Chapter 357 - 356: Stone Gate Commerce Association’s Opportunity

Chapter 357: Chapter 356: Stone Gate Commerce Association’s Opportunity

"But..." Third Master Gan started, looking displeased, but Steward Zhao tugged on his sleeve before he could get a word out.

Did he or did he not want this matter to be settled peacefully?

He let out a heavy sigh and turned his head. "Ajin, you go."

The guard behind him immediately turned and went downstairs, heading for the Beisong Pharmacy.

During this time, Hee Lingchuan didn’t bother speaking with Third Master Gan. He simply asked the Shopkeeper for the best wine and began pouring it for himself.

He adopted the same imperious air he used to have in Black Water City. Every time Third Master Gan tried to speak, Hee Lingchuan cut him off, forcing him to sit back down and swallow his anger.

This time, it took much longer. Nearly two incense sticks’ worth of time passed before the guard returned.

"Is it done?"

"It is." The guard whispered a few words into Third Master Gan’s ear. The hunting dog was dead, and the hunter had extorted a large sum of money from them.

By this point, Third Master Gan’s patience had all but run out. He said in a low voice, "Young Master Hee, can we talk now?"

Hee Lingchuan asked him an unrelated question. "What’s the deal with the Evil Ghost on the Long-tusked Pig?"

"What Evil Ghost?" Third Master Gan was annoyed. "There are better ways to insult someone."

From his expression, it seemed he genuinely didn’t know. "Why are you raising this Long-tusked Pig as a Hunting Pet? Other people use hunting dogs, and some even train Golden Leopards."

A Hunting Pet was a companion that helped with the hunt.

Then again, it seemed the commoners on the street couldn’t see the ghostly face on the Long-tusked Pig either.

’Why is it that only I, Hee Lingchuan, can see it at a glance?’

"I found it as a piglet while hunting in the mountains once. I thought it looked nice, so I just kept it," Third Master Gan said, not understanding why he was being asked all this. "What’s the fun in raising the same Hunting Pet as everyone else?" Being different was what he sought. A white wild boar was rare enough.

"Did anything unusual happen a few months ago?"

"What are you getting at?" Filled with these bizarre questions, Third Master Gan was displeased. "Let’s take care of business first, and then we can talk."

Hee Lingchuan said cheerfully, "Oh? So, Third Master Gan is now the one who calls the shots for the Gan Family?"

Third Master Gan mumbled, "You could say that." ’This kid is really infuriating to talk to.’

Hee Lingchuan glanced at Steward Zhao, who offered a polite, placating smile.

"Alright, let’s get down to business then." Hee Lingchuan sat up straight and cleared his throat. "I’ve decided to find another caravan to go to Lingxu City. I won’t be troubling the Gan Family Commerce Association. That’s all."

Everyone listening was stunned. Third Master Gan could no longer hold back. SLAM! He smashed a fist on the table. "Are you messing with me?"

’Steward Zhao dragged me here and warned me over and over to be polite. I swallowed my anger and let myself be bossed around, and this is what I get?’

"Yes. Your attitude is poor," Hee Lingchuan said with a grin. "I’m not satisfied."

Who could blame him? He was the client, after all. The only reason he hadn’t made Third Master Gan kneel and call him daddy was that he didn’t want such an unfilial son.

"You refused to do this the easy way." Third Master Gan’s face was flushed crimson. "Seize him and search for the Passage Command!"

Steward Zhao cried out, "Third Master, you mustn’t!" But he didn’t even lift a hand.

The guards behind him hesitated. Third Master Gan roared, "Go! You bastard, you killed my eldest brother to steal the Passage Command, and now you dare to come here and swagger around? I have every reason to capture you and hand you over to the authorities!"

The restaurant was noisy, and a crowd of onlookers had already gathered below. Third Master Gan wasn’t a fool; he immediately raised his voice, ensuring the crowd downstairs could enjoy the show.

The street below immediately erupted with a BUZZ, but it wasn’t because Third Master Gan was about to capture someone. It was because he had personally announced the news of his eldest brother’s death!

Uncle Gan was dead!

The pillar of the Gan Family Commerce Association had fallen.

The news was like a drop of water in hot oil, exploding outwards and spreading like wildfire.

Upstairs, Third Master Gan was still oblivious. Hee Lingchuan reminded him, "They can’t beat me." As he spoke, three Flying Blades shot out in a triangular formation. THWACK, THWACK, THWACK! They embedded themselves in the pillar behind Third Master Gan.

One by his neck, one above his head, and one by his temple.

Third Master Gan was horrified. He carefully shrank back, then stood and retreated two steps before saying, "This is the Gan Family’s territory! Without my nod, you won’t be leaving Wuze County, and no inn or tavern will dare to take you in!"

Hee Lingchuan smiled. "We shall see."

Having delivered his threat, Third Master Gan turned and stomped down the stairs.

Steward Zhao bowed to Hee Lingchuan, offered an apology, and followed Third Master Gan out.

Hee Lingchuan called a waiter over to refill his wine pot, acting as if nothing had happened.

Seeing this Third Master Gan was like seeing his former self.

When his predecessor ran rampant in Black Water City, his backing was far stronger than Third Master Gan’s. On the other hand, the seemingly amicable Steward Zhao... Hee Lingchuan had just watched him dig a pit for Third Master Gan to fall into.

When Steward Zhao introduced Hee Lingchuan, he only mentioned that the Spider Queen had given the Passage Command to the young man. He said nothing of his history of killing bandits, nor did he mention that the caravan’s escape from the swamp was entirely thanks to the deal Hee Lingchuan had struck with the Spider Queen. From these two points alone, Hee Lingchuan had not only avenged Master Gan but had also been the savior of the entire caravan.

Third Master Gan naturally assumed that Hee Lingchuan had simply swooped in and taken advantage of the crisis.

But who could be blamed for that? If it had been Master Gan, he would never have been so easily deceived.

Steward Zhao truly had a perfect grasp of Third Master Gan’s temperament.

The spider on his body also hopped back onto Hee Lingchuan’s table, indicating its mission was complete.

Hee Lingchuan tapped the table. "How about running another errand for me? I think that Third Master Gan is going to cause trouble." He was an expert on how spoiled brats thought. If they couldn’t win openly, they would almost certainly resort to dirty tricks behind the scenes.

After all, he was a stranger in a strange land. If you throw a punch, you have to be ready for the kick that follows.

The spider wiped its big eyes, and Hee Lingchuan could feel its dissatisfaction:

’Why am I working without getting paid?’

I’ll pay, of course I’ll pay.

Hee Lingchuan immediately had the waiter bring over a fresh fish.

The fish was still flopping about out of the water, but that didn’t stop the spider from eating it. Hee Lingchuan watched the little creature crawl onto the fish and inject its venom. After a moment, the fish stopped moving.

Then, it was time for the Eye Spider to dine.

Once it had eaten and drunk its fill, it scurried off, content.

...

Before long, someone else came up the stairs.

Hee Lingchuan recognized him at a glance. This was the "second-in-command" he had spied on through the Eye Spider.

The second floor had few customers. The second-in-command scanned the room, immediately locked onto Hee Lingchuan, and headed straight for him.

"Excuse me, are you Young Master Hee?"

Hee Lingchuan said lightly, "And you are?"

"My surname is Shi, and I’m from the Stone Gate Commerce Association," the second-in-command said with a smile. "I have a matter to discuss with Young Master Hee. May I sit and talk?"

Hee Lingchuan made a "please" gesture.

Coincidentally, the second-in-command sat in the very seat Third Master Gan had just vacated. As he sat, his gaze swept over Hee Lingchuan’s waist. His movement paused for a fraction of a second before he fully settled in.

"We were on very good terms with Chairman Gan. When we heard of his unfortunate passing, we went to pay our respects," the second-in-command said, shaking his head sorrowfully. "The Gan Family was at the height of its power. Alas, the world is unpredictable."

Hearing this, Hee Lingchuan understood why he had only just arrived. He had first gone to the Gan Residence to offer condolences, which was proper etiquette.

He asked deliberately, "Has Mrs. Maoo woken up?"

"She has, and she’s taken some medicine. I heard she fainted from crying twice. Second Master Gan is at her side now; his eyes are swollen from crying too. Mrs. Maoo is overcome with grief, so we only saw her for a moment."

He answered fluently, providing specific details. He had clearly been there in person.

"You are very thoughtful, second-in-command." Hee Lingchuan set the stage for him and sighed deliberately. "I’ve been sitting here for over a double-hour, and I still haven’t had the chance to set foot in the Gan Residence."

Why Hee Lingchuan was sitting here, and why the second-in-command had come—both sides knew the answers perfectly well.

The second-in-command didn’t feign surprise. Though the young man before him was only seventeen or eighteen, he lacked the impatience of his peers. Otherwise, he could have just asked directly, "Are you also here for the Passage Command?"

So he got straight to the point. "I hear Young Master Hee is looking for a reliable caravan to travel to the capital of the Demon Kingdom?"

"I am. I’ve been in the county for less than two double-hours. Your information network is quite impressive, Mr. Shi."

"Then allow me to shamelessly recommend ourselves," the second-in-command said with a laugh. "The Stone Gate Commerce Association has been running the route from Wuze to the Beiga capital, Lingxu City, for nineteen years. Aside from the first year, which coincided with internal turmoil in the Demon Kingdom, the following eighteen years have been smooth sailing, with zero fatalities. Among all the commerce associations in Wuze County, that is a unique record."

Hee Lingchuan gave a slight sneer. "I’m not just looking for an escort. I need the convenience of a commerce association for clearing checkpoints and handling official business. If I need something done, the caravan must cooperate with me. Let’s be clear on that point. Also, I will only pay the fee after we reach Lingxu City."

"And your purpose in Lingxu City is?"

"Sightseeing."

The second-in-command laughed. The boy’s evasion was completely insincere. "How much danger is involved?"

"Not much danger. I just need to investigate a few things."

"You’re not going there to cause trouble for someone?"

"I have no such intention." Hee Lingchuan smiled. "I’m the type who avoids trouble myself."

The second-in-command fell into thought.

He really didn’t know much about this young man, but the Passage Command for the Demon Nest Swamp was in his possession. This was an opportunity not to be missed.

’Even if we escort him and let him use the Stone Gate Commerce Association’s name to move around, how much danger could there really be?’

’Besides, the caravan often escorts clients on long journeys. We never pry into their business.’

’No risk, no reward, right?’

"No matter. It’s settled, then." The second-in-command laughed heartily. "I’ll go on this trip as well."

"Oh?" Hee Lingchuan chuckled. "Aren’t you afraid I’ll default on the payment?"

Both of them knew that the "payment" he was talking about wasn’t silver coins.

The second-in-command sighed theatrically. "A distinguished guest from Songyang Prefecture is a person of status and repute. How could you possibly default on a payment to a small commerce association like ours?"

In reality, they could. Big shots were not above welshing on small debts.

Hee Lingchuan’s gaze shifted down to his own waist. "How could you tell?"

"The style and quality of the scabbard at your waist, Young Master Hee, are unique. It’s specially gifted to first-class honored guests by Songyang Prefecture." The second-in-command’s gaze also landed on the scabbard. "Young Master Hee’s Treasure Saber must be an extraordinary piece. I wonder which master crafted it?"

"Li Fubo." After Li Fubo helped him forge the Floating Life Blade, he had casually given him a scabbard, never mentioning it was a status symbol for an honored guest. To think that this scabbard, thousands of miles away, would save him so much trouble.

The second-in-command was visibly moved. "It was personally crafted by the Chief Master of the Central Furnace of Songyang Prefecture?"

He was so shocked that Hee Lingchuan felt compelled to be modest. "Master Li just happened to be free for a few months."

The second-in-command didn’t take this statement at face value. If Li Fubo was someone who could be commissioned by just anyone, how could he ever be "free"? Moreover, Young Master Hee had said "a few months"—the great Master Li, Li Fubo, had spent several months forging this one blade for him!