Promotion to Steward

"Getting promoted?"

Jiang Yuan froze for a moment at Liu Mang's excited expression.

"That's right, Brother Jiang. Hurry and come with me to see Hall Master Zhu. He's been talking about rewarding you."

"Oh? Lead the way, then."

Jiang Yuan did not dare delay and immediately followed Liu Mang toward Zhu Residence.

Inside Zhu Residence at that moment.

Zhu Hu looked over the information on Jiang Yuan in his hand and muttered to himself, "Jiang Yuan, drifted from place to place in the first half of his life, with no way to verify his origins. Five years ago, he came to a teahouse of the Mei family in Jiangning City to tell stories. There had never been any sign of cultivation from him, yet more than half a year ago, during the encirclement of the Blood-Clad Cult, he suddenly displayed unfathomable strength?"

"What exactly is this man to our Black Market—a blessing or a curse?"

As Zhu Hu studied the dossier, the sound of footsteps approached from outside. He hastily put the documents away.

Outside, Liu Mang and Jiang Yuan stepped into Zhu Residence and offered a slight salute. "Greetings, Hall Master Zhu."

"Hahaha... Brother Jiang, come, come, sit quickly!"

Seeing them, Zhu Hu burst into laughter and gestured for the two to take their seats.

"Brother Jiang has been in our Black Market for some time now. During these days, you have worked diligently and brought Sishui Street into excellent order. I have seen all of it. Brother Jiang truly grows stronger with age."

Zhu Hu grinned, his attitude countless times better than it had been at their first meeting.

"Hall Master Zhu overpraises me. I have merely done my duty," Jiang Yuan said modestly.

"Mm."

Zhu Hu nodded with a smile, seeming extremely satisfied with Jiang Yuan. "I did not think things through before and underestimated Brother Jiang's abilities. Making you a mere manager truly wronged you."

"How about this? Zhang Bo is dead, so Brother Jiang shall take up the position of steward."

"Brother Jiang, do not decline. You killed the man, so you should naturally fill the position he left vacant!"

"Replace Zhang Bo?"

Jiang Yuan was slightly startled upon hearing this.

What did he mean, he had killed the man, so he should fill the vacant position?

Did that mean that in the Black Market, whoever you killed, you could take their place?

Was it truly such a world where the strong devoured the weak?

Seeing Jiang Yuan's surprised expression, Zhu Hu grinned. "Brother Jiang need not be surprised. Such are the rules of our Black Market. We want only the strong and keep no trash."

"And the one who was killed was trash!"

Jiang Yuan was left speechless. That reasoning was truly... impossible to refute.

Zhu Hu picked up his teacup and took a sip, then continued with a smile, "If one day Brother Jiang takes a fancy to my position as hall master, you may challenge me openly. If I lose, death will be my only fate, and I will bear no grudge."

At those words, Jiang Yuan remained composed, but Liu Mang beside him was so frightened that he dropped his teacup.

With a clang, it shattered on the floor.

Zhu Hu looked at Liu Mang with displeasure. "Look at you, so rash and flustered. How can you ever accomplish anything great?"

"Learn from Brother Jiang. Be steadier."

"Yes, yes, yes, this subordinate has been rude!" Liu Mang hurriedly rose and apologized repeatedly.

Jiang Yuan also stood and cupped his hands. "Hall Master worries too much. This old man joined the Black Market only to find a place to settle down. I have no great ambitions."

Zhu Hu was taken aback, then suddenly threw back his head and laughed. "Hahaha... That is exactly what I like about Brother Jiang—your frank nature."

"But rest assured, Brother Jiang, I do not suspect you in the slightest."

"Once you enter White Tiger Hall, we are old brothers!"

Jiang Yuan sighed inwardly. Whoever became your brother would have eight lifetimes of rotten luck.

He could see it clearly now. Zhu Hu was exceedingly suspicious. Every word he spoke appeared casual, yet every one of them was a test.

The moment Jiang Yuan revealed anything unusual, let alone becoming a steward, it was doubtful whether he would even be able to leave this residence alive.

"Many thanks for Hall Master's high regard for this old man!"

"Alright, Liu Mang. Take Brother Jiang to register. Tomorrow, have him assume Zhang Bo's position."

After giving the order, Zhu Hu dismissed Jiang Yuan and Liu Mang. Holding Jiang Yuan's dossier, he fell into deep thought.

"Did this old bastard really come to the Black Market with no purpose?"

After leaving Zhu Residence.

Liu Mang smiled and congratulated Jiang Yuan. "Congratulations, Brother. In just a few short months, you have risen to steward. Such a thing is simply unheard of."

"Just luck."

Jiang Yuan waved his hand, then asked, "Brother Liu, was what the Hall Master said earlier true?"

Naturally, he meant the Black Market's rule that "whoever you kill, you can take their position."

Liu Mang's expression changed drastically. "Brother, you wouldn't be..."

Jiang Yuan shook his head. "This old man has no interest in such matters. I was merely curious."

"Oh."

Liu Mang let out a sigh of relief and said seriously, "Brother, you absolutely must not take those words at face value. The forces within our Black Market are tangled and complicated. Anyone might stab you in the back. If you wished to replace Hall Master Zhu, you would likely be dealt with by others before you even made a move."

Jiang Yuan raised an eyebrow. He had not taken it seriously to begin with, but he had not expected the Black Market to be this dangerous.

"I understand. Rest assured, this old man cannot be bothered to involve himself in the struggles of you young people."

There was no ceremony for Jiang Yuan's promotion to steward. He only needed to go to the Accounts Hall to exchange his token and register his residence, salary, assets, and other information anew.

The disciple at the Accounts Hall was immediately stunned upon seeing Jiang Yuan.

This old man had registered his identity only a few months ago, and in the blink of an eye, he had been promoted again?

"Master Jiang, everything has been registered. This is your steward token. Steward Zhang's former assets will also be transferred under your name," the disciple said.

"Zhang Bo's assets?"

Jiang Yuan paused, not expecting there to be such benefits to killing someone and taking their position.

After the registration was complete.

Jiang Yuan took the token and headed straight for Zhang Bo's residence. It now belonged to him as well.

Jiang Yuan looked up. Though both were steward residences, Zhang Bo's estate was far more luxurious than his own. Its grounds alone were several times larger, and its grandeur was almost no less than Zhu Residence.

This Zhang Bo seemed to have skimmed quite a bit of money.

At the entrance to Zhang Residence—no, it should now be Jiang Residence—stood two beautiful women with slender figures and skin like creamy jade. They slightly bowed to Jiang Yuan.

"This concubine greets Master Jiang."

"This concubine?"

Jiang Yuan froze and looked at the two women.

A faint blush crossed their pretty faces. Lowering their heads, they said, "Master, it is like this. We are Steward Zhang's concubines. Now that you have taken over his position, according to the Black Market's rules, everything he had is inherited by you."

"This..."

Jiang Yuan was utterly stunned. He had thought the assets Zhang Bo left him were only the house.

There was more than that?

"Yes. From today onward, we are both yours."

The two women spoke softly, with a trace of bashfulness.

After all, they were not women of the pleasure quarters. Suddenly having a different master was truly somewhat... difficult to adapt to.

Jiang Yuan stood there dumbfounded, suddenly feeling like some great villain.

He had killed Zhang Bo, taken his position, seized his house, and now he was about to take his concubines as well. Damn it, he was a bona fide villain.

He wondered whether Zhang Bo had a proper wife, or perhaps... a daughter?