenient waterways had become perilous due to the unrest, leading to mere loss of goods in minor cases, and shipwrecks and deaths in severe ones.

Currently, many merchants had stockpiled their goods, afraid to transport them out, becoming like startled birds.

The surrounding business environment had begun to fall into chaos.

Not long after, the banquet officially began, and Chu Ge was invited into the main reception hall.

A middle-aged man with a sturdy build and a smiling face appeared. He wore a luxurious robe and walked with a steady, imposing gait. He was none other than Wang Youcai.

Beside him were two burly martial artists in the Force Condensation Realm.

One of them, holding a saber, exuded a calm aura. He was Ding Ying, the master of the Snow Saber Martial Arts School in the city, whom Wang Youcai occasionally hired to his estate. He was considered a semi-official retainer of the Wang Family.

"Brother Wang, you're finally here to take charge."

"Haha, even Master Ding is here. It seems Brother Wang is planning something big this time."

Seeing the composed and imposing Wang Youcai, the worried wealthy merchants felt a little relieved and began to flatter him.

Wang Youcai laughed heartily, cupped his fists in greeting, and after a few pleasantries, began to deliver his prepared speech.

Chu Ge listened for a long time, drinking several cups of tea. He only heard polite words about joining forces and banding together. Just as he was growing impatient, Wang Youcai's tone suddenly shifted.

"Actually, the reason I've invited everyone here today, besides discussing how to join forces against external enemies, is to talk about two other matters."

He paused. A woman in a black dress, slender and tall with graceful curves, light footsteps, and a delicate, pleasing face, walked in from outside the hall.

"This is my youngest daughter, Wang Xiuyun. She just returned from the prefectural city a few days ago."

Wang Youcai introduced her with a smile, clearly pleased with his daughter. He continued, "My daughter now possesses the strength of the Third Realm Bone Refining. Furthermore, I have contacted an elder from the Yun Family, a martial arts aristocratic family in the prefectural city, to secure a spot for my daughter to test her spiritual aptitude with the Yun Family."

"Once her spiritual aptitude is tested, the Yun Family will recruit her as an outer disciple."

The announcement caused an uproar of surprise among many present.

"My goodness, this martial arts aristocratic family, the Yun Family... I've heard of them. They have two martial arts experts in the Force Condensation Realm. They are a truly great martial arts family!"

"The Yun Family's influence is comparable to some medium-sized martial arts sects. Even as an outer disciple, one can gain access to many resources, connections, and powerful techniques!"

"The materials for testing spiritual aptitude are said to be extremely rare, and the Yun Family only has a few spots each year. Brother Wang, your connections are truly impressive."

Although the guests were merchants, they were all well-informed and knew the Yun Family's standing. They offered their congratulations.

No matter how wealthy a merchant is, without strength, they are merely fat sheep.

However, if one of their descendants tests positive for spiritual aptitude, everything changes.

Wang Youcai listened to the praise, his smile widening.

"The martial arts aristocratic family, the Yun Family. A spot to test spiritual aptitude..."

Chu Ge couldn't help but put down his teacup and look at Wang Xiuyun.

He hadn't seen Wang Xiuyun in nearly three years.

After all, before his transmigration, it was only his previous self who had a good relationship with her.

However, judging by her current appearance, she had returned from studying in the prefectural city.

At this moment, Wang Youcai seized the opportune atmosphere to announce the second matter.

"The second matter is that my Wang Family is willing to gather and form a security team, led by Master Ding.

With the addition of Benefactor Yuan and two Bone Refining Realm martial artists working together, we can guarantee the safe passage of merchant caravans and the transportation of goods. It will be absolutely foolproof!"

Upon hearing this, many wealthy merchants' faces showed signs of interest and joy.

Chu Ge, seeing this, finally understood.

"Truly, no merchant is without their schemes." Wang Youcai lived up to his reputation as the richest man in Linyuan City. While others were feeling anxious and worried, he immediately saw an opportunity in the crisis.

First, he demonstrated his strength and his connections with the Yun Family. Then, he proposed forming a powerful security team to escort the merchants' goods safely, earning a commission in the process.

If this venture succeeded, it would bring him great fame. It was even possible that Ding Ying's martial arts school would be renamed a security agency.

However, Chu Ge wasn't particularly interested in these matters.

Two Bone Refining Realm experts? They might not even be enough for him to fight!

What did pique his interest, however, was the Yun Family's spot for testing spiritual aptitude.

Before long, the banquet was drawing to a close.

Chu Ge was about to discuss selling his assets with a few familiar merchants when a slender, graceful figure in black approached.

"Chu Ge, it's been almost three years, hasn't it? Ever since you started practicing martial arts, you've seemed like a different person. When I was in the prefectural city, I wrote to you asking if you wanted to come, but you never replied."

"Of course, I'm a different person, but I can't tell you that."

Chu Ge paused, thinking to himself as he turned to face the approaching woman.