He's Bad

What? Wang Xiaoer's behavior is questionable?

Just for his own personal gain, he actually tricked Master into buying a haunted shop!

Wang Xiaoer said, anyone who thinks this way must have abnormal thoughts.

As an upright sect member, although "poverty" is part of the sect's tradition, it does not mean that Master wants to be poor. After practicing martial arts for twenty years and doing gang business for so many years, his entire net worth is probably only three hundred taels at most.

He, Wang Xiaoer, went through a lot of careful planning, and finally, for the sake of the righteous sect, and also for Master, bought a property at such a cheap price.

It has to be said that this afternoon, when Zhang San signed the contract and paid the money, the righteous sect probably had its first real asset in nearly a hundred years. This is simply the first step for the sect to get out of poverty and become prosperous!

What's wrong with what Wang Xiaoer did for the sake of the sect's development?!

What?

Isn't this just sophistry?

Wang Xiaoer said, yes, this is indeed sophistry.

But!

Look beneath the surface to see the essence.

To fight wisely for love and Master demonstrates the perseverance and pursuit of love of the young gangster in the new era!

Wang Xiaoer said, although the means are debatable, his thinking is still flawless.

Also, wasn't Master quite happy?

...

...

That night, staring at the title deed in his hand, Zhang San was indeed very happy!

Although he felt that he had bought the shop on impulse and that it was somewhat unwise and unstable.

But before signing the transfer contract, Zhang San had checked it many times and was quite certain that the deed was genuine. Through chatting with the seller, he also tried verbal probing and felt that the other party was indeed the real shop owner, with no signs of impersonation.

As for Wang Xiaoer...

How could an apprentice deceive his master?

The reputation of our righteous sect has always been very upright.

Thinking of this, although he was firm inside, Zhang San somehow recalled the various means he had used as a child to save money from his master's mouth to buy secret manuals.

Uh...

The reputation of our righteous sect has always been very upright...right?

No, no.

Wang Xiaoer is much more filial than I am. Besides, what good would tricking me do for him?

Everything seems fine.

Looking at the deed again, Zhang San couldn't help feeling that in this world, nothing could be more beautiful than a title deed. He then dismissed all other thoughts from his mind.

"Master, I'm going out for a bit."

Zhang San put down the deed and asked, "Going out so late at night?"

Wang Xiaoer walked over to his master and said, "Master, although we just got here not long ago, we should start investigating the surrounding terrain and neighbors, right? These days, we can pretend to be ordinary people here, but other masters can do the same. Especially that mother and daughter who sell tofu next door, they look very suspicious to me!"

Zhang San felt a surge of emotion and thought to himself: My steady education over the past year has finally borne fruit. He exercises vigilance even against the tofu sellers.

A child can be taught!

He is worthy of being the only inheritor of my righteous prudent sect!

Zhang San said emotionally, "Xiao'er, that you can think this way makes your teacher very gratified. Go on then, go early and return early. Remember not to reveal anything, what if they really are high-level masters hiding among the crowds?"

Wang Xiaoer said, "Master, after learning acting from you for so long, how could I give myself away? Just watch."

After saying that, Wang Xiaoer hopped away.

Leaving Zhang San to marvel at his apprentice's progress.

But...

How did Wang Xiaoer know that the tofu shop next door was run by a mother and daughter?

Another strange thing has arisen.

...

...

In a secluded corner of the small street, Wang Xiaoer looked back several times to make sure it was safe before turning into an alley.

In the alley, the father and son who sold the shop this morning were already waiting.

Wang Xiaoer collected a huge sum of twenty taels. He smiled gleefully and said, "Thank you, sir. You've spent on my behalf."

The old man was also smiling as he replied, "I should thank the young friend for coming up with this idea of finding someone to bid up the price. I couldn't have thought of something so clever. Although the final transaction was at 230 taels, after deducting the fees for those neighbors, the middleman and the young friend's consulting fee, there are still 180 taels left. Although less than expected, it's not bad. Thank you, thank you."

Wang Xiaoer looked around and said, "Anyway, we shouldn't meet again. You should also avoid coming to this street. It would be bad if you run into that scholar someday and he recognizes you."

The three bid each other goodbye with smiles after that. Looking at the twenty taels in his hand, Wang Xiaoer's face lit up.

Fifteen taels to save for future bride price, five taels to buy tasty treats for Xiaoyu. In a flash, Wang Xiaoer had it all planned out.

Now Master is happy, that old gentleman is happy, I am happy. I'll go buy two candied haws for Bai Xiaoyu, she'll be happy too.

Four more smiles have appeared in this sorrowful world, all thanks to me, Wang Xiaoer.

I'm just so smart.

Wang Xiaoer couldn't help praising himself for a while.

Then Wang Xiaoer went to the main street and looked around for a long time before buying two candied haws and hopping towards the tofu shop.

...

...

At the same time that night in Tian Ruo City, the Lu residence.

Lu Gaosheng's residence was very large and brightly lit, with carved rails and jade inlays, obviously indicating a very luxurious lifestyle.

In his master bedroom were countless famous paintings and calligraphy.

Lu Gaosheng had changed into a black robe tonight. He went to the mirror by the door, carefully tidied himself up, put on the carved white jade ring on his right hand, then opened the door.

Outside was perhaps the only confidant Lu Gaosheng had over the years, Li Xing, formerly the leader of the Feather Arrow Army in the prefectural city, and now Lu Gaosheng's actual "guard".

Li Xing bowed his head in greeting and happily said, "Sir, the corpses of the two from Green Sword Sect have been found. The old head of Black Dragon Hall and their forces in the city were also eliminated by JinWan Pavilion in one day."

Lu Gaosheng walked into the brightly lit garden and looked up at the night sky. He seemed very casual, without a hint of joy, and said, "Be it Green Sword Sect or Black Dragon Hall, they were just second-rate martial sects. Nothing to be happy about. What I'm more concerned with now is that part of Black Heaven Gate's power in Tian Ruo City..."

Li Xing bowed his head and said, "For Black Heaven Gate, the Chief Pavilion Master himself took action, and it was a surprise attack. I've just received word that all of Black Heaven Gate's people have either died or fled, completely leaving Tian Ruo City."

Lu Gaosheng finally smiled, because suppressing Black Heaven Gate's power in Tian Ruo City was actually his most important goal this time, and also one of the main reasons for choosing JinWan Pavilion.

Lu Gaosheng sighed, "If not for someone releasing a mission in the martial world a year ago to hire Grey Lion, a top assassin from the assassination listings, to kill my late martial uncle, I wouldn't have discovered that my late martial uncle had connections to the underworld!"

Ordinary martial artists only knew that Grey Lion had died at the hands of Song Tianxing while carrying out a mission to assassinate a corrupt official, but few knew the identity of that official.

However, Lu Gaosheng had his own ways of obtaining many secrets.

Li Xing did not understand and said, "Didn't you say a year ago, sir, that it was Minister Song who spent 100,000 taels to hire the top assassin on the Heaven Rankings?"

Lu Gaosheng smiled and said, "On the surface it seemed so, but after investigating from many sides, I discovered two suspicious points. The message was originally posted on the so-called most covert Shadow Tower, yet it was leaked. And according to the information I obtained, the one who killed Grey Lion was indeed Song Tianxing, but he may not have really received 100,000 taels."