Chapter 6: Security Must Be Strengthened, the Market Must Prosper; You, Understand?

This domineering man with triangular eyes is Gao Jian, captain of the Qing Xi Fang Security Team, an outer disciple of the Red Lantern Gaze, who also took the guardian cultivator Jiang Baobian as a nominal master—merely currying favor with the powerful.

Named Gao Jian, he is actually short and squat, with a vile and mean appearance, but his baseness is truly base.

What logic is there in using one's foot to open a door?

It is only because he relies on his master being the guardian cultivator of Qing Xi Fang that he dares to be so arrogant.

Just as Wang Yulou looked over in surprise, the Red-Browed Hermit sitting before him spoke up.

"Daoist Gao, I wonder, since you have suddenly visited, what is the matter?"

The Red-Browed Hermit is the master of Hua Feng Ju and a guest of honor of the Foundation Establishment guardian of the Red Lantern Gaze in Qing Xi Fang; since he asked, Gao Jian naturally dared not be too presumptuous.

The man surnamed Gao stepped forward, first made a bow to Wang Rongyuan and Zhong Tianshuo, and then said with a smile.

"Daoist Red-Brow, you may not know, the Merit Hall of the Red Lantern Gaze is about to move its garrison to Qing Xi Fang.

My master intends to take advantage of this grand event to create a proper celebration, inviting scattered cultivators from hundreds of li around to come to Qing Xi Fang to make purchases.

By doing so, we can increase Qing Xi Fang's surplus for this year and boost everyone's business.

Speaking of which, this is great news for your Hua Feng Ju and for Daoist Rongyuan's Zhi Wei Fang, hahaha!"

Although Gao Jian's face was full of smiles, no matter how Wang Yulou looked at him, he felt the smile was sinister.

"Oh, this plan of Elder Jiang's is not bad."

Wang Rongyuan stroked his beard and nodded slightly, saying.

Gao Jian, standing aside, squinted his eyes and added in his unpleasant voice.

"My master also said that with the grand event approaching, security in Qing Xi Fang must be strengthened, the market must be prosperous, and notifying scattered cultivators nearby to attend the gathering will also consume manpower.

The cost, naturally, is not low, therefore, we need to raise a sum of 'Unity Fee'.

Everyone works together with one heart; every shop in Qing Xi Fang should contribute some spirit stones to get the job done solidly!"

Unity Fee?

Why does that sound so much like a forced donation?

Can you just change the name of extortion and be so shameless?

Wang Yulou, standing aside, was dumbfounded.

Those who know understand this is the Cultivation World; those who don't, he almost mistook it for himself not having transmigrated yet!

You Red Lantern Gaze have truly learned the essence of management!

"Unity Fee? Speak, how much unity do I need to provide?"

The Red-Browed Hermit stared unfriendly at Gao Jian, raised his hand to signal his daughter, who wanted to speak, to be quiet first, and slowly asked.

That guardian cultivator has always been like this; on the surface, he is polite and friendly to everyone, even willing to be shameless and call himself a brother with Qi Refining cultivators.

But...

Never mind, after all, he is a scion of a great family within the Red Lantern Gaze; let's endure it.

"Hua Feng Ju can open its shop beside the Qin Yun Qing Xi stream; Daoist Red-Brow can also become my master's friend, so naturally you are not short of spirit stones."

Gao Jian mentioned his master again.

Wang Yulou was somewhat curious; what kind of person is that Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Red Lantern Gaze, exactly?

He has methods to scoop up money and has dogs to do his bidding.

Having a disciple like Gao Jian shows that his master's level must be quite high.

You think Gao Jian is an idiot?

Wrong; what he wants is for Gao Jian to be an idiot!

"Short, very short; see, to earn some spirit stones, I just accepted two apprentices from the Wang family."

Zhong Tianshuo dared not bear the damn title of 'not short of spirit stones'; he hurriedly spoke up to explain.

While speaking, the Red-Browed Hermit also pointed at Wang Yulou.

You ask about Wang Yuan?

Sorry, a freebie!

Gao Jian looked at Wang Yulou.

Being stared at by those poisonous triangular eyes, Wang Yulou instinctively felt his back tighten.

"Daoist Gao, Brother Tianshuo is skilled in the Dao of Alchemy; we have sent two collateral family members from our household; before you entered, we just held the master-disciple ceremony."

Wang Rongyuan, sitting in the upper seat, spoke in a tone that was neither warm nor cold.

Wang Yulou, don't be afraid; Uncle is here!

"Of course, you are doing business for your master, running back and forth is not easy.

Elder Jiang intends to make Qing Xi Fang lively; we also support it.

How about this; the Zhi Wei Fang of the Wang family will first contribute twenty spirit stones!"

Upon hearing these words, Wang Yulou instantly held Uncle Rongyuan in deep respect.

What is called level?

This is called level!

Little Gao, watch your attitude; Zhong Tianshuo now has the Wang family of the Anbei Kingdom behind him!

Your master is a Foundation Establishment cultivator; the Wang family also has Foundation Establishment cultivators!

Your master comes from a great family within the Red Lantern Gaze sect; the Wang family also has a true transmission ancestor who took a Purple Lake as a master within the Red Lantern Gaze!

Just twenty; take it or leave it!

Moreover, Wang Rongyuan proactively setting the price was actually helping Zhong Tianshuo out of trouble.

If Zhi Wei Fang contributes twenty, you Gao Jian, no matter how base you are, cannot open your mouth wide like a lion at Hua Feng Ju, right?

The Red-Browed Hermit sighed lightly with some emotion.

No matter how skilled you are at fighting alone, what's the use?

No matter how accomplished your Dao of alchemy is, no matter how perfectly you've cultivated to the peak of Qi Refining, in the eyes of a major sect's disciples, you're still nothing more than a loose cultivator begging on your knees in Qing Xi Fang!

Wang Rongyuan's cultivation may be lacking, but he first beat up the old ghost at the beast-medicine shop, then suppressed Gao Jian, a Foundation Establishment cultivator's disciple — fully displaying the mettle of an immortal clan.

Domineering!

"Twenty spirit stones?"

But Gao Jian didn't recognize the Wang family's name. In a strange, mocking tone, he raised his voice and repeated Wang Rongyuan's words.

Then, raising his hand, he bowed toward the direction of the garrison cultivator's residence in Qing Xi Fang, putting on airs.

"My master is about to be transferred back to the Spirit Talisman Hall of Red Lantern Shrine as an internal hall steward. After so many years in Qing Xi Fang, he's grown attached to the place.

The old man just wants, in the final year of his term as garrison cultivator, to do some real work for Qing Xi Fang.

Serve a post, bring blessings to a region — surely everyone can understand my master's good intentions.

Twenty spirit stones can hardly count as real support, don't you think, Daoist Rongyuan?"

Yulou's brows lowered, but in his heart he felt helpless.

Cultivating immortality, cultivating immortality — everyone here is an immortality cultivator. If you don't become an immortal, there's no such thing as carefree freedom.

The Wang clan can't be carefree, Red Eyebrow is even less so, and even Jiang Baobian is showing his greedy true colors.

This Foundation Establishment garrison cultivator of Qing Xi Fang has made it perfectly clear — he wants to squeeze out one last fortune before his promotion.

When the 'voluntary donation' lands right on your face, what can you do?

Uncle Rongyuan, you must not lose your head!

"Then tell me, how much should Taste Workshop contribute."

After a long silence, Wang Rongyuan finally spoke.

He conceded!

Only one year left — send the surnamed Jiang packing and be done with it. You can't fall out with Jiang Baobian over a few dozen spirit stones.

After all, the reasons and excuses the man gives are so perfectly tailored, his table manners look utterly respectable.

Hearing this, Gao Jian immediately beamed with delight.

"Not much, not much, fifty will do, fifty will do."

This Red Lantern Shrine outer-gate disciple then looked toward Red Eyebrow Resident and continued.

"Blade Edge Residence's business is far better than Taste Workshop's, but there's no need to pay extra either. Daoist Red Eyebrow, you pitching in a hundred and twenty spirit stones should be about right."

《But there's no need to pay extra either》

Gao Jian truly is worthy of being a Foundation Establishment cultivator's disciple — a vile master breeds a vile disciple. The moment he opens his mouth, he redefines 'more' and 'less.'

"A hundred and twenty spirit stones, you..."

Seeing Gao Jian being so black-hearted, Red Eyebrow Resident's friend — the clan head of the Wu clan of Qi Refining immortal lineage, Wu Jinyan — couldn't hold back and spoke up half a sentence in righteous indignation.

Finally, some fool had given him an opening to show off — Gao Jian naturally wouldn't let it slip.

His left hand flicked, and the spirit-locking cord at his waist was already in his grip.