Chapter 972: Platinum Island

"What were you doing just now?"

Min Tianxi kept his hands properly pressed against his trouser legs: "Just eating, drinking, and messing around with the brothers."

They were also eating meat and drinking alcohol while playing cards.

He Lingchuan could naturally tell he had been drinking, so he smiled: "It’s fine to play cards to pass the time, but remember that there is no such thing as an undefeated general at the gambling table. Those who lead troops into battle must know how to practice self-restraint and guard their hearts."

So, the Proprietor was very clear about his words and actions. Min Tianxi felt a jolt in his heart and hurriedly replied, "Yes."

Where they were, gambling was also called "playing for money."

"How is the recruitment for the guard team going?" He Lingchuan sat on such a large industry as the Yangshan Archipelago; naturally, he had to cultivate his own armed forces to make early plans for the future.

"We recruited three hundred and seventy able-bodied men in Daofeng Port and Bailie, and the brothers brought in one hundred and eighty friends and relatives from their hometowns to enlist; additionally, among the laborers who came to the island to farm, over one thousand seven hundred people actually signed up to enlist, but they are of all ages, and there’s even a sixty-year-old geezer who insists on signing up, saying he was a soldier before and has experience." He scratched his head, "Adding our original six hundred and ten or so, the total number is exactly two thousand eight hundred and sixty."

"Qiu Da said the test is tomorrow; only those who pass will be kept." Qiu Da is Qiu Hu; now the guard team calls him that.

Too many? He Lingchuan was not surprised at all. If the laborers recruited to the Yangshan Archipelago could be attracted by the wages for farming and picking palm nuts, they could be attracted by the higher salaries of the guard team—the latter being more than double the former.

Since they were already on the island and had to work in the wind and sun anyway, they might as well sign up for the guard team; if they happened to pass, they could earn a high salary. Most farmhands had this mentality, which is why even the old man wanted to give it a try.

This was also He Lingchuan's purpose in recruiting a large number of laborers to the island: the source of troop recruitment is, of course, able-bodied labor, and the more, the better.

There are standards for selecting soldiers; one must test physical strength, endurance, speed, and courage. He Lingchuan had served as the Grand Commander of the Yuheng Army for more than half a year and already had a lot of experience in selecting and training soldiers.

If one were to strictly follow He Lingchuan's standards, the first batch of elites would usually be the best of the best, and it would be good if four hundred of these seventeen hundred-plus applicants could remain. But the Yangshan Archipelago was currently severely lacking in armed forces, so the standards had to be relaxed.

Most of the time, people have to bow to reality.

This work was later taken over by Qiu Hu, and He Lingchuan also imparted some insights; he had more important matters to attend to at the moment.

"Have you been to the Ghost Market on Platinum Island?"

An island named after platinum—interesting.

"I've been there five or six times, and I've bought and sold things." Min Tianxi was gradually figuring out He Lingchuan's temperament; this Proprietor liked his subordinates to provide concise and efficient reports without any hidden meanings. He answered exactly what was asked: "It is a lawless place, a good place to fence stolen goods, gathering buyers from all over the world and all kinds of good things of unknown origin. We like to take stolen goods that are hard to offload openly there to sell."

"Whose territory is it?"

"On the surface, Platinum Island is a place where no one governs; in reality, the Grand Void Sect has the greatest influence."

Grand Void Sect? "How far is it from here?"

"With a favorable wind, it’s about a two-and-a-half to three-day boat trip."

"Go prepare the boat." He Lingchuan looked at the letter on the table, "We are going to take a trip to Platinum Island."

"Eh? Alright!" Min Tianxi turned around to make preparations for the voyage.

The shimmering sea, dense jungles, silent reefs, flying gulls and herons, and of course, the never-ending sound of the tide.

After staying for a long time, one realizes that island scenery is all about the same.

There were several more archipelagos on the ocean east of the Yangshan Archipelago, with hundreds of islands in total; Platinum Island was just one of them.

The local business was unique.

This place did not belong to any faction, or rather, there were dozens of factions across these major archipelagos, forming a peculiar ecosystem that was even freer than a free port. The island area was limited and the waterways were relatively narrow, making it unsuitable for large-scale transshipment business, but it was perfect for opening gambling dens, black markets, and engaging in all sorts of strange trades.

It was a true lawless land where outsiders could not intervene at all.

Because the wind was favorable the whole way, He Lingchuan's boat arrived at the destination in just two days, faster than originally planned.

The waterway conditions of these archipelagos were more complex than those of the Yangshan Archipelago; sailing between the islands was like walking through the dark alleys of a city—without a local guide, one would definitely get lost.

Min Tianxi counted as half a local. He led He Lingchuan and Dong Rui to the Platinum Island pier and found that it looked like an ordinary seaport:

Fishing boats were unloading cargo at the pier, seagulls were fighting with boatmen for food, and a waiter in a small tavern was swatting flies by the window.

But walking further in, the stone-paved streets were clean, and the buildings on both sides were neatly maintained. Dong Rui was somewhat surprised: "This place looks pretty good, doesn't it?"

He had originally thought that since Platinum Island was in a lawless zone, the scene should be chaotic, dirty, and vibrant, but looking at it now, it was actually brighter than an average small town, and there were no fierce-looking men staring at him incessantly.

Even in the countryside of Beijia, where isn't it dusty?

Taverns and inns were everywhere here, and it seemed like every kind of business was being conducted, but He Lingchuan soon noticed a pawnshop on this street corner and a "materials shop" at the end of that alley; these two types of storefronts were blossoming everywhere on Platinum Island.

Everyone knew what a pawnshop was for. But what about those materials shops?

Min Tianxi immediately explained: "These materials shops are for receiving goods. If we have any good items, we can take them inside for people to see, and the other party will give an estimate. If we think it's appropriate, the deal is done."

Dong Rui immediately asked: "Then what if the price can't be agreed upon, and the shopkeeper wants to kill for the treasure?"

"If you can walk out of the shop alive, you can report it to the Grand Void Sect, and they will uphold justice." Min Tianxi laughed, "Cough, just a joke. Trading here is usually safe; otherwise, after one or two incidents, no one would dare to come anymore."

No matter how chaotic a place is, as long as there are people, it will slowly become orderly amidst the chaos.

"It seems the Grand Void Sect manages this place well, it's just a bit too quiet." Platinum Island was not small, but it was very quiet everywhere, with few pedestrians.

The three of them walked down the street and could even hear the melodious song of a bird in the trees.

"Since it's called a 'Ghost Market,' of course it only truly opens for business at night." Min Tianxi pointed to the east, "Where we landed, there is a cape tower on the cliff to the east; you can see it from here. Once it lights up, the Ghost Market opens; if it lights two lamps, there will be an auction that night."

However, He Lingchuan had not rushed to Platinum Island to join in the excitement of the Ghost Market, but to find someone.

Min Tianxi led the two of them through streets and alleys, heading deep into Platinum Island.

There were fewer and fewer people, and the buildings were becoming taller and grander, with the air of high-walled compounds. Min Tianxi was relatively unfamiliar with this area and had to ask for directions twice before leading He Lingchuan to the destination of this long journey: Old Bai’s Materials Shop.

Compared to the large compounds nearby, its storefront was a bit small. When asking passersby earlier, everyone pointed here, and one even said: You won't recognize it wrong; there isn't a second Old Bai’s Materials Shop on this island.

But it looked too ordinary; Min Tianxi looked up several times before saying: "It should be here."

He Lingchuan walked in, and the wind chime at the door gave a jingle, causing the clerk behind the counter to look up: "Greetings, guest! What do you need?"

It looked like a junk shop here; most of the items on display were dusty and lackluster, neither grand nor high-class.

But there was one thing on the shelf that caught He Lingchuan's gaze and held it: a small piece of candle, pale platinum in color.

Isn't this a trinket from the Heavenly Palace? Usually, they were either placed in the Star-Plucking Tower or appeared in the hands of the Lamp-Guarding Envoys or Heavenly Palace attendants. He Lingchuan had not expected to see it in a junk shop.

Could it be a fake? He pointed to the candle stub and said: "Can I take a look?"

"Of course." The clerk took down the candle and placed it on the counter, "Please, take a look here."

He Lingchuan stood before the counter, using the light from the wall lamp to examine the candle stub. Although it had gathered some dust, the texture and the faint fluctuations emanating from within the candle proved it was not a fake.

"You sell this too? How much?"

The clerk smiled: "Since you know what this is, you should also know that its price is not low." Having said that, he held up three fingers, "This much."

Things from the Heavenly Palace are truly expensive; even a rotten candle stub is sold at such a high price.

Dong Rui couldn't help but interject: "Isn't there a risk in buying this and taking it back?"

The clerk had his own set of practiced rhetoric: "Risk is relative. As long as you don't go around boasting after you buy it, trouble won't come knocking on your door."

You buy things in a black shop and still want a no-questions-asked return policy? He Lingchuan smiled, returned the candle to him, and then took a letter from his bosom and placed it on the counter: "Someone arranged to meet me here."

As soon as the clerk saw the wax seal on the letter, he immediately said: "Please follow me."

He Lingchuan left Min Tianxi in the shop, and he and Dong Rui followed him inside.

Walking through a long corridor and making a few turns, He Lingchuan estimated that he had entered the large compound next door.

The garden charm here looked familiar no matter how he looked at it.

Three people were coming toward them, chatting as they walked.

One of them looked up and saw He Lingchuan, first startled, then delighted: "Brother He, you finally came!" He then said to the two people beside him, "You two, I am receiving an honored guest here, so I won't see you out."

The two cupped their hands: "Brother Songyuan, go ahead and be busy; we shall take our leave!"

Passing by He Lingchuan, they nodded in greeting, and He Lingchuan returned a smile.

After their figures disappeared, the remaining person looked He Lingchuan up and down and clicked his tongue twice:

"Whole and intact, you've got skills."

He Lingchuan also stared at the signet ring on his left hand: "Mr. Fang has changed his face, but you are glowing with health; it seems this past year has been quite comfortable for you."

The two linked arms and both burst into loud laughter, feeling quite satisfied.

The person He Lingchuan had specifically rushed to Platinum Island to see was, of course, Fang Canran.

The two great culprits who wreaked havoc in the Heavenly Palace and caused chaos in Lingxu City finally met after a year!

(End of chapter)