Chapter 2362

Over a decade passed, Liu Baobao's round face had become square, a few wrinkles appeared at the corners of his eyes, and his hairline had receded, but dressed in fine silks and wearing jade beads at his waist, he still seemed to be doing quite well.

However, He Lingchuan's appearance had changed, and Liu Baobao did not recognize him; he merely glanced over, then continued chatting with those around him as he walked toward Hongyan Tower.

As they brushed past, He Ling accidentally bumped into him.

"Oh, sorry!" he immediately apologized.

Liu Baobao just let it go, and followed the others up to the second floor of the restaurant.

After walking more than ten zhang, Zhu Xiuer finally asked He Lingchuan: "You did that on purpose, didn't you?"

He Lingchuan gave a soft hum. He knew many people in Heishuicheng, and it was better not to appear in his true form. "I placed something on him. Let's go, we'll find a place to stay too—"

He pointed his chin toward the opposite side of the street: "That little tavern over there."

Dong Rui whispered: "Do we have any informants in Heishuicheng?"

"We do, but not many, and we don't need them for now. I can find out whatever I want to ask." Cangyan had stationed three informants in the Heishuicheng Sect, but this border region had long been peaceful, so they usually just recorded minor events inside and outside the city and on the wilderness, then sent them back domestically.

In fact, within this small Heishuicheng, at least several forces had stationed informants, all doing the same thing. The changes at the Panlong Ruins were too concealed, beyond the range of human detection, and even spies from Shen State and other countries had not noticed them; only the Lingxu Holy Venerable sensed a slight clue.

He Lingchuan currently had no use for his own informants, so he did not seek them out. Otherwise, upon meeting, the other party would be overly fearful and nervous, which would be troublesome.

Meanwhile, in Hongyan Tower, Liu Baobao discussed business with merchants, drank only two cups, and suddenly a wave of drowsiness welled up in his heart.

Strange, his usual drinking capacity was not bad, and besides, he had practiced cultivation techniques, strengthening his body and health—this little alcohol should pose no problem at all……

zZZ

The fellow diners exchanged glances: "Liu Er's alcohol tolerance is so poor, he's down after three cups?"

"It shouldn't be; last month he drank five or six times as much as today, and nothing happened."

"Never mind him, let's chat our own." Is it not normal for someone to get drunk at a wine table? Sleep a while and get up, then get up and continue drinking.

At this moment, Liu Baobao's consciousness seemed to shift to half an hour earlier.

He and several merchants had just reached the entrance of Hongyan Tower when someone came toward them face to face.

He looked quite familiar.

Liu Baobao unconsciously stared at him for three or four breaths, then blurted out:

"He, He Dasha?"

This form of address, he really had not uttered in many years.

"Liu Baobao." The other also smiled, with a sincere expression: "Long time no see."

"He Dasha, how……" Liu Baobao steadied himself, asked the guests to go upstairs first, then hurried over, examining him up and down, "You haven't changed at all, no, no, that's not right, your graceful and handsome bearing far surpasses before!"

He Lingchuan maintained a smile. Over these years, the flattery and fawning words heard by the Nine Abysses Great Emperor were countless, and this sentence was the most nutritionally void and least ornate.

The civil officials of Cangyan, however, had racked their brains to sing praises to the Nine Abysses Great Emperor, with meticulous and elegant wording, and ingenious and unique angles, leaving Dong Rui dazed countless times.

Not only must one praise well and wonderfully, but also avoid clichés and repetition; otherwise, in the Great Emperor's eyes, one's impression score would turn negative, and it would be better not to speak at all.

Even renowned masters and experts had specially composed song and dance for the Dragon God War, this Breaking Formation March, that Ever-Victorious Song, with beautiful diction and passionate fervor, spreading throughout the Jinjin Plains.

This is what constitutes high-level horse-flattery.

Even Zhu Xiuer, constantly exposed to it, could have a bouquet of fine phrases in her belly, rather than only saying "You haven't changed" or "You are graceful and handsome" when praising others.

He Lingchuan laughed: "I thought you had moved inland."

"I did go there once, then came back." Liu Baobao sighed, "When the He family moved their business inland, our Liu family followed, and with the late emperor's patronage, business was indeed good. But later, Yuandi State fell into turmoil, with constant campaigns in the central and southern regions, our merchant guild and shops were either looted or suffered losses. In the end, after everyone discussed it, we decided: well, we might as well return to Heishuicheng!"

The internal unrest in Yuandi State had lasted for years, and making a living domestically was actually worse than settling in the borderlands; although conditions there were also harsh, at least they were far from war, and one could live a bit more peacefully.

The Liu family merchant guild had long been familiar with Heishuicheng, so upon returning they resumed their old trade; although they did not make great profits, they at least gained stability.

He Lingchuan pointed at Hongyan Tower: "Is this place taken over by your merchant guild?"

"Ah no no." Liu Baobao shook his head repeatedly, "It belongs to Zhao Mantu Dasha."

"Huh?" He Lingchuan still thought he had misheard, "You said it belongs to whom?"

"Zhao Mantu Dasha!" Liu Baobao laughed, "Back when the He family moved inland, they disposed of most of their properties in Heishuicheng, basically all taken over by local officials and merchants; Zhao Mantu Dasha just happened to return from his travels, so he spent money to buy three things."

He Chuanhua had served as prefect in Heishuicheng for ten years, holding onto high-quality assets locally. When the He family left like that, the assets they sold off caused locals to scramble for them.

Even Dasha is a person who needs to eat; if he had no industries beneath him, would he be drinking northwest wind all day?

He Lingchuan immediately pressed: "Which three?"

"This Hongyan Tower, plus a residence in the Tiaoma Lane of Chengxi, with a black gate and a small red door hole above it. Last New Year, my father even had me go door-to-door to deliver New Year goods to Dasha, carrying two large boxes." Liu Baobao has a good memory.

"And another one?"

"The old shop on Youhua Street, originally selling grain and dried fruit, now specializing in foreign specialties."

He Lingchuan's heart jumped: "Is it that old shop at Hongqiegen?"

"Yes." Liu Baobao said, "It has suffered floods and fires, and even had a rat infestation a few years ago."

"When did Dasha take over it?"

"After you moved away, not long after. It had a high asking price and remained unsold until Dasha put up the money."

He Lingchuan murmured: "So Sun Hongye wants to return to Heishuicheng to manage these affairs."

Sun Hongye, an outsider, did not know Dasha's reputation in Heishuicheng, only knowing he was a buyer, and since He Chengshou's sale of assets would naturally attract countless buyers, he would see countless names, so he did not specifically mention it.

"Huh?" Liu Baobao did not hear clearly, "What did you say?"

"Nothing, before buying the shop, Dasha should have gone inside to inspect it, right?"

"I don't know." Liu Baobao wore an expression of obviousness, "But who buys something without first scouting it out?"

In Heishuicheng, shop properties are not cheap; who spends money without inspecting inside and out twice?

He Lingchuan no longer dwelled on this, instead seizing the main point: "Is Dasha currently residing in Heishuicheng?"