I don't want silver

"What cultivation method do you practice, and what grade is it?" Tang Wen asked.

"Earth-rank mid-grade. But the Iron Sword Sect has a rule: its cultivation methods must never be passed to outsiders, or they'll hunt down your entire family.

"Even though I've left the Iron Sword Sect now, I still can't break that rule.

"Otherwise, they'll swear to hunt me to the ends of the earth.

"If not for that, I'd gladly offer it to the stronger members of the Personal Guard Army to practice. But the martial world has its own rules. I can't act recklessly.

"If it were leaked, even you would suffer their retaliation, Master.

"Retaliation from a sect like the Iron Sword Sect would be terrifying.

"Even the authorities generally don't want to provoke sects like the Iron Sword Sect," Tang Jun said.

"Isn't there the Six Fan Gate?" Tang Wen asked.

"There is. The Six Fan Gate is a sect of officers trained by the imperial court specifically to handle affairs in the martial world.

"But the court's policy toward sects is this:

"As long as you don't rebel and answer their summons when needed, they leave you alone.

"They can even turn a blind eye to some smaller murder cases.

"As a result, many sects have become arrogant and overbearing. Even government officials don't dare provoke them casually.

"As for the constables, just hearing that disciples of a major sect are causing trouble gives them headaches. They don't dare intervene at all.

"So, Master, if you encounter disciples of a major sect picking a fight, you must hold your temper.

"They aren't just one person. Behind them stands an enormous sect.

"Some sects have thousands of disciples and formidable strength. Even an army wouldn't provoke them lightly.

"And the reason everyone fears the Six Fan Gate is that it, too, is an enormous sect.

"It has tens of thousands of people, with the imperial court backing it. Who would dare provoke them?" Tang Jun said.

"That's why improving our strength matters most, Tang Jun. Once we're as strong as a major sect, even the imperial court will be wary of us," Tang Wen said.

"That's difficult! First, we lack high-ranking cultivation methods. Second, why have the major sects lasted so long? Because they have foundations built over hundreds, even thousands of years.

"Some major sects would keep passing down their legacies even if the imperial court fell.

"To them, it would merely mean a change of dynasty.

"These major sects don't just occupy spirit-rich mountains and beautiful waters. They also possess enormous wealth.

"They usually have dedicated branches that do business to earn money. Take the Iron Sword Sect-if we're talking silver, they have at least tens of millions of taels.

"Otherwise, where would the money come from? All those disciples need money to cultivate and money to eat," Tang Jun said.

"Are there any heaven-rank cultivation methods for sale?" Tang Wen asked.

"Yes! There's one in Sea Saint City, the largest city in the south.

"It's the crowning treasure of the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion, but the price is sky-high.

"A heaven-rank cultivation method costs at least a million taels of silver. Few people can afford one." Tang Jun shook his head.

"A million taels. That is expensive." Tang Wen felt rather disappointed. He couldn't come up with that much silver right now.

"Of course. Murders over stolen cultivation methods crop up in the martial world from time to time.

"When a heaven-rank cultivation method is unearthed, who knows how many powerful fighters it will draw into contention?

"It can even drag entire sects into slaughtering one another, all because cultivation methods are so valuable," Tang Jun said.

"A heaven-rank cultivation method must let you cultivate faster than an earth-rank one," Tang Wen said.

"Naturally, but that isn't the main point. What matters most is that a heaven-rank cultivation method lets you travel further along the path of cultivation.

"How should I explain it? Take human-rank cultivation methods. They're too weak, so reaching the seventh or eighth rank is the absolute limit for their practitioners.

"They're simply too slow. Earth-rank cultivation methods, meanwhile, are constrained to the fifth or sixth rank.

"In other words, the fifth or sixth rank is the highest you can possibly reach.

"But a heaven-rank cultivation method can take you to the second or third rank," Tang Jun said.

"Then how do first-rank experts get there?" Tang Wen asked.

"You'd have to practice one of the legendary 'mystic-rank' cultivation methods. But those are far too mysterious. They exist only in legends-even our sect leader has never seen one." Tang Jun stopped the carriage and shook his head, longing written across his face. "It's maddening. My natural aptitude isn't bad. I reached the eighth rank at twenty.

"But with only an earth-rank mid-grade cultivation method, the sixth rank is the highest I'll reach in this lifetime.

"Becoming an expert who towers over an entire age is impossible."

"Heh, don't lose heart. You'll have your chance," Tang Wen said with a smile.

"Heh." Tang Jun gave a bitter smile, not believing Tang Wen at all.

They reached Yanling City at noon. Tang Wen first exchanged his silver ingots for banknotes, then instructed Bu Feng to arrange a meeting with Li Dawang at the River-View Tower.

At three that afternoon, Li Dawang appeared at the River-View Tower.

"I hear you've recruited more than three hundred of my former workers from the Thousand-Leaf Workshop, my lord?" Li Dawang asked.

"Yes, but another three hundred or so weren't willing to go to Su Mei Island," Tang Wen replied.

"Heh, Su Mei Island is a deserted island-a place where even birds won't shit.

"What's more, pirates come ashore from time to time to rob and kill.

"It's a far cry from Yanling City. It's perfectly normal that they don't want to go," Li Dawang said with a smile.

"But I've taken over everything you owe the workers. I came today to pay you the remaining silver. Let's sign the contract right away, and you can hand over the land deed so I can have the ownership changed at the government office," Tang Wen said.

"You really took on all my workers?" Li Dawang asked.

"Tang Jun can testify to that," Tang Wen said.

"Mr. Li, these are the contracts all the workers signed with Master Tang. They've authorized him to collect the silver you owe them." Tang Jun came over and produced the contracts.

"Then that's settled." Li Dawang took them and glanced through them before handing them to his steward, Ning Ping, to examine. Ning Ping nodded.

"Here are the remaining banknotes. Count them, and then we'll sign the contract." Tang Wen took out the banknotes and placed them on the table.

"I don't want the banknotes." Li Dawang shook his head.

"What, are you going back on your word?" Tang Wen's expression hardened.

"No, that's not it. I was wondering whether you still have any of those mirrors, lipsticks, and perfumes," Li Dawang asked.

"I have another batch." Tang Wen nodded.

"Just use those to cover the remaining payment. But you'll have to lower the price. How about nine mace and five candareens of gold for each mirror, and six mace and five candareens for the lipstick and perfume?" Li Dawang said.

"That price is too low, isn't it?" Tang Wen shook his head, though inwardly his heart had already burst into bloom with delight. As if I couldn't get more of this junk!

"I can add another half-mace at most." Li Dawang thought for a moment, then gritted his teeth.

"Deal!" Tang Wen nodded.

Next, Li Dawang had his steward draw up the contract on the spot, and both parties signed, affixed their thumbprints, and stamped their seals.

Tang Wen had Li Quan and the others bring up the mirrors, lipsticks, and perfumes. But after counting them, they were still short roughly fifty thousand taels' worth of goods.

"How about leaving the rest outstanding for now? Once the next shipment arrives, I'll have someone deliver it," Tang Wen suggested deliberately.

"Heh, payment in one hand, goods in the other. Everything settled cleanly. Otherwise, the Thousand-Leaf Workshop's land deed will have to wait until your next shipment arrives, too." Li Dawang gave a dry laugh.

"Would you want this?" Tang Wen took a silver crown from a chest. It was set with eighteen pearls.

Its design somewhat resembled the crowns worn by beauty pageant winners, rather than the styles worn by noblewomen in ancient times.

The moment sunlight struck it, the silver gleamed brilliantly and the pearls shimmered with jeweled splendor, seizing the eye.

"How much is this?" Li Dawang was instantly captivated by the silver crown. After all, the rough handicrafts of ancient times were no match for modern craftsmanship.

"Look at these pearls-eighteen in all. And look at this silver crown, so bright and lustrous.

"The silver was repeatedly refined and specially purified by a master craftsman.

"Otherwise, look at your own silver. Does it have this sheen?" Tang Wen began to boast.

"That's true." Li Dawang stroked the silver crown, unable to put it down.

"You'll definitely fetch a good price for this crown. Those noblewomen will probably drool when they see it," Tang Wen continued boasting.

"Just tell me the price," Li Dawang urged.

"Five hundred taels each," Tang Wen said.

"How many do you have?" Li Dawang's breathing quickened.

"How many do you want?" Tang Wen looked at him with a faint, knowing smile.

"You owe me fifty thousand taels. Give me a hundred of these to cover it," Li Dawang said.

"Li Quan, open the chest and let Mr. Li inspect the goods," Tang Wen said with a smile.

Li Dawang and Steward Ning carefully inspected the goods together, feeling and squeezing them.

"Your lordship, there are only sixty crowns here. You're forty short. When I do business, there's nothing I hate more than people buying on credit," Li Dawang said after counting them.

"Would this do to cover the rest?" Tang Wen smiled slightly and took out a disposable Windproof Lighter.

Of course, it was different from the one Li Dawang had walked off with last time.

That one had been gold-plated and cost over three hundred yuan. This kind was plastic and cost only a few tenths of a yuan apiece wholesale.

"Yes, yes! How much for one?" Li Dawang had already tasted the benefits. After taking the previous lighter home, he had used it to show off before his friends and relatives countless times.

In the end, a relative who was an official had forcibly taken it from him, leaving Li Dawang wanting to cry but unable to shed a tear.