The Journey of Immortal Cultivation-Chapter 313 - 188 Anping City_2

Fortunately, they did not engage in physical conflict; this minor disturbance barely caught the attention of passersby.

Standing to the side, she could hear the loud cracking sound of He Xiaojiu’s large fists being clenched in anger, clearly fuming, yet he refrained from throwing a punch. His face alternated between red and pale, as he struggled to swallow his rage, and was just about to turn and leave when a crisp voice called out to him from behind: "He Xiaojiu!"

He turned his head to look, and the rage in his heart immediately dissipated by a great extent, breaking into a smile as he said: "Sister Xian, long time no see."

He was only a few years older than Ning Xiaoxian, and ever since the incident where he was saved from poisoned bear meat by her medicine pills, their relationship had imperceptibly grown closer, and he started brazenly calling her "sister."

"Has it been long? It’s only been ten days," she rolled her eyes skyward.

"Eh, who is this?" Standing beside Ning Xiaoxian was Tu Jin, who didn’t greet He Xiaojiu upon seeing him. Being high and mighty, how would he pay any attention to a mortal?

"Hey, my friend." She gave He Xiaojiu a knowing look, and he immediately caught on.

"Haha, Deng has been talking about you these past couple of days," laughed He Xiaojiu, "There are really many rich people in Anping City; he sold all his elixirs a while ago and was wishing you were here so he could make more silver right away."

"Easy peasy, just lead the way," she responded.

Upon seeing her, Deng Hao was at first startled, then overjoyed. When the girl bid farewell to the merchant team at the town below Qingjing Mountain, everyone knew she was attempting the Heavenly Ladder, and there was some concern. Unexpectedly, she had caught up so quickly.

"You didn’t enter the secret realm?" The better for not having gone, because the secret realm, although known as the Stairway to Heaven for mortals, was not easy to scale. Countless people have died there over the years.

She hedged: "Almost." Claiming she had come out of the secret realm would not explain how she managed to arrive at Anping City so quickly—after all, even the merchant team had taken ten days.

After some more casual conversation, Ning Xiaoxian learned that the Cloud Tiger Trading Team had also only arrived two days prior, and were currently undergoing procedures to join the Qingfeng Trading Company.

She once advised Deng Hao to hint to Fu Chang’an, the Master of the Leizhou branch of the Qingfeng Chamber of Commerce, that by contributing a share of capital to the Cloud Tiger Trading Team, a portion of the team’s future earnings would belong to him. After meeting Fu Chang’an a few times, Deng Hao acted accordingly—of course, he also prepared a carefully selected gift.

The Master of Leizhou truly lived up to the name of a cunning person. He understood Deng Hao’s insinuations in no time. Despite being accustomed to countless bribes, he found this method particularly intriguing. The beauty of this investment scheme was that it could comfortably deal with audits dispatched from above. The accounts would appear squeaky clean while comfortably pocketing the silver, presenting a good strategy.

Even the act of bribery required such meticulous planning. With this insight, his view of Deng Hao softened a great deal, and the procedures advanced much faster than usual. It normally took six or seven days to incorporate the Cloud Tiger Trading Team into the Qingfeng Trading Company, but now it was nearly completed.

However, while the Master’s mood improved, the leaders of the other merchant teams in the Leizhou branch did not look too pleased. This newcomer leading the merchant team was no pushover, and to them, this was not welcome news. All of them would be colleagues, yet also competitors, and their performance would be judged against each other in the future.

Thereupon, some began to set traps for the Cloud Tiger Trading Team. Considering future collegial relationships, they refrained from the game of "everyone coming to nitpick," leaving the responsibility to the oldest merchant team to take the lead. This team’s leader’s surname was Xia, with an interesting name—Xia Banhua—yet he was a man like a tower of iron.

Xia Banhua’s foundations were in Anping City; indeed, with connections in the city, getting things done was easier. He spared no effort in troubling the Cloud Tiger Trading Team, from lodging, selling, registering... it seemed as if even eating and drinking could provoke incidents.

The cause of He Xiaojiu’s fury today was precisely because he was violently bumped into by someone on the street.

Yet Xia Banhua was skilled in setting these traps, only causing seemingly endless small troubles for the Cloud Tiger Trading Team without actually attracting serious problems or bodily harm, making it impossible to raise the issue openly. The team was suffocated with frustration yet unable to vent, casting a low atmosphere over them.

Hearing this, Ning Xiaoxian pondered and asked Deng Hao: "What is the attitude of Fu Chang’an, the Master of the Leizhou branch, towards this?" He must know of his subordinates’ faultfinding.

Deng Hao shook his head and said: "I reckon he’s aware, just turning a blind eye. Probably wants to see how I handle this."

Ning Xiaoxian furrowed her brows.

Fu Chang’an was a shrewd one. He took Deng Hao’s gift knowing full well he was a person of resourceful mind, and then right after, had Xia Banhua test Deng Hao’s capabilities. Indeed, she even suspected that Xia Banhua’s behavior was instructed by Fu Chang’an himself. After all, despite Deng Hao’s generous gift upon arrival, his foresight was a bit too ahead of its time. How could he be accepted without proper suppression and instruction?

A true talent must be under one’s control to be of use.

She could see through these twists and turns. If Deng Hao, who had been a merchant for most of his life, couldn’t understand this, then who could?

"Brother Deng, do you have a plan?"

"We can’t let him go on like this. We need to find an opportunity to deal with him, without significantly diminishing Xia Banhua’s face." Unsure whether Fu Chang’an was backing this from behind, he couldn’t act rashly, considering the other party was the local tyrant.

He needed an opportunity. (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation tickets, monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)