61: Zhong Ling'er

[Before long, Yang Yan led you into the Treasure Pavilion, where he bought a gift called "ice crystal snow pear."]

[These ice crystal snow pear were refreshing and icy to the taste, carrying a bone-chilling cold that was particularly suitable for assisting the Cultivation of those with an Ice Spiritual Root. Of course, the price wasn't cheap either, costing him a full hundred Spirit Stones.]

[After putting away the gift box, Yang Yan turned to look at you. "Are you planning to go to the feast empty-handed?"]

[You gave an awkward smile—your entire net worth was only twenty-three Spirit Stones; how could you afford such an expensive gift like his!]

[You quickly changed the subject. "Are many people coming to this wedding feast?"]

[Yang Yan thought for a moment and said, "There should be over a hundred people every time, mostly brothers from the gang."]

["He doesn't find various excuses to hold feasts every year, does he?" you asked reflexively.]

["How did you know?" Yang Yan nodded repeatedly.]

[You smiled and didn't say much; you had seen far too much of this kind of social maneuvering.]

[You did a quick calculation in your head—over a hundred people every year, with each giving a hundred Spirit Stones, wouldn't that be a net profit of over ten thousand a year?]

[This was much easier than fighting and killing, and it was risk-free.]

[Unfortunately, you didn't have his status. Even if you held a banquet, likely no one would come, let alone receive gifts.]

[You couldn't really go empty-handed. You turned and asked the shopkeeper, "What's the cheapest gift you have?"]

[The shopkeeper was a plump middle-aged woman. She rolled her eyes at you and brought out a small jade bottle. "A bottle of grain dispelling pills, one Spirit Stone."]

[Your eyes lit up, and you immediately straightened your back, generously paying one Spirit Stone and taking the grain dispelling pills.]

[Yang Yan, standing beside you, was dumbfounded, but he didn't say much and simply led you toward the Jiang Residence.]

[At the entrance of the Jiang Residence, a butler was specifically assigned to register gifts. For every gift received, the butler would announce it loudly—]

["Cai Rong, one hundred Spirit Stones!"]

["Fang Heng, one blood red stone!"]

["Yang Yan, one box of ice crystal snow pear!"]

["Qin Chen, Grain... a bottle of grain dispelling pills."]

[The butler took your gift and gave you a fierce glare, muttering under his breath, "Dressed so respectably, yet so stingy."]

[His voice wasn't loud, but you heard him clearly.]

[You turned your head, a hint of coldness flashing in your eyes—this butler had already been silently added to your list; he would be the next Ji Bin.]

[However, you had just heard an unfamiliar name—"blood red stone."]

[You leaned closer to Yang Yan and asked in a low voice, "Brother Yang, what's the deal with the blood red stone?"]

[Yang Yan nodded. "You've asked the right person; I only just found out myself. I heard that adding this stone when forging Magical Artifacts or Spiritual Artifacts can enhance their durability and grade."]

["How come I've never heard of it?"]

["That's normal. The Forging Treasure Pavilion only discovered it by chance recently, and word hasn't spread yet."]

["Where is it produced?"]

["I heard it comes from a Secret Realm!"]

["Which Secret Realm?"]

["Tianhuang Secret Realm!" He lowered his voice. "But that place is too dangerous; with your cultivation level, it's best not to go."]

["And even if you were strong enough, you might not necessarily get in," he added. "That is the private Secret Realm of the Liu Clan; outsiders need their permission to enter."]

[You nodded and quietly released your Divine Sense, memorizing the aura and appearance of the blood red stone.]

[By the time you walked into the banquet area, the originally spacious front courtyard was already packed—about ten tables were set up, with nearly a hundred people.]

[At that moment, an elderly man walked out, followed by a young woman wearing a red wedding dress.]

[Yang Yan introduced them in a low voice, "That's Hall Master Jiang, and behind him is his newly taken concubine, Zhong Linger."]

[You sighed inwardly—this old man looked to be over a hundred years old, yet the bride was only in her early twenties; they were practically generations apart.]

[You saw that the concubine looked delicate and had a gentle temperament; she was indeed quite likable.]

[But you also keenly sensed a trace of melancholy and sorrow hidden between Zhong Linger's brows.]

[You guessed in your heart that she was most likely being forced.]

[You leaned in toward Yang Yan and asked curiously, "How do you even know the name of Hall Master Jiang's concubine?"]

["Sigh," Yang Yan shook his head. "Zhong Linger is quite famous in this area. She's beautiful, and many people have had their eyes on her, myself included. What a pity!"]

[You were somewhat dismissive. "So what if she's beautiful? Isn't she just coveting wealth and status to end up marrying..."]

[Yang Yan interrupted you. "No, you've misunderstood. Zhong Linger was actually an Alchemist for the Jiang Clan Merchant House..."]

[Then he switched to a voice transmission and whispered to you, "It's that old bastard Hall Master Jiang He who used her parents as leverage to force her..."]

["Worse still, everyone within our Money Gang knows that Hall Master Jiang practices a Dual Cultivation Technique..."]

["The women he has harvested have their cultivation essentially ruined, making it impossible for them to ever progress again..."]

[After hearing Yang Yan's words, you finally understood why Zhong Linger looked so utterly despondent.]

[You pondered silently that you had to find a way to ruin this for him.]

[While you were pondering, the banquet had already begun—]

[The maidservants of the Jiang Residence brought out dish after dish—you took a glance, and they were all just ordinary food and wine consumed by Mortals.]

[You roughly estimated that an entire table's worth was only worth about one Spirit Stone.]

[Despite this, the hundred or so guests present seemed unfazed, politely toasting and exchanging pleasantries on the surface.]

[You cursed in your heart: That old miser Hall Master Jiang He really knows how to rake in the money!]

[Hall Master Jiang He certainly put on a good show, going from table to table to toast and greet everyone.]

[The hall was bustling with activity. You happened to look toward Zhong Linger, and she just happened to look toward you as well.]

[Your eyes met—you read disappointment and gloom in her gaze.]

[You thought to yourself, could she be interested in you? Otherwise, with so many people, why would she look specifically at you?]

[As expected—being good-looking makes it easy to attract a girl's attention.]

[You felt a bit smug and felt even more that you should do something.]

[You silently swore—this was definitely not because you were moved by her beauty.]

[Afterward, you saw her lower her head and walk toward the backyard, quietly wiping tears from the corners of her eyes.]

[Your gaze toward Zhong Linger was caught right in the act by Hall Master Jiang He. He walked over with a smile to greet you. "Is this brother also a member of our Money Gang?"]

[Yang Yan, standing nearby, quickly stood up to introduce you. "Hall Master Jiang, this is a brother I just brought into the gang today, named Qin Chen."]

[Just then, the butler of the Jiang Residence suddenly stepped forward and said coldly, "Hall Master, it's this respectable-looking fellow—he only gave a single bottle of grain dispelling pills as a congratulatory gift."]

[Upon hearing that you only gave a bottle of grain dispelling pills, Hall Master Jiang He's face immediately darkened:]

["What, did you come here specifically to make a fool of this old man?"]

["A mere bottle of grain dispelling pills, and you think you're worthy of attending my wedding feast?"]

["If it weren't for today being a joyous occasion, this old man wouldn't mind seeing some blood shed here."]

[Yang Yan hurriedly tried to smooth things over. "Hall Master Jiang, please don't be angry. My brother here has been a bit short on cash lately..."]

[Before he could finish, he was coldly interrupted by Hall Master Jiang He. "Get out! If you don't leave now, don't blame this seat for being impolite!"]

[You glanced around; over a hundred pairs of eyes were staring at you. Your mind raced, and you already had a plan. You gently pulled Yang Yan and whispered, "Let's leave first."]

[Yang Yan shook his head helplessly and had no choice but to follow you out.]

[After walking out of the Jiang Residence, you made up an excuse to part ways with Yang Yan, then turned around and quietly circled back to the Jiang Residence.]