Highest Bidder Wins! (Seeking Monthly Votes!)

Luo Zheng sighed with emotion:

"If you were given the same resources as the disciples of the great aristocratic families, I believe you would be no weaker than them."

After eating their fill, the two lounged lazily in their chairs, looking up at the sky.

After a few breaths, Luo Zheng sat up straight:

"A-Chuan, honestly, your breakthrough to Dark Force truly surprised me and caught me off guard."

"But regardless, your compensation needs a major increase."

"I went back and discussed it with my father; we will give you a monthly salary of fifteen taels of silver, plus an additional ten catties of tiger meat every month for nourishment."

Luo Zheng paused:

"Furthermore, for every shipment of medicine you deliver, my family will give you fifty percent of the profits."

"How does that sound?"

Hearing this offer, even Li Chuan's steady temperament was taken aback.

It wasn't low—it was incredibly high!

He had looked into the standard market rates.

Generally, two factors influenced the compensation for a retainer.

The first was potential; if one had superior bone structure like Qin Feng, there would naturally be a significant premium.

However, these premiums were essentially investments in his future.

The second was combat prowess.

If one's fighting style was exceptional and could help the master's family resolve many issues, they would receive an additional thirty to fifty percent on top of the base salary.

For an ordinary Dark Force practitioner, the market rate was ten taels of silver per month.

That was just ten taels, with no extras whatsoever.

Yet, Luo Zheng not only raised the silver to fifteen taels per month but also provided an extra ten catties of tiger meat.

One had to know that a catty of tiger meat cost roughly eight mace of silver, so ten catties amounted to eight taels!

Finally, the commission for delivering medicine reached a full fifty percent.

A shipment of medicinal herbs typically worth fifty taels of silver usually yielded a profit of about twenty taels.

That twenty taels hadn't even accounted for the cuts taken by other delivery personnel!

To keep ten taels for himself, while the Luo Family and the other delivery staff split the remaining ten, meant that for every delivery, he was taking the lion's share!

This was an extremely, extremely sincere offer.

As someone with inferior bone structure, even with high comprehension, very few people would be willing to offer such a price.

Luo Zheng was right.

The Luo Family had truly invested heavily!

Luo Zheng smiled:

"My father said that since I have a good friendship with you, I could use that bond to tie you to the Luo Family's chariot."

"But I feel that I didn't befriend you for profit, and I don't want to use so-called 'friendship' to coerce you now."

"So, you don't need to give me an answer immediately. Go back and wait a few days to see which factions approach you and what prices they offer."

Luo Zheng's tone was very relaxed:

"If someone offers more, then choose the best one; it doesn't matter."

Li Chuan nodded.

"Brother Luo, long time no see!" A young nobleman greeted Luo Zheng.

Luo Zheng signaled to Li Chuan:

"I have a friend over there; I'll go have a word with him."

After he left, Li Chuan felt there was nothing left to consider.

The price Luo Zheng offered was indeed generous; even if he waited a few more days, it would be hard to find anything better.

While he was deep in thought, a familiar figure walked up to him.

Tang Xiang raised his wine glass and 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."

"While the Luo Family Apothecary is fine, it is already a setting sun, and they have been struggling to look after themselves lately. I'm afraid it's not a good choice."

Tang Xiang sipped his wine, looking straight into Li Chuan's eyes:

"How about coming to my Tang Family? No matter what price Luo Zheng offered you, I can give you double!"

Recruiting Li Chuan was not a whim.

It was a long-planned scheme.

Although he, Qin Feng, and Jiang Ting formed a small clique, and Qin Feng and the others looked down on Li Chuan, believing he had merely stumbled into the Gate-Knocking stage by luck, Tang Xiang held a different view.

Inferior bone structure appeared to be Li Chuan's disadvantage.

Yet, since he had managed to open the door to Dark Force with that inferior bone structure, it had instead become an advantage!

Many with superior bone structure could break through to Dark Force, and those with average bone structure were not few either.

Only those with inferior bone structure were rare; the entire Anning County could barely produce a handful.

Therefore, Tang Xiang concluded that Li Chuan must possess an advantage far exceeding that of ordinary people.

That was comprehension!

When Li Chuan had first broken through to Dark Force, he hadn't noticed this point much, merely thinking it was good luck.

But only a day or two after breaking through to Dark Force, he had already advanced his Through-Arm Fist from minor success to major success!

Comparing himself to others, when he had first broken through to Dark Force, he was far inferior to Li Chuan!

He even had a feeling that Li Chuan's potential might not be lower than Qin Feng's!

But he had never dared to say this to anyone.

Even he himself sometimes felt it was a fantasy.

After all, for an inferior bone structure to surpass a superior one was too much like a fairy tale.

Regardless, Tang Xiang felt it was worth betting on Li Chuan's future.

In any case, the Tang Family was wealthy and powerful; losing the bet wouldn't matter.

Besides... was that money really so easy to take?

With Anning County in chaos, buying a vanguard to clear the path was a sound strategy.

Why would he be willing to let his own people do dangerous things? Naturally, he had to rely on Li Chuan to take the risks!

Using money to buy the life of a Dark Force practitioner was not a loss.

Noticing Li Chuan remained silent, Tang Xiang's heart stirred, and he decided to add more fuel to the fire:

"I heard you intend to have your family settle in the Inner City recently... If you are willing to join my Tang Family, I can help you handle this matter."

"I can guarantee that as long as you remain in my Tang Family for a day, this residence in the Inner City will be reserved for you for a day."

Tang Xiang drained his wine glass in one gulp and smiled faintly:

"No need to give me an answer so quickly; taking a few more days to consider is fine. The doors of the Tang Family are always open to you."

He was confident that no one could offer a better price than he could.

Those with the ability were unwilling to offer it.

Those willing to offer it lacked the ability!

Moreover...

This was an open conspiracy!

Once Li Chuan moved his family into his residence, wouldn't he be at his mercy?

If he wanted him to go to his death, he would have to go obediently!

And!

A cold sneer tugged at the corner of Tang Xiang's mouth:

"If Junior Brother Luo discovers that the person he has cultivated for so long has been poached by me, his expression will surely be wonderful."

He could also disgust Luo Zheng; it was three birds with one stone!

Li Chuan turned his head and discovered that Luo Zheng had arrived at his side at some point.

Luo Zheng wore a smile, his tone sounding relaxed:

"A-Chuan, I heard the conditions Tang Xiang offered; they are indeed very tempting."

"If you want to go, then go. People strive for higher ground... this is very normal."

Although he said this, Luo Zheng still longed to hear a different answer in his heart.

Under his expectant gaze, Li Chuan pondered for a moment and said with difficulty:

"I'm sorry, Senior Brother Luo, you are a good person... but Senior Brother Tang can help me solve the problem of living in the Inner City."

Luo Zheng suddenly felt as if his heart were being tightly squeezed, a suffocating sensation.

But he still forced a smile:

"It doesn't matter. I said it wouldn't affect our relationship."

Li Chuan said calmly:

"So I've decided to take up the post at your house after all."

"It's no trouble..." Luo Zheng was stunned. "What did you say? You need to think this through carefully; this isn't something to be trifled with!"

His tone turned serious:

"You rose from humble beginnings, so you should know how much resources matter to the martial path!"

"I also said that I don't wish to use our friendship to coerce you into a choice!"

"Don't be impulsive, I'll go find Tang Xiang right now!"

Li Chuan shrugged:

"The terms Senior Brother Tang offered are indeed very good, and I was quite tempted."

"But what can I do? I still owe you two steamed buns."

The meaning of these words was self-evident.

"Snap!"

Not far away, Tang Xiang, who had been eavesdropping with his ears pricked, froze.

At some point, the wine glass in his hand had been crushed into powder!