Thump!
A large tree, thick enough to require five or six people to encircle it with their arms, fell straight to the ground.
An elderly man with greying hair and a hunched back approached the fallen tree.
His body trembled, as if a gust of wind could knock him over.
The old man stooped to squat slightly.
Pff!
With one thrust, the old man’s right hand penetrated the trunk.
The tree, which had grown for hundreds of years, was as soft as tofu.
Then, with an understated motion, he lifted the tree single-handedly above his head and walked eastward.
About five hundred meters to the east, a pile of wood had accumulated into a small hill.
Reaching the pile of wood, the old man casually tossed it. The massive trunk, seven or eight meters in length, carrying its enormous crown, whooshed through the air and landed neatly onto the five-meter-high wood stack at the top with a swish.
Ignoring the people who were trimming the treetop with a door-sized chopping knife, the old man, still hunched over and trembling, moved towards another fallen tree.
Tch, tch…
Chen Mu couldn’t help but shake his head.
I’ve judged by appearances again.
In his past life, if a driver happened to hit such a fragile old man, the driver would be devastated, because the person would be finished.
But if the old man happened to be from the Lower Courtyard of Jilong Road, the driver would still be devastated, because the accident could be fatal—for the driver.
The driver would be doomed!
Chen Mu had joined the reclamation team nearly a month ago.
He grabbed the door-sized chopping knife with his right hand and casually swung it at the base of a tree.
Swish!
The trunk, with a diameter of a meter, was easily chopped through.
“Why don’t you join the hunting team?” Old Hao casually stuck the large knife into the ground and took out a pipe from his waist to light it.
“I wish I could. Unfortunately, my strength isn’t up to par. I wasn’t selected,” Chen Mu replied with a look of regret.
“Then why don’t you give some gifts to the team leader?” Old Hao chided with a look of disappointment.
Why would I give him gifts if he hasn’t offended me in any way?
“All my money went to buying secret techniques, I’m broke,” Chen Mu sighed, feigning distress.
“It’s for the best that you didn’t go. With your level of strength, it would be quite dangerous,” Old Hao consoled.
“I also feel it’s dangerous,” Chen Mu agreed with a nod.
The leader is only at the Perceptive Spirit Light realm.
If we provoke a powerful Exotic Beast that can’t be subdued, wouldn’t that be very dangerous?
“Deep within the mountains, the Exotic Beasts are many and strong. Just a couple of days ago, an Exotic Beast broke through our encirclement, causing over a dozen deaths and injuries,” Old Hao lamented, knocking the finished ash from his pipe with a reflective expression.
“At least our work, while less rewarding, is safe and stable.”
Chen Mu nodded in agreement.
Unfortunately, while it’s stable, I can’t properly grind for experience.
With many people in the reclamation team, doing anything feels uncomfortable.
…
Night had fallen, and the sky was filled with stars.
At the very front of the reclamation team.
In the dense forest, an area the size of a basketball court had all its vegetation chopped down and cleared away.
Five or six bonfires burned around the perimeter of the clearing.
In front of each fire, five or six people sat, resting and eating.
In the middle of the clearing, Wu Lie sat alone in front of a bonfire.
Soon, two burly men walked out of the dense forest and approached Wu Lie, sitting opposite the fire.
“Is Shang Huan really backed by Mo Wuzhou?” Wu Lie frowned slightly.
“It shouldn’t be,” said the burly man on the left.
“I’ve followed him for a month, and he’s never been back to Peng Yue Mountain.”
If Mo Wuzhou were the mastermind, wouldn’t Shang Huan have gone to give him money?
“Putting on tiger’s hide,” Wu Lie’s eyes narrowed.
The burly man on the right’s eyes sparkled: “Thirty White Jade Coins for one plate, with every person needing at least one plate a day.”
With thousands of people in the reclamation team, if everyone bought one…
Hissss!
“Boss, let’s rob him!” the burly man on the left said, his eyes gleaming.
“Rob? What are you talking about!” Wu Lie rebuked sharply.
The two burly men were taken aback, not understanding why their boss was angry.
Wu Lie looked at them discontentedly: “Shang Huan wears Mo Wuzhou’s tiger hide because he fears no one will support him and that he will attract covetous eyes.”
“Living in constant fear every day, how pitiful!”
“You guys are still thinking about robbing him! Really…”
“We have to help him!” Wu Lie declared resolutely.
Two burly men: “…”
“As members of the Inspection Courtyard, we should maintain the order of the Lower Courtyard and ensure the disciples can live peacefully.”
“Isn’t he without any support? We’ll be his backing!” Wu Lie waved his hand magnanimously.
“Even if we aren’t influential enough, I can still talk to Prefect Zhang.” Wu Lie stated seriously.
“Our former boss, Prefect Lin Su, was one of Prefect Zhang’s closest friends. I can still have a word with him.” Wu Lie calculated earnestly.
“We help deter the petty criminals. Not only do we fulfill our duties, but we also ensure his peace of mind. It’s a win-win!” Wu Lie’s face bore a gratified smile.
“After such a big favor, taking a little share of the profits isn’t excessive, right?”
The two burly men immediately showed smiles.
“Not excessive at all!”
“Excessive? This should be considered rightful and proper!”
Wu Lie then sighed, “He’s spread his business too wide, there are quite a few who are envious. Helping him like this actually puts us under a lot of pressure.”
“Asking for ninety percent of his profits, that’s not too much, is it?”
“Not at all! Not in the least!” The two burly men couldn’t help but laugh heartily.
…
“What is this?” Beside the bonfire, Chen Mu took a black pottery jar that Shang Huan handed him.
“It’s quite heavy.” The heaviness in his hand surprised Chen Mu.
“It’s your share of the Insect Repellent Incense profits.” Shang Huan’s face glowed with joy.
“This much?!” Chen Mu was shocked to see the jar full of White Jade Coins.
There had to be at least four or five hundred!
“You don’t understand, do you? It’s these everyday consumables that really make money!” Shang Huan said with pride.
“There won’t be any trouble, will there?” Chen Mu’s scalp tingled.
This much money could attract envy…
“Who would dare to trouble Master Mo’s brother?” Shang Huan raised an eyebrow and chuckled.
What does that mean? Chen Mu was baffled.
“I’ve kept twenty percent of the profits for Master Mo. I’ll send it to him in a few days.”
Chen Mu suddenly realized. Waving a tiger’s skin, hoisting a big flag.
With Mo Wuzhou’s Illusion Breaking Cultivation, the identity of an elder disciple of the Upper Court, and the close relationship with Liang Yi from the Minor Supervision Court.
There truly weren’t many in the Lower Courtyard who would dare to provoke him.
“What if Master Mo troubles you?” Chen Mu couldn’t help but narrow his eyes.
Shang Huan’s act first and report later approach couldn’t guarantee that Mo Wuzhou had no other intentions.
After all, wealth moves hearts!
“Master Mo is a man who values relationships. He definitely won’t trouble me.” Shang Huan said nonchalantly.
A man who values relationships?
“I trust Master Mo,” Chen Mu said calmly as he handed the pottery jar to Shang Huan.
“But what if Master Mo happens to be short of money?” Chen Mu hinted subtly.
If Mo Wuzhou really wanted more profits, Shang Huan would have no way to refuse.
“If Master Mo is really short of money, I’ll just give it to him. Don’t worry, I still have some assets.” Shang Huan pushed the pottery jar back with a grin.
“Giving away your own savings? That generous?” Chen Mu raised an eyebrow.
It seemed the rotund man had considered the worst-case scenario.
“After all, it’s your medicine recipe. Even if there’s a problem, we can’t let you earn nothing, right?” Shang Huan shrugged.
Chen Mu couldn’t help but glance at the rotund man, “If that happens, won’t you have been busy for nothing?”
“Money can always be made,” Shang Huan said unconcernedly.
“Besides, things aren’t as pessimistic as you think.” Suddenly, he chuckled slyly, looking like the cat that got the cream.
“Do you know who helped me make the Insect Repellent Incense?”
Did these people have some special significance?
“On the surface, they’re just ordinary disciples of the Lower Courtyard.”
“But, they’re all old acquaintances of Master Mo!”
“The better they know Master Mo, the more money I give them.”
“What do you think Master Mo will do when he learns of this arrangement? Would he really disdainfully take advantage through crafty means?” Shang Huan leaned in close to Chen Mu, whispering in a cunning tone.
Chen Mu looked at Shang Huan with mixed emotions.
Using someone else’s reputation to intimidate others into doing business.
And getting all their friends and family on board, roped together with him on this shady venture.
You’re not afraid Mo Wuzhou will kill you for this!