Money Moves Hearts

Time arrived in August.

The weather grew increasingly scorching.

Even a brief session of practicing fist techniques left his entire body soaked in sweat.

Yet, Li Beichen seemed completely oblivious to the heat and cold.

Day after day, he practiced his punches.

He let the sweat carve his physique.

As early as the end of July, he had already reached the pinnacle of the Flesh-Refining stage, capable of producing ten consecutive cracks.

However, Li Beichen did not rush into the Eighth-Rank Tendon-Refining cultivation; he felt he had not yet reached the absolute peak of his Ninth-Rank training.

Normally, the practice of the Giant Elephant Fist required one to reach the stage of mastery before they could achieve ten cracks.

But the unique trait of the Giant Elephant Fist brought by his panel allowed Li Beichen to reach this level prematurely, even while he was still at the entry-level stage.

Therefore, his cultivation in the Flesh-Refining stage could reach heights that other martial artists practicing the Giant Elephant Fist could never attain.

During this period, the joyous occasion at Wang Er's household arrived, and Sister-in-law Wang gave birth to a healthy, chubby baby boy.

Li Beichen specifically set aside time to visit and deliver a generous gift.

In this world, if things could remain this peaceful, Ram City would not be a bad place to settle down.

Market Ward, Meat Trade Association.

Zhou Zhongru looked at the thirty-plus taels of silver before him, a flicker of greed flashing in his eyes.

He had anticipated that Li Beichen's braised meat business would make some money.

But he had not expected that in just the first month, a ten-percent share of the profits would bring him over thirty taels in dividends.

This income far exceeded his expectations.

Wealth stirs the heart.

If it were hundreds of taels a month, what would it amount to in a year, or ten years?

Zhou Zhongru wanted a bigger slice of the pie.

While Li Beichen's strength as a Ninth-Rank martial artist made him somewhat wary, what troubled Zhou Zhongru even more was the Like-Elephant Martial Hall.

Meng Juxiang, a Sixth-Rank martial artist.

In Ram City, he was a figure of immense stature.

"However... a mere Ninth-Rank inner-hall disciple. With careful planning, as long as I don't take his life, and with the backing of that person from the Thunderbolt Martial Hall, it shouldn't provoke that fellow."

"Thousands of taels a year—that's enough to hire a Sixth-Rank martial artist to do my bidding."

Zhou Zhongru paced back and forth in the attic of the trade association, finally making up his mind.

"Old Four, first deliver this letter to the Thunderbolt Martial Hall, then go and invite Consultant Wu Ming to come over."

"Yes, Chairman."

An hour later, a burly, middle-aged man with a pig-like snout and small, greedy eyes walked into the Meat Trade Association.

Unlike the lean, muscular build of Li Beichen, this Wu Ming was a martial artist whose muscles were buried under layers of fat.

Zhou Zhongru deliberately lifted a corner of the red cloth covering the silver dividends from the braised meat business.

He made sure that as soon as Wu Ming walked through the door, he would see it.

Sure enough, just as Zhou Zhongru had expected, the moment Wu Ming saw the silver, the greed on his face was laid bare without any attempt at concealment.

"Chairman Zhou, are you paying the consultant fee early this month?"

"You scoundrel!"

Zhou Zhongru cursed directly.

"Wu Ming, wasn't this month's money delivered to your residence at the beginning of the month? Are you trying to pull this on me?"

In an instant, Wu Ming's expression soured, his eyes fixed firmly on the silver.

"A measly fifteen taels, I spent it long ago. Chairman Zhou, I am a Flesh-Refining master capable of striking five cracks in a row; shouldn't my consultant fee be raised?"

"I heard that you're paying fifteen taels to some mere apprentice at a martial hall in Jinglong District."

"Sit!"

Zhou Zhongru stared at Wu Ming.

"My dear Consultant Wu, I've summoned you today for a big business opportunity, and it just so happens to concern this Consultant Li—Li Beichen!"

Wu Ming appeared indifferent, the thick flesh on his face twitching.

"How many dirty deeds have you had me do, Zhou Zhongru? Don't beat around the bush, just say it!"

"Did this Li Beichen offend you?"

"That's not it."

Zhou Zhongru lifted the red cloth, revealing rows upon rows of neatly stacked, pristine silver ingots.

"There is over thirty taels of silver here, all dividends sent over by Li Beichen."

"He has a business called Braised Meat, which he expanded by leveraging connections in the meat trade. It brings in gold daily, with a monthly profit of at least several hundred taels."

Upon hearing Zhou Zhongru's words, Wu Ming's interest was piqued, his usually small eyes widening.

"That Li Beichen, I heard he was just a poor hunter who had only recently entered the ranks. How could he have such means? Are you trying to swindle me, Zhou Zhongru?"

"The money is already here. Believe it or not, that's up to you, Wu Ming. If you don't believe me, I'll just find someone else!"

Zhou Zhongru feigned anger.

"Don't be like that, my great Chairman Zhou."

"If you don't let me handle this, I'm not leaving your place."

As he spoke, Wu Ming chuckled.

"Chairman Zhou, it really has to be you. Thirty-some taels of dividends a month aren't enough to satisfy your appetite."

"But, I like it."

"Who could blame him? His business is too enviable. A few dozen taels a month I could endure, but an income of several hundred? Who could possibly resist that?!"

"Exactly, exactly. No one could resist. Tell me, Chairman Zhou, how do you want me to do this!"

Zhou Zhongru pondered for a moment.

"Li Beichen is a newly promoted inner-court disciple of the Like-Elephant Martial Hall. We can't act recklessly; we can't just strip him clean. If he knows what's good for him, we can leave him thirty percent of the profits."

"You go and cause him some trouble first. Let him suffer a bit so he understands how business is actually done in Ram City."

"Once he can no longer run his business, I will step in to mediate."

"If he is sensible, he will naturally concede some benefits, and he'll even have to be grateful to me."

Hearing Zhou Zhongru's words, Wu Ming scratched his head.

"You really are devious."

"Damn it! Remember, handle this carefully!"

"Fine, fine. You know how I, Wu Ming, work, Chairman Zhou. In all these years, have I ever made a mistake?"

The next day, Li Beichen frowned as he looked at the invitation delivered to his door.

"Meat Trade Consultant, Wu Ming? To discuss cooperation?"

He handed the invitation back to the servant.

"Trouble yourself to tell your master that I have no need for cooperation at this time."

The servant's face showed difficulty; he opened his mouth as if to say something, but suddenly felt a tightness in his chest. He looked up and met Li Beichen's eyes, which were as sharp as a hawk's.

"Right, right. Sorry to disturb you."

The servant fled in a panic, as if he would lose his life if he stayed a second longer.

However, not long after, Wang Er hurried over from the Market Ward.

"Brother Wang Er, are you saying someone claimed they got severe diarrhea after eating our Braised Meat, and then smashed the stall?"

"Yes, those people were all carrying clubs. They came up and smashed our sign immediately."

"Did they have any proof?"

"None at all. They just shouted that our food wasn't clean and started smashing things."

"How bold! I'd like to see who it is."

Li Beichen hurried to the Market Ward, but only a scene of chaos remained on the ground, with a few workers cleaning up.

"Do you know who smashed our shop?"

Li Beichen asked the workers.

"Rest assured, I won't let them off!"

Li Beichen held great prestige in the hearts of these workers, and one middle-aged worker stepped forward and whispered.

"Big Boss, I know. They are that group of thugs from the East King Temple. Not only did they smash the shop, but they also snatched dozens of catties of Braised Meat."

"They claimed it wasn't clean, but they were clearly stuffing their faces with it. Big Boss, you are a martial artist; you must severely punish these hooligans."

"Good!"

The East King Temple was just to the west of the Market Ward.

Li Beichen took long strides and quickly arrived at the East King Temple.