Facing Jiang Ci'an's question, Ning Zhicheng smiled. "It's only right.
"The businesses Boss Jiang sold me back then have done well this year, and their value has risen quite a bit. I felt I'd gotten a real bargain, so I wanted to make it up to you.
"These extra two-tenths of the profits are just a small token of my goodwill."
That was a lie.
What he said was true: some of the businesses he'd bought from the boy had indeed risen in value lately, for various reasons.
But as a businessman, he wasn't about to give someone money for nothing just because of that.
The real reason was that he wanted to invest.
When the boy's parents had died suddenly, he'd been only five, left to guard a vast family estate. In anyone's eyes, it was a fat piece of meat. Who wouldn't want to take a bite?
Ning Zhicheng had seen that fat piece of meat too. In fact, if he'd wanted to, he could have swallowed most of it.
But he hadn't.
Compared with the despicable act of kicking someone when they were down, the time-honored reputation of his Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect, passed down for ten thousand years, was far more precious.
And with the Xiao Clan's reputation to consider, he hadn't just refrained from taking advantage of the boy's misfortune; he'd also offered some help.
It was an investment.
If the boy managed to rise again one day, he'd owe him a favor.
Besides, the money came from the merchants' association. It wasn't coming out of his own pocket.
And now...
Last month, while listening to his subordinates' routine reports, he'd suddenly learned that the boy and girl before him, both still under seven, had already become Soul Masters.
Soul Masters under seven.
That meant both children were geniuses with Innate Soul Power of at least level eight, perhaps even level nine!
And according to the Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect's tradition, when faced with a genius—especially one without a powerful force backing them—they had to invest heavily!
That was how today's extra two-tenths had come about.
As his thoughts turned, Ning Zhicheng drew a purple-gold card from his sleeve and pushed it straight across to Jiang Ci'an.
"Boss Jiang, please check it."
Jiang Ci'an didn't stand on ceremony. He took the card, touched its surface lightly with his fingertips, and stirred his Soul Power. In an instant, he'd counted the amount inside.
There were indeed two-tenths more.
Jiang Ci'an put the card away and nodded slightly. "Thank you, Mr. Ning."
"It's only right, only right."
Ning Zhicheng waved a hand. Seeing how readily Jiang Ci'an had accepted it, his smile grew even warmer.
He paused, then said in an affable tone, "By the way, there's news about the Spirit-Devouring Carving Knife you asked the merchants' association to look for.
"It'll still take some time to complete the purchase and have it delivered to Shrek City, so please be patient, Boss Jiang."
Jiang Ci'an's hand stilled for a moment.
Now even the most obtuse person could feel how enthusiastic the other man was.
Was it because of his and Xiao Xiao's talent?
That was understandable. The Nine Treasures Glazed Tile Sect had always loved investing in geniuses. Over the years, they'd discovered many outstanding Soul Masters from commoner backgrounds that way, and their reputation across the continent had always been good.
He certainly wouldn't refuse their help.
After all, once he'd grown stronger, repaying them would be easy.
If he weren't already fairly well off in Gold Soul Coins, he wouldn't have minded showing off a little more of his talent and cashing in heavily on his potential as a Soul Master.
The two chatted for quite a while, and both host and guest left satisfied. Just before departing, Ning Zhicheng remembered something and said earnestly,
"Boss Jiang, didn't you list two shops with my merchants' association for rent?
"Someone's interested in them. They'll probably come by today to sign a contract with you.
"But keep in mind, the person renting your shops seems to have an unusual background. Be sure to handle things carefully."
Jiang Ci'an paused, a little surprised.
He knew those two shops. They were not far from the pharmacy, just a minute or two away on foot, but their locations were truly poor. The businesses that had opened in the neighboring storefronts had hardly lasted three months before giving up their leases.
Back then, his parents had been inexperienced and had been talked into buying those shops. They were among the few investments they'd made that had failed.
He'd wanted to sell them before, but no one would buy. Lowering the price too much would have meant too great a loss, so he'd simply listed them for rent. He hadn't expected someone to take them so soon.
As for their unusual background... He'd just treat them like any other customers.
He nodded. "Understood."
Ning Zhicheng nodded, chatted a little longer, then rose to take his leave.
Watching the man disappear from sight, Jiang Ci'an went behind the counter, pulled a blank sheet of paper from a drawer, and began writing a shopping list for cultivation supplies.
In this world, where strength was everything, it was better to spend Gold Soul Coins on cultivation supplies to improve himself than to save them and make money off money.
Since taking over the family business, he'd spent most of the Gold Soul Coins he earned on cultivation supplies such as medicinal herbs, rare natural treasures, and nourishing medicinal meals.
It could be said that every business he owned now existed to support his and Xiao Xiao's cultivation.
He wouldn't spare a single half-coin in that regard.
"Looks like he'll keep giving me those extra two-tenths... I could buy some Whale Rubber to eat."
Jiang Ci'an murmured softly as he silently planned how to use the funds he'd set aside.
As he was calculating, the light at the pharmacy entrance suddenly dimmed.
Three figures walked in.
A customer?
Jiang Ci'an instinctively raised his head and looked toward the door.
The first people he noticed were two middle-aged men, one steady and the other burly. Both wore fine silk and luxurious clothes, and it was immediately clear they were people of unusual status.
But walking between them was a girl who looked about his age.
She had a pretty, charming face and a head of dreamy blue-and-pink hair. She wore a blue-and-white dress that reached her knees, revealing slender legs wrapped in white stockings.
She led the way, bouncing into the pharmacy like a Big White Goose. Behind her, the burly middle-aged man called out repeatedly,
"Dong'er, slow down."
"I'm fine, Second Uncle."
The girl replied, light on her feet, her blue-and-pink eyes curiously taking in the furnishings around her. Her gaze swept across the bottles and jars on the medicine cabinets, full of wonder.
Then her eyes settled on Jiang Ci'an behind the counter.
Their gazes met.
The girl blinked, her eyes flickering slightly.
Jiang Ci'an paused.
His expression didn't change, but a thought suddenly rose in his heart.
Blue-and-pink hair and eyes... Dong'er... And a so-called "Second Uncle."
Could this be Wang Dong'er?!
No, wait, what was going on?
Jiang Ci'an's gaze sharpened slightly. The thought of immediately making a run for it with Xiao Xiao rose clearly in his mind, but his expression remained unchanged.
The steady middle-aged man followed Wang Dong'er's gaze and noticed the boy behind the counter. He then walked over with a smile and asked amiably,
"Hello, young man. We're here to sign a rental contract. Could you tell us where to find the owner?"
Jiang Ci'an's gaze lingered on the man for a moment, swept over the burly figure by the door, then returned to the middle-aged man before him.
He set down his pen and paper, met those unfathomable eyes, and gave him his usual smile.
"That would be me."
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