"Renovate the village."
Mu Rong had rephrased Old Monk's words. His fingers tapped lightly on the tabletop.
"Old Monk, the location of Lianhun Village is indeed remote and isolated."
Old Monk nodded thoughtfully.
In this wilderness, aside from a few scattered soul-gathering villages, where else could there be a place for people to gather?
"You know, our village is the closest settlement to Ju Yuan City, and it's also right beside the official road."
Mu Rong dipped a finger in the ink and sketched a simple map on the table.
"Ju Yuan City's commercial district has always been prosperous, but rent inside the city is sky-high, and even finding a place to set up shop is difficult."
"What if we turned Lianhun Village into a major transit station?"
"Build houses, repair the roads, and set up inns."
"Let those merchants store their goods here temporarily. We'll provide transport, security, and even processing services."
Old Monk looked confused, but he roughly understood.
This was about helping the villagers make a living.
"But... would those big merchants really trust us with their goods? We're nothing but a backwater village..."
"Roads and trust can both be built. Don't worry."
The corner of Mu Rong's mouth curled into a smile.
"My brother is the city lord, and the biggest merchant in Ju Yuan City is the one attached to the city lord's residence."
"I'll have him put the first shipment of goods here."
"Once the city lord's residence gives us its endorsement, the other merchants will naturally follow."
Old Monk's mouth fell open. Looking at the confident young man before him, he felt as if he were dreaming.
Yet the young man's words had stirred the long-dormant hopes in his heart, making them beat fiercely.
If they could really do it...
The men in the village wouldn't have to leave home and toil in the city. They could earn a living right here.
The women could do business and make clothes. That would bring in another steady source of income.
With money, they could send their children to school, and maybe even... invite Demon Blade to settle in the village!
"Th-this... How much money would that take?"
Old Monk looked at the gold ingot in front of him and began rubbing his hands anxiously.
"Two thousand taels of gold. That's the startup capital."
Mu Rong pushed the gold ingot toward him.
"For the roads, the houses, and the craftsmen, I'll take care of the rest."
"No! Absolutely not!"
Old Monk hurriedly pushed the gold back.
"That's your money. Your own hard-earned money!
"The whole village needs it! Everyone's pooled their money to send you to the academy. That was kindness, not an investment expecting you to pay it back!"
"Old Monk."
Mu Rong stood up and walked to the window, gazing out at the dilapidated houses.
"Back when I was wandering, at the point of starving to death, you gave me a meal."
"I'm going to the academy now, and the money I need for it came from the kindness you all showed me."
"I, Mu Rong, am not an ungrateful person. I know that when I owe someone, I must repay them."
He turned around, looking straight at Old Monk.
"Besides, this is a business venture."
"Once the village becomes prosperous, I'll take thirty percent of the annual profits."
"I'm not giving the money away. It's a business."
Old Monk froze.
Looking at Mu Rong's handsome face, he suddenly understood: the young man was using this method to protect the villagers' pride.
What did it matter if he took thirty percent?
Could someone who could casually produce two thousand taels of gold really care about the meager profits a village might earn?
Old Monk stared blankly.
His old, gnarled hand reached out and rubbed his face. His voice trembled.
"Good... good..."
"On behalf of everyone in the village, thank you."
"Thank me for what? I should be thanking you for giving me a place to stay and a meal."
Mu Rong smiled, sat back down at the table, picked up the bowl of porridge that had gone cold, and took a hearty drink.
The Seven Treasures Glazed Sect, the Hidden Scripture Pavilion.
Before the enormous floor-to-ceiling windows lay a mountain of ancient books, their pages yellowed with age.
Pei Mozhi rubbed his bleary eyes and closed the thick book about the medicinal plants of the hidden realm.
Nothing.
There was nothing.
These past few days, he'd practically turned over every record of strange plants and herbs in the sect's collection, even searching the unofficial histories, but he still hadn't found anything.
The five characters "Douluo Golden Fragrance" seemed like something someone had made up on the spot. He couldn't find even the slightest clue.
Was that child really lying?
No.
Pei Mozhi stood up and looked out at the blue sky beyond the window.
The child's eyes had been too calm.
And that description was so detailed, it didn't sound fabricated.
"Young Sect Master!"
An urgent voice broke the silence of the Hidden Scripture Pavilion.
Yang Li didn't even knock. He pushed open the door and hurried inside, looking thoroughly flustered.
"Uncle Yang, don't rush. Take a breath and speak slowly."
Pei Mozhi's heart jumped. He hurried over to greet him.
Yang Li rubbed his hands together, unable to hide his excitement. His breathing was unsteady from rushing over.
"I found it!"
"Your father went on a trip to the Broken Clan. Even though that old mountain goat clan leader had begun bleeding from all seven orifices, he still gave your father this thousand-year-old bloodwood as a betrothal gift!"
The Broken Clan was one of the four great clans allied with the Vast Heaven Sect, and they were renowned throughout the world for forging secret weapons.
If anyone understood rare herbs, then apart from the Nine-Heart Begonia clan, it had to be the clan leader of the Broken Clan.
"Uncle Yang, which clan leader are you talking about?"
Pei Mozhi's eyes gradually widened as he looked at Yang Li.
"That old stubborn man survived several brushes with death. Your father persuaded him to hand over one of the Broken Clan's thousand-year-old bloodwoods as a betrothal gift, and that finally loosened the old man's tongue."
Yang Li took a deep breath and lowered his voice.
"He said there's a divine herb in this world called the 'Douluo Golden Fragrance.'"
"This herb absorbs the essence of heaven and earth and the sun and moon. Ordinary people can extend their lifespans by eating its petals, while soul masters..."
"It can defy heaven and change fate!"
"That 'Douluo Golden Fragrance' might actually be one of those herbs!"
Boom!
Pei Mozhi's mind erupted like a bolt of thunder.
Defy heaven and change fate!
Those four words struck like a heavy hammer, smashing the last trace of doubt in his heart.
It really existed!
That child hadn't lied!
"Only, though..."
Yang Li's voice trailed off, and his expression turned grave.
"He also said that the herb had only appeared in legends, and even the most powerful soul masters couldn't obtain it.
"Even in the Broken Clan's ancient records, it was only mentioned in passing. No one had ever actually seen the herb."
"Don't worry."
Pei Mozhi rose to his feet and slapped his palm on the table.
"As long as it exists, even if I have to turn the entire Douluo Continent upside down, the Seven Treasures Glazed Sect will find it!"
"Pass down my orders!"
"Mobilize every force the sect has. Spend a hundred thousand gold soul coins and search every corner of the continent for records of this strange herb!"
"Also..."
Pei Mozhi paused, a glint flashing in his eyes.
"Send someone to Ju Yuan City. Keep a discreet watch on Mu Rong. Keep him safe, but don't interfere with his life."
"That child is the benefactor of my Seven Treasures Glazed Sect."
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