They maintain close ties with the Thirteen Hongs, and often order weapons from Hong Ming and Bai Sheng.
Everyone tacitly understands that although these people are publicly called "bandit raiders," in reality, they are like household slaves raised by Zhi Xin Temple.
Playing both sides!
This Daoist Xuanji has quite the appetite!
The trade routes in Yihai Prefecture are well-connected, with both waterways and land routes.
For the Thirteen Hongs to go smoothly, money has to be used to grease the palms and ensure the Seventy-Two Raiders lift their hands lightly.
In the back-and-forth, ultimately, the silver ends up in the pockets of the Daoist temple’s officials.
"Ingenious."
Bai Qi smirked, seemingly in admiration.
"Hong Ming has taken the big order from the Seventy-Two Raiders, but the iron materials have been held up, the delivery is delayed, damaging the reputation and offending people.
Miss Duan, why didn’t you discuss such a big matter with Master Li?"
"Young Master may not be aware."
Duan Xiaowan’s face was bitter and her tone difficult:
"Master Li doesn’t quite... manage things, in the past, these business difficulties were all settled by the Zhu Family, but because the Zhu Family’s eldest has lost a son, the two sides have beco distant.
I ntioned this to Lu Yaotou and Chao Yaotou a few days ago, but to no avail, we certainly can’t ask Master Li to send a ssage to Celestial Water Prefecture, and even if we invite that Silver Hamr Protector, once the ti passes, if the goods can’t be delivered on ti, the reputation is ruined, and Hong Ming is destined to have trouble standing firm in the Weapon Craftsman Guild... Essentially, this matter is both easy and hard to manage.
Ultimately, it boils down to a word from the Daoist official.
The key is whether we can forge ties with two Daoist temples, overcoming the high threshold that blocks ordinary people.
Therefore, knowing the Young Master is favored by the two Daoist officials, I’m exceedingly pleased, even sending several invitation letters."
Bai Qi nodded:
"I don’t have any strong connections in the Daoist Official’s Office, my Ah Di is apprenticed at Yuanyang Temple, as for , I haven’t caught the eye of Daoist Xuanji at Zhi Xin Temple.
But I will handle this matter neatly and quickly, even if it’s my tuition paynt for learning the craft from Master Li."
Duan Xiaowan’s delicate brows inadvertently showed a trace of slight disappointnt, she had thought Bai Qi had caught the attention of Xuanji, becoming a student at Zhi Xin Temple, hence her hope.
If it’s just a fleeting acquaintance, without being valued, words carry little weight.
"A false comrcial battle is about setting traps, scheming against each other;
A real comrcial battle often only requires the simplest, most direct ans."
Bai Qi, through his keen senses, captured Duan Xiaowan’s change in mood.
He didn’t say much, and after finishing his tea, several strong fellows huffed and puffed, struggling to carry in a pair of large hamrs.
Short-handled, each one only a foot long, black and dark, when swung quickly, resembling a whirlwind.
"Young Master, this is the ’Black Wind Cloud-Sweeping Hamr’ forged by Master Gongyang. Weighing three hundred pounds, a Second-Training Martial Artist can wield them skillfully!"
Duan Xiaowan put away her inner disappointnt, replaced it with a smile, and introduced.
Even though one has achieved the First Stage of Muscle Training, with bare hands exerting hundreds of pounds of force, and so exceptionally gifted ones, lifting a thousand pounds is not difficult.
But being able to lift and wield it like a tiger in a fierce battle for dozens of rounds is a different matter.
"What a formidable treasured weapon! Above the Hundred Forging Level, heavy and weighty, with sufficient strength support, even if the opponent wears Treasure Armor, this can alive shock them to death!"
Bai Qi comnted while reaching out, with his powerful physique from ten tis of blood exchange, even a ten-thousand-pound treasure weapon could be wielded with ease.
But the petite Duan Xiaowan took a step ahead, despite her delicate appearance, her five slender fingers grasped the hamr’s wooden handle, and with a gentle flick, the black ’Black Wind Cloud-Sweeping Hamr’ was in her palm.
Effortlessly lifted!
"Young Master, this hamr excels at chopping, smashing, covering, and pressing, using force to overwhelm. It’s made with excellent materials, refined with four hundred pounds of Eight Cloud Steel, mixed with one hundred pounds of Wind Spirit Iron, forged repeatedly for ten days, then supplented with two ounces of Star Essence Gold, enhancing hardness and resilience.
This hamr not only breaks armor but can shatter the vigor of a Third-Training Martial Artist, at the Hundred Forging Level, it’s a top-notch treasured weapon."
Duan Xiaowan effortlessly wielded a large hamr in each hand, her palms interchanging swiftly as the wind, the whistling airflow resounded, shaking the front court to a rumble.
"Miss Duan... how imposing."
Bai Qi’s eye twitched, if it were any burly man from Hong Ming, he wouldn’t be so surprised.
This young lady in cyan clothes, only reaching his chest height, could swing a three-hundred-pound iron hamr, truly unexpected.
"Young Master, do you fancy the hamr weapon? If you like it, take it."
Duan Xiaowan’s face was slightly red, sowhat out of breath.
"No, no, just a feast for the eyes is enough."
Bai Qi waved his hand, his master Ninghai Zen used his bare hands to suppress the Seventeenth Lineage, breaking and crushing countless treasured weapons.
Although he didn’t intend to emulate his master, since he hadn’t fully comprehended the Five Grand Captures of Tongwen Hall, it was too early to choose a suitable weapon.
"Using a sword is stylish, wielding a saber is cool, wielding a hamr is fierce... A hamr may suit my physique, but it doesn’t have a resounding na, mostly being called ’Black Whirlwind’ or even ’Bai Dachui’, which sounds too harsh."
Bai Qi exchanged a few pleasantries, asked Duan Xiaowan to pack the invaluable Nine-Change Jade Silkworm Armor, and departed from Hongming Hao:
"Perhaps, in the future, I’ll use a saber with my left hand and a sword with my right, calling myself ’Blade Maniac, Sword Lunatic’? Or perhaps I’ll realize the ’Three Blades, Three Swords, Three Divine Skills’ myself..."
When Bai Qi returned to Nine Palaces Platform after wandering around, it was already past 3:00 PM.
As soon as he entered the door, Housekeeper Gui, who had gotten word, appeared before him:
"Master Bai, shall I instruct the servants to prepare dinner?"
Bai Qi shook his head and said:
"Please, Housekeeper Gui, prepare a carriage for . From today onwards, I won’t be staying at Nine Palaces Platform; I plan to move into the Inheritance Hall at Hundred Rings Square."
Housekeeper Gui’s face changed drastically upon hearing this, and he imdiately tried to kneel:
"Could soone have slighted Master Bai? I certainly won’t let this group of worthless skins off..."
Bai Qi held him up with his hand, and with his strength, Housekeeper Gui couldn’t possibly kneel even if he tried:
"I’ve disturbed Brother Jingfeng for quite a while, and I truly feel embarrassed. This trip to the city was, besides paying respects to Brother Jingfeng’s two older brothers, initially intended to visit the master’s door and express so filial feelings as a junior.
If Brother Jingfeng has any important matters or plans to et and talk, just send a ssage, and I should stay in the County City for another three to five days."
Hearing this reply, Housekeeper Gui had nothing to say and secretly felt regretful.
One should know that the young Master Bai Qi was in the lilight, especially with the sudden collapse of the Lu Family’s Antique Shop, it reminded people of the He Mansion mourning hall, where Master Bai Qi faced the nurous elders of the Thirteen Lineage, causing all sorts of speculations.
"If Master Bai could stay a bit longer, it would be more convenient for the elders to use the tiger skin as a banner, feasting more on the Lu Family’s affairs."
Housekeeper Gui collected his thoughts and hurriedly instructed the guards to prepare the carriage, personally escorting Bai Qi to Hundred Rings Square.
"Staying close to Steward Li is more secure."
Bai Qi stepped into the Inheritance Hall’s door, even though it wasn’t as sheltered and lively as the Nine Palaces Platform, it had the presence of a Four Cultivation Grandmaster in charge, not daring ordinary people to invade.
Even using a knife to kill soone, besides Lu Zhongping and Zhou Fuchen, but even without the Thirteen Lineage, there were still the wandering ghosts of the four families hiding within Yihai Prefecture.
Being cautious is best!
Bai Qi thought this, put on a sensible and obedient smile, ready to call "Master," but saw a ragged figure sitting in the main hall, resembling a beggar, seemingly lifeless.
Under the steps, the stone ground was stained with blood, startling the eyes!
"An assassin?"
Bai Qi was suddenly taken aback; daring to invade the Inheritance Hall, it was by no ans an ordinary rogue.
But when he focused his gaze, observing carefully, he was even more shocked!
This person had disheveled hair, dark circles under the eyes, a bleeding mouth, making it hard to discern the real visage...
Yet Bai Qi’s mind condensed spiritual sense, his eyes extrely sharp.
After a serious examination, he finally confird.
"Master... caught by the mistress in the brothel? How could they be so ruthless?"
Bai Qi pondered deeply, only thinking of this reason, otherwise, who could have the skill to beat the depth-rich Four Cultivation Grandmaster master so miserably?
It’s impossible the master made an exception to enter the city, recreating the scene of stripping the title ten years ago, beating the master!
Our Tongwen Hall has always respected teachers and valued the ways, harmonious master and apprentice relationship.
How could it be so undignified!
...
...
ps: Last night I suddenly felt uneasy coding, couldn’t calm down, and couldn’t find the state to write so I took a day off, today quickly registered for dication.
This month I definitely won’t break the updates again, bowing to the esteed readers, thud thud thud!
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