Chapter 23: That job you pulled wasn't even that big of a deal, kid

The sky was vast and the air clear; the sea was calm and the waves still.

On a large ship, Wang Haichao, the leader of the Great River Gang, stood at the bow, listening to the report from his subordinate behind him.

"Last night, we raided seven of the Broken Mountain Gang's strongholds in the outer city districts. The harvest was massive!"

"One tiger skin from a second-tier demon beast, over a thousand pieces of low-grade spiritual materials, and tens of thousands of spirit stones."

"The brothers' individual spoils weren't included in the count; per your instructions, whoever looted it keeps it."

"Boss, we really struck it rich this time!"

Wang Haichao didn't even turn around. "Just a minor skirmish. It was only by drawing their attention into the mountains that we achieved these results."

He let out a listless sigh and patted the railing.

"Xiao Gao, what were our losses last night?"

The subordinate called Xiao Gao was not tall at all; he was short and stocky with a fierce expression.

Dressed in black short-style clothing, the muscles on his arms were displayed to the fullest.

"Losses were minimal. Only a few dozen gang members at the fourth or fifth level of Qi Refinement died. Those at the seventh level or above didn't even suffer serious injuries. Oh, Ding Yilong was a bit unlucky; he ran into Wang Yuan and the Broken Blade Guest, who had rushed back from the mountains to provide rescue. Two blades completely shredded his high-grade Dharma tool and his Spirit Turtle Shield."

Xiao Gao said with a smile. If he hadn't smiled, he would have looked fierce, but smiling made him look even more menacing.

Wang Haichao chuckled. "Then his loss was indeed quite heavy. From this haul, set aside one high-grade Dharma tool for him! We don't want him lacking a handy tool when the next battle comes."

After speaking, he frowned again.

"The Broken Mountain Gang's 'Two Blades' are a bit troublesome."

The Broken Mountain Gang had over a thousand members, with nearly a hundred cultivators at the late stages of Qi Refinement.

Their leader, Old Man Mi, was a Foundation Establishment cultivator just like him, so he rarely took action personally. Usually, he left things to his capable subordinates.

The headquarters had the "Two Blades," while the seven strongholds had the "Seven Man-Eating Tigers."

Compared to those seven hall experts, the thing that felt most like a thorn in the Great River Gang's side was those Two Blades.

The Mad Blade, Wang Yuan, and the Broken Blade, Xu Renke.

Broken Blade Xu Renke had been famous for many years and had frequented various markets before finally being recruited by Old Man Mi to stay in the Dahe Market.

But that Mad Blade, Wang Yuan, had only been practicing for ten years.

In his debut battle, he had single-handedly killed several mid-stage cultivators who had tried to rob him, despite being at a lower level.

After that, while hunting in the mountains, he had multiple conflicts with others, eventually being personally recruited by Old Man Mi to join the Broken Mountain Gang.

However, since then, Wang Yuan had not done anything earth-shattering.

On the contrary, over the years, he had been doing the dirty work for the Broken Mountain Gang.

He specialized in selling second-hand Dharma tools, cultivation techniques, and other items of dubious origin.

It wasn't until not long ago, when he fought three men alone and brought back the heads of three Great River Gang members, that people finally took notice of this man who had been doing dirty work for years.

People thought that time was just a stroke of luck.

But no one expected that for the following month, he would guard the mountain path alone with a single blade, single-handedly turning the Great River Gang upside down.

Experts of the same level were no match for him in a single exchange; Luo Renjie, at the eighth level of Qi Refinement, died at his hands.

Even when a ninth-level Qi Refinement cultivator from the Great River Gang personally intervened, he was no match after a fierce battle.

In just one short month, he had completely established the reputation of the "Mad Blade."

Even the Broken Blade Guest had stated plainly that Wang Yuan's combat strength was not below his own, and that he possessed the potential for Foundation Establishment!

It was precisely because of the Broken Blade Guest's affirmation that Wang Yuan earned the title of one of the Broken Mountain Gang's Two Blades.

Hearing the boss's words, Xiao Gao fell silent.

As the number one person under the Great River Gang leader, he had always held himself in high regard.

He was roughly equal to the Broken Blade Xu Renke, and if they were to fight on the Great River, he was confident he could easily defeat his opponent within a hundred rounds.

But as for that Mad Blade, he wasn't quite sure.

He had heard that the guy was also an expert in water combat.

Why did such a person exist?

To be that fierce at the seventh level of Qi Refinement—if he were allowed to cultivate to the ninth level, wouldn't he dare to challenge a Foundation Establishment cultivator?

"Forget it. We are just working for others; someone will naturally come to deal with those Two Blades."

Wang Haichao stretched and asked casually, "Where is your younger brother?"

"I don't know. He said he wanted to get a storage bag. He participated in the raid on the seven Broken Mountain halls last night, but he hasn't returned yet."

"Aren't you worried something might happen to him?"

"Haha, I gave him the Earthward Shield you gave me. As long as he doesn't run into a ninth-level Qi Refinement cultivator, he won't be in danger." Xiao Gao was not worried at all and added, "Besides, he has a Divine Speed Talisman. As long as he wants to run, even a ninth-level cultivator won't be able to catch him."

Wang Haichao nodded. With the Earthward Shield and a Divine Speed Talisman, no one below the Foundation Establishment stage could truly threaten Xiao Gao's brother.

"Fine. Keep a close eye on the gang's affairs lately. The Broken Mountain Gang might launch a counterattack soon, but our reinforcements are also arriving shortly."

Reinforcements?

Did he mean the experts from the Lianyun Merchant Alliance?

Xiao Gao fell into thought.

***

In the Inner City of Dahe Market, inside a small room of the highest building, the Jade Tripod Sword Pavilion.

Sun Shou was tearing up beef jerky, popping small strips into his mouth.

"Even though it has no spiritual energy, the taste is truly excellent. Xiao Luo, if you stop cultivating in the future and return to the secular world, you could open a beef restaurant. It would definitely be a hit."

Luo Chen gave a shy smile.

Return to his hometown?

That was impossible in this lifetime.

He didn't even know where the road home was.

After finishing the beef jerky in his hand, Sun Shou patted his palms and opened his mouth, which had few teeth left.

"Speak, what do you want with me? It's not time for your rent to be due yet."

"I want to rent a house!"

"Hmm, renting a house is only natural. That place in the southwest corner is too remote and too dangerous. Tell me, where do you want to rent? This old man won't eat your beef jerky for nothing; I'll find you somewhere spacious and safe."

As he spoke, he casually picked up a compass.

Injecting spiritual energy, the compass instantly lit up with dense points of light—at first glance, there seemed to be tens of thousands.

But with a sweep of his hand, over ninety percent of the lights dimmed.

The ones still shining were the vacant rooms in the outer city districts.

Luo Chen's eyes lit up. "Spacious?"

"What's wrong? You don't trust your Grandpa Sun?"

Sun Shou was one hundred and twenty-one years old, an outer disciple of the Jade Tripod Sword Sect. In terms of age, he truly had the right to be Luo Chen's grandfather.

Of course, Luo Chen didn't mind.

It was just a matter of titles; he called Old Taoist Chen "Uncle" every day.

As long as he could actually rent a good house, he could call Sun Shou "Lord" for a whole day!

"I want to rent in the Inner City!"

"The Inner City? Let me see... Hmm? The Inner City?"

Sun Shou looked at Luo Chen suspiciously. "You kid used to live in a house for half a spirit stone a month and rented a stall for half a spirit stone a month. Now you want to jump straight to the Inner City?"

After a moment of scrutiny, he suddenly laughed.

A different style of Dharma robe, and that faintly visible murderous aura.

This kid had pulled off a big score!

Now, he wanted to come to the Inner City to enjoy himself.

"Fine, I'm not just talking empty words. For Inner City houses, you have to see them in person. I'll take you there myself."

Stowing the compass into his storage bag, he rose up unsteadily.

Luo Chen hurriedly supported his shoulder, fearing the old man might accidentally fall and die.

He didn't know what kind of karma this man had accumulated, but at his age, instead of staying in the sect to live out his old age, he had come to this remote place to work.

Truly, working until the day you die, dedicating your entire life to the sect!

"This house is big enough, right? It's near the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion. You kid probably haven't even tasted the finer things in life yet."

"Too expensive."

"How about this one? The previous tenant was a body-refining cultivator from the sect; he could even perform his physical training here. It's definitely big enough."

"Too expensive."

"It seems you want something cheaper. The ones in the north of the city are cheap enough. I'll take you to see them."

Two hours later.

Sun Shou brushed Luo Chen's hand away and said irritably, "It seems the score you pulled off wasn't that big after all. Why come to the Inner City to squander money?"

Luo Chen argued logically, "There are gang wars every day outside. I'm afraid I might accidentally end up as a corpse on the street."

"Fine! My word is as good as gold. I will definitely find you a big house!"

Gritting his teeth, Sun Shou led Luo Chen deep into the alleys.

They walked through winding alleys for an unknown amount of time. Female cultivators appeared from time to time along the roadside, greeting Old Man Sun warmly.

Suddenly, they reached a clearing.

A single-entry courtyard house appeared before them.

Entering the gate and walking around the screen wall, Sun Shou walked straight toward the largest and widest room.

"This is it. The front room. It has the largest area; if you squeeze in, there's no problem housing seventeen or eighteen people."

Luo Chen surveyed the room with satisfaction. The area was no smaller than his previous house with the small courtyard.

The only drawback was the lack of natural light, which made it look somewhat eerie.

"How many spirit stones?"

"Lowest price: ten low-grade spirit stones a month, with one month's deposit and three months' rent upfront."

One month deposit and three months' rent meant he had to produce forty spirit stones all at once.

It had to be said, it was a bit painful.

But finding such a large area in the Inner City for such a low price was indeed difficult.

If Sun Shou weren't extremely familiar with all the housing in the Dahe Market, an ordinary person would never find this place.

"Additionally, there is a monthly management fee of one spirit stone, and one spirit stone for night-soil removal."

Luo Chen's eyes widened. "Management fee? What's that?"

Old Man Sun rolled his eyes. "Someone has to handle the waste you produce, right? If neighbors are in disharmony and aren't allowed to fight, they'll eventually come to me to mediate. I should get some compensation!"

"But..."

"No buts."

"And the night-soil removal?"

"Do you want to learn from the outer city and defecate wherever you please, with the smell of excrement being thicker than the spiritual energy?"

Fine!

I accept!

Under the eaves of the Jade Tripod, one must bow!

"Oh, one more thing to remind you."

"There's more?"

Luo Chen's fists clenched, but remembering the old man before him was at the ninth level of Qi Refinement, he relaxed again.

Can't win, can't win.

Sun Shou pointed to a pile of firewood at the entrance of the main room opposite them.

"If you want to light a fire to cook, remember to use smokeless wood. If it produces smoke, I suggest you rent a smoke-collecting Dharma tool from me."

"Ah, and why is that?"

Luo Chen was completely bewildered.

"Heh, where do you think we are? This is the Inner City, a cultivation site built upon a first-tier spiritual vein. If there is too much turbid air, do you still want to cultivate?"

Even the cultivation world cares about environmental protection?

Dizzily, Luo Chen took a Dharma tool from the old man's hand called the "Pale Smoke and Sparse Rain Pavilion."

It was square-shaped with a pointed roof; when in use, it was placed at the boundary between the interior and exterior of the house.

After signing a contract and paying forty-three spirit stones, this large room belonged to Luo Chen for the next four months.

As he saw the old man off, Luo Chen asked casually.

"Even though the lighting is a bit poor, it shouldn't be this much cheaper than other houses of the same specification, right?"

"Guess why?"

(End of Chapter)