Chapter 489

Da Wang heard a familiar chive pop out halfway, and he wasn't embarrassed at all: "…So it's settled, no haggling?"

Bai Yang's eyes were glued to the biggest bronze vessel in the middle, "Eight‑Ox Bronze Storage Vessel, such an impressive money jar—I've already figured out where to put it!" mainly this thing looks well preserved, it hasn't been in the ground, he plans to put it on display, in his high‑end tavern.

"Our new tavern lacks a town‑defining treasure; without a big prize to hold the fort, how can it be called the top tavern of the Magic City?"

Da Wang cupped his face: "Can this bronze vessel be put out directly? Should we add some small accessories to go with it?" After saying that, he casually pulled out an Immortal Crane Furnace and placed it beside the big money jar; that bronze furnace is exquisitely crafted, about the size of the largest ox on the Eight‑Ox Bronze Storage Vessel.

Bai Yang felt this move was very familiar; after a moment's thought, this isn't the luxury‑goods bundling scheme, is it?!

The kid's learned nothing useful.

"Cut it out! Today I'll only give you one cut!"

Da Wang's face changed in an instant, he got down to business: "Accepting the favor of 400,000—will it be on credit or card?"

He managed to make the green‑green chive laugh—look, such prestige even lets him buy on credit, his emotional value is maxed out. Yang won't resell the bronze vessel, but he dares to put it on display. Backed by the homeland, hanging around in the Magic City for so many years isn't for nothing; he insists this unearthed‑free item is a family heirloom.

"The meaning of this thing is fine; I've already figured it out—install a badass security system and put it in the main hall on the first floor. If our tavern doesn't attract wealth, we'd be sorry for its age!" Da Wang had it in hand as a thousand‑year‑old item; once he takes it out, rounding up makes it three thousand years old.

When Da Wang heard the new tavern was also getting excited, he knew Yang had been preparing it all along—ever since he'd fished out lobster‑plum ginseng from the East Sea, things had moved at eight‑times speed. Yang eyed the high‑quality output of Da Wang's farmland base and vegetable garden base, thinking such good stuff couldn't fetch a price in the turbulent Great Jin, so he roped Da Wang into the partnership for a high‑end tavern.

Da Wang handles top‑tier ingredients, Yang runs the chive‑cutting operation, and they split profits fifty‑fifty.

The two were enthusiastic about researching the profit split: "Have we decided on a name for the tavern?"

"We've come up with several, but they all sound tacky. Lately I had a new idea—call it 【Dragon and Whale】, what do you think? When you said the clam and sperm whale would help find lobster, that's when I thought of that name!" It also nicely represents the two owners: Da Wang is naturally the dragon, and he—well, just be a deep‑sea leviathan.

Although Da Wang thought the name was strange, it was at least more interesting than the usual "something‑something tavern" style.

The two soon began day‑dreaming about the bustling opening scene for the New Year, Qiao Yi also wanted to lie back and earn money, drool splattering: "…Can't you bring me one? We've got plenty of good food here!"

Da Wang and Bai Yang shook their heads together: "Eat flame leopard and giant tail scorpion?" "No way, no way—I can't even explain what the ingredients are!"

Qiao Yi: ……

Da Wang had just made money, his thighs were thick, and he immediately puffed his chest with bravado: "Just take our pill order, and later I'll also want a cheap horse!"

"All right, honored customer!"

Da Wang ordered some military‑use external injury pills and rejuvenation pills and the like, then went to Yuehan Pu to order some armor. This time everything was of a different style from Youzhou—just a change in shape or color—and Yuehan Pu was overjoyed, also feeling his arms trade had great potential.

The newly appointed General Tie Zhu had been happy for only a few days when he heard the news that his brothers and nephews out on patrol outside the city had been seized by an unknown force.

Da Wang didn't delay either; he quickly broke free from You River and continued according to the original plan into the Broad Tomb territory.

Before leaving, he sneakily let Zhe Tian out, brought it to Tie Zhu's face to let him recognize the person and the place, and Da Wang said earnestly: "See how much I love you? Remember this person and this land—you'll have plenty of days ahead earning beast‑feed pills!"

Lord Zhe Tian rolled his eyes straight away, his temper flaring: "Love me that much? Don't pin me down in the homeland!"

After washing up and changing into new clothes, they continued posing as scholar‑officers heading north for the exams, marching boldly into Broad Tomb Commandery. You wouldn't know unless you compared—this is land with an owner, and it looks far more orderly; there are no drifters wandering about.

Da Wang felt heartbroken: "Bai Li Jin, what do you have to win with?" He glanced at that person's bearing, then at the chaotic territory controlled by Chang'an.

Da Wang felt sour; Broad Tomb Commandery is indeed far richer than You Prefecture, whether in land, population, or even mineral deposits. Broad Tomb has iron mines—money and iron—and its strength, having shown no move so far, is absolutely not weak; the Great Jin isn't the only one with pay‑to‑win players.

Da Wang didn't want to startle Bai Li Heng, so he didn't enter Broad Tomb City; he just stood outside for a while.

"Not going in to see Bai Li Heng even once? Afraid he'll strike and detain you?" Wei Shen watched him staring at the other's capital from outside, wondering what he was thinking, and chimed in with a joke.

Da Wang ignored him, and after a while finally said: "If my father were still alive, we wouldn't be any sort of rebel king—passing through Broad Tomb, there's absolutely no reason not to go in."

This time Wei Shen stayed silent too; Da Wang glanced at the guards on the wall, detoured around, and continued heading north.

They've gone quite far; at night this guy still isn't resigned, he pulls out a horse previously drawn from a horse blind box, and at dawn he has Ling Yin run it for a lap.

Ling Yin went out for a stroll, came back leading a muscular black steed; the King handed him a small note and ordered him to go outside Guangling City to find someone to deliver it to Bai Li Heng. Wei Shen didn't understand his flashy maneuver—this guy insists it's a gift for his newborn nephew.

Wei Shen didn't believe it at all, looked at Wei Ke, who casually said, "Tell the Guangling King you've arrived?"

Wei Shen grew even more confused: "May I ask what it means?"

The King spread his hands: "Nothing. But rest assured, smart people will figure it out on their own."

Wei Ke: ……

Wei Shen nodded, "I get it—fully automatic tactic; it depends on the other's comprehension."

Indeed, Bai Li Heng doesn't overthink it, but those around him will.

Ling Yin bluntly handed the horse and note to the Guangling city guard; Bai Li Heng soon received the note, taking it in a daze...

【Second Brother, passing through Guangling while fishing, I specially brought a meeting gift for my newborn nephew—no need to thank me; remember to return the favor later. —Your dear brother, Jing】

Bai Li Heng's teeth hurt looking at it; he originally didn't believe it, but after seeing this crude note and its free‑spirited script, he now believes it was truly written by Bai Li Jing. Besides, nobody else could produce such a soulful signature.

The confidants urgently assembled, but Bai Li Heng remained relaxed. He asked his subordinate, "What about the thing that was sent?"

Soon they brought a muscular black horse taller than his platinum wild horse steed; the Guangling King fell silent...

His son can't even walk, yet Bai Li Jing sends a meeting gift? Indeed… it's reasonable to suspect it's a ploy to get a return gift.

The confidants all wore grave faces: one said the Northern King might be warning Guangling; another said the Jing King has launched troops against the North, so sending a warhorse now must be a reminder! Still others wondered if it's a threat against the heir, after all this is the only lineal descendant of the royal house? Speaking of which, it's rather proud, since the one in Chang'an has yet to produce an heir.

Bai Li Heng summoned the city guard who had taken the horse; the guard described the sender's appearance, and upon hearing that he also bore a heavy sword, Bai Li Heng knew it was Ling Yin.

"No, the Third Brother really came to Guangling. This Ling Yin never leaves his side; he's a personal guard."

Bai Li Heng gave the chicken‑scratch note another look: "Send men north to pursue; if you catch up, invite the Northern King to come as a guest—just meet him outside the gate!"

The confidants exchanged glances, but Bai Li Heng rose and left, casually ordering: "Have the consort bring out the heir so we can see what his third uncle sent him as a horse..."