Chapter 31: 31 Planning

Not long after Song Cheng returned to the Chamber of Commerce, the Chamber's ten ox carts were also ready to depart.

The reason for the one-day delay was that the world was still somewhat chaotic, and even when the Chamber of Commerce traveled, they had to send out scouts to investigate first.

The Young Miss had shed the silk robes from when they first met and changed into cloth garments convenient for work; the two snowy peaks bulging against her clothes were clearly bound with a chest wrap, making them appear flat and sunken.

A veil and bamboo hat were still worn, but only to conceal that beautiful face.

Clearly, An Chenyu was not someone who could only sit in a high hall and issue orders; she was capable of doing real work, and she was also capable of shedding her magnificent clothes.

"Little Song, cultivate well."

The Young Miss lifted her veil and gave Song Cheng encouragement.

"I will, An Jie," Song Cheng squeezed his fist and smiled, "Twenty days, entry-level!"

The Young Miss said indifferently: "There are only eighteen days left."

"Right, eighteen days," Song Cheng said.

The Young Miss lowered her veil and walked into the carriage of an ox cart; accompanying her was a sword-wielding woman in her early twenties, heroic and spirited, with an expressionless face. This was the Young Miss's other personal maid—Ying'er.

The sword-wielding Ying'er had a strength of 28~50.

She was, shockingly, the strongest person Song Cheng had ever seen in the East District of Shanghe County.

Ying'er also followed into the carriage.

Keen hearing allowed Song Cheng to hear the faint sounds from behind the curtain.

"Shi Yi should have returned long ago, but the Young Miss waited an extra day and still didn't see him," Ying'er's voice said.

"There are some things I wanted to make clear to him," An Chenyu shook her head and said, "Forget it, we'll talk when he returns. I gave Ling'er a letter; she will pass it on to Shi Yi."

"Young Miss, do you really think that Song Cheng can, in twenty days..."

The soft conversation continued, but Song Cheng could no longer hear it clearly.

The strong man driving the cart flicked his whip.

The ox cart jingled as it moved away.

Those who had come to see them off also turned and left.

Ling'er ran over and asked: "Song Cheng, how is your training going?"

Song Cheng said: "It's alright."

"What do you mean by 'alright'?" Ling'er asked with her hands on her hips.

Song Cheng said: "Alright means... the progress is normal."

Ling'er said: "Bragging."

After saying this, she ran off.

Her favorability remained stuck at 50, neither going up nor down.

Tong Xiaoniangzi took her man's arm and returned to the courtyard together, only then saying: "Miss Ling'er seems to have an opinion about you."

Song Cheng glanced at his data of "39~78" beneath his carried blade, while in Miss Ling'er's eyes, his strength should at most be slightly stronger than Ding Kui, likely around ten-something.

So, he smiled: "It doesn't matter."

For one, his strength was fully capable of handling it.

For another, Ling'er's favorability toward him hadn't dropped to the "execution line."

Tong Xiaoniangzi smiled: "Mm."

Night soon descended.

Tong Xiaoniangzi cultivated for a day under "expert guidance," then after eating the "Demon Beast Meat sent by the Young Miss," she continued to train hard until the moon reached the center of the sky, only then stopping.

The couple bathed like mandarin ducks playing in water, then went to bed.

As usual, Song Cheng sat on her to stretch her out.

Tong Xiaoniangzi had put down her blade, and her strength was "3~3."

But today, following Song Cheng's kneading, that data jumped suddenly, becoming "4~4."

"So comfortable," Tong Xiaoniangzi arched her neck and sighed softly.

Song Cheng's fingers kneaded along the vertebrae of her spine.

He knew which areas the "Bai She Jin" changed, so he specifically chose those places to work on.

"Good man, you really know how to knead."

Tong Xiaoniangzi was happy and relaxed; she had a feeling that she was becoming stronger.

After a while, she said again, "It seems we are being supported by the Young Miss, and we don't have our own way to earn money."

Song Cheng said: "Let's talk about it when she returns."

Having said that, he stopped his movements, leaned down close, embraced her, and rolled over, clinging together like cicadas, and began to ponder.

If he became stronger, staying in such a Chamber of Commerce wouldn't be bad.

It had money, paths, connections, and a reliable head of the chamber... it was a decent place to live.

Having connections meant not having to worry about things like "settling down," otherwise, one couldn't even leave this small county town.

Having paths also meant more opportunities to come into contact with more people and more cultivation techniques.

As for money, that goes without saying.

And a reliable, rational head of the chamber could ensure that this Chamber of Commerce would not decline, at least... not because of internal reasons. Disaster had arrived, a living hell... without a faction, one couldn't escape even if one wanted to.

Because you must go to places with many people; places with many people have factions, have rules, and require money.

Currently, no faction was more suitable for him than the Ruyi Chamber of Commerce.

He had no choice.

The Ruyi Chamber of Commerce also happened to be quite good.

It was just that he needed to establish a deeper relationship with the Young Miss as soon as possible, so that he could better settle down here, and better utilize this Ruyi Chamber of Commerce to increase his strength and seek good fortune while avoiding disaster.

Otherwise, why would people listen to your one-sided story? You say it's dangerous here, and they just pack up and move? You say you want to spend money, and they just give you money? You say you want to establish contact with some faction for a "social mixer" to look at each other's cultivation arts and spar, and they're willing to listen to you? Who are you?

On what basis? Song Cheng has no connections, no paths, and no wealth of his own; although he is a powerful seed, if he wants to bloom, he doesn't know how much effort and time it will take, how many life-and-death struggles he must endure, and how many incredibly complex interpersonal relationships he must get entangled in, just to possibly establish a faction of his own, and then he would still have to worry about the issue of loyalty.

How could that be faster than "borrowing a hen to lay eggs" or "a vine wrapping around a towering tree"? Song Cheng pondered for a long time, then suddenly asked, "My lady, do you like it here?"

Tong Jia was silent for a moment, then smiled and said, "I like being by your side."

Song Cheng's subsequent words were suddenly stuck in his throat.

Tong Niangzi wrapped her arms around his powerful waist and said, "If you want to say it, just say it, don't be so wishy-washy!"

Song Cheng then explained his thoughts, but he didn't say the final, crucial sentence.

Tong Niangzi said, "We want to merge with the Ruyi Chamber of Commerce, and then use the chamber to better survive in these chaotic times. Hmm."

The Young Mistress smiled faintly.

A husband and wife have a tacit understanding.

She tapped her man on the forehead and said, "Can you do it?"

Song Cheng also laughed, only asking, "You don't blame me?"

The Young Mistress said, "I just haven't said it all along, actually... I've been tolerating you for a long time!"

"Ah?"

Song Cheng was stunned.

The Young Mistress said, "Do you know how much strength you have right now? It hurts, you know?"

Song Cheng:... The Young Mistress said, "Then you can say it now."

Song Cheng said, "I want to take another wife."

The Young Mistress said, "Who?"

Song Cheng said, "An Chenyu."

The Young Mistress kicked out with her foot and said, "You just like marrying your employer!"

Song Cheng smiled lightly and said, "If I want to take root here, I must obtain her. I need her influence, and she... will also need my strength."

"Your strength?"

"Yes, my strength."

Song Cheng nodded and glanced at the panel.

【Add Points: 30 points】

【Realm: Yellow Grade Grade C】

【Cultivation Arts】

Jue Jin Jin Jin (Yellow Grade Grade C) (Not Yet Initiated) (0/4)

Stones from other hills may serve to polish the jade of this one; with broad knowledge and experience, there is a chance to advance further.

The "Xuanwu Fuliu Jin Jin Strength" has a 16‰ chance to deduce a "Yellow Grade Grade B" cultivation art.

The probability is increasing step by step.

Song Cheng squinted his eyes, thinking about Ling'er's behavior.

If a woman is inexplicably angry with you, either she really hates you, or she actually likes you, or... you are blocking her path.

Hate?

That's not it.

Like?

Not to that extent.

Blocking the path?

How could he, Song Cheng, block the path of a personal maid?

Then the logic naturally follows that he blocked the path of someone who has a deep connection with Ling'er.

Who is this person?

Song Cheng was silent for a long time, then suddenly revealed a dangerous smile.

"Shi Yi?"

He, Song, also has a selfish and ruthless side; if he blocks someone else's path and makes them unhappy, then if someone else blocks his path, would he... be happy?

(End of chapter)