"By the way, since Danyang Gate has already set up branches outside Jinyang City, do you plan to open a shop within the city to sell pills?"
Before coming out today, he had specifically toured Jinyang City and found that the shops there hadn't changed much, except for his own shop selling crystals.
This was not the outcome he had anticipated. Since his cooperation with Danyang Gate was now almost like being in the same boat, he wanted to bring Danyang Gate along to open a shop here first.
Brand influence still mattered. Although the concept of branding didn't exist in this era, the royal family's recognition of Danyang Gate's pills, especially those refined by Wuchenzi, was enough to show that people here also valued such things.
"We can. I have the same intention. Not only will we open a shop within the city to sell pills, but I also plan to invite a few old friends to open some shops. You don't know, I spend my days here now, and some things are difficult to buy, which is too inconvenient."
"Indeed. I also feel that Jinyang City is a bit inconvenient, but I'm lazy and don't want to travel far every time I need to buy something."
Lu Heng was a little excited at this moment. It was like someone offering a pillow when he was sleepy. He had just been thinking about bringing Danyang Gate to open a shop, and this old fellow proactively suggested inviting acquaintances to open shops here too.
"However, the population of Jinyang City is too small, and it's not a very prosperous border town. I doubt larger shops will open branches here."
"That's not a big deal. Once those people's shops are open, it will also attract more people to the area. Moreover, those people are not short of money. Opening a branch won't cost them much crystal."
"Hahaha, then I'll look forward to it."
"By the way, that kid Lu Daniu is learning quite quickly at the main courtyard of Danyang Gate. Several tutors say his academic performance is already better than disciples who entered at the same time. He has been transferred to the class of disciples admitted last year."
"Yes, that child is willing to work hard and is sharp-minded. It's just that his initial background was not good, which delayed him a bit, but fortunately, he is motivated."
If Lu Daniu had been a little more timid back then, Lu Heng wouldn't have taken notice of him. At that time, he had seen a look of unwillingness in the child's eyes, and through mind-reading, he also knew that the child was not inherently bad and had not been defeated by unfair treatment from heaven.
"When he finishes his studies, let him come down the mountain. He can help me manage the shops, and I can guide him when I have time."
"You intend to let such a good seedling manage shops? That's a waste of talent."
"Work has no distinction of nobility or inferiority. When Jinyang City becomes lively, I will sell other things."
"Oh? What else do you plan to sell, young friend?"
"Various miscellaneous things. I haven't decided what exactly to sell yet. Perhaps I'll close the shop and roam the world with Lu Daniu, sword in hand."
"Hahaha, young friend Lu indeed has courage. However, if it's inconvenient for you to manage the shop, I can also find some reliable disciples to help you. You just need to reconcile the accounts monthly. You really don't need to personally oversee the shop every day."
"That would be great, but aren't your disciples also delayed by this?"
"Danyang Gate didn't accept so many disciples for nothing. Someone has to manage the affairs of the sect."
"Then you can arrange it as you see fit. If that's the case, I'll buy another residence in Jinyang City specifically for living. The backyard of the shop can be used to house the disciples who will be managing it."
This way, Lu Heng would be truly free and wouldn't have to spend half of his day tied to the shop.
Having obtained the information he wanted, Lu Heng prepared to return to Jinyang City. He didn't want to have to rush back the next morning.
...
At night, Lu Heng returned to Wuming City again.
As soon as he entered the room, the director, sensing his return, notified him mentally that Lin Yu had gone out of the city today. It was said that some military personnel had come to find him, and Lin Yu had left with them upon hearing the news. He hadn't returned yet.
Because Lin Yu's ability level had risen to tenth tier, Lu Heng and the director were not worried about his safety. This was why the director had only informed Lu Heng now.
"Did he leave any instructions for you?"
"No."
"I'll go and pull up today's recordings to see, and then I'll understand."
Since the city's population had increased, Lu Heng had asked Lin Yu to arrange for people to install many cameras within the city. At various intersections or important streets, cameras were installed in almost every direction.
The collected recording information was transmitted to a monitoring room next to the trading hall.
Soon, Lu Heng arrived at the monitoring room. The staff on duty in the room stood up upon seeing him. This place was manned twenty-four hours a day with fixed personnel, so these people all knew Lu Heng.
"City Lord Lu, it's so late. What recording do you want to review?" one of them asked. Lu Heng coming to the monitoring room so late could only mean he wanted to review some recordings.
"Pull up the footage from near the city gate today."
Soon, another person, upon hearing Lu Heng's words, quickly found the camera number near the city gate and displayed the content on a screen in the monitoring room.
On the screen, many people were entering and exiting. Lu Heng sped up the playback, but he quickly captured a set of footage. The screen displayed the time, 10:12 AM, showing a military vehicle slowly driving into Wuming City.
Such vehicles were almost exclusively used by the military in the apocalypse. Most of the vehicles used by other survivor teams were modified ordinary off-road vehicles.
The faces of the people inside the car were clearly visible. This camera had been fine-tuned multiple times, so the angle was quite tricky, clearly capturing the situation inside the car.
The car was entering the city. Lu Heng pressed the pause button and carefully examined the appearances of the people, but their faces were unfamiliar, not people he knew.
In the base where he had lived before, Zhao Kai had sent fixed people to contact him, probably to prevent imposters from causing any accidents.
After pausing, Lu Heng took out his phone and took a picture of the still frame. Then, he continued watching.
The time displayed was 1:20 PM. The same car appeared on the screen again, but this time it was heading out of the city. Lu Heng looked closely; the number of people inside had increased by one. The specific scene couldn't be seen from the rear window, but it was certain that a man not wearing a military uniform was sitting in the back seat of the car.
"Pull up the recordings from the entrance of the inner city early this morning."
There were no cameras installed in the inner city, also to protect the privacy of Lu Heng and his group. There were many high-level mutant animals inside, and their safety was fully guaranteed, so there was no need to install such things.
Therefore, the earliest footage that could show Lin Yu's movements today was from the entrance of the inner city.