Chapter 42: Probing from the City Lord

After Luo Congwen agreed, Song Qing and Zhu Huan did not hesitate and also consented.

Back then.

When Luo Congwen sent Lin Bai off, he had casually given two hundred taels; those who could mingle with him naturally had similar financial standing, so five thousand taels was not considered a large sum of money to them.

What they valued was Lin Bai as a person, as well as this interesting Kitchen God Rice Divination; there were many people who knew how to do business, but it was rare to see someone like Lin Bai who could stir up such novelty.

Moreover, Lin Bai had also concocted a "Collection of Heavenly Remnants." Investing in him was a sure win with no risk of loss.

Lin Bai kept insisting that he was a merchant, but none of the things he did were things a merchant would dare to do...

The few young nobles trusted their own judgment.

The three men's prompt joining was within Lin Bai's expectations.

Furthermore, what he valued was not the money, but the financial standing and connections behind them.

In any world, fighting alone would never lead to success.

The game might enter open beta at any time.

In this world that could descend into chaos at any moment, all the NPCs were his natural allies.

Therefore, he would diligently connect with the Blacksmiths and carpenters at the bottom of society, and also diligently manage his relationships with young nobles like Luo Congwen.

Lin Bai was rapidly integrating into this strange world through various means.

In the face of disorderly players, all the NPCs in the world should unite to become one family.

Lin Bai smiled: "Three young masters..."

"Brother Lin, calling us young masters sounds distant; just call us by our names," Song Qing had completely recovered and waved his hand.

"Lao Song is right; once we've bought in, we are partners," Luo Congwen chuckled, "Come to think of it, this is my first time doing business!"

"Find me a pair of pants to change into first, then we can talk about the rest," Zhu Huan scanned them, gritting his teeth as he threatened, "Also, no one is allowed to speak of today's events."

Everyone smiled at each other.

Song Jinnan floated over to Zhu Huan and said respectfully: "Young Master Zhu, come upstairs with me."

A short while later.

After Zhu Huan had tidied himself up neatly and returned downstairs, Lin Bai spoke seriously: "Three brothers, the night session opens tonight, and there are many people outside waiting to see us make fools of ourselves. Later, I will need you to go out and show your faces to attract some business for the shop."

"It's only right." Luo Congwen was now obedient to Lin Bai.

"I will give them a night they will never forget. After all, enjoying things alone is not as good as enjoying them with everyone!" A cruel glint flashed across Zhu Huan's face, "Brother Lin, are there enough pants prepared?"

"More than enough," Lin Bai nodded affirmatively.

"That's good. Tonight, we must sell more pants no matter what," Zhu Huan snorted and looked at Song Jinnan and the others, "I'll go out to solicit customers in a moment; you three put in some effort. Don't let it end too easily. Remember your duties; you must make the customers feel their money was well spent..."

Song Jinnan and the others nodded, casting admiring gazes at Lin Bai. Good heavens, they hadn't even recovered yet, and he was already thinking about scamming others. The boss's grasp of the human heart was truly meticulous.

"Three brothers, I'm afraid the Kitchen God Rice Divination will still need you to coordinate with Lao Song's family to manage it tonight; I won't be able to stay here with you," Lin Bai smiled, "Having experienced it once, you understand the process."

"Brother Lin has business?" Luo Congwen asked.

"Indeed. Come to think of it, I should have stayed to drink with you brothers and discuss the future of the Kitchen God Rice Divination's night session. After all, the methods Lao Song's family uses to scare people are too monotonous; once everyone finds it novel a few times, they will find it boring. We need to discuss a few more scripts to keep the Rice Divination thriving," Lin Bai said, "But the City Lord's Mansion's Dark Guard just came to the door and asked me to go to the City Lord's Mansion."

"Dark Guard?" Luo Congwen frowned.

"Brother Luo didn't go out today, so you must not know what happened in the city!" Song Qing gave a scoffing laugh and said, "The City Lord's Mansion's Dark Guard was originally a secret matter, circulating only among a few wealthy families. Who knew that today a group of people would run to the City Lord's Mansion, clamoring to apply to be Dark Guards. The perfectly good Dark Guard was forced by this group of guys to become a Bright Guard, and now everyone knows about it. I wonder who is behind the scenes tripping up the City Lord?"

Sending a Dark Guard to reveal their identity and come directly to the door—can't you guess who is tripping them up behind the scenes? Lin Bai glanced sideways at Song Qing, Belly-Defamation, his brain is also a bit lacking.

"Brother Lin, what does the Dark Guard want with you?" Luo Congwen asked.

"Perhaps it's because the commotion I've made over the past two days is too big!" Lin Bai said, "Although I have some small skills, the City Lord is, after all, an official; perhaps he wants to knock me down a peg..."

"Hmph." Luo Congwen gave a cold snort, "Brother Lin, go ahead. If the City Lord gives you trouble, just mention the names of our families. Within Jiamu City, he cannot cover the sky with one hand."

This is exactly why I pulled you all in as shareholders!

Not enough martial strength.

Make up for it with connections!

Having more friends means having more paths to survive!

Lin Bai smiled, stood up, and cupped his hands: "I will have to trouble you brothers to handle the night session business. When I return from the City Lord's Mansion, we will discuss the development of the Kitchen God Rice Divination in detail..."

The few stood up and returned the salute.

Lin Bai gave Song Jinnan some instructions, then got up and walked toward the door.

Everyone followed.

Outside the door.

The Dark Guard Zhou Jiang watched as Luo Congwen and the others, who had been crying for their parents just moments ago, accompanied Lin Bai out while laughing and talking. His breath hitched; having been tormented like that, they were still so intimate—what kind of Soul Bewitching potion had Lin Bai fed them?

"You are the Dark Guard from the City Lord's Mansion?" Luo Congwen's gaze landed on Zhou Jiang, and he asked, "Do you have an official order or a waist Token?"

Zhou Jiang glanced at Luo Congwen and remained silent.

"Brother Luo, don't make things difficult for this Dark Guard brother," Lin Bai smiled, helping Zhou Jiang out of the situation, "Dark Guard, as the name implies, they all carry out tasks that cannot see the light of day. If they were to unfortunately die during a mission while carrying a Token, wouldn't all their secrets be leaked! Clean and pure, nameless and surname-less, it's only clean if they die. Even if they really wear a waist Token, it's someone else's Token. Dark Guard brother, am I right?"

【Resentment from Zhou Jiang; +1】

Zhou Jiang glared at Lin Bai and snorted inwardly. It sounded like he was explaining for him, but all that talk of dying was truly uncomfortable. Damn it, I am a Dark Guard, not a suicide soldier!

He looked coldly at Lin Bai: "Shopkeeper Lin, we should set off. We have already delayed for quite some time; the City Lord must be getting impatient."

"Good, let's go!" Lin Bai nodded with a smile.

"Master, I will go with you." 【Deng Li Buduo】 suddenly stepped out.

Lin Bai said: "No need. Little Deng, you stay and help Young Master Luo and the others manage the shop. I forgot to tell you, Young Master Luo and the others are shareholders of our shop, just like Daoist Qingfeng. You must respect them as you respect me. If there are things they don't understand, you coordinate with them."

【Resentment from Deng Li Buduo; +1】

【Deng Li Buduo】 looked at Lin Bai with grievance: "Master, I still want to go to the City Lord's Mansion with you and see the world."

At this moment.

Deng Li Buduo's heart was on the verge of collapse.

It had been two days, and he had barely left this small shop.

If this continued, what kind of game was there to play? Was he really going to be a shop assistant for his whole life? As a dignified gaming master, his life was not even as exciting as the shopkeeper's; was Lin Bai perhaps the true protagonist?

"Little Deng, only by respecting one's master can one value the Dao." Lin Bai shook his head, his gentle gaze fixed on Deng Li Buduo, "Do not be willful; stay here to temper your will. I have high hopes for you."

Respect your mother!

Deng Li Buduo roared in his heart, then retreated to the side in despair: "Yes, Master."

At this moment.

He truly felt that he was completely bound by this damn Gentleman's Virtue.

Watching Lin Bai and the Dark Guard of the City Lord's Mansion walk into the darkness, Deng Li Buduo even felt a faint trace of regret; if only he hadn't met Lin Bai at the Blacksmith Shop back then, perhaps he would still be happily forging iron right now!

……

The night was deep.

A crescent moon hung high in the sky, making the road surface vaguely visible.

Perhaps the Dark Guard was accustomed to living in the darkness; he did not carry a lantern, but simply followed closely behind Lin Bai, step by step, without saying much.

They walked to a secluded spot.

A faint sound of wind suddenly reached Lin Bai's ears.

Sigh!

Lin Bai sighed inwardly, shifted his steps and spun around, his right palm striking out from under his armpit, executing the "Divine Dragon Swings Fur"; a half-formed dragon claw flew from his palm, slamming heavily into Zhou Jiang's dantian and sending him flying.

Zhou Jiang crashed into a wall, spitting out large mouthfuls of blood, and with a clang, the dagger he had used for the sneak attack fell to the ground.

Lin Bai frowned: "Why does the City Lord want to kill me?"

Zhou Jiang's Physique was clearly inferior to the old Daoist Qingfeng; having taken one palm strike, he had already lost the ability to move. He slumped on the ground and spat out another mouthful of blood: "How did you discover it?"

"First, he shouldn't have sent a Dark Guard; second, you were too calm. I deliberately dawdled for so long, and you didn't even urge me once," Lin Bai said. "It was too abnormal."

"Heh!" Zhou Jiang spat out more blood and smiled bitterly, "Shopkeeper Lin is indeed shrewd. You should go directly to the City Lord's Mansion; the City Lord does indeed want to see you."

"You still haven't told me why you wanted to kill me," Lin Bai asked, unhurried and composed.

"The City Lord said that if you defeat me, you can go see him. If you are killed, you can also go see him. Both methods work," Zhou Jiang said while spitting blood.

Damn!

The City Lord is treating me like a player!

Lin Bai cursed inwardly; in an instant, all the blurry details connected.

(End of this chapter)