Sima Long glanced around at the surroundings of the mansion as he followed beside Lin Xuan Qi.
The area in the mansion was huge, slightly bigger than the Sima Mansion.
Which was impressive to him as his Sima Clan had a few hundred years of accumulation and was blessed to be supplying the imperial army and Qing Feng sect with the Sima Family Artifacts.
It would take someone more capable and far wealthier to own this place.
Sima Long started to ponder on the background of Lin Xuan Qi.
Could it be that Lin Xuan Qi made his wealth through his talents?
After all, Lin Xuan Qi’s talent in poetry was second to none from what he had witnessed.
But on further thought, Sima Long realized that it would be a far stretch to be able to make so much money from poetry alone.
Sima Long was intrigued but he knew that it wouldn’t be polite to ask, unless Lin Xuan Qi brought it up himself.
As they walked, Sima Long could see that the garden was still work in progress.
But other than that, the other areas of the mansion were well decorated and well kept.
It was a feat considering that he had not seen many servants or workers around in the mansion.
His servant girls were also thinking about the same thing.
Marveling at the dust-free interiors and the relatively empty mansion.
When they got into the main hall, Lin Xuan Qi wanted to pour tea for Sima Long, but Sima Long glanced at his own servant girls.
Sima Long was surprised by Lin Xuan Qi’s gesture of trying to pour tea for him.
Something that the other arrogant young masters wouldn’t do.
Sima Long appreciated Lin Xuan Qi’s humbleness.
And so, he wasn’t about to let Lin Xuan Qi dirty his hands.
All of Sima Long’s servant girls except for one got his cue and they quickly placed the boxes of gifts on the table, and they took the teapot from Lin Xuan Qi’s hand.
"Thanks," Lin Xuan Qi said and gestured for Sima Long to sit down.
Lin Xuan Qi noticed that the servant girl standing beside Sima Long wore much better clothing than the others.
She was plump like Sima Long with smooth complexion.
Maybe this was what they considered good looking here? Lin Xuan Qi thought.
Sima Long confirmed it when he noticed Lin Xuan Qi’s glance and he said, "Yeah, she’s a beauty all right. And that’s why I made her my tong fang servant girl."
The tong fang servant girl blushed and covered her face with a silk handkerchief which barely did the job.
Her plump face was a little too big for the silk handkerchief.
"Yes. Master Sima has good taste indeed," Lin Xuan Qi said.
Sima Long glanced at the surroundings and asked, "You don’t have servants to help you?"
There were only Lee He Song and Liu Shi Shi in the main hall other than Lin Xuan Qi.
Lin Xuan Qi gave him a smile and said, "Thanks for the concern, my servant girls are in the kitchen preparing lunch.
"And don’t worry too much.
"I’ve just arrived here, and it will take me some time to get the necessary manpower I need."
Sima Long nodded and said, "Let my servant girls help. They can whip up a good meal if I must say so myself."
Lin Xuan Qi thought for a moment and agreed.
Although Xue Cong could cook, he was also getting tired of the same dishes.
A change in the dishes might not be a bad idea.
After all, Lin Xuan Qi came from a place where he was spoilt for choice.
Sima Long then instructed his servant girls to go and help Xue Cong and the others in the kitchen.
They obliged and left for the kitchen according to Lin Xuan Qi’s directions.
"Now that they are gone, here are some of the gifts.
"Let me know if you don’t like any of them.
"I will try and get something better," Sima Long said and opened the lids of the boxes.
Lin Xuan Qi took a glance and saw that there were taels of gold, some jewelry and some black metallic balls.
Lee He Song narrowed his eyes when he saw those metallic balls.
"Here, I think this is the best for you." Sima Long took out one of those metallic balls and said, "These are called the Sima Family Five Poison Balls."
"Sima Family Five Poison Balls?" Lin Xuan Qi asked.
"These are defensive weapons you can use when you are attacked.
"Throw them at your attacker and they would unleash five types of poisons into the surroundings.
"There would be no antidote that could save anyone from them.
"Only chance of survival would be a cultivator with their cultivator’s techniques," Sima Long explained how they worked.
Lee He Song interjected and said, "Indeed. They’re highly sought after and cost a tael of gold each."
He sighed silently inside.
Lee He Song knew that they weren’t the most precious for the Sima Family.
Artifacts they made for cultivators were much more powerful and expensive.
Alas, he and Lin Xuan Qi weren’t cultivators and couldn’t wield these artifacts without Spiritual Qi.
"You shouldn’t have," Lin Xuan Qi was pleasantly surprised by how much Sima Long valued him.
This plump young man was starting to look better in his eyes.
"It’s nothing," Sima Long said when he saw Lin Xuan Qi coming over.
He expected Lin Xuan Qi to try and push back the gifts to him in a customary ritual.
But he frowned when he felt Lin Xuan Qi pulling the box of Sima Family Five Poison Balls away from him while telling him ’You shouldn’t have’.
Sima Long gave Lin Xuan Qi a look and sat down.
"By the way, do you know how popular your poem is now?"
"My poem?" Lin Xuan Qi had no idea what Sima Long was talking about.
...
Meanwhile in the kitchen.
Yue Xin was skipping happily.
Right behind her was Zhi Yong, who was carrying lots of firewood in his hands.
Having Zhi Yong doing the heavy chores was a godsend and freed her up for other things.
"Who are you?" Yue Xin stopped when she saw unfamiliar faces coming to the kitchen.