Clutching sixty taels of silver and a wooden box, Jiang Ding walked out of the Sihai Business Association, a trace of excitement in his heart.
Decades-old medicines cannot be consumed directly, as it would be too wasteful and might be poisonous. His plan was to entrust a large pharmacy to refine it into elixirs.
Because he had no money, he couldn't afford the processing fees and the purchase of auxiliary medicinal materials, but he could use some of the medicinal materials to offset the costs.
"Has Qixuan School returned?"
"Isn't it just. It seems like today..."
Passing by a tea house, Jiang Ding's ears perked up. He stopped, entered, and ordered a cup of tea, gazing at the scenery on the street.
Indeed, he wouldn't touch any food from this otherworldly place unless it was properly processed.
Not just Jiang Ding, other patrons were also looking over with interest.
Qixuan School, rooted in Dongling City for over a thousand years, was deeply entrenched with a vast reach. Everyone present likely had interacted with the Qixuan School's businesses or had once been old disciples of the Qixuan School.
"The details are quite extensive..."
Yet the drinker's words abruptly stopped there, causing a crowd to curse out loud.
"Yang Laome, are you playing with our appetites here!"
"Waiter, bring this table a pot of Dongshan Mountain's old wine, a dish of snacks, and two plates of soy beef!"
There were also tactful guests who called out.
"Gentlemen, it's not a matter of secrecy."
Seeing this, the drinker chuckled, "It's just that the young Marquis is engaged to the late headmaster's daughter of Qixuan School, Flying Snow Fairy Gong Caiyu. Now that Qixuan School and Zhendonghou Mansion are one family, it is only natural to re-establish the school gates."
"Really? Aren't they afraid the Jindao School's 'Sea Splitting Saber' will visit again?"
"Right! Yang Laome, you're not trying to swindle this old master's wine and meat, are you?"
The crowd was abuzz with different sentiments, some excited, some hateful.
"You're spouting nonsense!"
After taking a sip of wine, Yang Laome shouted angrily, "I heard this from my uncle who works in the Marquis's mansion, and it's happening today. How could it be false?"
The crowd was skeptical.
"It could be true."
Someone guessed, "Although Zhendong Marquis's mansion isn't as powerful as the Jindao School, after all, it represents the imperial court's face, once one of the twelve great pillars. The Jindao School may not dare to touch a relative of the Marquis's mansion."
"Keep in mind that though the Jindao School is powerful, it is incomparable to the imperial court."
At this moment, someone outside howled.
"The Marquis, the young Marquis, and many of the mansion's visiting guests are leaving the mansion!"
Zhendonghou Mansion was situated in the most bustling area, merely a few streets away from here. From this vantage point, one could see rows of neatly armored soldiers escorting a group of people. The nearby streets had already been blocked off, with great fanfare.
The entire restaurant fell silent, then burst into an uproar, as the crowd surged toward the vicinity of the Marquis's mansion.
They simply had to be concerned.
Both the Marquis's mansion and Qixuan School were behemoths, and any changes would affect many people's livelihoods. If not handled properly, going from rich to destitute was not impossible.
Soon, only Jiang Ding, still seated, and Yang Laome, who was voraciously devouring his wine and meat, were left in the tea house. Even the waiter and shopkeeper were nowhere to be seen for the moment.
Yang Laome stuffed a piece of beef into his mouth and raised his cup in a toast from afar.
Jiang Ding nodded slightly, tossed a grain of rice-sized piece of silver toward the counter, and rose to leave.
He went out, avoiding the crowded gathering spots, heading towards Lanban Street where the grocery store was located.
...
Surrounded by many enthusiastic nobles, Gong Caiyu suddenly glanced in a particular direction but saw nothing.
"What's the matter, Niece Caiyu?"
An old man with a few strands of a long beard noticed her distraction and asked via a transmission.
This man was none other than Zhang Ziteng, the fifth elder of Qixuan School, known as the 'Iron Eagle Sword'. It was rumored that his sword descended like an iron eagle from the heavens, striking prey as a raptor takes a rabbit, with a powerful and heavy sword presence, usually leading to death for any ordinary master unable to withstand a single blow.
When Qixuan School was destroyed, he happened to be out visiting relatives. Since the 'Sea Splitting Saber' Wei Xian was so proud, he naturally wouldn't waste time seeking him out, thus Zhang fortuitously escaped disaster.
Gong Caiyu managed a forced smile, "It's nothing, Uncle Fifth."
"Niece Caiyu,"
Zhang Ziteng continued secretly transmitting, "I know you don't like the young Marquis Tang Qingjie, and his reputation is somewhat unruly, but that's not important. The body is just a shell, the love affairs of the young are but fleeting dreams and illusions, and you will understand this in time."
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"As long as the school can be re-established and the Ancestor Master's foundation is not ruined in our hands, and as long as you ascend to the Xiantian level, everything will be worth it."
Gong Caiyu remained silent without a word.
...
Walking into Lanban Street, Jiang Ding saw no fancy decorations by the roadside, the ground was full of potholes, and the air carried an odd smell. Yet, he felt a sense of relaxation and harmony.
"You mangy cur!"
"I'll beat you to death! How dare you steal from me!"
The feeling of relaxation and harmony quickly disappeared.
Jiang Ding glanced at the little beggar being beaten by a group of other beggars and continued walking towards the sundry shop.
In the poor districts, such things were all too common; it was hard to say what was right or wrong.
When you're poor, you can only take care of yourself and can't manage anything else.
The little beggar didn't utter a sound, neither resisting nor wailing.
After a while, the other beggars, finding no amusement in this, cursed and left.
Staggering footsteps sounded from behind, as if in spite of injuries, someone was desperately chasing after their only remaining hope.
Jiang Ding paused in his step and turned around.
The little beggar was dressed in ragged clothes covered in an odd greasy odor, with injuries on his face and arms, some scars formed and others still bleeding.
However, one could barely make out that he was the grandson of the old man who used to gather herbs in the broken temple.
"Young master, my grandfather is dead."
The little beggar's long-suppressed emotions suddenly crumbled, and he burst into tearful sobs, "He was killed by those people in black. Grandfather pushed me into the river and he himself... "
Jiang Ding listened quietly to his incoherent sobbing.
The boy had been through a lot these past few days. Suddenly meeting Jiang Ding, who had once shown him kindness, his emotions got a bit out of control.
Until his voice became hoarse.
"Young master, may I follow you?" the little beggar asked softly.
"You may."
Jiang Ding said quietly, "My shop is still short of a clerk; if you're interested, come and give it a try."
After saying this, he turned and left.
He wouldn't take the initiative to do anything, but since help was sought from him, especially from a child, he would help somewhat.
"Great kindness, young master!"
The little beggar was overjoyed, and while he intended to kneel in gratitude, he saw that Jiang Ding had already walked away, so he quickly followed.
Turning left and right, they returned to Jiang Ding's small shop, which was still scarcely visited by customers, with only the occasional one or two showing up.
Upon seeing Jiang Ding, Huang Deyou's face turned deathly pale, and he stood frozen.
Jiang Ding ignored him and went back to the small courtyard.
"Boss..."
Soon after, Huang Deyou ran over with a pale face, tried to kneel, but was stopped by the flat of a sword. He sweated coldly and didn't dare to speak, just standing straight upright.
After a long time.
"It's only been half a month, and you've already caused two major issues!"
Jiang Ding sighed lightly, "Manager Huang, you should know that everyone's patience has limits."
There is a price for everything; sparing Dragon Three was a depletion of his own goodwill.
"Boss, I know I was wrong," Huang Deyou trembled.
"It's good you know your mistake. Everyone makes mistakes, the important thing is to correct them." Jiang Ding pointed to the little beggar behind him and said indifferently:
"This is..."
"Young master, I am called Han Lin."
"This young Brother Han, assign him an appropriate job. Also, start collecting animal specimens, even small ones like insects, birds, and mosquitoes; the starting price is still one piece of silver each."
"Yes, Boss!"
Huang Deyou shot a glance at Han Lin, who appeared polite and proper, and felt a chill in his heart.
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