Chapter 66

Chapter 65. Zhang Wenyan! That guy is a God of Wealth! (5)

Huang Wenyan sat across from Qingming, sipping tea.

Qingming frowned slightly as he looked at Huang Wenyan.

Huang Wenyan was the first to speak.

"How is it?"

"You seemed to say some strange things in between."

"There’s nothing bad for the Master, is there?"

Huang Wenyan’s eyes sharply observed Qingming’s reaction. Seeing Qingming frown and remain silent, a subtle sense of discomfort arose.

'Is Huang Wenyan really on equal footing with such a young man?'

Though not overly proud of himself, considering what Huang Wenyan had achieved, he was not at the level where he could have a private meeting with Huashan’s third disciple.

Yet, Huang Wenyan was now having a private meeting with Qingming, not out of gratitude for saving his life, but because he wanted to see what Huashan’s third disciple was like.

"Are we not in the same boat now?"

"A boat...?"

Qingming smiled faintly.

"By luck, I managed to save the head of the merchant guild, but why would I be in the same boat as the head of the guild? You should talk to the leader now."

"I have no intention of being in the same boat as Huashan."

Qingming narrowed his eyes slightly and looked at Huang Wenyan.

'Is this it?'

Did I show too much?

"To be precise, Huashan without the young master is of no interest to me."

"You seem to be overestimating me."

Qingming’s humility made Huang Wenyan’s lips curl slightly.

"Young master. I am a merchant. I have lived as a merchant all my life and will continue to do so until the day I die. If I have one weapon as a merchant, it is my ability to read people."

"..."

"If my judgment was wrong, I would have already failed, and even if I had been lucky enough not to fail until now, I would eventually collapse. It would be a matter of no regret or disappointment. But if my judgment is accurate..."

Huang Wenyan looked at Qingming meaningfully.

"Wouldn’t it be good for both the Galaxy Merchant Guild and Huashan?"

Qingming lightly scratched his cheek.

"Anyway, let’s not say we’re in the same boat. I don’t particularly like that kind of talk."

"Why not?"

"People who speak the truth often stab you in the back."

That’s what the people of the past were like.

There were countless people who praised and shed tears for Qingming and the people of Huashan, who set out to save the world. But none of them ever showed kindness to Huashan.

Why would he like such talk now?

"I don’t like that kind of talk either. For a merchant, a boat is something you can get on and off at any time."

"Yes, that’s true."

"One thing."

Huang Wenyan smiled warmly.

"If our destination is the same, there’s no need to get off the boat, right? Two people rowing would get there faster. Wouldn’t that be fine?"

"Hmm."

Qingming looked at Huang Wenyan seriously.

"Yes, there’s nothing wrong with that."

Huang Wenyan’s eyes sparkled.

'So it’s confirmed.'

This confirmed it.

The outcome of this conversation is not that important. It would be good to get Qingming’s cooperation, but even if he doesn’t, now that the negotiations with Zhang Wenyan are concluded, the Galaxy Merchant Guild will support Huashan and reap the benefits.

However, the reason Huang Wenyan wanted a private meeting with Qingming was to confirm this point.

'In this young man’s mind, Huashan is already developing. He believes that as long as he is there, Huashan will surely develop, right?'

An immense confidence.

But the reason this confidence doesn’t feel like the arrogance of a young man who doesn’t understand the world is because of the seasoned aura that Qingming exudes from time to time.

"Young master."

"Yes."

"The Galaxy Merchant Guild will do its best to support Huashan. You understand what that means, right?"

"Is it a declaration of enmity with Zhongnan?"

"Yes."

"I never asked for it, and I never wanted it. It seems a bit unscrupulous to expect a reward for something like that."

"I don’t expect a reward. I just hope the Master understands."

"Yes, that much... I can understand."

I can understand. I can understand anything.

It’s not like it costs money.

"I will visit you often in the future."

"Yes. Zhang Wenyan said that if the Galaxy Merchant Guild needs to send someone, it will be me."

"That’s a pleasant thing. I hope we can see each other often and become close. Hahaha."

"Yes, of course. Hahaha!"

Qingming and Huang Wenyan laughed at each other, but they were thinking completely different things.

'You cunning young man!'

'Where are you trying to take advantage of people! I’ve seen your kind a cartload in my past life!'

They faced each other with smiling faces, but it felt like sparks were flying.

"Young master."

"Yes?"

"This is a bet with my life."

"That sounds like something a young person would say."

"Perhaps. Since you saved me, I feel like I’ve been given a new life. If I bet this new life on you, there’s nothing to lose."

"I don’t think I’ll pay much attention to that."

"I just wanted to say it. Well, then."

Huang Wenyan stood up and looked at Qingming.

"To repay you for saving my life, I have one thing to say to you."

"Yes."

"Young master. The Master is outstanding. I doubt there’s anyone in the world as good as the Master at his age."

"Thank you for the compliment."

Come on. It’s not that there’s no one like me at my age, it’s just that there’s no one like me in the world!

Who else has come back from the dead besides me?

"But you need to be more discreet. The world is a scary place. It’s full of all kinds of ghosts and devils, and people who fight over a single benefit. The moment you stand out like a nail, people will come at you with hammers."

Qingming chuckled.

"You’re making me sound too important. I’m just a kid."

"I’ve said what I needed to say. Well, then."

Huang Wenyan bowed deeply and turned to leave.

"Wait a moment."

"Yes?"

When Huang Wenyan turned back, Qingming had a subtle smile.

"There are a few things I need you to find out. Is that possible?"

Huang Wenyan nodded with a subtle smile.

"Of course."

Click.

As Huang Wenyan closed the door, Huang Zhong, who had been waiting, approached.

"Did the conversation go well?"

"How did the negotiations with the head of the merchant guild go?"

"We will start placing our subordinates in Huayin from today. If we support and distribute the guild’s goods, we can stabilize the business premises within ten days."

"That’s too long."

Huang Wenyan said firmly.

"Stabilize it within four days, even if it means a loss. Now is not the time to seek profit. We need to show them our capabilities."

"I will do as you say."

Huang Zhong, unable to hide his curiosity, asked tentatively.

"What about the young master...?"

"..."

Huang Wenyan glanced back with a subtle expression.

'He’s a monster, this junior.'

I can’t see what he’s thinking. Even the childish arrogance he shows on the surface is hard to tell if it’s real or fake.

"Huashan..."

Huang Wenyan smiled pleasantly.

"Perhaps it would have been better to call it Longzhao."

"Excuse me?"

"It’s nothing. Let’s go."

Huang Wenyan walked away leisurely.

Longzhao.

A pond where dragons live.

Who the dragon represents is obvious.

"Zhong."

"Yes, Father."

"It seems my thoughts have changed again. Perhaps we should bet everything on Huashan."

"..."

Huang Wenyan looked around with a slightly excited eye.

Merchants don’t live off money, but off information. Money is just the result of using information.

He was the first to realize that a dragon lived in Huashan, which no one had noticed. The value of this information was something even the seasoned Huang Wenyan couldn’t easily estimate.

'If we use this information well, the Galaxy Merchant Guild could become the top merchant guild in the world.'

It won’t be easy, but that’s why it’s worth trying.

"There’s a lot to do. Let’s go. We need to set the stage."

Huang Zhong followed Huang Wenyan silently, not understanding what was happening.

And on the high eaves of the Bai Mai Hall, a pair of eyes watched their retreating figures.

"Ugh."

Qingming, who had been watching the scene of the two leading their families and receiving the farewell of the Huashan elders, lay flat on the eaves.

"Old ginger is spicy, they say."

Dealing with Huang Wenyan was a completely different experience from dealing with the elders of Huashan. Of course, the elders of Huashan were profound and wise. But in the world of cutthroat competition, Huang Wenyan, who had lived all his life, was in a different league.

"So what?"

As long as it’s resolved, that’s all that matters.

Huang Wenyan will be a great help to Huashan in the future. He will fill the most lacking part of Huashan.

Wealth?

No.

Huang Wenyan will fill the gap in Huashan’s sense of the secular world, which it had lost after being isolated from the world for a long time. If Huashan were just a Daoist sect, it might be different, but as a martial sect, this is a necessary step.

Qingming, with his hands behind his head, looked at the blue sky and smiled.

"At least one problem is solved, Senior Brother. What do you think? Did I do well?"

The figure of Qingming, visible beyond the sky, smiled at him.

As if saying,

'You, see? If you try, you can do it, can’t you?'

"It’s just one step. Whatever."

The road ahead is long.

The biggest obstacle to Huashan’s rise has been removed. There won’t be any problems due to wealth in the future.

With the problem of livelihood solved, it’s time to focus on martial arts.

It’s not the time to criticize Zhongnan.

If Zhongnan had forgotten its roots and turned to other things, isn’t Huashan in a situation where it has lost its roots altogether? It’s time to quickly take action to restore Huashan’s roots to these people.

Qingming sat up.

"Ugh. When will I be able to raise these people?"

Though he sighed, looking down at the scenery of Huashan, his heart felt a bit lighter. Even if it has changed a lot from the past, it’s still Huashan. Just looking at it...

Qingming lay flat again.

"Senior Brother, Senior Brother. When you used to nag so much, I should have listened more. Now that I’m in your position, I understand."

Qingming closed his eyes.

The image of his past self hiding on the eaves to avoid his senior brother’s gaze and the image of Zhang Wenshi, his senior brother, searching for him with a flushed face, were vivid in his mind.

The appearance has changed, and time has passed.

But Huashan is still Huashan.

Yes, just Huashan.

On a day when the first sprouts of plum blossoms appeared on Huashan after a long winter.