Chapter 137: Jin Feng Tower Repays a Debt

【The Five Elders of Canluo Sword Techniques: Comprehensive Explanation】

【Type: Knowledge Item】

【Quality: Excellent】

【Durability: 100/100】

【Effect: Reading increases Melee Basics and Sword Basics levels】

The sword techniques notes gifted by Ziyu Jushi were indeed a knowledge item.

I can sell it for a good price when I return.

There are plenty of apostles who use swords.

Mainly because they're cool, and their transcendence compensates for the sword's flaws.

Chu Danqing would've chosen a gun if he had the money to buy one.

Like submachine guns, sniper rifles, even grenade launchers and rocket launchers.

As for the red-tasseled spear, it never crossed his mind.

After receiving the item, Chu Danqing descended the mountain and headed for the border.

It seemed the manhunt on Canluo Mountain had reduced the number of people seeking the hundred-thousand-silver bounty on his head.

At least until Chu Danqing neared the border region of Xiong Zhigang, he encountered no assassinations at all.

This lifted his spirits considerably; otherwise, someone popping up every so often shouting "kill him!" would've worn him down.

He checked the map and roughly estimated the distance—he should reach the pass at Xiong Zhigang by tomorrow morning.

At this point, he was also considering how to adjust his Melee Basics and Ranged Basics gains if Xiong Zhigang refused the alliance demand.

Guo Ming's power had risen too fast; from now on, he could only use him as a trump card, not summon him casually as before.

The Nine Sons' Ghost Mother Scroll definitely needed true spirit awakening, but he didn't know how much it would cost later.

He glanced at his Paradise Points and felt helpless.

Indeed, you can't have both fish and bear's paw.

As a Dimensional Apostle, you could only choose between strength and Paradise Points.

He was certain there were probably no Dimensional Apostles in the Paradise who were both strong and wealthy.

"Little Chu, he has something."

"No ill intent."

Passing a tea stall, Da Bao reminded Chu Danqing.

Chu Danqing glanced over—a gray-haired old man sitting at the roadside tea stall met his gaze.

The man radiated vigor and spirit—not an ordinary commoner's elder.

Of course, few commoners lived this long anyway.

He slowly rose, picked up his bundle, and approached Chu Danqing's carriage in three swift strides.

"Greetings, Commander Chu," he said, bowing as the carriage halted. "My young mistress sent me to extend her regards to you."

Chu Danqing's mind raced—what young mistress? He had no memory of her.

How could he possibly have any connection with a married woman?

He only knew one Yuan Shanhu, but she was on Canluo Mountain.

The old man sensed Chu Danqing's confusion and immediately explained: "My young mistress's given name is Cuiniang."

Chu Danqing froze—Cuiniang? Who was that?

Mostly because she was so inconspicuous, but he recalled her after a moment.

The concubine who'd cuckolded Yuan Chong—he'd given her some silver to fend for herself.

"Oh? What does she want?" Chu Danqing asked.

Clearly, after leaving Yuan Family Manor, Cuiniang had climbed higher.

"My young mistress thanks you for your life-saving grace and kindness," the old man smiled. "My master has specially dispatched me with two generous gifts as thanks."

"No need for thanks—your sentiment is enough," Chu Danqing declined.

It seemed Cuiniang had married well, but that had little to do with him—he wasn't after anything.

"It's necessary," the old man continued. "My master and young master are men who repay kindness. Especially since my young mistress recently received divine blessing—our family's three-generation line now has an heir."

"This debt must be repaid."

Ah, now Chu Danqing understood why this was happening—she'd given them an heir, so her status had risen.

The old man reached into his bundle and pulled out a tightly wrapped spherical object. When he slowly unwrapped it, it revealed a human head pickled in lime.

"This man was the mastermind behind the hundred-thousand-silver bounty on your head."

"The rest of the greedy fools have been mostly eliminated for you."

"This is the first part of our thanks," the old man said before Chu Danqing could speak, explaining the context upfront.

Chu Danqing studied the old man: "Is your master the lord of Jin Feng Tower?"

Jin Feng Tower was a transnational trade and exchange organization that, besides legitimate business, also handled intelligence and assassination—black-market operations.

But they knew their limits: trade was their legal business, complying with state policies and paying taxes diligently.

The latter was aimed at the martial world and outlaws, rarely touching court politics.

Chu Danqing recognized their affiliation immediately because he'd once studied them.

His impression: honest, plus their son seemed to prefer men—threatening their lineage.

He hadn't expected Cuiniang had fixed it.

"Commander Chu has sharp eyes," the old man complimented, then produced a second item: "We heard you favor rare treasures."

"My master specially selected this treasure from Wulu Kingdom as a token of gratitude."

The old man pulled out a palm-sized jade disc, carved with all manner of mythical beasts, flowers, birds, fish, and insects.

A dense, intricate micro-carving resembling a natural ecosystem.

"This artifact is called the Eight Wilderness Jade," the old man began a long, flowing explanation.

Chu Danqing's head spun—he had no taste for such things. He valued treasures only because they could be converted into Paradise Points.

After all that talk, the summary was simple: priceless.

"I know Commander Chu will refuse," the old man interrupted, preempting him. "So I've placed it here."

"If you don't want it, someone else will take it."

"My young mistress's debt is now repaid." With that, he set the head and jade on the ground, turned, and walked away.

Not a moment's hesitation.

Whether you took it or not was your business—he'd done what he came to do.

Seeing his decisive action, Chu Danqing realized this wasn't just repayment—it was severance.

To prevent future claims on their favor if Chu Danqing ever ran into trouble.

Jin Feng Tower thrived across nations precisely because of this opportunistic, fence-sitting nature.

What if Chu Danqing later used this debt to demand something?

With both moral authority and martial power, Jin Feng Tower couldn't refuse.

So they'd forced the gift upon him first.

Once he understood the full context, Chu Danqing picked up the so-called Eight Wilderness Jade.

"Holy shit—it's actually valuable!"

【Worldly Wonder · Eight Wilderness Jade】

【Type: Treasure】

【Quality: Fine】

【Effect 1:.】

【Effect 2: Sell to Dimensional Paradise: Sale Price: 30, 00 Paradise Points】

Chu Danqing hadn't expected this palm-sized jade disc to be worth thirty thousand Paradise Points.

Higher value than the Spring Flower Autumn Moon Wall, and its quality had leapt straight to Fine.

Though likely the lowest tier of Fine—barely qualifying.

"I saved Cuiniang's life, and Jin Feng Tower killed the mastermind behind the hundred-thousand-silver bounty."

"I gave her silver as aid, and Jin Feng Tower repaid me with the far more valuable Eight Wilderness Jade."

"They've settled the debt cleanly," Chu Danqing muttered.

He felt no resentment—in fact, with thirty thousand Paradise Points, he was more than satisfied.

"From this attitude, they clearly fear court politics deeply."

"As soon as they learned I saved Cuiniang, they rushed to cut ties."

Chu Danqing stroked his chin, thinking: "There must be something behind this."

"Forget it—I'll leave after completing my trial. Even if they have ulterior motives, it's none of my concern."

"I'll just warn Xiong Zhigang." Chu Danqing knew uprooting Jin Feng Tower would be difficult.

Back when the previous Taichang Emperor hadn't ruined the realm, when the state was strong and all foreign lands submitted, a single imperial decree to neighboring nations would've erased them easily.

But now, the state had declined, internally hollowed out, with major external enemies—so much so that even Suqin spies and bandits had to be crushed by Chu Danqing's brute force.

He could at most destroy Jin Feng Tower's branch within Taichang, crippling them but not eradicating them completely.

Chu Danqing sighed—within decades, the Taichang realm had collapsed to this. Indeed, seeking immortality was the true enemy of wise rulers.

After stowing the items and burying the head beside the road, Chu Danqing pondered one thing.

"These past few days, the attempts on my life were handled by Jin Feng Tower."

"But the problem is—where's my treasure chest???"

Chu Danqing spotted the blind spot; had he handled it himself, the superior-quality chest with shimmering runes would have been his for sure.

But now he had directly lost a large sum.

Yet he thought again and realized a problem.

"Jin Feng Tower is playing word games with me," Chu Danqing immediately realized.

The true mastermind behind the million-gold bounty was the high leadership of Su Shen; the so-called mastermind Jin Feng Tower eliminated was merely the planner and executor of the scheme.

The former is the boss; the latter is just a hired laborer.

Jin Feng Tower's assassination did not target the high officials of any nation; the head delivered to Chu Danqing belonged to a high-ranking spy embedded within the Tai Chang court.

But spies have no rights—once killed, they're just gone.

Yet if Jin Feng Tower truly wanted to kill Su Shen's high leadership to repay the favor, even its tower lord would dare not.

That would mean offending Su Shen.

Jin Feng Tower also has many businesses within Su Shen's territory.

Taking advantage of the friction between Tai Chang and Su Shen, Jin Feng Tower has profited greatly these past years.

How could they dare offend such a major client?

"The so-called repayment of favor likely also stems from my past official position—aimed at pleasing Tai Chang to make business smoother."

"Especially recently, Tai Chang has shown signs of revival."

"If its national strength truly recovers, they'll inevitably need to increase investment within Tai Chang."

"That's why they must build a good reputation," Chu Danqing swiftly analyzed Jin Feng Tower's subsequent moves.

(End of Chapter)