He reached into his pocket, directly took out a pouch, wiped off his personal mark on it, and sent it over to Lily’s desk with a gust of air.
Lily didn’t even look at it, simply letting Fuji put it away, then her expression changed to a business-like demeanor.
"Well, I expect Sect Leader Zhu to work hard tomorrow."
What, you’ve taken the money, right? Is this how you play people?
Lily sipped her tea with a forgetful look.
"I’m rather young, not very good at remembering things, so I’ve already forgotten what just happened. But Sect Leader Zhu must understand one thing; although I may forget who brought gifts, I certainly remember who didn’t."
"It still comes down to everyone’s performance."
"Sect Leader Zhu, you may leave."
Zhu Xiaoyao cursed under his breath as he left Lily’s office, and as he reached the corner, he saw his coworker approaching.
These Helm Leaders from the Dark Helm were all acquainted with, and Zhu Xiaoyao maliciously glanced at the man.
He remembered this person was very stingy, the type to pull the feathers off a flying goose, and in a bit, he would suffer.
In a room on the first floor of Fried Shide, the atmosphere was entirely different.
Zhang Ze was drinking with Liu Haiwu.
This Liu Haiwu was a shrewd person, and after the third round of drinks, he put down the wine glass and spoke.
"Although I, Liu Haiwu, am not fit to stand in high places, I do understand some principles. You didn’t throw me out immediately, showing your benevolence, not because I’m ungrateful."
"Brother, you give me face, I must accept."
"This time I was foolish, ruining your Thousand Mechanism Pavilion’s plans, and I’m leaving now, goodbye."
However, Liu Haiwu was pulled back by Zhang Ze.
"Gang Leader Liu, have a seat, have a seat."
Liu Haiwu obediently sat down, "Brother, if you have something to say, just say it. Although I may not have great skills, I’ll definitely do whatever I can."
"My matter is simple. I just wanted to ask about your matter. Why did you sneak into this bidding meeting?" Zhang Ze asked.
He was genuinely curious.
Liu Haiwu scratched his bald head, somewhat embarrassed, "I really came to haul bricks."
Seeing Zhang Ze confused, Liu Haiwu quickly explained.
"It’s laughable to say, but my meager cultivation actually came from a wild path, learned from some fragmented cultivation technique I don’t know from where."
"Apart from a bit of strength that’s greater than a mortal, my old brothers and I can’t do anything else. We earn our money through labor at the docks."
"I’ve been thinking lately about whether I can earn some extra spirit stones, then get some proper cultivation techniques for my brothers to practice, but we’re afraid of dying and can’t do much else..."
"So you planned to come here and try your luck, hoping to earn some money hauling bricks?"
Liu Haiwu laughed awkwardly and nodded.
Zhang Ze was a bit speechless, thinking this person was quite clever too. He said to Liu Haiwu, "Here’s the deal. You help me with a task that will offend some people, and I’ll help you solve your problem, then find a new job that lets you earn spirit stones independently afterward, okay?"
"Please tell me, what do you want me to do?" Liu Haiwu asked.
"Be a stooge." Zhang Ze replied.
It was something Liu Haiwu was familiar with; he’s done it quite a bit, "Raise the price? You want me to be a price-hiking stooge at the auction?"
"Not a price-hiking stooge, a price-lowering stooge. Tomorrow at the bidding meeting, you need to aggressively lower the price, with an intention of doing it for free." Zhang Ze said.
Liu Haiwu heard this and his face turned pale. Fresh chapters posted on 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭·𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓮·𝙣𝙚𝙩
Just earlier, although he seemed like a fool, he had grasped the situation well, knowing that the Sect Leaders would not harm him.
But to lower the price and grab the bid...
That would truly offend people.
Liu Haiwu looked very troubled at Zhang Ze.
"Don’t worry, Gang Leader Liu, everything is settled. You won’t offend everyone," Zhang Ze reassured.
"Then that’s okay, but..." Liu Haiwu just wanted to agree, but felt something was off.
What does it mean not offend all?
"At most, you will offend five people." Zhang Ze said it as if he were drinking soup.
Offending one would be enough to crush him, let alone five?
"Rest assured, not only is there additional reward, but we will also ensure your safety. Once it’s done, you should hide at the Sword Sect until the Qinghe Association is over. Then you’ll naturally be safe and sound," Zhang Ze comforted.
With things said to this extent, Liu Haiwu felt he had to do it, even if reluctantly, and accepted the troublesome task.
Liu Haiwu drank another glass of wine, but suddenly thought of his Uncle Pan.
Though Uncle Pan was not his father, he treated him better than a father, knowing the truth about finding that stone tablet.
When Uncle Pan was about to leave, he held Liu Haiwu’s hand and called him by his childhood name.
"Liu Gazi, heed Uncle Pan’s advice, this Immortal Cultivation isn’t brick hauling. The water there is too deep, you can’t grasp it..."
Experiencing today’s events, Liu Haiwu indeed felt so. His momentary whim brought all sorts of trouble, although this brother treated him well and did nothing to him, but what about in the future?
How would his brothers fare, as Immortal Cultivation seemed truly as deep as his Uncle Pan described?
Reflecting on this, he took out a certain item.
"This item, I... I want to sell it to you. You decide its worth and give me however much, gold or silver is fine. I don’t dare keep it any longer."
It was that small stone tablet he found in the river, palm-sized, with no writing on it.
His story was partially fake, aimed at confusing outsiders.
Zhang Ze looked at the small stone tablet in Liu Haiwu’s hand, thinking this person was truly lucky, he shook his head, "This item isn’t cheap, I can give a price, but I’m afraid you won’t dare to take."
"You, how much would you offer..." Liu Haiwu asked with some fear and anticipation.
Zhang Ze told him a number.
Liu Haiwu hurriedly stuffed the small stone tablet into Zhang Ze’s hand.