Sponsorship
"Ye Fan has supreme-grade innate aptitude. Even though he failed his breakthrough once, my master still has high hopes for him. He hopes Ye Fan will do well in next year's martial examination and break through to Transforming Jin soon. He gives him a Qi and Blood Pill roughly every two months."
"If those Qi and Blood Pills went to me, I would break through to Transforming Jin and obtain the thirteenth hand sooner than Ye Fan."
Compared with dealing with Wang Fang, obtaining Ye Fan's share of cultivation resources from Guo Wei was what mattered most.
The Qi and Blood Pills Guo Wei provided were high-grade, each worth at least seven or eight hundred taels. Although Warm Breeze Hall earned a decent income, there were payments to the authorities, shares for the brothers, everyday operating funds, and all sorts of other expenses to deduct.
There was not much silver left each month to buy him Qi and Blood Pills.
Perhaps it would take two months to buy one.
Neither Zhang Lingfeng nor Zhang Pingping had considered selling their farmland. The authorities exercised extremely strict control over land.
Land was their foundation.
It was easy to sell, but difficult to buy back.
Whether it was the forty mu reclaimed in Stone Village, the Wang Family's three hundred and sixty mu, or the Li Clan's seven hundred and sixty-three mu, acquiring those fields required careful planning.
They had to make the Wang Family and the Li Clan willingly sell them the land for a pittance.
Otherwise, even if he became a Transforming Jin expert and slaughtered the Li Clan and the Wang Family, the authorities would reclaim both families' land. If the affair grew too big, the Zhang Clan would even be branded rebels.
They had to remember that just as they wanted other families' land, other families wanted theirs. If anyone got hold of something to use against them and everyone rose up to attack, the Zhang Clan as it stood could not withstand it.
"Was the Qi and Blood Pill you ate originally meant for Ye Fan?"
Zhang Pingping asked.
"Probably!"
Zhang Lingfeng was not certain either.
"Let's see how he reacts first. If he gets anxious, that means Master Guo might start looking after you. If he doesn't, that means Master Guo thinks very highly of him and bought him another one."
Zhang Pingping analyzed the situation.
"Mm. He's rather ambitious. He wants our Warm Breeze Hall to sponsor his cultivation and buy him Qi and Blood Pills."
Remembering the way Ye Fan had spoken, Zhang Lingfeng found it amusing.
"Building castles in the air."
Zhang Pingping laughed too.
The next day, Zhang Pingping arranged for people to move their belongings from the rented house into the courtyard residence Wang Biao had given them. It was also in Baile Ward, roughly a quarter of an hour's walk from the martial arts school.
It was a residence with two courtyards.
There were eight rooms in the front and rear, and a well had been dug in the middle of the courtyard. It was countless times better than the little courtyard the siblings had rented.
Rather than sell the residence, the siblings openly moved in.
Chen Sanshi had taken men to the Wang Family the previous night but found no trace of Wang Fang. This meant Wang Fang had not only guessed Li Mingtian would sell her out, but also knew Zhang Lingfeng would come after her. Even after having Wang Biao give Zhang Lingfeng the residence, she still felt unsafe and had fled elsewhere to hide.
How could the siblings rest easy with such a meticulous woman around?
Only by moving into Wang Biao's residence could they make the Wang Family believe the matter was over.
Boom.
Zhang Lingfeng was practicing his fist techniques at the martial arts school.
He saw Ye Fan go to see Guo Wei, then emerge shortly afterward looking glum.
He felt somewhat reassured.
If Guo Wei continued sponsoring Ye Fan, it would mean he truly favored Ye Fan and was intent on passing the Thirteen Hands down to him, making him the heir to his mantle.
Now that he had withheld a Qi and Blood Pill, it at least showed that Zhang Lingfeng's emergence had made Guo Wei decide to nurture them both.
Evening came.
When Zhang Lingfeng left the martial arts school, he headed toward the courtyard residence Wang Biao had given him.
"Junior Brother Ye."
Zhang Lingfeng spotted Ye Fan walking ahead.
After Ye Fan broke through to Dark Force, the Yan Lineage had given him a courtyard residence right beside Wang Biao's. This street was called Datong Street, and it also fell under Huang Jiefu's jurisdiction.
"Why are you heading this way, Senior Brother Zhang?"
Ye Fan was somewhat puzzled. Had Zhang Lingfeng caught up to speak to him? Had he finally thought things through and decided to sponsor his cultivation? His gaze held some anticipation.
"I bought a courtyard residence here. I didn't expect you to live next door, Junior Brother Ye."
Zhang Lingfeng reached the entrance and knocked. Tang Baihu quickly ran over to open the door. "The young master is back."
Ye Fan's expression froze.
The courtyard where Zhang Lingfeng lived was paved with blue bricks, with a small well and an osmanthus tree planted along one side. As the gate opened wide, the aroma of meat and simmering Qi and blood restorative soup drifted out.
The residence the Yan Lineage had given him was a little smaller than Zhang Lingfeng's, though it was still worth two or three hundred taels. Zhang Lingfeng's was large and spacious, and stood in a better section of Datong Street. It was worth at least four or five hundred taels.
Warm Breeze Hall had only recently taken control of Baile Ward, yet Zhang Lingfeng already had such financial resources. Ye Fan truly had not expected it.
"Junior Brother Ye, come in and sit for a while."
Zhang Lingfeng invited him.
"All right."
He thought of how Guo Wei had reduced his support.
With Zhang Lingfeng also being so flush with money, Ye Fan did not hesitate. He immediately entered the courtyard and followed Zhang Lingfeng around, unstinting in his praise and compliments.
"I never imagined I would one day become your neighbor, Senior Brother Zhang. It's just a pity my courtyard is a little small. If I earn a first-class result in next year's martial examination, I might have to borrow yours to hold a banquet for my friends and relatives."
Ye Fan sighed with feeling.
"As long as it suits your fancy, Junior Brother Ye, never mind holding a banquet here-what would be wrong with you living here permanently?"
Zhang Lingfeng smiled.
"Young master, the Qi and blood restorative soup and the meat are ready. You can eat now."
Chen Sanmei came over to tell him.
"Good. My junior brother is visiting today. Bring out the best medicinal soup and meat."
Zhang Lingfeng instructed her.
"Yes!"
Chen Sanmei nodded. As she left, she took a careful look at Ye Fan. He really was rather handsome.
"Senior Brother Zhang, there's really no need. I have meat and medicinal soup at home too."
Ye Fan hastily said.
"We're fellow disciples. Why stand on ceremony?"
Zhang Lingfeng looked perfectly at ease.
Before long, the meat and medicinal soup arrived, and the two ate and drank together.
Ye Fan was secretly startled. The meat and medicinal soup Zhang Lingfeng usually consumed actually cost considerably more than what the Yan Lineage provided for him.
He grew increasingly determined to persuade Zhang Lingfeng to sponsor his cultivation, ensuring he could break through to Transforming Jin before next year's martial examination.
But he had to take this slowly. He could not rush, or it would have the opposite effect.
It was just like dealing with the Yan Lineage.
He could actually ask the Yan Lineage to sponsor his Qi and Blood Pills, and they were willing to do so. But they wanted to bind him to their boat, leaving him unable to break away from them in the future.
How could Ye Fan agree to that?
The Zhang Clan, however, was a small household and would never dare restrict him as the Yan Lineage would. In the future, whether he wanted to break away from the Zhang Clan or keep them in the palm of his hand, either would be easier than dealing with the Yan Lineage.
After all, the Zhang Clan could not possibly produce a Transforming Jin expert.