Daily life of a cultivation judge

Chapter 1489: Making arrangements

"You really want me to leave?" Li Gang finally asked, his gaze falling on his two benefactors.

"It is the best thing to do," Meng Song said softly as she caressed his face.

Han Bai didn’t say anything, but Li Gang had been around him long enough to read his thoughts from his eyes alone.

Sighing, Li Gang shifted his attention to Yang Qing. "You really think it will happen?" he asked, part resignation and acceptance, part hope that things were not as feared.

"Very few things are ever set in stone," said Yang Qing. "Fan Jie may decide against moving on you. But while that may be in debate, what is not is that he would never allow you to take that seat. One way or another, he would do everything in his power to prevent that from happening.

And it is left to the imagination what means he uses," Yang Qing continued, his gaze turning sharper.

"You’re a first-stage Palace Realm expert facing off against an eleventh-stage Palace Realm expert, highly determined to prevent you from inheriting what he considers his. Forget the aftermath, how good do you think your odds are against him?" asked Yang Qing.

Li Gang’s face went pale at the mention of Fan Jie’s realm. Meng Song’s expression shifted slightly at the remark as well.

Yang Qing wasn’t all too surprised that the calculating Fan Jie may have hidden part of his strength from the other founders.

"Let’s assume by some miracle you do end up ahead and come out the winner. What price do you think you would have had to pay for that victory?" Yang Qing continued.

"As a merchant, surely you’ve come to the realization that everything has a price, and if you are at a disadvantage, you will almost always have to pay more for what you want. What will it cost you to get the seat of the Vast Blue Merchant Company?" Yang Qing’s gaze narrowed slightly as he posed the question.

"Given your current strength, you have only reached this far because of them," said Yang Qing, gesturing to Han Bai and Meng Song with his eyes.

"So whatever price would have to be paid to get you that seat would have to be paid by them first. Without them, you wouldn’t even be in the conversation," Yang Qing said plainly.

Li Gang’s face darkened as every word landed like a hammer to the heart.

"Li Gang," Yang Qing said softly, his expression softening. "Starting over saves you... but it also saves them." His eyes shifted to Meng Song and Han Bai before returning to Li Gang, whose expression had grown heavy.

"If you remain..." Yang Qing paused. "Then you will have consigned your master and Owner Meng Song to potentially having to fight someone they consider a brother."

The relationship amongst them may have been awkward and strained at the moment, but after everything they had been through together, Yang Qing wasn’t sure that was a bond that could be easily erased, even with all the factors of the present moment considered.

"Don’t let them carry that burden," Yang Qing said, his voice quieter. "Leaving prevents a darker future from unfolding for all of you," he added softly.

Li Gang’s pupils flickered at the words. He turned to face Han Bai and Meng Song. Nothing was said. They simply looked at one another.

"I have been unfilial," he said in a whisper as he lowered his head guiltily in their direction. "I was so focused on proving myself worthy... proving that I was tougher than anything thrown at me... That I... That I ended up overlooking things."

Looking up, he said, "I am sorry for being selfish. Master. Auntie Meng."

"What do you plan to do?" Han Bai asked in his even tone and placid expression.

"Can you not be softer in your approach?!" Meng Song chastised Han Bai as she slapped his shoulder. Han Bai’s retort was to lower his head to drink his wine and blank out his entire surroundings.

"Don’t mind that oaf," Meng Song told Li Gang comfortingly. "There’s no rush to make a decision. We still have plenty of years left. You can take your time to figure it out, Gang’er," she added warmly.

Li Gang looked like he was about to tear up, but managed to hold it in as he offered Meng Song a grateful smile.

Tsk! Yang Qing quickly put away the video recording talisman he had taken out. Han Bai, who was seated closest to him, seemed to sense something appear and disappear beneath the table. He gazed downward curiously before deciding to ignore it entirely and focus on his drinking, lest he give Meng Song an opportunity to chew him out.

"I will leave," Li Gang finally said, turning to face Yang Qing, his eyes subtly drifting to Han Bai to gauge his reaction.

"When?" Han Bai asked, his eyes still on his wine cup.

"I will leave it to you both," Li Gang said with a cheery smile. "You did say you wanted me to join you on your travels. The day you decide to go, it will count as both our adventure and my departure," he told Meng Song.

"It’s up to you both when I leave," he added with a carefree air.

"Good," Meng Song said cheerily before turning to face Han Bai. They didn’t say anything, but Yang Qing had a feeling they were communicating through their palace sense.

Leaving them to their discussion, Yang Qing turned to Li Gang, whose attention was now also on him. "I am sorry for forcing the decision on you," said Yang Qing, offering an apologetic smile.

"There is nothing to apologize for," said Li Gang, shaking his head. "Had you not said anything and things remained as they were, I would likely have ended up blindsided by regrets, I shudder even at the thought of carrying," said Li Gang. "I could have lost things I would never have been able to buy back," he added softly, casting a brief sideways glance at Meng Song and Han Bai.

"I should be thanking you... for opening my eyes," Li Gang said, looking at Yang Qing with sincerity and gratitude.

"I always thought I had a firm grasp of my surroundings, you know," said Li Gang, pausing to sigh. "I even grew proud of it the longer I survived and thrived here," he added. "I was blind, thinking I had most things calculated, my blindspots covered, and yet..." Li Gang shook his head with a self-deprecating smile.

"Thank you," he said finally, cupping his fists at Yang Qing.

Just as Yang Qing was about to respond, he was interrupted by Meng Song and Han Bai, who seemed to have concluded their discussion, both cupping their fists at Yang Qing. "Thank you, Judge Yang Qing," they echoed.

Yang Qing cupped his fists back. "I didn’t do anything. I am fairly certain you would have had this conversation without my interference." Of course, whether they truly would have, only they knew. Han Bai didn’t seem like the type for difficult conversations. He didn’t even seem the normal conversation type.

If any conversation would have been had, it would likely have been initiated by Meng Song. Whether she would have followed through was another matter entirely. As talkative as she was, even playful, she seemed deeply considerate, which could either prompt her to have that difficult conversation or drive her to silence.

If Li Gang had shown himself adamant about trying to be the next head, Yang Qing doubted Meng Song would have tried to dissuade him. The fact that he had been allowed to try for as long as he had, without a word from her, told Yang Qing there was a likelihood she would never have said anything at all.

All the worst-case scenarios Yang Qing had mentioned were things he felt the two owners had likely imagined the moment Li Gang shared his aspirations of becoming the next head. They had probably imagined more beyond him, given their intimate understanding of Fan Jie and all the other variables surrounding the Vast Blue Merchant Company that someone of Li Gang’s station, and even Yang Qing, wasn’t privy to.

The fact that they had allowed things to go on without trying to convince Li Gang otherwise meant they had both likely prepared themselves to pay whatever price it would cost to get Li Gang into that seat.

I’ve become such a busybody of late, Yang Qing lamented inwardly, sighing as he moved to refill their cups.

After a few drinks, Meng Song and Han Bai excused themselves, having been sought out by one of the staff members who requested their presence, given that Mo Guang, the appraiser from Gold Earth Bank, was leaving, and courtesy dictated that someone of their standing see him off.

Yang Qing and Li Gang were left alone, continuing the conversation in a far more relaxed manner, as Yang Qing asked about life in Yue State before it drifted to what Li Gang envisioned his merchant company looking like. As hesitant as he had been when Yang Qing first brought it up, this second time, Li Gang was far more forthcoming and engaged. The excitement he showed and the level of detail he went into made it clear he’d been thinking about it for some time.

Drawn in by his infectious excitement and passion, Yang Qing found himself promising to supply him with Spirit Pearl Peonies and countless Quasi Monarch Grade to Sky Grade herbs on consignment should he need them, with both sides agreeing to a fifty-fifty split after thorough convincing and mild threats from Yang Qing, because Li Gang had wanted to do an eighty-twenty, with the eighty in Yang Qing’s favor.

With his windfall thanks to Tang Xiadan, Yang Qing had no shortage of spirit stones and had no need to squeeze a few measly ones from the sale of Sky Grade herbs. Those herbs were, in fact, the unchecked weeds overgrowing in his abode. If anything, Li Gang was doing him a favor by accepting them, and Yang Qing would have more than accepted the twenty side of the split Li Gang suggested. He didn’t actively grow those herbs, and he wouldn’t be the one selling them. He felt more like a parasite mooching off things he’d put little effort into. He quite liked the parasitic side of things.

Aside from the weeds... herbs... Yang Qing also clarified that the three auctions he had promised to attend in an official capacity as a judge of the Order were for Li Gang and not the Vast Blue, so the moment Li Gang needed it, Yang Qing promised to avail himself. Yang Qing almost produced a tear when he reemphasized the offer. Sadly, Li Gang proved himself too stingy with his tears.

After feeling he’d had his fill, Yang Qing collected the wine he’d been gifted and left the Spirit Pearl Peonies at the table. "Thank you for your hospitality. It has been quite the experience," said Yang Qing as he looked around the room, sighing with deep feeling. If he were being honest, he’d been quite terrified coming here, his experience with auctions being what it was.

But things... surprised him. And not in a dangerous-assassin-hunter-instructor-sneaking-around-your-abode kind of way, but a he-just-got-over-100,000-Lesser-Dragon-Jade-Crystals, a Resting Root Spirit Oak Sapling, a Treasure Dung Beetle, and a coin made from Ancestral Dragon Jade that once belonged to the richest organization on the continent kind of way. Even in his wildest, most delusional imagination, and he’d had plenty, Yang Qing never would have imagined things turning out the way they did today.

"It has been our pleasure to host you," said Li Gang, moving to usher Yang Qing out and leading him to one of the Dawn Cloud Leaves that held their ferries. Once there, after choosing a ferry, Li Gang left Yang Qing briefly to close out a few things before they headed out.

As Yang Qing was admiring the view of the horizon from the Dawn Cloud Tree, whilst waiting for Li Gang to finish up, a voice came from behind him. "It is quite the view, isn’t it?"