The two idle men soon began to learn about brewing tea in the house.

Inside the house, about half an hour leisurely passed, when Da Shitou, who was keeping watch outside the inn, hurried in to report, "Cen Futong is coming; he's on his way up the mountain."

Shi Chun immediately instructed Wu Jinliang, "Go greet him, and keep it low-key, try your best not to let Bian Weikang and his people see."

Although it was expected that the couple wouldn't be roaming outside, it was still better to be cautious.

"Alright." Wu Jinliang complied and called Da Shitou to identify the person.

It wasn't suitable for Da Shitou to stay at the scene of the transaction now, as direct involvement through Bowan Building could complicate matters.

Soon, the door opened, and Wu Jinliang entered first, nodding at Shi Chun, followed by a youth in brocade robes, of ordinary appearance and average height, carrying an air of reckless, indolent languor, his eyes showing a hint of contemptuous arrogance.

He was not alone; two more men in brocade robes entered, their casual way of selecting seats indicating they were more like playfellows rather than subordinates.

Cen Futong, however, didn't sit but busied himself looking around the room.

All three men displayed a lack of inner spirit, a clear sign of excessive indulgence.

"Brother Cen, I have long admired your reputation. Seeing you today, indeed, you possess an extraordinary demeanor," said Shi Chun, offering a flattering gesture.

Cen Futong casually picked up the "Mountain and Sea Lantern" book from the table, flipped through it aimlessly, then tossed it back before turning to ask, "And who are you?"

"I am Shi Chun," he replied, gesturing for him to sit.

"Shi... Si Chun?" Cen Futong was startled.

A bout of laughter erupted in the room, with Cen Futong and his two companions dancing and laughing raucously.

Shi Chun maintained a smile on his face, but a hint of darkness shadowed his eyes. He hated being ridiculed for his name, which in the Land of Exile, generally resulted in death.

Finishing their laughter, Cen Futong gestured dismissively, not interested in a leisurely chat or what the other's name was, and went straight to the point, "Did you invite me here?"

Shi Chun gave a practiced, polite smile, "Yes."

Cen Futong slightly raised an eyebrow, "To give me a hundred thousand in gold?"

Shi Chun nodded, "Correct."

Cen Futong looked him over skeptically, "Is there such a good thing?"

His two friends also stood up, curiously looking on with anticipation.

Shi Chun said, "I hope to establish myself in Zhaotian City and heard that Brother Cen holds sway here, so I wished to befriend you."

"You've found the right person."

"In Zhaotian City, though Brother Cen isn't unchallengeable, at the very least, everyone gives him some consideration."

Cen's two friends immediately joined in, heaping praise upon him.

Cen Futong seemed to relish the flattery, displaying a smug look, though he modestly waved it off, "No, no, it's just respect from everyone."

One of his friends, patting his shoulder and winking, asked, "Hosting tonight at Cloud Building?"

The implication was clear, suggesting a celebration for a windfall.

Cen Futong immediately addressed Shi Chun, "If you're really sincere, Brother Shi... hey, isn't your surname taking advantage of me? Shi Chun, yes, Brother Chun, if you are truly sincere, then consider me your friend."

Hinting that he should not just talk but show the money.

Shi Chun hesitated slightly, glancing at his two friends and suggesting, "The outdoor pavilions at Wuyou Inn offer a great spot for tea. Perhaps you two would like to sit there?"

Clearly hinting at wanting the two men to step aside, he felt that Dong hadn't managed the situation well, creating two additional insiders.

"Oh, you think we're going to rob you?"

"Brother Cen, it seems we shouldn't have come, right?"

Those two individuals were alternating their remarks, their tones filled with sarcasm.

Cen Futong was about to speak up about loyalty when Shi Chun immediately interjected, "Some money can only be given to one person; it's not for everyone who sees. Right, gentlemen?"

The three of them paused briefly.

Later, Cen Futong looked around and said, "Alright, you two go out and take a walk. I want to see what he's up to. If he dares to play tricks on me, I'll make him regret it."

The two could only give up and left reluctantly, flicking their sleeves in dissatisfaction.

With a glance from Shi Chun, Wu Jinliang stepped outside to check, then came back and nodded, indicating that the people had indeed left.

Cen Futong watched coldly for a while before speaking, "Can we bring out the money now?"

Shi Chun countered, "Today someone spent five hundred thousand gold at Cloud Building to buy out a top courtesan's contract. Brother Cen, are you aware of this?"

Cen Futong, visibly impatient, replied, "I just heard about it. What of it? Why bring this up?"

He was too eager to see the money to even think about sitting down and discussing calmly.

Shi Chun spoke slowly and deliberately, "The one who bought out the courtesan's contract was me."

"..." Cen Futong was stunned for a moment before sizing him up, "You?"

He could hardly believe this was the man who had dared to cross Lv Taizhen. And now he was offering him money? What exactly was going on?

He suddenly felt a sense of danger and swiftly surveyed his surroundings, his alertness palpable.

In Zhaotian City, he usually didn't worry about his safety, because not many would dare to target him. But someone who could step over even Lv Taizhen was a different story altogether.

Shi Chun said, "That woman is in my possession. I would like to ask Brother Cen to relay her to Master Lv."

Cen Futong's expression froze, struggling to comprehend, "You redeemed her just to offer her to Master Lv?"

Master Lv owned extensive Spirit Plant plantations in this region and was respectfully referred to as 'Master Lv'.

Shi Chun confirmed, "Indeed, I'm trying to establish a footing here and don't wish to offend him, so I need Brother Cen's help."

Cen Futong was willing to help, but he was puzzled, "Why don't you deliver her yourself? Why do you need to involve me?"

Shi Chun explained, "Without involving you, where would you get those one hundred thousand pieces of Sandalwood Gold? I'll sell her to you, Brother Cen, for a cheap price of two hundred thousand gold."

"What? Sell her to me for two hundred thousand gold?" Cen Futong thought he had misheard. He couldn't possibly afford that much money.

Regardless of his astonishment, Shi Chun seemed even more surprised, "Isn't that what you meant, Brother Cen? The top courtesan didn't want to be with Master Lv but rather wanted to be with some handsome young man. And who is Brother Cen? Naturally, you stand with Master Lv. Upon hearing this, you were furious and thus arranged for me to gather fifty thousand gold to redeem her. Bian Weikang owes me fifty thousand gold, and Xiang Laner's indenture contract is in my possession. If Brother Cen is interested, take it for two hundred thousand gold."

Cen Futong's brows shot up, his eyes emitting a fierce light, "Are you playing games with me?"

Shi Chun replied, "That was fifty thousand gold. The money didn't come easy to me. If I'm not making a profit, why would I interfere in this matter? For what you buy for two hundred thousand, you can sell it at three hundred thousand, or even three hundred and fifty thousand, or four hundred thousand. It's entirely up to you. After all, Master Lv was originally planning to spend five hundred thousand."

"..." Cen Futong abruptly froze, his gaze flickering. He finally grasped the meaning; the initial offer to give him one hundred thousand gold now seemed to change... to two hundred thousand gold.

Wu Jinliang, an eavesdropper, almost split his face grinning from ear to ear now that he finally understood the leeway for earning Shi Chun initially mentioned.

Shi Chun continued, "I hear these small matters are usually handled by your uncle. You're not just doing this for Master Lv but also for your uncle. The price should cap at four hundred thousand, not any higher. If it's too profitable, why should one deal under the table?"

Cen Futong's gaze flickered noticeably, tempted. He began pacing back and forth inside the room.

Shi Chun matched his pace, adding, "The key point is, Master Lv likes that top courtesan. If she really ended up with some other handsome man, it'd not only be Master Lv's loss but ours as well, right? Of course, if Brother Cen really isn't interested in making this money, then I have nothing more to say. Either way, I won't incur any losses. Bian Weikang has promised to repay the borrowed money in double later... it's just a matter of earning a bit more or less."

Cen Futong suddenly stopped walking and, as he came closer, turned and asked in a low voice, "Can this really work? Although Bian Weikang was exiled from the sect, the fact that he is Bian Jixiong's son doesn't change. It's risky to provoke him carelessly. If he causes an uproar, it could embarrass Master Lv too, making us both doomed if anything goes wrong."

Shi Chun quietly conspired, "Nothing will go wrong. Tomorrow, Bian Weikang is supposed to take the top courtesan back to Wukang Mountain, and I'll accompany them. Along the way, I'll find a way to separate Bian Weikang so you can kidnap the woman. She has some cultivation skills, so make sure to bring competent men and try to avoid any noise. Later, I'll tell Bian Weikang that she left on her own and had asked me to pass a message..."

He repeated the deception prepared for Wu Jinliang to dupe Bian Weikang.

Listening, Cen Futong laughed heartily; and then concern settled in, "But the woman once kidnapped is still alive. What if she makes trouble at Master Lv's?"

Shi Chun gestured dismissively, "Brother Cen, you worry too much. She'll be in your control; what you decide for her is up to you. The same tricks we use on Bian Weikang can be applied to her. Since I paid for her freedom, that was someone's arrangement. Some are displeased with her whims, wanting to leave her with nothing as a lesson... You can just subtly make her aware of that. How could Bian Jixiong accept a brothel woman as his daughter-in-law? With the indenture contract in your hands, what could she possibly stir up? She just has to accept her fate!"

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