Chapter 50: Giving Money Privately

"Alas, now not only is Li Cheng chaotic, but the south is even more chaotic. Now my dart-escort business is better than before, but it is also much more perilous than before.

If it weren't for a large family to support, I really would want to wash my hands of it!" Zhuo Xingji felt the same way when he heard the conversation between the two.

"My restaurant has to have its tables flipped several times a day. If this continues, the restaurant will be torn down sooner or later!" Jiao Yongbao had a face full of bitterness.

"Now gangs often fight for territory, and Master is worried that the martial hall will be involved in gang fights, so he has stopped recruiting new apprentices from the outside, and the income has also plummeted!" Yuchi Xiao sighed along.

For a time, the atmosphere in the private room became oppressive and low, losing its previous fragrant and festive feeling.

"If it really doesn't work, just move!" Xia Daoming said with a face full of openness.

"Moving is not that easy! Besides, now that the war in the state city is in full swing, it might spread to the entire southern region.

If we go, we can only go to the north or other states, but the north is a bitter and cold place, and we have to be looted by the Tianhe people frequently, which is even worse than here.

And other states are far away, with a long journey, and I don't know how many disasters we will experience on the way. When we arrive, we will be strangers, and starting over will definitely be very difficult." Liu Xiao Qiang sighed gloomily.

"That's right, anyway, we don't stand on either side, it's better to wait and see, and stay put." Yuchi Xiao said.

Xia Daoming laughed noncommittally.

If the situation changes, under the rolling of the general trend, I am afraid it will not be up to them whether to stand on a side or not!

However, Xia Daoming relied on the fact that by the time that happens, he should be almost stepping into the eighth-rank realm.

With his strength, he was fully qualified to take the people of the Hidden Dragon Qianjiao Wu Guan away.

Therefore, he did not oppose Yuchi Xiao's saying of waiting and seeing.

"By the way, Daoming, are you interested in escorting a few darts with me? As long as you nod and agree, you don't need to do any preparation work, I will arrange everything properly, you just need to follow, and I will give you seven tenths of the dart profit!" Zhuo Xingji suddenly said.

"Seven tenths of the dart profit!" Yuchi Xiao and the others were shocked upon hearing this, and even Xia Daoming was no exception.

"That's right, seven tenths!" Zhuo Xingji nodded: "Master said that Xia Shidi Xu Shixiong's true strength can rival a sixth-rank Great Martial Master, having you help escort darts will be much safer. 【50

"Besides, the current situation is chaotic. Xia Shidi Xu Shixiong is the hope for the rise of our Hidden Dragon Qianjiao Wu Guan; he must improve his cultivation as soon as possible and will definitely need a large amount of silver."

Only then did everyone understand that Zhuo Xingji was willing to concede so much profit not just for the escort agency, but also for the Hidden Dragon Qianjiao Wu Guan.

"Many thanks for your kindness, Xu Shixiong. I am not short of silver on hand recently. However, if you truly have any tricky escorts that require my help, as long as it isn't too far, I will certainly help," Xia Daoming realized and said, cupping his hands.

He hadn't managed to leave for the prefecture city last time, and he still had sixty or seventy thousand taels of cash on hand; how could he be short of money?

Not only was he not short of money, but he also had some high-aged Ice Cold Purple Shouwu on hand; taking out just two or three stalks would be worth the entire family fortune of the senior brothers and sisters present.

"Why thank me among fellow disciples? Since Xia Shidi Xu Shixiong isn't short of money, then forget it!" Zhuo Xingji said with a smile, waving his hand.

Perhaps because they had been discussing the current situation in Li Cheng, tonight's listening to music at the brothel was very pure, and no one had the mind to seek out romance.

Soon, the music ended and the guests dispersed.

Before leaving, Liu Xiao Qiang specifically kept Xia Daoming behind, pulled him to the side, and stuffed a brocade bag into his arms.

"Xu Shixiong Sister, what are you doing?" Xia Daoming asked, looking confused.

"Xu Shixiong Yuchi and the others are all rough men, one-track-minded. They don't even think about the fact that you only hold a position as an instructor with Master, so how much income could you have!

You can fool them by saying you have money, but how could you fool me! I have saved up some silver over these years running this brothel.

Take it and use it; try to buy more elixirs to nourish yourself and improve your cultivation. You are now the hope for the rise of our martial hall, and my brothel will need you to look after it in the future," Liu Xiao Qiang said.

Xia Daoming was dumbfounded upon hearing this.

What is this supposed to be?

Could it be that I have a natural talent for being a kept man?

It was one thing to come to the brothel and listen for free—pfft, pfft—it was one thing to come to the brothel and listen to music for free, but now she actually wants to throw money at me!

Does this count as selling herself to support me?

"Xu Shixiong Sister, it's not easy for you to earn this money, how could I..." Xia Daoming reached into his robe, intending to take out the brocade bag.

"What? Do you think Xu Shixiong Sister's money is dirty? Are you looking down on me?" Liu Xiao Qiang grabbed Xia Daoming's hand, not letting him take it out.

"Xu Shixiong Sister, what are you saying! Your money isn't stolen or robbed; it's hard-earned blood and sweat money. What's dirty about it!" Xia Daoming said righteously.

"Then why don't you want it? If you want to improve your cultivation quickly, you have to spend money!" Liu Xiao Qiang said.

"I really have money!" Xia Daoming said.

"Don't give me that. You came from a small city in the north and spent a huge sum to apprentice and learn skills. Even if you had some savings, after this year, you must have squandered most of it. Where would you get money!" Liu Xiao Qiang said, annoyed.

"I robbed it!" Xia Daoming blurted out.

Liu Xiao Qiang was slightly stunned, then gritted her teeth and said, "Are you taking it or not? If you don't take it, don't come here to listen to music anymore!"

"This..." Xia Daoming was dumbfounded again.

For others, if they don't pay, they can't listen to music.

With him, it's the opposite: if he doesn't take the money, he can't listen to music.

"Alright, I'll accept this silver for now. Xu Shixiong Sister, don't give up on your martial arts training either; buy more elixirs to nourish yourself when you should. You are still young, and the road ahead is long. If Xu Shixiong Jiao can re-refine his dark energy, you will certainly be able to as well." In the end, Xia Daoming accepted the silver.

Since things had reached this point, if he didn't accept it, it would really mean he looked down on her for running a brothel.

"You don't need to tell me that. If one can continue to cultivate, who wouldn't want to? It saves one from being bullied! It's just that I can't compare to Xu Shixiong Jiao!" Liu Xiao Qiang sighed softly.

"As the saying goes, one is never too old to learn; where there's a will, there's a way. Xu Shixiong Sister, you will definitely succeed!" Xia Daoming said.

"Alright, Xu Shixiong Sister knows! Go back quickly, lest that Lian'er of yours worries." Liu Xiao Qiang said with a smile, poking Xia Daoming's forehead.

"Hehe! Then I'm off," Xia Daoming said.

Having said that, Xia Daoming turned and left.

Watching Xia Daoming's departing back, a look of loneliness appeared in Liu Xiao Qiang's eyes.

"Master, you're back. Lian'er will go draw water for your bath right away," just as Xia Daoming returned home, Liu Qiaolian stepped forward and bowed.

"No need to rush, I still have to go out once more," Xia Daoming said, heading straight for the inner room in the backyard.

Beneath the bed in the inner room was a connection to a secret underground chamber.

This secret chamber was where he hid his treasures.

Only he and Liu Qiaolian knew about it.

He took out the brocade bag from his robe, poured out the banknotes to count them, and discovered there were as many as six thousand taels, which left him somewhat stunned.

"Sigh, eating this soft rice makes me feel uneasy!"

After a long while, Xia Daoming sighed and put the banknotes along with the brocade bag into his money chest.

Next, he took two small jade bottles from another chest.

One was empty, and the other contained the Longevity Jade Liquid.

This bottle of Longevity Jade Liquid was obtained from Lin Lu, the steward of the Shi Clan; the quantity was less than half of the bottle in Xu Zhiji's hands.

However, it was worth at least thirty thousand taels, and it was something with a market price but no supply. He wondered where Lin Lu, a mere Shi Clan steward, had obtained it.

Xia Daoming poured half into the empty bottle, then put the remaining half back into the chest for safekeeping.

Half was worth nearly twenty thousand taels, which wasn't a huge sum for Xia Daoming nowadays.

The main thing was that this Longevity Jade Liquid currently had a market price but no supply in Li Cheng, so Xia Daoming felt he should keep a little on hand for emergencies.

Carrying the small half-bottle of Longevity Jade Liquid, Xia Daoming soon returned to the Yaohua Pavilion.

PS: The main element of this book is Xianxia, but it will appropriately incorporate some relaxed, "pretending to be cool" elements of daily life, hoping to bring everyone a different reading experience.