Cultivation Simulator: Starting From The Empress' Palace-Chapter 357 - 355 Bai Yongtao

To be honest, Chen Mo’s recruitment offer did interest Li Weiqiu and the others, but they were used to their freedom. If they agreed, they would have to accept Chen Mo’s command and control.

Therefore, they didn’t immediately agree, only saying they would consider it.

Even though they didn’t immediately agree, Chen Mo didn’t lose his temper. He still treated them generously with good food and drink.

If a few words could easily recruit people like Li Weiqiu, then such talents would indeed be too easy to obtain.

"You all have a good time. Today’s expenses are on me."

Since Li Weiqiu and the others were still considering, Chen Mo planned to recruit another batch.

Those were the martial artists from Seventh Grade to Fourth Grade.

The Fire Qilin Army seemed well-structured with cavalry, infantry, archers, and so on, all kinds of troops complete.

But there were too few mid-level military generals.

Most commanders were at the Sixth Grade to Seventh Grade level.

Fifth Grade was extremely rare.

No Fourth Grade martial artists.

Although Xiao Yunqi had given Chen Mo soldiers, they were not elite, and he definitely wouldn’t have given Chen Mo any highly skilled generals.

Therefore, the entire Fire Qilin Army essentially relied solely on Chen Mo.

If they went on the battlefield and he got tied up, the army under him would definitely be defeated in no time.

Thus, recruiting talent was urgent.

Compared to innate martial artists like Li Weiqiu, this second batch of postnatal martial artists from Seventh Grade to Fourth Grade was much easier to recruit.

As long as they were offered money, promised positions, and shown a vision, they could be brought over to serve him.

However, even though they were easier to recruit, Chen Mo only managed to recruit five.

Because after that day’s martial arts examination, most people were recruited by Xiao Yunqi.

Chen Mo picked up the leftovers.

Two Seventh Grade martial artists.

Two Fifth Grade martial artists.

One Fourth Grade martial artist.

The Fourth Grade martial artist was named Yan Dong, thirty-one years old, and hadn’t been recruited by Xiao Yunqi because he was dissatisfied with the offered conditions and therefore didn’t agree.

And since Xiao Yunqi wouldn’t put much focus on a Fourth Grade martial artist, when Yan Dong didn’t agree, he didn’t recruit him again.

Chen Mo directly promoted Yan Dong to Vice Envoy.

...

However, the banquet at Hongfu Restaurant wasn’t entirely fruitless either.

As the day was about to darken.

Gao Zheng came to report, saying that Bai Yongtao wanted to see him.

"Who is Bai Yongtao?" At the banquet, Chen Mo had invited many people, but his attention was on people like Li Weiqiu, Zhang Lie, and Dai Xishan, so he didn’t know who Bai Yongtao was.

Gao Zheng told Chen Mo that Bai Yongtao was also an innate martial artist, but of the Third Grade.

"What does he want to see me for?" Chen Mo asked.

"It seems he agreed to your recruitment, sir," Gao Zheng said.

Upon hearing this, Chen Mo’s eyes lit up. A Third Grade martial artist was also an innate martial artist, so he immediately asked Gao Zheng to invite him over for a face-to-face meeting.

Unlike Li Weiqiu and the others, Bai Yongtao came from a fallen merchant family. In his early years, he experienced a rebellion in which he lost both parents and joined a Jianghu force to survive, learning various skills.

Later, this Jianghu force acquired an advanced Earth Tier cultivation technique, which became known to other forces, and they were wiped out overnight.

Bai Yongtao barely escaped and obtained this advanced Earth Tier cultivation technique.

His aptitude was average, and after nearly forty years of arduous cultivation, he finally broke through to become an innate martial artist.

Bai Yongtao is now sixty-five years old and has never married. He no longer wishes to wander the Jianghu and wants to settle down and establish a family.

And regarding establishing a family, he had his requirements.

Ordinary women didn’t interest him.

At the very least, she had to be a daughter of an official and still a maiden.

But now, given Bai Yongtao’s age, few maiden daughters of officials would fancy him.

Moreover, he had no proper connections.

So he decided to rely on Chen Mo.

Chen Mo also promoted him to Camp Commander.

Although Bai Yongtao is already sixty-five, having reached the innate realm means he no longer remains a mere mortal, so he doesn’t appear old. He looks about the same as a thirty-year-old in Chen Mo’s past life.

"You’re older than me, so I’ll call you Uncle Bai for now," Chen Mo said.

"You’re too kind, sir. I dare not accept it," Bai Yongtao replied, not daring to truly take on such a title.

"Let’s just keep it that way; it sounds more friendly. Uncle Bai, do you need anything else?"

There was no helping it; recruiting an innate martial artist with great difficulty, Chen Mo certainly couldn’t afford to neglect or let him slip away.

"Well..." Bai Yongtao seemed a bit embarrassed.

"Uncle Bai, speak plainly. As long as it’s within my power, I’ll meet your needs," Chen Mo said.

"It’s just... just... that young lady at lunch..." As he spoke, Bai Yongtao’s face suddenly turned red.

"The young lady at lunch?" Chen Mo was puzzled. Oh dear, could it be he had taken a liking to her?

"Uncle Bai, do you want to redeem her?" Chen Mo asked.

Bai Yongtao nodded.

"Didn’t you say you preferred maidens of official families?"

"Though I said that, she understands me well, is thoughtful, and is quite good at serving people. She would make a fine concubine." As he spoke, Bai Yongtao reminisced about the pleasant moments before.

Chen Mo’s mouth twitched as he said, "Alright, I’ll find someone to redeem her later and send her to you."

"Thank you... thank you, sir." Bai Yongtao immediately bowed and expressed his gratitude.

"No need to be polite."

A courtesan who had already served wouldn’t cost much silver to redeem, just a few hundred taels would suffice.

However, speaking of courtesans, Chen Mo hadn’t visited Lianyi for several days.

...

After handling all the matters at hand,

it was already late at night.

The night air was slightly cool.

The mourning hall hadn’t been taken down, and the people keeping vigil were still there, but Yi Yao and the others, Chen Mo had already sent them to rest.

After all, Chen Mo was not really Chen Hong. Performing the act during the day was sufficient; the night could be spared.

Chen Mo headed towards Lianyi’s room.

Because of Chen Hong’s passing, Lianyi knew Chen Mo wouldn’t visit her these days. In the residence without playmates, she had gone to bed early.

So when Chen Mo opened the door, she didn’t hear it.

The room was pitch black, yet Chen Mo could still see the graceful figure lying sideways on the couch.

Chen Mo closed the door and windows, removed his outer robe, and got onto the couch, embracing Lianyi from behind, his large hands skillfully measuring her in the front.

Lianyi quickly awoke in shock, about to scream.

Chen Mo quickly covered her mouth: "It’s me."

Hearing this, Lianyi calmed down: "Young master... why are you here?"

"You’re my woman; can’t I come?"

"That’s not what I meant, sir."

"Then what do you mean?" Chen Mo teased.

Lianyi initially wanted to ask if the young master wasn’t keeping vigil for his brother.

But she thought better of it, considering it might be a way to save face, so she bit her lip and playfully scolded, "Sir, stop... teasing me."

Lianyi turned around, her breath fragrant.