novelraw Chapter 101
Chapter 101
That night, Su Wangchuan slept exceptionally soundly.
The crisis in Blackstone Village had been successfully resolved.
His standing within the Yulong Gang had been solidified.
And he had secured thirty-seven taels of gold.
He planned to go first thing the next morning to see the first-rank martial arts manuals stored in Blackwind Stronghold, to find out whether there was anything he could use.
If he could find a martial arts manual that improved stamina and agility, he would be able to push rapidly toward a breakthrough into the realm of a First-Rank Martial Artist.
But that very night, a great deal happened outside Huishui County.
A group of people gathered at the desolate Blackwind Stronghold, which was cold and empty.
Several dozen people split into three factions and took their positions in the open ground within the stronghold.
“Nu Tao Gang slipped through our fingers. We cannot afford to miss Blackwind Stronghold as well.”“Even though Blackwind Stronghold is hidden deep in the mountains, it is an unclaimed outpost. There is cultivated farmland nearby, ready-made buildings, and the stockade can hold off beast hordes. If we can hold it, its value as a future gold-farming base far exceeds that of the villages around Huishui County.”
“But no single studio among us can hold it…”
“There are tigers in the mountains, black bears, and vast numbers of wild boars and wolves. And there is the Snake Den behind the mountain. None of it will be easy to deal with…”
In the central faction, the leader was none other than Monk Dalong. He stood on the stockade platform with a staff in hand, his eyes filled with cold, mocking disdain, and he said:
“Your Tianxia Studio and Black Panther Studio truly have sharp noses. Warring States had only just taken down Blackwind Stronghold, and you arrived right after. But you think you can waltz in with a few light words and share a cut of it from our hands? How could anything in this world be that easy?”
“If you want a share, then show some sincerity! Fifty taels of gold from each side, and I will grant you usage rights to the outpost for one year!”
“Fifty taels of gold is a little expensive… what about twenty taels?” said the captain of Tianxia Studio’s land-clearing team, a smiling scholar who waved a folding fan as he began to haggle.
“Fifty taels of gold. Not one copper coin less,” Monk Dalong said, giving no ground at all.
On the Black Panther Studio side, a middle-aged man sighed. “In that case, Black Panther Studio will withdraw. Your Warring States Studio can play by yourselves… winter is nearly over anyway. The snakes in the Snake Den and all kinds of beasts will soon come out of the mountains. We will simply wait a little longer.”
“…”
Monk Dalong’s brows tightened. “You stinking fortune-teller. Are you trying to scare me?”
“I am only telling the truth… perhaps when Warring States cannot hold the stronghold, you will have to turn back and beg us.”
“…”
The smiling scholar from Tianxia Studio snapped his folding fan shut.
“Splendid!”
“Warring States, how many people do you even have? You fought your way out from deep in the mountains, and just arranging guards will take dozens of men. Forget it—I am not following this either. We will not even pay twenty taels of gold. When spring comes, we will discuss it again!”
“…”
Monk Dalong’s face darkened.
Those two shameless studios had secretly joined hands. Now they intended to pay not a single copper coin and still claim a stake in the Blackwind Stronghold outpost.
He glanced toward someone within the crowd.
That person said nothing and showed no reaction at all. Monk Dalong did not try to stop them, and he allowed Tianxia Studio and Black Panther Studio to lead their people away.
In the end, only twelve people from Warring States Studio remained in Blackwind Stronghold.
“Boss Bai.”
“Lin Xun and Old Yu are trapped in the county seat. With only a dozen or so people from our land-clearing team, I am afraid we cannot suppress all the beasts in these mountains.”
Within the crowd, a slender figure stepped forward. Her face was covered by a black veil, but her eyes were bright and captivating.
“Tianxia and Black Panther think we want to seize the mountain and become kings, setting up a gold-farming point. A gold-farming point requires a great number of guards. One studio’s land-clearing team truly cannot hold it, and it would waste time… but we will do the opposite.”
Her voice was crisp and decisive.
“Once spring comes, we lure the snakes out and draw the beasts into attacking the stronghold. Then we will defend it in the natural course of things, train our fists and kicks, and raise our martial arts realms. We will ride that momentum and charge straight toward ranking up!”
At those words, everyone—Monk Dalong included—brightened, their eyes lighting up.
“Yes!”
“Boss Bai!”
…
Early in the morning, Su Wangchuan logged in. Through Song Minshu, he sent a carrier pigeon message to the main hall and learned the latest status of the secret manual vault.
Several first-rank martial arts from Blackwind Stronghold had already been fully entered into storage:
Black Tiger Fist!
Blackwind Eighteen Forms (Axe Techniques)!
Iron Head Technique!
Wind-Splitting Sword Art!
There were also first-rank martial arts such as 《Lightfoot on Grass》 and 《Gale Saber Art》, but because of overlap, only these four were formally listed.
As for second-rank martial arts, there were three: 《Crocodile-Mouth Saber Art》, 《Heart-Piercing Dart》, and 《Iron Sand Palm》.
Su Wangchuan could not even be bothered to choose.
Martial arts from low-level gang forces were generally mediocre and not worth his attention.
Moreover, he truly had no interest in axe techniques. And since he had already cultivated 《Fish Scale Technique》, he did not want to practice another same-grade body-protection art. In the end, he chose 《Wind-Splitting Sword Art》, intending to try it and see whether he could obtain an attribute reward.
As for the second-rank martial arts…
He did not yet have the qualifications to cultivate them.
With his position as a helm leader, Su Wangchuan obtained a free copy of 《Wind-Splitting Sword Art》, then found time to head to the county seat’s money house and exchange all the gold and silver in his possession for gold notes.
Four ten-tael gold notes, with a little over fifty taels of silver kept on him.
“This friend.”
The moment he turned and stepped out of the money house, someone hurried after him from behind and spoke in a low voice. “We buy silver and coinage in the game at a high price. If you are willing to sell, we can offer an excellent rate.”
Su Wangchuan froze, then stopped, warily looking the man up and down.
The newcomer was fair and plump, dressed in luxurious brocade, with a jade thumb ring on his hand. He looked like a wealthy, shrewd merchant and did not seem to possess any combat strength.
“I am Yuan Daqian. I am also from a studio,” the man said with a smiling, harmless face as he introduced himself. “I specialize in buying the silver and coinage in spirit realm at high prices.”
Su Wangchuan was startled. To be honest, it was his first time meeting a gold-buyer.
He had heard that gold-buyers were responsible for buying low and selling high within the game—purchasing coins from small players, then selling them to major clients with demand, earning enormous returns.
He had not expected one to come to him.
He was still quite interested in the price a gold-buyer could offer.
“How do you buy?” he asked.
“One to five!”
“One copper coin, exchanged for five yuan.”
Yuan Daqian raised a hand and quoted the price.
Su Wangchuan stood there in a daze.
That price was truly enticing.
The studio’s bonus, once converted, was only about one to three.
But this man was offering one to five!
It really was a high-price purchase!
Su Wangchuan’s heart immediately stirred.
Yet because he was a member of Warring States Studio, he decided not to exchange anything for the time being.
Yuan Daqian seemed to understand his concerns. He smiled faintly and said, “Let us exchange phone numbers. Once you decide, you can contact me at any time. We can trade at any time.”
As he said that, he added, “If it is a large transaction, we can actually raise the rate appropriately—to one to six.”
After speaking, Yuan Daqian left behind a string of digits, then took his leave.
Su Wangchuan stared in shock.
Forty taels of gold, traded at a one-to-six rate, meant the other party would pay him twenty-four million.
And if the other party still had enormous room for profit…
Su Wangchuan sucked in a cold breath.
The silver in spirit realm was truly worth a fortune!
CLICK HERE to Rate/Review