Luo Zheng sighed:
"If you had access to the same resources as the children of the great clans, I believe you wouldn't be any weaker than them."
After eating their fill, the two lounged in their chairs, gazing up at the sky.
A few breaths later, Luo Zheng sat up straight.
"A-Chuan, to be honest, I was genuinely surprised that you broke through to Dark Force. It caught me somewhat off guard."
"But either way, your compensation needs a major increase."
"I discussed it with my father when I went back. We'll give you a monthly salary of fifteen taels of silver, plus ten jin of tiger meat every month."
Luo Zheng paused.
"Also, my family will give you fifty percent of the profits from every medicinal-herb delivery you make."
"How does that sound?"
Even Li Chuan, usually so composed, was taken aback by the offer.
It wasn't low. It was outrageously high!
He'd looked into the going rates, too.
Generally speaking, two factors affected the pay for an affiliated position.
The first was potential. Someone like Qin Feng, with a High-Grade Bone Constitution, would naturally command a hefty premium.
But that premium was really an investment in his future.
The second factor was combat strength.
If someone's fighting style was exceptional and they could help their employer handle all sorts of problems, their salary might be raised by another thirty to fifty percent.
An ordinary Dark Force practitioner, however, went for ten taels of silver a month.
And that was just ten taels, with no extras whatsoever.
But Luo Zheng had raised the silver to fifteen taels a month and was also offering ten jin of tiger meat.
A jin of tiger meat was worth roughly eight qian of silver. Ten jin came to eight taels!
And then there was the cut from delivering herbs—an enormous fifty percent.
A delivery of herbs worth fifty taels of silver generally brought in about twenty taels in profit.
And that twenty taels hadn't even been divided among the people making the deliveries!
Li Chuan would take ten taels for himself, while the remaining ten would be split between the Luo Family and the other delivery workers.
He'd be earning the lion's share from every delivery!
It was an offer made with extraordinary sincerity.
With a Low-Grade Bone Constitution, no matter how high his comprehension was, few people would be willing to pay him this much.
Luo Zheng hadn't been wrong.
The Luo Family had truly staked a great deal on him!
Luo Zheng smiled.
"My father said that since you and I are close, our friendship alone would be enough to tie you to the Luo Family's chariot."
"But I don't befriend you for profit, and I don't want to use our so-called 'friendship' to pressure you now."
"So you don't need to give me an answer right away. Go back and wait a few days. See which factions come looking for you and what offers they make."
Luo Zheng sounded completely relaxed.
"If someone offers you more, then choose the best one. I won't mind."
Li Chuan nodded.
"Brother Luo, long time no see!" A young nobleman greeted Luo Zheng.
Luo Zheng gestured to Li Chuan.
"I have a friend here. I'll go talk to him for a moment."
After he left, Li Chuan felt there wasn't much to think about.
Luo Zheng's offer was indeed generous. Even if he waited a few more days, it would be hard to find anything better.
As he pondered, a familiar figure came up to him.
Holding a wine cup, Tang Xiang sat down beside Li Chuan.
Ignoring Li Chuan's wary gaze, he chuckled.
"Junior Brother Li, I heard the offer Junior Brother Luo made you."
"The Luo Family Apothecary may be a fine place, but it's already on the decline. And lately, it's been struggling to look after itself. I'm afraid it's not a good choice."
Tang Xiang took a sip of wine and looked Li Chuan straight in the eyes.
"How about joining the Tang Family? Whatever price Luo Zheng offered, I can give you twice as much!"
Recruiting Li Chuan wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision.
He'd been planning it for a while.
Although he, Qin Feng, and Jiang Ting were a close-knit group, and Qin Feng and the others looked down on Li Chuan, thinking he'd merely been lucky to knock on the Gate of Dark Force, Tang Xiang saw things differently.
A Low-Grade Bone Constitution seemed like a weakness for Li Chuan.
But now that he'd managed to knock open the gate to Dark Force with one, it had turned into an advantage!
There were plenty of people with High-Grade Bone Constitutions who could break through to Dark Force, and quite a few with Medium-Grade ones, too.
But someone with a Low-Grade Bone Constitution was a rare sight in all of Anning County.
So Tang Xiang was certain Li Chuan must have an advantage far beyond that of an ordinary person.
That advantage was his comprehension!
When Li Chuan first broke through to Dark Force, Tang Xiang hadn't noticed this much. He'd simply thought the man was lucky.
But in just a day or two after breaking through to Dark Force, Li Chuan had advanced his Through-Arm Fist from Minor Mastery to Major Mastery!
Putting himself in Li Chuan's shoes, Tang Xiang knew that when he'd first broken through to Dark Force, he'd been leagues behind him!
He even had a feeling Li Chuan's potential might not be any lower than Qin Feng's!
But he'd never dared to say that to anyone.
Even he sometimes thought the idea was absurd.
After all, the notion that someone with a Low-Grade Bone Constitution could surpass someone with a High-Grade one was simply too far-fetched.
Still, Tang Xiang thought Li Chuan's future was worth a gamble.
The Tang Family was wealthy and powerful. Even if the gamble failed, it wouldn't matter.
Besides... did anyone think that money came without strings?
Anning County was in the throes of upheaval. It was worth buying a spearhead to test the dangers for his family.
Why risk his own people on dangerous tasks when he could send Li Chuan instead?
Paying for the life of a Dark Force practitioner wasn't a bad deal.
When he saw Li Chuan say nothing, Tang Xiang's thoughts stirred. He decided to fan the flames.
"I heard you're planning to move your family into the Inner City. If you join the Tang Family, I can take care of it for you."
"I can guarantee that as long as you serve the Tang Family, your residence in the Inner City will be yours to keep."
Tang Xiang drained his wine and smiled faintly.
"You don't have to answer me so quickly. Take a few days to think it over. The Tang Family's doors will always be open to you."
He was confident no one could offer Li Chuan a better deal.
Those who had the means wouldn't be willing to offer it.
Those who were willing to offer it didn't have the means!
What's more...
It was a brilliant scheme!
Once Li Chuan moved his family into a residence belonging to the Tang Family, wouldn't he be at Tang Xiang's mercy?
If Tang Xiang wanted him to die, he'd have to go obediently!
And another thing!
Tang Xiang's lips curled into a cold smile.
"If Junior Brother Luo finds out that I've poached someone he's spent so long cultivating, I imagine his expression will be quite something."
He'd get to spite Luo Zheng, too. Three birds with one stone!
Li Chuan turned and saw that Luo Zheng had somehow returned to his side.
Luo Zheng wore a smile, and his tone sounded casual.
"A-Chuan, I heard the offer Tang Xiang made. It's certainly tempting."
"If you want to go, then go. People always climb toward higher ground... it's only natural."
Though he said that, Luo Zheng still hoped to hear a different answer.
Under his expectant gaze, Li Chuan pondered for a moment, then said apologetically,
"I'm sorry, Senior Brother Luo. You're a good person... but Senior Brother Tang can help me sort out a place to live in the Inner City."
Luo Zheng suddenly felt as if someone had seized his heart and squeezed tight. He could barely breathe.
Still, he forced a smile.
"It's fine. I told you, it won't affect our friendship."
Li Chuan said calmly,
"So I've decided to keep my position with your family after all."
"That's fine..." Luo Zheng was startled. "What did you say? You'd better think it through. This isn't something to treat lightly!"
His tone turned serious.
"You rose from humble beginnings. You should know how important resources are to the martial path!"
"I also told you I don't want to use our friendship to pressure you into making a choice!"
"Don't be impulsive. I'll go talk to Tang Xiang right now!"
Li Chuan shrugged.
"Senior Brother Tang's offer really is excellent. I was tempted, too."
"But what can I say? I still owe you two buns."
The meaning of his words was clear.
"Crack!"
Nearby, Tang Xiang had been straining his ears to eavesdrop. His expression froze.
At some point, the wine cup in his hand had shattered into powder!
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