223: Chapter 6 Betting 223: Chapter 6 Betting After the departure of the Snow Lord, the room fell silent.
The flickering oil lamp stabilized, as if it had never fluttered at all.
That thin storybook, however, caught Xie Xuanyi’s attention…
The story of Qin Baihuang had spread so far, with Fangyuan Workshop fanning the flames from behind, but from what the young shop owner implied, there seemed to be more than one “important person” within the Great Chu Imperial City with connections to Fangyuan Workshop.
In just ten years, the business of Nanli had reached as far as the Dachu Royal Family?
It was quite unexpected.
Xie Xuanyi reflected carefully, always feeling there was more to the Snow Lord’s words.
The affairs of the Qin Family seemed not to be so simple…
Unconsciously, he opened the storybook and continued to read, finding the story of the State Preceptor and the Taoist nun indeed quite interesting.
With a beginning, development, turn, and conclusion, full of ups and downs, Xie Xuanyi was so engrossed that he read through the night.
Until Duan Zhao got up the next day and knocked on the door.
It was then that Xie Xuanyi realized, the night had passed.
“Young master, didn’t you sleep at all last night?”
Duan Zhao, yawning widely, noticed the oil lamp on the table that had burned down to nothing.
Body Refiners and Sword Cultivators are different in the early stages of practice; Body Refiners focus more on physique, while Sword Cultivators focus more on the Divine Soul…
A sleepless night is nothing for a Sword Cultivator.
In fact, for someone in the Golden Body Realm like Duan Zhao, it was not much either.
It was just that he had been too tired from the continuous travel these past days.
“No bother.”
Xie Xuanyi stood up, closed the storybook, and calmly said, “…
Today I’ll drive, you catch up on sleep in the back.”
At the first part of his statement, Duan Zhao felt pity, thinking it a shame not to rest a bit longer.
At the latter part, the young lad felt a bit embarrassed and tentatively asked, “Are you sure that’s alright?”
“What’s not alright about it?”
Xie Xuanyi smiled and said, “Get some good sleep; we will have a pile of troubles waiting for us when we arrive at the Imperial City tonight.”
Duan Zhao blinked, his spirit lifted, “What troubles?”
“…
The kind that might involve a fight.”
Xie Xuanyi patted the sturdy shoulder of the young lad and said with a light laugh, “When the time comes, you’re allowed to not use your sword, just your fists.”
…
…
As sunset approached, a light rain fell on the Imperial City.
Xining Street, Yuanqing Building, an elegant room on the third floor.
“Brother Lin, I toast to you.”
The table was laden with a sumptuous feast, but there were only two people sitting, one in an embroidered golden black robe and the other dressed plainly in a green cloth shirt.
The young man in the embroidered golden black robe stood up, holding his cup with both hands respectfully and then slowly drank it all down.
“I heard that during the recent Martial Sect competition, Brother Lin took second place.”
The young man said with emotion, “At twenty-three, reaching the eighth layer of the Golden Body Realm, I’m afraid you could be comparable to Lord Relegated Immortal from back in the day.”
The man in the green shirt returned the toast, expressionless, and shook his head, “Brother Qin shouldn’t overpraise me, I pale in comparison to Lord Wu Zhexian…
Moreover, I only got second place in the competition, not first.
My big senior brother is the true martial arts genius, just one step away from forging a Martial Dao Divine Embryo.
Those who can really catch up to Lord Wu Zhexian’s pace are not me, but him.”
“The path of cultivation is long, Brother Lin Yu, and you will undoubtedly accomplish great things in the future.”
The young man in the black robe said with a slight smile, “It’s just a pity…
The limelight of the Martial Sect’s competition was completely overshadowed by the Da Sui Sword Palace’s Sword Qi ceremony.”
“…”
Lin Yu was silent for a few moments, shook his head with indifference, and said, “The Martial Sect doesn’t care for such empty fame, the competition was not intended to announce to the world.”
“Such spirit.”
The young man in the black robe sat down, sighing in admiration, “Worthy of the successor of a renowned northern family.
How’s the old gentleman doing lately?”
“Many thanks to Brother Qin.”
At this, Lin Yu stood, it was his turn to offer a toast.
His expression sincere, he downed his cup, “These past days, the Spirit Pill that Qin Mansion gave to my father was indeed very effective.
My father’s illness has improved a lot…
and his vitality is no longer deteriorating.”
“You’re too polite.”
The young man in the black robe waved it off, nonchalantly saying, “This ‘Divine Origin Pill’ was something I also obtained by chance.
If it’s useful to your father, I’ll try to get a couple more next time I head there.
I’ve heard this pill is made using the essence of the ‘Undying Spring’ to extend life, though whether this is true remains to be seen.”
“Undying Spring?”
Lin Yu was taken aback, then shook his head, “There’s no such miracle in this world…
And even if there were, who would use it in Alchemy?”
“Has Brother Lin forgotten about the Taoist scandal from half a century ago?”
The young man in the black robe laughed, “If there were no Undying Spring, what kind of temptation could make a Yang God Realm Great Perfected betray?
As for the use of the Undying Spring in medicine, it’s indeed absurd…
Nevertheless, whether true or false, as long as it has a miraculous effect on the old gentleman’s illness, that’s all that matters.”
“Indeed.”
Lin Yu sighed softly and after a while, couldn’t help asking, “May I know where Brother Qin obtained this ‘Divine Origin Pill’ from?”
“Hmm?”
The young man in the black robe finally got to the question he had been waiting for.
He raised an eyebrow, implying something profound, “Why…
does Brother Lin want it?”
“The Lin Family has suffered heavy casualties in the wars of the North Sea, and now in the Imperial City, I’m the only son left to honor my father, how can I bear to see him tormented by illness?”
Lin Yu spoke earnestly, “The medicine is precious, I wouldn’t dare to trouble Brother Qin to keep spending.
If there’s a way, please let me know.
The Lin Family is willing to pay handsomely.”
The young man in the black robe frowned, “Brother Lin, we’re friends, why talk about such things?
Besides, it’s not about the money…
Divine Origin Pills like this are not something one can simply ‘buy’ with money.”
Lin Yu paused, startled.
“To be honest.”
The young man in the black robe sighed, “I got this Divine Origin Pill from Fangyuan Workshop.
I’ve approached the young shop owner there to buy a few more…”
Lin Yu became tense, “Fangyuan Workshop?
What did they say?”
“It’s difficult.”
The young man in the black robe said with a wry smile, “There are only a few Divine Origin Pills in existence, even Fangyuan Workshop doesn’t have much in stock.”
Lin Yu’s eyes showed a hint of disappointment.
However, he faintly caught a key phrase.
Fangyuan Workshop didn’t have much in stock…
This meant that Fangyuan Workshop actually had more than one.
“However.”
The cloaked youth spoke in a heavy voice, “It happens that a little shopkeeper is in the Imperial City, and he told me that Fangyuan Boutiques are very interested in Brother Lin.
If Brother Lin wishes to acquire a ‘Divine Origin Pill,’ he might as well meet with him.”
At this point in the conversation.
Suddenly, Lin Yu understood the reason for today’s banquet.
“…”
He looked silently at the Qin brother before him and, after a long while, asked seriously, “Can I meet him now?”
“Of course, you can meet him now.”
The cloaked youth smiled as he extended his palm above his head and gently patted.
Thump.
Immediately, a soft knock on the wooden door was heard outside the private room.
“Brother Lin…
This is ‘Wood Master,’ one of the four junior masters of Fangyuan Boutiques.”
The cloaked youth stood up, picked up the silk from the table, wiped his lips, and said calmly, “The two of you talk first.
I have some trifles to take care of outside.”
…
…
This entire banquet feast had hardly been touched.
From beginning to end, Lin Yu hadn’t taken a single bite of the food.
Today, the young prince of Qin Mansion had invited him to Yuanqing Building under the guise of celebration, and he felt something was amiss…
but after all, a few days earlier the Qin Mansion had sent a spirit pill that cured the old master’s chronic illness, so this meal had to be honored.
As expected.
The banquet today had another mystery.
“Wood Master?”
Lin Yu narrowed his eyes, taking in the tall man before him.
This man was draped in a wide blue robe, wearing a shimmering blue mask that made him look like a wooden stake, somewhat eerie to behold.
“…Indeed.”
Wood Master bowed slightly and slowly came to the opposite side of Lin Yu, taking out a brocade box directly from his bosom.
The brocade box opened.
A gem-like pill glimmered on the banquet table, emitting a faint glow, and a sweet fragrance immediately pervaded the room.
“This here is the second Divine Origin Pill.”
Wood Master said calmly, “Old Master Lin is plagued with a serious illness.
Should you need it, Brother Lin is free to take it.”
“Unearned wealth is not deserved.”
Lin Yu only glanced at it before retracting his gaze, saying expressionlessly, “Wood Master, please name your price.
The Lin Family has never liked owing favors, and that includes the Divine Origin Pill Prince Qin previously provided…
The Lin Family intends to settle the debt today.”
“…Ha.”
Wood Master grinned, but his masked face rendered the short chuckle quite strange.
“?”
Lin Yu frowned, not understanding the meaning of the laughter.
“The previous Divine Origin Pill has already been settled by the Qin Family.”
Wood Master adjusted his mask and cleared his throat, speaking slowly, “Brother Lin need not worry, this Divine Origin Pill is also a gift from Fangyuan Boutiques.”
Lin Yu remained unmoved.
Because he knew a truth, the most expensive things come for free.
“Have you seen the Qing State case files?”
Wood Master suddenly spoke up about something seemingly irrelevant.
“Of course.”
Seeing the relevance to the Divine Origin Pill, Lin Yu responded patiently.
“After the Beihai Ling shattered, its fortune poured into Da Chu…
If my predictions are correct, the world will welcome a golden age like never before over the next decade.”
Wood Master spoke heavily, “In times of great change, naturally Fangyuan Boutiques hopes to lend its strength to heroes from all over.”
Lin Yu coldly said, “What does this have to do with me?”
“Of course it’s related.”
Wood Master said softly, “The Martial Sects’ Grand Competition, you’ve just taken second place…
In the eyes of Fangyuan Boutiques, you’re guaranteed a spot in the top ten of the Heavenly Pride List, Brother Lin, an undoubted martial arts prodigy!”
“So?”
“The head of the boutiques hopes to place a bet on you.”
Wood Master spoke earnestly, “This Divine Origin Pill is merely a token to establish a good relationship with you and the Lin Family.”
After he finished speaking.
The two just stood in a stalemate for quite some time.
Lin Yu stood up, his face expressionless as he said, “I’m sorry…
that ‘good relationship’ is too expensive, the Lin Family can’t afford it.
Please pass along to Prince Qin that I will find a way to repay the favor of the previously given Divine Origin Pill.”
“Please, wait.”
Wood Master promptly got up and extended his hand to stop the unconventional young martial artist.
A chilling calm emerged from the shimmering mask.
Wood Master sighed slowly, saying, “The head of the boutiques told me if you’re unwilling to accept the ‘gift,’ then you might want to try an exchange.”
Lin Yu eyed the junior shopkeeper before him with narrowed eyes.
“Fangyuan Boutiques wishes to trade one Divine Origin Pill for one instance of your help.”
Wood Master earnestly said, “I’ve heard that within the Martial Sect, there’s the tradition of ‘Asking Dao;’ consider this as Fangyuan Boutiques purchasing one opportunity to ‘Ask Dao’ with a Divine Origin Pill…
For this bout, regardless of victory or defeat, the Divine Origin Pill will belong to the Lin Family.”
“Who?”
Lin Yu remained unmoved.
But upon this question, Wood Master breathed a sigh of relief.
He slowly lowered the arm that was blocking the young man’s way, saying word by word.
“Da Sui Sword Palace, Xie Zhen.”
…
…
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