Chapter 15: Merely the Master's Task
Outside the Wenjian Pavilion, Seal-Holder Xiao, Elder Zhong, and Liu Zhenshou, who usually carried an air of great authority, now humbly followed behind Zhao Youqian and Liu Yunmeng.
Seeing Chen Xuan, the three of them hurriedly said respectfully, "Greetings, Immortal Master Chen."
"Mm."
Chen Xuan responded indifferently and pointed to a few old meditation cushions not far away.
"Find a place to sit yourselves."
Without a second word, Zhao Youqian pulled over a cushion and sat down beside Chen Xuan. Liu Yunmeng didn't put on any airs either and sat down after casually finding a cushion.
Seal-Holder Xiao said with a respectful face, "We dare not."
Chen Xuan said indifferently, "I'm not used to people standing while talking to me."
Having been an official for many years, Seal-Holder Xiao immediately changed his tone upon hearing this and cupped his hands, "Thank you, Immortal Chen, for the honor of a seat."
The three each found a cushion and sat down to Chen Xuan's left side, in order of their cultivation levels.
"Have you brought the items?"
Seeing the three sit down, Chen Xuan asked with a calm face.
"We have."
As Liu Zhenshou spoke, he stood up, walked to Chen Xuan, and took out a storage bag. He bent over and presented it with both hands to Chen Xuan, saying:
"Immortal Master, this contains the Dongyang Prefecture's canal transport revenue for this year, along with the relevant documents."
"Canal transport?"
Chen Xuan didn't expect that the reward for suppressing the Red Pavilion this time would be the canal transport revenue. This was no small sum. If it weren't for so many people here, he would have wanted to open the storage bag to see how much money was inside.
"Yes, the previous task reward was fifty percent of the canal transport revenue. However, yesterday, Master Xiao agreed to double the reward for you, Immortal Master. From now on, the Dongyang Prefecture's canal transport belongs to you."
Liu Zhenshou said with an envious expression. As the Zhen Shou of the Dian Xian Si, he had only previously received ten percent of the canal transport revenue.
"Immortal Master, would you like to check it first? This storage bag hasn't been imprinted with a spiritual mark. You can take care of it when you have time."
Chen Xuan naturally wanted to see it, but he had never learned how, nor did he know how to do it. He had to casually place the storage bag aside.
"No need. I don't think you would dare to deceive me."
This action made Liu Zhenshou particularly admire him. Immortal Master was truly an unparalleled expert, not even glancing at such a huge fortune before casually tossing it aside.
"Of course, how would this dare to deceive Immortal Master. There is another matter to discuss with you, Immortal Master."
Chen Xuan was in a good mood and said casually, "Speak."
Liu Zhenshou said, "It's like this. Previously, the canal transport revenue was jointly managed by the great families of Dongyang Prefecture and the Changhe School, assisting the Dian Xian Si. Now that the canal transport belongs entirely to you, we naturally can't interfere. So we hope you will arrange for someone to take over the management of the canal transport."
Management—Chen Xuan knew nothing about this.
In both his lifetimes, he was just a student and had never experienced the harshness of society.
He understood the principle of giving up a portion of the benefits to have someone help manage things while he collected the money from behind. Soon, he had a few candidates in mind.
"Lao Liu, what percentage of the canal transport revenue did you previously receive?"
"Ten percent."
Liu Zhenshou didn't dare to hide it.
Chen Xuan said indifferently, "Then I'll give you fifteen percent. I will also take out another fifteen percent for the Zhou family. You two families will help me manage the canal transport. You only need to hand over my share on time every year. I won't care about the rest."
Liu Zhenshou didn't expect such a good thing and his attitude towards Chen Xuan changed drastically. Originally, it was just reverence, but now it had turned into admiration.
"There's no problem with this distribution from Immortal Master. However, forgive me for being blunt, you still need to send a disciple of the Wushang Sword Sect to oversee it. This way, no one will dare to touch the canal transport cake."
That made sense.
But Chen Xuan really couldn't find anyone. The Sword Guarding lineage had only himself. The only person in the sect he trusted was Zhao Youqian, and this guy clearly wasn't cut out for this. He couldn't possibly go to oversee the canal transport himself; that would affect his leveling speed.
Whoosh!
Zhao Youqian opened his folding fan and said with a smile, "Brother Chen Xuan, are you struggling with who should go to oversee the canal transport in your place?"
"Brother Sword Wielding really understands me. Do you have a good candidate?"
Chen Xuan asked with a smile, wondering if this guy could bring him some pleasant surprises.
Zhao Youqian snapped his folding fan shut and said with a smile, "Yes, and he's very suitable."
"Who?"
"My second junior brother, Leng Li."
When Chen Xuan heard this name, a figure appeared in his mind—a cold and cool guy who was silent for years and would attack at the slightest disagreement. He could be said to be the representative of "fight first, talk later."
Moreover, his strength seemed to be the strongest in the Sword Wielding lineage. He had the highest calls to become the senior brother back then, but unfortunately, he couldn't match Zhao Youqian's wealth and became the second junior brother.
"Isn't he serving in the Dian Xian Si? He probably wouldn't be willing to come and oversee the canal transport."
Chen Xuan vaguely remembered this second junior brother. Back then, he chose to serve in the Dian Xian Si to become stronger and was rarely in the mountains, similar to himself.
Liu Zhenshou, who was beside him, said, "This is very simple. If Immortal Master is willing to offer some benefits to Leng Li, he will definitely be willing to oversee the canal transport. He is currently worried about resources for breaking through to the Nurturing Spirit realm, which is why he took on an extremely difficult task a few days ago."
"That's easy to handle. When he comes back, I'll offer him ten percent of the canal transport profits. I believe my second junior brother will agree."
Chen Xuan said very generously. Now he was also a rich man and had to be generous to match his handsome appearance.
"When Leng Li comes back, I will inform him of this matter."
After speaking, Liu Zhenshou sat back in his seat.
Only then did Elder Zhong, who had not spoken, stand up and present a storage bag with both hands: "Last night, thanks to your help, Immortal Master. This is a small token of my respect."
Another storage bag.
Chen Xuan was very curious about what was inside, but due to face, he couldn't bring himself to ask. He took it casually and placed it aside, saying indifferently:
"I accept your kind gesture, but I have a question for you. Who came up with the idea of coveting a mountain range of my Wushang Sword Sect?"
Having lived two lifetimes, Chen Xuan understood a truth well: it's not the thief you have to fear, but the thief who covets your possessions. He was just focusing on practicing his sword, but someone was always eyeing his home, which was not a good thing.
If his home was stolen, that would be the end of everything.
If Seal-Holder Xiao and Elder Zhong were willing to confess, he could let it go. Of course, if they insisted on being stubborn, Chen Xuan wouldn't mind killing a chicken to warn the monkeys.
As expected, when the two of them heard this, a trace of panic appeared on their faces.
Elder Zhong froze, subconsciously glancing at Seal-Holder Xiao as if to say, you handle this.
Seal-Holder Xiao immediately feigned ignorance, acting as if he hadn't seen Elder Zhong's gaze and looking around.
The atmosphere in the pavilion became very awkward for a moment.
Seeing the two trying to shift blame, Chen Xuan said nothing and picked up the sword beside him, ready to kill at any moment.
Seeing Chen Xuan pick up his sword, Elder Zhong broke out in a cold sweat on his forehead. Although he hadn't seen it with his own eyes yesterday when Immortal Master Chen killed the Green-faced Ghost with a single sword, after hearing his subordinates' vivid description, he knew that the person before them was someone they had offended.
Seal-Holder Xiao was so scared he almost jumped up from his cushion. He had a bright future and didn't want to be beheaded by a sword. He said in a tone of trying to persuade with kind words:
"Elder Zhong was merely carrying out his master's task. Why don't you just tell Immortal Master Chen and be done with it? Why be so stubborn?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire place fell silent.
Everyone, including Chen Xuan, looked at Elder Zhong with strange eyes...
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