44: The Liu family became prosperous

"How sensible!"

Even if it was just a casual favor, Liu Xuan wasn't helping for nothing. Since the Old Ancestor of the Wang Family was so sensible, it saved Liu Xuan from wasting his breath.

Liu Xuan was now an Inner Sect Disciple of the Sect and a First-Rank Talisman Master. He had the status and standing, but he had no capable people under his command.

Before his own sons and daughters grew up, a Family like the Wang Family was somewhat useful; at the very least, they could help with menial tasks.

Wang Chen immediately wrote a letter, let Liu Xuan review it, and then asked him to deliver it to Senior Brother Zhao.

Liu Xuan took a look. The beginning of the letter was full of nonsense about loyalty to the Sect, but the important part was at the end: the Wang Family was willing to offer one hundred Low Grade First-Rank One-Horned Barbarian Bulls as supplies for attacking the Lu Family, to be delivered at a rate of twenty per year over five years.

A single Low Grade First-Rank One-Horned Barbarian Bull sold for twenty Spirit Stones, so one hundred of them would be worth two thousand Spirit Stones!

The Wang Family's annual production was only thirty or forty head. After deducting various management and feeding costs, as well as taxes, the profit was at most a dozen or so head—three hundred Spirit Stones at the absolute maximum.

By giving away an extra twenty head to Senior Brother Zhao every year, the Wang Family would be operating at a loss for the next five years.

"This old man was certainly willing to pay a heavy price!"

Based on what Liu Xuan knew of Senior Brother Zhao, this shouldn't be a problem. After all, even if they ransacked the Wang Family, the harvest would likely be about the same.

These Families were now vigilant and had prepared contingencies; their assets had been moved in advance, so ransacking them might not actually yield much.

With the matter discussed, the banquet continued!

With that connection established just now, the atmosphere at the banquet became much more relaxed.

Wang Xiaokang held back for a long time but couldn't help himself. He pretended to mention it casually: "Many people were implicated by the Lu Family this time. The Flower Snake Gang was wiped out by the County Magistrate a year ago; I wonder what happened to those Gang members?"

"The Flower Snake Gang?"

A memory automatically surfaced in Liu Xuan's mind: his original self's sister, Liu Miao, was a member of the Flower Snake Gang.

"The Flower Snake Gang was wanted by the County Magistrate? What happened? Tell me about it."

With the original self's memories stirred, a wave of worry couldn't help but rise in Liu Xuan's heart.

His sister, Liu Miao, was the original self's only obsession. The more Liu Xuan suppressed it, the more intense and oppressive that feeling became.

Liu Xuan simply decided to give up on this suppression, follow his heart, and resolve this issue once and for all.

Even watching a movie could be influenced by the plot, let alone these real, vivid memories.

The more one resisted, the easier it was for a Heart Demon to form; it was better to follow his heart and accept it all.

"You don't know?"

Wang Xiaokang was stunned for a moment, then explained the Flower Snake Gang's connection to the Lu Family and how they were wanted by the County Magistrate a year ago.

'No wonder!'

'No wonder sister Liu Miao never looked for me and never wrote to me!' Liu Xuan thought to himself.

'I hope she's alright!'

If something had truly happened to Liu Miao, it would likely become a Heart Demon for Liu Xuan, affecting him for a long time.

"It's getting late, I shall take my leave now!"

Liu Xuan stood up and cupped his hands toward Old Master Wang Chen. "I will deliver the letter to Senior Brother Zhao very soon. You can just wait patiently."

After speaking, he cupped his hands to the others and then left with Wang Yuwan...

Returning to the County Magistrate's office.

Liu Xuan immediately went to find the County Magistrate.

"What do you want with me?"

The County Magistrate, Fang Qingyuan, was a Late-Stage Qi Refining Cultivator and an Inner Sect Disciple with a profound background and noble status.

However, recently some patrol envoys had been investigating issues related to him. Although there were no actual problems, it had caused him to lose a lot of Face.

Liu Xuan was also a patrol envoy, so he assumed he was also here to annoy him, which is why a trace of anger was faintly visible on his Face.

"Senior Brother Fang, I have come to ask a favor of you." Liu Xuan saluted.

"Speak!"

Seeing that Liu Xuan was not here to find fault, Fang Qingyuan's attitude improved slightly.

"I am originally from Yongning, and my hometown is Luoying Village. I have a sister named Liu Miao, who was previously a member of the Flower Snake Gang, a Martial Artist Gang in the city. Could you send someone to help me check on my sister's whereabouts?"

"The Flower Snake Gang?"

Fang Qingyuan thought for a while before remembering. It seemed there indeed was such a Gang, which had been wiped out a year ago due to the Lu Family affair.

"A small matter. I'll send someone to handle it in a moment, and I'll have your sister's arrest warrant revoked as well."

Fang Qingyuan agreed very readily. It wasn't a big deal anyway, and he didn't want to provoke patrol envoys like Liu Xuan.

"Many thanks, Senior Brother Fang!"

Liu Xuan saluted in thanks, said nothing more, and left directly.

After he left, Fang Qingyuan called his subordinate and ordered him to immediately investigate a person named Liu Miao from the former Flower Snake Gang, revoke the arrest warrant, and then bring her to Liu Xuan.

Liu Xuan then went to the main hall of the County Magistrate's office and delivered the letter written by the Old Ancestor of the Wang Family to Zhao Deliang.

"Senior Brother Zhao, that Wang Xiaokang is a classmate and friend of mine, and I was forced by circumstances. If you feel this is against the rules, just pretend I never came."

Although he felt Zhao Deliang wouldn't refuse, Liu Xuan still laid the groundwork in advance to distance himself from the situation.

Zhao Deliang frowned while reading the letter, but his eyes lit up when he reached the end.

A quick calculation revealed this was a huge profit—more profitable than direct confiscation, and it wouldn't have the severe aftermath of wiping out a Family.

"Not bad! Not bad!"

Zhao Deliang looked at Liu Xuan with a smile. "You kid really understand me; you've done another good deed!"

"I'll record this as a merit for you. In the future, if there are any more matters like this, just agree to them on my behalf."

"Understood!"

Liu Xuan agreed and then took his leave.

Watching Liu Xuan leave, Zhao Deliang's expression shifted, contemplating the pros and cons.

This matter served as a reminder to Zhao Deliang. Now that these Families were prepared, direct confiscation yielded little, so it would be better to adopt more moderate methods.

Winning over a group of loyal elements while severely cracking down on a group of stubborn ones was the only way to maximize benefits and stabilize the chaotic situation.

However, it would require a group of highly capable and loyal subordinates to handle this well.

Liu Xuan's ability was not a problem, but it was a pity he was a person of the Lin Family; otherwise, he could have been entrusted with a heavy responsibility!

Three days later. Luoying Village.

The arrest warrant for Liu Miao at the village entrance was torn down, and a reward notice was posted in its place: anyone who knew of Liu Miao's whereabouts would be rewarded with one Spirit Stone.

"Officer! Why has the arrest warrant turned into a reward notice?" asked a farm woman gathered at the village entrance.

"Isn't it written there? Read it yourself!" the clerk posting the notice said impatiently.

"Village Chief, I'm illiterate, can you tell us about it?" The village woman turned to look at an old man wearing a coarse cloth scholar's robe.

The old Village Chief squinted and leaned in close to peer at the notice, sighing, "This Liu Family has made it big!"

"The Liu Family's son, Liu Xuan, has become a big shot in the Sect and is looking for his sister to enjoy a life of luxury!"

"Ah?"

Several villagers who had gathered to watch were full of disbelief.

Didn't the Liu Family's sister get into trouble? Not long ago, some people were gloating, so how did she suddenly turn things around?

Luoying Village was not large, and gossip spread very quickly. Before long, news that the Liu Family's youngest son, Liu Xuan, had made it big and become a big shot in the city spread throughout the entire village.