Chapter 141

Wen Hongcai had already been waiting at the Yun residence for half a day. When he first arrived, he learned that Lin Xiaobao was reminiscing with his master, and naturally did not dare disturb them, so he waited outside.

Still, the Yun family had no intention of slighting Wen Hongcai, the master of the Wanderer’s Pavilion. After he had finished two cups of tea, Yun Keke could only steel herself and go ask Lin Xiaobao what he intended.

Wen Hongcai? The man was quite an excellent businessman. Though merchants valued profit above all else, Wen Hongcai had personally hurried to the Long residence to lend him his support. Lin Xiaobao naturally had to acknowledge that favor. Most likely, the man had come to collect his reward—but unfortunately, Chen Zhong was not with him.

“Invite him in,” Lin Xiaobao said after a moment’s thought.

Lin Tian would be living in Bloodwind City in the future. There was no harm in getting acquainted with a few influential figures, if only to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings.

“Greetings, Young Master Lin!” Wen Hongcai first greeted Lin Xiaobao, then bowed to Lin Tian. “Wen Hongcai of the Wanderer’s Pavilion pays his respects to Senior Lin. I heard that Senior has been suffering from ill health, so I have specially brought over some medicinal ingredients. I hope Senior will accept them.”

Wen Hongcai of the Wanderer’s Pavilion?

The name sounded extremely familiar to Lin Tian. Then, all at once, he recalled who the man was.

“You are the master of the Wanderer’s Pavilion? What have I done to deserve such a generous gift from you, Senior Wen?”

Wen Hongcai was someone even the Four Great Families treated with considerable respect. How could Lin Tian dare let him address him as a senior?

“You deserve it, you deserve it!” As Wen Hongcai spoke, a flash of light passed over his storage bracelet, and several jade boxes appeared on the stone table. “Brother Lin and I hit it off at first sight and have become close friends. Since you are Brother Lin’s master, you are naturally my senior as well. If you refuse to acknowledge that, it would be tantamount to telling the world that I, Wen Hongcai, do not respect my elders!”

Lin Tian was about to decline again, but Lin Xiaobao smiled and said, “Since Brother Wen is so thoughtful, I shall thank you on my master’s behalf.”

When Wen Hongcai heard Lin Xiaobao address him as “Brother Wen,” delight stirred in his heart. He knew that his investment had already begun to yield returns, though he showed nothing of it on the surface.

“The Wanderer’s Pavilion does have quite a few pills, but when I considered that even Grandmaster Qin is full of admiration for Brother Lin’s alchemical skills, I did not dare make a fool of myself. It seemed better to bring some medicinal ingredients instead. I imagine the effects will be much better if Brother Lin refines them himself.”

After a brief pause, Wen Hongcai added, “Of course, if you need anything else, Brother Lin, just say the word. Anything currently available in the Wanderer’s Pavilion is yours for the taking. Even if we do not have it, I will find a way to obtain it for you.”

“Brother Wen, you are too kind.” Lin Xiaobao fixed his gaze on Wen Hongcai and said seriously, “I will speak plainly. As a businessman, you have helped me so much. What sort of reward are you hoping to receive?”

Wen Hongcai had not expected Lin Xiaobao to be so direct. He froze for a moment, while his mind raced to determine how to answer—and what exactly Lin Xiaobao meant by asking.

Then Wen Hongcai suddenly threw back his head and laughed.

“Brother Lin truly is a straightforward man. Since you have put it that way, if I continue to beat around the bush, I will only seem stingy. I would like to ask Brother Lin to obtain an invitation to the Xuanyang Hall Treasure Exchange for me. How does that sound?”

Invitations to the Xuanyang Hall Treasure Exchange were distributed according to sect and organization. Although the Wanderer’s Pavilion was entitled to receive some, Wen Hongcai’s position within the pavilion’s central headquarters was clearly not high enough for him to attend.

Yet with his discerning eye and considerable wealth, if he had the chance to enter the exchange, he would certainly be able to acquire many valuable treasures. That would greatly help him rise within the Wanderer’s Pavilion.

After all, the Wanderer’s Pavilion had branches spread throughout the entire Longxiang Continent, and each of the other three empires had a pavilion master like him. Competition within the organization was fierce.

What was more, headquarters had already learned that this auction house had been robbed. If he could not produce some impressive results, he feared that after the following year he would be transferred back to headquarters and placed on the shelf.

“Done!” Lin Xiaobao immediately slapped his chest. “Before the Treasure Exchange begins, someone will deliver an invitation to the Wanderer’s Pavilion.”

“Then I thank you, Brother Lin!” Wen Hongcai knew that he had wagered correctly once again.

He knew that Lin Xiaobao was no fool. On the contrary, he was exceptionally intelligent. Playing the friendship card would be less effective than revealing his true intentions. Perhaps only then could he earn Lin Xiaobao’s approval—and the result clearly proved that his judgment had always been sound.

After Wen Hongcai left, Lin Xiaobao opened the jade boxes one by one and could not help praising them.

“This fellow really was willing to spend a fortune.”

Looking at the precious medicinal ingredients and the fourth-rank fire-type spirit beast core ablaze with scarlet fire, even Lin Tian was stunned.

Every one of those ingredients and that spirit core would have been regarded as a treasure of the Snowwind Pavilion. Yet now they had simply been sent here, and Wen Hongcai had even been unwilling to take no for an answer.

“It seems we will not even have to wait until the Treasure Exchange ends. I should be able to refine the pills needed to heal your injuries before then, Master.”

Lin Xiaobao was very satisfied as he surveyed the medicinal ingredients spread across the table. He had to admit that Wen Hongcai was truly skilled at giving gifts.

The thought of recovering completely and resuming his cultivation left Lin Tian somewhat excited. Even so, he asked uncertainly, “Will Grandmaster Qin be willing to help?”

Lin Xiaobao had not expected that, even now, he was still only a child in his master’s eyes.

“If he dares refine them, I would not dare let you take them. I will refine these pills myself.”

Seeing the confidence on Lin Xiaobao’s face, Lin Tian still found it somewhat unreal. However, he did not wish to dampen his disciple’s enthusiasm.

At that moment, Yun Keke approached once more, her expression troubled.

“People from the Xia family have arrived as well. They say they heard that Senior Lin has come to Bloodwind City and have come especially to pay their respects.”

“The Xia family has come too?” Lin Xiaobao was slightly taken aback. He glanced at the medicinal ingredients covering the table and said, “Invite them in.”

After Yun Keke left, Lin Tian quietly reminded Lin Xiaobao, “You should put these things away first.”

The principle that one should not flaunt one’s wealth held true in every world.

“Why put them away? Since they are coming to give us gifts, I should leave them a standard to follow. Otherwise, would that not disappoint them?”

A hint of slyness curled across Lin Xiaobao’s face.

The Yun residence had become the busiest place in the city.

After the Wanderer’s Pavilion, the Xia family, and the Qi family had all come to pay their respects to Lin Tian, various second- and third-rate families began arriving as well, each eager to offer their support.

After all, to the many forces in Bloodwind City, the Snowwind Pavilion of Ningfeng Kingdom was hardly anything worth fearing. Lin Xiaobao’s spectacular display a few days earlier had already attracted attention, and anyone with the slightest interest had quickly learned about what had happened between Lin Xiaobao, Lin Tian, and the Snowwind Pavilion.

When they connected that knowledge with the violent state Lin Xiaobao had entered after Lin Tian was injured, they realized that Lin Tian’s arrival in Bloodwind City represented an excellent opportunity to curry favor with a powerful patron. Since Lin Tian was staying at the Yun residence, presenting a gift to him was also equivalent to showing goodwill toward the Yun family.

Judging from the changes taking place in Bloodwind City, the Yun family’s rise was already inevitable. Aside from their connection with Lin Xiaobao, the family also possessed Yun Kongming, a powerhouse of the Daoheart Dharma Manifestation realm. Such strength was more than enough to secure their position.