[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal":3,"chapter-investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-218":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Investing in the Reborn Empress, She Actually Calls Me ‘Husband’",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":20,"prevChapterSlug":21,"totalChapters":22,"novelImage":23},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":16,"volume":17,"translator":18,"content_hash":19},596341,846,"Chapter 218: The scene at the black building was very lively","investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-218",218,"\u003Cp>The Black Tower was enveloped in silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the darkness, all eyes converged in one direction, yet no one spoke a word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Young Li Mo even began to wonder if the place was called the Black Tower because they simply refused to light lamps—pitch-black to the point where people could barely be seen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether it was due to poverty or an attempt to cultivate an eerie atmosphere, he couldn’t tell.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To accommodate any assassins with poor night vision, Li Mo considerately took out a luminous pearl.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Is that really Li Mo?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He came to the Black Tower? How dare he?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This is downright disrespectful to our profession. What’s the difference between this and waltzing into a government office?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The assassins in the Black Tower exchanged bewildered glances, their expressions a mix of shock and disbelief.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In all his years in the business, this was the first time he’d seen a target with such a high bounty willingly walk into the lion’s den.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the luminous pearl illuminated Li Mo’s face, hushed whispers began to spread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"He seems loaded. Why don’t we just take him out here? We’d get the bounty and whatever valuables he’s carrying.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"No fighting inside the Black Tower.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Why do you think that rule exists in the first place?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Take a wild guess why we’re called the Misty Rain Tower and not the Black Wind Bandits.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well, he’ll have to leave eventually. He can’t hide in here forever.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Here’s a thought—what if he’s carrying some kind of high-grade destructive treasure and plans to blow himself up here?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone’s offhand remark sent a chill down the spine of the manager behind the counter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Li Mo was here, he was either an irredeemable fool or had the confidence to walk in unscathed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given that he was ranked nineteenth on the Hidden Dragon Ranking, the former was impossible.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Young Master Li, you’ve got nerve. May I ask what brings you here?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The manager shot a meaningful glance at his subordinates before speaking up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Nothing so grand as 'guidance,'\" Li Mo replied, strolling to the counter and taking a seat. \"But when a guest arrives, isn’t it customary to serve tea? This seems rather impolite.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xu Yi: \"...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suddenly, all his past life-and-death struggles felt utterly insignificant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The green-faced manager paused, narrowing his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Since when are you a guest?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Misty Rain Tower operates without restraint, correct?\" Li Mo met the man’s sharp gaze without flinching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The manager nodded. \"Aside from the Tower’s rules, that is indeed the case.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then that means even a bounty target can place an order, right?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo had already studied the bounty board behind the counter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were plenty of examples of mutual bounties—Zhang San placing a hit on Li Si, only for Li Si to retaliate in kind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Correct.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The manager saw no reason to deny it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, to the Misty Rain Tower, the target didn’t matter—only the payout.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, placing a bounty on someone wouldn’t erase one’s own price on their head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At best, it was a way to settle a grudge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Then as a paying customer, I’d like to place a bounty on those who want me dead.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Who exactly? The Holy Maiden?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The manager almost laughed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The entire Black Tower erupted in mocking chuckles and sneers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A bounty on the Holy Maiden?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if the manager dared to post it, who would be reckless enough to accept?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bothering with a mere Divine Perception cultivator is hardly worth my time. This is a major transaction.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo, ever the showman, exuded an aura of absolute confidence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’m placing a bounty on everyone who wants me dead.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"To put it simply: whoever accepts the hit on me, I’ll place a hit on them in return.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The green-faced manager’s jaw dropped. His mind went blank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was the most absurd bounty request he’d ever heard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For a full second, every assassin in the Black Tower experienced a collective mental shutdown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Can he even do that?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"My head… suddenly itches.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The assassins huddled together, debating the logistics. After carefully reviewing the Misty Rain Tower’s rules, they reached a conclusion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was technically allowed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But something about it felt… off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Was this guy seriously hiring bodyguards through their assassination network?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, while it was permissible, there was no precedent—because no one had ever been rich enough to pull it off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The manager realized this too. With a smirk, he grabbed an abacus and began calculating with sharp clicks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Bounties on Internal Breath cultivators average between a thousand taels of silver and ten thousand taels of gold.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"For ordinary Divine Perception cultivators, the Tower’s standard rate is five thousand to fifty thousand taels of gold—though exceptions exist, like for prodigies on the Hidden Dragon Ranking.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"An Inner Realm bounty? That’s far pricier. Starts at a hundred thousand taels of gold, plus rare treasures to incentivize takers.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"As for Outer Realm experts… well, Young Master Li, surely you—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo cut him off, holding up five fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Five times the market rate.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"You can’t possibly—\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A deposit slip from the Flourishing Trade Bank slammed onto the table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The manager squinted as he read aloud:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Client Li Mo has deposited one gold mountain with our bank… what kind of unit is that?! … Plus thirty crates of rare treasures… a hundred spirit crystals…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The Tower may withdraw funds as needed per this voucher…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"—Signed, Sun Gui.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thump.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The manager’s knees buckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He sent a swift subordinate to verify the slip at the bank.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When the man returned and whispered the confirmation, the manager forced a strained smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Young Master Li… would you prefer Longjing tea or Da Hong Pao?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And thus began the Misty Rain Tower’s first-ever business collaboration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo’s bounty was posted at the very top, making him the Yunzhou branch’s highest-paying client.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Word spread like wildfire. Assassins from nearby regions flocked to the Black Tower.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet no one dared to immediately accept the hit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, taking the job meant openly defying the Holy Maiden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While client confidentiality was guaranteed, no one wanted to be the first to stick their neck out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But temptation gnawed at them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"‘Holy Maiden’ this, ‘Holy Maiden’ that—what’s her face worth in silver?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A woman’s cold laugh cut through the murmurs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"When have we ever relied on her? We’re not some righteous sect.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Fair point… but still…\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The assassins wavered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She strode to the counter and slapped down a swallow-shaped token.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"If we’re still worrying about offending people, what’s the point of joining the Misty Rain Tower?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I’ll take the job first!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, Shang Wu—who had been posing as a mere bystander—released her suppressed aura.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inner Realm!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well said!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"This old man’s in too!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Qian Bufan, another \"bystander,\" stepped forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Also Inner Realm!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Indecisive men never achieve greatness.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A frosty-eyed female assassin moved to Li Mo’s side, her gaze warning:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Try me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though her cultivation level wasn’t visible, her demeanor screamed professional.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The manager exhaled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Well… bold moves indeed.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Mo slammed the table and stood up, declaring, \"I, Li Mo, admire those with commendable courage the most. This humble gift—please do not refuse it.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Without hesitation, he pulled out several Xuan Crystals and pressed them into the female assassin’s hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Soon, more bystanders joined in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among them were a diminutive dwarf assassin, a sinister-looking killer whose gloomy demeanor screamed treachery, and an Inner Realm poison master, his body adorned with vials and jars exuding the faint scent of elixirs—clearly a master of toxins.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As everyone knows, $2eople follow the crowd—assassins are no exception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing so many take the offer, even if the Holy Maiden sought retribution later, she’d never pinpoint the culprits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, the counter was soon packed to the brim.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The scene grew lively, almost resembling old ladies scrambling for eggs at a supermarket.\u003C\u002Fp>",1302,"2026-05-30T17:19:00.270Z","2026-06-01T04:31:46.286Z",1,"novelbin.me","b04f0d4adb747f9bf2684bb744dfbb621edb69771fad3366036a466342263338","investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-219","investing-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-chapter-217",737,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Finvesting-in-the-reborn-empress-she-actually-cal-cover.jpg"]