Chapter 49: I Am Giving Patriarch Mangxiang Face Today |
Even though Yulou hadn't said a word, Gao Jian's attitude drastically changed.
One could only say that for a man surnamed Gao to run rampant in Clear Stream Market for years without capsizing, his intuition had to be exceptionally sharp.
In the past, the Wang Clan's prestige was nothing special in his eyes. The Red Lantern Illumination Sect had plenty of vassals, after all.
But the situation had changed. The Wang Clan had always aligned closely with True Person Xuanzhuan. Tracing their backing, they essentially belonged to Patriarch Mangxiang's lineage within the Red Lantern Illumination Sect.
And Patriarch Mangxiang had already begun preparations to prove his Dao and break through to the Golden Core realm!
Of course, Gao Jian had no idea if the patriarch would succeed, but what if he actually did?
If that happened, the Wang Clan's status would naturally rise with the tide, instantly elevating by a massive margin—shooting up several levels in the blink of an eye.
Relying on the Town Guardian Cultivator's protection, Gao Jian could still throw his weight around within Clear Stream Market.
But in the power struggles of the Red Lantern Illumination Sect, he was nothing but a fart. No, he didn't even amount to that.
It was similar to a winter tribute or a heating allowance; there were no strict rules or limits.
Considering he had already finished taking his concubine for the year by the time Hundred Treasures Pavilion was established, things were ambiguous.
Under such vague rules, whether Hundred Treasures Pavilion paid up or not was entirely up in the air.
When he stepped into Hundred Treasures Pavilion today and saw Yulou in the hall, he immediately started putting on airs, hoping to squeeze out an extra sum of spirit stones to keep for himself.
He was just bullying a kid, after all.
But upon realizing the Wang Clan's status might soon skyrocket, he was far less willing to take that risk.
That was why Gao Jian gave up so decisively.
He would consider it as giving the Wang Clan face. No, the Wang Clan didn't have that much face.
I am giving Patriarch Mangxiang face today and letting Hundred Treasures Pavilion off this once!
Patriarch Mangxiang: Little Gao, you've got quite a bit of spirit. Why don't you try standing in front of me and saying that again?
"Oh, Fellow Daoist Gao Jian, I've looked forward to meeting you for a long time." Wang Rongsheng greeted Gao Jian with a smile.
"Ha, no need, no need. If there's nothing else, I'll be taking my leave. You've set up this Hundred Treasures Pavilion quite nicely. Yes, very nice."
After carelessly looking Wang Rongsheng up and down, Gao Jian prepared to leave.
He was just a useless clan cultivator at the early-level Qi Refining stage; there was no value in associating with him.
"Ah, Fellow Daoist Gao Jian. I heard from Yu'an that you took a concubine a few days ago. Here, this is a congratulatory gift from our Hundred Treasures Pavilion."
Wang Rongsheng called out to Gao Jian, pulling a paper-wrapped parcel of spirit stones from his robes and handing it to the beast surnamed Gao.
He spoke politely, giving him plenty of face. As the chief supervisor for the Wang Clan in Clear Stream Market, Uncle Rongsheng had to manage relations with the security patrol well.
Naturally, Gao Jian wouldn't refuse spirit stones delivered right to his hands.
"Well, Fellow Daoist Wang, you're far too polite. Too polite. I almost feel bad accepting this."
Even as he spoke, Gao Jian snatched the spirit stones from Wang Rongsheng's hand and stuffed them straight into his storage bag.
"Just this once. You can't do this next time!" the captain of the Clearbrook Market Security Patrol declared.
Having secured his loot, he asked as an afterthought, "By the way, Fellow Daoist Wang, I haven't caught your name yet."
This perfectly illustrated what kind of beast the man was. He looked down on the early-level Qi Refining Wang Rongsheng and never intended to get to know him, which was why he was only asking for his name now.
Gao Jian could be polite to Wang Rongyuan, Wang Rongwen, and Yulou because the former two possessed high cultivation bases, and Yulou had plenty of potential.
But Wang Rongsheng was old and weak, so Gao Jian completely dismissed him.
"I am Wang Rongsheng. In the future, if there are any issues with the Wang Clan's shops in Clear Stream Market, you can come directly to me."
Hearing this, Gao Jian took another serious look at Wang Rongsheng. This time, he noticed something.
Wang Rongsheng had a handsome appearance, but he was clearly getting on in years. With his low cultivation base, he was likely sent by the Wang Clan to live out his retirement in Clear Stream Market.
"Alright. May our paths cross often."
"Hahaha, Fellow Daoist Gao is humorous indeed."
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, a fully satisfied Gao Jian finally led his men away, allowing Hundred Treasures Pavilion to resume business.
Once the man surnamed Gao was out of sight, Wang Rongsheng dropped his smile. He shook his head and spoke earnestly to the two youths.
"In the future, when people look down on you, do not feel dissatisfied or resentful. Their contempt is actually our opportunity. You must know, our family's Breath-Concealing Art is a highly powerful secret method. Ordinary cultivators couldn't learn it even if they offered up spirit stones!"
Seeing that Yulou and Yu'an both understood, he specifically looked at Yulou.
"How is business today?"
"Thanks to our promotional efforts over the past few days, more and more cultivators know about Hundred Treasures Pavilion. The ten-percent discount for groups of three has been very successful, but the limited-time auction isn't doing too well. I'm thinking the auction period might be set too long. Customers aren't willing to bid early; they all want to wait until the very end to see if they can snatch a bargain."
Wang Rongsheng glanced at the auction display on the right side of the hall. Three auction items rested across five stands. Two were provided by the Wang Clan, and one was consigned by a customer. The current bids for all of them were abysmally low.
"For one out of two strategies to succeed is already a win. Yulou, your talent for business is excellent, so don't worry. If this doesn't work out, we'll just take things slowly. I will go back to cultivating. Remember to pass your insights onto the clerks. For the next few years, your main priority is still studying the artificing path. You cannot spend all your time lingering in Hundred Treasures Pavilion."
Yulou bowed in acknowledgment. Uncle Rongsheng was right, but right now, Yulou was thinking that Hongmei needed some time to adjust mentally.
The Wang Clan's retaliation had been far too ruthless this time. Even though Hongmei had harbored murderous intent toward Yulou and Yu'an—making retaliation fully justified—Wang Xianmao had directly snatched away the Foundation Establishment resources Hongmei had painstakingly accumulated.
When it came to a blow like that, Hongmei simply needed time to process it. A lot of time.
After Uncle Rongsheng left, Yu'an looked at Yulou.
"Brother, shouldn't we go see Master?"
Yulou fell silent for a long moment before answering.
"We wait. We wait for him to think things through and come find us on his own."
Speak of the devil. Just as the two brothers were talking, Zhong Ningyao timidly peeked her head through the entrance of Hundred Treasures Pavilion.
"Ningyao Shijie!"
Seeing his goddess, Yu'an called out happily. But upon remembering their current awkward relationship with Hongmei, he froze in place, unsure of what to do.
"Senior martial sister, come in! Have a look at our Wang Clan's newly opened Hundred Treasures Pavilion. You stayed at Forge Peak Residence for so many years, and Master ran it very successfully. Having grown up around it, you must definitely be familiar with the ways of business. Come, take a look and give us some advice." Yulou, maintaining his composure, warmly invited Zhong Ningyao inside.
Watching his older brother act as if everything were perfectly normal, Yu'an felt a heavy weight settle in his chest.
The world of cultivators was so incredibly cruel, yet his older brother could adapt to it effortlessly and manage everything so well.
I must strive to catch up. I cannot afford to fall too far behind him!
Only then will I be able to walk alongside him, venturing further and further down this path.
In truth, Yulou had not completely adapted either. He also disliked this cruel, cage-like system.
But to change reality, one first had to accept it—at least in part. Only then could one gradually find a way to make a difference.
The sea of suffering was tempestuous, and they were merely sailing against the current.
The thirst for immortality, his responsibilities as a child of the Wang Clan, and the pressure of the clan's future transition—everything forced Yulou to adapt to the harsh reality as quickly as possible.
Too cowardly to enter the game, one would lose any possibility of success from the very beginning.
Only by throwing himself into the fray could he ever earn a chance to outplay the heavens.
"I don't know the first thing about business. It's just... why haven't you two visited Forge Peak Residence these past few days? Father has been acting strangely too, almost as if he's completely forgotten he even has two disciples."
Wang Rongsheng had a handsome appearance, but he was clearly getting on in years, and his cultivation base was low. He must have been sent by the Wang Clan to Clear Stream Market for his retirement.
"Alright, then our paths will cross again."
"Hahaha, Fellow Daoist Gao is a humorous man indeed."
After a few polite exchanges, a fully-loaded Gao Jian finally led his men away. The Hundred Treasures Pavilion could resume its business.
Watching the man surnamed Gao walk away, Wang Rongsheng dropped his smile, shook his head, and spoke earnestly to the two youths.
"In the future, when people look down on you, do not harbor resentment. Their contempt is actually an opportunity for us.
"You must understand, our clan's Breath-Concealing Art is a powerful secret technique. Ordinary cultivators couldn't learn it even if they paid in spirit stones!"
Seeing that both Yulou and Yu'an understood, he turned his gaze specifically to Yulou.
"How is business today?"
"Thanks to the promotional efforts over the past few days, more and more cultivators know about the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. The ten percent discount for groups of three has been very successful, but the limited-time auctions are not doing so well.
"I'm thinking the auction duration might be set too long. Customers are unwilling to bid early, preferring to wait until the end to see if they can pick up a bargain."
Wang Rongsheng looked toward the auction platform on the right side of the hall. Three auction items sat on the five podiums.
Two were provided by the Wang Clan, and one was brought in by a customer. The current bids were shockingly low.
"Having one of the two strategies succeed is good enough. Yulou, your talent for business is already excellent. Do not worry; if it doesn't work out, we will take our time.
"I'm going back to my cultivation. Remember to pass your insights on to the shop assistants. For the next few years, your main task is still studying the artificing path. You can't spend all your time languishing in the Hundred Treasures Pavilion."
Yulou bowed in agreement. Uncle Rongsheng was right, but what he was currently thinking about was that Hongmei needed some time to adjust his state of mind.
The Wang Clan's retaliation this time had been too ruthless. Although Hongmei had harbored killing intent toward Yulou and Yu'an, making the revenge justified, Wang Xianmao had directly snatched away the Foundation Establishment resources that Hongmei had painstakingly accumulated.
This matter... Hongmei needed a moment to catch his breath. He really needed time to process it.
After Uncle Rongsheng left, Yu'an looked at Yulou.
"Brother, should we go check on our master?"
Yulou remained silent for a long time before speaking.
"Wait. Wait until he thinks things through and comes looking for us on his own."
Speak of the devil. Just as the two brothers were talking, Zhong Ningyao nervously peeked her head into the entrance of the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.
"Senior Martial Sister Ningyao!"
Seeing his goddess, Yu'an called out happily.
But then, remembering his current awkward relationship with Hongmei, he froze in place, unsure of what to do.
"Senior Martial Sister, hurry and come in. Take a look at our Wang Clan's new Hundred Treasures Pavilion.
"You stayed at Forge Peak Residence for so many years, and our master ran it very successfully. Having been constantly exposed to it, you must be familiar with the ways of business too.
"Come, take a look, and give us some advice." Yulou, on the other hand, was perfectly composed as he invited Zhong Ningyao inside.
Looking at his older brother, who acted as if everything were normal, Yu'an felt a heavy weight in his heart.
The world of cultivators was so cruel, yet his older brother was able to adapt so easily and handle everything seamlessly.
'I must strive forward and catch up. I cannot fall too far behind him!'
'Only then can I walk further, much further, alongside my brother.'
In truth, Yulou hadn't truly adapted either. He didn't like this cruel, prison-like system.
But if one wished to change reality, they first had to accept it—at least a part of it. Only then could they gradually find a way to bring about change.
The sea of bitterness was turbulent; surviving it meant sailing against the current.
The desire for immortality, the responsibilities of a Wang Clan scion, the pressure of the family's future transition—everything was forcing Yulou to adapt to the cruelty of reality as quickly as possible.
Those who were cowardly and refused to enter the game lost any chance of success from the very beginning.
Only by throwing oneself into the game could one have a chance to outplay the heavens.
"I don't understand the ways of business. I was just wondering, why haven't you two come to Forge Peak Residence these past two days?
"Father has also been acting very strangely, as if he forgot he even has two disciples."