Moving House

"This is way too expensive!"

Jiang Che frowned.

He had finally come into a huge sum of money, and had even thought he would not need to worry about money for a long time.

Yet this house had opened its mouth and demanded five hundred taels!

He even suspected that the old man had somehow caught wind of it and knew he happened to have exactly five hundred taels on him!

"This is already considered cheap, young master. You can go out and ask around—the market price around here is just this high.

"If you truly want something cheap, there are plenty in the South District, but you might not be willing to live there, would you?" the old man explained.

Jiang Che understood the reasoning, but five hundred taels truly exceeded his budget.

"Forget it. I'll think about it some more."

Jiang Che turned to leave.

The old man hurriedly grabbed him. "Young master, wait! The price is negotiable. Everything can be discussed."

"Oh? What's the lowest you can go?" Jiang Che stopped.

He had not actually intended to haggle. He really had planned to wait a while before buying.

He had only just earned a windfall, and he did not want to spend it all at once.

After all, he still needed to buy cultivation supplies.

To him, improving his strength was the foundation of everything.

"Four hundred and eighty taels."

"Forget it. Still too expensive." Jiang Che shook his head.

"Four hundred and fifty taels!" the old man said through gritted teeth.

Under normal circumstances, this residence would be worth at least six hundred taels.

Yet for some reason, over the past two months, wealthy households in the city had begun moving out of Abyss-Facing City in droves.

Taking advantage of the situation, the old man had bought several fine houses at low prices.

He had thought he would make a fortune, only to discover that no one was buying at all!

Later, he had heard rumors that the city might be about to descend into chaos.

That sent him into a panic. If chaos truly broke out, these houses would become worthless!

Thus, he could no longer afford to care about anything else. Even if he sold at a loss, he had to get them off his hands quickly, or they would rot in his hands!

"Four hundred taels. That's the most I'll pay," Jiang Che said.

The old man stared at Jiang Che's face and saw that he truly did not look like someone who absolutely had to buy.

Thinking that once this village was passed, there would be no such shop again, he stamped his foot.

"Fine, four hundred taels it is!"

Jiang Che was somewhat surprised. He had asked around about the market prices beforehand; four hundred taels was unquestionably very cheap.

He had merely said it casually, never expecting the old man to actually agree.

Still, why was the old man willing to lower the price by so much, as if afraid Jiang Che would not buy? It left Jiang Che rather puzzled.

But Jiang Che truly needed this house right now. Even if there was something fishy going on, the price was genuinely cheap.

"Deal."

Jiang Che nodded in agreement.

Afterward, the old man took Jiang Che to the property broker to transfer the deed.

Jiang Che counted the silver left in his pocket. Including what he had not spent before, he had a total of one hundred and eighteen taels.

Even if low-grade Exotic Beast Meat was not discounted, at ten taels per jin, he could still buy over ten jin.

That would be enough to last two months.

"Still, I have to start figuring out how to make money again..."

Jiang Che sighed.

Only after breaking through Qi-Blood did he learn just how expensive cultivation truly was.

A hundred taels might seem like a lot, but buying some Exotic Beast Meat or medicinal tonics would burn through it in no time!

Still, looking at the large new house he had bought, Jiang Che finally felt a trace of peace in his heart.

"I wonder how that little girl Linger will react when she finds out."

Thinking of this, a smile could not help appearing on Jiang Che's face.

When he arrived at the Martial Arts Hall.

His younger sister, Jiang Ling, was making tea for Luo Kun.

The latter was watching Jiang Ling with a kindly expression. Even the centipede-like scar at the corner of his eye seemed less frightening.

Jiang Che was rather surprised. In his impression, his master always wore a stern face and was exceedingly serious.

Who would have thought he could make such an expression?

When Jiang Ling saw Jiang Che arrive, her eyes lit up. She set down the teapot and ran over.

"Brother, you're back!"

Since their meals had improved, her complexion was no longer pale, and a touch of rosy color had returned to her cheeks.

Jiang Che rubbed her head and smiled.

"Mm, I'm back."

Then he stepped forward and saluted Luo Kun.

"Disciple greets Master."

Upon seeing Jiang Che, Luo Kun's expression returned to its usual severity.

"Was the journey smooth?"

"Reporting to Master, I encountered a Black Beast on the way. Fortunately, I joined forces with the escort chief and killed it. It was a close call, but no real danger."

"Mm, it counts as gaining some experience," Luo Kun said with a nod.

Escort chiefs generally possessed strength at the peak of the Ox-Hide Realm, while ordinary Black Beasts were merely at the Ox-Hide Realm.

He guessed that Jiang Che had probably only provided a little support from the side, perhaps without even needing to make a move.

But since Jiang Che said they had killed it together, Luo Kun did not wish to expose him.

"My younger sister has caused you much trouble during this time. Now that this disciple has returned, I will take her home."

"Mm. When you have time in the future, you may bring Linger here to play again."

There was a rare hint of reluctance in Luo Kun's tone.

Jiang Ling was sensible and diligent in her work.

She reminded him of what his daughter had been like when she was young.

But his daughter had long since married into another family and hardly ever came back to see him, which weighed on his heart.

"This disciple will, Master."

After bidding farewell to his master, Jiang Che led Jiang Ling home.

After leaving the Martial Arts Hall, Jiang Ling looked back, somewhat reluctant to part with it.

When she had been home alone before, she had spent every day trembling with fear.

But here, she had felt a rare sense of safety.

And the hall master grandpa had been very kind as well.

Still, this was not her home in the end.

She shook her head and stopped dwelling on it.

After returning home, Jiang Ling had just set down her bundle and was about to start tidying the house when Jiang Che called out to stop her.

"No need to clean up. We're moving straight away."

"Moving?"

Jiang Ling was rather surprised.

Had they not just returned from the Martial Arts Hall? Where were they moving to now?

The corners of Jiang Che's lips curved up. "Don't worry about it yet. Pack up your things, and you'll find out when we get there!"

Jiang Ling suppressed her curiosity and obediently began packing the house with Jiang Che.

When Jiang Che saw Jiang Ling bringing along so much scrap metal and junk, he shook his head and stopped her.

"There's no need for these things. We'll buy new ones later."

"But..." Jiang Ling was reluctant to let them go.

"No buts. Your brother has money now." Jiang Che pulled out the Gold Leaf from his clothes, wearing the smug expression of a newly rich man.

Jiang Ling stared so wide-eyed that she was dumbstruck.

"Brother, where did you get so much money?!"

"Shh... Your brother is amazing now. Even the escort agency calls me a great hero!" Jiang Che raised his chin.

"Mhm, mhm!" Jiang Ling's face flushed red, her eyes brimming with excitement.

Once they had packed everything, Jiang Che realized that without the junk, there was not much to bring at all.

Jiang Che then hired a carriage, loaded up their luggage, and headed for their new home.

Watching the shabby little house gradually recede into the distance, Jiang Che felt somewhat melancholy.

This place where he had lived with his family for sixteen years—perhaps he would never return here again.

Jiang Ling was silent as well.

They arrived before their new home.

Jiang Che took out the key and opened the two black-lacquered gates.

Jiang Ling's eyes widened as she stared at the spacious courtyard, her voice trembling slightly.

"Brother, did you take a wrong turn? Is this really our home?!"

Jiang Che smiled. "Why would I lie to you? If it weren't our home, where would I get the key?"

Jiang Ling looked here and touched there, the excitement on her face impossible to conceal.

Jiang Che opened the main hall's doors as well. Jiang Ling ran inside, letting out cry after cry of amazement.

In the end, Jiang Ling chose a side room near the rear courtyard.

Jiang Che chose the one beside the front hall.

The two rooms were separated by some distance, giving them a measure of privacy, but if anything happened and she called out, Jiang Che would be able to notice at once.

Over the next few days, the two bought quite a few new furnishings, quilts, and other daily necessities.

Jiang Che also set up wooden posts and other training equipment in the courtyard.

All of that cost nearly twenty taels of silver, leaving him with ninety-eight taels.

But looking at the new home that had finally been fully furnished, Jiang Che instantly felt incomparably secure.