Chapter 213: From Now On, We Are All Our Own People

Chapter 213: Chapter 213: From Now On, We Are All Our Own People

"There is one thing, actually."

Although he wasn’t sure why Steward Lin had brought it up first, Liu Chen still wanted to give it a shot. If he could persuade the steward and reach an agreement with the Hundred Affairs Hall before the auction started, everything would be settled in one fell swoop.

"I’m guessing this has to do with your two junior sisters."

Steward Lin nodded. He owed a debt of gratitude to Peak Master Mo’s three disciples, and Liu Chen was their representative. Although he didn’t know exactly what Liu Chen was planning, with all the recent talk of servants and an auction house, it was easy to guess his objective.

After all, Liu Chen himself was an orphan—a fact the Purple Cloud Valley had confirmed through multiple investigations.

"That’s correct. I want to make it possible for my two junior sisters’ parents to cultivate within Purple Cloud Valley."

Liu Chen nodded. Steward Lin was the key to the plan’s success, and hiding this from him could lead to negative repercussions down the line.

"Under normal circumstances, that’s impossible. Even my own kin can’t just enter Purple Cloud Valley to cultivate."

Steward Lin shook his head. The Lin Family was small—it couldn’t compare to the Ye Family, even after all this time—but it was still his family. The most he could do was leverage the rules of Purple Cloud Valley to help the Lin Family, but breaking those rules was out of the question.

He hadn’t started out as a disciple but was a Loose Cultivator recruited into the sect. Since he had never gone through the True Disciple stage, he was unable to merge his family’s enterprises into Purple Cloud Valley and make his family members part of the sect.

"My original plan was this..."

Liu Chen nodded and explained his idea to Steward Lin—the plan he had devised after discussing it with his senior brothers. Its success now hinged on the steward’s opinion.

"If that’s the case, then it could work. With Peak Master Mo returning to the Mo Family, the sale of an auction house by his disciple can be treated as a special case in the Hundred Affairs Hall. I can take it upon myself to purchase the auction house and all of those so-called Indenture Contracts. But the most you’ll be able to get is three hundred thousand Spirit Stones."

Steward Lin narrowed his eyes. Agreeing to this involved some risk, but as a steward, he had access to a much wider information network. He knew that every year, a batch of disciples and stewards who passed a certain assessment were sent away by the Sect Leader.

Furthermore, the Sect Leader and Peak Master Mo were on the best of terms. Now, Peak Master Mo was returning to the Mo Family. Connecting all these pieces of information gave Steward Lin an excellent idea.

His cultivation had been stuck at the Qi Refining Peak for a long time, and he needed to start planning for his next breakthrough. If the Sect Leader had ties to the Mo Family, that connection would surely deepen once Peak Master Mo established a firm foothold there.

’At that point, I’ll have a significant advantage.’ His desire to repay the kindness was genuine, but if he could profit from it at the same time, that would be even better.

"What I discussed with my three senior brothers was sixteen Indenture Contract slots, with each of us taking four. What do you think, Steward Lin?"

Hearing Steward Lin’s words, Liu Chen was rather stunned. ’The part I thought would be the most difficult was just settled so easily.’ It was clear that besides wanting to repay a kindness, this steward had other motives.

"A single enterprise can have a maximum of twenty slots. That’s a rule in Purple Cloud Valley. How do you plan to divide them?"

Steward Lin nodded. The Hundred Affairs Hall naturally had its own regulations. An enterprise might employ dozens or even hundreds of people, but only twenty of those positions would be officially recognized by Purple Cloud Valley. The rest were all hired help, who might, depending on the circumstances, eventually be brought into the fold.

"We only need sixteen slots."

Liu Chen reiterated solemnly. ’It’s obvious Steward Lin is interested in these slots as well. In that case, I might as well give him the rest. Without his approval, we wouldn’t get a single one anyway.’

"Then I look forward to our pleasant cooperation."

Steward Lin smiled. ’If Peak Master Mo’s disciple had been too greedy, my debt to the Peak Master would have been considered repaid and that would be the end of it. But with the remaining four slots, I can arrange for some outstanding younger members of the Lin Family to join. That way, our two sides will be bound by a common interest.’

’Even if Peak Master Mo and Liu Chen are no longer in the picture later on, I will guarantee the auction house’s survival. After all, my own people will be there. Even industries on Purple Bamboo Peak can go under. And unlike disciples who get promoted, these non-disciple members may never be able to leave their assigned enterprise in their lifetime.’

"A pleasure doing business with you. This is a small token of my appreciation, please accept it, Steward Lin."

Liu Chen placed a box on the desk. Steward Lin nodded. ’Second Grade Spiritual Cuisine is useless to me, but it can help my own disciples cultivate faster. It’s the thought that counts.’

"By the way, my two junior sisters’ parents want to travel to the Purple Cloud Valley Marketplace. I was wondering if you could make that convenient?"

Liu Chen couldn’t help but ask as he was about to leave. Since they had already reached an agreement, it shouldn’t be an issue, but it was better to ask just to be safe. It would be rude to just bring people along without asking first.

"It’s on the way. We’re all on the same side now. Just have them on the Flying Ship before noon."

Steward Lin nodded without saying much else. He already saw Liu Chen as a partner. ’This young man is certainly worthy of being the disciple Peak Master Mo chose.’

"Thank you, Steward Lin."

Liu Chen took his leave. After his figure had completely disappeared, Steward Lin opened the box. ’Even though Second Grade Spiritual Cuisine is of no use to me,’ he thought, ’I should still check what’s inside. It would be a bit awkward if it turned out not to be Spiritual Cuisine at all.’

After all, a steward’s status in Purple Cloud Valley was quite high. The contents of a gift box weren’t always just food.

He opened the box, and a wave of Spiritual Qi washed over him. Reacting instantly, Steward Lin slammed the lid shut, his eyes wide with astonishment.

’Third Grade Spiritual Cuisine... What a terrifyingly talented young man. My hopes for a breakthrough might just rest on him.’

Steward Lin narrowed his eyes. If he had previously treated Liu Chen as an equal because he was Peak Master Mo’s disciple and could bring him benefits, he now did so because Liu Chen was a Third Grade Spirit Chef.

A cultivator at the Qi Refining Peak was strong, considered middle-management within the major sects. But a Third Grade Spirit Chef, given a few talented disciples, could mass-produce Qi Refining Peak Cultivators in just a few decades.

The two weren’t even in the same league.

"Senior Brother."

The moment Liu Chen stepped off the Flying Ship, Ye Linglong and Ji Suyao, who had been waiting nearby, rushed over. With their parents waiting at home for news, neither of them could relax.

"It’s all taken care of. Just have your parents board the Flying Ship with you in a little while."

"No need for thanks. Just hurry and get your parents."

Seeing his two junior sisters about to thank him, Liu Chen waved his hand dismissively. He had gone to great lengths to arrange this; it would be a cruel joke if their parents didn’t make it in time.

Ye Linglong’s parents were relatively safe, but the same couldn’t be said for Ji Suyao’s. Before the Spirit Contract Jade Tokens were delivered to Purple Cloud Valley, this was their only chance.