The place they were taken to was just a few steps away from the prison cell. Lin Wanrong followed behind the thief, constantly looking around, observing the surroundings.
As the evening approached, it seemed there were no other bandits in sight. Lin Wanrong thought to himself, perhaps they had gone down the mountain for some work. These White Lotus Cult members made a living by robbing houses, particularly targeting wealthy families in Jinling. Their income must be substantial.
In his contemplation, Lin Wanrong noticed that the thief leading the way ahead was tall and thin, appearing to lack much strength. Unable to resist his thoughts, he considered, "Damn it, if there are no other bandits around, and it's just this guy, I might have a chance to take him down and escape."
Confident in his fighting skills, Lin Wanrong believed that not all members of the White Lotus Cult were highly skilled. Recalling how he dealt with Li Er Gou the other day, he thought he might have the same luck today.
This idea was like a tempting candy, continuously luring him. Lin Wanrong now had a thorough understanding of the situation. The kidnapping was certainly not as simple as he initially thought. If things went wrong, his life might end right there. Instead of sitting idly, he decided to take a risk.
He had a bit of a gambler's nature in his personality. Seeing no one around, he took a few steps and approached the thief. Before he could make a move, the bandit exclaimed, "Damn it. Who threw a stone here again?"
It turned out there was a large stone standing about one-third of the way to his knees in front of them. The bandit, irritated, kicked the stone. With a muffled sound, the stone shattered into several pieces.
Startled, Lin Wanrong stopped his actions. He realized that, despite thinking he could play the role of a tiger in sheep's clothing, this White Lotus Cult bandit was more formidable than he expected. No wonder they casually sent only one person to invite him; just this one guy was enough to overpower ten Lin Wanrongs.
Lin Wanrong was covered in cold sweat. His previous thoughts vanished, and he caught up with the man, saying, "Brother, your martial arts skills are extraordinary. I'm honored to meet such a talented individual. Excuse my impoliteness. I am Lin San, fortunate to encounter a master like you. Truly a rare opportunity."
The man glanced at him arrogantly and replied, "Why ask for my name? We have no acquaintance."
Lin Wanrong chuckled and said, "I wanted to inquire if there are any elixirs or divine herbs in your possession that could bestow me with martial skills as exceptional as yours. I am willing to pay a high price for such knowledge."
The man laughed heartily, "You're quite amusing. There's no shortcut to martial arts. I started practicing martial arts at the age of five, and it took me over thirty years to achieve this level. Your wish for instant success is indeed laughable."
Lin Wanrong grinned, "Your martial arts skills are exceptional. I've never seen anyone surpass those so-called chivalrous experts. I deeply admire you, hence the inquiry. Apologies if my question seemed amusing."
In the distance, three figures stood, observing the two men closely. Among them was an elegantly dressed young man, exuding an air of nobility and extraordinary charm. Clearly, he was no ordinary person. He looked at Lin Wanrong's figure and remarked, "Is this the Lin San you mentioned? Quite an interesting character, and he seems quite bold."
A young man standing to the left of the gentleman reported, "Sir, this person is Lin San, a servant of the Xiao family. According to my investigation, the Xiao family has recently changed its business approach, thanks to this Lin San's ideas. The lady of the Xiao family is particularly fond of the products he introduced."
The gentleman nodded and said with a smile, "Lin San does have some interesting ideas. The clothing and women's undergarments he introduced, though bold, have a certain charm. The ladies in my mansion appreciate them."
The young man to the left added, "Indeed, sir. Lin San has some wit. However, when we first met him, even Miss Xiao had a not-so-good impression of him."
The gentleman commented, "Speaking of which, it seems Lin San has disrupted your plans. If it weren't for him, your scheme would have succeeded, and Miss Xiao would have already been in your embrace."
The young man hurriedly said, "I have failed in my duties. Please, sir, punish me."
"No need to worry," said the gentleman with a gleam in his eyes. "This time may have had some twists, but nothing has been lost. In fact, we've gained something extra. By the way, have you confirmed the perfume formula? Is it really in Lin San's hands?"
"Yes," replied the young man affirmatively. "I've been investigating for several days. The Xiao family, like ours, was originally in the fabric business. Recently, they launched women's undergarments and perfume. Although I don't have all the details yet, Lin San seems to be the mastermind behind it."
The gentleman sighed, "This perfume is truly a good thing. A bottle costs hundreds of silver taels. If we can get our hands on it, it would be a significant advantage. We want both the perfume and the Xiao family. Not a single item should be left behind." He turned to the young man on his left and said, "Handle the Xiao family matter properly. Land Zhongping, work together with him, and there will be a generous reward for both of you."
Land Zhongping, tall and thin, the senior brother of the White Lotus Cult, hurriedly said, "Please rest assured, sir. We will handle the matter well."
The gentleman chuckled and then turned to the young man on his left, saying, "You take care of this matter. When the position of Jinling Prefect becomes vacant next year, I'll speak a few words in favor of your father. Let him take charge of the Suzhou manufacturing business."
"Thank you, sir," the young man quickly expressed his gratitude. The three of them burst into laughter together.
Meanwhile, Lin Wanrong was engaged in a conversation with the bandit, saying, "Brother, is your sect called the White Lotus Cult?"
The bandit replied impatiently, "Exactly."
"Such a nice name. Did your sect leader come up with it?" Lin Wanrong asked.
"The name White Lotus signifies purity. It was established by our first sect leader," proudly declared the bandit.
"Purity, my foot. You, old man, have been practicing child's play since childhood, probably don't even know how to write these two characters," Lin Wanrong commented in his mind. Out loud, he said, "Your sect indeed has a long and rich history. I deeply admire it."
"That's only natural," replied the bandit.
"Oh, by the way, may I inquire where your sect's headquarters is?" Lin Wanrong continued the conversation.
"Our main hall is in Jining—why are you asking all these questions?" the bandit suddenly became alert.
"Oh, I greatly admire your sect and was thinking of paying a visit when I have some free time," Lin Wanrong replied casually.
However, he was alarmed by the fact that Jining was in Shandong, thousands of miles away from Jinling. The White Lotus Cult's ability to operate so freely in the prosperous region of Jiangnan was suspicious; they must have powerful support.
The bandit sneered, "You're quite curious. Our White Lotus Cult is the largest sect in the world, guiding and protecting countless suffering brothers and sisters. Under the vast heavens, in more than ten provinces, we have branch halls."
Lin Wanrong grinned, "Impressive, whether it's White Lotus or Black Lotus, you're all the same. Today, if you continue tormenting me like this, I won't spare you. I'll have to eliminate you. You're forcing me to do it."
Leading Lin Wanrong to an empty room, the bandit opened the door and said, "Lin San, we've arrived. Get in."
Lin Wanrong nodded at him and said, "Thank you, brother. Let's chat again when we have the chance."
The bandit was dumbfounded. This old man was caught, yet he behaved so nonchalantly, as if it didn't matter. Why was he so arrogant?
Little did he know that this was Lin Wanrong's thick-skinned stress relief technique. Lin Wanrong walked in and saw a slim young man inside. Judging by the silhouette, it was the senior brother who captured him yesterday. At this moment, the senior brother had removed his mask, revealing a quite handsome face.
Thinking about how he almost lost his life to this person's sword yesterday, Lin Wanrong felt irritated. Seeing the smug smile on the senior brother's face made him even more displeased. He spoke disdainfully, "Oh, it's you. What, couldn't find someone more senior to discuss matters with me?"
The senior brother, assigned to recruit him, had no choice but to suppress his anger and said, "Lin brother, I was disrespectful yesterday. It was unavoidable, and I hope Lin brother can forgive me."
Lin Wanrong, recalling how close he was to death at the hands of this person, felt a surge of anger. Seeing the cold smile on the senior brother's face, he became even more unhappy. In a carefree manner, he said, "No need. I'm just a prisoner under your control. No need to put on an act. If there's anything, just say it."
As the senior brother saw the disdain in Lin Wanrong's eyes, he couldn't hold back his anger. His voice became louder, "Since Lin brother is so straightforward, I won't waste words. I invited Lin brother here today to discuss something."
Lin Wanrong looked at him and said, "Are you qualified to discuss matters with me?"
Damn, this Lin guy is more rude and wild than us bandits. Unable to endure it any longer, Land Zhongping, full of anger, slapped the table and stood up, his black lines visible between his eyebrows. He sternly said, "Lin guy, don't think I won't treat you justly. Speaking to you like this is already showing respect. Do you really think I won't do anything to you? I tell you, I have eighteen methods, making you wish for life and death."
Hearing that they hadn't even started discussing the actual matter, Land Zhongping realized he had fallen into Lin San's trap. Filled with anger, he said, "Lin guy, don't be disrespectful. If there's something, speak up."
Lin Wanrong, seeing him becoming angry, couldn't help but feel delighted. It seemed that the guy behind Land Zhongping must have some request. Lin Wanrong intentionally provoked Land Zhongping to force him to reveal his true intentions. With a smirk, Lin Wanrong said, "I dare not. I'm just a prisoner under your control. If you have anything to say, go ahead."
Land Zhongping, infuriated, finally couldn't endure it any longer. He stood up, his forehead showing signs of black lines, and loudly declared, "Lin guy, don't force me. If you dare to shout, I'll make you regret it."
Lin Wanrong, hearing that they hadn't even discussed the actual matter yet, couldn't hold back his laughter. This guy was truly brave but lacked wit. Smirking, Lin Wanrong said, "Alright, if you shout, I'll call you grandpa."
Land Zhongping also lost his patience. Hearing Lin Wanrong's words, he slapped the table and declared, "Fine, if you shout, I'll call you grandpa."
Lin Wanrong, feeling relieved as if he had heard celestial music, casually leaned back in the chair.