Wang Fang

Zhang Lingfeng invited Wu Yun to his home.

Zhang Pingping lifted the cover from the tray on the table. Inside lay ten silver ingots, each weighing ten taels, which the Wang family had just delivered at noon.

"What do you mean by this, junior brother?"

Wu Yun remained unmoved.

As a Dark Force expert, a hundred taels of silver was merely a month's stipend, not to mention his other sources of income.

"To be frank, Senior Brother Wu, a relative of mine offended Young Master Yan and was imprisoned by his brother-in-law on charges of trafficking illicit salt. I would like to ask you to help pull some strings. Once it is done, I will offer you another two hundred taels of silver."

Zhang Lingfeng cupped his hands.

"I'm afraid I must disappoint you, junior brother. The Yan family is a powerful clan in the county town. Although I hold a nominal post with them, they only accord me a little respect. I cannot handle this matter."

Wu Yun shook his head.

"Another hundred taels."

Zhang Lingfeng knew the money was not enough.

"I'm afraid I cannot help."

Wu Yun shook his head.

"Once it is done, I will give you another five hundred taels of silver, Senior Brother Wu."

Zhang Lingfeng gritted his teeth.

"Deal."

Wu Yun smiled.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Wu."

Zhang Lingfeng expressed his gratitude.

After Wu Yun left.

Zhang Da came in with Xu Laiyi.

This was a matter of great importance, bearing on the Lineage's future. The Zhang Clan dared not be careless, and Zhang Da needed to understand the situation here clearly.

"Six hundred taels of silver in total, plus three hundred and sixty mu of land. The Wang family has practically lost half its life."

Zhang Da sighed.

After resting briefly, he hurried back with Xu Laiyi. He needed to inform Master Zhang of the news at once.

Early the next morning, Master Zhang visited the Wang family and lamented, "Martial artists have such voracious ambitions. He demanded a thousand taels of silver right off the bat. Lingfeng went to a great deal of trouble, and only out of regard for their bond as fellow disciples did he knock off two hundred taels."

Wang Jinshan sneered inwardly, but said, "We owe Lingfeng a great deal this time. As long as my son can be saved, I can afford the money."

After Master Zhang left.

Wang Jinshan sat with a dark expression, saying nothing, as a graceful, beautiful figure emerged from the inner room.

"In the end, Zhang Lingfeng still cared about his reputation."

Wang Fang spoke.

"Thankfully, you came up with that idea. Otherwise, given the Zhang Clan's attitude, they would never have readily lent a hand."

Wang Jinshan spoke.

He had only one son and one daughter, Wang Biao and Wang Fang. How could he bear to send Wang Fang to the Yan family to save Wang Biao? Wang Fang had devised this plan herself, aiming to force Zhang Lingfeng to rescue Wang Biao.

"Now that Zhang Lingfeng has mastered Ming Jin, the Zhang Clan is no longer what it used to be. Those three hundred and sixty mu of land will not sate their ambition."

Wang Fang reminded him.

"Ah, what can we do about it?"

Wang Jinshan looked exhausted. Wang Biao's affair had badly sapped the Wang family's vitality. Even knowing that the Zhang Clan had reaped considerable benefits from it, he could only watch helplessly.

"Father, the Zhang Clan won't get their hands on our land so easily. We may not be able to deal with the Yan family yet, but a mere Zhang Clan cannot ride roughshod over us."

Wang Fang spoke.

"You aren't thinking of..."

Wang Jinshan knew that the Zhang Clan's breaking off the engagement had humiliated Wang Fang. His daughter had never been one to take things lying down, and now that the family had lost some of its farmland as well, her hatred of the Zhang Clan was growing ever stronger.

"Yes. Even if Zhang Lingfeng has mastered Ming Jin, he cannot treat me with such contempt. Don't worry. I know how to handle this."

Wang Fang made no attempt to hide her hatred of the Zhang Clan and Zhang Lingfeng.

"You had better not act recklessly."

Wang Jinshan warned her.

She knew that this daughter of hers had been clever from childhood and fiercely competitive. Since the Zhang Clan had dared come to their door to break off the engagement, she would certainly not let the matter rest.

Two days later.

The Wang family's carriage stopped outside the county jail and took Wang Biao, covered in wounds, home.

As a Dark Force expert, Wu Yun counted as a figure of some standing in Baiyang County, and he was preparing to take the martial examination. The Yan family would still give him enough face to let Wang Biao off.

"Senior Brother Wu, please!"

After Wang Biao was taken away, Zhang Lingfeng invited Wu Yun to his rented home.

Once again, a tray sat on the table, covered with a red cloth.

Zhang Lingfeng pulled the red cloth away, revealing a hundred taels of fine silver and a five-hundred-tael banknote.

"What do you mean by this, junior brother?"

Wu Yun froze. They had originally agreed that he would receive another five hundred taels once the matter was settled.

"To be frank, Senior Brother Wu, this was the amount I wanted to give you from the very beginning."

Zhang Lingfeng held up one finger.

Wu Yun's eyes were like torches. He knew that meant a thousand taels.

"But at the time, I couldn't guarantee that the Wang family could afford that amount, so I could only promise you another five hundred taels first. In the end, after all my persuasion, the Wang family only gave me another six hundred taels. I hope you won't find it too little, Senior Brother Wu."

Zhang Lingfeng sighed.

"Hahaha, the thought alone is enough, junior brother. I hold a nominal post with the Yan family. Getting them to let Wang Biao off took no more than a word. Since you've been so generous, consider this hundred taels a small token from your senior brother."

Wu Yun took the five-hundred-tael banknote and pushed the hundred taels of silver back toward Zhang Lingfeng.

"Senior brother, I couldn't possibly accept that."

Zhang Lingfeng spoke hastily.

"We are fellow disciples. There is no need to draw such clear lines over everything."

Wu Yun spoke sternly.

"Well... then let me host a banquet for you at a restaurant. Please do me the honor of attending, senior brother."

Zhang Lingfeng looked excited.

"Hahaha, all right."

Wu Yun smiled.

The following day, Zhang Lingfeng hosted a banquet for Wu Yun at a restaurant and invited Liu Feng to join them.

All the dishes he ordered were meat dishes that replenished Qi and blood: bear paws, mandarin fish, horse-meat buns, donkey-meat flatbreads, smoked duck, a large plump chicken, and even a spirit fish worth more than ten taels of silver.

He spent the entire hundred taels of silver.

Wu Yun saw all of this, and his approval of Zhang Lingfeng grew.

He had originally thought Zhang Lingfeng was merely a small landowner from outside town. He had not expected him to be so considerate in handling things. Perhaps he might bring him opportunities to make money in the future. In any case, Zhang Lingfeng's way of conducting himself made him feel very comfortable.

He sincerely wanted to be friends with Zhang Lingfeng.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill.

Zhang Pingping hired a carriage to take Wu Yun home. This once again surprised Wu Yun and made him place even greater importance on Zhang Lingfeng.

"Take care, senior brother."

Zhang Lingfeng and Liu Feng stood at the restaurant entrance, watching together as Wu Yun's carriage gradually disappeared into the distance.

"With Junior Brother Wu's help from now on, the other senior brothers and sisters in the inner courtyard will show you some respect too, junior brother."

Liu Feng remarked.

"This matter was resolved so smoothly thanks to your guidance, senior brother. This is a small token of my appreciation."

Zhang Lingfeng took out a hundred-tael banknote and offered it to Liu Feng with both hands.

Liu Feng found it unbelievable and instinctively wanted to reach out and accept it. But then he thought of Zhang Lingfeng's bearing, and how he had successfully broken through within two months despite his root bones having already closed.

Instead, Liu Feng pushed the banknote back toward Zhang Lingfeng.

With a serious expression, he said, "You're treating me like an outsider, junior brother. As the saying goes, one should not accept a reward without merit. Keep this money for yourself."

"Senior brother."

Zhang Lingfeng tried to press it into his hands.

"If you keep this up, I'll get angry. I mastered Ming Jin years ago and hold nominal posts at a pharmacy and a restaurant. There are plenty of perks each month. You have only just mastered Ming Jin. This is precisely when you need money."

Liu Feng spoke earnestly.

"Senior Brother Liu, how about this? We can use this money to open an account for you, for investments and lending. You and my younger brother can split the proceeds equally."

Zhang Pingping came out of the restaurant, followed by Hei Hu and Sun Yan.