Dugu Sheng

"To my shame, this is my first time coming down the mountain with my master. I don't know much about the sects of Jianghu, nor do I know where Dugu Manor is. Please don't take offense," Huang Xiao said honestly.

"It's perfectly normal not to know. Daoist Qingxiao, did you come here for that Old Fools Bai Tianqi's sixtieth birthday?" Dugu Sheng asked.

Dugu Sheng's words startled Huang Xiao, who hurriedly lowered his voice. "Brother Dugu, keep your voice down."

"It's fine. He is an Old Fools, isn't he?" Dugu Sheng said with a smile.

Huang Xiao said nothing more. Dugu Sheng probably had quite a background, to call Bai Tianqi an Old Fools so openly. After all, whether the sects of Jianghu here truly respected Bai Tianqi or not, they still had to address him respectfully as Sect Master Bai or Senior Bai in public.

"Brother Dugu, you must be an expert swordsman?" Rather than respond to Dugu Sheng's remark, Huang Xiao glanced at the longsword on the table as he spoke.

"I wouldn't dare call myself an expert, but I should be more than capable of dealing with a few scoundrels of Wulin," Dugu Sheng said with a smile, patting the longsword on the table.

"You're far too modest, Young Master Dugu. Among the younger generation of Wulin today, if you ranked second in swordsmanship, who would dare claim first place?" Dugu Sheng had barely finished speaking when a burst of hearty laughter came from the stairs.

Hearing this, Huang Xiao looked toward the stairs in surprise. Of course, he was not the only one-even the other guests on the second floor turned their eyes toward his table.

Dugu Sheng watched the speaker walk up beside him, then asked, "May I ask your name?"

"I am Wu Yong, the Heavenly Qilin Pawnshop's manager for Youzhou," Wu Yong said with a smile. "Might I borrow a seat?"

"So you're Boss Wu, a manager of the Heavenly Qilin Pawnshop. What an honor to meet you today. You're all like divine dragons whose heads may be glimpsed but whose tails remain unseen. So many people want to meet you, yet can never find you." A trace of surprise crossed Dugu Sheng's face before he smiled. "Sit, please!"

Then Dugu Sheng cupped his hands toward Huang Xiao. "Daoist Qingxiao, this table was yours to begin with. Please forgive me for taking the liberty this once."

Huang Xiao could tell that the middle-aged man before him was someone of considerable standing. Since the man merely wanted to sit down, he had no reason to refuse.

"Not at all. There's still room to sit, anyway. Please take a seat, Boss Wu!" Huang Xiao said with a smile.

"Is he Dugu Sheng, the young master of Dugu Manor?"

"He really is young!"

"As expected of a talent on the Young Eagle Ranking. Just look at his extraordinary bearing. If my disciples were even a tenth of what he is, I'd be satisfied."

"Old Ghost Zhang, why didn't I hear you say that earlier? If his bearing is so extraordinary, why didn't you notice it just now?"

"That man is the Heavenly Qilin Pawnshop's manager for Youzhou. Heavens, I never thought I'd get to meet a god of wealth like him!"

"Exactly! They say the Heavenly Qilin Pawnshop's wealth rivals a nation's. As the manager of an entire province, who knows how much money he has at his disposal?"

The Jianghu people around them turned their eyes toward the table and whispered among themselves.

Huang Xiao heard all of this as well. He was very curious about Dugu Sheng and Wu Yong. Whatever else might be said, the others' remarks had made it clear that both men were important figures.

Ignoring the Jianghu people around them, Wu Yong thanked them, sat down, and said with a smile, "I never expected to meet Young Master Dugu here. Oh, right—which Daoist temple do you belong to, young Daoist?"

"Green Ox Temple of the Green Ox Gate, on Zhongnan Mountain," Huang Xiao answered honestly.

"Zhongnan Mountain? That's quite a distance from Huaqing City. Green Ox Temple... oh, I know it. Your sect seems to have some distinctive expertise in refining medicinal pills." Wu Yong thought for a moment, then smiled.

"I never expected you to know of Green Ox Temple, Boss Wu. What a surprise." Huang Xiao truly had not expected Wu Yong to know his sect. After all, his sect was unranked.

"Haha! I've merely eaten a few more years' worth of meals and traveled to a few more places than you have, so I know a little more," Wu Yong said with a laugh.

"You're far too modest, Boss Wu. There probably really isn't anything under heaven that you people don't know," Dugu Sheng said.

"You give us far too much credit, Young Master Dugu. Take the Dugu Bank under your Dugu Manor-its branches are spread throughout the country. When it comes to being well informed, the Heavenly Qilin Pawnshop is no match for you," Wu Yong said with a smile.

"I take it you've come to see me about something, Boss Wu. Why not tell me?" Dugu Sheng asked.

"Should I excuse myself?" Huang Xiao asked hesitantly.

"No need, no need. If it really were something confidential, I wouldn't be discussing it with Young Master Dugu here in public." Wu Yong waved a hand, then said to Dugu Sheng, "Young Master Dugu, I originally intended to pay a personal visit to your father, Manor Lord Dugu. But when I learned you were in Huaqing City, I came here instead. This time, I've come specifically about your Dugu Bank."

"What do you mean?" Dugu Sheng asked, somewhat puzzled.

"Our Heavenly Qilin Pawnshop wishes to establish its own Money Bank. But as you know, it won't be easy to get it up and running all at once, so those above me intend to find a Money Bank to partner with. I therefore considered approaching your Dugu Money Bank. Of course, the other managers may also be seeking partnerships with other Money Banks. Today, I simply wanted to inform you of this, Young Master Dugu. Once you return and report it to your father, if he is interested, we can discuss it further." Wu Yong explained the purpose of his visit.

"Oh?" Dugu Sheng raised his brows slightly. He had not expected it to be something like this. This was not a matter that could be settled with a few words, nor could he make the decision. As Wu Yong had said, he would have to tell his father and leave everything for him to decide. After all, he had no interest in such matters. His thoughts were entirely devoted to swordsmanship and martial arts.

"I'll pass the message to my father when I return. Whether it goes ahead has nothing to do with me. That will depend on my father," Dugu Sheng said.

"Whether this works out or not, should an opportunity arise in the future, our Heavenly Qilin Pawnshop would still very much look forward to working with your Dugu Manor," Wu Yong said with a smile.

Dugu Sheng nodded without saying anything more.

Wu Yong had no intention of lingering either. "Then I won't disturb you any longer. I'll take my leave."

"Please, Boss Wu!" Dugu Sheng said with a smile.

Just as Wu Yong rose to leave, a mocking voice suddenly rang out on the second floor. "When it comes to the younger generation, all swordsmanship is bullshit. How could sword techniques compare to saber techniques?"

Wu Yong glanced at the three young men approaching with sabers at their waists, then looked back at the seated Dugu Sheng. Dugu Sheng's expression had not changed in the slightest as he slowly savored the cup of wine in his hand.