How did you know... you were sent by the boss?
Tie Niu was stunned at first, then his dark face turned red, but he quickly recovered and looked at the heroic man in front of him with great joy.
Last year, he secretly went to watch Chef Li's daughter, Taohong, take a bath. He happened to be caught by his own boss, Wang Hao, who teased him about it a lot afterward. Only his own boss knew about this.
Since this person knows about this matter, it must be related to his boss.
"Keep your voice down, don't let anyone hear you!"
Wang Hao glared at Tie Niu, then looked around and used his True Spirit Sword Intent to sense the surroundings. After confirming that no one was around, he asked in a low voice, "You seemed to be in a hurry just now. Was something urgent?"
"There were some things that needed to be done, but now they're not."
Tie Niu chuckled. He did have urgent business to attend to, but it was related to his boss. Now that he had met someone who might know his boss's whereabouts, he no longer needed to worry about what had happened before.
"Alright, your boss is currently in a tofu workshop in that alley behind, a really secluded one, with a big locust tree in front. Go and deliver the three hundred roast chickens from the shop across the street to your boss, then just wait there. Remember not to let anyone follow you."
Wang Hao nodded and gave the instructions.
He still has some things to do afterward, and it would be much better if he had a helper.
"Three hundred roast chickens, that's really the boss's style!"
Hearing this amount, Tie Niu believed the man's words even more, after all, he was quite aware of his boss's terrifying appetite.
"By the way, what's your relationship with the boss?"
Tie Niu then looked at Wang Hao with a puzzled expression; he had never seen this person before.
"We're friends, I guess!"
After thinking about it, Wang Hao gave the definition of "friend," since it was one of his pseudonyms!
"Okay, I'm going now!"
Seeing that Wang Hao didn't want to say more, Tie Niu wisely didn't ask any further questions and started walking towards the small shop across the street.
Actually, this person's identity wasn't important to him; as long as he could find the boss, that was enough. He had just asked casually.
After seeing Tie Niu off, Wang Hao ate and drank to his heart's content and then strode out of the restaurant. He first made some arrangements at a few shops, and finally went to a shop to order a few sets of clothes before changing his clothes and returning to the tofu workshop. However, as soon as he entered the door, his figure changed and he returned to his original appearance.
"Boss, it really is you!"
Tie Niu, who was guarding the tofu workshop, was overjoyed to see Wang Hao arrive; he had finally seen his boss again.
And the boss really didn't die!
"Come on in, let's talk inside!"
Wang Hao looked around to indicate that this was not the place to talk, then stepped into a room.
As soon as you walk in, you see a whole floor covered with roast chicken wrapped in oil paper, which Tie Niu had obviously moved here before. There are also a few jars of wine next to it, which Tie Niu also bought separately. He's quite observant.
Wang Hao tossed a roast chicken to Tie Niu behind him, then grabbed one for himself and started gnawing on it, asking, "What's the situation outside?"
Having been completely cut off from the outside world for so long, he had no idea about the situation in the capital after the escape. He summoned Tie Niu here simply to find out what was going on.
"The capital has long been under martial law. People from the Eastern Depot are patrolling outside all day long. Brother Chui said it was a special order from the Emperor to suppress the spies of those court officials and buy you time, Boss."
The commotion within our Blood Robe Tower is quite significant. After our Hall Master returned, he completely fell out with the other seven halls. It's rumored that the seven halls might have been involved in what happened that day. Currently, the Blood Sword Hall of the Tower Master is maintaining neutrality, but for some reason, after the Tower Master returned, he had a huge argument with our Hall Master, and the two of them fell out."
While eating roast chicken, Tie Niu recounted what he knew, ending with a puzzled look on his face, clearly not understanding why his patriarch and the landlord, these two best buddies, had fallen out.
"They've fallen out!"
Scratching his head, Wang Hao felt a little embarrassed and guilty towards Lu Weilou, but there was nothing he could do about it.
He simply didn't have the means to quickly acquire enough money to prepare medicinal cuisine, so he had no choice but to swindle Lu Weilou first.
Anyway, that old guy's Blood Sword Hall was almost completely wiped out at Shaolin Temple last year because of the theft of the Great Rejuvenation Pill. There aren't that many people to support right now, and it doesn't cost that much money. We can always find an opportunity to compensate them later.
Therefore, Wang Hao did not feel much psychological pressure. After chatting with Tie Niu for a while, Wang Hao had a general understanding of the current situation in Beijing.
"Yes, that's it. Quietly go back to the Blood Wind Hall and retrieve that set of Profound Iron Dachui. Also, invite Chef Li out while you're at it. Oh, and when you come, go to my room and bring over the large scroll that's under my bed."
After thinking for a while, Wang Hao gave the instructions.
"Boss, are you forging another divine weapon?"
Tie Niu's eyes lit up. He had participated in the entire process of Wang Hao forging the Shameless Greatsword last time, so he knew his boss's forging skills. They were no less than those of legendary forging Grandmaster like Kanshou and Bakuya Ou Yezi.
"You're quite clever, buddy. If you behave well, I'll forge you a battle axe this time, and maybe even a suit of armor!"
Wang Hao smiled; he was quite satisfied with this underling.
"I'll go and bring you the things and Chef Li right away."
Tie Niu was overjoyed and ran out excitedly.
Tie Niu was very efficient. He went out at noon and returned in the afternoon pushing a cart. On the cart were the iron hammer and anvil that had been infused with Profound Iron, the same ones used to forge the Shameless Greatsword. There was also a bulging burlap sack on the cart.
"Boss, I couldn't find Chef Li, but I invited his daughter, Taohong. This girl's cooking skills are truly inherited from Chef Li."
Tie Niu walked in with a beaming face, carrying a hammer and anvil chained together in one hand, a burlap sack in the other, and a bag containing scrolls on his back. Clearly, the burlap sack contained Chef Li's daughter, Taohong.
"This is what you meant by 'please'!"
Wang Hao stared blankly at the sack that Tie Niu was carrying on his shoulder, or rather, the Taohong. This method of carrying the sack didn't seem to have anything to do with the word "please" at all!
Did I not explain myself clearly?
Or is this guy misunderstanding something?
"Isn't this to keep the boss's secret?"
With a simple and honest expression, Tie Niu scratched the back of his head, indicating that it was entirely his boss's fault.
"Hurry up and release them!"
Wang Hao glared at Tie Niu with annoyance, then quickly and gently helped to put the sack down. Untying the sack revealed a woman inside who was tied up like a rice dumpling, her mouth stuffed with a Taohong.
Taohong was filled with terror, but when she saw Wang Hao's face, she felt relieved and knew that she would be fine.
She was quite familiar with Wang Hao, this big foodie; she had even personally prepared the medicinal meals for him for a month last year, so she had some understanding of Wang Hao personality.
She understood that although she had been brought here by kidnappers, they would definitely not harm her.
"I'm so sorry, Miss Taohong. I originally wanted to invite your father over to help me cook for a few days, but that good-for-nothing Tie Niu kidnapped you here. I apologize for everything!"
Wang Hao quickly removed the rag from the man's mouth and sincerely apologized.
After all, we're all acquaintances, so it's really wrong of me to take advantage of them like this.
Furthermore, their meals for the next few days will depend on this person, so naturally they can't afford to upset him.
"Since it was Brother Wang who invited me, Taohong will do her utmost to help!"
Taohong, now freed from her ropes, nodded to Wang Hao, then glared fiercely at Tie Niu, who was grinning foolishly beside her, clearly having taken note of the incident.
"I've already ordered all the utensils, including pots, pans, and bowls, from a nearby shop. They should be delivered soon. I've also ordered the ingredients; they'll be delivering them every morning. From now on, I'll have to trouble Miss Taohong with the food arrangements."
With an apologetic expression, he explained his arrangements to Taohong, then thought for a moment and added, "Miss Taohong, please bear with me for the next few days and don't go out. Once I've finished crafting the things, I'll have Tie Niu take you back. You can stay in that room from now on!"
As he spoke, Wang Hao pointed to the bedroom of the couple who ran the tofu workshop, which was the only bedroom in the workshop.
After all, she's a girl, so she deserves some special treatment. As for the two grown men, it doesn't matter; they can just make do with whatever they want.
He didn't want anyone to know about this place for the time being. If he hadn't known that his Tie Niu was reliable, he wouldn't have stopped the guy in the first place.
Fortunately, Taohong and her father, Li Dazui, are both trustworthy people and are considered confidants of Zhao Fengxue's family, so they can be informed of certain things.
"Don't worry, Brother Wang, I know what to do!"
Nodding to indicate that she understood, Taohong, having lived in assassin organizations like the Blood Robe Tower Blood Wind Hall, naturally knew some of the rules and how to handle certain situations.
"Alright, Miss Taohong, could you please tidy up this courtyard? Tie Niu, stop looking around and come with me to work!"
In the end, Wang Hao glared at Tie Niu, who was staring intently at Taohong, and gestured for them to walk towards the Earthly Dao they had dug earlier.
The next step of the forging process requires the use of the gold inside, so it naturally needs to be brought up.
With Tie Niu waiting above using the prepared thick hemp rope and pulley, Wang Hao jumped down into the Earthly Dao and returned to the Great Yuan Treasure. He carried two boxes of gold to the Earthly Dao, secured them with chains, and had Tie Niu hoist them up little by little.
Tie Niu is now at the Mid Second-rate cultivation level, with a strength of 1,500 jin. With the addition of two pulleys, he can pull the heavy box up.
After removing tens of millions of taels of gold from the treasury, Wang Hao then filled and compacted the dug-out passageway with soil.
After all, there's a huge treasure trove down there. Although I don't need it for the time being, I absolutely can't let it fall into the wrong hands, so I have to keep it a secret.
In fact, this is because the capital is heavily guarded, and the recent events have made it even more secure, leaving virtually no opportunity to transport those treasures out. Otherwise, Wang Hao would have already planned to do so.
After all, he would have to leave the capital to develop his own power base, which would require a lot of money.
Unfortunately, the location of this treasure wasn't ideal, so we had to abandon it for the time being.
"That idiot is right. Taohong, your cooking skills are indeed a direct descendant of Chef Li's, and you're even showing signs of surpassing him."
Nightfall had fallen after the chests filled with gold were brought up, and a fragrant aroma filled the courtyard.
Several large pots were set up in the courtyard, each containing different dishes, but they were mostly tofu products. Taohong had taken advantage of their busy work downstairs to make these dishes with tofu that had already been made in the tofu workshop.
"It's not as good as you make it out to be, Brother Wang!"
Taohong blushed slightly at the praise, but a hint of pride shone through her face, clearly indicating her confidence in her culinary skills.
Her shy demeanor, however, left Tie Niu speechless, almost drooling.
"What are you looking at! Hurry up and eat your food, or you'll be busy later!"
Seeing Tie Niu's lecherous face, Wang Hao felt extremely ashamed and kicked him. How could he have taken in such a disgraceful follower?
"Okay! I'll eat right away!"
Once he came to his senses, Tie Niu quickly lowered his head and ate the food in his bowl, but his big, round eyes still occasionally stole glances at Taohong.
Seeing Tie Niu's embarrassing state, Wang Hao couldn't help but feel uneasy.
"This idiot wouldn't have deliberately carried Taohong over here, trying to create an opportunity to get close to her, would he?"
Little did he know that Tie Niu had always liked Taohong, but due to his low strength and lack of good looks, he was somewhat insecure and had maintained a state of unrequited love.
However, this guy isn't as honest as he seems on the surface, as evidenced by the last time we caught him peeping at Taohong taking a bath.
Given his personality, it's not impossible that he would do something like that.
It's likely that the earlier claim of not finding Chef Li was intentional, with the aim of kidnapping the girl and bringing her out.