Chapter 44: 041: Power!
Question the formidable, who is the formidable!_1 Chapter 44: 041: Power!
Question the formidable, who is the formidable!_1 As the leader of the Gold Word Workshop, with dozens of cultivators and hundreds of Innates under his command, Xu Ning was naturally well-informed.
This content is taken from freёwebnovel.com.
No sooner had Chen Dengming set foot in Boss Hu’s shop than he received a prompt report from his subordinates.
He had known two days ago that Chen Dengming had completed the task assigned by Miss Luo, and he had also found out that Xu Wei was to stay at the Luo Mansion, serving as a tea-serving maid for the young lady.
The implications were clear.
A smart man, Xu Ning put his petty thoughts and greed aside for the moment.
...
He ordered a premium meal prepared in advance, waiting for Chen Dengming’s visit.
When the two met, the obligatory small talk and pleasantries were certainly not skipped.
Throughout the feast, Xu Ning’s words were probing, while Chen Dengming was cautious, leaving room to maneuver.
Neither of them was a novice.
The art of conversation for old foxes is all about social manners and grace.
The final test was to see who had the larger reserve of inner strength.
Even if Xu Ning’s power was evidently stronger, in comparison to Chen Dengming’s ‘descending tiger’ aura, it was still inferior; what he feared was the ‘Luo Family Mountain’!
After three rounds of drinks, Chen Dengming denied everything, stating that he and Miss Luo had merely met by chance.
There was no relationship between them, only business dealings, and he needed to go to Luo Mountain City again in three years to fulfill a contract.
Xu Ning felt a flutter in his heart.
How did Chen Dengming have such good luck to catch the fancy of Miss Luo?
This was the information he had been waiting for.
Thinking that Chen Dengming had let slip about the contract in three years after having a few drinks, he felt apprehensive.
“Hahaha, I’ve always said, Brother Chen, you’re not just a common man.
Now that you’ve gained the favor of Miss Luo, your future is bound to be limitless.
As your senior, I will have to rely on you in the future!”
Xu Ning raised his wine cup, deliberately flattering with a smile.
Chen Dengming promptly feigned astonishment, laughing, “That won’t do, big brother Xu, it’s me who should rely on you.
In the future, this Gu worm and Gu poison market, I’ll need your help in making inroads.”
Xu Ning frowned, “Brother Chen, what are you talking about?
How can a man only focus on immediate gains?
This market is so big, why don’t I help you with some manpower, and you can set out on your own, build up some force?”
Chen Dengming quickly pretended to cower, waving his hand, “Brother Xu, see, isn’t that a tall order for me?
I’m used to being a lone ranger, I don’t want to build power or play the boss.
I can manage hundreds of fish, but managing hundreds of people is beyond me.
No, no, no!
All I want is to make some money with brother Xu.
You eat the meat, I’ll drink the soup.
Brother Xu, don’t tell me you think I’m taking too much?
In that case, last time you mentioned that after the Gu market opened, we would split 50-50.
Now, I’m willing to give up 10% profit, you get sixty, and I get forty, does that work?”
“This kid…
it seems he really doesn’t have much ambition…”
Xu Ning was doubtful, then he let out a sigh of relief internally, his facial muscles relaxing slightly, “That’s right, after all, he’s a rising star who has shot to fame in recent times, previously just a fishmonger.
How could he have any foresight or the capability to scheme?
It seems I might be overthinking this.”
Immediately he smiled and drank with Chen Dengming, saying,
“Where are you getting these ideas, brother?
If I say 50-50, it’s 50-50.
The key is the technique to cultivate Gu worms you have…”
“This…
umm!Fairy Luo told me when I left the mountain that she does not want to see a third person in this gathering place with her Gu skill, otherwise she would not hesitate to kill.
Brother Xu, you have backers, don’t you?
I think you have great influence, why don’t you let your backers talk to Fairy Luo, she might give face.”
“Give face my ass!”
Xu Ning cursed internally, his smile becoming somewhat rigid on his face, he had to change the topic and look at Chen Dengming doubtfully.
Was this kid really drunk, or pretending to be drunk?
Were his words true or false?
Or was he just making fun of him?
…
Later in the night.
Chen Dengming, laughing and speaking nonsensically, was assisted by several girls from Zanhua Square called by Xu Ning to leave his mansion and head to his newly arranged residence—a small courtyard in the city center.
The small courtyard was located in the bustling city area.
Nearby houses were narrow and closely packed, no longer as messy and disorganized as the slums.
The eaves and structures of the buildings had a unique charm.
It was not until Chen Dengming had staggered away that Xu Ning’s smile faded, a fierce light flashed in his eyes.
“What’s the arrangement for the people being sent to follow?”
A willowy figure stepped out from behind the folding screen, rubbing Xu Ning’s shoulder comfortingly, “Sir, rest assured, it’s been arranged by me personally.
After tonight, they will bring you the information you want to know.”
Xu Ning snorted, grabbed the hand on his shoulder, forcefully pulled it into his arms and said in a domineering tone, “But I’m very pissed off right now!”
…
The day was about to dawn.
At the break of dawn, the light was faint, the east was whiting.
A red sun shimmered, piercing through the clouds and fog, and suddenly emerged, then it stood still.
At this moment, Chen Dengming made his move.
He fully woke up in his new residence’s courtyard, dishevelled and disordered, driving off the women who brought him home last night.
Then he rubbed his head and went back into the house, carefully checking the spirit crystals and items in the package he brought, settled his mind, pressed on his abdomen, and vomited.
“Puh-Puh——”
It turned out that the black and shiny Loach Gus were vomited out of his mouth, all of them swollen like sea cucumbers, emanating a strong smell of alcohol.
Not only can the Loach Gu harm people, but it can also be used to sober up.
However, only skilled Gu users like Chen Dengming could use this approach, ordinary people trying to mimic it either ended up poisoned to death or had their intestines drilled through by the Loach Gu.
Yesterday, before the banquet, he was prepared, swallowing the Loach Gu to guard himself against any unforeseen circumstances, which, in the end, did indeed help him avoid a drunken mishap.
He washed his face with cold water, his eyes were clear and calm and he shook his head in annoyance.
Xu Ning was far too cautious and had even dispatched people to watch him throughout the night to see if he was genuinely drunk.
Even the women last night didn’t refrain from testing him.
It took all his energy to fool them by pretending to be drunk.
“This man…is too obsessed with power.
If he had devoted most of his energy to cultivation, perhaps he would be stronger now.
He thinks that because Fairy Luo favors me, I may become the next Qian Yuan and pose a threat to him, hence, he tests me.
Yet, I truly have no intention to deliberately build up power and influence.”
Chen Dengming returned to his room to continue his arduous training, preparing to refine another batch of Gu to give to Xu Ning for sale, in exchange for more cultivation resources.
From the past to the present, countless heroes and powerful figures have built their legacy on the word “power.”
However, many are eventually blinded and confused by this power.
If one uses ‘power’ as their own subordinate, to accomplish their goals, it implies success.
But if one becomes a slave to ‘power’, it is a cause for sorrow.
In Chen Dengming’s eyes, Xu Ning has become a slave to power.
He was different, he was the master of power, and power was merely a tool for him to become stronger.
He was ready to discard this tool once it had served its purpose.
Once upon a time, he was able to decisively cast aside mundane power to pursue the Dao of Immortality.
Give and take, only then is one wise.
…
Not long after.
The women who escorted Chen Dengming returned to Xu Ning’s mansion and reported exactly what they observed last night.
“Master Chen was indeed drunk.
Despite our best efforts, he showed no reaction, any normal man should have responded, unless he was thoroughly drunk.”
“But he did react to the Spirit Stones, he held on to his package all night, we were curious and took a sneak peek and discovered it was full of spirit stones.”
“You didn’t take anything, did you?”
“No, we wouldn’t dare to touch the Master’s things!”
…
“It seems that the Brew Immortal Brew I offered for three low-grade spirit stones a bottle is indeed a good thing, the lad was truly drunk last night.
A drunk man’s words are a sober man’s thoughts.
He was deeply drunk, that was a brilliant drunk state!”
“However, he really is a money-grubbing man.
Which is good, I would be worried if he wasn’t greedy!”
Xu Ning, fondling the empty wine bottle, a smile on his lips, enjoying the view of the dancing beauty in front of him, felt he was in complete control.
Chen Dengming, daring to kill a cultivator with a mortal body, displayed great courage.
Daring to monopolize the Gu market with him with only the first level of Qi Cultivation, displayed little cunning.
Favored by Miss Luo, but with no intention of establishing his own power, showed a lack of ambition.
This man of great courage, little cunning, and no ambition might be considered competent, but cannot be called a hero, his horizon and planning were not enough, not enough to be concerned with.
He rose to his feet with a chuckle, lifted his wine glass, and toasted the beautiful dancer who finished her dance.
“Keep the music going, keep dancing!”
…
…
(To be continued, another chapter will be updated in the morning, still two updates with 6K, ask for a monthly pass!)